Archive for February, 2008

Finding the lowest car insurance quote

Monday, February 18th, 2008

Finding the lowest car insurance quote is something that most people do not take the time to do. I have a hard time understanding this, because many of these people are the same ones who will drive all the way across town to save a penny a gallon for gas or will buy 15 cases of mustard because they save 50 cents. But while they are saving nickels and dimes, the dollars are racing out the door because they are not paying attention to their car insurance.

I have no beef with bargain hunters and commend them for their perseverance. But at the same time, it only makes good common sense that if you are going to get the best prices on things, be sure to include a big ticket item such as your auto insurance. Sure it takes more effort to understand what you are comparing, but at the end of the day it makes a huge amount of financial sense.

If you are like most people, you simply renew your auto insurance every year without getting a new quote, even from the same company. It’s the easiest way to do it, but remember that easy is not the same as cost effective. Car insurance rates are changing all the time, and if you don’t spend the time to comparison shop, chances are better than excellent that you are paying more than you need to.

I am not saying that your current car insurance company is ripping you off. The truth of the matter is that they might be offering you the best deal available for your particular driving habits and situation. But the keyword here is “might”, and if you don’t do any comparison shopping, you’ll never know that, will you?

One classic example is one of the most costly coverages you can have on your car, which is collision insurance. When your car was new, your finance company required you to carry collision insurance. But if your car is paid off, did you know that you can legally DROP the collision coverage? Or if your collision deductible is $100, you are paying about three to four times more for it compared to having a collision deductible set at $1000.

What are your coverage limits? As an example, looking at the personal liability coverage that almost all states require you to have, if the policy limit is set at $25,000 that is barely going to cover anything in today’s lawsuit-happy world and you are really not protecting yourself with that level of coverage limit. A more reasonable limit that would truly protect you would be something like $250,000. Yes it will cost more, but there is no sense in paying for something that is going to provide inadequate protection if you need to file a claim.

Get car insurance quotes from various companies to compare rates and programs, and make sure you are comparing apples to apples in terms of deductibles and coverage limits. You are also encouraged to get an online car insurance quote to see what can be offered there. Frequently these companies can offer extremely aggressive rates, and you might be pleasantly surprised to find out how much you can save. There is no cost to get an online quote, but you cannot really compare quotes if you don’t get one.

Do your comparison shopping, just as you would for any other major purchase, to make sure you are getting the most value for the money you are spending. Don’t merely renew your existing policy every year just because it is easy.

For more insights and additional information about saving money on your Car Insurance Quote as well as getting a free online car insurance quote, please visit our web site at http://www.tips-for-car-insurance.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Arnold

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Free Car Insurance Quotes Are Available Online At: www.RatesOnCarInsurance.com

Comprehensive Car Insurance Benefits Everyone

Monday, February 18th, 2008

So you’re driving yesterday’s car - and the upholstery is a bit of an embarrassment - but that doesn’t mean you should regard comprehensive car insurance as unnecessary.

Once, having comprehensive insurance for your car simply meant cover for the car itself, plus third party, and that was all that was covered. Those with older cars that had been knocked about just didn’t bother taking out full insurance and just opted for the cheap alternative of fire, theft and third party. But now fully comprehensive car insurance takes in so much more than just your car.

Additional benefits now include cover for overnight accommodation and transport, cover for a rental car until your car is back on the road or you purchase a new one - though naturally limits apply. Your trailer may automatically be covered to a set amount as with personal effects, destroyed or damaged in a collision, covered to a maximum amount - in some cases this is worth nearly as much as the car.

Naturally all these benefits apply across the board for both newer and older models with more benefits that enable new car drivers to relax back in their seats, including new car replacement up to 12 months old, guaranteed repairs for the period you own the car and being able to secure quotes from your chosen repairers.

Comprehensive Insurance Is Better Value Today Than Ever Before

Online car insurance company, 1 Cover, say, while it’s true insurance costs have gone up in Australia, comprehensive insurance is better value today than ever because of a cocktail of added benefits and the number of amazing ways driver’s can reduce their comprehensive premiums.

- Limiting who can drive your vehicle will make you eligible for a Restricted Driver Discount

- Choosing between an Agreed Value to ensure your car for or the market value

- Fitting approved security systems positions you for our Security Device Discount

- Opting for a variable excess rate

All these are great, however, driving carefully yourself, watching out for ‘the other driver’s mistakes’ and being savvy to how to handle diverse road conditions can easily have the biggest impact on your premiums. 1 Cover’s Maximum No Claim Discount Protection can result in savings up to 60% pa after 5 years, while still allowing driver’s to make up to 2-claims over a three-year period and retain their Rating 1 status.

So, it’s probably time to compare the benefits you receive with comprehensive car insurance rather than simply getting a quote based on the value of your car. 1 Cover can be contacted via http://www.1cover.com.au

Peter Smyth is Marketing Manager at 1Cover Car Insurance, offering comprehensive car insurance online.

Get quality car insurance today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_H_Smyth

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Free Car Insurance Quotes Are Available Online At: www.RatesOnCarInsurance.com

Auto Total Loss - Learn How to Negotiate and Argue the Fair Value of Your Car

Monday, February 18th, 2008

If you have been in an accident where your car can be declared an auto total loss, then you can be under a lot of stress. However, if the insurance company starts intimating that they are withholding payments and dragging their heels on paying you the damages, and your stress levels are going to go exponentially up! There are things you can do to protect yourself.

For so many of us, having a car is a necessity for basic living and not having the money to get a new vehicle can severely impair our ability to run our lives. If you are in this unfortunately common situation, remember that you do have options and resources at your disposal.

The first thing that you should be aware of is that having an auto total loss is that this process is a negotiation, not a final number given by the insurance company. The offer that the insurance company puts in front of you is not final (even if they call it that), no matter how much they imply that it is. The process towards getting a final number that you will both accept can be complex, but it is important that you know that you have rights to assert. Be aware of the fact that in this negotiation, as with any negotiation that you have with your insurance company, you will be able affect the final number.

Be aware of the fact that the body shop will receive no cash if the car is auto total loss, and that it is in the best interest of the shop to fix the car. Depending on your insurance company (and state), your car is declared a total loss only when repairs will come to more than 70%, 80%, or 90% of the car’s value. Some of the factors that will affect the car’s total value include the car’s age, mileage, and general condition prior to the accident. This is all added up through the use of CCC Information Services Group, which is the company that most insurance companies will go through to determine the the actual worth of your car. While some other third party firm might be used, this one is the most common.

If you find that the initial offer on a total loss vehicle is unacceptable, ask for a copy of the CCC report or the auto total loss report. This will tell you what your car is worth according the these companies. Do not allow your insurance company to deny you this report on a technicality; by law, they need to give you this report because it is the prime piece of information that they are using to determine your payment. Take a look at the factors that they used and see how valid they are. Did they take your low mileage into account, or the fact that the car had recently had repair or body work done? These are factors which should be remarked upon. Click here for detailed information on how to dispute this report.

Remember that the report will frequently be incomplete. Many things can get overlooked, whether this is through corner-cutting or general error, but you can make sure that your insurance company can’t ignore it. Be polite, but firm, and chances are, just knowing about the report can give you leverage. So few people actually contest the figure that they are given, and this can make your own company quite complacent!

You do have options when it comes to having your vehicle declared a total loss, so make sure you take them!

All the best,

Hector Quiroga

© Copyright http://www.auto-insurance-claim-advice.com/ All Rights Reserved.

Hector Quiroga has a high interest in helping consumers gain knowledge of the auto insurance claim process for both property damage and bodily injury claims. He covers in great detail what a car accident investigation entails and share many helpful tips for dealing with insurance companies and adjusters. Learn how to protect your interest by visiting Auto Insurance Claim Advice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hector_Quiroga

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Free Car Insurance Quotes Are Available Online At: www.RatesOnCarInsurance.com