1.Can You Really Save Money On Gas?"You might be able to save money on gas by combining multiple trips, or walking and biking more often. Reducing your annual mileage to below 10,000 miles could also reduce your car insurance rate by letting you qualify for a low-mileage discount (if available)."
Remember in April and May of 2008, when gas prices started to soar, and no one knew where (or if) they would stop? Well, they peaked at over $4 a gallon in July, and then started falling along with the world economy. Where they will go in 2009 and beyond is anyone's guess, although a strong worldwide green energy push could keep them low.
2. Insurance.com's Tips for Hurricane Homeowners and Car Insurance Claims."As Dostoyevsky said, 'You are wise to provide yourself with what you need, for it will all come in handy in the future.'"
We hope you didn't have to use this article, but it has good information about preparing for and making claims related to hurricanes and other natural disasters. The worst hurricane to hit the U.S. in 2008 was Hurricane Ike, although Hurricanes Dolly, Gustav, Hanna and Omar also affected many Americans.
3. Look Before You Peep: A Leafer's Guide"Even though leaf-peeping sounds rather naughty, it actually involves looking at trees."
Ah, trees. As Ronald Reagan said, "I mean, if you've looked at a hundred thousand acres or so of trees—you know, a tree is a tree, how many more do you need to look at?" Obviously many people feel otherwise, which is why so many of them go leafing. This article also contains an interesting literary exercise that, like many of the best leaves, is hard to spot.
4. Usage-Based Car Insurance: The Freedom to Choose in California - and Elsewhere"So, are the potential savings worth it? Would you voluntarily place a tracking device in your vehicle for auto insurance savings?"
Proposed insurance regulation in California stirred controversy because one of its mileage-verification options is a device installed in your car to track your mileage. Many consumer advocacy groups argue that visual verification is sufficient. You don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to see how putting an electronic device in your car that can communicate with your car insurance company via cell phone conjures up images of Big Brother, regardless of what it's actually used for.
5. National Drive Safely Work Week: Save Lives and Money"Insurance.com's data supports the relationship between safe driving and lower premiums."
This article answers the often-asked question of how much a ticket or accident increases your car insurance. It turns out that it can be quite a lot: as much as $200–$400. If your safety and everyone else's wasn't enough to get you excited about safe driving, maybe the opportunity for significant savings will be.
6. Nitrogen in Tires: Hot Air or a Cool Breeze?"If you can get your tires filled with nitrogen for free (as part of a deal with new tires, for example) it's probably not a bad idea—the advantages are minor, but a free advantage is always a good one."
Unfortunately, filling your tires with nitrogen is not a substitute for regularly checking their pressure. Still, the debate is interesting, and some people adamantly insist that they get better gas mileage and improved handling.
7. Racing to Find Car Insurance"Driving well above the street-legal speed limit was simply not what your insurance company expected when you said you drive your car "primarily for pleasure"—and your rates are based on expected driving—not racing."
If you like to race or are a performance enthusiast, you need to read this article. In the past, car insurance may have covered driving improvement classes where you were able to safely exceed normal street speeds. Now, however, most insurance companies have closed loopholes in their standard policies that allowed it, leaving you without coverage.
8. How Did Your Vote Affect the Future of Driving?"Energy issues were high profile while gas prices were sky-rocketing, but will this administration remain focused on this issue for the long-haul?"
The 2008 election was historic and important. The country needs leadership that will guide us out of our current situation. Will the energy and environmental promises of the campaign trail take a backseat to the economic recovery, or will the Obama administration find a way to link the two?
9. How Bankruptcy Affects Car Insurance Rates"We believe that insurance companies can and should evaluate their risk criteria based on insurance risk scores and determine ways to help consumers retain their insurance coverage."
Usually, things like bankruptcy and foreclosure hurt your credit score and can also raise the car insurance rates you receive. Because the economic crisis is reaching well into the middle class, more people than ever before are declaring bankruptcy. We hope that when insurance companies set rates, they consider that a poor financial situation may not mean what it used to.
10. Will Insurance Companies Weather the Financial Storm?"Because of the strict state regulation of insurance companies, your insurance policy is one of the safer financial products available, and your insurance company is probably safe as well."
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Auto Insurance Tips
Car Insurance for Teenage Drivers
The statistics about teenage drivers aren't good. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 16-year-olds get into accidents almost six times more often than drivers between the age of 30 and 59. No wonder car insurance premiums are so high for this age group.
However, not all car insurance companies take the same dim view of young drivers. And some discounts are available to help you cut costs. Remember, the higher the risk, the higher the cost of insurance premiums. Let this be your guiding principle as you shop for insurance
Here are 10 suggestions to help lower premiums and keep your teenager's license free of violations.
1. Help your teen learn the laws and follow them to the letter. By far, the best way to lower car insurance costs for teens is for them to keep their driving record clean. Make safe driving a family project. In some states, restrictions apply to new drivers. Parents should know what the laws are and insist that their sons and daughters follow them.
2. Set a good example. Do you break the speed limit and tailgate? Do you yell at other drivers when you're behind the wheel? If you do these things, how can you expect your children to act differently? Start watching your own driving long before they get their license and you'll have a much easier time convincing them to be safe drivers. Remember, actions speak louder than words.
3. Put your teenager on your policy. Rather than setting up an independent policy for your teen driver, put them on your auto insurance policy as an additional driver. In this way, all the discounts applied to your policies will be passed on to them.
4. Pay your teenager to get good grades. Here's a creative tip — find out how much you save if your teenager gets a good grade point average and pass it on to them. Usually, having a 3.0 or higher GPA will reduce your car insurance premium by 10 percent. Figure out exactly how much this saves you and give that money to your teenager. This accomplishes two things. First, it provides a direct reward for academic performance. Secondly, it motivates them to continue getting good grades
5. Enroll them in driver education courses. Discounts are available for teens who take recognized driving classes. But call your car insurance company to find out which schools are covered before paying big bucks.
6. Steer clear of sports cars. Don't try to live vicariously through your teenager by giving them the hot car you couldn't get in high school. Getting your teenager a safe car to drive, with the latest safety equipment, will lower your premiums. Not only will you save money on car insurance, but fast driving will be less of a temptation.
7. Get their support. Don't assume that your teenager wants to vacuum clean your wallet. Ask them for help cutting costs and point out that you will share in the savings (see rule #4). Tell them how much car insurance costs and show them how this fits into the family budget. If nothing else, you will score points for treating them as adults
8. Talk to your kids about drugs and alcohol. This is a tough subject to broach with teenagers, who think they have everything under control. But the consequences of saying nothing can be catastrophic. Take the time to lay down some guidelines in this important area.
9. Take traffic school to beat tickets. Once a ticket is on your teen's license, it takes months to get the violation removed. Instead, encourage them to take traffic school if the judge allows it. A day spent thinking about the consequences of unsafe driving can bring rewards for years to come.
10. Ride with your teenager. Your teenager was a safe driver last year when he or she got a license. But what's happened since then? Let your son or daughter take the wheel while you sit back and relax in the passenger seat. If you see them doing something that breaks rules or seems unsafe, point this out in a diplomatic way. If they are doing a good job driving, praise them for their efforts.
If you follow the above suggestions, you will find that you can make it through the teenage years safely — and without paying an arm and a leg for car insurance. It just takes cooperation and understanding from both sides of the generation gap.
The statistics about teenage drivers aren't good. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 16-year-olds get into accidents almost six times more often than drivers between the age of 30 and 59. No wonder car insurance premiums are so high for this age group.
However, not all car insurance companies take the same dim view of young drivers. And some discounts are available to help you cut costs. Remember, the higher the risk, the higher the cost of insurance premiums. Let this be your guiding principle as you shop for insurance
Here are 10 suggestions to help lower premiums and keep your teenager's license free of violations.
1. Help your teen learn the laws and follow them to the letter. By far, the best way to lower car insurance costs for teens is for them to keep their driving record clean. Make safe driving a family project. In some states, restrictions apply to new drivers. Parents should know what the laws are and insist that their sons and daughters follow them.
2. Set a good example. Do you break the speed limit and tailgate? Do you yell at other drivers when you're behind the wheel? If you do these things, how can you expect your children to act differently? Start watching your own driving long before they get their license and you'll have a much easier time convincing them to be safe drivers. Remember, actions speak louder than words.
3. Put your teenager on your policy. Rather than setting up an independent policy for your teen driver, put them on your auto insurance policy as an additional driver. In this way, all the discounts applied to your policies will be passed on to them.
4. Pay your teenager to get good grades. Here's a creative tip — find out how much you save if your teenager gets a good grade point average and pass it on to them. Usually, having a 3.0 or higher GPA will reduce your car insurance premium by 10 percent. Figure out exactly how much this saves you and give that money to your teenager. This accomplishes two things. First, it provides a direct reward for academic performance. Secondly, it motivates them to continue getting good grades
5. Enroll them in driver education courses. Discounts are available for teens who take recognized driving classes. But call your car insurance company to find out which schools are covered before paying big bucks.
6. Steer clear of sports cars. Don't try to live vicariously through your teenager by giving them the hot car you couldn't get in high school. Getting your teenager a safe car to drive, with the latest safety equipment, will lower your premiums. Not only will you save money on car insurance, but fast driving will be less of a temptation.
7. Get their support. Don't assume that your teenager wants to vacuum clean your wallet. Ask them for help cutting costs and point out that you will share in the savings (see rule #4). Tell them how much car insurance costs and show them how this fits into the family budget. If nothing else, you will score points for treating them as adults
8. Talk to your kids about drugs and alcohol. This is a tough subject to broach with teenagers, who think they have everything under control. But the consequences of saying nothing can be catastrophic. Take the time to lay down some guidelines in this important area.
9. Take traffic school to beat tickets. Once a ticket is on your teen's license, it takes months to get the violation removed. Instead, encourage them to take traffic school if the judge allows it. A day spent thinking about the consequences of unsafe driving can bring rewards for years to come.
10. Ride with your teenager. Your teenager was a safe driver last year when he or she got a license. But what's happened since then? Let your son or daughter take the wheel while you sit back and relax in the passenger seat. If you see them doing something that breaks rules or seems unsafe, point this out in a diplomatic way. If they are doing a good job driving, praise them for their efforts.
If you follow the above suggestions, you will find that you can make it through the teenage years safely — and without paying an arm and a leg for car insurance. It just takes cooperation and understanding from both sides of the generation gap.
Insuring Your Next Car
Comparison shopping for auto insurance premiums can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your vehicle. But it's not just about finding cheap car insurance; you need to have the right policy for your needs and a solid company that will be there when you need help. These articles will get you started.
Not all aut
o insurance policies — or auto insurance companies — are the same. The articles above will show you:
How to determine exactly what types and amounts of coverage you need, so you're not under- or over-insured
Various types of discounts you should request from the insurance company — including some you may not have known about
How to easily check out an auto insurance company's reputation and financial strength before you take the plunge
What "gap insurance" is, how to get it and why it's especially important if you lease your car
Plus, if you already have auto insurance but can't afford the high premiums, we'll show you how to shop for discount car insurance online.
We've also boiled down the basics about acquiring the right coverage into our easy-to-read 10 Steps to Buying Auto Insurance. These articles are followed by a comprehensive checklist to help ensure you cover all the bases in obtaining the best coverage at the best price.
Not all aut
o insurance policies — or auto insurance companies — are the same. The articles above will show you:How to determine exactly what types and amounts of coverage you need, so you're not under- or over-insured
Various types of discounts you should request from the insurance company — including some you may not have known about
How to easily check out an auto insurance company's reputation and financial strength before you take the plunge
What "gap insurance" is, how to get it and why it's especially important if you lease your car
Plus, if you already have auto insurance but can't afford the high premiums, we'll show you how to shop for discount car insurance online.
We've also boiled down the basics about acquiring the right coverage into our easy-to-read 10 Steps to Buying Auto Insurance. These articles are followed by a comprehensive checklist to help ensure you cover all the bases in obtaining the best coverage at the best price.
Auto Insurance Tips
When you really need it, you will be glad you took the time to purchase good car insurance. The purpose of the articles in this section is to prepare drivers with the right auto insurance policy before it is too late. Then, if trouble strikes, you and your family — and your family's finances — will be protected.
Everyone knows that car insurance can be expensive. However, in the Internet era, getting an online car insurance quote is fast and easy. With the resources and information we
present here, it is easier than ever to compare auto insurance quotes. We will also tell you what differences exist between one auto insurance company and another. Basic coverage is described and comparative shopping strategies are clearly outlined. What about teenage drivers? We take a special look at shopping for car insurance for them. What if you have auto insurance but can't keep up with the expensive premiums? We might be able to show you how to continue getting the coverage you need while reducing your payments. And, finally, what about the mysterious type of insurance called "gap insurance"? This is a form of auto insurance that usually applies to leased cars. In some cases, however, a car buyer might also need gap insurance. We'll tell you when and how much to buy.
If you are on the fast track, and need car insurance now, we've boiled down all our information into the easy-to-read "10 Steps to Buying Auto Insurance." This series of short articles is followed by a checklist that will ensure that you won't overlook any important details as you get the best coverage available
Everyone knows that car insurance can be expensive. However, in the Internet era, getting an online car insurance quote is fast and easy. With the resources and information we
present here, it is easier than ever to compare auto insurance quotes. We will also tell you what differences exist between one auto insurance company and another. Basic coverage is described and comparative shopping strategies are clearly outlined. What about teenage drivers? We take a special look at shopping for car insurance for them. What if you have auto insurance but can't keep up with the expensive premiums? We might be able to show you how to continue getting the coverage you need while reducing your payments. And, finally, what about the mysterious type of insurance called "gap insurance"? This is a form of auto insurance that usually applies to leased cars. In some cases, however, a car buyer might also need gap insurance. We'll tell you when and how much to buy.If you are on the fast track, and need car insurance now, we've boiled down all our information into the easy-to-read "10 Steps to Buying Auto Insurance." This series of short articles is followed by a checklist that will ensure that you won't overlook any important details as you get the best coverage available
We Help You Find Affordable Insurance Rates
Affordable auto insurance, health insurance, and other types of insurance can be difficult to find. Insurance4usa.com helps you simplify your search and get competitive quotes to save you money. We offer personal service and an easy-to-use quote request form. The quote form only takes about 3 minutes to fill out. Three minutes of your time can be worth thousands of dollars in savings. Fill out a request and get an auto insurance, health Insurance
Reasonable Insurance Rates
By filling out a simple insurance rate quote form, you will receive a quote from competing agents. Most of our agents represent many different companies, giving you access to many companies with one simple form, while maintaining the convenience and security of dealing with a local agent. If we do not have a member insurance agent in your area, you will be given the opportunity to request an instant auto insurance, health insurance, or life insurance quote from some of our national insurance company partners
Reasonable Insurance Rates
By filling out a simple insurance rate quote form, you will receive a quote from competing agents. Most of our agents represent many different companies, giving you access to many companies with one simple form, while maintaining the convenience and security of dealing with a local agent. If we do not have a member insurance agent in your area, you will be given the opportunity to request an instant auto insurance, health insurance, or life insurance quote from some of our national insurance company partners
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