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 don't 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 there's 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 won't 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, don't 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. Don't 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 you're in the market for cheap car insurance there's some ideas for you. Don't just accept that car insurance is always prohibitively expensive, get out there and do something about it.

What To Do If You Are Rear Ended In Your Car

Depending upon the severity of the crash; which could be just a slight tap on your rear bumper due to some one's foot slipping off the brake at a stop light. It could be a major collision, totaling your car, and causing you or your passengers severe long-term whiplash and other medical injuries.

Call the police. Even if your rear-ender is a slight bump; in order to facilitate your insurance claim, you will need a police accident report. Insurance companies need legal documentation that an accident actually occurred; when, where, how, what happened, and the parties and their vehicles involved.

Police will help both parties to get the information they need, but you need to be sure you have their data as well, and if you are able, do so before police arrive. You will need your insurance card, and your vehicle tag registration. Each party should get a copy of the police accident report. Assuming both parties are medically able, here is a list of the information you will need to exchange with the other driver:

• Name(s) of drivers and owners of the vehicle
• Address
• Phone numbers, home, work, and cell
• License tag numbers
• Drivers License numbers
• Name of insurance company, and agency
• Their phone numbers and claims numbers
• Physically look at insurance cards and drivers licenses

Additionally, if there are any witnesses to the crash, get their name, address, phone numbers.

Try to remain emotional calm, even though you may be dazed or shocked by the crash. Do not get into a hostile confrontation. Usually the other driver is also shaken up, so try to be helpful, if anyone needs emergency aid let the 911 operators know if you are the one who summons the police.

If you have a camera with you in your car (ideally a digital camera kept in your glove compartment or a cell phone) take photos of the accident and damage done. Note any unusual circumstances that might have led to the cause of the crash, or if the camera would help the claims department of an insurance company, or attorney determine negligence, or percent of negligence.

As an example; here is a a typical rear-ender

• Driver A is stopped
• Driver B hits the car from behind.

Some states assume Driver B is at fault, but Driver B may argue against that presumption of fault. For example, Driver B may argue that Driver A stopped so suddenly it was impossible not to hit them. In that example, liability or fault may be split between the drivers. In a comparative negligence state Driver B may be 70% at fault and driver B is 30% at fault. Some states don't use comparative negligence, but many do.

Car Insurance and No-Fault Benefits

In most No-Fault states, such as Florida, if you are in an accident and receive bodily injuries it is your own car insurance that will cover your injuries and medical bills. This no-fault insurance is usually termed Personal Injury Protection or PIP.Many states have passed laws requiring vehicle owners to have no-fault coverage (PIP) as part of their state mandated minimum automobile insurance coverage.

If you have been in an automobile accident the first course of action, whether you have bodily injuries or not, is to contact the police to make a report. The next step is to contact your insurance company to report the accident. Your insurance provider should then be able to walk you through the steps of making a claim. If you have injuries and need to place a claim against your PIP coverage, this can be done at this point as well.

If you are unsure of what your personal injury protection policy covers, ask your agent to explain the benefits and which will be of use to you under your current situation. Benefits typically can include payment for loss of wages, medical expenses, replacement services and other economical damages you might have suffered due to the accident.

Medical expenses that will be covered by No Fault are those medical expenses that are reasonable and necessary are covered. The state’s statutes in which you reside usually regulate what is deemed reasonable and necessary. This definition usually excludes experimental treatments or alternative/holistic treatments.

In Minnesota their statutes include as medically necessary the following items: medical, surgical, x-ray, optical, dental, chiropractic, and rehabilitative services, including prosthetic devices. Also allowable by MN statutes are prescription drugs, ambulance or other transportation expenses incurred in traveling to receive other covered medical expense benefits.

The state of Minnesota’s PIP system demands that before any wage loss claim will be paid by your insurance provider that a doctor's disability note must be presented to your PIP insurance adjuster in order for you to receive wage loss benefits and that proof of wage loss from your employer on a form available from your insurance adjuster.

In Florida their no-fault (PIP) coverage includes payment for 80 percent of medically necessary expenses, 60 percent of lost wages, 100 percent of replacement services such as child care, housekeeping or yard work, and $5,000 for death benefits. Florida also allows that for a higher premium you may amend your personal injury protection coverage to increase medical expenses to 100 percent and lost wages to 80 percent or increase your minimum limits from $10,000 to $20,000 or more.

There are other states, such as Washington, that do not require PIP but have it as an option that a driver can carry as part of their insurance coverage. In Washington State personal injury protection if you choose this optional coverage it pays for medical and other expenses resulting from an auto accident, for people specified in the policy, regardless of who is at fault.

While this coverage is not required in Washington, it is mandatory that it is offered to car insurance buyers and must be rejected in writing if the car owner does not want to add the coverage. In a Washington PIP policy the named insurer and residents of that person’s household related by blood, marriage or adoption are covered for injuries incurred in an accident. Also passengers of the named insurer’s vehicle and pedestrians are covered.

In Washington, just as Minnesota and Florida, PIP covers reasonable and necessary medical expenses for injuries sustained in an automobile accident, up to three years from the date of the accident and up to the $10,000 limit. Other benefits of PIP in Washington State include income replacement (maximum of $200 per week for 1 year, after a person has been disabled for 14 days after the accident), funeral expenses of $2000 and loss of services of up to $5000.

Whether your state requires you to carry Personal Injury Protection insurance coverage or not you will want to be informed of this coverage and what benefits you may receive from it. Find out from your insurance agent, or your state’s insurance regulatory body (Department of Insurance) who is covered by a PIP policy and if there is different coverage options you may want to include for better protection of you and your family.

Things To Teach Your Teenage Driver

Is it hard to communicate with your teenager about issues in his or her life? Regardless of the communication problems, there are two issues you need to discuss with them: driving and insurance. The following are four things to teach your teenage driver.

1. Driving is a privilege, not a right.

From a state's viewpoint, they will not hesitate to suspend or revoke a driver's license if too many violations are received in a short period of time. If the driver receives a DUI or is involved in an accident and he or she is not adequately insured the state will suspend or revoke a driver's license.

From the parents' viewpoint: if the teenager is a minor or a dependant, the state may hold the parents liable for his or her actions. Also, since parents usually pay for the teenager's bills, they should be honest and let the teenage driver know that driving his or her driving privilege will be revoked by THEM, if she or he does not meet their expectations for driving responsibility or anything else.

2. Insurance for teenage drivers is expensive.

Due to the accident statistics for teenage drivers, their rates start out high that is a fact. It only gets higher with accumulated violations. Also, with accumulated violations, the parents' insurance company and other insurance companies, may not choose to insure them. This lack of supply by insurance companies creates a higher demand, and as a result creates higher premiums.

3. Teenagers need to know there are consequences to their actions - especially if it involves auto accidents.

The teenage driver needs to know that people get hurt and possibly DIE in auto accidents. Teenagers seem to be oblivious of their or anyone else's mortality. There are laws of physics that need to be understood when an accident takes place. Also, it may not seem cool, but the teenage driver needs to make sure everybody in the vehicle wears his or her safety belt.

4. Last, your teenage driver needs to avoid distractions and concentrate on driving.

Unfortunately, a safety belt and an air bag do not totally protect the human body. Only avoiding accidents will keep everyone safe. In order to do this, the teenage driver has to know why she or he is driving. Most of the time, it is to reach his or her destination SAFELY.

Besides fastening safety belts, the teenage driver needs to set radio before she or he starts to drive. Teenagers need to be advised not to use a cell phone until he or she is done driving. This will allow them not to be distracted by either looking down to switch stations as they drive or by concentrating on their phone conversation instead of the road ahead.

Also, while driving, the teenager needs to keep his or her eyes moving. This will help keep the driver from 'dazing' and allow him or her to concentrate on the surroundings, especially the other cars sharing the road with them. The teenager needs to expect the unexpected while he or she is driving. In particular, he or she needs to be aware of the unpredictably of children, people on bicycles, and aggressive drivers.

Talking to your teenager may not be easy. She or he may not want to participate with you in an in-depth driving conversation. However, the previous four things should be taught to him or her not only to keep teenagers safe on the road but so you can sleep at night knowing that you have communicated to them the finer points of driving and the insurance that goes along with that.

Auto Insurance Basics

Some people only think that insurance is something they need to get their registration and tag so they can drive. It is needed because their license may/will be suspended if they don't have it. It's just a bother to some because people think "I don't get into accidents, I am a careful driver."

Often times people will call for insurance and say "give me the cheapest insurance or give me only what is required." Many people don't even know what this insurance coverage this is. A lot of people only really become aware of what coverage they have when they need it, like when they need to make a claim.

When you run into that stopped car or have someone sideswipe your car in a parking lot while you are shopping, suddenly having only the coverage that is required by law may not be the best thing to have. You should always have as much insurance as you can afford to carry. Having too little is never good and if you have insurance you cannot afford is not any better. A policy that is cancelled due to non-payment does you no good at all.

Lets take a look at the state I am familiar with - Florida. Florida is a no-fault state. What does this mean? Well, if you have the proper state required coverage you will be protected by the no-fault law. If you are in an accident whether you are at fault or not at fault you will go through your own personal injury coverage for your medical expenses for the first $10,000. If you do not have at lease state minimum insurance then you will not be protected and may be subject to paying for the injuries of the other people you hurt in the accident.

There are many types of coverage to purchase and meet your insurance needs. Every coverage has a purpose and all are good to get.

Florida state minimum insurance is Personal Injury Protection and Property Damage. Personal Injury Protection or P.I.P. covers your medical, hospital and funeral expenses up to its limits. It also covers others in your vehicle and pedestrians struck by your car. You are covered for up to $10,000. There also may be a deductible. This can be 0, 250, 500 or 1000 deductible. A $1000 deductible being the minimum in Florida.

Property Damage liability covers if your vehicle damages another person's property. This could be their car, house, motorcycle, etc. Limits for this are $10,000, $25,000 or $50,000. The Minimum in Florida is $10,000.

Another valuable coverage is Bodily Injury Liability. Bodily Injury covers other people's injury or death that you are responsible for up to the limits you purchase. This is not required by Florida for state minimum insurance, but it would satisfy another law called the Financial Responsibility law. This law states that if you are not financially responsible at the time of and at fault accident where someone gets injured or property damage occurs, your license may be suspended. At this point you may be able to get your license back by filing an Sr-22. This form shows to the state you are now carrying Bodily Injury Coverage and are now financially responsible. Usually you must carry this for 3 years with no lapses in coverage.

Another common insurance people ask for is Full Coverage. This is not an insurance coverage and means a different thing with every company you call. Most people only know that their car dealer or bank wants Full Coverage so they ask for it. Comprehensive and Collision is what these companies are looking for. Collision covers repairs when your vehicle hits or is hit by another vehicle. If it is destroyed it will also pay up to the book value of the vehicle at the time of a loss. Comprehensive covers for loss caused by other circumstances other than a collision. Some examples are theft, flood, fire or animal damage. This will also cover total losses up to the book value of the vehicle.

Other types of coverage available are medical and Uninsured Motorist. Medical covers medical costs to you and your passengers injured in an accident. Uninsured Motorist covers injuries to you and your passengers when the other person in the accident is at fault but does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance.

These are just some of the basics about the insurance there is more detailed information about each coverage out there that you can find. But this information should give you a good idea about what type of coverage you might need to research more or be ready to purchase. Knowing the basics is your first step on making smart purchasing decisions!

Ways to Save on Auto Insurance

For the past few years we have been experiencing an increase of premiums with regard to insurance policies. I'm sure you have been asking, as I have, why are the ratings rising? One reason is inflation and to that we owe the higher volume of car accidents nationwide. As agents and consumers we have ways to help solve these high rates.

How can we help keep rates low? What factors do we need to consider?

The first thing we need to look at is the driving record. Of course it is always best to have a good driving record. A bad driving record is the number one reason for which insurance companies hike up their rates. When having a poor record, a way to improve it is to take the classes the state provides to lower points on your license. Florida has this type of program so check with your state to see if they do as well.

A second factor to keep in mind is the type of vehicle you are having insured. When buying a vehicle one needs to take into consideration the category the car will fall into and the safety features it has.

A sports car will have higher rates because of the risk of having an accident are supposed to be greater than a car from the family category. In addition insurance companies offer discounts on vehicles have safety features such as anti-lock brakes, airbags, alarm, etc. So it is a good choice to have these types of features in your car so that your policy premium can be lowered.

A third way to lower premiums is to have a policy with no lapse in it. Renewing on time and avoiding cancellations, due to lack of payment or otherwise, will help you because at renewal a discount may apply.

The final factor I will mention is the credit check companies now run to find out if you have had a previous lawsuit against an insurance company. There has been a rapidly growing amount of lawsuits against insurance companies from attorneys. If in fact you have had a lawsuit against an insurance company the policy premium might be raised due to a higher risk perceived by the insuring company.

Knowing all of these factors we may now feel more educated when we buy our car insurance.

Types of Auto Insurance Coverage Explained

A question you might ask yourself is: why must we carry auto insurance? Hopefully one answer you should hear is to protect yourself and your car. For those same reasons the government also requires you to have car insurance.

Each state requires you to carry at least the minimum requirements. Every state has different limits and deductible requiremetns. Our sites explains every requirement and handles it all when you are quoting and purchasing through our site.

There are many different types of auto insurance coverage to choose from, depending on what you want covered and what you can afford. Where should you get started?

First you should ask yourself if you have enough coverage in case of an incident occurring. Besides the minimum requirement coverage previously mentioned, there is another type of coverage that is very important, bodily injury.

Bodily injury coverage is not required by the state of Florida until you get into an auto accident. This would cover you if you were at fault in an accident and the person in the other vehicle suffered injuries exceeding their personal injury coverage. If you did not have this coverage the other party has the right to sue and the state may place a financial responsibility on your motor vehicle report, which you would have to carry for 3 years. That financial responsibility is called an SR22.

Uninsured motorist is another coverage you may want to consider. Uninsured motorist covers you if the other party was at fault and you were injured (exceeding your personal injury coverage) and they did not have bodily injury coverage. You may use this coverage to cover the difference of your injuries.

Where does you car fit for injury theft and collision? Whatabout your dream car? Take a look at this run down based on 2000-2002 HLDIdata:

There are two more very important types of coverage that you might want to explore they are: comprehensive and collision.

Comprehensive coverage would cover your vehicle in the event of fire, theft, vandalism, hail storm damage or any natural causes minus the deductible you agreed upon when purchasing your insurance.

Collision coverage would cover physical damage to your vehicle, if you were at fault in the accident, minus the deductible. The insurance company would pay the actual cash value of your vehicle. If your vehicle is financed comprehensive and collision coverage are possibly are required by your lending institution.

Extra medical payment coverage can also be provided if you are interested and the list goes on. All types of coverage are important but the reality of it is, what we can afford? Keep in mind your life and your family is very important so having insurance should be one of your main priorities.

With the web easily accessible you have a vast amount of knowledge at your fingertips to help you choose the best coverage for you and your lifestyle. Life is too short, get good advice and get the right insurance coverage for you and your family.

Tips On How To Save When Buying Car Insurance

If you want to save money when you purchase your car insurance here are a few ways that can help you as you search for auto insurance.

First thing you can do is comparison shop. It cannot hurt to call around to see what other prices are out there. If the price is higher you know you are where you need to be and if you find a lower rate you always have the option to change. You can use information from Florida Department of Financial Services, or a similar department within your state, to help you decide. This Florida department can show you what types of coverage are out there and give you sample rates. You can do this for other states by using the National Association of Insurance commissioners web site. Armed with this information you can get quotes from a number of companies and find the best one for you.

Increasing deductibles is another way to lower your premium. A deductible is the portion of money you pay before the insurance company pays for damages or injuries. The higher your deductible is the less exposure the insurance company has, thus your premium will be lower. If you choose the highest deductible you can afford you may save hundreds of dollars over the term of your policy.

Dropping comprehensive and collision coverage on older cars is another way you can to save money on your insurance policy. This type of coverage protects your car if it is damaged or stolen. Usually it is the cash value of the vehicle at the time of a loss minus the deducible. On older vehicles the value is lowered already by depreciation. You need to take into consideration the premium you pay, the value of the vehicle and the deductible you have. You may be paying more for the coverage then the vehicle is worth. If there is a loan on the car, you may have to keep this coverage on the car until you pay off the loan. After the car loan is paid off it is your choice if to keep these types of coverage and at what levels.

Buying a more economical car may help reduce your insurance. Yes, driving that corvette is fun but if you want to save money maybe you can be driving something that is a little less expensive. Vehicles that are costly to fix or that have a higher chance to be stolen are generally higher priced as far as your insurance premium. There are reports that you can check to find out which cars are stolen more often. One of these types of reports is by The Highway Loss Data Institute. Parts and repair times also tend to me more costly on higher end vehicles. A vehicle that is easier to repair will save with labor costs thus help lower your premiums.

Some companies give discounts if you do not drive your car as much. If you live close to your job you may get discounts for this lower mileage usage. Some companies may also list the car as an "occasional use" vehicle based on the mileage, which can reduce your premiums.

Asking about which discounts are available is a great way of reducing your premium. Discounts are given for safety features such as airbags and anti-lock breaks. Anti theft systems can reduce costs as well. Owning a house, being married, driver training courses and having no tickets or accidents are all ways that may make it possible for you to be eligible for discounts. Getting a list of discounts from your company is a great way to reduce your costs.

Maintaining a good driving record is also a major determining factor on how much the premium will be. If you can maintain a safe driving record, one without violations and/or accidents, your rates will be lower then someone who is more reckless. Many companies give discounts if there are no violations on your driving record. This is due to the company potentially having less exposure insuring a driver with a clear driving record than the driver with multiple tickets and/or accidents.

One final way to save on insurance is to keep your policy enforced. By making payments on time and keeping your policy intact you avoid extra late fees and you avoid costly tickets for not carrying the proper type of coverage that your state requires. You avoid possible a suspension of your driver's license and you also may be eligible for discounts for renewing your policy all by just keeping up with your premiums. Most companies will give renewal discounts as an incentive to stay with them and keep your policy valid and in good standing.

These are just some ways that you as a consumer may use to lower your insurance costs. Now get out there and start saving some money!

Should I Buy Rental Car Insurance?

Rental car agencies have a menu of insurance policies they would like to sell you. While each policy could be of some benefit under the right circumstances, you should review each plan (its provisions, limitations, and exclusions) before making a purchase. It is a good idea to request the detailed information from an agent at the rental office, as most companies only provide a summary on their Web sites.

Keep in mind; you may not need to buy this additional car insurance because you have auto insurance from your own car insurance company. Generally speaking, when you rent a car, the liability coverage limits you have in your own auto insurance policy remain in effect with the same limits. In addition, the comprehensive and collision coverages you have in your own auto insurance policy remain in effect with the same deductibles. You do have comprehensive and collision coverage don't you? See our article, "How Much Car Insurance Should You Buy?" for a listing of coverage types and definitions.

You may also have some kind of additional auto insurance coverage through your credit card but it is important that you check your credit card information for specific details. Some cards only offer coverage if you rent your car from a particular agency. Some limit the days for which coverage is available. Some will only provide coverage for certain types and/or classes of cars. With some cards, the coverage is not automatic and you must enroll in a program to get coverage. Some cards that advertise automatic rental insurance really only reimburse you for the deductible that you would have to pay under your regular insurance policy. Still others may provide only collision and comprehensive coverage, leaving you exposed for personal injury or property damage to others. Rental car agencies typically offer liability coverage in two parts - a supplemental liability policy protects against claims from others and a Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) covers the rental car. LDW is not technically insurance; rather, it is a company's agreement not to hold the consumer liable for loss from all or part of any damage to merchandise.

Before you rent a vehicle, realize the charges you could be responsible for and how these charges are covered or not covered by both your own auto insurance policy and the car insurance the rental company is offering.

If you suffer a loss that is not covered under your auto policy, check your other insurance policies. For example, if personal property has been stolen from your rental car, it may be covered under your homeowners or renters policy. Similarly, certain medical policies may cover costs of injuries not covered by your car insurance policy.

Simple Steps to Filing Your Car Insurance Claim

Having even a teeny-tiny car accident can be one of life's least enjoyable moments. However, accidents happen, and sooner or later, we all have the experience of meeting one of our fellow road travelers up close and personal. Using the following seven steps to filing your claim will help you get over this speed bump as smoothly as possible.

They aren’t really accidents. They are more of an incident. Usually they are an incident that you would like to forget.

* Understand your policy before a loss, sit down and carefully read your insurance policy. Call your agent or company if you have any questions about what is or is not covered.
* Make sure everyone is okay and check to see if anyone needs medical attention. Even if your injuries are minor, you may still want to have them checked out at a hospital or with your family doctor. Minor injuries can become major, long-lasting injuries.
* Exchange information when you are involved in an accident, get the other driver's name, address, phone number, insurance carrier, and insurer's phone number. Be prepared to give the same information about yourself to the other driver. You can find insurers’ telephone numbers on the proof-of-insurance cards that should be carried on your person when operating a motor vehicle.
* Identify witnesses and ask witnesses to the accident for their names and phone numbers in case their account of the accident is needed.
* File an accident report and contact local law enforcement officers to have an accident report prepared. If law enforcement is not reachable, accident reports and detailed instructions are available at all police departments, sheriff's offices, your local Department of Motor Vehicles office, and on your local Department of Motor Vehicles' web site
* Notify your insurer by contacting your insurance company about the accident as soon as possible. An insurance adjuster will review the accident report to determine who caused the accident. If the accident was not your fault, you can have either your insurance company or the at-fault driver's insurance company handle the repair or replacement of your vehicle. If you use the other driver's company, you will not have a claim on your automobile policy and you will not have to pay a deductible.
* Do not release insurers too early. Do not relieve your insurance company of its responsibility until the damages are settled to your satisfaction. For example, have your insurance company handle the claim if the other party's insurance company questions its policyholder’s negligence or offers an unacceptable settlement.
* Consider these settlement factors.
o Bodily injuries: You may be entitled to a monetary settlement for injuries caused by another at fault (liable) party. It can take several days for some injuries to become apparent.
o Damages: The insurance company is responsible to pay for the reasonable cost of repairs to your vehicle. An insurance adjuster will assess the damage. Usually, insurance companies and auto body shops negotiate disagreements about what should be repaired. If you disagree with their conclusions, you have the right to obtain another appraisal at any auto body shop.
o Appraisal clause: Most auto insurance policies include an appraisal clause, which can be used to help settle disputes about physical damage claims between you and your insurance company. (The appraisal clause does not apply for claims you file with the other party's insurance company.) If you cannot reach an agreement with your company, you or your insurer can initiate the appraisal clause. Your appraiser and your insurer's appraiser then select an independent umpire to try to resolve the dispute. Check your policy or ask your agent or insurance company for more information about the appraisal clause.

Car Insurance Tips - These Tips Can Save You a Bundle

If you are looking for a way to save money on your car insurance, then there are several steps that you can take to achieve this. Reducing your car insurance cost can allow you to have more money for your other needs. Especially with the ailing economy and with the rising inflation, you would want to get a cheap auto insurance quote in order to reduce your payments. Here are some steps that you can take to reduce your car insurance.

1) Go online and search for different insurance companies and different car insurance quotes. Try to get as many quotes as possible, so that you will be able to have lots of insurance quotes to choose from. The good news is that you can do all this within the comfort of your home, as you can easily get quotes online.

2) If you have more than one policy (such as house insurance, car insurance, medical insurance etc); going to the same insurance company to get quotes for all of them can be very advantageous. Many companies will reward their clients for their loyalty and they will give you reduced insurance rates.

3) Applying for more than one car with the same insurance company can also be useful as it will allow you to get a group discount. Hence, if you own more than one car in the family, you should go for a special discount to help you reduce your costs.

4) If you are able to raise your deductible, then this can come in handy, as you wont have to worry about paying a large auto insurance bill. For example, raising your deductible to $500 can help to reduce your car insurance cost by %20, while increasing your deductible to around $900 to $1000 can help to reduce your cost by as much as % 50. Of course, you should discuss these various scenarios with your insurance agent.

5) If you have an older model car, then you may want to think about dropping collision damage to your car. This can come in handy, since having an older model car wont make it worth it to get collision damage coverage for your car as the money you pay for the insurance coverage can cost you the same amount as fixing it.

6) If you are able to keep your car in a safe environment, then this can also be very useful. For example, if you have a closed garage or if you are able to provide an alarm system or an advanced anti theft system for your car, then all of this can help to reduce your car insurance cost.

7) Being a safe driver can be the best way to reduce your car insurance bill, since insurance companies just love clients who will not file an insurance claim. Hence, if you haven't had an insurance claim in the last few years, this can also help you to get a cheap auto insurance.

Car Insurance Terminology Clarified to Make Getting a Policy Easier

When looking to buy car insurance,does the terminology and technical language put you off? If so, this article will attempt to explain the meanings of the phrases to make it less of an ordeal when insuring your car.

Third-party-only cover is the very basic of all insurance policies. It protects you if you cause death or serious injury to a third party, including occupants in your car at the time. It will also cover you, should you accidentally damage another person's property.

Third party fire and theft cover will protect you against the risks mentioned above, but will also provide you with cover against fire damage or theft of your car. Items that are in your car, are likely to only be covered by a nominal amount, so any other items that are unspecified should be added to your home insurance to protect them this way.

Comprehensive cover protects you against loss of your vehicle or damage to it through vandalism. It also includes third party fire and theft cover.

Certain medical conditions should be declared to your insurance company when purchasing cover. Any condition that affects your ability to drive has to be disclosed. These include conditions such as visual disabilities, a tendency to suffer blackouts, if you are diabetic or have had a stroke. If you have a medical condition but are unsure if it will affect your insurance, always inform the insurer to be safe.

Foreign use relates to whether the policy covers you to drive your car abroad. Most policies offer a minimum legal cover to drive in all EU countries, but for full comprehensive cover, a Green Card will be required. If driving in Spain, a bail board will be needed. It is best to check with your insurer.

Material facts are pieces of information that could influence your insurers' decision to accept a policy application during its assessment. If you are unsure about whether information is material or not, always disclose it so your cover is not affected.

Modifications are bits of work your car has undergone, including alterations to the engine, suspension or bodywork. All modifications that occur have to be reported to the insurance company who have offered you your policy.

Car Insurance For Women - Fact Vs Myth

It is a misconception that women drivers are not as reliable or as safe their male counterparts. If you have any doubt about that, just ask the insurance industry. They are in the business of reducing their risk and increasing their profits. And in the real world, this means acknowledging the reality that women are better drivers than men as measured by nearly every metric you can imagine.

Insurance companies have historically used demographic data (e.g., the gender and age of those drivers involved in accidents) as part of their formula in calculating insurance rates. Everything else being equal, those demographic groups that have a higher incidence of accidents while driving will cause rates to go up for everyone in that group. And the facts show that women are safer drivers than men.

A recent Carnegie-Mellon study concluded that men are two times more likely to be involved in a traffic fatality than women. Further evidence from the insurance industry revealed that while 68% of women have no traffic violations, men who have never received a traffic violation is only 64%. An additional finding from the study was about the amount of multiple violations for each gender. The study found that that men, as a group, are more likely to have received multiple citations than women -- by a factor of 10%.

As an attempt to acknowledge these differences between men and women, several insurance providers cater specifically to insuring women drivers, guaranteeing that women pay a lower rate than men. These insurance companies have set up special individual companies to provide and underwrite car insurance for women only.

In short, the insurance industry has discovered that young men are actually the highest risk group among all drivers.

Finding out how you fare in comparison to other types of drivers is easy by getting a free online quote from any insurance provider. Bottom line: You'll find that (all things equal) car insurance for women is usually cheaper than the same coverage for men.

Of course, the insurance industry looks at more than just gender when deciding your premium. That said, the general perception that women are worse drivers than men is something that is not supported by the facts.

Car Insurance Advice

For some drivers, trying to understand the mountain of insurance products available in the market place can be a daunting prospect and they may feel in need of some car insurance advice.

That's perfectly understandable. In today's world there are a huge range of companies marketing a wide variety of policies and products through multiple channels such as the Internet, TV, the press, telephone marketing and so on.

Not only that, the complexity of these products may also be quite baffling. Although many insurance companies do try to use plain and simple language to describe their products openly and honestly, sometimes they may unintentionally lapse into jargon or 'insurance-speak.' This can prove quite confusing.

If you have experience of car insurance gained over some years, this may become simply 'business as usual'. However, for younger drivers or those moving from one country to another, it can prove to be a nightmare of confusion, terminology and conflicting offers.

Most reputable insurance companies or brokers will offer advice to casual callers. Some of their customer service departments are very helpful and friendly and offer excellent explanations aimed at simplifying things through email or telephone call centre contact.

Some people may feel that this advice is useful in general terms, but remain uneasy about asking for specific car insurance advice from a specific company that may be selling a range of products. Additionally, in some countries the law may limit the advice offered by insurance companies unless it relates to advice and clarification on their individual products.

In the situation where someone wants general advice of the type "what policy/product is for me" or "what policy should I buy", there may be several useful routes to consider.

The first is the leaflets and Internet advice offered by the insurance associations and regulatory authorities -sometimes including consumer associations and government bodies. These are general professional organisations not linked to any particular company and their advice and explanations may usually be seen as being objective and impartial.

The second is the licensed insurance broker. The broker is a person or company that looks across many different insurance providers trying to find the product and deal that's right for a certain individual. Their advice and recommendations should be impartial and based upon their assessment of the needs of their customer.

Going online to reputable car insurance websites can also typically provide you with lots of useful information about motor insurance. Car insurance comparison websites can also be a good resource.

Insurance brokers should have many years of practical and professional experience upon which they can base their advice and guidance. Typically they are happy and willing to offer advice about the basics and principles of car insurance rather than just sell policies.

It may be the case that a given broker has a long history with certain insurance companies and as such their views and car insurance advice may be influenced in part by that. Even so, this should not detract from their ability to provide good, useful car advice about the intricacies of car cover and the motor insurance marketplace..

Automobile Insurance at Reduced Prices

Find the right car insurance can be very difficult. Here are some tips:

* Try a few insurance companies. Companies are different. Thus their prices. You can see that the company wants to make $ 1000/month insurance and other do $ 400/month. It could be one of the lucky ones, which is levied only $ 30/month. Regardless of who you are, call several vehicles, even if the first quote seems low. They may see another company with a lower rate for you.
* Talk to your friends and family. Other people are just like you, they want cheap insurance. Chances are you know someone who has been on at all and may you some good advice on car insurance have been cheaper for her. Remember that nobody wants money for auto insurance.
* Are you using the Internet. The Internet is a good place for car insurance. You can find information about insurance, compare prices, receive offers, and see you without leaving your home. There are also sites out there as 1carinsurance.org, insurance data and organized data users and tell you what men are living with success in finding the best insurance for her car.
Get car insurance quotes. Not only do their confidence. Explore an offer. They are free (or, if the quote is not free, you know that you do not want that business). If you offers of 6 or 7 different companies, you have raw data comparing companies against each other. You will also see quite sure you go for the lowest prices.
* Try to local businesses. Often, the man once only on major self-thoughts as Geico insurance or progressive. You do not once again look around you local communities for their self-insurance, may be present. Often, local companies can offer cheaper rates because they are not on major buracracy than large companies.

Please note that close to you as you shop and less expensive for auto insurance. The first company is not always the best

Guide to Car Insurance

Odds are if you own a vehicle, you have or plan on getting an automobile insurance plan.

It sounds simple enough, but do you understand what type of plan best meets your needs?

Are you going with the best company?

Are you paying too much?

All of these questions are important to consider when you’re looking to purchase car insurance.

The first thing you need to do is decide on a plan that suits you and your vehicle. This can be something as simple as a liability plan that covers damage you do to someone else or their property.

If you’re searching for a full coverage plan, many insurance companies offer packages with multiple benefits like roadside assistance, towing and uninsured motorist coverage. Think of combined benefits from car insurance providers like ordering from an ala carte menu.


Once you think you have an understanding of what coverage you want, you need to shop around for quotes. There are many insurance providers that will give you their quote, along with the quotes of other top competitors. You can easily get these side by side quotes online.

While they say they are comparison quotes, it would be best to get each quote directly from the respected company. You can also call insurance agents directly in your area, and many can give you a quote over the phone just by asking a few simple questions.

Once you’ve satisfied your need for shopping around, you can go on to pick the plan and company that won your vote.

Here are some things to remember when you are looking to purchase car insurance, whether you’re a first timer or changing companies.

Think about how you drive your car. Think about your budget. Tickets and accidents cause premiums to rise. So if you’ve got a lead foot and accident prone, maybe you need to tailor your insurance plan around that.

Also, there are some insurance companies that can be “pushy” when it comes to sales. Don’t feel intimidated. If they are pushing a plan that covers towing and roadside assistance for “just a little more money” and you know that you don’t leave town enough to make use of that plan, just let them know that it doesn’t fit in with what you had hoped to have in your coverage.

With that, best of luck in purchasing your car insurance plan.

A Better View On Car Insurance

Rates of the Car Insurance gets higher and higher. Not all families can afford this easily, so ca insurance became an issue that should be faced in our lives. If you do not investigate and take some time to research and understand the different types of insurances offered in today’s market, car insurance will surely be a minefield.

Policies vary from company to company. Basically, comprehensive cover is full coverage of your insurance while a third party protects you for damages to someone else’s car.

After deciding what type of insurance you want, ask yourself if you want to insure the car on the agreed value or current market value of the car. You might consider the agreed value option of your car is a special model because it allows you to include added extras. While in the market value option, the insurance company pays out the amount the car is worth at the time of the accident, so the amount could be different to the market value originally spelled out in the policy when you signed up because of depreciation.

You can get down to the smaller and more tedious option once you have worked out what type of cover you want. You may consider some thing like the amount of the excess, if you want to choose the repairer, if you want to loan vehicles if your car is stolen, if you want the policy to cover the car for business use, if your car is repaired using only genuine spare parts and many more.

The Australian Insurance Council’s Group General Manger for Western Australia and the Northern Territory Daryl Cameron said in 85% of cases, policies are bought on price alone. This can be dangerous for people who do not read their policies carefully. He also said that your insurer might refuse to pay out if you are not honest in your insurance quotes.

“It is vital that all known information regarding the vehicle or any intended driver is fully disclosed to the insurer when taking out a policy or when one is up for renewal. If anything changes that may affect your policy, you must tell the insurer; it is extremely important to remember that you have a duty of disclosure,” Mr. Cameron said.
Watch out for the traps that catch many unsuspecting motorists. Ask as many questions as you can to understand what you are getting into. After all, there is no harm in asking.

There are points to remember when considering car insurance. First, research, investigate and take your time when looking for car insurance. Second get a coverage that suits your needs. Third, decide if you want a market value or agreed value cover. Make sure that you fully understand what you are covered for. Know the factors that are excluded in the policy. You should also know the excess when making a claim. Tell you insurer about anything that happens to you that may affect your policy. Know the payment method that suits you. Know if in the case of “At Fault” claim, you can protect your no claim bonus. And lastly, remember that cheapest is not always the best.

Make sure that you are familiar with the cover provided by the policy and not just compared policies on price. Cheaper does not always mean better.