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Posts Tagged ‘Insurance Costs’

How To Slash Your Car Insurance Costs Up To 54 In 10 Easy Steps – Part 2

February 14th, 2010 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

In Part 1, we detailed the first five strategies on how to cut your car insurance costs. In Part 2, we show you the second five.

STEP 6 – Review, Change or Cancel No Fault & PIP (Personal Injury Protection)

No-Fault Coverage, and it’s Twin – PIP – started out as great idea’s. Your premiums were actually going to be lowered. Then, your State Politicians got involved (at the urging of Insurance Lobbyists, of course) and mucked it up.

You see, no-fault insurance coverage was originally intended to have each individual’s losses, covered by their own car insurance company – no matter who was at fault.

Today, in many States, car insurance companies are making a ton of money on no-fault because the insurance companies convinced State law-makers to make “modifications.”

Today, because of the these changes, car insurance companies have actually used the no-fault laws to reduce payments on a claim made by a customer, instead of reducing car insurance premiums as it was supposed to do.

So, premiums keep going up-and-up and insurance companies end up paying less for claims – Someone’s getting rich on that deal….and it’s not you.

And to make matters worse, some States (with really, really talented Insurance Lobbyist’s) also require an additional premium be paid on top of the no-fault premium. This beauty is called Personal Injury Protection (PIP).

PIP is a “wide-blanket” of coverage and can provide Collision Coverage, Hospitalization, Social Security Disability, Workers Comp, Personal Disability Insurance & Life Insurance.

The problem with PIP and what it covers is….

You already gave most, if not all, of these coverage’s anyway, don’t you? So, you’re paying twice!

So, you need to do a couple of things:

Google “minimum levels of required auto insurance” to see if No-Fault Insurance and/or PIP Is required in your State;

Then, check your policy. If it’s not required by your State to have No-Fault/PIP Coverage and it’s on your policy – cancel it. If No-Fault/PIP is required by your State….take the absolute minimum. Here’s how.

If you must have No-Fault/PIP, ask for and get a deductible from your car insurance company.

STEP 7 – Cancel Medical Coverage

Medical Coverage, on most car insurance policies, is a promise to pay “reasonable” medical expenses for anyone who is riding in your car should you have an accident…as well as anyone in your car should it get hit by someone else.

Cancel it. You don’t need it.

Why is that you say? Well, medical coverage as part of your car insurance policy is a duplicate of your own:

- Medical Plan; – Any Life Insurance Coverage you might have, as well as; – The Liability Sections of almost every car insurance policy written in the U.S.

Think of it this way….Do you have a Health/Medical/Hospitalization Plan thru work or an Association you belong to?

Then why are you paying premiums for Medical/Hospitalization Coverage on your Car Insurance Policy?

Here’s what’s going to happen when you tell the car insurance company or Agent that you “Don’t want the Hospitalization/Medical Coverage.” You’re going to hear very slick “scare tactics” to help change your mind.

The insurance company employee will say “Well, if you’re in an accident, and it’s your fault, who’s going to cover the medical bills for any injured passengers in your car?”

Here’s your answer. Your family is already covered by your Health/Hospitalization Plan. If anybody else is in the car and they’re injured – they’re covered by your Bodily Injury Liability coverage that you’re already paying for….and their own Health/Hospitalization Plan.

So go ahead – save some more money and get rid of this coverage.

STEP 8 – Cancel Death, Dismemberment & Loss of Sight

Do you have any of these coverage’s on your existing car insurance policy? If so – cancel them.

And if you’re a first time car insurance buyer or, just looking at getting several car insurance quotes, don’t let anyone talk you into them!

Why?

Because, these coverage’s are an absolute waste of money. Most of these optional coverage’s are simply “glorified” life insurance policies with ridiculous provisions and horribly overpriced premiums. If you need life insurance, make it a separate Insurance Policy.

STEP 9 – Cancel The Extras

Do you have “Roadside Assistance” or “Rental Car Reimbursement” on your policy? If so, cancel them.

And again, if you’re a first time insurance buyer or getting a few car insurance quotes, don’t bother with these coverage’s.

Why? Because they’re severely overpriced, are rarely ever used, and limit what you can and cannot do.

For instance, some rental car reimbursement” coverage is almost %100 a year for each vehicle on your policy. So if you have two cars, you’ll spend almost %2,000 on rental car coverage in the next 10 years – and likely never even use it.

And roadside assistance? The piece-of-mind it offers gets trampled by the premiums the car insurance companies want for this coverage. Roadside assistance is a good idea. But use AAA for a cheaper solution.

STEP 10 – Terminate Comprehensive & Collision Coverage On Older Cars.

If you have an older car – by that I mean one that’s worth less than %2,000 wholesale (the amount a car dealer would give you if you were trading it in) cancel any Comprehensive and Collision Coverage you have or decline that option when getting a car insurance quote.

Here’s why. If an 8 year-old car and a brand new car have identical damage, the cost to repair both will be identical as well, even though the 8 year-old car is worth next-to-nothing.

You see the cost of a bumper and fender are the same – whether it’s for a brand new car, or one that is 8 years-old. That’s why your premiums don’t go down as the value of the car goes down. Your payments remain almost the same, year-after-year-after-year.

But, the bottom drops-out of what you’ll be able to collect on that older car. For instance, if your car is “totaled”, your insurance company will only pay you the wholesale value of your car.

So, let’s say your car is worth %1,000, but the total damage is more than %4,000, the insurance company is only going to give you a check for %1,000….minus your deductible, of course.

So you might end up getting %500 back. Sounds like a lousy deal….but that’s how it works.

So, the rule-of-thumb is this – cancel your comp & collision coverage when your vehicles value is less than %2,000….or you’ll be throwing your money away.

Okay – you’ve jotted down some notes and are ready to make some changes to your car insurance policy. So pick up the phone and start slashing your premiums!

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How To Find Affordable Automobile Insurance In Washington

January 8th, 2010 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

No one wants to pay more than they absolutely have to for automobile insurance. In Washington State many factors can play a part in your auto insurance premiums. By law, insurance companies in Washington can take many different things into consideration when giving you a quote. These range from your age to your credit history. Even though you can?t control some of these factors, there are things you can do to help ensure you find a more affordable rate.

The type of vehicle you drive obviously plays a huge part in determining how much you?ll ultimately pay in automobile insurance. Not only do some cars cost more to purchase, they also cost more to repair. Insurance companies realize this as well, and you may notice this reflected in your auto insurance premiums. Consider buying a more affordable car and watch your insurance rates drop.

Some auto insurance companies offer incentives, in the form of rebates, if you take extra precautions with your vehicle. Typically this means that if you install a car alarm, you may be eligible for a lowered premium. You?ll need to show proof of the alarm installation which might be an in-person visit to the insurance company?s office or perhaps a receipt for the work done. In either case, it?s worth asking about. Not only will you save some money in premiums, your car stands less of a chance of being broken into or stolen.

Ask any potential Washington auto insurance companies about a reduction in premiums if you take a higher deductible. Although this is going to cost you more in the event of an accident, overall it should yield an attractive savings in your annual insurance costs. Most policies come with a standard level of deductible, so make it a point to inquire before you agree to the policy.

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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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Getting A Good Car Insurance Rate For Your Teen – Saving Money When You Need It Most

December 12th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

If you’d like to insure your teenager to drive your car, be prepared to pay through the nose. It’s an unfortunate fact of life that young people tend to have more accidents than their older counterparts, and insurance companies know this all too well.

There may be some variance in the Teen rate your insurance company provides depending on the sex of the child, with males being a higher risk than females, and therefore more expensive to insure. Over all, the likelihood of someone between the ages of 16 and 19 having an accident is four times higher than those over 19. It’s hard to blame insurance companies for charging more to cover themselves and your family.

Teen insurance is expensive, but if your child has good grades, this can count towards a discount. Teenagers who maintain a B average or higher will often cost their parent three quarters of what a less academically able student would cost to insure. Also make sure your teen has learned good driving skills and completed safety courses. Having certification from these courses may save you up to 10%PRCTG%, which can be a tidy little sum.

The other important factor in saving money on premiums goes for teens and adults. Keep it clean! Your driving record that is. Tickets and traffic infringements can send your premiums skyrocketing. Once again, gender becomes an issue, with females experiencing less increase in premiums per offense when compared with males.

It does seem unfair and biased, but you have to remember that it’s nothing personal. Insurance companies let the numbers do the talking, so if you want the lowest insurance costs for your teen, regardless of gender, just remember to make sure they’ve completed a driving course, they keep out of trouble with traffic and the law, and keep their grades up.

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The Basics Of Car Insurance

December 9th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

Car insurance basically covers you, your passengers and your car in case of an accident.

Many states require you to carry liability coverage in your insurance policy. Liability insurance covers the expenses incurred for the damages for another vehicle with your own if you are at fault. So basically if you are in an accident and you caused the damage, then the liability of you car insurance will cover damages according to the terms that are in your policy.

Collision coverage is when your car insurance will pay for the repairs or replace your car in the case of an accident.

Comprehensive coverage helps you pay for damages to your vehicle that occurs with bad weather, theft and vandalism.

As you would will all insurances, your car insurance will also a deductible. The deductible amount of the claim is your responsibility to pay. Car insurance costs go up as you lower your deductible. If you want to have a higher deductible you car insurance will be less expensive.

Also keep in mind that as your car ages your car insurance premium will decrease in price. Of course that is if you have a good driving record and don?t get any tickets or get into any accidents. Also you can consider the amount of coverage you get as your car ages. Some think only having liability coverage on your cat that is old is better. Of course it is up to you whatever you want.

I hope this clears up a few things about car insurance for you. If you would like more information do a little bit of research on your own and see what you come up with. Or ask questions when you are inquiring about a certain insurance policy. It is always better to know every aspect before getting insurance and signing the dotted line. Good Luck!

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7 Auto Insurance Tips

November 21st, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

1> Raising your deductible
Deductible is the amount you pay from your pocket before making an insurance claim. The disadvantage of raising your claim is when you make a claim, you will pay more. However, if you are a safe driver, you will overtime save more money by raising your insurance deductible. Look at your previous insurance claim history and make a discreet decision for yourself.

2> Older Auto – Drop comprehensive / collision coverage.
If your car is not worth much, why pay for comprehensive and collision insurance coverage. You can visit a myriad of online sites to find true worth of your car. Additionally your insurance broker might be able to pull up the true worth of your vehicle.

3> Taking advantage of low mileage
Some auto insurance companies will give discounts if you drive less than a certain number of miles or drive less than a certain distance to work.

4> Moving – Consider insurance costs.
If you are considering moving, it will be a good idea to call your insurance agent and get his opinion on the insurance costs in the new city or state.

5> Low profile vehicle
Your vehicle will also determine your overall insurance costs. Some of the cars are favorite for thieves since they fetch a good price. Some cars are more expensive to repair. It makes a lot of sense to do adequate amount of research before you make your auto purchase.

6> Make sure your vehicle is correctly listed by your insurance agent.
Many manufacturers offer somewhat similar model names for vehicles but insurance costs may vary. Additionally 2 or 4 door or the wrong model can impact your auto insurance quote.

7> Have your insurance broker check other insurance company discounts.
A lot of companies will offer discounts if you and your spouse are insured with the same insurance company. Additionally, if you seek home insurance, life insurance, auto insurance from the same insurance company, you will get some discounts. Check with your insurance agent on saving money.

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How To Compare Low Cost Automobile Insurance In West Virginia

November 11th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

If you’re going to drive a vehicle on any roadway in West Virginia then you’d better buy automobile insurance. The consequences of driving without automobile insurance are far too costly, both in time and money, to make the gamble worthwhile.

Rather than risk being caught driving without insurance why not explore all of the different ways of comparing low cost automobile insurance in West Virginia and getting your car insurance at a price you can actually afford to pay?

For example, if you are in the market for a car it might pay you to consult with your automobile insurance agent first. The reason is because not all cars are equal when it comes to insurance costs – some cost a lot more to insure than others. Before agreeing to purchase a car which you are not going to be able to afford to insure, why not ask your agent for a list of the least-costly cars to buy insurance for?

The way you drive your car affects how much you pay for insurance more than any other single factor. If you collect speeding tickets or any other moving violation or if you have even one conviction for DUI or DWI then you can forget about finding the lowest-priced automobile insurance for at least 3 years.

Can you park your car in a garage at night? If so let your agent know as this will save you money.

Ask your agent if your insurance company offers a discount every month if you buy and use a steering wheel locking device. Talk to your agent about other simple, low-cost anti-theft measures that you can take that will save you cash month after month on your automobile insurance.

Drive less. Many people are now using public transportation for most of their “driving” needs. If you can reduce your driving to under 500 miles per month you could qualify for a Low-Mileage Discount.

Carpooling at work can also save you money every month on your car insurance. Part of your automobile insurance premium is based on the number of miles you drive to and from work every month. If you can cut the number in half by carpooling then your agent will see to it that your insurance rates are reduced.

If you retire from work or if you stop driving back and forth in rush hour traffic for any other reason then let your agent know. Your insurance rates will drop.

Pay your premium automatically out of your checking account each month. Automatic payments save your insurance company billing costs and they pass the savings on to you.

If you have medical insurance that’s separate from your automobile insurance policy ask your agent if you could save money by canceling or reducing the Personal Injury Protection portion of your policy.

Don’t pay for collision or comprehensive insurance on older cars that no longer have any Kelly Blue Book value. In fact, since your vehicle loses value every year, talk to your agent about reducing the amount of your collision and comprehensive coverage every year to correspond with the dwindling value of your vehicle.

Increasing your deductible will immediately lower the cost of your automobile insurance. Of course, increasing your deductible also obligates you to pay more cash out of your own pocket or purse should you have a claim, so don’t agree to pay more than you can actually afford.

Do not make a lot of small claims. The longer you can go without filing a claim the better your rates will be.

The last thing you want to do is to find 3 different websites that will let you compare low cost automobile insurance in West Virginia. Don’t rely on just one of these websites, as you won’t see the prices from every car insurance company operating in West Virginia.

If you’re serious about saving money then take the extra time and make your comparisons on a minimum of 3 different websites. Also be certain you use the information you have learned in this article and fill out all three forms in exactly the same way. Only by filling out the forms with the exact same information each time will you be comparing the same insurance policy across all three websites and saving the most money.

Once you have made your three comparisons then all that’s left is to review your results and choose the least expensive automobile insurance policy. And that’s how you compare low cost automobile insurance in West Virginia and find the best policy for you at the very best price.

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How To Lower Your Car Insurance Costs Once And For All

October 1st, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

With fuel costs escalating out of control these days, car running costs are becoming a serious burden for the average family, especially families with more than one car. Because of this reason more and more people are looking for ways to control the costs associated with their family transport.

One such cost is the cost of car insurance. Below are 7 tips for lowering your car insurance costs:

1. Drive carefully. It may sound obvious but as insurance premiums are related to risk then your manner of driving is related to your insurance premiums. Safer driver equals lower premiums. It may not seem so at the time but those traffic violations or speeding fines reflect in your bill.

2. Have a look at other insurance policies you have with other companies. Many insurers offer discounts for combining all your family insurance with their company. Find out who they are and get a quote on all your policies combined.

3. Also note the differences in premiums you would be paying for the type of car you have. Different types of car attract different levels of premium because, in particular, different types of car are driven by different types of people, who may have different types of risk profile. Sports cars, for example, will usually show a higher rate of accidents than staid boring family cars.

4. Consider your deductible. This is the amount you pay first out of any claim, and the cost of your policy is directly related to the amount of your deductible. Higher deductible – lower premium. So consider carefully whether you could afford to pay a higher amount first from any accident and raise your deductible. If so, you will get lower premiums.

5. Safety and anti theft devices can reduce the insurance costs for a car. Talk to your insurance company and find out if there are any safety or anti theft devices that you can install to reduce your premium. Then consider installing them making sure that you notify your insurance company once you have done so. And why not ring up your company and make sure that they are aware of any safety and anti theft devices you already have, if they aren’t you may get a reduction.

6. Always look online for a competitive quote from other companies. Most of the major players and brokers are represented online and it is extremely competitive. Be sure to take advantage of this fact.

7. Don’t just pay your premium blindly without checking if you can do better. Car insurance rates vary all the time and so even if it was the best rate last year it may not be this year. Every year shop around to see if you can do better, you may be surprised.

Follow the above tips and advice and you?ll be pleasantly surprised at how much you can save on your auto insurance.

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How To Cut Car Insurance Costs By More Than 10

September 19th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

Fact: To drive legally in the UK, you are required to have car insurance to protect yourself and other drivers. It’s one of the unavoidable expenses of owning and driving a vehicle on the road.

Whilst car insurance is a fact of life, high premiums are not. There are many ways to control the cost of your motor insurance premiums and even reverse recent increases in some cases. Here are just a few tips that can save you well over 10%PRCTG% on your car insurance this year.

1. Search online for the best quotes.

Often, car dealers work with a specific insurer “for your convenience”. Before snatching the first motor insurance policy you find, do some research and shop around. Use a price comparison site to compare multiple policies side by side. Car insurance quotes can vary by hundreds of pounds for the exact same cover.

2. Buy online at the insurer’s site.

Many, if not most, insurance companies offer hefty discounts when you buy your cover online. Why? They save money on time and agent commissions that way. It’s standard to offer a 10%PRCTG% discount when you buy your car insurance online. While not everyone can buy online, there can be significant savings if you can and do.

3. Review when you renew.

Don’t simply renew you policy when the time rolls around. Go over it to make sure that it still meets your needs and circumstances – and then request a new quote. Insurers will nearly always offer a lower quote when you’re shopping around for policy than when they think they have you hooked.

4. Secure your car.

Since your premium is based on the risk of damage or loss of your car, every step you take to make your car more secure and safe will reduce your premium. Park it off street or in a garage, add a steering lock or an alarm and see your premiums go down.

5. Drive less.

The less you drive, the less your chance of being involved in an accident. If your mileage is lower than the norm, inform your insurer and find out if they offer a low mileage discount.

6. Be honest on your application.

While this technically will not lower your insurance premium, it can make a huge difference when you make a claim. It may be tempting to claim your auntie’s suburban address as your garaging site and knock a few pounds off your premium – but if you need to make a claim, the insurance company could find out. If they prove you misrepresented the facts on your application, your claim will be declined and may end up liable for any damages from the accident to boot.

7. Pay in full at the start of the policy.

Check with your insurer to find out if you’re charged more for paying in installments. In essence, when you pay in installments, you’re taking a loan from the insurance company for your premium, and paying them back – with interest.

8. Pay by direct debit.

If you do choose to pay in installments, find out if your insurer discounts your premium when you pay by direct debit. Since direct debit greatly decreases the likelihood of late and missed payments, most insurers are happy to knock a few quid off the premium when you pay that way.

9. Add an extra driver to your policy.

In some cases, adding an additional driver to your policy will lower your premium, especially if that driver is older, female and has a good driving record.

10. Take a defensive driving course.

Many insurance companies will discount your premium if you complete a course in safe or defensive driving. In general, anything that reduces your accident or loss risk may lower your car insurance premiums.

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How To Save Money And Get Discount Automobile Insurance In Washington

September 17th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

If you happen to fall into a high risk group when it comes to automobile insurance, unfortunately you?re going to have to pay the price. In Washington State the law is fairly simple: automobile insurance companies are permitted to charge rates that reflect a person?s age and gender. For young men, who fall into the category of high risk drivers, this can mean very expensive premiums.

There are ways to reduce those costs, including:

? Taking a driver?s preparation course. Many insurance companies offer a discount to high risk drivers who take safety classes. Proof of completion of the course will need to be presented to enjoy this benefit.

? Being married. Although you likely don?t want to get married just to save on car insurance costs, it?s good to note that many insurance companies will offer a discount for married couples.

? Moving to a less populated city. If you live in a locale that is highly populated, it poses more of a risk and therefore your rates may be reflective of that. Many people who live in remote areas pay substantially less in premiums for their vehicles.

? Driving history. The more speeding tickets and accident claims you have, the higher your premiums will be. Driving legally and safely always can really reduce insurance costs.

The biggest thing to remember when you are a young or high risk driver is that each year that passes that you remain claim-free helps improve your chances of lower insurance costs. For a young person just learning to drive, one of the best options is for them to be placed as an occasional driver under a parent?s policy. Over time, they?ll build up a solid reputation as a good driver and this will help when it comes time to shop for their own policy.

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