In recent years car insurance has increased in cost by as much as 20% a year. These costs are due to a number of factors: more powerful cars, more congested roads leading to higher accidents, and greater numbers of uninsured drivers which forces insurance companies to raise the cost of premiums to cover themselves for the risk that these uninsured drivers pose.
One of the groups hit most severely by these raises have been young and newly qualified drivers, and young men in particular. Last summer, for the first time, the average cost of a third party insurance policy became more expensive than the average cost of a comprehensive policy for the first time, reflective of the fact that it’s cheaper for young drivers to get third party coverage.
That average cost for third party coverage was £1,300, and for a lot of newly qualified drivers it’s a lot more expensive than that.
Research conducted by Co-Operative car insurance recently found that hundreds of thousands of parents are willing to lie in order to save their children money. Through a practice known as ‘fronting’ parents name themselves as the main drivers, thus benefiting from reduced premiums even though their children are actually the ones driving the car.
A surprising 41% of parents revealed that they are currently fronting and 61% said they would consider it in the future.
These numbers are of great concern to the insurance industry, not least because it places them at greater risk should the child of a parent who has fronted be involved in an accident. The insurance industry argues that the cost of insurance policies accurately reflects the risk of young drivers, and if the young drivers are not paying those costs themselves, then the insurance companies are the ones losing out.
Fronting is, also, illegal. Some industry experts have compared it to stealing, but whilst this might be going slightly too far it is fraud. The repercussions can be serious, not only if the insurance company discovers that you have fronted a policy (because they won’t pay out if there’s an accident) but because you may find yourself incapable of getting insurance in the future.
At the end of the day everyone should do their best to find the cheapest deal they can, but the costs of insurance accurately reflect the risks that young drivers pose. So, if you do your research and look around you can find some great deals, but they’ll still be quite expensive when compared to a policy for an experienced driver. If you’re looking for a good deal on your car insurance take a look at some of the deals that Co-operative Insurance is offering at the moment.
Tags: Accidents, Co Operative Car Insurance, Fraud, Hundreds Of Thousands, Industry Experts, Insurance Companies, Insurance Company, Insurance Industry, Insurance Policies, Insurance Policy, Parents, Party Coverage, Powerful Cars, Premiums, Repercussions, Risk, Third Party Insurance, Uninsured Drivers, Young Drivers, Young MenRelated posts
Accidents happen. Whether your car sustains damage from vandalism, theft or a collision, filing a claim with your insurance company should be one of the first things you do. Insurance can help protect you, but only if the incident is properly documented; therefore, it’s in your best interest to file accident claims.
Many insurance companies have streamlined the claims process so that all it takes is a phone call to your insurance agent and the completion of some forms. Here is a more detailed overview of how to file an insurance claim.
1. Call the police. If there are serious injuries, call 911. Otherwise, dial the non-emergency number to summon the police to the scene of the damage or accident. The official police report will be critical documentation to have when filing your claim.
2. Exchange information with the other driver(s). You’ll need the contact information, license plate numbers and auto insurance information of the other drivers. If accident claims are filed, it’s important to make sure all parties are accurately represented. If the other driver doesn’t have insurance, you should still collect his or her contact information.
3. Document the details. Take photos of any damage and gather the contact information of witnesses to the accident. While a police report is the most objective record of the event, you’ll want to have as much evidence as possible just in case the other driver’s story changes.
4. Contact your insurance company. As soon as you’ve handled the situation at the scene, call your insurance company and report the incident, even if you are not at fault. The sooner you contact them, the better. The insurance company can then start its investigation into the incident and will be prepared if they receive a claim from the other party’s insurer. If the other party was at fault, your agent will explain how to file an insurance claim with the other party’s carrier.
5. Write down the details of the event. Whether you’re at fault or not, the other insurance carrier may contact you for your version of the event. It’s a good idea to write this down so you can be sure you don’t leave anything out.
6. File all forms and documentation on time. Because every incident is different, your insurance agent is best equipped to walk you through the claims process. Be sure to complete all necessary documentation according to the deadlines he or she provides. This will help to expedite the process.
Several insurance companies now offer web-based solutions and mobile applications to complete the car insurance claim process in the event of an accident. One great option for iPhone™ and iPod touch® owners: the Nationwide Mobile App. From calling the police to starting the claims process, this app guides you through each step, ensuring that you file your auto insurance claim properly.
Ultimately, your insurance company will issue you a check to cover the cost of repairs. In the event that your car was totaled, meaning the cost of repairs is higher than the value of the car, you may receive compensation equal to the value of the car so you can replace it.
Filing auto insurance claims may seem intimidating, but your insurance company should have the people and processes in place to make it easier. You never know when you may need to file a claim, so be sure that your current auto insurance coverage has you protected in the event of a car accident, vandalism or theft!
Tags: 2c, 911, 99s, Accident Claims, Auto Accidents, Auto Insurance, Best Interest, Critical Documentation, Emergency Number, How To File An Insurance Claim, Insurance Agent, Insurance Claims, Insurance Companies, Insurance Company, Insurer, License Plate Numbers, Objective Record, Phone Call, Police Report, Story Changes, VandalismRelated posts
Car Insurance Online Purchase – Some Benefits Of The Internet
Is it possible to purchase car insurance online? Most folks are used to purchasing their car insurance by leafing through a telephone book and calling local insurance agencies. When you call a local agency they usually request a copy of your current coverage in order to give you an accurate comparison as well as advice . This same process can happen with online quoting as well. The online quoting system will require you to post all pertinent insurance information to give you an accurate quote. You do more of the work but you are better informed when you complete the process.
Car Insurance Information Needed for Online Quoting
1. Expiration Date The expiration date is critical because it proves that your insurance has not expired and that will qualify you for a preferred rate with most companies. If your insurance has expired then you may be underwritten into a substandard carrier and those rates are higher.
2. Driver Information All resident relatives that have a drivers license need to be rated on the policy. You will need to enter the name, date of birth, and drivers license number.
3. Driving Record Accidents and violations need to be disclosed to pre-qualify you for the insurance. This needs to be accurate because insurance companies will find out about your driving record anyway. They check motor vehicle reports from your state as well as your prior carrier.
4. Vehicle Information You will have to list each vehicle on the policy. You will need the vehicle identification number for each vehicle. That number will give the insurance company the pertinent information that it needs to discount the vehicle for air bags, anti-lock brakes and other safety features.
5. Current Coverage Use your declarations page to list all of the coverage that you currently have on all vehicles. This will include liability limits, first party benefits and physical damage limits.
Tags: Accurate Comparison, Air Bags, Brakes, Car Insurance, Date Of Birth, Declarations, Expiration Date, Insurance Agencies, Insurance Companies, Insurance Company, Liability Limits, Local Agency, Local Insurance, Motor Vehicle Reports, Number 3, Preferred Rate, Quoting System, Safety Features, Telephone Book, Vehicle Identification NumberRelated posts
It’s expensive buying a car and it only gets more so as time goes on. Over time, the price of new cars has increased faster than the rate of inflation. This isn’t entirely due to greed on the part of automakers; cars are also more complicated and useful than they used to be. Sure, they were cheaper in the 1960’s, but they didn’t include air conditioning, air bags and video systems. Convenience and safety comes at a price.
With the increase in price comes an increase in the length of time people are taking to pay off their cars. Few people pay cash; most people take out loans and pay over time. The average car loan, which used to be repaid over a period of three years, now averages about six years in duration. That’s a long time to pay for a car, especially if you have no plans to own it for that long.
Taking six years to pay for a car has its advantages, as the payments are lower than they would be over a shorter loan term. Such a long loan does have a significant disadvantage, though – you can find yourself in a negative equity, or “upside down”, situation. This can be a serious problem – if you should total the car in an accident, your insurance company will only pay you the value of the car, and not the amount you still owe.
A buyer is described as being upside down when he or she owes more on a car loan than the car is worth. It’s easy to find yourself in an upside situation, and it can occur under any of the following circumstances:
Insufficient down payment – Cars depreciate as much as 25% the minute you drive them off of the lot. If you haven’t provided enough of a down payment to cover that depreciation, you may find yourself upside down immediately.
Trading in too often – Buyers like to trade cars in and roll their outstanding balance into a new loan. These unpaid debts can contribute to negative equity.
Too long a loan – Five and six year loans often lead to negative equity. You can often avoid it by keeping the length of loans to three years or less.
In order to avoid a potential problem in the event of an accident, you should contact your insurance provider to make sure that you have “gap insurance.” Gap insurance will make sure that you are protected should you have an accident while in an upside down situation. Without gap insurance, you may find yourself still making car payments even though you no longer have a car. That is the last thing any car owner wants.
Tags: Air Bags, Air Conditioning, Automakers, Car Loan, Circumstances, Convenience, Depreciation, Duration, Greed, Insurance Company, Length Of Time, Loan Term, Loans, Long Time, Negative Equity, New Cars, Rate Of Inflation, Six Years, Unpaid Debts, Video SystemsRelated posts
Insurance is one of those things that we all need to protect us from the unforeseen. When it comes to obtaining coverage for our vehicles many of tend to find one insurer and stick with them. However, smart consumers know that by being a comparison shopper when it comes to obtaining coverage can significantly reduce their monthly premiums. Many insurers have made being a smart consumer easy by offering the ability to get a free car insurance quote directly through your computer.
One of the largest insurance companies out there that focuses most of its marketing efforts and sales online is Progress Auto Insurance. They are unique in that they not only will give you their rates, but also provide rates from competing companies. Many times they are the lowest, but on occasion other companies can beat their rates and they actually encourage you to use the other guy if they can’t match or beat the competition! Talk about customer service!
Of course, there are hundreds of insurers you could use. Since you probably don’t want to spend days or weeks online or on the phone getting quotes it is best to narrow your selection down to about 10 companies and go from there. Remember, the reputation of the company is as important as the rate you receive – you want an insurance company that will be there for you, not just one that collects the premiums and then disappears into the night when you need to file a claim.
Once you find an insurer with a good rate you might want to do a little background research on them online by seeing what others are saying. How is their customer service? What about claims handling? Do they offer low rates at first and then raise them significantly when it comes time for renewal?
Being a smart consumer means you will be able to find the best deal to meet your insurance needs while making sure you have a reputable company to stand behind you if you are ever involved in an accident.
Tags: Auto Insurance, Background Research, Car Insurance Quote, Comparison Shopper, Computer One, Customer Service, Free Car Insurance, Free Car Insurance Quote, Insurance Companies, Insurance Company, Insurer, Largest Insurance, Marketing Efforts, Premiums, Quote Insurance, Quotes, Reputable Company, Reputation, Smart Consumer, Smart ConsumersRelated posts
Buying And Selling Used Cars: How To Get The Best Deals
In the fast-paced world we live in, owning cars is an essential necessity in life. With a car, you can manage your life easier, and more efficiently.
New car buyers usually buy their car in used car dealership to save money.
Most people consider getting another used car and usually sell their first car.
Here are some tips to get you started in buying or selling used cars and in the same time, getting the best deal possible.
Used Car Buyers
The first thing you should consider when buying a used car is how much you are willing to spend. Knowing what you can and cannot afford is the first step when buying used cars. Saving money is mainly the reason why most people buy used cars. Another reason is that they want a specific model of a car but cannot afford to buy a brand new one. To get the best deals possible you should research, and research some more.
To know how much you can afford you should first figure out your monthly net income. To get the exact figures, you have to first get your total monthly gross income then, deduct all of your monthly expenses like; groceries, insurance, rent payments, mortgage, etc. the result will be your net income.
After you figure out your monthly net income, you should ask yourself:
How much am I willing to spend on a car?
How much is the down payment?
How much can I afford on monthly payments?
While calculating these three important numbers, you should also consider the cost of fuel, registration and insurance. Find out if the vehicles you are interested in are still capable of giving many a good mile to gallon of fuel ratio.
Contact your insurance company to know how much your monthly payments will be on each of the cars you are interested in. Give considerations if the vehicles have safety features like airbags, and anti lock braking system or ABS. Insurance companies usually give discounts if the car has these features.
The biggest disadvantage to buying a used car is the lack of warranty. Private sellers often do not include any warranty on the car they are selling. Another problem when you purchase a used car is the risk of buying a junk.
You may have purchased the car for a very low price but you could have bought a car that will drain your money on maintenance costs.
It is always wise to inspect the car thoroughly first before deciding to buy it. If possible, try to find out about the cars history. Get some of the cars service records for you to know a bit about the cars history.
Selling Used Cars
Selling your old car can prove difficult and time consuming. Most people who tries to sell their used car often gets tired and will just trade it in or sell it in a very low price.
Here are a few tips on selling a used car to get you the best deal possible.
Once you decide to sell your old car, the first thing you should do is set a price for it. To help you with the actual value of your old car in the market, research the cars make and model in the internet or in your local used car dealership. Ask around.
After you figure out the market value, find out how many vehicles that are similar to yours are in the market, then, increase the price of your old car just a little. This can be helpful when a buyer tries to haggle, which they often do. This gives you an allowance for haggling.
The next step would be evaluating your vehicle. List down your old cars accessories and other added expenses. This would be a good way to further increase your vehicles price.
You should also include in your list about the condition of the vehicle. The better the condition the faster it sells. You should also present you cars service records to the buyer.
A service record is a good way to know about the cars history. If your old cars service record were clean (no accidents, good maintenance) it would sell faster.
Tags: Abs Insurance, Anti Lock Braking System, Buying A Used Car, Buying Used Cars, Car Buyers, Car Dealership, Exact Figures, Fast Paced World, First Car, Fuel Ratio, Gross Income, Important Numbers, Insurance Companies, Insurance Company, Lock Braking System, Monthly Expenses, Net Income, Safety Features, Saving Money, Selling Used CarsRelated posts
Arizona Car Insurance Quote – What Is Too Much To Pay?
Arizona auto insurance is not cheap
Arizona ranked as the thirteenth most expensive state for auto insurance during the years 1999 to 2003. With insurance average insurance premiums rising to $920.38 in the year 2003 that is nearly a 5% increase from the previous year. If these trends keep up the average for 2005 premiums paid will be about $1014.00.
With more than 3.3 million cars insured privately in Arizona there is plenty of opportunity to shop around and try to decrease what you are spending for car insurance. Even with high risk drivers saving money on auto insurance is quite easy.
Where do I start saving money on car insurance?
The first place to look to save money is with the deductible. Many dont know that deductibles can vary with each form of insurance coverage that is offered. You may have $250 deductible on comprehensive claims and a $500 deductible on the collision claims. Raising these deductibles can save money every month. Before increasing the deductibles compare what the savings are per month with what you would pay in the case of damage or an accident.
Many people do not change their insurance policy as their car ages. The fact that your car depreciates so quickly can allow you to save money on auto insurance. If your $30,000 car is now worth $5,000 then full collision coverage may not be that beneficial considering that you would pay more to insure the vehicle after a claim than you would to just pay any claim out of pocket. Remember after a claim insurance rates are increased and this makes many small claims cheaper to pay for rather than file a claim with an insurance company. Since these small claims may be paid for out of pocket decreasing your coverage can save a lot of money every month.
Please visit our recommended sources for insurance quotes.
Tags: Arizona Auto Insurance, Arizona Car, Car Ages, Car Insurance Quote, Cheap Arizona, Claim Insurance, Collision Coverage, Deductibles, High Risk, Insurance Company, Insurance Coverage, Insurance Policy, Insurance Premiums, Insurance Quotes, Insurance Rates, Million Cars, Previous Year, Risk Drivers, Saving Money, Small ClaimsRelated posts
Do You Make These 5 Mistakes When Buying Car Insurance?
Here are some of the common mistakes many car insurance policyholders make. See if you recognize yourself:
You assume the insurance salesman is your friend.
Insurance salesmen are exactly that — salesmen. And they do get compensated with bonuses and other rewards for selling certain types of policies. Those policies are not always the policies that are best for you. Remember that the next time you are shopping for auto insurance. Generally speaking, insurance salesman are rewarded for selling the smaller policies that leave the insurance company less exposed in the event that you want to make a claim. These are the policies that are most profitable for the insurance company. So, as surprising as it might sound, you may actually be under-insured.
To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, make sure that you have the basics: liability coverage, comprehensive coverage and collision coverage (see below).
Your deductible is too small.
Many consumers think that they need to protect themselves against every little scratch and dent. That’s a bad idea. You should only insure yourself for those things that you cannot afford to lose. If your car is only worth a few thousand dollars, don’t spend that much on premiums for collision coverage by buying a small deductible.
Another reason this is a bad idea is that you’ll be tempted to nickel and dime your insurance company with every little thing that happens to your car. Eventually, your premium will go up or they could say, “we’re declining future coverage.”
So seriously consider getting a much higher deductible — maybe even as much as $1000. You’ll save money and your coverage will probably extend to a much higher limit.
All your cars have the same insurance coverage.
If one of your cars is an old beater, don’t cover it the same way that you cover your other cars. For example, if you have an old pickup truck that you use to transport building materials and you don’t care if it gets dented or scratched or whatever, just get the minimum amount of coverage on it. Who knows? Maybe you just drive it a few miles a year. Get insurance that is appropriate for that vehicle and cover your other vehicles in ways that are appropriate for them.
All your cars are jointly owned.
There’s really no reason to own a car jointly. If you share ownership with your spouse, it’s possible that you could be exposed to liability if your spouse causes an accident. In other words, both of you could be sued. Similarly, when your child buys a car, or if you buy them a car, put the car in your child’s name. That way, you can avoid liability for any accidents caused by your child.
You forgot your umbrella.
Here’s how umbrella coverage works: if you’re in a very bad car accident that causes a lot of property damage that is beyond which your insurance policy covers, you may have to pay massive amounts of money out-of-pocket. This is what umbrella policies are for: to protect you from liability that is way beyond the limits of your standard auto insurance policy. These umbrella policies are usually pretty cheap (a couple of hundred dollars) and can give you important coverage.
Conclusion
Hopefully this article has showed you some things that you can do, that will help you avoid common mistakes that car owners make when they buy auto insurance.
Tags: Auto Insurance, Bad Idea, Buying Car Insurance, Cars, Collision Coverage, Consumers, Insurance, Insurance Company, Insurance Coverage, Insurance Policyholders, Insurance Salesman, Insurance Salesmen, Liability Coverage, Nickel And Dime, Pickup Truck, Premiums, Rewards, Scratch And Dent, Shopping, Thousand DollarsRelated posts
Cheap Car Insurance 7 Tips To Reduce Your Car Insurance Costs.
With the cost of car insurance becoming more and more of an issue for the average American family, there are increasing numbers of people looking for cheap car insurance. But although it is possible to find cheap car insurance, the question remains, is it worth buying?
Everyone knows that car insurance companies are not all equal. Cheap car insurance is wonderful when paying the bill, but make a mistake on the company you select and you could find that the cheap car insurance policy that you found may turn into a nightmare. Cheap car insurance may not turn out to be so attractive when making a claim.
So if you have found a discount car insurance broker dont just take the cheapest quote that you get. You need to find out a little about the insurance company that is offering the cheap car insurance rates.
And theres ways to reduce the cost of your car insurance even with the best of companies. Here are some tips for those looking for cheap car insurance to help reduce the cost of car insurance without compromising other things.
7 Cheap Car Insurance Tips
1.Look at your deductible amount. This is the amount that you pay first out of any claim. The cost of your policy is directly related to this amount. Many people, particularly those who have had their insurance policy for a long time, have never considered whether they ought to vary their deductible. If you have a good driving record and are prepared to increase the risk of paying a larger amount in the event of a (hopefully unlikely) claim you can save money by increasing your deductible.
2.Have a look at the type of car you drive. Certain types of cars attract higher car insurance rates. Cars such as sports cars and also certain makes and models that are prime theft candidates cost more to insure. If you are buying a car then find out which makes and models these are before you buy.
3.Drive carefully. Although it sounds a little trite to say it, your car insurance cost is a factor of your risk profile. You wont get cheap car insurance if you have had 3 speeding fines and 2 accidents in the last year. These things are all taken into account and you should take care with how you drive. It all adds up onto your bill. There are big safe driver discounts available.
4.Considering installing safety and anti theft devices in your car. Again these affect your risk profile. If you have a car that is safer and less at risk of theft it should be cheaper to insure. And if you have a car with certain safety devices now check that your insurance company is aware of these, if not tell them.
5.Look at your policy when it comes to renewal time, dont just pay. There are some things that you can vary in your policy that will affect the cost. Often there are some things there which duplicate other insurance that you may have that can be eliminated. Be critical, look carefully and ask questions about all these before you renew your policy.
6.Have a look at who your other insurers are. Many insurers offer a discount for multiple policies. If you insure your house with a certain company then ring them up and find out if they do car insurance. Get a quote from them. Find out what discounts they offer.
7.Find a good online discount car insurance broker before renewing. The internet is a fabulous resource. Use it. There are all sorts of discount insurance brokers online where you can get fast quotes from a wide range of companies. Dont just settle for the same company you always use. Car insurance rates vary all the time. Always get comparable quotes before renewing any policy.
So if youre in the market for cheap car insurance theres some ideas for you. Dont just accept that car insurance is always prohibitively expensive, get out there and do something about it.
Tags: Car Insurance Broker, Car Insurance Companies, Car Insurance Policy, Car Insurance Rates, Cheap Car Insurance, Cheap Insurance, Deductible Amount, Discount Car Insurance, Discount Insurance, Insurance Car, Insurance Company, Insurance Cost, Insurance Costs, Insurance Tips, Long Time, Makes And Models, Mistake, Nightmare, Sports Cars, TritRelated posts
Cheap Auto Insurance – A Practical Solution for Reducing Car Expenses
In todays world auto insurance is a necessity for any one with a car. I believe you will agree with me when saying that having a car is an expense on its own. Not to mention the
Fuel prices these days. So what actually can be done to cut costs from your car payments?
One of the easiest, quickest, safest and cost efficient ways to save money is getting cheap auto insurance rates. Some will say that their insurance payments are relatively low. That may be true but keep in mind that over 35% of auto insurance policy holders are overpaying their insurance and dont even know about it.
The competition among insurance companies these days is huge due to a simple fact; the amount of cars in the world is constantly growing, meaning more insurance is needed. Some people insure 2 or even 3 cars through the same insurance company and arent aware that if they demand an additional discount they will easily get it and even if they dont, no worries, there are lots of other reliable companies that will give them a better rate.
There are plenty of ways of saving hundreds of dollars from your annual premium. The first step is getting a quote. Filling out a quote should be done correctly and the cheapest and fastest way to get free quotes is online. Correct comparison is the key to great rates and its needless to say you should compare quotes from at least 3 different companies (the more the better). There are organizations which provide unbiased services helping you compare 1000 of bids from different auto insurance companies with filling out just one form. These systems can come in handy and save hours of quote comparison.
Ways To Save
The following are a few tested strategies you can apply for saving $300 – $500 from your premium. The more tips you apply the more you can save, believe it or not saving couldnt be easier.
- Raise your deductibles
- Reduce coverage on older cars
- Compare male and female as main drivers
- If you havent had an accident negotiate a discount
- Take a defensive driving course and let the insurance company know that you have
- Install anti theft devices
- Ask for a discount if you have more than one type of insurance from the same company
- Check for low mileage discounts
All in all it is important to understand that there are more than enough ways to save money, all you need to do is get started and it doesnt require much effort or time. If you take a close look at what your payments are all about you will see that you could cut costs daily if you just give it a bit of time and correct calculation.
Tags: Auto Insurance Companies, Auto Insurance Policy, Auto Insurance Rates, Car Expenses, Car Insurance, Car Payments, Cheap Auto Insurance, Cheap Auto Insurance Rates, Deductibles, Different Companies, Fuel Prices, Insurance Company, Insurance Payments, Insurance Policy Holders, No Worries, Older Cars, Practical Solution, Simple Fact, Ways To Save Money, World Auto