Auto insurance can be one of the most costly monthly bills for a stout portion of Americans. With more and more people looking for ways to save money in 2010, saving on auto insurance becomes a popular topic. Below are a few simple ways to help nick your auto insurance costs.
The easiest way to cut your insurance cost is to lower your coverage. By lowering your liability and comprehensive coverage amounts, you can save hundreds of dollars per year. In an example insurance plan, the driver has bodily injury coverage of 50,000/100,000 and pays $950 per year for this level of coverage. If they were to reduce the coverage to the 25,000/50,000 level, the cost would be reduced to less than $800 per year. Reducing coverage amounts increases your financial risk but reducing unnecessary coverage amounts keeps you fully protected while also saving you money.
In addition to lowing your coverage amounts, increasing your deductible can also cut your insurance cost. Some auto insurance policies include a collision deductible starting at $100. Increasing this number to $500 or $1000 can assign the driver a primary amount. Increasing your deductible does not carve your coverage, its impact is felt only when a claim is made on the policy. Increasing your deductible can be especially first-rate for limited spend drivers or drivers with an accident free record.
Another simple change to nick costs is to eliminate any small policy additions which may be redundant. Some insurance policies approach with small additions such as roadside assistance or rental car allowance. These additions can be useless if you have similar coverage elsewhere. Some drivers will have roadside assistance or rental car allowance through their cell phone policy, car warranty or in-car assistance program such as OnStar.
It is possible to chop your insurance cost while maintaining the same level of coverage. One way to do so is to change insurance providers. With the large variety of car insurance providers, you may find cheaper rates at a different company. Companies like Progressive and Geico provide drivers with an online quote making it easy to compare prices. The same coverage, for the same person can be drastically different at two different companies because of varying company policies and associated costs. If you had an insurance claim four years ago, and your fresh company keeps a five-year history, you can save money by switching to a company with a three-year driver history policy.
You may also find savings by combing your current policies. If you have homeowners insurance and car insurance through separate companies, you may find a nice discount by moving your policies to the same provider. Win the company which allows you to join the most policies and gives you the biggest discount for doing so. Combing your car insurance with your health insurance, renters insurance or homeowners insurances can provide a large discount.
Keeping the same coverage but changing your covered car can also help you slash costs. A newer car costs more to insure and rates can be higher depending on the model and type of car. If you trade in your sports car for a sedan, you will find distinguished savings. Cars can also arrive with principal savings attached. Models with high safety ratings will yield a bigger insurance discount.
Cutting your insurance cots can also be as simple as searching out all of your eligible discounts. Being a member of a certain groups, such as travel rewards organization or college alumni associations, can mean savings on car insurance. Ask your group if they provide any insurance discounts as some alumni associations offer up to as remarkable as a 15 percent savings. Some insurance companies also offer military and college graduate discounts.
Remember to keep your policy up to date at all times. Drivers can receive discounts for where they live, how old they are or if they got married. If you move, even with the same state it is important to update your information. Insurance costs are typically cheaper when you live in less populated areas. Drivers can recieve a discount for being married and for being in a household with multiple policies so updating your status can save you money.
Filed under Compare Car Insurance by on Mar 15th, 2011. Comment. 
If you’re looking for the least expensive cars to insure, you’re not alone. Thousands of consumers compare all kinds of costs related to vehicle ownership, from fuel efficiency to auto insurance premiums, and some cars just wind up ahead.
Insure.com and MSN Money have rated more than 300 models for their insurance rates, but these are the highlights. Whether you’re looking for minivan to transport your large family or a sedan for the long commute to work, there’s a vehicle available for you.
1. Runt Cars: Kia Rio5
According to the Insure.com data, the least expensive cars to insure in the minute cars category are the Kia Rio5 and the Smart Fortwo, with the Kia leading by about $11. The Kia is also the better option if you’re looking for space as well as cost efficiency, and it’s probably safer as well.
2. Midsize Cars: Subaru Legacy
Bottoming the carts for midsize cars is the sleek Subaru Legacy, which is rated extremely high by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is extremely economical with regard to recall price. It beats out the Pontiac G6 by around $12.
3. Large Cars: Pontiac Gigantic Prix
In the large cars category, the least expensive cars to insure are a little bit farther apart, with the Pontiac Tall Prix boasting an average rate of $902 and the Volkswagen Passat coming in at $936. However, if you’re interested in a Grand Prix you’ll have to hit the used car dealership because the model was discontinued in 2008.
4. Sports Cars: Mazda MX-5 Miata
Sports cars are rarely among the least expensive cars to insure, and for good reason. People like to drive fast in their sports cars, and this leads to increased claims. However, if you can’t live without the speed and status of a sports car, your best bet is the Mazda Miata at an average premium of $1,017.
5. Petite SUVs: Kia Sportage
With its boxy frame and significant storage room, the Kia Sportage dominates the list of petite SUVs least expensive to insure. Plus, it’s purchase effect is nothing to sneeze at according to Edmunds .com: a range of $16,819 to $23,258 for the current Sportage year.
6. Midsize SUVs: Hyundai Santa Fe
Unsurprisingly, Hyundai has found its way onto the list of least expensive cars to insure with its Santa Fe. Since the SUV’s debut in 2001, it has become one of the most well-liked cars on the road, especially in family market. It’s safe, sturdy, roomy and not nearly as expensive as some of its fellow SUVs.
7. Stout SUVs: Hyundai Veracruz
If you’re looking for more space, more power and more prestige on the road, you might want to consider a substantial SUV. These are perfect for grand families and anyone who enjoys traveling, and many are very suited on the road. The least expensive of these cars to insure is the Hyundai Veracruz.
8- Trucks: Mazda Truck
As the owner of a Mazda B-series truck, I can attest that these vehicles are among the least expensive to insure and are extremely reliable. Coming in just under the Mitsubishi Raider on Insure.com’s list, the Mazda truck is perfect if you want to protect your wallet from high premiums.
9- Vans & Wagons: Chevy Uplander
Along with the Hyundai Entourage, the Chevy Uplander is one of the least expensive cars to insure in the vans and wagons category. You might pay more for fuel in these large vehicles, but the average insurance premium of $831 will be pretty to many.
10- Hybrids: Saturn Vue Hybrid
They might be green and better for the environment, but hybrids are not among the least expensive cars to insure. The cheapest on the list is the Saturn Vue Hybrid at an average premium of $1,005, and the most expensive is the Lexus LS 600h at $1,540. If you’re looking to save money on insurance, a hybrid might not be the way to go.
Sources
Filed under Car Insurance Reviews by on Feb 27th, 2011. Comment.
Car insurance can be a nightmare for the most experienced drivers but if you are a beginner it can overwhelming. Basically if you want to drive a car it is a legal requirement to have car insurance. All drivers must be protected from financial liability if they wound the property of a ‘third party’ this means other drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians.
Car insurance policies vary greatly depending on what kind of shroud you purchase and which insurance company you chose. The different types of cover are broken down into three main categories:
Third Party
This is the minimum type of cover you can have. If you are eager in a car accident then the insurance company will pay out for the damage to other people’s vehicles and injuries but it will not cover the costs to your own car. This option can be good if you are on a tight budget or possess a low value vehicle which you can afford to replace.
Third Party Fire and Theft (TPFT)
This is a step up from third party insurance and will also cover you if your car is stolen or damaged by a fire. Despite advances in car security there is no guarantee that your car won’t be stolen or at best damaged in an attempt to be stolen so this type of insurance permits you to peruse a claim in these circumstances.
Comprehensive
This is the most extensive insurance available as well as TPFT it will also cover damage to your own car. There are all sorts of comprehensive car insurance and its worth shopping around. Some of the additional benefits can include courtesy car, breakdown cover, windscreen protection and legal expenses. This is generally the most expensive type of insurance but is worthwhile getting if you have an expensive car.
The only other technical terms you need to catch to grips with before purchasing car insurance is the excess and no claims bonus. The excess is the amount of money you will need to pay yourself before the insurer will pay out. You can make voluntary excess payments which are additional payments that you agree to pay towards any claims which could prick the cost of your premiums. No claims bonus is when your insurance company will cut the amount of your premiums every year you go without making a claim.
Finally some top tips to assist reduce the cost of your car insurance –
• Do not steal a car with a huge engine it will put your premiums up
• Add security features such as alarms and steering locks
• Support your car in a garage
• Add an experienced driver to your policy
• Get a range of car insurance quotes
• Pay in one lump sum
Jennifer Adams writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
Filed under Car Insurance Questions by on Feb 25th, 2011. Comment.
People with great driving records often hear others report their low car insurance premiums. It is accepted for some of these with lower premiums to have less than stellar accident and ticket histories. As one begins to wonder what is going on, it can be a good idea to look in a direction that seems totally unrelated.
Check your credit score.
More and more insurance companies are examining the credit history of new customers before issuing quotes for premiums. While technically, the insurance companies do not exhaust your FICO scores from the credit bureaus, they do use a formula of their own that somewhat resembles these scores. The result is that if your scores are high, your premium rates will be significantly lower.
The insurance companies do not seem to consider why you may have low scores.
When you are applying for a loan at a bank, the bank will usually allow you to give reasons for blemishes on your credit history. These spots can result from disputed bills or any of a number of reasons why you may have chosen not to pay a debt until some plight was cleared up. If your reason for non-payment or being tardy is accepted, you may still get the loan at a decent rate. Insurance companies tend to be grand less inclined to want to look at the circumstances instead of just the facts.
Some people get poor credit ratings due to medical problems.
If you or a family member develops a health issue that becomes a major financial problem, it will not only drain your resources today, but it may continue to hurt you for years to reach. A new dilemma is on the horizon. You can pay for expensive medical care or buy car insurance. When you can least afford increases in your expenses, the insurance companies will raise your rates as your credit score decreases.
Insurers utter that credit history is a better indicator of risk than driving history.
Apparently, it is believed that if you fall behind in paying your bills, it will make you a bad driver. Because of the high level of discomfort at this concept, some states are moving to pass legislation to prohibit this practice. Until they do get unique laws enacted, credit histories will continue to influence car insurance rates in a significant procedure.
The only diagram to really protect yourself against high insurance rates is to monitor your credit reports.
Even if you have a good payment history and a reasonable debt load, an error on your credit report can cost you money. The insurance companies will not suppose you that your rates are high because of your credit score. Banks and lenders will share the spot if there is one. You may not even realize that your car insurance rates are excessive until you have that conversation with a friend who uses the same company and gets much better rates.
Filed under Car Insurance Ratings by on Feb 20th, 2011. Comment.
Low cost car Insurance Quotes
Most people love to shop but when it comes to car insurance it’s like buying a pair of shoes without taking them out of the box or trying them on. Insurance companies really do offer cheaper car insurance we just need to find low cost car insurance quotes to get a first-rate deal. Researched data findings over a number of years has shown women are in fewer accidents than men, vehicle accidents that involve women cause less damage than those that involve men. Crimes that are motor vehicle related are less by women than by men, and women have a higher percentage of passing their drivers exam test the first try than men do. For that reason women can get rude cost car insurance quotes before a man.
Are women safer drivers than men? Are women more cautious drivers, or drive at a slower speed than men do? Are the vehicles, driven by women more equipped with safety features than men? There are a few things that insurance companies consider before signing a policy. The insurance companies contain women are safer drivers than men, are more cautious drivers and drive at a slower speed than men do, which is why women are offered a cheaper car insurance coverage. Women are more modest drivers than men.
Women carpool more than men do, driving to ball practice, school, and doctor’s appointments and to the grocery store, makes them more aware of their driving habits. Women don’t report as many fender benders as men do. Maybe because they consider them less well-known than men do. There is less claims mean cheaper insurance.
Finding the right grievous cost car insurance quotes can mean a lot when you do your research. Calling around as well as browsing online can give you the brand that you can afford without dealing with several people. Choose a vehicle that is adequate for the family needs for less risk. We should all practice safe driving, male or female after all statistics prove it’s less expensive when it comes to vehicle insurance coverage and we all like to be rewarded for our efforts.
Drive safe.
Filed under Car Insurance Reviews by on Feb 18th, 2011. Comment.
