Total Pageviews

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Car Insurance Tips to Remember

Lost your car? Well, provided your car has been insured, you can always get a reimbursement. That's the good thing about car insurance. It means insurance against loss due to theft or traffic accidents. Getting car insurance would guarantee payment of expenses incurred when your vehicle is involved in accidents, or is subjected to vandalism or theft. It also ensures you are able to cover the costs of potential damages or injuries.
Zero percent car insurance
Car insurance dealers may often make announcements of zero percent auto financing, and you may be tempted to go for this great deal. It would be a dream to drive away a new car with zero percent financing. This means a $15,000 car may fetch you savings in thousands, versus five-year car insurance with interest. However, you should know that this 0% car financing is not available for everyone. Many people even make the mistake of buying a more expensive car with no cost car insurance, thinking there will be no interest that they have to pay. Unfortunately, this happening is very rare.
Zero percent car insurance takes credit report into consideration to qualify for this insurance financing, and the guidelines for credit are extremely demanding too. There would be so many conditions of eligibility along with this offer that eventually only a few can actually get a great deal with the dealers. It is seen that car insurance with an interest rate offers a much better deal. Most of the time, this zero percent car insurance is offered only on some select vehicles; mostly on slow vehicles as the dealer's main aim is to get rid of the vehicles.
If you are a first time buyer, or you have a limited budget for your car, you should carefully investigate the different insurance policies available, as some might suit you better financially. So do some research, as it is possible to get cheap motor insurance as well as keep the premium on the policy very low.
Tips on car insurance
Some important tips to remember are:
o Higher excess: You can opt yourself to pay a higher excess in the event of an insurance claim.
o Do thorough research on the internet, as online car insurance is a lot cheaper.
o You get cheaper insurance if you get an approved immobilizer fitted in your car.
o Get an insurance broker, as he can help you pick the right insurance.
o If you are a student, you may gain some concession from the companies.
o You can also get a cheap car with a small engine, as the more costly the car is, the higher the premium will be.
o By building and protecting a 'no claims' bonus you will have a great impact on your insurance rates.
o If your car was very cheap, it may be cost-effective to have third-party, fire and theft insurance, instead of fully comprehensive cover.
o Never give your price first, and never take the first quote from an insurer.
o If you can, get your own copy of Credit Report and show it to the insurance companies, as they will charge you to get it for you during the approval process.
Visit the Car Insurance [http://www.guideto-car-insurance.info] guide for more information, and for related info go to Boat Insurance [http://www.boat-insurance-now.info]


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/234573

New Car Insurance Costs

More to the sticker price than meets the eye!
Buying a new car can be a very exciting and overwhelming experience. Sorting through options, makes, models and features is enough to make your head spin. Not to mention the financing and car insurance costs. However, being prepared before you shop can help make the buying process quicker and easier for you!
Identifying the ideal car for you.
Before heading out to the car dealership, make a list of what you are looking for in a new car. As you are writing the list, think about the same concerns a car insurance company would consider when quoting you a rate, such as:
  • How do you use your car?
  • How many passengers do you typically carry?
  • How often do you drive your car?
  • Where do you drive?
These factors will help you pinpoint the best car for you, while also helping to potentially keep your car insurance premium down.
Features to consider before you buy.
Make a list of all the features and options that are important to you, such as head and leg room, transmission type, engine, trunk size, airbags, security system, anti-lock brakes and other safety features. Car insurance companies often give discounts for some of these items; saving you significant money on your overall quote.
Also, check out auto manufacture's websites. Many have special pages that let you "shop" for your dream car - giving you the opportunity to select the features that are important to you, while also providing you with the true cost of these "extra perks."
The cost.
Before you buy you should always factor in all costs involved with buying a new car, including sticker price, gas, maintenance, financing rates, taxes and car insurance.
How much you pay for your car has a powerful effect on your car insurance premium. A luxury car with all the latest safety features will typically cost more to insure than a no-frill economy car, due in part, because the higher-priced car may be more expensive to repair or is more likely to be stolen.
Yet some cars do consistently get better deals on car insurance rates than others. For example, a $14,000 Dodge Neon costs about the same amount to insure as a $34,000 Volvo XC70. According to Edmunds.com, the Dodge Neon would set you back an average of $4,410 in premiums over five years, while the Volvo would cost $4,605.
Why, you may ask?
The Volvo tends to receive a bigger insurance discount because it inflicts less damage to other cars in an accident, suffers less damage, has a lower theft rate and protects its passengers better in an accident.
According to one national insurance provider, the Dodge Neon does worse than the average car in all three categories, equaling the reason why it costs so much to insure.
Do your research!
Not only do you need to look at what your new car has to offer, you also need to do some background research as well.
Car insurance premiums are based partly on the price of the vehicle, which affects the replacement cost if it is stolen or "totaled" in an accident. How expensive the vehicle is to repair - including parts and labor - can also impact your insurance rate. In addition, surcharges may apply to vehicles that are frequently stolen or involved in accidents.
To find out if that next dream car might be more than you bargained for, visit Highway Loss Data Institute's website. Here you will find industry-wide information on injury claims, collision repair costs and theft rates by vehicle model.
Comparison shop before you buy.
Before you make your final decision, visit Insurance.com's auto quote comparison tool to find the best car insurance rate. There, you'll be able to compare car insurance rates from up to 12 insurance providers, helping you save time and money on your auto insurance.
Presently, Insurance.com offers consumers comparative car insurance quotes in every state except Massachusetts, Alaska and Hawaii.
Please note that this description/explanation is intended only as a guideline.
For more information about auto insurance please go to: Insurance.com
Author: Rob Sliver


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/173675

Are Car Insurance Costs Killing You?

Car insurance is one of the most irritating of bills for the average family. It's getting more and more expensive to insure your car just as it is getting more and more expensive to run your car.
With fuel costs escalating out of control car running costs are becoming a serious burden for the average family, especially families with more than one car. For this reason more and more people are looking for ways to control the costs associated with their family transport.
And whereas you can't bring the price of gas down you can do something to reduce your car insurance costs.
Car insurance rates are a reflection of the perceived risk that the insurance company takes on when it insures you. If the company sees the risks as higher then the insurance premium will be higher. If they see the risks of insuring you as lower then this also will reflect in your car insurance premium.
So reducing your premium is all about doing things to demonstrate that the risk when insuring your car is low.
7 Tips To Reducing Car Insurance Costs.
1. A major factor for any car insurance company in assessing the insurance premium you pay comes down to the type of car you drive. 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.
And there are always certain types of cars which attract thieves more than others, and this is reflected in the premiums you pay to insure them.
Your insurance company can tell you which types of cars are cheaper or more expensive to insure, so before you buy a car make some enquiries about whether that type of car is a high insurance premium car.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Don't just pay your premium each time it comes around without investigating 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.
6. 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.
7. Always look online for a competitive quote. Most of the major players and brokers are represented online and it is extremely competitive. It is very easy to get an online quote, just go to Google and search for car insurance quote and start looking.
These are just a few of the things that you can do, there are plenty more. Educate yourself about your car insurance, find out all you can about it and be prepared to shop around once you know exactly what you do need, and what you don't. You will find cheaper insurance.
Travis Waack has authored several articles on several topics. You can read more of his articles and research related insurance information at [http://insurance.online-001.com/insurance.html]


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/113004
Car insurance is one of the most irritating of bills for the average family. It's getting more and more expensive to insure your car just as it is getting more and more expensive to run your car.
With fuel costs escalating out of control car running costs are becoming a serious burden for the average family, especially families with more than one car. For this reason more and more people are looking for ways to control the costs associated with their family transport.
And whereas you can't bring the price of gas down you can do something to reduce your car insurance costs.
Car insurance rates are a reflection of the perceived risk that the insurance company takes on when it insures you. If the company sees the risks as higher then the insurance premium will be higher. If they see the risks of insuring you as lower then this also will reflect in your car insurance premium.
So reducing your premium is all about doing things to demonstrate that the risk when insuring your car is low.
7 Tips To Reducing Car Insurance Costs.
1. A major factor for any car insurance company in assessing the insurance premium you pay comes down to the type of car you drive. 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.
And there are always certain types of cars which attract thieves more than others, and this is reflected in the premiums you pay to insure them.
Your insurance company can tell you which types of cars are cheaper or more expensive to insure, so before you buy a car make some enquiries about whether that type of car is a high insurance premium car.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Don't just pay your premium each time it comes around without investigating 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.
6. 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.
7. Always look online for a competitive quote. Most of the major players and brokers are represented online and it is extremely competitive. It is very easy to get an online quote, just go to Google and search for car insurance quote and start looking.
These are just a few of the things that you can do, there are plenty more. Educate yourself about your car insurance, find out all you can about it and be prepared to shop around once you know exactly what you do need, and what you don't. You will find cheaper insurance.
Travis Waack has authored several articles on several topics. You can read more of his articles and research related insurance information at [http://insurance.online-001.com/insurance.html]


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/113004

Learn How To Buy A Car And Car Insurance Without Breaking Your Budget

Do you ever wonder why different cars cost you different amounts for auto insurance premiums? Why is it that a new Corvette may cost you $1,600 dollars a month in auto insurance and an older Buick Regal may only cost you $90 per month? The new car insurance cost versus the old car insurance cost is a subject that you must review before you buy any car. Review insurance costs before you buy and you will not get caught in a financial trap.
New cars cost more to insure than old cars for three reasons. First, an auto theft of a new and exotic car costs much more than the auto theft of an older and average style car. This is because of the large value difference of the new car versus old car. For example, a new Chevy Caprice is much more costly to insure than an older Chevy Caprice. It simply costs more money to replace a new, expensive car than an older, less expensive car.
Second, the cost to repair a new car is much more than the cost to repair an old car. As such, this fact shall also increase your insurance premium cost for a new car. For example, if a new Chevy Caprice is damaged in an accident, the auto repair shop will charge you much more money for repairs than if the subject car were a ten-year old Chevy Caprice. For this reason, your insurer will charge you much more insurance premiums on a new vehicle than an older vehicle because of such repair costs.
Third, the style and type of car also shall greatly affect the cost of automobile insurance premiums that your car insurance company will charge you. Insurance companies use actuarial statistic tables which show them the past loss experience on particular styles and types of cars. They use these tables, to help calculate what premiums to charge their customers in the future. Statistical tables show these insurance companies that owners of certain styles and types of cars, such as sports cars, engage in more risky driving behavior than owners of cars that are of average type and style.
For example, insurance company statistical tables show that the insurer has experienced more losses with sports cars than with average cars. It is because the owner of a Corvette will probably drive such car faster and riskier than the owner of a Toyota Camry. With such speed and risk also comes along more losses for the insurance companies. With such risk and loss increase, the insurance company must then increase their return and charge more for auto insurance premiums.
Another example of how the type and style of vehicle may present an insurance company with more risk is the off-road style vehicles such as the Hummer line of vehicles. These vehicles are designed to perform in the off-road type environment. They are raised up off the ground more than regular automobiles for under carriage clearance. Additionally, they also have four-wheel drive capability.
With such design capabilities, the statistical tables show that the insurance company has experienced more losses with these types of cars than regular cars. This is because the owners of such vehicles will engage in off-road driving which is both risky to the vehicle and driver. In fact, some insurance companies may bar recovery for such damages, when the owner of the insured vehicle was damaged while any engaging in risky, off-road driving. Again, with more risk, the insurance company will increase return and thus auto insurance premiums. Now that you know that certain styles and types of cars cost more to insure than others, you have to be smart about what kind of vehicle you are going to buy.
Rather than take a guess at what you believe a vehicle's insurance costs are, call your car insurance company and ask your insurance agent for a free car insurance quote for the exact type of vehicle that you are interested in buying. You can get a definitive answer to your question of whether or not you can afford both the car and the insurance premiums required to cover your car against insured losses.
The time to make such assessment is not after you purchase a vehicle. At that point in time, it is too late. The time to make such assessment is way in advance of your purchasing an automobile. You definitely want to be able to make both car payments as well as insurance premium payments. Get a free auto insurance quote ahead of time and avoid financial problems.
By receiving affordable auto insurance you will be able to get the right car for you and your budget.
You may click the following link to learn more about Alaska auto insurance. There, you may also get a free auto insurance quote by entering your zip code in seconds!


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6287028

Top 10 Misunderstood Things About Car Insurance

After spending many years in the insurance industry we have come up with a top 10 list of most misunderstood things about car insurance.  These car insurance myths are some of the most common questions that most people have about direct car insurance either buying or reviewing their  auto insurance coverage.  Its better to find out now before you have a claim and  it's too late.
  • I just got my 1st speeding ticket my insurance rates are going to go way up.
Reality:  If this is your first ticket your rates probably won't even change.  Most direct car insurance providers will give you a pass if you don't have any other tickets or claims in the past 3 to 5 years depending on the company.
  • That new Plasma TV I bought last year won't affect my Car Insurance
Reality:  If you didn't pay the credit card  you charged it on then it just might.  Almost all insurance companies now use some form of credit scoring when determining not only if you will qualify for insurance, but also what you will pay.  There can easily be 50% difference in rates for a person with excellent credit to someone with poor credit.
  • I just slammed my car door into my lawnmower parked in my garage, my homeowners policy will cover it
Reality:  Your homeowner's coverage has nothing to do with covering your car.  The only way your car will be covered is if you have Comprehensive (Comp) coverage for your car.  And then only after you pay you deductible.
  • I just cracked up my friends car and I tell him don't worry my insurance will cover it
Reality: It will but only after your friends policy pays first.  So let's say your friend has a $500 collision deductible and you have a $250 deductible.  You would have to give your friend the $500 for his deductible as his insurance company is Primary.  Meaning your insurance will only pay after his policy limits are exhausted.  So just remember in this scenario your deductible does not matter its going to be based on your friends.
  •  If you're riding your bicycle and get hit by a car your car insurance won't get involved
Reality:  If you get hurt or killed while riding your bike or even walking down the street you maybe surprised to learn that you may be covered by your direct car insurance policy.  If the person driving the car didn't have any insurance or not enough insurance to cover your injuries, your Uninsured or Underinsured coverage would pay for your claim. 
  •  Someone just broke into my car and stole all of my personal belongings out of it i.e. Cd's, Cell phone, Christmas Presents, my car insurance will pay for it.
Reality:  Your car insurance does not cover your personal belongings left inside the car.  You are going to have to file a claim with your Homeowners or Renters insurance policy to be compensated for these items.  The general rule of thumb is your car insurance will only pay for items that are attached to the vehicle
  •  I am going to be charged more for my  Car Insurance because my car is red, blue, black, pink...
Reality:  The color of your car has absolutely nothing to do with your rates.  If you like red buy a red car, if you like black buy a black car.  Don't ever let this silly nonsense stop you from buying a car.   
  •  I didn't have a car for the last 2 years, this won't affect my rates.
Reality:  Not having continuous car insurance is frowned upon by most direct car insurance companies now a day's.  Some companies won't penalize you for not having prior insurance.  If you don't have prior insurance make sure you have a good excuse like you took the bus, or you were in the military, or some other legitimate reason.  Oh and by the way I couldn't afford my insurance is not on that list
  • Telling a little white lie on my insurance application won't affect my coverage if I ever have a claim
Reality:  This is one of the worst things a person can do.  If you lie on your insurance application there is a good chance you won't have any coverage when you need it the most.  You think they won't find out?  Remember these 2 things when insurance company is on the hook for a ton of money.  #1 They are going to start asking questions and the first thing they look at is your application.  Wouldn't you if you were them?  And reason #2, the insurance companies have more money than god and they have people working full time to find this stuff out. 
  •  Buying a cheaper more reasonable car will be less to insure the a more expensive car. 
Reality: There are a lot of different factors insurance companies use to determine rates, however there are many times were the rate for the more expensive car is less than the cheaper car.  One of the biggest factors for the Comp & Collision coverage's are how much do replacement parts cost.  Sometimes on those cheaper cars or the more exotic cars the replacement parts can cost a lot to replace.
So just remember the next time your online looking for a cheaper insurance policy, to consider some of your options.  There are hundred's of direct auto insurance companies out there looking to get in your pocket, just make sure when the time comes you can get into theirs.
Bryan Waldo
Bryan Waldo has built his entire career helping people. He spent 10 years as an insurance agent which taught him about people and how to solve problems. He can be found at direct auto insurance or direct car insurance


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4819595

Car Insurance Basics You Need to Know

Car owners certainly have their cars insured. But, do they really understand the insurance policy? You must have had certain intentions in mind while taking the policy, but are you sure that your car will be protected against those risks? So, here are the basics you ought to know about car insurance that will help you make a smart decision.
Is Car Insurance a Must?
The Indian law says that any vehicle on the Indian road needs to have a valid insurance policy that at least covers the cost of damage that the vehicle may cause to other people or vehicles.
In case of any damage covered under the terms of the insurance contract (and as long as there is no fraud involved), the insurer will bear the amount rather than you having to pay from your pocket. In most cases, an insurance policy covers costs caused by accident damage, theft, fire and natural calamities like floods, earthquakes or cyclones.
Forget the compulsion; even without it, it is advisable to have your new car insured. It's not always the neighbour who gets hurt; your car too could meet with an accident. It is truly worth spending some amount on car insurance. Auto insurance policies need to be renewed on an annual basis.
Types of Car Insurance
Basically, two types of auto insurance policies exist: third party and comprehensive. Let's look at them in detail.
Third Party Insurance
This type of insurance covers the damage caused by your car to a third party. It is the minimum that you need to have as per the Indian law, so that, if another individual or vehicle is damaged as a result of your driving, the third party needs to be compensated for it. For example, if you meet with an accident while driving, the insurer will pay for the damage caused to the other vehicle and individuals in that car. However, you or your car will not be covered under this policy.
The premium here is calculated based on your car's engine capacity. As this policy covers only third party damage, the premium is relatively less when compared to a complete coverage policy.
Comprehensive Insurance
The name explains it; it is comprehensive. This auto insurance policy covers the damage caused to you as well as to the third party. In met with an accident, medical expenditure of you, passengers in your car as well as the other party's medical expenditure gets covered. The insurer also takes care of expenses caused to both your car and the other vehicle.
As per this policy, the insurer also pays for any damage suffered by your vehicle in case of any natural calamity, theft, burglary, terrorist activity or any repair in transit. There are insurers who even cover car accessories like the music system and A/C in your car.
The premium here is calculated based on the insurable value of your vehicle. The premium comprehensive auto insurance is usually higher as the coverage is wide compared to a third party policy.
What Coverage Do I Need?
There are two things you need to keep in mind while going for choosing car insurance:
1) What's My Capacity to Pay the Premium?
Third party insurance is the legal minimum cover you need to have in India. In case you want to opt for something higher, think of what kind of risk you can afford to protect. You may already have a car loan, any other loan to repay or any other financial obligations to meet. Calculate and find out if you would be able to pay off the premium due for your car insurance.
2) Additional Scope of Coverage
There is additional scope of coverage as long as you're willing to more for the kind of situation you would want to cover. For complete protection, you may want an all-inclusive policy for your car. The premium amount differs based on the coverage you opt for. The types of coverage usually include the following:
  • Personal injury protection: You and passengers in your car get covered in case of an accident.There's yet another feature in case you want coverage for your car driver.
  • Uninsured/Underinsured coverage:If hit by another vehicle that hasn't been insured, the insurer pays for damage caused to you and your car.
  • Collision:In case of a collision with another car or object, the policy covers repairs to your car. All repair expenses of your vehicle excluding the voluntary amount that you want to pay on your own is covered.
  • Car accessories:This additional cover covers damage caused to your car accessories like the music system and A/C.
As your car grows older, its value too goes down and so does the premium for your car insurance if you have opted for a comprehensive policy. However, in case of a third party auto insurance, the premium amount remains constant as the amount decided is based on the engine size which is always the same.
Deepthi Alvares
Get more information on Car Insurance in India and Car Loan in India


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4767989