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Posts Tagged ‘Credit Score’

Ways to Save on Auto Insurance

February 23rd, 2010 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

The American economy is sucking a lot of money out of consumers? pockets due to high gas prices and the general increase in every other consumer good from food to clothing that is associated with high oil prices. However, there is good news on the horizon, and that is that auto insurance rates are being reduced. Despite this reduction, there are several things you should keep in mind when shopping for car insurance to ensure you receive the best rate and coverage for you and your vehicle.

Tip #1 Shop Around
There are so many different auto insurers out there you might think it difficult to find the best insurance at the lowest prices. However, don?t despair because all you have to do is shop around. The easiest way to do this is to go online and search all your favorite car insurers in order to receive a fast and free online quote. Then, you can simply compare the services and prices of the insurers and make the best choice for you. Spending a little time on research might save you hundreds of dollars on car insurance.

Tip #2 Look for the Discounts
You may not have known this, but many auto insurers provide discounts to drivers for good driving behavior and other reasons as well. So, ask about the discounts available through various insurance providers and consider how many you would qualify for. More than likely if you qualify for one or two then your rates could easily drop several hundred dollars per year.

Tip #3 Maintain Your Credit
Unbeknownst to you, your credit score affects your car insurance rate. As a result, you should be sure to maintain your credit score as high as possible in order to not only receive the benefits of good credit, but also to pay lower car insurance premiums. It is really worthwhile, and something you will benefit from economically.

These tips are great ways for you as a consumer to take your car insurance needs into your own hands and find the best provider with the lowest rates and most coverage. When you start doing the research, you will be amazed how much money you can save as well as how many more benefits you can receive. Go ahead and start saving on your auto insurance today, there is no reason to wait.

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How to Lower the Cost of Your Car Insurance

February 20th, 2010 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

Buying auto insurance is an important part of your overall financial planning. The auto insurance premium rate varies depending on the company and the type of policy coverage you choose to have. Here are some guidelines to lower the cost.

Shop Around- Compare the costs by shopping around at least four to five insurance companies and comparing the quotes. Take the help of your friends, relatives and yellow pages. Your insurance company should offer fair price and posses excellent service records. Check the financial ratings of the company as it indicates the strength and stability of the company.

Ask for higher deductibles- Deductible is the amount of money that you pay before making any claim for an accident. The collision and comprehensive coverage are sold with the deductibles. Higher the deductibles lower will be the premium rate. Increasing the deductible from %200 to %500 may reduce the cost by 15 to 30 percent.

Drop collision and comprehensive Coverage on older cars- If your car is worth less than 10 times your premium in the current market, consider dropping the collision and comprehensive coverage.

Buy auto coverage from your existing insurer- Buy insurance coverage from your existing carrier. This may help you to reduce the cost. Sometimes low rates are available for the longtime customers.

Avoid double health coverage- If you think that you have enough health insurance, and then avoid health coverage with your auto policy. This will help you to reduce the cost.

Maintain a good credit record- Insurers are using the credit history while determining the price of insurance. Statistically, the lower your credit score, the more you are likely to file claims. A person with a good credit score is more likely to settle the accident without the support of the company. Try to maintain a good credit record.

Discounts with low profile car- Cars that are expensive to repair or attractive to thieves will have a higher rate. Consider buying a low profile or average car as it your insurer might come up with discounts for such a car.

Take advantage of the low mileage discount- Obtain some discount on premiums by driving less than the national average mileage recorded per year.

Consult about group discount- Sometimes you can get some discounts on group plans provided by your employer, or a business groups, or other associations. Find out whether such a plan is available.

Seek Car Safety discount- Some insurers offer discount if you keep your car equipped with air bag, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft devices, automatic seat belts. Take advantage of this.

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New Driver Car Insurance – How To Save More Money With Your New Driver

January 3rd, 2010 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

Sometimes it?s difficult for new drivers to save money on their car insurance policies. This is mostly due to the fact that new drivers just aren?t as experienced driving as those drivers who have been on the roads for a few more years. Car insurance companies tend to view new drivers at a higher risk for accidents and traffic violations than they see those more experienced drivers; therefore, they charge a higher rate for new driver car insurance. A new driver doesn?t necessarily mean a teen driver, either; there are new drivers of all ages, which means there are ways for all new drivers to get cheap car insurance.

Some tips to instantly get low cost new driver car insurance include:

? Try to be added on to another driver?s car insurance policy, such as your parents? or your spouse?s. This may raise their premiums a bit, but it will cost less than purchasing a completely separate car insurance policy. Plus, they may get a discount for having multi-drivers and multi-vehicles on their policies.

? If you didn?t use a lender to help pay for your car, consider purchasing your state?s minimum liability insurance requirements. (Lenders usually require you to purchase more than the state?s minimum.)

? Purchase your new driver car insurance from another insurance company from which you purchase another insurance policy, such as your home owner?s insurance policy. Having multi-line insurance can sometimes help you get discounts.

Of course, there are other factors that go into determining your new driver car insurance, such as your age, the kind of car you driver (safer is better), your driving record, and even your credit score. These factors can?t be changed overnight, so it?s best to keep them in mind as you become a more experienced driver. In the meantime, always ask your car insurance company about additional special discounts for which you may be eligible as a new driver.

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Your Credit Score Your Car Insurance Costs

January 1st, 2010 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

It?s certainly no secret today that your credit score goes with you just about everywhere when it comes to purchasing something on time. However, if you think your credit score only comes into play when you are applying for a loan you need to re-think that.

When it comes to car insurance, many insurance companies will also take your credit score into consideration when it comes to determining the cost of your coverage or even coverage at all if you are applying for insurance.

Even with a spotless driving record, this can be the case.

You see, for insurance companies, it?s all about statistics and risk factors. Many insurance companies believe that mediocre to poor credit ratings equate to higher insurance risks.

So, if you?re not the best at getting your credit card payments in the mail on time you may want to stop and think about changing your payment habits and make more of an effort to improve your payment track record. Whether this is true at all or not, almost all auto insurers use your credit score in the mix to some degree when determining your premium.

Knowing this, makes it even more important for you to know exactly what your credit score is and why it is what it is. In other words, even if you believe you?ve never been late on any payment, credit reporting companies are far from flawless. There could be mistakes or even misrepresentations on your report that could cause to have your insurance rated (higher bracket) or even denied.

So, take a few minutes (and you can do very easily online) and get your credit report. Or check out your FICO (Fair, Isaacs & Co) score; which is what insurance companies use to factor your credit rating into the cost.

A driver with bad credit is going to pay more for their insurance than those with good credit.

If you do have bullet proof credit, this is all the more reason for you to shop your insurance around. You may find an insurance company that offers bigger discounts for A+ credit ratings.

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How To Find Affordable Car Insurance In Tennessee

December 18th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

If you?ve ever tried to purchase Tennessee low cost car insurance, you?re probably aware of the impact your credit score has on policy-underwriting and rate-determining procedures. While there are a few restrictions auto insurers have when it comes to using your credit score (an insurer can?t, for example, take action against you based on your score), it?s no secret that having a decent score increases your chances of finding affordable car insurance in Tennessee.

Making repairs to your credit score will help you get Tennessee low cost car insurance, and we?ll even help get you started. Take these five tips into consideration.

Obtain your credit report(s). America?s top credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Order a credit report from each bureau as information tends to vary from report to report.

Study your credit report(s). Study each report and take note of both correct and incorrect information. If your report includes incorrect negative information, your chances for getting Tennessee low cost car insurance will, in turn, be negatively affected.

Dispute incorrect information. When you find incorrect negative information, file a dispute with the credit bureau in question. Make sure to keep copies of all communication between you and the bureau.

Think about the correct information. If you have positive information on your credit report (and we hope you do!), remember the steps you took to get those results. Remember the mistakes you made to get negative information and devise a plan to avoid continuing those mistakes.

Continue to build your credit. Consider secured credit cards ? designed for people with no or poor credit ? to help re-establish your credit. In the meantime, call on other lines of credit that weren?t reported. Your gas card and department store credit line, for example, may be in great standing but not reported. Contact those institutions and request they report to a credit bureau. Otherwise, you may risk your chance at getting affordable car insurance in Tennessee.

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Cheaper Car Insurance In Michigan

December 15th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

According to Michigan?s Department of Labor and Economic Growth, there are a plethora of ways to obtain cheap car insurance in Michigan ? most of which apply to any car insurance company in Michigan from which you choose to purchase your cheap car insurance.

The factors to help you get cheap car insurance in Michigan range from past, present, and future actions by you as a driver in Michigan.

Past

You may be eligible for a long-term policyholder discount if you have been with the same cam insurance company for a specific period of time. If you haven?t had any traffic violations or accidents for a specific period of time, you may also get a cheap car insurance rate in Michigan. Also, if you have a degree past high school, or have maintained a certain grade point average for a specific period of time, you may be offered discounts on your Michigan car insurance.

Present

If you belong to an approved organization, currently have a good credit score and credit history, have no youthful drivers on your policy, pay higher deductibles, and have only purchased the minimum collision coverage, you?re likely to get cheap car insurance in Michigan. Other factors include your age and income. Drivers over the age of 65, and drivers of low-income families, are eligible for cheap car insurance in Michigan, too.

Future

If none of the above applies to you, there are changes you can make to get cheap car insurance in Michigan. Consider combining your car insurance policy with an insurance company from which you purchase another insurance policy, such as your homeowner?s insurance policy, or insure more than one vehicle on the same car insurance policy. Practice safer driving, take a driver education course, and work on repairing your credit score. Making sure your car is as safe as possible and always wearing your seatbelt are additional ways to get cheap car insurance in Michigan.

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How To Save Money And Get Discount Automobile Insurance In Tennessee

December 1st, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

A great way to save money and get discount automobile insurance in Tennessee is to take a look at ? and pamper! ? your credit score. Yes, you?ve heard the rumors and they?re true ? many car insurers look at your credit report when determining how affordable car insurance rates in Tennessee will be. That means the MasterCard bill that was sent to collections, or the bankruptcy you filed last year, could very well affect your chances at getting cheap auto insurance in Tennessee.

Luckily, you can spruce up, and eventually even do some serious repair, to your credit score. This will make it much easier on yourself to save money and get discount automobile insurance in Tennessee.

How can you revamp your credit score and work toward getting cheap auto insurance in Tennessee?

? Order a copy of your credit report. Various companies offer free copies of your credit report. Order inaccuracies that negatively affect your credit score.

? Start paying your bills on time. This many seem like a no-brainer, but it can be difficult to pay your bills on time once you?ve gotten behind. Call your creditors and ask about setting up payment plans to get caught up.

? Get rid of some ? or all ? credit cards. The less credit you have, the less temptation you have, right? Find out how to transfer each card onto one card and save money on interest rates as well as avoid the temptation to use all cards.

? Get a new credit card. Use this option if your credit is so poor (or lacking) that you can?t get credit on your own. Ask a relative to co-sign a credit card for you (this makes it easier to get one) ? use it wisely and make payments on time.

It will take some time to repair your credit score, but once you do you?ll find it easier to get affordable car insurance rates in Tennessee.

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How To Find The Best Rates On Car Insurance In Oregon

October 31st, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

Most people really can?t afford to pay any more for car insurance than they absolutely have to. After all I don?t know anyone who likes paying their monthly car insurance premium.

However, pay it we must if we want to drive our cars on public roads legally and morally. But that doesn?t mean there aren?t steps you can take to lowering those monthly payments ? some may even be ideas you were not familiar with.

For example, if you have excellent credit talk to your insurance agent about getting a discount on your auto insurance. Most people don?t know it, but your overall credit score can affect your car insurance rates.

And while we?re at it, when was the last time you simply asked your car insurance company for a list of all their discounts. You could be surprised at some of the little-used discounts that could lower your bill.

For example, are you a member of an organization such as AAA or an employee of a large company? Often insurance companies provide group members with a break on their insurance rates.

If you are a student you already know how high car insurance rates can be in Oregon, but did you also know that if you maintain good grades many companies offer a Good Student Discount?

If you combine your homeowners and life insurance and your car insurance all with the same company you?ll probably be entitled to a multi-policy discount.

If your car has any type of anti-theft device or if you have an anti-theft device installed on your own, check with your insurance company ? almost all of them provide a break for anti-theft devices on cars.

If you own an older car that has little or no Blue Book value then it probably doesn?t make a lot of sense to carry Comprehensive insurance. This is the insurance that pays for you car if there is an accident, and if you car has little or no Blue Book value then your insurance company is not going to pay you much ? if anything ? anyway.

One of the simplest things many drivers looking for the best rates on car insurance in Oregon do is to increase the deductible on their vehicle. Your deductible is the cash you pay out of your own pocket when you have an accident before your insurance begins to pay. By increasing the deductible on your car from %200 to %1,000 you can cut your monthly premium by as much as 50%PRCTG% in some cases.

Whatever you do, you need to shop a variety of companies and compare prices, because prices for the exact same car insurance can vary by many hundreds of dollars per year depending on the company you buy your policy from.

Today there are literally dozens of sites on the internet which allow you to compare auto insurance with the click of a button and find the best rates on car insurance in Oregon in no time at all.

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Tips to Save on Car Insurance

October 27th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

We all wish to make savings in our life. Cars included. Myriad insurance companies offer varying premium rates depending on their policy coverage. So it is important that you get the best Insurance package for your car.

These tips will help you how to manage your Car Insurance budget within limits.

Making Comparisons: The costs of at least three to six insurance companies will give you a fair idea of the costs involved with different policies. Seek the advise of colleagues, friends, relatives. Besides from costs involved, the track record of the companies matter a lot.

The standing, strength and financial position of the company need to be looked into. Request for higher deductibles – It’s the amount one pays prior to making any claim for the accident. The complete coverage and collision is sold along with the deductibles. The more the deductibles the less the premium rate. By increasing the deductible say from %300 to %600 will invariable reduce the cost to 20 to 35 percent.

Old Cars – Drop Collision and Comprehensive Coverage – It is better to drop the collision and comprehensive coverage if the car is worth less than 10 times your premium in the current market. One way to reduce the cost is buying the auto coverage from the existing insurance and insurance coverage from existing carrier.

No to Double Health Coverage – Avoid health coverage with auto policy provided you have enough health insurance. This is one way of reducing costs.

A Good Credit Card Record – This has multiple benefits – helps to file claims if the credit score is less. A good credit score will also help in settling the accident with the help of the company.

Low Profile Car Discount – Fancy and trendy cars with high maintenance costs higher rate and attract thieves as well. A low budget, low profile car will help a lot with insurer discounts to boost.

Mileage Counts – More discounts can be obtained by driving less than the national average mileage recorded per year.

Avoid double health coverage- If you think that you have enough health insurance, and then avoid health coverage with your auto policy. This will help you to reduce the cost.

Maintain a good credit record- Insurers are using the credit history while determining the price of insurance. Statistically, the lower your credit score, the more you are likely to file claims. A person with a good credit score is more likely to settle the accident without the support of the company. Try to maintain a good credit record.

Discounts with low profile car- Cars that are expensive to repair or attractive to thieves will have a higher rate. Consider buying a low profile or average car as it your insurer might come up with discounts for such a car.

Low Mileage Pays – Obtain some discount on premiums by driving less than the national average mileage recorded per year.

All about Group Discount – It’s all about a group taking insurance plan collectively. Be it an employer, business group or associations. Check for such plans.

Safety Discount – Discounts are also offered if the car is fitted with safety items like air bag, automatic seat belts, anti lock brakes. So make safety pay for you.

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Car Insurance And Your Credit Score

October 19th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

Did you know that your car insurance premiums may be affected by your credit score? Well, they can, and more and more automobile insurance companies are turning to this new system of premium determination. Not all companies are using this new system but many are, and if your company is using it, you should know a few things.

There is a philosophy behind this system. Some consumers may not agree with it, but there is one. After years of data collection, research, and study some car insurance companies have concluded that those individuals who have low credit scores are also the individuals who file the most claims. This assertion leads to some interesting questions, the most notable being: Do people with lower credit scores drive more poorly than those with higher scores?

The answer to that question is debatable. It might very well be that car insurance companies receive more claims from lower credit score individuals for reasons that have nothing to do with accidents. It is entirely possible that these same people live in communities where auto theft or vandalism is more prevalent than in other communities. There is also some debate over fraudulent claims, which would increase the overall number of claims associated with those who have lower credit scores.

Of course there is a flip side to this. What about those individuals who have low credit scores but have never had an accident or filed a claim? Is it fair for car insurance companies to increase their premiums? This is the crux of the debate, whether or not it is fair for an entire group of people to be penalized for the actions of a few.

In the past, car insurance companies have often used this broad stroke approach to setting premiums. For instance, we all know that younger drivers are usually assessed a higher premium, and this applies whether the driver in question has ever had an accident or not. All younger drivers pay more, or so it seems, and there is evidence that these younger drivers do have more accidents than people who are older.

On the issue of using credit scores, however, as a basis for determining the car insurance premiums that you may have to pay, there are a couple of things you can do. First, you should review your credit reports and scores to make sure they are accurate. You might be surprised at how often mistakes or omissions are found in these reports. Another option is to ask your car insurance company if they are using this system. You may find it more economical to switch to another company that does not use credit scores as a premium setting module. Lastly, if you discover your company is using this model, you may want to sit down with your car insurance representative and ask him or her for a waiver. This will only work if you have a clean driving record. They may be willing to offer you a better rate rather than lose you as a customer.

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