Posts Tagged ‘Insurance Premiums’


15.02.2011

Your car insurance

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in Car Insurance

Automobile insurance is an increasing expense for almost all Americans. We can’t afford to have it, and we certainly can’t afford to not have it. When researching car insurance companies and comparing policies, it is a good idea to follow these easy guidelines to get the most coverage for your insurance pounds. Get discount car insurance quotes from as many carriers as you can. Automobile insurance rates may vary drastically depending on the model of your car and the type of coverage you need.
Consider as high a deductible as you can reasonably afford, since higher deductibles translate into lower insurance premiums. Review quotes and policies carefully to make sure you are only paying for coverage you really need.

If you have homeowner insurance, ask your agent if you are covered already for certain items you might be charged again for on your auto policy. After you have gotten quotes from different car insurance carriers, it is usually a good idea to create a spreadsheet to help you avoid comparing apples to oranges. Set up a scenario with car repairs and medical expense to best compare the coverage differences under real-life situations. Once you have chosen the two least expensive automobile insurance policies for the coverage you need, contact a reputable body shop in your area for a referral.

Automobile body shops deal with insurance companies every day, and you want to make sure the company you send your premiums to each month will be responsive and fair if you have to make an insurance claim. The body shop probably has a good insider opinion on how the insurance company operates, how long it takes to get an adjuster to view the damaged vehicle, how long it takes to get paid on a claim, how fair the estimate was, were used parts requested versus brand new parts and so on. Trust me, a 10 minute talk with a reputable body shop manager can reveal a lot of great information about an insurance company and how they tend to handle their claims.

A few pounds difference in premium pounds to get coverage from a company that handles their claims properly may save you a world of hassle in the event of an automobile accident.

28.12.2010

Tips for buying cheap online car insurance and getting a

posted by admin

in Car Insurance

Tips for buying cheap online car insurance and getting a free online car insurance quote

Smart shoppers can save money, buy cheap car insurance and get a reliable free online car insurance quote. The secret is to prepare before you log on to fill out the application.

Here are some tips from an experienced insurance shopper for getting the best deal:

1. Know your own driving record.

Insurance companies want the safest drivers as customers and charge a higher premium to drivers who have poor records.

Surprisingly often, a driver’s moving violation history has been recorded inaccurately by the courts or the state motor vehicle department.

Contact the DMV in your state. For a list, go to www.DMV-Department-of-Motor-Vehicles.com.

Make sure your record is accurate before a car insurance company checks it and decides to reject your application or assign you a higher than necessary premium.

2. Know your consumer credit report score.

If you have a less than stellar credit rating, you can expect to pay more for online car insurance — but don’t spend a penny more than necessary!

Many consumers never know about the inaccurate information that blemishes their credit reports and results in their paying higher insurance premiums. Don’t guess — get the facts.

For information on how to get a free credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies, go to www.annualcreditreport.com.

3. Know how much insurance you need.

Usually, personal liability and medical coverage are required, but the amounts can vary by state. Check with your state motor vehicle department to be sure.

The safest course is to buy the most insurance coverage you can afford. But if you’re on a tight budget, you don’t have to buy any more insurance than you’re legally required to carry.

4. Beware the low-ball scam.

That’s when a less-than-reputable company gives you an online car insurance quote that looks low but eventually isn’t. You sign up, they collect your money, and a few months later demand a higher premium than originally quoted.

To avoid the low-ball scam, check with the industry companies, such as www.AMBest.com, that rate car insurance providers. Don’t buy from any insurer whose rating is lower than B. The higher a insurer’s rating, the less likely it is to go out of business owing to insolvency, and the more reputable it probably is.

5. Etch your VIN.

Some insurers give a 10 or 15 percent discount on cars that have the vehicle identification number (VIN) etched into the windows. VIN-etched cars have a 64 percent lower theft rate than non-etched cars. An etched car that is stolen has a better than 85 percent chance of recovery.

Law enforcement authorities recommend VIN etching as a proven, effective deterrent to theft. The process is easy and takes as little as 15 minutes to etch the average car. Purchasing VINetcher, the do-it-yourself VIN Etching Kit, includes the option to register in the National Vehicle Identification Program for increased protection.

24.08.2010

How To Lower Your Car Insurance Costs Once And For

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in Car Insurance

How To Lower Your Car Insurance Costs Once And For All!

With fuel costs escalating out of control these days, car running costs are becoming a serious burden for the average family, especially families with more than one car. Because of this reason more and more people are looking for ways to control the costs associated with their family transport.

One such cost is the cost of car insurance. Below are 7 tips for lowering your car insurance costs:

1. Drive carefully. It may sound obvious but as insurance premiums are related to risk then your manner of driving is related to your insurance premiums. Safer driver equals lower premiums. It may not seem so at the time but those traffic violations or speeding fines reflect in your bill.

2. Have a look at other insurance policies you have with other companies. Many insurers offer discounts for combining all your family insurance with their company. Find out who they are and get a quote on all your policies combined.

3. Also note the differences in premiums you would be paying for the type of car you have. Different types of car attract different levels of premium because, in particular, different types of car are driven by different types of people, who may have different types of risk profile. Sports cars, for example, will usually show a higher rate of accidents than staid boring family cars.

4. Consider your deductible. This is the amount you pay first out of any claim, and the cost of your policy is directly related to the amount of your deductible. Higher deductible – lower premium. So consider carefully whether you could afford to pay a higher amount first from any accident and raise your deductible. If so, you will get lower premiums.

5. Safety and anti theft devices can reduce the insurance costs for a car. Talk to your insurance company and find out if there are any safety or anti theft devices that you can install to reduce your premium. Then consider installing them making sure that you notify your insurance company once you have done so. And why not ring up your company and make sure that they are aware of any safety and anti theft devices you already have, if they aren’t you may get a reduction.

6. Always look online for a competitive quote from other companies. Most of the major players and brokers are represented online and it is extremely competitive. Be sure to take advantage of this fact.

7. Don’t just pay your premium blindly without checking if you can do better. Car insurance rates vary all the time and so even if it was the best rate last year it may not be this year. Every year shop around to see if you can do better, you may be surprised.

Follow the above tips and advice and youll be pleasantly surprised at how much you can save on your auto insurance.

27.07.2010

How To Cut Car Insurance Costs By More Than 10%

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in Car Insurance

How To Cut Car Insurance Costs By More Than 10%

Fact: To drive legally in the UK, you are required to have car insurance to protect yourself and other drivers. It’s one of the unavoidable expenses of owning and driving a vehicle on the road.

Whilst car insurance is a fact of life, high premiums are not. There are many ways to control the cost of your motor insurance premiums and even reverse recent increases in some cases. Here are just a few tips that can save you well over 10% on your car insurance this year.

1. Search online for the best quotes.

Often, car dealers work with a specific insurer “for your convenience”. Before snatching the first motor insurance policy you find, do some research and shop around. Use a price comparison site to compare multiple policies side by side. Car insurance quotes can vary by hundreds of pounds for the exact same cover.

2. Buy online at the insurer’s site.

Many, if not most, insurance companies offer hefty discounts when you buy your cover online. Why? They save money on time and agent commissions that way. It’s standard to offer a 10% discount when you buy your car insurance online. While not everyone can buy online, there can be significant savings if you can and do.

3. Review when you renew.

Don’t simply renew you policy when the time rolls around. Go over it to make sure that it still meets your needs and circumstances – and then request a new quote. Insurers will nearly always offer a lower quote when you’re shopping around for policy than when they think they have you hooked.

4. Secure your car.

Since your premium is based on the risk of damage or loss of your car, every step you take to make your car more secure and safe will reduce your premium. Park it off street or in a garage, add a steering lock or an alarm and see your premiums go down.

5. Drive less.

The less you drive, the less your chance of being involved in an accident. If your mileage is lower than the norm, inform your insurer and find out if they offer a low mileage discount.

6. Be honest on your application.

While this technically will not lower your insurance premium, it can make a huge difference when you make a claim. It may be tempting to claim your auntie’s suburban address as your garaging site and knock a few pounds off your premium – but if you need to make a claim, the insurance company could find out. If they prove you misrepresented the facts on your application, your claim will be declined and may end up liable for any damages from the accident to boot.

7. Pay in full at the start of the policy.

Check with your insurer to find out if you’re charged more for paying in installments. In essence, when you pay in installments, you’re taking a loan from the insurance company for your premium, and paying them back – with interest.

8. Pay by direct debit.

If you do choose to pay in installments, find out if your insurer discounts your premium when you pay by direct debit. Since direct debit greatly decreases the likelihood of late and missed payments, most insurers are happy to knock a few quid off the premium when you pay that way.

9. Add an extra driver to your policy.

In some cases, adding an additional driver to your policy will lower your premium, especially if that driver is older, female and has a good driving record.

10. Take a defensive driving course.

Many insurance companies will discount your premium if you complete a course in safe or defensive driving. In general, anything that reduces your accident or loss risk may lower your car insurance premiums.

13.04.2010

Car Insurance For The Younger Driver

posted by admin

in Car Insurance

Young drivers are prime targets for high insurance, this is generally because they have had very little experience on the road and are deemed as a higher risk to be in an accident. Due to this, insurance for the younger driver is often very expensive. However there are ways that even young motorists can make savings on their car insurance.

The biggest mistake that the majority of younger drivers make when choosing their first car is to choose one which suits their image and not their pocket. While they visualise themselves running around in the latest model of sports car, this type of car is in the high insurance bracket. One of the factors which are taken into account when it comes to insurance is the model and engine size of the car. By choosing something less flashy a younger motorist can shave pounds off their already high insurance premiums.

Another way in which the younger driver can help themselves is by taking advanced driving lessons. There are special courses that be taken which can go a long way to prove that you are able to handle a car and that your safety record is excellent. This can make up for the fact that you have very little experience and lack of the necessary no claims bonus, which can only be gotten by time spent driving sensibly and safely.

Installing the latest security features on your car can also help you to reduce the amount you are quoted for your premium. Simply installing an immobiliser or keeping your car in a garage instead of by the side of the road can help to reduce your premium.

Finally the biggest savings can be found online as buying online can attract around 10-15% in discounts. Shopping online for your insurance gives you the ability to search through many insurers and to get instant online quotes for the exact type of insurance you are looking for. There are also many companies that will deal with the younger driver in particular and very often this is the best bet for new motorists to make great savings on their car insurance.

The savings the younger driver can make will of course depend on the type of insurance that they choose to go for. Third party, fire and theft is by far the cheapest and depending on the age of the car this could be the best choice for the younger driver when it comes to getting cheaper car insurance.

While fully comprehensive will cover you for most eventualities, it is the most expensive type of insurance, so thought should be given to the level of cover you require before conducting an online search to determine how much you could save.