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 AutoRelated posts
Today the cost of auto insurance in the state of Colorado is among the highest in the nation and many Colorado drivers are finding it harder and harder to make those monthly car insurance premiums.
If youre like most car insurance buyers in Colorado you cant afford to pay even a penny more for your insurance needs than is absolutely necessary and driving without insurance is not an option not unless you want to risk losing your vehicle and your drivers license for a long, long time.
Its possible that one of the auto insurance reforms currently in the Colorado legislature will eventually have a positive impact on auto insurance premiums in the state, but in the meantime here are a few practical suggestions for ways to reduce your cost of auto insurance or to a least keep it at its current level.
First, do your own homework.
Start by checking with your other insurance providers. Often your homeowners insurance may offer a nice discount if you purchase your car insurance through them as well.
Secondly, when it comes time to renew your auto insurance policy carefully review it rather than just blindly paying it. Talk to your agent. Ask questions.
Start by discussing your deductible. The larger your deductible the lower your monthly premium. Obviously this represents a trade-off, but finding the right balance can save you substantially on your premiums.
If you own more than one car your insurance company should offer what they call a multi-policy discount. If youre entitled to such a discount, make sure youre getting it.
Your age or the ages of others on your policy can affect your monthly premiums. Generally speaking, very young and very old drivers pay higher premiums than other drivers.
While you cant do much about the age of the drivers on your policy, there are things that both young and older drivers can do to help keep costs reasonable. Young people who have had drivers education and who get good grades often get lower premiums as do older drivers who take refresher courses in drivers training.
Having auto insurance is a responsibility for every Colorado driver but finding ways to keep insurance costs down is every Colorado drivers right.
Tags: Affordable Insurance, Auto Insurance Policy, Auto Insurance Premiums, Auto Insurance Reforms, Buy Insurance, Car Insurance Premiums, Colorado Legislature, Drivers Education, Drivers License, Driving Without Insurance, Homeowners Insurance, Homework, Insurance Buyers, Insurance Colorado, Insurance Company, Insurance Providers, Long Long Time, Old Drivers, Older Drivers, State Of ColoradoRelated posts
With the rising costs of fuel and just about every other good or service we purchase, many of us are looking for cheap car insurance. When it comes to cheap car insurance most of us are clueless as to how to go about getting a low cost car insurance policy. There are many factors that influence your car insurance costs drastically.
For example, did you know that the type of car you drive will influence the cheap car insurance you’re looking for? Or did you know that using anti theft devices will help reduce your over all car insurance costs? A good driving record will allow you to get cheap car insurance?
The deductible is the amount you pay first out of any claim for an accident. The car insurance policy’s cost is directly related to your deductible. A lot of people, especially those with a good driving record, who have had their insurance policy for a long time, have never considered varying their deductible. If you have a clean driving record and are prepared for the risk of paying a larger amount in the event of a claim you can save money by increasing your deductible.
Many times you can get cheap car insurance by combining policies with you existing insurance company. For example if you have a home owners insurance policy contact them and ask for discounts for switching your car insurance to them. If you don’t own a home perhaps you have renters insurance or life insurance, contact these companies about the savings you could get by switching your car insurance over to them. Most insurance companies are very accommodating to these requests.
It also pays to shop online for your cheap car insurance; many of the big companies offer a comparison of their coverage versus other companies. As you are requesting cheap car insurance quote online be sure to be completely truthful in answering the questionnaire. Additionally, you should know when you get your online quote you will need to follow up with actual paper work.
Whatever your motivation, with a little work you too can find the cheap car insurance you’re looking for.
Tags: Accident Insurance, Car Insurance Policy, Car Insurance Quote, Cheap Car Insurance, Cheap Car Insurance Quote, Cheap Insurance, Home Owners Insurance, Insurance Companies, Insurance Company, Insurance Contact, Insurance Costs, Insurance Life, Insurance Online, Life Insurance, Long Time, Low Cost Car Insurance, Motivation, Online Insurance, Questionnaire, Renters InsuranceRelated posts
Car Insurance Quote – Things To Know To Get Very Cheap Car Insurance And Quotes
Auto insurance premiums vary widely from state to state and even within states. The same person may find swings of as much as $700 on the cost of an annual policy. Insurance agents are not legally bound to tell a perspective customer about discounts which may apply to his/her insurance. There are, however, things the consumer can do which may lower the price paid for auto insurance.
Higher deductibles
The single quickest and easiest way to lower your insurance premium is to raise your premium. Having a $1000 or even a $1500 deductible can lower premiums 15 to 20 percent. If you decide to go this route, consider putting the money saved the first year into an account earmarked to pay the deductible should you have any accident.
Investigate auto records
Your driving record may be unblemished but the record of the car model you own can also have an affect on your premiums. Insurance copies compile extensive reports on the way cars respond in accidents and how popular certain cars are with thieves. Cars with poor crash test ratings and cars that are frequently stolen cost more to insure. When buying a new car use an auto buyers guide to compare crash test and theft rankings.
Use the same insurance company
If you have more than one vehicle insure all of them with the same company. Almost all insurance companies offer multi-car discounts. Many companies offer further discounts if you use any other products they offer such as homeowners insurance and life insurance.
Getting many quotes and comparing them is the best way to check pricing, coverage and save money.
And, dont forget, the best way to lower your car insurance premium is to drive safely.
Please see our recommended sources for insurance quotes from multiple providers. We have done the research so you don’t have to.
Tags: Accidents, Auto Buyers, Auto Insurance Premiums, Buying A New Car, Car Discounts, Car Insurance Quote, Car Model, Cheap Car Insurance, Crash Test Ratings, Deductibles, Homeowners Insurance, Insurance Agents, Insurance Companies, Insurance Company, Insurance Premium, Insurance Quotes, Life Insurance, Swings, Thieves, Way CarsRelated posts
Some Tips On How To Obtain Cheap Student Car Insurance
Finding affordable car insurance for students can be something of a challenge. Insurance companies tend to classify students as higher risk along with teens and new drivers. And of course, most students need all the savings they can possibly get. Unfortunately, car insurance isnt cheap a typical student pays anywhere from $3,500 to $13,000 in insurance premiums in a year.
Obtaining a lower rate for your car insurance starts when you still in school you can often get a discount just by providing your most recent school report card. Most insurance companies consider students who have a grade B average, to be lower risk drivers. If your school or college offers a drivers education course, take the class and let your insurance company know.
If you have membership in any school or professional organizations, let your insurance company know. Some insurance companies offer significant discounts for membership of various alumni, fraternity and student associations; for example the Golden Key National Honor Society.
Let your insurance company know if you are also working while attending school. If you work close to your home and use your car primarily to go to and from your workplace, your insurance company will generally offer a discount. Students who live close to their school or college and generally dont drive much may be eligible for a low-mileage discount.
It is also less expensive to add a students name to an existing auto insurance policy, rather than take out a new one; although if the student is the primary driver or owns the car, they may be required to have a separate policy.
Please see our list of recommended insurance quote providers below to get free insurance quotes from many providers. These sites also offer pages and pages of free insurance information. Free quotes are available everywhere but these sites offer quotes from multiple companies. This way you are sure to get a look and the 3 to 5 cheapest possibilities and you can save more money.
Tags: Auto Insurance Policy, Drivers Education, Education Course, Fraternity, Free Insurance, Golden Key National Honor Society, Insurance Companies, Insurance Company, Insurance Premiums, Insurance Quote, Insurance Quotes, Key National Honor Society, Mileage, National Honor Society, Professional Organizations, Quotes From Multiple Companies, Risk Drivers, Student Associations, Student Car Insurance, Typical StudentRelated posts
Would you buy a used car–with cash–from someone you just met in the bar, and who walked you down a dark alley to show you the car? Not likely. How about from a well-dressed, friendly, middle-aged man or woman, who placed a classified ad in your local newspaper, and who meets you midday at a restaurant of your choice?
Oops! You may be more likely to be cheated by seller number two. That’s the story of Jennifer Warwa, who bought a minivan and had her mechanic examine it. The mechanic later said how shocked he was that Jennifer had been scammed:
“Because I met the gentleman who was selling the vehicle. Very clean cut. In his fifties. Very soft spoken…. And he went with her to get it inspected. There was just no sign that was the kind of person he was” the mechanic told CBC’s Marketplace.
A few months later, Jennifer got a phone call from the police. They said she had purchased a stolen minivan, and they were coming to seize it. She was so upset, she tried to hide the van from the police. Eventually they caught up with her and she ended up paying for a year and a half for a $5,000 bank loan on a van she could not drive. Ouch!
Jennifer was just one victim in the chain that included the original owner, the insurance company, other consumers whose insurance rates keep rising, and the police, who spend thousands of hours tracking thefts. According to the FBI, a vehicle is stolen about every 25 seconds in the USA, amounting to an $8 billion yearly problem.
Here’s how these scams often work. Thieves target particular cars: for their value, their ease of resale as a whole or in parts, or because they are easier to steal. Years ago, most cars were stripped for parts, including unusual parts such as airbags. But today some thieves are so brash they sell cars through newspapers.
This newer scam is called “VIN cloning”, because the Vehicle Identification Number is stolen from another car. Criminals obtain VINs by copying them from the dash of cars in parking lots–even at dealerships. Some even physically remove the VIN plate from vehicles in auto salvage yards that allow customers to “pick your own parts.” (They do not mean that literally!) The number is used to falsely obtain new ownership documents, or documents are forged. Either way, a cloned VIN allows them to transform stolen cars into pseudo-legal vehicles that can be officially titled and sold. Many thieves work across state lines: cars may be stolen in the East, registered in the Mid-West, then sold in California. Scary!
Here’s what you can do to avoid buying a stolen car:
** Check the VIN on the dash against the VIN in the driver’s door jamb, under the hood, and on the paperwork
** Use the VIN to get the car’s history at carfax.com for about $20
** Ensure title and registration documents match the name and address of the seller
** Is the car from out of state?
** Be suspicious if you must meet a private seller in a parking lot. Better to see that they live at the address where the car is registered
** Has the vehicle recently been transferred?
** Does the seller use a home or work phone number, or just a cell?
** Is the selling price oddly low?
** Be warned that some used car dealers are getting scammed, too
** Pay by certified cheque or money order, not cash.
Keep in mind that most private sellers are not thieves, but rather honest, regular folks like you. And prices do tend to be lower with private sales. So if you follow my advice, you can greatly improve your chances of driving away with a “genuine” used car.
Tags: Airbags, Bank Loan, Cbc Marketplace, Cloning, Dark Alley, Fbi, Fifties, Insurance Company, Insurance Rates, Mechanic, Midday, Middle Aged Man, Minivan, Ouch, Parking Lots, Pssst, Scams, Thieves, Vehicle Identification Number, WarwaRelated posts
Very Cheap Car Insurance – It Exists But You Have To Know What To Ask For
When someone tells you that they have very cheap car insurance then you need to be cautious. What kind of insurance profile does that individual have that would give them the benefit of very cheap car insurance? People will often complain about their car insurance rates to a friend or neighbor and too often that neighbor or friend will claim that their insurance is much cheaper. That may be true for a number of reasons. We dont all drive the same cars. We dont have the same driving records. We have different ages of drivers. There are a whole lot of variables in the criteria that make up the car insurance rate.
Rating Criteria
Credit Reports Most of the insurance companies use credit as part of the equation when setting rates. Some people do not understand the relationship. Actuaries have come up with the statistics that prove credit to be a significant rating factor. There is a stability factor and relationship to accident frequency that coincides with the credit history.
Vehicle Types This can be kind of tricky. Some newer vehicles actually have better rates than the older vehicles because of all the safety features. Some vehicles have high theft rates. Make sure that you get the vehicle identification number of any new vehicle purchase and give it to your insurance company to obtain your new rate.
Rating Territory You are stuck with this one unless you move to another geographical area.
Driver Info The driving records and ages of your drivers will play a significant part in your rate.
Discounts There are several ways to discount your car insurance. Purchase the home policy with the auto policy to get a multi-policy discount. Good student and drivers training discounts are available to young drivers with some companies. Retirement discounts and discounts for taking a mature driving course are available for senior citizens.
The cheaper rate is really up to you. Do your home work and ask your insurance company a lot of questions.
Tags: Actuaries, Auto Policy, Car Insurance Rate, Car Insurance Rates, Cheap Car Insurance, Credit History, Credit Reports, Drivers Training, Geographical Area, Insurance Companies, Insurance Company, Insurance Purchase, Neighbor, Rate Discounts, Senior Citizens, Several Ways, Stability Factor, Vehicle Identification Number, Whole Lot, Young DriversRelated posts
Homeowner And Auto Insurance Quote – What To Know About Personal Property Insurance
Did you know that if you buy your auto insurance from the same company as your homeowners insurance, you could get a discount? Many companies offer what is called a multi- discount.
Here are a few other tips for saving money when buying insurance:
1.Shop, shop, shop: Always shop around. Different underwriting guidelines may cause one company to charge more for your homeowners and/or auto policy where another company may be able to offer discounts. Get a couple of quotes and compare not only the premiums, but compare overages.
2.Deductibles: Rule of thumb, the higher the deductible, the lower the premium. Remember, however, the purpose of insurance is to make you whole in the event of an insured loss. Don’t raise your deductibles to the point where you’re spending more out of pocket than you can afford. If you currently have a $250 deductible and can live with a $500 deductible, then raise it accordingly. However, if you raise your deductible to $5,000 to save money on your premium and then suffer a loss, that first $5,000 comes out of your pocket. So, raise them only as far as you can afford.
3.Discounts : Ask for discounts. Some companies offer discounts to senior citizens which can amount to as much as 10%. Other companies offer discounts on auto policies to teens who maintain good grades (B or above). Your agent is aware of these discounts so always ask.
4.Longevity: Once you find the right insurance company, stay with them. Insurance companies like loyalty and will offer discounts for remaining with them for several years. Three to five years with the same carrier may earn a 5% discount and six years or more as much as 10%.
5.Credit Score: As unfair as it sounds, your credit score is taken into consideration when determining your premium. Know your credit score and do whatever you can to improve it.
Tags: Auto Insurance, Auto Policies, Auto Policy, Buying Insurance, Credit Score, Deductibles, Homeowners Insurance, Insurance Companies, Insurance Company, Insurance Personal, Insurance Quote, Longevity, Loyalty, Personal Insurance, Personal Property Insurance, Premiums, Right Insurance, Rule Of Thumb, Senior Citizens, Tips For Saving Money