Posts Tagged ‘online auto insurance’
Saturday, June 13th, 2009
by Matt Hellstrom
There’s no denying that we’re in a deep economic slump. Unemployment rates have passed the 8.5% mark for the first time since the early Eighties. The financial institutions - banks and insurance companies - hog the bail-out trough. And second to them are the automakers. All of this complicates the issues that must be taken into account when making tough economic decisions for your business, including tasks like shopping for business auto insurance.
If a business is of a type that requires a vehicle fleet, it has a business relationship with a car company and a vehicle insurance company. But this year those relationships are going to change for more companies than ever before.
The Internet, with its ability to deliver instant quotes on business auto insurance, will do nothing but make it harder for things to stay the same. As much as some would like things to remain the same - they have changed and will never be the same.
The bitter taste left behind by the downfall of the insurance giant, AIG has done little to calm the fears of business owners faced with fewer options for business auto insurance. There is little doubt that premiums will rise, perhaps more drastically than ever before. Could the company afford to get coverage if it added some to the fleet? Or will it be left hanging with increased exposure to risk?
An online quote for business auto insurance isn’t just a way of getting a competitive advantage for companies with fleets of vehicles. Anyone who takes a tax deduction for vehicle expenses needs to look harder when vehicle insurance renewal time comes. And the Internet is the only way to do the kind of due diligence that these hard financial times require.
With the Big Three having to totally revamp their product line-ups, many businesses will be considering autos and trucks of makes and models they are unfamiliar with. One will not be able to use the same familiar process that has been used for years in buying and insuring new business vehicles. And this will also be true for the employees who uses their own car for company business. Product familiarity is, in car purchases, a huge factor. Product churn in an industry a very disruptive force, and that churn is going to be huge over the next year and possibly well beyond that.
The watchword for 2009 in business is due diligence. And for those whose bottom line is affected by business auto insurance rates, due diligence can only be efficiently accomplished online. For those who have to buy or lease a vehicle this year, online quote facilities allow you to check rates on any kind of car, any year, and you will have to do this in the face of the turmoil over on-going vehicle maintenance with companies that are discussing bankruptcy.
Tags: auto insurance, automobiles, autos, car insurance, cars, family, finance, home, insurance, motorcycles, online auto insurance, online car insurance, product reviews, Vehicles
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Thursday, June 11th, 2009
by Matt Hellstrom
The best way to adequately protect vehicles dedicated for business or commercial use is to buy commercial vehicle insurance for every vehicle in this category. The insurance is meant to cover damage and losses in the event of fire, accident, or traffic incident.
Despite some of the inherent risks of maintaining and using vehicles in a commercial context, it should not be at all difficult to procure commercial vehicle insurance. While the probability of accidents can be high in some areas of the country, this is an issue that can be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and steps taken to reduce incidents.
Commercial vehicle insurance is highly recommended and is considered essentail for businesses that make use of vehicles in transporting people or any type cargo. It is prudent to get professional advice from a qualified insurance agent who specializes in commercial vehicle insurance about the specific needs and uses of each type of commercial vehicle.
Basically, there are some factors to be considered before choosing which insurance policy is appropriate. They include the following: issues pertaining to who owns or leases the vehicle- you individually or the business as an entity, who will drive it and the use to which the vehicle is put. Commercial insurance policies allow you to list employees as drivers so that the insurance company can properly underwrite the risk on the vehicle.
If it is goods, are they industrial goods like flammables? Is it a truck used for local and long haul? If not, is it for local transportation like a courier service? Does it have attached to it heavy equipment like cranes and towing vans? This information must be adequately set forth and explained.
An insurance policy for commercial vehicle can also include bodily injury and liability, medical payments for treatment of those injured in the incident. A more comprehensive coverage also exists which extends it to include damages due to theft, breakages, property damage and fire incidents.
Don’t try to shortcut the process of insurance coverage. Tempting though it may be to just add your vehicle that you use for a business under your personal auto policy, the reality is that in the event of an accident, you’ll find that coverage will be denied for claims associated with the business use. Savvy commercial vehicle operators seek professional advice and implement this by purchasing icommercial vehicle nsurance policies which in reality covers their business and gives them peace of mind.
Tags: auto insurance, automobiles, autos, car insurance, cars, family, finance, home, insurance, motorcycles, online auto insurance, online car insurance, product reviews, Vehicles
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Monday, June 8th, 2009
by Matt Hellstrom
Are you in the market for a new car? If so, you’re probably curious to see what to expect in terms of insurance premiums for your dream car. One way to find out is to give your agent a call, but even easier and possibly cheaper is to get a vehicle insurance quote online using one of the many sites that offer instant quotes.
Shopping online for a vehicle insurance quote offers several advantages that merit consideration. You can obtain quotes on specific or multiple models, change values such as deductibles, number of drivers or any other factor to get applicable rates instantly. Having this information available gives you a better basis to make a decision.
Being able to access the kind of information that vehicle insurance quote sites offer puts you in control of the process and gives you a better understanding of the insurance underwriting criteria that a regular sales agent simply wouldn’t know or be able to share.
Once you’ve arrived at one of these sites, play with the questions you are going to be asked in order to determine your vehicle insurance quote. Don’t wait until you have decided what car you are going to insure. One of the greatest values of quote software is that it allows you to know what your monthly insurance payments are going to be before you buy. Here, technology exists that will actually save you money.
As we know from news reports, the car industry is suffering tremendously. While you may be hesitant to go car shopping given the uncertainty of the market, it might actually be a good time to buy. When you have a vehicle insurance quote in hand for the vehicles you are interested in, you are in a better position to negotiate for a better deal. You can go into a dealership and work out the numbers that fit within your budget with less room for nasty surprises.
Factors such as your age, gender, area of residency and driving record all impact how much you will pay for insurance coverage. Considerations such as the car make and model, safety rating, overall repair history and even equipment options can also dramatically change the numbers. While you can’t do much about your personal factors, you can easily access information regarding rates for different cars and obtain a personalized vehicle insurance quote online.
Knowing the factors that can influence your premiums can save you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year. Here’s an example of a factor you likely haven’t even thought of: how popular is the car you want with car thieves? Even though that’s outside your control it’s still part of what the insurance companies think about. The bad news is that regardless of how good your record is, you’ll still pay a higher premium because of the risk associated with the car itself. At least with a vehicle insurance quote, you’ll know this beforehand.
Tags: auto insurance, automobiles, autos, car insurance, cars, family, finance, home, insurance, motorcycles, online auto insurance, online car insurance, product reviews, Vehicles
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Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
by Matt Hellstrom
With the economy being at all time lows and everyone feeling the pinch, it makes sense to try to lower your every day costs and economize wherever possible. One area that not many people focus on is getting low cost auto insurance, under the mistaken belief that there is little that can be done about car insurance premiums.
There are certain factors that you will not be able to change such as your age and gender or even where you live and work, but you can take advantage of low cost auto insurance by following a few straightforward guidelines that can influence your chances of qualifying for lower rates. The most frequent discount is given for good drivers, those who maintain a good driving record with no traffic infractions or accidents for at least three years. Some companies may require five years, but you’ll need to check with your own insurer.
Most people buy a car without really thinking about the cost of insurance. Sure, they’ll take into consideration government crash test ratings, but that seems to be the extent of it when it comes to getting low cost auto insurance. But what about things like the car’s repair ratings? Premiums for collision and comprehensive coverage even for brand new cars are a function of historical claims for theft and accidents as well as the costs of repair.
Buying a safer car is not the only factor that determines whether you be able to get low cost auto insurance. The cost of the car as well as your own financial credit score can influence auto insurance rates. Having good credit tells the insurer that you are a responsible person and a lower risk. Driving flashy, expensive sports cars give the opposite impression even if that’s not really a fair assessment of you. But be aware that insurers view this as a risk factor .
One of the easier ways to get low cost auto insurance is to raise your deductible. This is the amount that you would have to pay before insurance payment a claim kicks in. Most people think that a $100 deductible is adequate, but in truth you should consider taking a $1000, or at least $500, deductible. This results in a substantial savings even over a short period of 2 to 3 years. You’re better off accumulating the savings to allocate towards your deductible.
You can get low cost auto insurance if you’re more of a weekend or occasional driver or fall within the limits for a low mileage discount, make sure you let your insurer know. Even drivers who use their cars on a daily basis but not for commuting to work can sometimes fall within this category. You may also want to drop comprehensive and collision coverage once your car gets older to save even more money.
To assist you in locating a low cost auto insurance policy, it would be a good idea to search using any of the rate quote services that are now available. To get a quote for a car make or model, you simply answer a few questions concerning your driving history along with the car information and in seconds you can have quotes from several companies. If you’re shopping for a car, this can be a tremendous help in deciding what will fit within your budget.
Tags: auto insurance, automobiles, autos, car insurance, cars, family, finance, home, insurance, motorcycles, online auto insurance, online car insurance, product reviews, Vehicles
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Thursday, May 21st, 2009
by Matt Hellstrom
If you’re a homeowner or have a car, you already know that having home and auto insurance is a must to protect your property against claims for damage or liability. In fact, you probably couldn’t even borrow the money to buy your home or care unless you showed proof of insurance. But like everyone else, you bought your home insurance policy when you purchased your home and the same for your car.
The majority of people never take a look at their home and auto insurance policies after the purchase is completed. Unless there is a need to make a claim, you’ve probably tucked the policies in the bank safe deposit box or filed away somewhere at home. The only time you really think about insurance is when you need to make a claim or when it comes time to pay the ever-increasing premiums.
It’s a fact that most people will not bother to comparison shop for insurance after they’ve made the initial purchase. The line of thinking is that insurance is a necessary evil that you have to keep paying and there’s not much that can be done about it. The truth of the matter is that hardly anyone considers combining home and auto insurance purchases with the same company. This is a mistake since doing so can represent substantial savings in premiums.
Even though this option is widely available for the asking, most insurance agents aren’t motivated to discuss the possibility of saving money on home and auto insurance premiums with a client. It stands to reason, why would the agent want to cut his or her own commissions? Thus, it’s up to you to make sure you know your best options and decide accordingly.
One way to find out whether buying your home and auto insurance from the same company will benefit you is to simply ask each company that you’re currently insured with. Just tell them what you want to accomplish and ask for a quote if you switch over. You may be surprised to find out that they are more than happy to accommodate you and will give you a better rate than you would otherwise pay.
It’s a good idea to investigate some of the online insurance comparison services that are out there. Simply by filling out a questionnaire and providing information about your car and home, you can easily find out the best rates available in your area. By comparing the different rates, you are in a better position to obtain a home and auto insurance policy that be far cheaper than your current policies.
When it comes to getting rate quotes, nothing beats the convenience of online rate comparison sites. It is extremely useful in that you can input different amounts into your request for quotes and know at a glance which company provides the best bang for the buck. Imagine being able to see the projected cost savings if you do decide to go ahead with installing that state of the art home security system. You can even raise or lower your out of pocket deductibles to see what you can save in premiums.
Tags: auto insurance, automobiles, autos, car insurance, cars, family, finance, home, insurance, motorcycles, online auto insurance, online car insurance, product reviews, Vehicles
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Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
by Matt Hellstrom
The car insurance business has been forever changed by the Internet. In fact, the business today bears little resemblance to what it was before the Information Age first dawned in 1992. Before the World Wide Web took over, most people settled in with one company and stuck with them for home and auto insurance. Not so today. The churn numbers due to being able to get auto insurance quotes online continue to diverge from home - auto combos with the same company.
Many accuse the insurance industry with a litany of failures in responding to customer needs. Loyalty bonuses, common in many businesses, simply are not out there in the car and home insurance field, and they should be. The problem of insurance skimmers, that is, companies that specialize in low rates for older drivers, continues to give actuarial statisticians fits. Given this failing, many insurance companies find themselves needing to adjust to the new mode of delivering auto insurance quotes online.
The insurance companies have to balance off the income they lose in giving group rates to older drivers. That’s the way business works. And in this case, business working means rates for high-risk young males and new drivers have soared in part thanks to the Internet. It is no longer uncommon for young drivers to drive without collision coverage even in an almost new car, or to drive with no insurance at all. It is one of those unintended consequence of new technologies.
The benefits for consumers in shopping online for automobile insurance are tremendous. Calling insurance agents and brokers is time consuming, plus you have to reveal personal information to strangers, which is never fun, even if you’re not privacy sensitive. And when was the last time you called a business office and didn’t have to go through a time consuming voice menu only to wind up talking to an answering machine?
When asked why they would shop online for car insurance in a 2001 Wharton School of Business survey, the most often response was the advantage of getting an instant quote. After all, who needs to seek advice from an agent? Many people don’t even know what questions they should be asking, and agents aren’t about to volunteer the questions they really don’t want to deal with.
For many, playing with the answers to the yes - no question you have to answer to get the quote is an eye opener. In these tight economic times, being able to see how your insurance rate will change if you buy the Honda Accord as compared to if you go for the Echo, may well be the differentiator in more than one buyer’s mind.
Playing with the answers is a fine way of learning what other factors are taken into account when determining your rate. Who knew that where you live is a significant issue? And what about that speeding ticket? How much is that costing you? For this reason, using the internet to obtain auto insurance quotes online has skyrocketed.
Tags: auto insurance, automobiles, autos, car insurance, cars, family, finance, home, insurance, motorcycles, online auto insurance, online car insurance, product reviews, Vehicles
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Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
by Matt Hellstrom
Finding the right auto insurance to fit your budget is honestly one thing that is a lot of concern for a lot of people. Face it, the economy is not all that great right now and you really need to make sure that you are scrimping and saving every dollar that you get! Finding affordable auto insurance is not all that easy all of the time though so you really need to make sure that you know what to ask and where to look!
There are many different ways that you can find auto insurance in general but there are only a few ways that you can find the right one and the most affordable one for your. When you are choosing auto insurance, there are quite a few things that you need to take into consideration before you sign anything away.
Although you want to find yourself the best value for your buck, you want to make sure that you are finding the best coverage for your budget as well. This can take a lot of research and can definitely be time consuming but in the long run, it really can help you out. For example, you do not want to be stuck in a car accident without knowing exactly what you are covered for!
After you have done all of your research, it is now time for you do to the research for the actual companies. This can be done on the internet much easier than calling all of the insurance companies. However, if you are the type of person who is not internet savvy, you should absolutely get out the phone book and start getting some quotes.
Before you actually start shopping, you should list down what you need in terms of coverage. Even with similar coverages, policies tend to vary from company to company. You may even find that even basic, bare bones coverage will differ in terms of what is actually covered, so you need to watch for the difference to ensure that you are actually comparing the same things.
When you are trying to find the best auto insurance, nothing is more important than comparing quotes. It is not advisable to just take the first policy you find. There is always something better available. Insurance companies are very competitive with their prices these days and you can take advantage of that.
Usually, five quotes is a good number to go with. That way, you have a quote from the major auto insurance companies out there and you can compare and contrast the pricing against which coverage you are going to get. This is very important as you need to make sure that you are finding the best insurance for all of your needs as well as the price for your budget. Companies are under-cutting one another in this day and age so that is definitely something that you should take advantage of. Just a little research, some comparing and you will absolutely be able to find the very best coverage for the dollar!
Tags: auto insurance, automobiles, autos, car insurance, cars, family, finance, home, insurance, motorcycles, online auto insurance, online car insurance, product reviews, Vehicles
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
by Matt Hellstrom
If you’re like millions of other people across the country these days, you may be looking for ways to economize and stretch your dollars. If so, you may want to take a look at direct auto insurance as an alternative to using the traditional insurance agency for insuring your car.
In direct auto insurance or home insurance, you deal directly with the insurance company without the buffer of an insurance agent. These types of firms have been popping up on the Internet over the past half decade. They offer discount rates and primarily an online presence. 1-800 numbers are provided, and some have actual bricks and mortar locations. Direct General Insurance, for example, has 480 locations over 12 southeastern states in the US.
Many direct auto insurance companies confine their reach to states or localities that mandate some variation on a no-fault insurance system for all drivers. Under no fault programs, the need for insurance agents is greatly reduced. Under no-fault legislation, insurance companies compensate their insured drivers (and the driver’s passengers) for their losses in an accident without the need for an assignment of blame.
In no-fault localities, the cost of damages and losses is covered for every driver and the driver’s passengers by the driver’s insurer. If an insurance company wants to claim negligence on the part of the other driver, a civil case must be initiated after the compensation has been dispersed. Insurers know their bottom well and rarely go to court, absent evidence of fraud or other mitigating factors against claim settlement, so civil cases are reduced.
The purpose of going no-fault is to reduce wait times for accident victims. The only kink in the pipeline is at the insurance appraiser stage. No-fault states typically avoid creating a bottleneck in the claims settlement pipeline at the appraiser by instituting state-run or licensed collision centers. For these reasons, insurance companies are willing to run in no fault states exclusively and offer no agents but provide attractive discount rates.
The most difficult area as far as consumer confidence goes for direct auto insurance lies in compensation for physical injuries. Unlike collision centers, the diagnosis of injuries to the human body, particularly central nervous system injuries, is not always final. Over the course of treatment and recovery from severe injuries, you want one go-to person so you don’t have to get a new call-center agent up to speed every time you need to get a question answered.
Caution and thinking things out thoroughly must be advised when making the decision to forego the insurance agent in favor of the discounts direct auto insurance companies offer. But if you’re willing to handle some of your own paperwork, then dealing with a direct insurer may be the way to go. Keep in mind that as the industry evolves, the more consumer friendly companies will be the ones to outlast even the best insurance agency in the neighborhood.
Tags: auto insurance, automobiles, autos, car insurance, cars, family, finance, home, insurance, motorcycles, online auto insurance, online car insurance, product reviews, Vehicles
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