Posts Tagged ‘n’
Monday, June 29th, 2009
by Susan Reynolds
Trying to find the right car insurance can be a major headache. There are a lot of companies that wants to take advantage of you. In today’s economy people are always looking for great deals. Use these guidelines to your advantage to avoid being a victim of car insurance scams.
You will want to talk about the prospects and find out what they are willing to do for you as a client. They say that if your car meets an accident, you are covered with a free rental service. They will also claim to offer free road side assistance if your vehicle stops functioning while on the road; It all sounds too good to be true. But do you know what is written in their fine prints? It is important that you are aware of the fine details before getting scammed.
Most of the time they don’t discuss the fine prints. Most of the false claims are listed here and they do not want them to be brought into the conversation. There is a lot of scamming going on in today’s world and you need to be careful. If your payment is real low but the coverage is really high there could be something hidden. This happens to be the most common way of enticing the customers. So talk to your friends and your family and see what kind of coverage they have. For example, what is the bodily coverage, what is the coverage for under insured motorists and most importantly what the deductible is. These are all things you need to know before you buy the insurance to avoid scams.
How do you avoid being scammed for sure? Check several companies before you decide on a single one. If you run them through the Better Business Bureau they will give you valuable information about the companies? activities and their rankings. If they have a lower score they are usually not a reliable company. The higher the score, the better. Some of the more reliable companies will offer you a discount for going with their insurance policies. Sometimes these discounts lead your quote to be lower than some of the lower ranked companies. If you do this you will have a less chance of being scammed.
Consider the coverage offered and the level of your deductible. Check to see if there are any negative results concerning processing claims of the company. Sometimes, though even good companies can have a grumpy customer now and then. Get quotes from several different companies before you decide on any one of these companies. Before you sign take a look through the whole contract, including the fine print. Often times the things the dealer does not tell you what is there in the fine print.
Now that you are aware of the pitfalls be sure to look at all the finer details which the companies are offering. When you follow the guidelines set above you will have great insurance. So don’t get scammed and avoid the pitfalls by doing a comprehensive research.
About the Author:
Susan Reynolds is the content coordinator for a leading South African
Insurance Provider who specialises in
Car Insurance.
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile;truck, automobiles, c, car insurance, cars, e, f, finance, i, insurance, n, p, personal finance, u, v, vehicle insurance
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Monday, June 29th, 2009
by Tom Martens
One of the biggest days in a teen?s life is the day they earn their driver?s license. But with that little piece of plastic comes tremendous responsibility. It is important to make sure that, as a newly licensed driver, you have proper car insurance coverage.
Car insurance for teens is usually very expensive. That’s because teens, lacking driving experience, tend to get into many more crashes. They are considered high-risk. That fact should not stop any teen from getting a license, however, because with a little planning teens who drive can almost always find ways to lower their car insurance premiums.
The first step in getting the lowest rates is to get several quotes. These quotes should be obtained from authorized insurance agents or company websites. The various insurance companies define teen risk in very different ways. This means one company may charge just a little more than they charge an older driver, while another company may charge you a whole lot more. There is tremendous competition among insurance companies, so companies that know you are doing comparison shopping tend to offer you the lowest rates. They just might offer you a lower premium. But to get it, you have to ask, and you may have to willing to negotiate. Fortunately, it’s easy to do research on the net and shopping for low premiums is a lot easier than it used to be.
If you haven’t already, look into taking basic driver education and/or defensive driving. Taking and passing these courses shows insurers that you are serious about driving safely. It allows them to rate your policy as a lower risk, and keeps your insurance costs down, usually about 10%. Talk to an agent about which courses are available to qualify you for a safe driver discounts.
Ask your agent if your company offers discounts to good students or students belonging to a club or organization. See if they extend a discount if your parents belong to a club or organization. Inquire about other possible discounts. This is where it’s helpful to check on the net before you see your agent.
Another way to get a great discount on your car insurance is bundling. If you parents have home or life coverage, sometimes their insurance providers will bundle all your policies and offer a discount. Sometimes this discount can be really substantial. And check whether the insurance company offers discounts to household that have multiple drivers or own multiple cars. This is another terrific way to lower your car insurance costs.
If you are a newly licensed teen driver or will earn your driver?s license soon, contact a qualified insurance provider. They can answer whatever questions you may have about car insurance, examine your specific situation closely and make insurance recommendations so that you are properly insured and protected behind the wheel. It will take some time, effort and research, but you could end up saving a lot of money on your insurance premiums, which makes the investment worth it.
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile;truck, automotive, c, car insurance, e, f, finance, i, insurance, insurance cars, m, money, n, o, p, personal finance, u, v, vehicle insurance, Vehicles
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Friday, June 26th, 2009
by Susan Reynolds
In today?s world, nobody is safe anywhere as we see numerous natural calamities creating unfriendly driving situations. Accidents are common and so are the rates of fatalities. In such circumstances, we cannot emphasize enough the importance of having a car insurance to protect ourselves and the lives of people around us. Besides this, it is important to protect our cars also, as a large part of our income goes towards buying a car we desire.
The terms of payment of insurance are agreed upon at the time the initial agreement is entered to and the premium is based on the depreciating cost of the car. In other words, as the car ages with each passing year, the amount of premium also reduces.
It is important to maintain a clean driving record because this greatly affects your insurance. Your insurance covered is reduced if you are charged with reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or driving with out a valid license. All these defaulters are reported to the insurance company immediately and as a result the insurance cover is reduced by a substantial amount. It is important to note that you are responsible not only for your life, but also for the lives of people on the road while you are driving.
The insurance provided on the car covers different aspects. The essential part is that you must have at least the normal insurance which covers accidents and natural disasters, (this insurance saves money and cut costs). All extra covers can be added on later depending on your budget and the reasons at that time. Extra covers may be associated with aspects of the car which provide extra convenience or safety for the driver. For example if you want to get the Global Positioning System of your car to be insured, you will have to pay extra money. Alternatively, if you have installed a high quality sound system or MP3 player in your car and want to get it insured, this will also be at a higher premium.
In the unfortunate incident of an accident taking place, you must get it verified by an insurance company immediately, so that they can assess the exact value of reimbursement payable to you. Any delays may raise questions about the authenticity of the accident. Also, while applying for reimbursement you must have all the records in place such as a certificate provided by the law enforcement agencies to validate that the accident had taken place with the damages that are caused to the car and people driving in it.
If you make any false claims or try to obtain money from the car insurance company based on inaccurate information or fraud, they can even cancel your insurance and black list your license so that no other car insurance provides you with an insurance cover. This practice is illegal and you can even face imprisonment for such a deception. Therefore, be a responsible driver and drive safely so that you don?t claim your car insurance and get maximum cover.
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile;truck, automobiles, c, car insurance, cars, e, f, finance, i, insurance, n, p, personal finance, u, v, vehicle insurance
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
by Graham McKenzie
If you drive a car and have insurance then you probably want to find a way to reduce your excess. Excess is the money which you have to come up with out of your own pocket if you ever need to make a claim for any reason. This amount can vary widely depending on many factors and some people feel that there is no good way to reduce it. Despite this, there are methods which exist that can help to not only reduce your excess but also reduce your monthly premium.
The most common factor which leads to a high excess is the insurance premium. This is the amount which is paid out each month in order to keep the car insurance. Typically the more you pay out in your premium the lower your excess will be. Despite this fact it is often considered unwise to raise the premium just to reduce the excess. This is due to the fact that in most situations the higher premium over the course of time will far outweigh the cost of the excess should you ever have to file a claim on the policy.
For parents who have student drivers or for students themselves, one great method to reduce your excess and your monthly premiums is to get good grades in school. By receiving consistent good grades in school you are effectively demonstrating to the insurance companies that you are responsible and that you have goals. Insurance companies have found that responsible people in life are far more likely to be responsible while driving. For this reason most insurance companies offer a good grade deduction.
The most considerable thing you can do to help bring your excess down over time is to be a safe driver. While it is understandable that not all accidents that people are involved in are caused by them the vast majority are. By practicing safe driving habits every time you are behind the wheel of your car you reduce your odds of being involved in any form of collision or receiving a traffic ticket considerably. Over time you will be able to prove to the insurance company that you are in fact a safe driver and this can lead to a lower excess.
Another major step you need to take to ensure that you get a good excess is to make sure that you bring forward everything which may affect your insurance rates. Factors such as employment history, being married and even having children can all help to reduce your overall insurance premiums and even your excess amount. The best thing about these different factors is that they require no additional work on your part once the initial step of actually supplying the information is completed.
The final method which you can use to help reduce your excess is to look around. Every insurance company is different in the rates they charge and the features they offer at those rates. Some offer bigger benefits to people who fall into specific categories while others may not. By taking the time to investigate several carriers you improve your odds of finding a better excess without having a very high premium.
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile;truck, automotive, c, car insurance, cars, f, finance, i, insurance, m, money, n, o
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
by Amy Nutt
When consumers shop for a car, they dont usually consider if the type of car they buy will affect their insurance rates. The type of car you buy actually plays a part in whether you pay a high or low premium. If you are looking to acquire a reasonably priced insurance policy with your new car, it is important to know what cars have the best rates.
The nonprofit public service organization, The Highway Loss Data Institute, (HLDI) is a group that assesses vehicles for the insurance industry to find out which cars are a high risk. By high risk, they mean cars that are most likely to be stolen, involved in an accident as the result of a collision, and have a high number of injury claims filed. When assessing the risk of theft, the organization will look at such as aspects as the number of doors a car has as well as the color of the car.
The HLDI has found that “four door cars have a 93% less chance of having a claim related to theft than 2-door cars of the same make and model.” As well, a report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) found that “cars that have the least claims filed for theft include the Buick LeSabre, Volvo V70 Station Wagon, and the Mercury Grand Marquis.”
According to HLDI, the lowest injury claims filed are large vehicles such as large cars, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Many car retailers report that the following cars are the least expensive to insure:
- Chrysler PT Cruiser 4dr Wagon - Jeep Liberty Sport 4WD 4dr SUV - Saturn L300 1 4dr Sedan - Volvo S40 4dr Sedan - Saab 38600 Linear 2.3t 4dr SportWagon - Buick Century Special Edition 4dr Sedan - GMC Safari SLE AWD 3dr Minivan - Dodge Caravan SE 4dr Minivan - Saturn ION 1 4dr Sedan - Pontiac Sunfire 2dr Coupe
Vehicles that are among the least expensive for collision claims include:
- GMC Safari 4-wheel drive - GMC Yukon XL 1500 4-wheel drive - Ford Excursion 2-wheel drive - GMC 2500
Vehicle Models with some of the least expensive injury claims include:
- GMC Sierra 2500 2-wheel and 4 wheel drives - Chevrolet Silverado - GMC Yukon XL 1500 4-wheel - Chevy Tahoe 2-wheel
A few of the Top 2009 Safety Pick Cars as published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety include:
- Large Cars: Acura RL, Audi A6, Cadillac CTS, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Genesis - 4-door models built after 11/08, Lincoln MKS, Mercury Sable, Toyota Avalon, Volvo S80 - Midsize Cars: Acura TL, Acura TSX, Audi A3, Audi A4, BMW 3 series 4-door models, Ford Fusion 2009-10 models with ESC (optional in 2009, standard in 2010) - Honda Accord 4-door models, Lincoln MKZ 2010 models, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen CC - Small Cars: Honda Civic 4-door models (except Si) with optional ESC, Mitsubishi Lancer with optional ESC, Scion xB, - Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla with optional ESC, Volkswagen Rabbit 4-door models, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat
When determining insurance premiums, car insurance companies will look at a cars make, model, safety record, and rate of theft. Knowing these statistics will help you choose the best car with the best insurance rate.
Tags: a, auot, auto, auto insurance, auto insurance quotes, automobile;truck, c, car insurance, car insurance online, e, f, family, finance, i, insurance, n, v, Vehicles
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
by Amy Nutt
When your car breaks down, it is never a fun experience. It has happened to just about everyone at one time or another. No one wants to be in that situation but there are steps you can take to help you get through it, particularly if you are not a member of an auto club. If you have a membership to an auto club then you simply need to call them for roadside assistance. It is said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Therefore, especially if you have to handle a breakdown yourself, it is best to be prepared. Have everything in your car that you may need if you get stranded somewhere. If possible, the first thing you should do is pull safely over to the side of the road.
- Cell phone: You are never going to appreciate having a cell phone more than you will if your car breaks down. If you have a cell phone you can call a service station and at least get a tow, if possible. If that is not possible, you can at least call someone to pick you up.
- Flashlight: The possibility always exists that your car can break down while you are driving at night. If it does, you will want to have a flashlight handy. - Reflective warning triangles: These will help protect you and your vehicle in case of a breakdown. Once you are over to the side of the road, turn on your hazard lights to alert traffic that may be headed your way.
Once you do this, follow these tips
- Enter and exit your car using the door that is furthest away from traffic.
- Place at least 2 reflective triangles behind your car and one in front of your car. Place the farthest one approximately 50 feet behind your car.
- If possible, move away from the car to make your phone calls and also have your passengers move away from the car.
- Call a tow truck, a ride, or the police. It is only natural to worry about your car but the first priority is your safety and your passengers safety.
Most importantly, dont panic. If you are not in a familiar area or you are travelling and do not know who to call, contact the police. These are very stressful situations and there is no need to try to handle them alone under these conditions. Keep the priorities straight. Ensure the safety of yourself and your passengers first and then the protection of your car. The car can be replaced, a human life cannot.
If you have ever had a car break down, you are well aware of the benefits of having an auto club membership. More than anything else (and there is a lot) they provide you with peace of mind. Breakdowns happen, just make sure you know how to stay safe when they happen.
About the Author:
Travel worry free on the road with an
auto club membership.
CAA Travel and roadside assistance is a good insurance while you are on the road.
Tags: a, auto, auto club, auto insurance, automobile, automobile;truck, automotive, c, car, cars, d, driving, e, emergency road, i, insurance, m, mechanic, n, r, t, towing, travel, u, v, vacations, Vehicles
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
by Graham McKenzie
Among the two car insurances, business car insurance and personal car insurance, there are some acute differences among them. It is in fact, a coverage we need in our daily lives. Although they have some similarities, they also have many aspects that are different.
If you are not looking to increase your rates, you will first need to get the driving record of any applicant that applies to your business. This protects you as the owner. You do not want to hire someone for the position only to find out their driving record is less than perfect. In fact, you might not be able to add them on to your policy at all. Then, this employee you hired only becomes a drain on production. Unlike personal car insurance policies where you are only responsible for your household; business policies are more risk and the employees do not always have your best interest in their thoughts.
The flexibility of the business policy far outweighs the personal car insurance policy. This is because you have different circumstances that arise in business. A business usually deals with expensive items and carries certain items. During this time, they are responsible for it. If something happens, they have to pay up. This is business activity and not personal. A business policy is necessary.
Keeping track of gas and miles seems like a daunting task, however, it is a business necessity. It is very important that you distinguish which miles were used for personal use and which were used for business use. This helps on all fronts and is often tracked using a computer based model.
As always, a separate business policy is always recommended over a joint policy. There are many liabilities that come with business and to place your personal use in the middle is not often a good idea. If you are going to proceed using a personal policy for limited business use, you will need to contact the company you are insured with immediately and let them know. This will help prevent any claims being turned down in the event that something happens and you are using it for business use.
Realtors, Regional Directors and salesman all fall into the classification of often forgetting to note they use their car for business use. This is because some people have a road block do to the fact they do it every day. Any time a person drives to a meeting, property or a house or business for a potential sale, they are using their car for purposes that constitute business. This is the type that needs to be noted under a personal policy.
Never be challenged later down the road with not having adequate coverage or being denied a claim because you did not inform the insurance company of your situation. Talk to an agent and get the best deal.
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile;truck, automotive, c, car insurance, cars, f, finance, i, insurance, m, money, n, o
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
by Susan Reynolds
There are essential issues that we have to resolve when we are deciding on the appropriate car insurance that we have to get to protect our business interests. Your decision will be influenced by the ability of your business to cope with fortuitous events that result not only to damages to your company vehicles but also with adverse claims for damages on the properties and bodily injuries suffered by a third party.
It is important for the company to determine if commercial car insurance policy is already needed in order to protect the company assets and investments. It is a given for large companies to have a comprehensive commercial car insurance in place. This is required in order to provide protection coverage for the company in instances where a company vehicle figures in an accident.
The issue becomes a bit tricky when it comes to small scale business outfits and home-based business enterprises. There are quite a number of business owners who rely on personal car insurance policies for their cars even if they are regularly used for business-related activities. These individuals believe that the protection coverage of conventional car insurance is sufficient for the needs of their business.
As a general rule, if you are using your car for business-related activities it is wise to get commercial car insurance with sufficient protection coverage for liability of your company from property damage and bodily harm. Failure to consider the appropriate liability coverage of your car insurance policy may have serious repercussions on the driver and your company as well.
On the other hand, car insurance policy for home-based businesses and other small scale businesses is not as straightforward as most of us are wont to believe. What complicates the matter is the practice of most business owners of relying on personal car insurance policies even for cars that are extensively used for business activities. This practice normally exposes the business to unwarranted risks and you stand to lose more when unfortunate accidents happen where your car is involved.
It is essential that we discuss with our insurance agent the appropriate coverage that our car insurance must have. The liability cover for adverse claims to property damages and injuries is legally required of all businesses whether their operation is on a large scale or not. You also have to confer with your insurance agent of the necessity for additional liability coverage to account for such potential risk of collision, medical exposure and motorists that are not sufficiently covered.
You should also discuss with your insurance agent of the necessity for additional liability coverage for collision, motorists that are not covered and medical. The company would also have to consider company policies which may have direct bearing on the type of insurance policies that they have to get. For instance, you may decide for a comprehensive insurance policy with higher premium payments but provide for a larger payout as your protection for adverse claims for damages caused by serious accidents that involve company vehicles.
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile;truck, automobiles, c, car insurance, cars, e, f, finance, i, insurance, n, p, personal finance, u, v, vehicle insurance
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
by Amy Nutt
Car insurance is necessary for every person who owns and drives a vehicle. In just about every jurisdiction, the law requires that you own auto insurance. It protects both you and other drivers from loss that may arise due to the negligence or actions of others.
Some people believe that price is the most important factor when considering car insurance. Although the price of the policy is an important factor, it is not necessarily the most important factor. What you pay as a rate is based on the risk assessment that the insurance company performs during underwriting. The assessment involves a process of evaluating you as a driver and making a determination of the probability that you will cause a loss.
Insurance is a contract of indemnity. What this means is its purpose is to indemnify, or restore you to your original value at the time of loss. The principle of indemnity means that the policy covers the insurable interest you have as policy owner, namely the vehicle you drive. Without this insurable interest, there would be nothing to insure. For example, a person that is involved in an automobile accident who is in no way related to you does not create a situation where you are exposed to loss. Therefore, no insurable interest exists and there is no need for insurance.
Based on the concept of indemnity and risk assessment, the insurance company wants to know some things about you. How old are you? What is your driving record? What are your driving habits? How far and how often do you travel by car? All of these factors, as well as others are important for the insurer to consider as they consider your premium rate. They are also the most common rating factors used to calculate your premium.
Insurance companies employ actuaries whose job it is to mathematically determine the probability of loss. Another concept regarding insurance is that it is an aleatory contract. This word is derived from a Latin word ‘aleator’ which literally means ‘dice thrower’ or ‘chance.’ This means that your premium is a hedge against a probability or the chance that a loss may occur. It also means that if that loss occurs, as long as you have met all of the conditions of the contract, the insurance company must pay the claim.
The more times that you are exposed to loss, the higher the chance that loss will occur. It is like determining the likelihood of drawing a queen out of a standard deck of 52 cards, which is a 1 in 13 or 8% chance. If you were going to draw a queen out of a deck of two cards, that probability jumps to 50% or 1 in 2. The greater the probability of something happening, the less ideal it becomes as an insurable risk. The more you drive, the longer you drive, coupled with having a lot of speeding tickets indicates that you are a larger risk to the insurance company - a 1 in 2 as oppose to a 1 in 13 - and will be charged more premium. There are other factors that go into premium calculation, but understanding loss exposure gives you an ideal as to why an insurance company charges what it does.
Tags: a, auto, auto insurance, automobile;truck, business, c, car, car insurance, e, f, family, finance, h, home, i, insurance, l, legal, life, n, o, p, params, personal, r, roadside assistance, s, society, v, variables
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
by Tom Martens
If you are planning to purchase, or if you have already purchased, an imported car, getting the vehicle insured so you can get it on the road is a top priority. However, finding coverage for your import can be time-consuming, frustrating, and expensive. But it’s not impossible. Just be ready to ask questions and possibly contact several insurance agents to get the coverage you need.
While you can get a great deal on the purchase of an import by buying it abroad, you can lose those savings when you pay higher insurance premiums. That is why it is helpful to research insurance before you even buy your import, and to get several quotes to be sure you get the most competitive rate. That’s especially true if you are importing a sports car. The rates for sports cars are always higher because of the higher frequency of sports car crashes.
Most insurers will cover an imported car as long as they locate the VIN numbers. If they cannot locate this registration number, then it is up to you to see if they can find the exact model your car in their look-up table. If that doesn’t work, you will have to see an agent for another company.
Some insurance companies will only insure popular import models and will only insure the vehicles for the market value. Other insurance companies will insure modified imported vehicles as long as the modifications aren?t substantial. If they are substantial, then you will need to find an insurance provider that specializes in substantially modified import cars. Substantial means different things to different people, so this is yet another reason to obtain several quotes from different insurance providers. One provider may rate the modifications substantial, while another provider may not. It is important to ask questions when obtaining an insurance quote.
Some companies will not insure European versions of a UK car, but with left-hand drive. This is also something to keep in mind when importing your car and obtaining your insurance.
It is also very important to check your security fittings. These could have a great impact on your vehicle’s eligibility for coverage, not to mention the cost of the policy. Not having the right security fittings will either raise your premiums dramatically, or cause the company to reject your car for coverage altogether. Make sure you get detailed information on security fittings before you import your car.
While insuring your import may be time-consuming and expensive, it’s not impossible. Do your research. Ask Questions. Call your importer and ask for their advice for obtaining insurance. And if you are importing a sports car, you can often get insurance at a discounted rate simply by joining a car club. Clubs often make deals with insurance companies for their members?ask about the benefits available to you. Finally, make sure you get comprehensive coverage for your imported vehicle. You imported car is an expensive investment, and it needs thorough insurance protection.
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile;truck, automotive, c, car insurance, e, f, finance, i, insurance, insurance cars, m, money, n, o, p, personal finance, u, v, vehicle insurance, Vehicles
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »