Monday, March 24, 2008

10 Ways to Lower your Car Insurance Payments

Many people buy their own cars because it makes life easier. However, many also struggle with the costs that come with maintaining a car especially when it comes to making car insurance payments. Many car owners are continuously in search for better ways to lower their car insurance premiums. What most do is simply search for companies that provide cheap car insurance. However, what many do not know is that they can save so much more just by following a few simple tips.

For those who aim to save on car insurance payments, the first thing to do is make sure to shop around every so often. In fact, the reason why six-month car insurance polices are most preferred is that it allows car owners to switch and buy car insurance from other providers at the soonest possible time. This means that it is important to continuously survey the insurance market to search for the cheapest car insurance around.

Some people find that it is most effective to check out rates for car insurance online while others learn about the cheapest services from their friends and family. No matter what your preferred method for getting car insurance quotes may be, the bottom line is to find the best car insurance to not only suit your lifestyle but your budget as well. Many people who make this a practice report savings of over $300 on policies valid for six months. This would translate to so much more in a span of one year.

Another thing to consider when trying lowering your car insurance payments is to take the option for higher deductibles. Many car owners feel afraid to do this because choosing higher deductibles means shelling out so much more money in case they get into a huge accident. However, the logic behind choosing higher deductibles is pretty sound. Obviously, higher deductibles mean lower premiums. Therefore, lower car insurance payments. Car owners should not worry too much about higher payments when a major accident happens because minor accidents happen more often than major ones and when it comes to minor damages, car owners will still pay the same amount.

Many motorists prefer paying for their premiums in monthly installments because it allows them to shell out a relatively smaller amount at a given time and budget their car insurance payments along with the rest of their monthly expenses. However, what they do not realize is that even the cheapest car insurance providers add on administrative fees for each payment. Even if the additional amount is only $7 or so, for people paying their premiums at monthly installments, this could easily add up to $84 which they could have saved over the period of that one year


Another useful tip to help you lower your car insurance payments is to also look around for companies providing multi-line insurance. This means that you purchase all your insurance from the same company. Most insurers offer huge discounts for this. However, many people still try to look for cheap providers for each type of insurance they need. What they do not realize is that getting their car insurance and home insurance from just one provider can easily translate to about 15% savings.

Furthermore, if you think of yourself as a good driver and no evidence to prove otherwise can be gathered, here’s a good tip for you: look for car insurance providers that can reward you with big discounts simply because of your driving. In fact, some states such as California have made it illegal for car insurance providers to disregard good driving discounts. So, if you have not gotten yourself into any car accidents or received tickets for at least the past three years, do some research or ask around. You may qualify for lower premiums.

Nowadays, a lot of insurance companies will base the prices of their car insurance policies on your credit history. If you have been diligent in building a solid credit standing, then you stand a good chance on getting lower car insurance quotes when you buy car insurance. Aside from making sure unpaid bills don’t pile up, keep your credit balance as low as possible and don’t acquire more credit than you need. Keep your records updated and make sure to correct any errors so your credit history remains accurate.

Many car insurance companies also offer discounts to people whose cars have safety features. Airbags, seatbelts, anti-lock braking systems and other factory-installed safety features on your car may help you find the cheapest car insurance you can get. Make sure you tell your insurer that you have such features installed on your vehicle when you get car insurance quotes.

Sometimes it pays to be diligent to the point of being anal. If you want the cheapest car insurance you can get, you should review your car insurance coverage to check for unnecessary expenses in it. If you’re not thorough you may be spending on additional coverage that you don’t need or already have. A perfect example would be towing services. Most, if not all, auto clubs provide such services yet this is part of most car insurance policies as well. So before you buy car insurance review the car insurance quotes you’ve gotten and eliminate all the unneeded expenses.

If you’re looking for cheap car insurance, look for insurers that give discounts to students and senior citizens. Some car insurance companies will offer discounts for students with good academic records and for drivers over the age of 50. Ask around or research on car insurance online, as well, if you have a college student in your family. Some insurers give discounts to parents with college-age children who go to school a certain distance away from home and don’t bring a car to their campus.

One last great tip to lower you car insurance payments is to use your car less. There are a lot of car insurance companies that will give you discounts if you keep the annual mileage on your vehicle low. So, evaluate how you use your car. If you make frequent short trips around town you might consider planning ahead and organizing all your errands so you can check all of it off your list in as few trips as possible.

One thing to remember though is that car insurance companies may differ in what they consider to be low annual mileage, so do your research. If you think you might be able to lower your mileage then get updated car insurance quotes.

Following just a few of these recommendations will surely help you lower your car insurance payments. Remember, it is not always about finding the cheapest car insurance provider. Most of the time, it is simply about knowing your options and weighing them to find the perfect car insurance strategy for you.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Car Insurance - Buying Guide

Before you are able to legally drive on a UK road, along with a valid licence, TAX and MOT, you also require car insurance. Failure to comply with this can result in points on your licence, fines and in some cases - a jail sentence.

As vehicles can be incredibly costly to repair or replace, car insurance protects you against having to pay for any damages in the event of an accident.

The first part of applying for car insurance involves completing a proposal, which can either by done by post, over the phone or online. When filling out your proposal it’s important to be completely truthful, answering all questions to the best of your knowledge; if unsure about something, then its best to talk with the insurer.

If you need to make a claim down the line, and it becomes apparent that you haven’t been wholly truthful in your proposal, then the insurer could declare your insurance as null and voide, thus leaving you with a big bill on your hands.

It’s important to note that when processing a claim your insurance company will only pay out the current market value of the vehicle, which is almost always less than what you will have paid for it originally.
Also, any alternations or modifications you make to your vehicle should be passed by your insurer; again, failure to do this could leave you with invalid insurance.

As mentioned, insurance can be purchased in a number of ways, the quickest and easiest generally being online. As well as all the popular high street brokers having online facilities, there are a number of comparison websites, which allow you to find the most competitive quote.

You are likely to get the option of paying for your insurance in a lump sum or instalments. Although instalments may be more manageable, it’s generally more cost effective to pay upfront for a year or 6 months.
Car insurance is easily obtained, be it online or through an insurance broker and with it being such a competitive market, finding cheap car insurance has never been easier. As mentioned, making use of one of the many car insurance comparison websites is a good idea.

Cheap Car Insurance for Under 25 - Getting Over the Young Driver Hump!

It is no big secret that a lot of circumstances play a large role in car insurance prices. How old you are and if you are male or female all play a major role in how much your car insurance will cost you. Of course, these things are none of which are in your control. You cannot control how old you are or what gender you are.
There is good news on the horizon however. Now, you can find cheap car insurance for under 25.
Now, you do not have to worry about insurance companies refusing you due to your age. It is true that insurance companies deem those under 25 to be a higher risk when compared to those over the age of 25.
Because of this assumption, it means that you now qualify for high insurance rates, regardless of if you really are a good driver or not. However, some insurance companies are now recognizing that cheap car insurance for under 25 is important to the new drivers of the world.

Many insurance companies carry a specialty in providing cheap car insurance for under 25 and these are the companies you should be looking for. What is great about these types of insurance companies offering younger drivers' cheap car insurance for under 25 is that many of them are now offering different types of bonuses and incentives.
For example, if you can go a full year without having to make a claim, they may offer you a refund percentage or a reduction in rates. Perhaps if you take certain classes designed specifically for younger drivers, you may also be eligible for a rate reduction.

cheap car insurance for under 25 does not have to be a dream any longer. Take action today and get the right company and right coverage that fits your budget perfectly.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Five Features of Term Life Insurance

The term insurance provides protection against death of an individual for a give term period. It is one of the best policies for short-term protection of the family. There are many positive features of term life insurance policy give some kind of freedom to the insurer so that the customer feels more flexibility under the term life insurance policy.

The most important features are:

Convertibility: In term life insurance policy the policy offer convertibility from the term life insurance to individual whole life term or annual renewable term policy. It will be apply in all States. The convertibility provides facilities to the insurer to changing from term insurance policy to the individual whole life term or annual renewable term policy.

Decreased Term: The term insurance is always available in the decreasing term. In the decreasing term the premium remain same but the face value get reduce every year. It is good choice than the other term. But the reducing of the dropping value will affect you because it does not get death benefits as you expected if you live long.

Changes in Premium: The premium may be increase or decrease based on the proposed earning, mortality, tenancy or disbursals. The state authority has increase or decreases the premium upto define level. It is good that the premium amount may not be increase as utmost level stated in the policy.

Renewable: The term insurance policy is renewable. It permits the insurer to carry on with the present term policy with the all benefits. The insurer must have to follow the rules and he/she must perform the medical examination to extend the date of renewal. The premium will be changes depend on coverage and time period.

Term Rider Facilities: The term insurance provides term rider facilities for the child and the spouse. It is important to give term rider facility for child up to 18 years. While spouse rider available for 20-year period. The term rider facilities are available with some additional premium. It will convert it to individual whole life incase of spouse and child.

The term insurance is good for security for the family in the short-term period. It is very much flexible in nature and have always been considered as the best policy.

Home Insurance : a Few Tips to Get a Low Cost Deal

Apart from natural calamities, a home and its contents remain under the threat of so many other damages. The building may get partially damaged or even collapse due to man-made calamities; the expensive contents may be stolen by burglars. This and many other threats make people go for home insurance. However, the cost becomes a barrier. So, search goes in hunting out a policy that provides good coverage yet does not cost high.

Even if there is no hard and fast rule to find out a home insurance policy that comes with all the necessary coverage yet does not cost big, a few steps prove to be highly helpful. These are simple methods; but their effectiveness cannot be ignored. Any person who is in search of a cheap insurance policy to protect his home will find these tips handy and easy to put into use.

Know thyself: to begin with, it is better to know whether your home belongs to any such place or category that is likely to get reduced rate from the insurers. Sometimes, a home situated in a particular place or belonging to a particular category may be insured at a low rate as the home insurance agency may think it less risky from his perspective.

Use your resource smartly: if you have any such resource that you can use to show that your home is less likely to be hit by any calamity, you should use them smartly. In this regard, you can use enough security features in your home to ensure that it is not burgled easily. Proper walling can be done to keep it protected against natural calamities.

Research well and shop around: without taking a home insurance policy off hand, you can explore the market and do some smart shopping to see who all are providing home insurance deals at cheap rates.

All these few tips will go a long way to ensure that you get a home insurance policy without shelling out huge amount of money yet you are getting the coverage that your home needs.

Car Insurance - Buying Guide

So you’re looking at buying a new car, you’ve got the money together – be it through a financial plan or just cash in hand - and are looking to finalize the deal and get driving.

But before rushing in to buy the vehicle of your dreams, stop for a moment and think about the effect on your car insurance.

There are a number of aspects that it is advisable to be wary of when searching for cheap car insurance:


* Type and value of car – this will determine the insurance bracket your vehicle is likely to be placed in.

If the vehicle is not worth much, it could be cheaper and more practical for you to insure it under a third party, fire and theft plan.

* Age and experience – if you’re fresh out of driving school you’re likely to get stung for insurance due to the risk levels associated with younger drivers.

However if you drive carefully and can accumulate some no-claims bonus, this will help save you money in future insurance applications.


Bearing these aspects in mind, it is best to shop around and compare car insurance before rushing into a deal. Try to use comparison sites as a substitute to lengthy phone calls to insurers, however if you’re unsure of details it’s always best to contact the insurers directly.

A lot of insurers now offer discount rates if you buy your car insurance online, this can be handy if you’re looking to get your foot in the door when it comes to insurance. If you’re renewing your insurance with your current provider, it could be worth negotiating with them over a better deal, particularly if you have no-claims bonuses to use.

If you’re looking to spread payments over a period of time to cover your car insurance, you may very well end up paying more than you have originally been quoted.

The best advice is to try and pay the premium in full rather than in instalments, and consider using a 0% credit card to try and pay the premium off all at once, provided you can afford the repayments on the card to avoid financial problems.

Popular Free Car Insurance Quotes To Choose From

Now when you have decided to get the car insurance, take your time to get the quotes and check out the best you can have. A magnitude of companies provide you with free car insurance quotes but there are some factors which you need to understand and take care of before starting to make the call or filling the form.

Check out with the financial strength of the insurance company and the time they take to complete the claims. You can search for the relevant information on the website and also by reading the reviews.

Also verify the types of coverage's offered by the company and the coverage required by the law of your state. Another important factor is the discounts you are entitled for and those which are offered by the insurance company. When you start looking for insurance quotes a typical problem which you may encounter is the lingo or the complex terminology in this business. The solution is to understand the jargons by learning about them (many websites provide you with this information).

Before making calls or filling up the forms gather all the information you will need to get the free quote. Information like drivers license, vehicle registration no., vehicle model and make and discountable features in your vehicle like Anti-theft Devices, Airbags, Anti-Lock Brakes, Automatic Seat Belts, Window Etching, Multiple Car Discount, Multiple Policy Discount etc. Once you are ready with the information it is time to check out the free insurance quotes.

There are many insurance companies which can offer you a free insurance quote. What you need to do is to contact the agent of the particular company. Getting the insurance quote over the phone can be time consuming as well as tedious. Instead try for free walk in car insurance quotes which are quite simple and popular as well.

The other way is to visit the websites and get a free car insurance quote. There are many websites which offer free car insurance quotes and the best part is you can get the free online quotes from various insurance companies at once. All you need to do is spend some time on the internet to do some basic research that will help you to get familiar with the car insurance quotes.

No need to contact them individually. These sites may help you to find the most discounted insurance quote and that too free. Generally the registration with such websites is quite simple and you can complete it in no matter of time by providing some essential details. The best part of such online quote providers is that you can get several quote in no matter of time. This ensures that you find the best deal which definitely would save you money.

Getting the free insurance quotes online is the most hassle free experience you will have. So get going for your free car insurance quote.