Car Insurance - Some Helpful Top Tips To Keep Costs Down

Thanks to the stiff competition in the car insurance industry, premiums have on average stayed at the same level in recent years. With over 100 car insurers vying for your custom, competition is hot and motorists can take advantage of some good bargains. If you shop around, you will almost certainly beat the renewal quote offered by your current insurer, but 23% of motorists ignore that fact, and happily renew their motor insurance with the same company year on year.

Until recently, getting a car insurance quote meant ringing up and going through the lengthy process of providing all your personal details, not to mention the many minutes spent trying to get through to them in the first place. Now, getting a quote has been made so much easier with the advent of the internet. Some websites allow you to input your details once, and can then give you quotes from 40 or more car insurers.

However, price is not the only consideration when choosing with whom to insure your car. Make sure that you're not going to be faced with a large excess in case of an accident, and ensure that if your car needs to be repaired, you will be given a courtesy car. You also need to consider legal insurance cover and automatic windscreen replacement, and if you do have an accident, you may find an accident helpline extremely useful! To be sure of what is and isn't included in your cover, it's best to ring the insurer to go through the small print.

Our Top Tips to save you money on car insurance

1. Go through a car insurance broker's website so you can get access to quotes from 40 or more car insurers, by simply inputting your details once. When you've received a quotation, call them to discuss the details of the policy, and maybe even request a further discount.

2. Keep your car in the garage overnight. You will pay more in insurance for keeping your car on the road because there is more chance of your car being broken into or damaged. As a second best option, put your car on a driveway.

3. Keep on top of how many miles you do each year, if you travel less then you will save on premiums.

4. Even your choice of occupation can affect your premiums - crazy as it sounds, if you're a landlord, journalist or professional footballer (chance would be a fine thing) you will pay more. More run of the mill occupations like accountancy and government pay less.

5. If you're married, male and under 30, you will probably pay less than your unmarried counterparts.

6. If you're under 25, you'll save money on your premiums by adding someone over 25 (and under 60) with a good driving record as a named driver.

7. If you want to save on the initial costs, you could choose to have a higher excess (usually about �£100). It means you'll pay more if you have an accident and need some repairs, but it's a risk that you could take.

8. If your car isn't worth much, why not just get third party cover. Compare quotes for third party and fully comprehensive insurance and see the difference.

9. If you're aged between 18 and 21 then you've got the option of pay as you go insurance. Norwich Union has pioneered the idea especially for younger people who find it hard to afford car insurance. You're charged for the miles you drive, and it gets more expensive per mile between 11pm and 6am. For a one off fee of $199, your car is fitted with a Global Positioning System which communicates details of your mileage direct to Norwich Union, they then send you a monthly bill.

10. If you've only just passed your test, you could save money by improving your driving. Take Pass Plus lessons and you could save up to 35% on your premiums. The lessons include driving in rush hour, on the motorway and driving at night, costing $15 - $30 an hour. Visit www.passplus.org.uk for more details. Taking a course with the Institute of Advanced Motorists (www.iam.org.uk) will also reduce your premiums.

11. If you're buying a new car then find out what insurance group it falls into before you buy. There are twenty insurance groups with 1 being the lowest and 20 the highest, so if you're caught between two cars and one is in a lower insurance group, you'll save money by choosing it.

12. High spec and performance cars cost more to insure because statistically speaking, there's more chance of them being stolen or being involved in an accident. Save money by choosing something a bit less 'racy'.

13. A speeding offence could affect your premiums. Most insurance companies will turn a blind eye to one fixed penalty fine but above that you can expect higher premiums.

14. If you've made it to that all-important four years of no claims, pay a bit extra to protect the discount, then it's safe.

15. Some insurance companies will give discounts for cars with satellite navigation as it has proved to help prevent accidents by enabling motorists to concentrate on the road.

16. Having an engine immobiliser or alarm fitted could lower your premiums by 5 - 8%.

17. If you've got more than one car registered at your address, you can get extra savings by insuring them all in one policy.

Article Source: http://www.insurancearticle.com

Auto Insurance - If You Want To Know All There Is To Know, Start Here

Cheap Car Insurance

When it comes to owning a car, there are a few things that go along with the luxury. Drivers must pay for gas to get them where they need to go, pay for any repairs that may occur, and must be insured. While the occasional driver will drive five miles out of their way to get the best gas price in town, many drivers forget that they should shop around for cheap car insurance as well. There are several ways to end up with the best deal when it comes to cheap car insurance. You must do a little research however, and reach out for the best bargain around, because it will not likely reach out to you.

Minimum Coverage

If you are looking for extremely cheap car insurance, your best bet is to go with a company that offers minimum coverage. Each state requires a certain minimum amount of auto coverage in which all drivers must be covered under. While some of the more established insurance companies will not offer these low coverage options, there are other companies that specialize in minimum coverage policies. You won't be getting all of the perks that come with a heftier insurance plan, but your quest for cheap car insurance will be complete.

Combination Offers

If you own a home or a life insurance policy, you may be able to get cheap car insurance by combining the policies under one insurance company. Many insurance agents will offer you a nice discount when you insure your vehicle, home, and life with their company. Sometimes you will only be required to have two of the three, while other times you will be required to purchase all three to get a discount of any type. Make sure that it is worth your while to merge all of your plans however. Never switch a policy unless you are sure the rates are more competitive and the discount will be worth your while.

Annual Quotes

The biggest mistake most drivers make is not requesting new auto insurance quotes each year. While you may not think much can happen in a year, many companies change their annual rates drastically. You may be able to secure a lower rate this year with a company that offered you a higher rate last year. These rates usually change due to the increase in your age. However, sometimes they are simply due to a company's policies changing and becoming more competitive. So, about two months after your birthday each year, make a few calls to be sure you are getting the cheap car insurance you long for.

As you can see, when you use these simple insurance tips, you can guarantee you will always be getting the best cheap car insurance plan available. Consider signing up for a minimum coverage plan to save a few dollars. Remember that if your vehicle has a lien on it, you may not qualify for minimum coverage. Ask your insurance agent about any combination offers you may be eligible for. Lastly, be sure to call annually to get new auto insurance quotes from several companies in your area. When you are attentive to the possibilities, you will find that getting cheap car insurance is not as difficult as it seems.

Article Source: http://www.insurancearticle.com

Car Insurance: Why It Is Very Important

Car insurance does a great many things for the individual driving the vehicle as well as for the other users out there. The policy is bought before of any injuries occurring. By paying a coverage premium, the responsible driver will have cash reimbursement should they be mixed up in a vehicle accident or in certain events that are covered under the insurance contract.

It is vital to discover the correct kind of insurance for the person as well as for the vehicle. The more value that the van has, the more it will cost to insure it but this is mandatory since it could cost more to replace it should anything happen. Usually, insurance companies will offer discounts and different amounts of coverage based on need and on what the customer is searching for.

In all but a few states of the US, auto coverage is something that is a must for car owners. There are legal requirements that are in place to help protect everyone there. Insurance not only protects the auto owner, but it also protects others that may be sharing the highway with the driver. Because a truck could be totally destroyed in an accident, there is most often auto insurance that will help with repairs or with finding another truck.

If anyone is injured in auto accident, that too may be covered including their hospital costs. Property repairs may be covered too.

The goal is to secure car coverage that is right for your specific circumstances. This is easy to do and frequently van plans can be ordered right on the internet. Examining auto rates of insurance is helpful at keeping low costs. Insurance for a car is not only a wise investment but it could be a lifesaver if anything does go unexpectedly and there are not funds to recoup the loses. Moreover, no one can predict when an accident will take place

Article Source: http://www.insurancearticle.com

Car Insurance For Females - Five Proven Tips to Get Lower Rates!

1.Shop around - Generally, females love shopping. Therefore, there is no reason why females should not shop around for their car insurance! Sufficient amount of shopping around to search for the best quotes is your foolproof bet to cheap car insurance for females. Insurance companies do not normally give out similar quotes; they are usually different between companies. So, it is up to you to compare them and take up which you think is the best deal.

2. Some insurance companies offer lower premiums for drivers who has graduated from driving classes. These defensive driving classes are capable to educate you into becoming a better driver. Enrolling in these classes is also a good way to get cheaper car insurance for females. Furthermore, they are usually inexpensive and some can be taken at home.

3. Get a higher deductible amount for your car policy. Higher deductibles will lead to lower premiums. If you think you cannot afford to pay very high deductibles in the event you make any claims, start saving the money now! Save a portion of your salary every month in your savings account. The money saved will be used to pay the deductibles once you file a claim. If you finally didn't make any claims, you will eventually be left with some extra money.

4. Drive carefully so that you will not land yourself in any traffic violations or accidents. The more tickets you get, the higher the rates that you will receive. Therefore, always drive cautiously to lower your risk and your insurance company will be happy enough to give you cheaper car insurance for females. They might also reward you with bonuses for the amount of time you are accident-free.

5. One of the most common mistake that people usually make is choosing the minimum amount of liability for their car. Seriously, if you are willing to pay slightly more, let's say extra ten dollars a month for more coverage, it helps a lot in preventing your finances to be ruined in the future.

Article Source: http://www.insurancearticle.com

Why Is Your Car Insurance So Expensive?

Although these days it's pretty easy to arrange your car insurance online, comparing quotes at the click of a button and paying by credit card for instant cover, one ever present difficulty still remains: the high cost of insurance policies. The fact that having car insurance in place is both a legal requirement and a sensible idea doesn't detract from the annoyance of having to pay what seems to be an exorbitant sum, and most of us would jump at the chance of reducing the bill.

To do this we need to know what factors insurance companies use when deciding how much our premiums will be.

Perhaps the most important influence on the level of your premium is your own history as a driver. If you've a history of having accidents, then naturally you're a higher risk to the insurer and so they'll charge you more. Worse, if you've been convicted of a motoring offence such as speeding or driving while under the influence, then your insurance will cost you even more - especially if your licence was withdrawn.

On the plus side, a history containing no black marks such as accidents will result in cheaper insurance as you build up a 'no claims' discount over the years.

The next most important factor is what kind of car you're trying to insure. Naturally, more expensive cars will cost more to replace, and so the insurance will cost you more too. This isn't the whole story though, as other features such as engine size, the availability of cheap spares, and the difficulty of repair will have an influence too. Finally, some models of car are well known for being easier to break into or steal than others - the insurance companies are well aware of this and will adjust their quotes accordingly.

How you use your car will also affect the price you pay for cover. If you rarely drive and have a low annual mileage, then your premiums can be cut as you're on the road for less time, and therefore have less chance of needing to make a claim. City drivers may also have to pay more compared to those who drive in quieter areas.

Where you keep your car is important too - if you have a secure parking area, preferably one that keeps your vehicle out of sight and under cover, then your risk is lowered, as will be your premiums. Cars that are regularly parked at the roadside are at a higher risk of being stolen or involved in collisions, and so will be more expensive to insure.

One final point to cover is that of how attractive your car is to thieves, and not just in the obvious way of how desirable your vehicle is! An expensive car with a good security system including an alarm and window etching etcetera will be more of a hassle for criminals to profit from, and so is less likely to be stolen than a cheaper car with little or no security. Also, a car featuring plenty of gadgets such as an expensive audio system or satellite navigation will attract greater interest from potential thieves.

So as we can see, even though car insurance is an expensive business, it's not always as simple as it seems, and by looking at what insurers want in a 'perfect' customer, you may be able to drive down your premiums.

Article Source: http://www.insurancearticle.com

Protect against road rage with the right car insurance

In today's increasingly stressful world, it may come as little surprise to learn that a growing proportion of drivers in the UK are now subjected to incidents of road rage each year, with millions of British drivers getting involved in or being the victims of verbal exchanges; or sometimes even physical scuffles on the roadside!

Young drivers in the 18 to 34 age bracket are the most likely to be involved in road rage incidents, while drivers who are aged 55 or older are the least likely group to be involved in angry exchanges.

Tailgating seems to be the most common contributor to road rage. Tailgating is where a motorist drives too closely behind the car in front, and was accountable for around three quarters of road rage incidents in the past year.

Such incidents can lead not only to rising blood pressure and in extreme circumstances physical injury, but can also result in the offender causing damage to their car, thus leaving them even more frustrated and with a potential hike in their car insurance premium. MoneyExpert found that half of those who have been affected by road rage were subject only to verbal abuse, but a considerable portion also had their cars damaged maliciously.

As Sean Gardner from MoneyExpert.com noted, it is likely that most drivers will lose their tempers at some point while driving, either from being cut up at a roundabout, or after being exposed to the dangerous antics of reckless drivers. As a result, there is some sympathy for those motorists who are victims of other people's bad driving. However, when drivers cross the line and let their tempers get the better of them then that is the time when the victimised driver will want to have a car insurance policy that protects them from road rage incidents.

Some insurance companies, such as women's car insurance provider Sheila's Wheels, will not only cover the cost of any damage to a car if its owner falls victim to another motorist's road rage, but it also offers counselling if the driver feel traumatised by the event. Other providers offer monetary compensation, and will provide cover as standard for personal injury and car damage resulting from incidents of road rage.

Meanwhile, the RAC has found a notable difference in the way people act when they are driving compared to when they are not in their car, claiming that the impression of safety which being in a car provides makes people bolder and more likely to let their tempers flare, with almost half of motorists admitting to becoming hot headed much more quickly when they are behind the wheel.

The RAC also found some disparity between the number of people who consider themselves good drivers when compared with their perceptions of other drivers; almost all drivers were found to consider their own driving style as either 'considerate' or 'very considerate', but when asked about the driving styles of others, less than half thought that other drivers were considerate.

Some of the responses that people said they give to drivers who they consider have done them a wrong deed on the road include slamming on the brakes when someone is tailgating them;, getting out of the car at traffic lights to have a confrontation with the other driver, ; giving them a dirty look;, issuing a rude hand gesture, while one driver was so upset that they threw a Chinese take-away at the offending party!

However, it's not all doom and gloom on the roads, as the research showed more people will make the effort to thank other drivers for being courteous, perhaps by letting them out of a junction for instance, than the number of people who said that they would sound their horn if they were annoyed by another driver.

Acting director of the RAC Foundation, Sheila Rainger, urged drivers to keep their cool on the roads or else face the prospect of possible damage and a claim on their car insurance policy. For the sake and safety of other road users, she said, it is better to recognise that they are not God's gift to motoring and to quietly go on their way.

Article Source: http://www.insurancearticle.com

Car Insurance - The Loss of Use Policy Exclusion

In this article we will be looking at the "loss of use" exclusion clause in your car insurance document. It describes what alternative transport your insurance company will offer to you if your own vehicle is disabled because of theft or accident. In the majority of cases the answer is in the negative!!

Some insurance companies have a network of appointed repair shops who will offer you a courtesy car if one happens to be available. A few insurance companies have a car hire scheme as part of their policy whereby they will arrange a car for you from their chosen car hire company. However, most insurers do not offer either of these options.

Most insurance companies offer a car hire extension to their comprehensive policies. The extension is expensive and the policy cover is quite limited. You should decide if you feel it essential that you purchase it. It is not a vital 'add on' for everyone. Answer these questions:

If my car was disabled would I still be able to :
- get to work (by train, cycle, bus, walk)?
- take the children/grandchildren to school?
- go shopping
- go on holiday?
- pursue my sports, social interests, hobbies etc?

If you could cope without a car for a few days, you don't really need to purchase this additional cover. If you're sure that you can't then you should check that you have this cover.

Bear in mind, if your car is stolen or an accident is your fault, you will not be able to claim any car rental costs from a third party. You won't be able to go and see a 'credit hire' company. You probably can't be certain of the loan of a courtesy car from the garage. So this additional cover becomes worthwhile for you.

Similarly, if you do not wish to use the recommended repairer of your insurance company, or your car is written off, your car hire additional cover should come to the rescue. Let's take a look at what you can expect from a typical policy.

You may only hire a car if yours is disabled for at least 2 days, but the maximum period of hire is 14 days. If you need it for more than this you will have to pay the additional cost to the car hire firm. There's been many a disagreement between repair shop, insurance company and vehicle owner when repairs have overrun because of non-availability of parts and no party wants to pay the additional car hire costs.

You can't have a hire car for a glass only or windscreen claim.

There's usually a maximum distance that the hire company will deliver a rental car so if you live out in the sticks and the hire company is a fair few miles away from you, expect an additional charge if you arrange for them to deliver it to your home. Is it possible for you to get to the nearest branch yourself?

Your existing motor insurance policy will cover the hire car for comprehensive benefits. That helps your insurance company to limit the price of the hire car cover but if you are involved in an accident whilst using the rental car, the insurance claim will be on your policy.

The rental car can only be claimed from the date your car goes in to be repaired if it is still safe and legal to drive your vehicle. If the vehicle is not safe to drive you can hire the car from the day of the accident.

Policies will very likely impose a maximum period of hire, such as 14 days. If your car is restored prior to that date, you have to return the hire car as soon as your car is returned.

The rental car supplied will almost certainly be a basic, manual gearbox model no more than a couple of years old. If you require something a bit bigger you might have to pay a supplement. If you require an automatic they will try to locate one for you within the vehicle groups specified in the policy. The hire car will usually come supplied with a tank full of fuel. You must return it with a full tank of fuel. If you don't you will be billed by the hire company for a fill up. And they charge a very high price for fuel!

Some hire companies will ask for an imprint of your credit card, guarding against the possibility of having to top up the fuel in your car or bumping it whilst out and about.

Article Source: http://www.insurancearticle.com