Thursday, October 19, 2006

Another Insurance Blog!

Well you may not think the world needs another insurance blog. After all, a google of the term 'insurance blog' returns 40,300,000 entries! But I think that useful blogs of any sort - and not just the type that are hear to shove a message or political agenda down your throat - are rare jewels indeed. I cannot believe that all of the 40 million entries, or even sadly, 99.99% of that, will do you any good at all.

Hey Pamela Anderson even has a blog now, but it's not about insurance. Anyway, the whole point of this is to mention that 24/7QUoteUS.COM has it's own BLOG now, and the author has been posting away - mostly on the topics of life and health insurance, and not so much about car insurance.

So far I have seen blog entries on the differences between dental insurance and dental discount plans, and a primer on annuities, etc. This is good stuff.

24/7 Quote US Insurance BLOG

Sunday, October 08, 2006

California Auto Insurance Comparisons

Quick, Free Auto Insurance Quote


According to California’s premium rating law, every insurance company is permitted to determine its own rates based on its past loss experience and expenses. In view of the fact that every company’s experience is different, although they are within the identical geographic region, the rates will be different as a result.

By calling a few companies for rate comparisons, people can find the cheapest policy and possibly save hundreds of dollars a year. Shoppers will also have an opportunity to select the company that offers the most accessible price and coverage to match their personal requirements.

There are various sources people can call to assess policies and premiums. A good starting place could be the local telephone directory. The Internet can provide names and telephone numbers for independent insurance brokers/agents, company agents, direct writers, and web sites.

It is vital to get quotes from numerous companies. People may not recognize it, but the insurance rates they pay for their car can differ considerably based on the insurance company they select. Consumers should always evaluate many companies before coming to a decision on a policy.

If someone has trouble finding a company that will insure them, they can always contact certain insurance companies that specialize in high-risk drivers. People should be vigilant when they decide to buy insurance from one of these companies. It is important to carefully read each eligibility requirements and the monthly rates as they may vary vastly from one provider to the other. Obtaining liability coverage through the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP) is another option.

The plan operates by accepting the application and turning over it to an insurance company. Every insurance company licensed in the state is obliged to accept CAARP applicants. The quantity of CAARP applicants insured depends on the insurance company’s market share. The rates used by the plan are the same regardless of which insurance company issues the policy.

Author:

California Auto Insurance Companies provides detailed information on California Auto Insurance, California Auto Insurance Companies, California Auto Insurance Comparisons, California Auto Insurance Laws and more. California Auto Insurance Companies is affiliated with Dental


Terms: Articles may be reprinted provided content is not edited and links are kept live

Source: www.articledepot.co.uk

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Should I buy car insurance direct or from a car insurance agent?

SHOP ONLINE BUY BY FROM AN INSURANCE AGENT FOR THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!

Consult www.247QUoteUS.COM for competitive quotes, insurance buying tips, and a local insurance agent finder.

Buy Direct, or not direct?
With the proliferation of auto insurance companies that let you buy auto insurance right over the net, or by calling the insurance company, many consumers are skipping the insurance agent altogether!

But can you really save money buy calling Essurance, Progressive, etc. for a car insurance quote. Or would you be better off by calling your Allstate, Farmer's, etc. agent over the phone.

Well I think it just depends. I am not convinced that buying insurance over the net is cheaper at all. Actually a qualified and experienced agent can uncover discounts, like a home/car discount, that you may not see by just getting a quote from one company that just specializes in car insurance on the internet. And from my experience, the price for a car insurance policy is the price. It doesn't change if an agent that you see gets a commission, because no matter how you buy insurance, SOMEBODY IS GETTING A COMMISSION!

Of course, I think the best combination is to gather information on the internet, and then take the information to an insurance agent. You already have an idea how much insurance should cost, what kind of coverage you seek, etc. Then the agent can try to come up with a policy that meets or beats your expectations.

You get the personal service of an insurance agent while making sure you know what your options are from various companies. That's pretty much what this article in CNN money says - Shop Online - But I say, Shop Online, but Buy from an agent.


For competitive Quotes from major insurance carriers like esurance, Alstate, etc. click here for 247QuoteUs.COM

If you are looking for other insurance - health insurance, life insurance, long term are insurance, homeowners insurance, etc. , look at ResearchInsurance.Blogspot.Com



Friday, October 06, 2006

7 Ways to Save Money On Car Insurance

Quote, Compare, and Buy Car Insurance Online or Find a Local Insurance Agent - InsureMe participates in the BBB reliability program.


1.Shop around



The difference in price between various companies can be significant. What one company may consider a high risk factor another company may not view as so important. Insurance companies arrive at a price for your Car Insurance

by adding or discounting money after each answer you give to the questions they ask you. Each company has its own rules as to what they consider should increase or decrease your premium. By shopping around you get a better list of prices to compare.

2.Buy a lower group car

One of the important factors that insurance companies take into account is of course your vehicle. There are thousands of different cars on the road so companies divide them up into groups. Most companies will adopt the ABI (Association of British Insurers) group rating. This splits up vehicles into 20 different groups. Generally speaking the higher the group rating for your vehicle, the higher your premium will be. Some companies may also combine your driving experience with the vehicle group to get a better idea of how high the risk is. This is one of the reasons why young drivers should consider buying a lower group car if they want to lower their insurance cost.

3.Consider Third Party Only cover

A Third Party Only insurance policy is the minimum amount of cover legally required - it is also the cheapest. Generally speaking you should consider opting for this type of policy if your vehicle is of low value. In the unfortunate event of having an accident, any damage to a third party vehicle will be covered but any damage to your vehicle is not. However, if your vehicle is of little value then you may not be too concerned. It may not be worth paying extra for a Fully Comprehensive policy in these circumstances.

4.Maintain a good credit rating

More and more insurance companies are adopting credit scoring techniques as part of the overall calculation of your car insurance premium. By keeping a good credit history you may avoid any additional premium that companies add to your price for having a bad credit score.

5.Buy on the web

Many insurance providers now offer some good discounts for buying the policy over the internet. The theory is that by purchasing your insurance over the web, you are saving the company money by not requiring telesales agent time and incurring free-phone costs. This saving is passed on to you in the form of a discount for buying online. If you have got prices by telephone then check your quote again on their website, you may be surprised at how much cheaper it is.

6.Have a higher voluntary excess

During the quotation process you will be asked how much voluntary excess you want to have. Insurance companies will generally include a compulsory excess amount on the policy but give you the opportunity to increase this if you wish. The more the voluntary excess the lower your premium should be. However, in the event of a claim, you will have to pay a higher amount yourself, up to the total amount of excess on your policy.

7.Reduce your annual mileage

How many miles you do a year is a common question that can affect your car insurance premium. The more miles you do the more your premium is likely to be. Quotation systems and telephone agents will often suggest an amount of miles for you. Try and work out how many miles you will genuinely do. It may be less than the amount suggested. Of course, you should always give an honest answer to this and other questions.

8.Keep a clean driving record

This may be easier said than done. However, by having few or preferably no driving convictions, you can avoid being penalised by increases in your car insurance premium. Getting caught with a speeding fine is often not the only financial penalty you incur. Insurance companies take very seriously all driving convictions and it is usually an important part of their rating process. You can expect an increase in the cost of your insurance if you do get caught with a driving conviction, so it pays to be a safe driver.

9.Keep claim free

This ties in neatly with number 8 above. The biggest factor affecting the cost of your car insurance premium is how many No Claims Bonus Years you have. Full No Claims Bonus is generally considered by most companies to be five years or more, this can give you huge discounts, in some cases up to 75%. By being a safe driver and avoiding potential claims, you can continually benefit by building up your number of claim free years. Every additional No Claims Bonus year you get, the lower your car insurance cost should be. Some companies give you the option of paying a bit more on your premium to protect your No Claims Bonus.

10.Be realistic about the value of your car

Most of us have an inflated view as to what our car is worth. When asked the value of your vehicle during the insurance quotation process, people will often state an amount that is unrealistic and above the real value of the car. People do this as they believe that this is what they will get back from the insurance company in the event of a claim. The reality is that the company will only pay out what the car is worth at the time of the claim and not what you stated for the quote. In fact, by giving a high and unrealistic value, you can increase your car insurance premium as this is often a factor affecting your final price.

11.Remove unnecessary named drivers

Additional drivers on your policy usually mean a higher premium. A lot of people add a number of extra drivers on the policy just in case that person needs to drive the car. However, having all these drivers will push up the cost. By only naming drivers on the policy that will definitely driver the car, you can lower the final cost. If you find that an unnamed driver needs to drive the vehicle then most companies will allow you to temporarily add a new named driver for a small cost.

12.Improve your car security

Theft of and from your vehicle are important considerations when insurance companies calculate your price. Most companies will give you a discount for having better security of your vehicle. An alarm and immobiliser will usually attract a small discount whilst having a tracker device installed may give you a larger reduction. Some companies may insist on having such devices installed on more expensive and desirable cars before they even consider offering you a price.

13.Take an advanced driving test

Although not compulsory, taking an advanced driving test can not only improve your driving skills but also help to lower your car insurance premium. Some companies look favourably on people who have taken the advanced test as it shows commitment to safe driving thus lowering the chance of having a motoring accident.

14.Pay your premium in one go

By paying for your car insurance all in one go, you can avoid paying additional interest charges that would be added on if you opted to pay by instalments. The interest charges can be quite significant, so if your finances allow, you can save a good amount of money by paying for the whole lot up front. In some cases, companies may even give you a small discount for doing this.

15.Get married

Okay so this may seem like a dramatic final way to lower your premium. However, a number of insurance companies offer lower premiums when your named drivers are insured and spouse as opposed to two unmarried drivers. Some companies believe that this shows an element of stability which is a hallmark of safer drivers and give you a discount on this basis.

About the author:
Andrew Bowen is the CEO of Accept Direct Limited UK.

Quote, Compare, and Buy Car Insurance Online or Find a Local Insurance Agent - InsureMe participates in the BBB reliability program.

Why a Car Insurance Blog?

Greetings!

I have been running a general insurance blog for quite awhile now. In case you haven't stumbled across it on your surfing adventures, it is:
RESEARCH INSURANCE
However, when I checked the search logs on my blog, and also on my Insurance Website, I noticed that the bulk of the people were looking for subjects about car insurance. By the way, that insurance website is:
I actually started out on the web because I was a life and health agent, and really had nothing to do with auto insurance. I managed to expand my online ability to quote, provide information, and refer people to licensed, local agents to the car and homeowners area.
That said, I know every driver in the U.S. needs car insurance - at least liability. In many states, it's the law, and of course, it's always a good idea. After all, nobody plans for an accident. So I guess I shouldn't be surprised that car insurance is the type of insurance that people are looking for when they want quotes, articles, information, and a referal to a local agent.
I started this blog to try and seperate out the flood of information about car insurance into it's own place. Welcome to 4CarInsurance! Anyway, from the feedback I get on my site, the most popular online source I have for car insurance is: