My Car Insurance Life |

Kade Phillips asked:


When they first appeared on the roads, people were puzzled. The cars were very different from their gas guzzling predecessors - even looked different. Word began to spread, and today, a nation is convinced: hybrid vehicles have a bright future.

With their efficient fuel economy and environment-friendly operation, hybrids have captured the imaginations of an entire generation. In October 2005, the public was given another reason to considering purchasing one: discounts on auto insurance rates. During that month, Farmers Insurance Group of Companies announced a broad 5% reduction in auto insurance premiums for all policyholders who drove hybrids. They became the first insurance company in the U.S. to do so. In February of the following year, Travelers Insurance Company launched an across-the-board 10% discount on their auto insurance rates for drivers of hybrid vehicles.

Today, millions of other drivers, insured with different auto insurers wait anxiously for their own premiums to be reduced. As hybrids become more popular each year and their number continues to grow on the road, other insurers are likely considering making similar moves in their customers’ rates. Below, you’ll learn why Farmers Insurance and Travelers Insurance lowered their rates, why other insurers have not yet done the same and the outlook for hybrid owners’ auto insurance premiums in the years to come.

Reasons Why Low Cost Auto Insurance May be Available for Hybrids

Auto insurance companies calculate the rates they charge their policyholders based upon a set of criteria. These can include the age of the driver, driving record, aversion to risk while driving and other factors. If they offer a policy to a driver of a normal vehicle, they use formulas to determine what the likelihood is for that driver to make a future claim. Drivers who are considered “safe” or less likely to be involved in any activity for which a claim can be made are offered a policy with lower cost premiums.

Experts in the auto insurance industry claim that the reasons why some insurers can offer low cost auto insurance rates to those who drive hybrids is due to their driving profiles. In effect, the assumption is that people who drive hybrid vehicles are likely to take less risks on the road. They’re considered more safety-conscious than their peers who drive non-hybrid cars. Further, drivers of hybrids tend to be older than drivers of other classes of vehicles. These people can be placed into a “preferred class” by their auto insurer. They’re considered “better risks” who are less-likely to make claims in the future. The lower the likelihood of claims from a driver, the lower the premiums usually extended on the policy - therefore, low cost car insurance may be possible from certain auto insurers.

Why Some Auto Insurers Won’t Cover Hybrids

Despite the attention-getting moves made by Farmers Insurance and Travelers Insurance, many auto insurers are leery of lowering rates for their own customers who drive hybrids. They contend that hybrid vehicles are still relatively new. They’re more likely to need repairs. Plus, hybrids use different electrical components than do non-hybrid vehicles. Auto insurers such as State Farm have argued that these electrical components may cause harm in the event of a traffic accident. Combined, some car insurance companies claim that there is not sufficient evidence that definitively shows that hybrid cars and the people who drive them pose less risk to the insurer. So, depending on your insurer, low cost car insurance may or may not be available to you.

The State Of Auto Insurance For Hybrids

Hybrid vehicles continue to gain popularity. This is due to their efficient fuel economy (arguably a very attractive feature as gasoline prices rise), and the fact that hybrids are far more friendly to the environment. Many drivers want to avoid cars that burn fuel and add pollution. So, they purchase a hybrid. Federal tax credits for drivers of hybrid cars may also be a motivator. As more people begin driving hybrids, it’s likely there will be increased pressure for other auto insurance companies to lower rates. Ultimately, many insurers may feel compelled to follow the lead of Farmers Insurance and Travelers Insurance in offering low cost auto insurance to hybrid owners because none of them want to be seen as environmentally insensitive. There’s a lot to be gained by an association with a good cause.

rutherbob asked:


Car Insurance quotes are available with every car insurance company.  The easiest and fastest way to get car insurance quotes is to download them from the internet.  They are generally free and give comparative costs, which are enlightening.  It is advisable to check these car insurance quotes with your trusted local car insurance agent, who can guide you through the ensuing dangers and pitfalls, in your search for the right insurance policy.

When you decide on the type of vehicle, you wish to purchase, get several car insurance quotes online, free. Downloads should take no more than a few seconds.  Use caution when choosing the right car insurance quotes from the several available online.  Hone in on one or two trusted and reputed companies offering car insurance quotes and make a decision.

Most insurance companies do not cover all aspects of the dangers involved during a collision or fatal accident.  The driver of the other car may have damaged your car badly.  How much of the damages are covered by your insurance policy?   Who pays for these damages and medical bills? Hence, it is important to understand car insurance quotes, as well as to read between the lines. Most insurance companies do not specify in their car insurance quotes, the discounts offered to different individuals.  For instance, the occupation of a person, his level of education and impeccable driving records, could win him a better rate than what is laid out in the car insurance quotes. The car insurance quotes cannot cover all aspects understandably.  It is therefore recommended that the licensed agents in your area explain to you at length, the pros and cons listed in the car insurance quotes before you actually buy an insurance product.

There are different car insurance quotes that offer discounts for those taking multiple insurance policies and discounts for driver or vehicle related issues.  Sit with your local dealer and find out how this can work for you.  Look at the car insurance quotes together and ask him to explain the different clauses.  What are the obvious consequences of taking only a third party or liability damage?  Is it necessary to get full coverage?  A knowledgeable agent, who can guide you through the many terms and coverage options, can answer these questions listed in the car insurance quotes.

Look for the small print when examining the car insurance quotes.  Ensure that you are not paying an unnecessary high premium for a car that is already 8 to 10 years old.  Sometimes you end up paying more should there be a collision.  The car insurance quotes offer discounts to drivers who have an untarnished credit history.   Check for credit points in the car insurance quotes. In addition, if you decide to go green and buy a hybrid electric vehicle, you could score some brownie points.  Check if the car insurance quotes cover these and more.  Use the smart option of choosing from the many car insurance quotes.

Get the best car insurance quotes , working from the comforts of one’s own home, without having to visit different agencies in quest for the best options of “car insurance quotes”

.

Andy Adams asked:


Being able to cut down on our expenses by being more financially aware has been a growing trend since the early 2000’s with many people comparing their providers of mortgages, credit cards and even their gas and electricity providers. By doing this many UK homeowners have been able to make substantial savings by doing just a small bit of research on their part.

One of the most popular expenses to compare is car insurance with advertisements in the media all over the place, but it’s also one of the easiest expenses to be able to make savings on. The reason for this is that there are plenty of factors that are considered when judging how much your car insurance is going to cost that you can do something about as well as some details which you may feel mean nothing actually having a great effect on bringing your premiums down.

One of the most obvious tips is to drive safely, the biggest savings on car insurance costs are reserved for those who present the least risk to insure, so having no driving convictions or prior insurance claims like being at fault for an accident are going to push your insurance premium higher than average. As well as this you will not be eligible for any no-claims discounts as people who have multiple years without needing to make a claim get an extra discount for being careful.

Another option is to increase the amount you will pay should you have to claim, this is called an excess and is usually a small percentage of the total cost of your claim. Typically people have their excesses set at around £100 -150 but if you are confident that you are a safe driver and can afford to pay a higher amount in the event of a claim then raising the excess to £300 or even £500 can significantly drag your premiums down. Plus, again, if you drive safe then you won’t have anything to worry about.

Being accurate with details like your annual mileage can help improve your costs as this is a key factor when car insurance companies are weighing up how risky you are to insure, if you drive less then there’s less chance of your being involved in an accident and so your premiums shouldn’t cost as much. If you are able to use your car less or even better not need to use it for work then you can make significant savings as you are less likely to be driving during busy high-traffic times like commuting hours and again, less likely to be involved in an accident.

The main advice being offered is to make sure you compare car insurance quotes from as many providers as possible as you’ll be able to get a better deal and with much less effort than the old days of phoning up the insurance companies personally and getting quotes that way.

rutherbob asked:


Car Insurance quotes, if wisely drawn up, can attract people to find the right automobile insurance policy. Whether one owns a car, Truck, SUV, or several vehicles, a proper picture of what they are going in for, when taking a policy, is outlined in the car insurance quotes offered by several companies online, for free.  Take advantage of these free car insurance quotes and arm yourself with the best affordable car insurance product for you and your family.

Most States have made it mandatory for car owners to take out an automobile insurance.  Some offer very low rates with car insurance quotes and this generally misleads the owner who ends up paying more than he bargained for, in case of an accident.  Therefore, it is imperative that car insurance quotes are well scrutinized before making a decision.  Since car insurance quotes can be downloaded free, select several insurance agencies in your area and get comparative car insurance quotes with details of payment terms, etc.  Check with a licensed agent who has a good reputation in your area.  Getting car insurance quotes from cheap automobile insurance agents could put you and your family in jeopardy in case of a severe accident.  Beware of agencies that offer ridiculously low car insurance quotes and disappear after receiving down payment.   You could loose what you thought was a good investment.

Car insurance quotes show that a hybrid electric vehicle could cost far less than a fancy sports car with bright metallic colors.  If you are looking for an affordable option, chose wisely and get good comparative car insurance quotes from your licensed agent, so that you are protected in any eventuality.  The car insurance quotes, available free, guides you as to the right type of coverage you need.   Normally, the basic insurance covers liability and third party damage only.  Check if your car insurance quotes cover gap insurance, whether listing your college going kid who is using your car is a good option etc.  Weigh the pros and cons with the car insurance quotes that you have collected and consider all the options.  

What are affordable car insurance quotes?  A premium rate, in line with the cost of the vehicle, deductibles that ensure your liabilities are covered when there is a collision, even though you are not at fault, and more importantly, covers the medical expenses for you and your family, should there be a severe accident.  Get car insurance quotes for protection against accidents arising from accidents caused by the driver of the faulting vehicle.   Make sure, when you read the car insurance quotes listed, you are covered for medical expenses of the third party too.  Medical expenses can send you to the cleaners if you are not sharp.  It is not necessary that your car insurance quotes be clubbed with house and property insurance.  Look for affordable yet well-covered car insurance quotes when you shop for insurance protection. Give your family the love and protection they look for.

Get the best car insurance quotes , working from the comforts of one’s own home, without having to visit different agencies in quest for the best options of car insurance quotes

.

Joe Deacon asked:


When buying brand new cars, there are a lot of things to consider besides the sticker price. Not the least of your concerns should be car insurance costs. Surprisingly, less than 10% of people who purchase new vehicles consider insurance expenditure. For instance, what if you were on the market for a Toyota hybrid car?

Sure, hybrid cars (vehicles that are powered by both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor) are good and all but are you fully aware that they may cost more than the average car when it comes to insurance? So before you buy that Toyota Prius, Camry or Highlander, consider the following points.

• Easy on thieves’ eyes. Hybrid vehicles are quite popular today, often with long waiting lists in several cities. This also means they are major targets for thieves – as what usually happens with anything seen as different, desirable or new. Insurance firms perceive a higher probability of theft as a good likelihood that you’ll be filing a claim. To offset this scenario, insurers charge consumers more.

• Size matters. Smaller cars generally cost more to insure since there is a greater chance of injury in case a vehicular mishap occurs. Minimal or limited crumple zones suggest less protection, particularly when it comes to head-on collisions. As such, insurance firms will think that they’ll be forced to pay out a liability or medical claim with such cars.

• Pricey fixes. Toyota hybrid vehicles (or any hybrid car for that matter) cannot be repaired just anywhere by a regular mechanic. They need to be returned to the dealer, especially if the drive system is affected. The insurance outfit interprets this as a greater cost on their part in the event of accidents happening. Even areas where there are trained mechanics to work on hybrid cars, no off-brand parts are yet available for fixing the power system. Although OEM parts are usually covered for hybrid cars, replacing them does not come cheap.

The good news is that even if all the factors mentioned above lead to higher car insurance premiums for hybrid car owners, there are also plenty of credits and discounts that you might be qualified for. Here are some examples.

• Discounts for considerable driving experience or clean records. If you have at least a decade of being behind the wheel, and good driving record at that, then you may be qualified for a discount.

• Good credit begets credit. If you have a good credit score, then chances of getting a good car insurance rate are higher.

• Home-car discounts. Are you a homeowner too? Save money on auto insurance by putting your car insurance and homeowner’s policies under one provider.

Owning a hybrid vehicle is seldom about the money. Most people consider it as a deliberate and conscious choice to be more earth-friendly. Still, knowing about potential related costs or expenses never hurts.

Auto insurance premiums can significantly add to the yearly cost of owning a car. If you’re thinking of owning a Toyota hybrid car, do look at the pros and cons in detail.

Liam G asked:


Seat’s latest Ibiza has been a major hit, proving both desirable and affordable. Its snappy looks, practibility around town and range of engine sizes are some of the reasons the Ibiza is a popular choice for those in the market.

The range of engines that are on offer with the Ibiza have been dubbed “a little confusing” by some, as long as you know what you want to start with though, it shouldn’t prove too daunting.

The petrol engines available are 1.2, 1.4 and a 1.8T. The first two have a nice sporty sound and are good performers round town, while remaining relatively economical. Up from this there is the 1.8T, which along with the diesel 1.4 and 1.9 TDI offer considerable pulling power, making overtaking a breeze – even in 4th!

Overall the Ibiza handles very well, with the smaller engines not offering as much enjoyment as their larger counterparts. Round corners, the Ibiza feels very confident, with little body roll. Although the stiffer suspension does offer a “sportier” drive, it can prove slightly uncomfortable on less than perfect roads.

The cabin is relatively airy, although the curved back offers less headroom in the rear. The boot offers a modest 267 litres and although there is a 60/40 split on the backseats, its practicality is hampered.

Equipment wise the Ibiza is pretty well stocked. The range starts with “Reference”, which comes with electric windows, remote central locking and ABS. Moving up from this sees the addition of the usual “extras”, with the range toping “Cupra” adding electronic brake assist, 17-inch alloy wheels and SEAT Racing brakes.

If you’re on the look out for a car that isn’t going to empty your wallet, then the Ibiza may be the perfect option, with cheap car insurance premiums generally being the norm. It scored an excellent four out of five on Euro NCAP’s safety tests and all models are kitted out with twin airbags, deadlocks and an immobiliser.

If you opt for one of the smaller engines, the Ibiza can also work out very economical, this coupled with its low CO2 emissions further help bring down motor insurance and tax costs.

Phil asked:


New figures have shown that the cost of running a car rose by as much as £2,200 over just twelve months with the soaring price of fuel, higher insurance and increase road tax at the route of the problem. These factors pushed up the price of driving by four times the rate of inflation according to the AA.

These rises in running a car come at a time when people are growing increasingly concerned about other price hikes in food prices and housing, as well as heating and council bills. 

The AA Motoring Costs 2008 report has shown that Government imposed road tax has led to a reduction in car resale values. This has left many people having to pay off car loans in motoring ‘negative equity’. This has left some drivers unable to afford to run their car, but also being in a position where they can’t afford to sell it either as they would lose too much money.

The reports findings have increased demands on the Government to offer motorists some good news by scrapping a planned 2p a litre price hike in October 2008. Oil prices stand at a new record high with predictions petrol could be £1.15p by the summer of 2008 and as much as £1.50 a litre by the autumn of the same year.

People who own a 4×4 vehicle or ‘luxury’ car have been hit in the pocket the most, with their cost of petrol rising from £11,188 in 2007 to £13,346 in 2008, an increase of £2,176. 

Much of the increase in 4×4 vehicles comes from higher road tax which has almost doubled to £400, which in turn has slashed the resale value of the vehicle by as much as a quarter.

Motoring groups claim that the price hike is not only affecting those who are able to afford these type of cars, as many less affluent people living in rural areas rely on the 4×4 all weather vehicles to get around their community and as part of their daily lives. 

Drivers of large family cars have seen the cost of fuelling their vehicles jump from around £5,600 in 2007 to around £6,500 in 2008. This is a jump by nearly a fifth, on top of a 6 per cent increase on car insurance over 12 months. These cars too have been affected by a rise in road tax which could see an increase of as much as £100 by 2010.

The AA has urged the Government to re-think retrospective road tax and abolish their controversial proposal to introduce a 2p per litre duty on fuel.

Spokesman Mark McArthur for Forward, the transport think tank is concerned about the ever increasing charges to run a car, saying, “These figures are very worrying. How do you afford this large rise in running a car when your council tax is also going up, your food bill is going up and your gas and electricity bills are going up?”

Grant Thornton, the City accountants calculated that the Government are in a position to cut fuel taxes at the petrol pumps by up to 9p a litre because of the £5 billion windfall enjoyed by the Treasury due to the rising oil prices.

Danielle Fletcher asked:


Nowadays everyone is looking for a way to make their lives a little greener, and there are hundreds of ways to go about it. Previously making a difference to the environment focused on recycling your wine bottles and changing all your light bulbs to the energy saving variety.

Fast forward a few years and there are now hundreds of weird and wonderful ways to save the planet. Holiday companies offer you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your plane journey by paying a small sum which could be used to plant trees.

Supermarkets offer incentives in you take back your plastic bags for another shopping run. Even banks have been known to entice customers with green accounts which pay a small dividend to various green causes. It seems that across all areas of a person’s life there are ways to make it greener, and now that even extends to cars.

Motoring has never been thought of as a green pursuit. In fact for years driving your car was considered one of the worst ways to pollute the environment. In particular anyone who purchased a 4×4 vehicle; once the preserve of country folk and now the fashion accessory of trendy young mums; was considered positively against the environment. But things have started to change. Firstly a new range of green cars were released onto the market, which included fuel hybrids that claimed to be less polluting. Next came small city cars, some of which could run on electricity, which were defiantly less polluting. There was a brief spell when auto-gas was available as a lower cost lower pollution option.

Now there are websites springing up all over the internet offering advice on how to navigate through the green car maze and choose the best environmentally friendly motoring option for you. And it is not just the younger generation who are in on the act, driving greener cars has become popular with people across the board.

It was not surprising considering the way things were going, that after the introduction of green cars, green car insurance would follow. One such insurance provider is The Green Insurance Company, who claims that they will offset the environmentally unfriendliness of any car insured with them by planting trees. In addition they give 5 percent of their profits to charity and offer cheaper insurance deals for drivers of low emission vehicles.

The company has been built on an ethos of ‘reduce, recycle and reuse’ and acts on this by recycling as much of a car’s metal as possible if it has been written off and encouraging the use of reconditioned car parts where possible. It almost sounds too good to be true. Could this be the new way forward for car insurance, where green behaviours are rewarded with additional discounts and continual action to save the environment is carried out as a major part of the business. It seems that with the current popularity of the green trend amongst all sectors that this could be the case.

Christian Ward asked:


Most of us will openly admit that our cars are very important to our daily lives. They are useful in getting to work, as well as errand running and even as part of the work itself.

With rising prices in relation to both petrol and car insurance, many of us are now taking the decision to leave our vehicles at home. As many of us rework our finances and attempt to cut back on luxuries in order to make ends meet, the decision to run vehicles has become of paramount importance to households.

A study carried out by a leading money advice website has shown that around a quarter of motorists now use their car less due to rising costs of running and maintaining their cars. Over 3 quarters of those surveyed cited rising petrol prices as the main reason for being put off driving more, with prices for unleaded now averaging £1.07 per litre across the country (although it varies by region).

But with the price of the average car insurance quote also rising as a result of the credit crunch, many of us are now opting for using public transport or bicycles in order to get around. Whilst this may seem good news for cycle manufacturers and green campaigners, manufacturers and car insurance companies could face tough times if the trend continues.

With the ongoing credit crunch having an impact on all aspects of the financial market, cheap car insurance runs the risk of becoming a thing of the past, with the average fully-comp policy coming in at around £630.

It’s not just motorists who are feeling the strain of the credit crunch, the motor industry has seen dropping sales. And as more of us are turning to bicycles in order to help us get from A to B, the future doesn’t look promising for many manufacturers.

So what can be done to solve these problems?

The first thing motorists can do to combat these rising costs is to use smaller and more efficient cars. Volkswagen’s Polo, Nissan’s Micra and Ford’s Fiesta are all examples of what the car industry calls a ‘supermini’. This class of vehicles is renowned for its fuel efficiency without compromising on comfort.

Hybrids such as Toyota’s Prius, for example, are another way of saving money at the petrol pump. These types of vehicle use a combination electric/diesel engine to help reduce emissions and save fuel. The main problem with them is that they are often unaffordable to the average motorist and have not yet been mass produced enough to bring down the cost.

Switching to diesel is yet another way to save money. Small diesel engines (often in the 1.2 – 1.4 litre range) have the potential to achieve efficiencies of up to 40 MPG, for example.

Motorists should also ensure that their tyres are fully filled. A tyre which isn’t fully filled is not just a safety hazard but a hazard to your wallet as well. It reduces the distance you can go on a full tank, meaning you not only spend more at the pumps but you also end up harming the environment more as well.

What about the long term?

The declining supply of oil will inevitably force the motor industry to change. New technologies such as hydrogen powered fuel cells will lead its reinvention, helping to rejuvenate the industry and bring its revenues back up once again.

Mark Lauterwein asked:


The real inconvenience of driving the sQuba in its particular element is the bind of having to bring your own oxygen, to say nothing of wearing a wet suit. Nevertheless for anyone with a bit of Roger Moore in them or indeed anyone with a fancy for things submarine, what could be more exciting than driving underwater?

Thirty years after the underwater Lotus featured in The Spy Who Loved Me, a Swiss engineer has actually modified a Lotus Elise that can really do this. The obvious difference between the car in the film and the sQuba is the open design of the latter. Safety is the concern behind this. Water pressure would prevent occupants being able to open doors from the inside in the event of an accident. Furthermore the added weight would render the car sluggish as a tortoise on land (a fish out of water?).

The sQuba is the brainchild of Swiss egghead Frank Rinderknecht. He’s been wracking his brains for 30 years on the matter of transforming the onscreen fantasy into auto-reality. How to do it? Firstly strip the engine out and replace it with an electric motor for terrestrial propulsion. Underwater, the thing is held in suspension at a depth of around 30 foot through foam inserts injected beneath the bodywork. Two jet propulsion units housed discretely in the doors bring some motion to the ocean.

Rinderknecht is proud of the environmental credentials of his creation. As he puts it: the petrol station for sQuba is the hydro-dam. Even the lubricants are bio-degradable. Normally, car insurance providers look upon all this very favourably. However, the sQuba will never go into commercial production since its specifications fall outside the normal parameters of car insurance. Pity.

26.3.2008