My Car Insurance Life |

David Thomson asked:


While the majority of homeowners switch around when it comes to getting the cheapest deals on their gas and electricity many are failing to consider switching when it comes to their car insurance. However just because the deal you got last year on your insurance was the best available, it does not mean that the same will apply this year.

Just as with any type of car insurance when buying online you have to take extreme care when choosing a policy. The easiest ways to get your quotes for the cover is to go with a specialist broker and allow them to search around on your behalf to get you the cheapest deals and the key facts of the policy. By allowing a specialist broker to look for car insurance on your behalf you could make huge savings based on the policy you took out last year. It is a well known fact that insurers will offer low cost insurance to those taking out a first policy with them and then slowly bump up the cost year after year, which means that the 43% who have just renewed their policy year after year might well be paying over the odds.

However just as important as getting cheap premiums for your car insurance is getting the right cover for your circumstances. Insuring a second hand car for fully comprehensive will be costing you more than had you chosen third party fire and theft and providing third party is adequate you could save money. Reading the terms and conditions of the policy is also essential then it comes to taking out insurance as this is where the small print can be found and how much the total cost of the insurance will be along with exclusions.

Paying cheap premiums for your car insurance is ok providing you know what the cover entails and that it is adequate for your particular circumstances. If you go with a specialist broker online then you can be sure that along with searching the top UK insurance companies for the best deals they will also gather together the key facts of the policy. You should go over the terms and conditions with a fine tooth comb to ensure you have all the cover you need, one policy might come with very low premiums but if you then have to start adding on such as windscreen damage and breakdown cover this will boost up the cost considerably.

Comparing premiums for car insurance and switching providers every year should be classed as essential and so should comparing the key facts and small print. Never be tempted to take out insurance solely on the “bargain” premiums without first reading the key facts, instead get tailor made insurance with a specialist broker along with free honest advice. It costs nothing to get advice and to allow a specialist to shop around on your behalf for the quotes, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by getting quality insurance while at the same time making savings.

Anthony Peck asked:


In today’s pressed economy saving money on everything from car insurance to toenail polish is almost a religion. Everyone’s looking for the best way to get a good deal on the things they need to buy, and as time goes by they’re getting more creative about making it happen! Here’s a sneak peek at some of the strangest, oddest and funniest ways people are coming up with to tuck more money away in their savings accounts:

1) Have you considered quitting your job in true “Office Space” style, giving up commuting to and from work and working from home doing piecework? Not only are you absolutely guaranteed never to have to drive back and forth to work again! (These companies deliver the supplies you need straight to your door).

2) Become a hermit. Take that one step further. If you become a complete hermit, growing your own food and eschewing society entirely, you’ll never have to worry about going out in traffic and running the risk of having an accident. And when you pick up a laptop and sign up for an MMORPG like Aeon or World of Warcraft you can still get plenty of social stimulation from the comfort of your soft, comfy computer chair.

3) Follow the example of the Amish and give up cars and modern appliances entirely. Not only will this save you a small fortune in car insurance (it’s impossible to insure that which you don’t have) it can also help you save big on your electric and water bills while they’re at it! And you’ll have some great arm muscles from doing laundry in the laundry tub-that’s a LOT harder than it looks!

4) In true Bridget Jones style, start working for one of the major car insurance companies. Cajole, seduce or blackmail the boss into giving you an employee discount on your coverage-or even handing over a high quality policy for free with a little tweaking of the books. (Just for the record, I don’t recommend you actually try this one.)

5) Cut a deal with your local repair shop. This has absolutely nothing to do with your car insurance premiums and everything to do with one of the nasty little side effects of having car insurance-having to pay your deductible. Deductibles can range anywhere from $200 to $1,000 (or higher) per incident. Raising your deductibles will lower your car insurance rates. Then, you can follow in the footsteps of an Associated Content writer I was reading the other day and cut a deal with your local repair shop. This particular writer had a $1,000 deductible which she “traded” for $1,000 worth of advertising with her local garage.

6) Carpool everywhere. I like this one-economically and fiscally sound! And you get the chance to get up close and personal with all the people in your life who matter the most every…single…day. Hitch rides with your neighbors, your friends and your co-workers. Refuse to go anywhere if you can’t take the bus or the car. Always insist someone else drive when you’re out and about. Then tell your car insurance company all about your low mileage at the end of the year. You may wrap up the year with nobody speaking to you, but your car insurance rates are guaranteed to be absolutely stellar.

Patricia Gabbett asked:


A family in Oregon loyally arms their home with 2 fire extinguishers every year - just in case a fire breaks out.

But one year, the father thought about cutting down “unnecessary” expenses. And so that year, he did not buy even a single fire extinguisher for their Oregon home. 9 months passed without any fire breaking out. Until one night, butane gas leaked from their night lamp which caused a huge, uncontrollable fire.

Their house was burned down into ashes.

As with any preventive measure, we will never appreciate a fire extinguisher or an insurance until something bad happens. But why should we wait for an accident to happen before arming ourselves with either of these items? Nobody wants to experience the tragedy of losing a home or being involved in a car wreck. But when these things happen, it is good to know that you and your properties are insured.

First similarity, both items are cheap. Well, at least cheaper than what you prevent by using it. When fire extinguishers are not used, you have to be thankful that there was no fire to extinguish in that span of time. Similarly, when you pass a year without the need to file for benefit claims from your auto insurance company, you have to be grateful that you were not involved in a car accident.

Second, fire extinguishers come in different variants. You have the option to choose to pick one that extinguishes paper fire or a more expensive one which extinguishes electrical fire. Of course, this depends on what purpose you will use it and where the fire extinguisher will be placed. If it will be left in an industrial zone, it is wise to buy the more expensive extinguisher. If you need one for the home, a paper extinguisher will suffice.

Likewise, car insurances have different types. Depending on what lifestyle you have and how comprehensive the type of coverage you prefer, you could either choose to go for a full coverage car insurance or a specific one like an auto collision insurance. If you are on a tight budget and looking for a discount, you have three options: study hard to get a good grade discount, apply for a women’s discount (if you are female), or wait until you are 25 or older (because 25 year olds and above get lower monthly premiums).

Lastly, a fire extinguisher is easy to use. If there is an emergency, all you have to do is to remove the pin, point the nozzle towards the fire and hold the lever down until the chemical is released. But though this is a simple step by step process, it is even easier to apply for car insurance. You have two options: log on to the internet and wait for car insurance quotes online or you could visit the insurance company in person and apply for insurance right then and there.

Why don’t you try it yourself and see how fast it is to get a personal auto insurance assessment and a corresponding auto quote for your own car?

Cliff Berman asked:


Part of the beauty of living in a country that has fifty states rather than just one is the fact that you’re free to move from place to place without having to spend hours (and dollars) convincing some government bigwigs to give you permission to do it. If you want to pack your bags and move from New York to San Francisco all you have to do is look for an apartment. You cut off your electric, turn on your California phone number…and make some changes in your car insurance.

Car insurance, like many other things, is regulated by state rather than federal government. That means that the regulations that dictate how much, how little and what kind of coverage you’re required to have are going to change dramatically as you travel from the east coast to the west-and if you’re not ready for it you may find yourself underinsured when the time comes.

The first thing you should do when you hop state lines (after you find your plates and cups, of course, is find out what the mandatory state limits are for minimum coverage. Your mandatory minimum coverage (also known as minimum liability coverage) is the amount of money your insurance company will pay out if you’re involved in an accident and will look something like this:

25/50/25

(25,000/50,000/25,000)

The first number represents the bodily injury liability maximum coverage for a single person injured in an accident; for example, if you were driving and hit a car holding a driver and no passengers that would be the amount your car insurance provider would pay to cover their medical bills and any recuperative therapy. The second number stands for bodily injury liability for two or more people; in other words, any passengers in their car (or yours) injured as a result of the accident. In the example above (which is the actual minimum insurance requirement guideline for the state of Alabama) the insurance company will pay up to $50,000 in medical bills.

The third number shows how much your insurance company will pay for any property damaged-other vehicles, guard rails, street signs, street lights (yes, it’s actually happened-something other than a tractor-trailer successfully sent a street light crashing to the ground after an accident), gas station windows or anything else that happened to get in the way.

These liability minimums are going to change from state to state, meaning you’d be wise to find out what your new state minimums are before contacting your insurer. Your old policy limits might not be up to par for your new home, and while most agents will be able to advise you on what changes you need to make to your policies every once in a while a new agent will slip through the cracks and sell you a policy that doesn’t meet state standards. Unfortunately, that’s still going to be considered your fault-even if you asked.

The good news is, there are plenty of resources available on the web that will help you find your state’s guidelines. Once you have those numbers in hand you’ll officially be ready to become a resident of Monkey’s Eyebrow, Arizona-or anyplace else you want to call home.

Cliff Berman asked:


It seems like every time you turn around these days there’s an ad for another company that’s launching their own version of the hybrid. The Prius isn’t the only player on the market anymore-Honda, Ford, Mercedes, Saturn and Lexus are all launching their own hybrid models as part of their 2010 vehicle lineup. Having that many hybrids on the road has made car insurance companies stand up and take notice, which means that buying a hybrid isn’t just the smart choice anymore. It’s also the best choice to shave up to 10% or more off your annual insurance premiums!

Save the Earth…

You’re probably already familiar with the multitude of ways that hybrids are taking a bite out of pollution and making us a “green” society, but for those of you who haven’t bothered to do your research and are still tooling around in your good ol’ gas guzzler here are the highlights. The engine in the electric hybrid is powered by both gasoline and a rechargeable battery. Once the engine starts the battery takes over for as long as it lasts. Then, the gasoline starts flowing again until you get where you’re going and recharge the battery.

Repeat ad nauseum.

This has two major perks. First and foremost, since you’re using much, much less gas (the Toyota Prius gets something close to 48 miles to the gallon out on the highway) we’re burning through our natural resources at a much slower pace. You’re also giving off fewer emissions, which means that although we’re still continuing to eat a hole through our ozone layer we’re at least doing it at a much slower pace. If we’re really lucky we’ll be able to watch the amount of smog in cities like L.A. drop dramatically, but that could take a while.

Whatever your ecological motivation, you can rest assured you’re making the environmentally sound choice when you slip behind the wheel of a hybrid. Which brings us to…

…and Save Your Piggy Bank

If you’re like most people, you’re looking for ways to cut your expenses and make your budget stretch farther in today’s pressed economy. Even though the hybrid is going to cost more direct from the dealer than its gas guzzling cousins, it’s going to make the difference up in the amount of money it’s going to save you on gas and car insurance.

Think about it for a minute. If you’re getting 48 miles to the gallon, how often are you going to have to stop and fill up your tank? Not nearly as often as you used to. (Especially if you can talk your boss into letting you cut your commute, but that’s a story for another day!) When you’re filling your tank once a week, or once every other week, rather than every couple of days, your bank account is going to thank you.

Your checkbook’s also going to love the discounts most car insurance companies offer hybrid drivers. You could potentially save 10% (or more) by picking up a hybrid, so what are you waiting for? After all, economically and ecologically sound choices don’t come together very often. Take advantage of it while you’ve got it!

Patricia Gabbett asked:


Car insurance can be an added burden for the most of us. As if cars are not expensive enough, State laws just have to require us to get car insurance. You do not have to stress yourself over this issue, there are ways by which you can get discounts and save more. Understanding how car insurance works can give you an advantage over car insurance companies.

How do car insurance companies assess you? There are factors that may affect your car insurance rate. One of them is your age; younger drivers are charged more than older ones because of the tendency for younger drivers to be more reckless. Your gender can also be a basis for your car insurance rate. Female drivers are charged less than male drivers because of the assumption based on statistics that male drivers are get into accidents more than women. Car insurance companies also charge higher rates for people who cover long miles. Insurance companies assume that the longer you are on the road, the riskier it is for you.

Now how can you save money for your car insurance? There are simple ideologies that you need to absorb first and foremost. One, get married with your car insurance company. This entails that you should carefully pick out the car insurance company whose services you are sure to be satisfied with. You need to think long-term because most insurance companies do. Do not switch insurance companies every so often just to save on your monthly payments. You might be losing the chance to apply for additional savings that your insurance company is offering after some time that you are with them.

Two, discounts. There are a lot of discounts that you can ask from your car insurance company depending, of course, on their offers. Some companies offer discounts for drivers who have relatively clean driving records. Some companies offer discounts for students who have maintained high grades. Some companies offer discounts for drivers who have short miles to cover. There are also companies who offer what you might call as a package deal but what they would term as “umbrella policy.” This is where you can get your insurance policies from the same company in a bundle. For instance, you can buy your home and car insurance from the same company and they will have you pay lower rates.

Third and final, pay on time. Your paying record or credit score will make a good impression on your insurance company. If you pay on time, there is a big chance that your car insurance company will offer to make you pay lower rates because this will reflect that you are a responsible and fair client. Your credit score will include paying your rent, electric bill, water bill, etc. on time. You can also opt to raise your deductible if you are in a seriously tight budget. Deductible refers to the amount that you will shoulder when you make a claim. Keep in mind to select policies according to your needs and financial capacity.

Rakesh Gaikwad asked:


These days everyone you meet is trying to find a way to make their lives a bit more eco friendly, and there are lots and lots of ways to get it done. Years ago, doing your part to save the environment involved recycling bottles and changing all the light bulbs in your house to those energy saving bulbs. Now here we are years later, and there are all sorts of new and exciting ways to preserve the earth. Holiday businesses give you the chance to make up for the carbon emissions that come from your plane ride by paying a small fee that can be used to help plant more trees.

Grocery stores have introduced incentives for you to save and reuse your plastic shopping bags for you next trip to the store. Banks provide you with the opportunity to have a small amount deducted from your account and donated to a number of eco friendly causes. It seems that everywhere you look, there are more and more ways to add a little more green to your life and now that even extends on to your automobile.

Driving motor vehicles has never been perceived as environment friendly. Actually, motoring around in your car was determined to be at the top of the list of the worst things you could do to the environment. This was especially the case with any four-wheel drive vehicles. These vehicles that were once considered to be reserved for country folk and then the latest accessory for all the young trendy football mums, were enemies of the environment.

Now, things have begun to change. First, there are the new lines of green cars that are now available on the market, including fuel hybrids that are suppose to cause less pollution than cars of the past. Then we have the little city cars running on electricity that produce way less pollution. For a brief time, auto-gas was offered as an option for a lower cost and less pollution.

These days there are websites popping up all over the Internet with advice on the green car selection process to help you pick the ideal green car options for you. It is not just the young crowd getting involved anymore; green cars are becoming popular with folks of all ages.

Therefore, it is not a surprise with the way the world is heading, that with the addition of green cars so comes green car insurance.

Green car insurance was built on the idea of “reduce, recycle and reuse” and remains true by recycling as much of the metal from a car as possible, once a write off is issued.

They also encourage their customers to use reconditioned parts for their cars when possible. This may very well become the new standard in car insurance, with customers being rewarded for their action with discounts. If the green trend continues as it has been, there is no doubt all of our car insurance will be getting a littler greener.

David Thomson asked:


When purchasing motor insurance, then a broker can generally find you cheaper car insurance than you would be able to find for yourself. This is due to the experience they have and the ability of being able to shop around within the market place. They will have access to insurance companies which the individual does not.

Many motorists make the mistake of just renewing their insurance; however they can often get cheaper car insurance if they change the provider they are currently with. While you might have got a good deal on your insurance the previous year it does not mean you will again. In fact insurance companies are known to set you off on an excellent rate and then boost it up each consecutive year. With this in mind if you have been renewing your policy year after year you could be paying much more than you need to.

While the majority of households now know they can save money by switching their electric supplier they should remember the same goes when wanting cheaper car insurance. However it is clear they are failing to do so with recent research highlighting that 43% of motorists have remained with their provider for a period of three of more years. 24% of individuals have remained with their insurance company for ten years or more which could mean they are seriously paying too much for their car insurance.

When it comes to saving money on your motor insurance there are several things you can do to help bring it down. Even before you buy you can help yourself. The bigger the engine size of the car the more it will cost to insure so keep this mind when looking for a new car. Also a sporty model or one that is classed as a “super car” will cost more when it comes to the insurance so if it is only a matter of looks then consider again. Adding extra features to keep the car safe goes a long way to saving money when it comes to finding car insurance much cheaper. By installing such features as car alarms, steering wheel locks, etching the windows or fitting a tracking device can all save you money. A simple thing like keeping a car in a garage instead of just on a driveway can also help when it comes to saving money.

Also bear in mind when approaching a broker that they will be able to go to search with insurers tailored to their specific needs. For example there are lenders who will tailor insurance specifically for those who are young, old or for women drivers. Very often insurers will offer cheaper insurance for people in these circumstances and this is where you can get the best deal. Just about anyone can make savings and get cheaper car insurance if they allow a broker to look around on their behalf. Once you have the quotes to compare for the cheapest then you also have to make sure you take a look at the terms and conditions before signing on the dotted line.

David Thomson asked:


The theft of belongings and electrical equipment from cars is on the increase and more so now with the introduction of and gain in popularity of the costly satellite navigation systems that are being installed in many cars. Thieves are targeting this piece of expensive equipment which has lead to more and more people claiming on their car insurance.

However a simple measure is all that is needed to deter the thieves when it comes to targeting your sat nav system. By having it security marked it will be less desirable to a thief as they can be traced back to the owner more easily. Security marking of your belongings doesn’t take long and some police forces across the country are for a limited time offering to do this free of charge, so it is worthwhile checking with your police force to see if they are offering this. If not then crimes prevention unit in your area can give you free advice on where to go to get your system marked.

Having your system security coded can save you money in the long run as if you claim on your car insurance for the theft then this will boost your premium up. With security coding you are less likely to claim. Security coding simply means that you have your post code etched into the system and it is a quick and easy process.

If property such as this is security coded then it is classed as “hot” property and thieves are very wary of taking it as it is harder to sell on to others and greatly reduces the amount that the thieves can get for item. However in the case that a thief risks it and takes the system there is a far better chance that it can be recovered and returned.

It seems that the female motorists are being targeted more than the male, thieves are taking advantage of the single female motorist and police forces say that women drivers in particular should not only have their equipment security marked to avoid being targeted but should also be extremely careful when driving alone.

Always lock the car doors as thieves are targeting and getting into cars and women are being assaulted and robbed. So not only should you security code your sat nav and other belongings such as DVD players to save you money on your insurance claims, take precautions that you stay safe and secure when out driving alone.

Cliff Berman asked:


Yes! It’s finally here! Well, almost. Graduation is right around the corner, and with it the promise of freedom, opportunity and the chance to get out from underneath the thumb of your well-meaning but often overbearing parents, teachers, coaches, professors and the annoying boy that sits behind you in history and can’t…quit…kicking…the…back…of…your…chair. You’ve got a lot to do, and not a lot of time to do it in. But wait! Pull back the reins and slow those horses down, because before you go too much further it’s time to start thinking about buying your own car insurance.

Okay, granted, car insurance isn’t nearly as interesting as job hunting and apartment hunting and making fantastic plans with friends to spend a weekend at a cute little hidey-hole in the Florida Keys. It is, however, equally as important. As soon as you’re an “adult” and free of the confines of the student scene you’re not going to be covered by your parents’ insurance policy anymore. That means it’s going to be up to you to make sure you’re protected if you’re involved in an accident.

With great power (or in this case, great freedom) comes great responsibility-and, for most people, limited financial resources. The average entry level salary starts between $25,000 and $30,000, which, by the time you’ve figured in rent, food, electricity, telephone, cable, Internet and water bills, along with the cost of your car payment, gasoline and, occasionally, doing something besides watching “Dollhouse” on a Friday night, that doesn’t go as far as you’d think it would. You’re going to be pinching pennies for the first couple of years following graduation. Those years aren’t the time to be involved in an accident without car insurance coverage.

The average car costs $20,000. The average emergency room trip is$1,049 (BEFORE the doctor starts writing prescriptions). Add those up, multiply by the number of vehicles and people involved in an accident and solve for X, where X equals the amount of money you’re going to be held legally responsible for after an accident. The cost of an accident involving two cars, where each car holds a driver and a passenger and in which both cars are totaled, can exceed $44,000 dollars.

That’s probably not a bill you want hanging over your head just as you’re getting a feel for being an adult. On the other hand, a good car insurance policy that offers comprehensive and collision coverage, as well as personal liability and, if you haven’t already obtained your own health insurance, medical expense protection for you after an accident, can whittle that cost down to $500 or less. Can you think of something better to do with $43,500?

Probably.

Along with protection from bills resulting from accidents you cause, a good car insurance policy can also protect you from accidents caused by other people who aren’t as well informed about the need for car insurance as you are. Recent studies estimate that by 2010, over 16% of drivers on the road are going to be driving without insurance. If you’re involved in an accident with one of them you’re going to be pulling teeth trying to get back the amount of money you’ve pumped into your car-and the expense of getting that car back on the road so you can get to work.

Car insurance is one of the most important choices you’re going to make after your big day, when the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” have finally died in the air and it’s time to move on with your life. It’s better for everyone to just take a deep breath, close your eyes and sign on the dotted line for your own car insurance policy as soon as possible.