Auto insurance » Insurance Premium

Car Insurance Rate When You Have A Bad Driving Record

admin — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 13:44:00 +0000

If you are considered a bad driver or a high-risk driver, finding a car insurance rate you can afford comfortably is a challenge. Most insurance companies do not like to insure high-risk drivers for fear of paying out high payouts if you have an accident. If you find a car insurance company to insure you, you will pay a high price.

Many factors contribute to a car insurance company considering a driver a high-risk. Whether the insurance company goes back three years or one year, you need to remember drinking and driving violations stay on your record longer than a speeding ticket will. Accidents, speeding, running red lights, operating over the centerline and driving the wrong way on a road will contribute to your high car insurance rate.

Other factors that contribute to your bad driving record include failure to pay fines and court costs and the type of sentence or punishment you received. Your high-risk standing makes it difficult to find car insurance. It takes many years to clean up a bad driving record and even then, you need to consider other things when looking for a cheap car insurance rate.

If you receive auto insurance quotes that appear high, ask the insurance agent about this problem and determine if it was because of your credit history or your age and driving record. This is important information to know when you look for car insurance. The car insurance companies do like to work with you to give you the best quote on an insurance policy.

Men already have a strike against them as being high-risk, if you have a bad driving record, you are a man, with a poor credit history, and young, you will see a car insurance premium you may not be able to afford. There are some things you can do to improve your driving record, you might take a drivers safety course, which helps the insurance company lower your car insurance rate a little.

You might want to pay your fines and outstanding bills to improve your credit history. The other thing people do to improve there car insurance rate, they buy an older car, which should have some safety devices installed. The most important thing to start with is your driving habits, change them and start practicing good driving habits.

Once you start the clean up of your driving record and credit history, it make take up to three years before you see any kind of change in your car insurance rate. If you keep this up you eventually will see a decline, but as insurance rates rise, you may not see a decline, but a stand still of your car insurance rate.

By: David Faulkner

Car Insurance? Don’t Just Accept The Renewal Quote

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:30:09 +0000

Many millions of insurance renewal, bills will be sent out over the next two weeks, you should consider if it’s a good idea to just accept the quote. On the other hand, maybe you should shop around to see if you could find a better deal.

Huge numbers of motorists will be in severe shock when they discover how much their premium will have risen since paying their insurance a year ago.

In the UK, new number plates are issued during the month of March; it is also the month with the highest number of car sales. So obviously, as a side effect is also the month, the highest amount of car insurance policies arranged.

So for many millions March will be the happy anniversary of the purchase of their brand spanking new car. Unfortunately, it will also be the anniversary of taking out their new insurance policy.

Renewal time is an excellent opportunity to look over your policy, and consider, could you get the same cover and pay less money?

A good place to start is by going through all the boring terms and conditions. You may find that in your rush to get into your new motor last year. You did not consider exactly what insurance conditions you needed for you and your vehicle.

You may find that their are some conditions that don’t apply to you what you no longer need, removing small pieces of cover can significantly reduce your insurance premium.

The floods last summer had a huge effect on the cost of renewing household insurance because of the massive number of claims. People do not realise that huge numbers of cars were also damaged or destroyed by the floods, which have contributed to an increase in car insurance costs.

The AA has released its latest index of quarterly insurance costs. The survey concludes that there’s been a large increase in the number of personal injury claimants on motor insurance companies. The knock-on effect of this has been a 2.5% increase in the cost of insurance cover. The index covers quotes from more than 80 large and small insurers, and found that the average comprehensive insurance premium is now nearly

What Type of Car Insurance Should I Have?

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:32:52 +0000

“What type of car insurance should I have?” is a common question. Here’s a brief outline of what you should have and how to get it at the best rate possible.

What Type of Car Insurance Should I Have?

Most states require you to have a minimum amount of liability insurance, which includes:

* Bodily injury liability coverage which pays your legal fees and claims made against you when you, a family member, or someone driving your car with your permission, injures or kills other people.

* Property damage liability coverage which pays your legal fees and claims made against you when you, a family member, or someone driving your car with your permission, damages someone else’s property.

A few states also require you to have uninsured motorist coverage which pays for medical fees and property damage expenses for you, your family, and your passengers when you’re hit by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver.

These two types of insurance are all you’re required to carry. However, if you’re in one of the categories below you should consider purchasing the following coverages:

If you drive a late model car – you should carry collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage pays to repair your car when you’re involved in an accident no matter who was at fault, and comprehensive coverage pays to repair your car when it’s been damaged by fire, vandalism, theft, or acts of nature.

To save money on collision and comprehensive coverage, get the highest deductible that you can afford to pay. Raising your deductible from $250 to $1,000 can save you up to 50% on your insurance premium.

You may also want to purchase personal injury protection coverage which pays medical expenses for you and your passengers when you’re involved in an accident. It also pays medical expenses for you and your family when you’re injured in someone else’s car or when you’re walking or riding a bicycle.

If you drive and older car – consider dropping your collision and comprehensive coverage altogether, especially if your car is worth less than the cost of your insurance plus your deductible.

If you have more than one car – insure both cars with the same company. Doing this can save you 5% to 15% on your yearly premium.

If you’re shopping for a car – buy a safe, low maintenance, low profile car, like a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, to save big bucks on your auto insurance. Cars that cost a lot to repair or that are favorites of thieves cost a lot more to insure.

If you’re a teenager or a student – keep your grades up, take a driver’s education course, and keep a clean driving record to keep your rates low.

Comparison Shop to Get the Best Car Insurance Rate

Comparing rates from different companies is by far the best way to get the best rate on your car insurance.

By: Brian Stevens

Does The Coverage And Deductibles You Have On Your Personal Auto Policy Apply To A Rental Car?

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 05:20:02 +0000

When you rent a car, there’s always that moment of truth, the moment when the salesperson asks you if you would like to purchase insurance (or more accurately, a loss waiver) through the rental company. According to most of these salespeople, if you do not purchase the insurance (which can bump the price of your rental up $20 per day or more) the consequences for the slightest scuff on the door will send you spiraling into bankruptcy. The cost of insurance at the rental car counter may also vary depending on the rental car company, state and the type of car you wish to rent. Car rental insurance can be complicated and you might even feel pressured into purchasing it, but before you commit yourself to spending the money on a loss waiver, take a moment to think about some other options.

Car Insurance

If you carry comprehensive and collision coverage, your personal auto policy will generally cover the cost of replacing or repairing a stolen or damaged rental car. Because each insurance company is a little different, however, it is a good idea to speak with your insurance agent and confirm that the rental car is covered by your existing policy.

Remember that any deductibles you have will apply to the rental car. For instance, if you have a $500 deductible and sustain $450 worth of damage, you will be responsible for the full cost. If you have a $500 deductible and sustain $1000 worth of damage, you will be responsible for the first $500 and the insurance company will pay for the balance.

Remember, too, that for your rental car to be covered you must carry comprehensive and collision insurance. If your insurance protects you only against liability, it will not cover the cost to repair or replace a rental car if it is wrecked or stolen. You may also want to take note that in the event of a car accident with the rental car, your personal insurance premium may go up in cost.

Credit Cards

Some credit card companies offer rental insurance benefits. To find out what each of your credit cards offer, simply call the customer service and ask. You may want to shop around a little to find out which of your cards offers the best insurance benefits. When you find the best deal, ask for a copy of the insurance policy in writing. This will allow you to look the policy over carefully to determine that it offers the coverage you need. Having the policy in writing will also put a stop to the he-said-she-said that may occur if a loss does happen.

It’s easy and often tempting to sign on the dotted line and let car rental insurance take care of everything. But if you do so without stopping to investigate other avenues available, you may find yourself paying for car insurance coverage you may already have. Fifteen or twenty minutes of easy research can save you a hefty sum of money and offer you piece of mind.

By: Amy Nutt

Car Insurance For Teachers – What You Need About Teachers Auto Insurance

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 04:02:15 +0000

A lot of people aren’t happy with their auto insurance these days, either because of its high cost or they wish they had more discounts. But if you happen to be a teacher, you don’t have as much to worry about. According to an article on MSN Money, “Horace Mann Insurance…offers discounts to teachers who belong to state education associations or the National Education Association… (also) available through…one of its two subsidiaries — Allegiance Insurance or Teachers Insurance.” The discounts are apparently based on the assumptions that teachers have a stable occupation, stable employment, and the understanding that the community scrutinizes them. These companies claim that stable jobs, being under the watchful eyes of society, and having responsibility make teachers more likely to be better drivers and therefore deserving of auto insurance discounts.

You will be able to use your good driving record to your advantage due to your status as a “good driver.” There’s a discount available for people with an engineering or science degree; specifically, most insurance companies offer a teacher discount because teachers are rated as “above average drivers” by the Auto Insurance companies.

At least one insurance company maintains that there is a direct relationship between what you do for a living and your risk of being in a car accident. Therefore, a scientist will pay the least amount of money and owners of businesses will pay the most. Not only does job type determine the cost of your insurance premium, geographic location, driving record, claims history, credit history, gender, age and car make and model also determine the cost of your premium. Therefore, if you are a teacher, you are in luck. The reasons for this are justified with statistical evidence.

It is proven statistically that teachers have better accident records and have lower records of reported claims than other drivers. Teachers have lower insurance because they are typically more alert. There is an insurance program particularly for teachers entitled the Teachers Insurance Plan. Under this plan, both active and retired teachers may obtain insurance coverage at a more affordable cost. This is a reward for the wonderful driving plan of teachers.

You are eligible to use the Teachers’ Insurance Plan if you are currently teaching or are a retired education professional. It is great that many insurance companies reward the education community for good driving habits with savings for teachers and other education professionals who are the pillars of their communities.

By: Diego Gaitan

Car Insurance – What a Caveman Needs to Know

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:20:12 +0000

“It’s so easy even a caveman can do it”, the announcer proclaims, alluding to how easy it is to save money with their car insurance company. While the advertisement has been hugely successful, even leading to a television series, the reality is neither a caveman, talking lizards, scantily clad models or anything else will make your car insurance any cheaper. Your insurance premium is primarily based on such things as your driving record, age, gender, location, the vehicle that you’re insuring, and not on what insurance company you are with. If you really want to see how easy it is to save money with any insurance company, try getting cheap auto insurance with a less than perfect driving record including such indiscretions as speeding, accidents, or the dreaded D.U.I. You’ll quickly find that ‘easy’ is a relative term; perhaps easier than Chinese Arithmetic, but not as easy as the ubiquitous commercials would lead you to believe.

Even a caveman will find it hard to get cheap car insurance in some places. The place that I call home; referred to by many as the People’s Republic of Maryland, has a ‘point’ system in place where you get nailed twice for the same violation. Commit a driving violation here, and you will receive a gift that keeps on giving because not only will you pay when you go to court, but you will also be rewarded with higher insurance premiums when the auto insurance company finds that you’ve scored some points. If you are a really high achiever and score enough points, you can even get your license revoked or suspended. The ‘point’ is, your driving record is the major determinant as to how much you pay. If you want to keep your car insurance low..er, avoid tickets, and if you live in Maryland, take the bus.

When it comes to car insurance, it is definitely better to be a cave woman than a caveman. It’s an established fact that all things being equal, you will pay more for auto insurance if you happened to born with the XY chromosome.The reasoning behind this is that since men have the testosterone thing going on, they are more likely to drive fast and reckless and therefore are a higher risk than the fairer sex. Having many years of experience behind the wheel, I would have to add that it’s not so much whether or not you are a caveman or woman that matters, but whether or not you are a ‘young’ cave person. I could not begin to tell you how many times I have seen young Cro-Magnon women driving up on another cars bumper at 70 miles an hour. While this gender discrimination may seem a little Neanderthal to many of us, nobody said that life was fair; even for a caveman.

It also matters where you cave is located. When I was living out in Washington State, I paid less than half for car insurance than what I pay here in Maryland. In Baltimore, you can even pay higher rates just by living in the wrong zip code. I have a brother who lives just two miles from where I reside yet his auto insurance is much cheaper because he lives in a different zip code. You can be the safest driver on the roads but if you happen to live in the wrong area, you might just get penalized for it. Like real estate, when it comes to car insurance, location matters.

Lastly, the type of vehicle that you’re insuring also plays a large part in how much you pay for auto insurance. For instance, certain vehicles are more popular with car thieves than others. According to the ‘National Insurance Crime Bureau(NICB), the Honda Civic and Accord were among the most reported stolen vehicles in 2006′. ‘The report also mentioned that thieves tend to target the most popular vehicles because they offer the best market for stolen vehicle parts and illegal export to other countries’. Insurance companies are aware of this as well, and most will charge a premium for the privilege of owning one of these thief happy cars.

While it may be true that you can save some money by insuring your auto with an insurance company that has a caveman as a spokesperson, the truth is that what you pay for insurance is based on numerous factors such as driving history, age, sex and location. Slick advertising aside, that should be so obvious that even a cave man can see it.

By: William J. Thomas

Cheap Car Insurance in NC

admin — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 13:02:43 +0000

The premium you pay for your car insurance in NC is dependent upon several factors, including your age, gender, driving record, traffic ticket and violation history, your living location, the kind of car you are insuring, and the insurance company from which you purchase your car insurance in NC.

A few of these factors can’t be changed; some can be altered in time. However, despite all of these factors, the amount of car insurance in NC you purchase is always going to have an effect on the cost of your car insurance premiums. Therefore, if you’re looking for cheap car insurance in NC, it would make sense to purchase NC’s minimum car insurance requirements, wouldn’t it?

The minimum car insurance requirements for NC are as follows:

$25,000 for coverage of property damage

$30,000 for coverage of the bodily injury of one person

$60,000 for coverage of the bodily injury of two or more persons

Purchasing merely the minimum car insurance requirements in NC isn’t recommended, and not always allowed if your vehicle isn’t fully paid for.

Yet, if your car is completely paid for, and you’re in a situation in which you’ve just graduated and entered the workforce or you’ve just left the workforce and gone back to school, money may be tight. You must have at least the minimum car insurance requirements in NC, so you’ll want your car insurance to be as cheap as possible. In these cases, getting cheap car insurance in NC may be dependent upon purchasing just the minimum car insurance requirements. Seriously consider purchasing more car insurance once you’re financially able.

For more discounts to get cheap car insurance in NC, check out NC’s insurance department, or talk with the car insurance agency from which you plan to purchase your car insurance policy. Many insurance agencies offer discounts for purchasing multiple policies, good driving records, and even adding addition cars to the insurance policy.

By: Elizabeth Newberry

How to Pay Less Car Insurance Premium

admin — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:13:58 +0000

Owning a car is a huge commitment on its own, but owning car insurance needn’t be. Although car insurance is a must under the law, there are various methods you can use to pay less premium and gain more protection. The first thing you should do is to discard the mentality that car insurance is a boring must-do. If you start with this thinking, chances are you are going to take whatever that is served to you and take the shortcuts to getting your car insurance and forget about it.

A general rule of thumb is not signing up with the first company you come across. At this stage, you basically do not know what other company have to offer. Needless to say, you should be comparing four or five companies and pick out the best one. But if you are like other normal folks, going from one company to another is not your idea of fun. So what you can do is turn to the internet! By keying in simple information such as your location, age, gender and car details, you can get hold of auto insurance quotes from various companies in a matter of minutes.

Before you proceed to get an online quote, there are various things you need to know in order to secure the best insurance rate. You need to understand how insurance company determine their premium rates so you can work these factors to your advantage. Try to think from the insurance provider’s perspective.

Basically, your insurance provider will want customers who are ‘low risk’. What this mean is you need to convince your insurance company that you are a careful driver who are not likely to make a claim. Also, insurance company need to assess how much they likely need to pay you if you do make a claim.

For example, if you have past records of road accidents stretching back as far as six years ago or have been issued plenty of speeding tickets, you could be paying a higher premium. The same thing applies if you drive an expensive or new car that will require a higher repair cost. So, as you can see, figuring out insurance premium is really not complicated at all.

Also, the more frequent you use your vehicle and the mileage you go, the more likely you are to be involved in a car crash, as far as your insurance company are concerned. Even the neighborhood you reside in can play a role. Staying in a safe suburb rather than the city slump can reflect in your premium quote too, due to lower possibility of theft and vandalism.

A big mistake made by the majority of car owners is buying and forgetting about their car insurance policy. Your car insurance provider will slowly get a clearer picture of what kind of driver you are and your ‘riskiness’ could have decrease since the time you sign up for the policy, especially if you have been maintaining a clean record. Overtime, you may be eligible for discounts that is not made available to you before. To see if you qualify for such discounts, make a review of your policy with your insurance provider every year.

These are only some of the things you can look into to get a better premium rate. In fact, there are many more details you can work on to secure a better quote. The key is to be an informed consumer and adopting a proactive approach to car auto insurance.

By: Steff X

Auto Insurance Can Cost Less With These Tips

admin — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 04:24:52 +0000

People today are finding it harder and harder to even save just a few dollars out of their regular incomes. One of the ways people have tried to trim their budgets is by cutting out insurance costs. Insurance can be especially expensive for some people, as costs for home, life, auto and other insurance has grown to reflect the worsening economy. For those looking for any ways they can possibly keep a few more dollars in their pocket while still meeting their insurance needs, there are a few ways you can still save some money.

The best car insurance companies will also offer discounts if you have a shorter commute. In general, insurers will offer lower rates if your daily commute is less than forty miles per day, as driving less than this distance offers a lower chance of being involved in an accident. Many urban areas also set insurance rates based on distances between your home and various freeways, so be aware of the roads around where you live.

The biggest cost savings that you can get for your auto insurance policy is through increasing the deductible you pay. By increasing the deductible, you take on some extra burden for costs in case of an accident in return for a lower cost for coverage if the car is involved in a major collision. Increasing the deductible from the standard one hundred dollars to one thousand dollars can net a savings of thirty percent per year.

Keeping your driving record clear can substantially decrease your monthly auto insurance premium. How well you drive and the number of accidents and tickets you have received all change the price you are forced to fork over every month. Stay away from accidents and speeding by practicing safe, defensive driving practices and reducing your overall accident risk. Some places even offer cash incentives for those who can keep their records clean! This is a good way to get money right back into your pocket.

You can manage to get cheap car insurance by not having to pay for superfluous extras on your policycoverage. Numerous insurance firms provide features like emergency highway assistance, and such items can make your rates considerably higher each month. While lots of drivers think they require those services, they don’t necessarily take advantage of them and you should therefore think twice before signing up for them.

Following the supplied tips to choosing good auto insurance, you can ensure that you hold onto more of your money to use for other things besides funding your insurance. Having insurance doesn’t need to break your wallet. To avoid this, you just have to pay attention to what you’re getting and how much you are paying for it.

By: Alisdair Cosgrove

How to Get Cheap Car Insurance in San Diego, California

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:32:48 +0000

San Diego, California is a haven for mature individuals who want to retire. This obviously means that there are more and more aging drivers on the streets of this warm and welcoming city. Trying to find cheap car insurance in San Diego, California can be challenging for someone who is over the age of fifty. However, there are things they can do to help ensure they aren’t paying more in premiums than they realistically need to be.

Many car insurance companies in California offer a cheaper rate for older motorists who take a mature driving course and pass it. For anyone considering doing this, it’s essential that they are certain that the course they take is recognized by the insurance company they plan on purchasing a policy from. This course is viewed as a sign of good faith and also an indicator that the driver is still aware and safe behind the wheel.

In addition to taking the driving course motorists can also look for other ways to save on their car insurance costs. One great method that many mature individuals employ is to be added as an occasional driver on someone else’s policy. This really is a good solution for someone living with their adult child. The child can add them on as an infrequent driver to their own vehicle, which still affords the mature person the chance to get out and about. If the older individual still drives a great deal, this approach wouldn’t be suitable.

Common sense really plays an important role in finding cheap car insurance in San Diego, California as well. Using a car alarm, driving within posted limits and paying close attention to the road, all help to reduce the number of thefts and collisions, and this ultimately results in lower insurance premium rates.

By: Deborah Mills