InsuranceQuotes.com

3 Major Factors to Know for Lower Auto Insurance

lwitt — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:07:52 +0000

If you would like to find the best car coverage at the lowest price, one of the most effective ways to do that is to make sure you obtain several auto insurance quotes. But before you apply for them, take a few minutes to find out what issues will affect the cost of your premium. Auto insurers determine your rate based on where you live, your age, your driving record, your car model and many other criteria. Make sure you provide the same information on each application to be able to compare prices for similar coverage. Here are three major factors that will influence how much you will pay for auto insurance:

Drivers
Make sure you include all drivers in your family who may use your car, even for short trips to the store. Having everyone on your insurance policy ensures you are protected in case of an accident or theft. But beware that an insurer will take into account the driving records of all licensed drivers in your household when calculating your premium.

If someone in your family has a bad driving record or is an inexperienced driver, you may want to put them on another policy. For instance, if you plan to get married and your fiancé has several traffic violations, you may want to ask your insurance agent about what’s called “a named driver exclusion” option. Make sure you include all your household’s drivers, when applying for auto insurance quotes.

Vehicle
What car you drive is almost as important as your driving record, when it comes to your auto insurance premiums. Insurers are able to determine what kind of claims you are likely to file in the future based on your vehicle. That’s one of the reasons why it’s more expensive to insure a sports car than a minivan. However, each insurer creates its own set of criteria on which to base its rates. This is why it pays to shop around for auto insurance quotes to get the best price.

Discounts
Insurance companies offer all sorts of breaks on your premium. Did you know you might be able to get a discount for driving an SUV? Taking a defensive driving course? Driving fewer miles? Or even being a newlywed? Find out which discounts you may be able to take advantage of, before you get auto insurance quotes.

When you are ready to buy a life insurance policy, you can call agents in your local area, contact insurance companies directly or use InsuranceQuotes.com to instantly get competitive life insurance quotes from the nation’s leading insurance providers. Simply fill out a short online form on InsuranceQuotes.com to find the right insurance coverage at the best possible price in minutes. Take the time to protect you and your family today.

Get Cheaper Insurance When You Buy a New Car

lwitt — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:14:48 +0000

If you’ve been waiting to get a new set of wheels, now may be the time to take the plunge. Dealers offer discounted prices in the fall to clear out last-year models on their lots in order to make room for the new ones. Many automakers also offer low-interest financing packages, cash-back rebates and other incentives to make last-year models even more attractive to prospective buyers. Since older models have lower sticker prices, you will also save money on your premium. If you are planning on buying a new car, obtain several auto insurance quotes to get competitive prices.

The latest model year of the vehicle you’re interested in buying is worth considerably more than older models and is more expensive to insure. Buying last year’s model might lower your auto insurance premiums as much as a few hundred dollars. Shop early to get the model you’re interested in buying. Since dealerships have few older cars in their inventory, you may have to call around to find the one you want. Apply for auto insurance quotes to get the best coverage for your family at the lowest price. Here are three factors to considered when buying an older model:

Length of ownership
If you think you will trade in your car for a new model in a few years, you may not save that much money buying last year’s model. As soon as you drive your new vehicle off of the dealer’s lot, your car’s value depreciates and it will continue to fall significantly for the first two or three years. However, if you plan to hold on to your car for more than five years, then the difference of a year between cars in similar condition and mileage will usually be less than $1,000. In most instances, you will have saved more than that amount opting to buy the older model rather than the latest one. Apply for auto insurance quotes to get the lowest rates.

Miles driven
If you plan to put a lot of miles on your vehicle, you’ll want the newest model you can afford. When you go to sell your car, you will have a high-mileage vehicle. To compete with cars with fewer miles, you will need to emphasize your vehicle’s newer model year. On the other hand, if you drive few miles, then you may be able to get a low-mileage discount on your insurance.

Safety records
If you’re concerned about protecting your family while you drive, you will be able to find more information on older models. Sometimes manufacturers have to recall vehicles later on for safety issues. Insurance companies want to insure cars with records requiring fewer and less costly claims. Check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tests for safer cars and the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s most-stolen list for vehicles thieves target. Always ask for discounts, when you apply for auto insurance quotes.

When you are ready to buy a new car policy, you can call agents in your local area, contact insurance companies directly or use InsuranceQuotes.com to instantly get competitive auto insurance quotes from the nation’s leading insurance providers. Simply fill out an online form on InsuranceQuotes.com to find the right insurance coverage at the best possible price. Take the time to protect you and your family today.

New Parents Need Life Insurance to Protect Family

lwitt — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:00:33 +0000

If you have just brought home a new baby, it’s time to buy life insurance or increase your existing coverage to protect your growing family. Life insurance helps ensure your family’s financial future is secure, even after you die. Insurance can help put your children through college, provide for your spouse’s retirement and pay off your debts. If you want to make sure your family is able to live comfortably, apply for life insurance quotes.

Employer insurance
Many employers offer life insurance to their employees. However, the coverage is usually not enough to make sure your family can continue to live in the lifestyle that you have been able to give them. In addition, an employer-provided policy is not portable. So, if you take a new job or are laid off, you will lose your life insurance coverage. That’s why it’s important to buy your own life insurance policy as soon as you have dependents, and you are still young and healthy. When you plan to buy coverage for your family, make sure you obtain several life insurance quotes to get the best price.

Stay-at-home moms
Both parents should have life insurance, even if one of them stays home to care for the children. However, studies show most women are less likely to have life insurance than their husbands. If a mother doesn’t have enough life insurance coverage when she dies, her family could face financial hardship. Almost two-thirds of American families depend on two incomes to make ends meet. Even a stay-at-home mom provides her family with services worth more than $120,000 a year, cooking, cleaning, caring for children, shopping for the family’s provisions as well as assuming many other valuable responsibilities. Make sure you and your spouse have coverage, when you apply for life insurance quotes.

Sufficient coverage
As a general rule, you will need a policy that covers five times your earnings, your household debt and your children’s college tuitions. Many financial planners recommend new parents buy term life insurance. Term life insurance is for a fixed period of time. You can buy term insurance for periods of one year to 30 years. Some planners recommend you buy life insurance for a term that ends when your children are expected to have graduated from college and are no longer financially dependent on you. If you think you may want lifelong coverage, make sure your policy lets you convert to either a permanent whole life or variable life policy. Converting to a different policy will be cheaper than buying a new one.

Does Your Home Insurance Cover College Students?

lwitt — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:45:49 +0000

If you’re helping your child pack for college this fall, now is a good time to check to see if your home insurance will protect all of her belongings. If she lives in an on-campus dormitory, your homeowners or renters policy may not cover her most expensive possessions. And it may not protect her items for theft or damage, if she lives off-campus. If you think you may need to buy a new policy to give your family more coverage, apply for home insurance quotes.

College students bring thousands of dollars worth of belongings with them when they go off to school. They have expensive electronics, computers, clothes, jewelry, sports equipment and much more. Even though campuses are safe environments, college students’ possessions could be stolen. The U.S. Department of Education reports that there were about 31,851 campus burglaries in 2008. Their belongings could also be damaged in a fire or other accident. The National Fire Protection Association reported that there 6,000 on-campus fires in 2008.

Call your insurance agent or insurer to find out how much coverage your college student’s belongings have under your existing policy. Here are three steps to take to make sure your child’s possessions are protected:

Make a list of all the items your child plans to bring to take to college and assign an estimated value for each one. Having an up-to-date inventory not only helps you settle insurance claims faster in the event of theft, fire or other type of disaster, but it also helps you determine if you have enough coverage. If you want to buy a new policy, obtain several home insurance quotes.
Find out if your child’s expensive computers, electronics and jewelry are subject to coverage limits under your current homeowners policy. If the limits are too low, you may want to buy a special personal property floater, or an endorsement, for these items, according to the Insurance Information Institute. You may also consider buying a stand-alone insurance policy for your child’s computers and cellphones. Some insurers offer policies specifically designed for students living away at college. If you plan to buy a new policy, get home insurance quotes.
Ask your insurance agent or insurer about coverage for your child’s possessions, if she lives off campus. Your child may not be covered under your home insurance policy and may need to buy renters insurance to protect her belongings from theft and damage.

Remember when you buy a homeowners or a renters policy, you’re insuring the structure of your home and your personal belongings. Once you have determined the best coverage for your family’s needs, you’re ready to obtain home insurance quotes. Call agents in your local area, contact several insurance companies directly or use InsuranceQuotes.com to instantly get competitive home insurance quotes from the nation’s leading insurance providers. Take the time to protect you and your family today.

Lower Repair Bills Mean Cheaper Auto Insurance

lwitt — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:22:41 +0000

If you want to save money on your new car’s insurance, considering buying a vehicle that’s easy and inexpensive to repair. You may be able to get a break on your premium, if your car model has a record of lower repair bills. Remember what car you drive is almost as important as your driving record, when it comes to your auto insurance premiums. Insurers are able to determine what kind of claims you are likely to file in the future based on the vehicle you drive. Before you buy a new car, compare auto insurance quotes.

Repair rankings
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration uses insurance claim costs to determine which are vehicles have the lowest repair bills after collisions. Insurers then use this model-specific data to help establish auto insurance premiums. Each of the least expensive cars on this list cost less than the average vehicle to repair after a crash. Before you decide which car model to buy, check out the latest NHTSA’s Collision Relative Cost Information Booklet. When you have narrowed your search, apply for auto insurance quotes to get the best coverage and the lowest premium.

Safety records
Your car’s safety record also affects your insurance premium. Check the NHTSA’s Web site to find out if there has been a safety issue or recall associated with the car you’re considering buying. Insurance companies want to insure cars with records requiring fewer and less costly claims. Also review the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s most-stolen list for vehicles thieves target. You may get a discount if your car has antilock brakes, antitheft devices alarms, GPS tracking systems and safety gear — airbags, side airbags and automatic seatbelts. Having these devices may save you 10 percent or more on your premium. Always ask about discounts, when you apply for auto insurance quotes.

Hybrid discounts
Hybrid vehicles have expensive parts and need to be serviced by specially trained mechanics, so they may have higher repair bills. However, you may be able to reduce your carbon footprint and lower your insurance costs. Many insurance companies offer hybrid car owners discounts up to 10 percent on their premiums. Hybrid owners are considered to be safer and more cautious drivers.

Need Rental Auto Insurance on Your Vacation?

lwitt — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:20:30 +0000

Before you sign up for the rental company’s optional insurance, do some homework to determine if you need additional coverage. You may not have to shell out more money to protect yourself against losses. Your auto policy may already provide sufficient coverage for rental cars. When you apply for auto insurance quotes, make sure you ask for enough coverage to meet your family’s needs.

Most drivers usually make the decision to buy car rental insurance when they’re picking up the keys at the counter. Unfortunately, many will either buy unnecessary insurance or decline coverage that will leave them at financial risk if they are in an accident, according to the Insurance Information Institute. If you’re not sure if your policy provides rental car protection, call your insurance agent or insurer. Here are a few questions to ask before you rent a car:

Auto policy
If you plan to rent a car while on vacation, find out what kind of collision, comprehensive and liability coverage you have on your policy. If you have enough coverage, you may not need to buy rental car insurance. Many states also allow “waiver of deductible” coverage. Under this type of coverage, policyholders do not have to pay the deductible when they are in accidents that are not their fault. This waiver may not apply to a rental car, so check with your insurer. Remember that if you do get in an accident, you may wind up paying higher premiums. Figure out your family’s needs, before you apply for auto insurance quotes.

If you decide you need additional coverage, rental companies offer a “loss damage waiver.” While this is not technically an insurance policy, it does relieve drivers of financial responsibility if a rental car is damaged or stolen. The waiver may also provide “loss of use” coverage. This covers you in case the rental company asks to be reimbursed for the amount of income lost, while the rental car is being repaired. A loss damage waiver may also cover towing and administrative fees.

Credit card
If you charge your rental car on your credit card, the company also may offer a “waiver of deductible” coverage. Ask your card issuer if it provides this benefit as well as “loss of use” coverage. Remember to call your credit card company before you leave on your trip. Your card issuer may have changed its coverage since the last time you rented a car.

Home insurance
The rental company may also offer you coverage for your personal belongings, if they are stolen from the rental car. However, your homeowners or renters insurance may protect you, if you have off-premises theft coverage. Check your home insurance policy to make sure you have this coverage for your possessions when you travel. Make sure you ask for enough coverage, when you apply for home insurance quotes and auto insurance quotes.

3 Mistakes to Avoid Increasing Your Auto Insurance

lwitt — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:59:59 +0000

You probably already know that if you have a car accident, your auto insurance rates will be higher. But did you know that other seemingly innocent activities could increase your premium? Insurers take into consideration all sorts of information, including your driving habits, your financial history and your payment plans when they determine how much you will pay for your auto policy. Here are three mistakes to avoid, so you have a better chance to get lower auto insurance quotes:

Don’t text while driving
In more than 20 states, you don’t need to break the speed limit, run a red light or be in a car crash to get a ticket for texting while you drive. In these states, texting is considered a primary offense. That means a police officer can give a ticket to a driver who is observed texting or holding a cell phone. You can get a traffic ticket, even if you’re spotted texting or reading e-mail at a red light.

Think of this as a preventive measure. A 2009 study showed that if you’re texting, you’re 23 times more likely to have a crash compared to drivers who aren’t distracted. That’s even higher than if you were talking on a cell phone. Cell phone users are four times more likely to have an accident, which is about the same rate as drivers who are drunk. Having an accident could increase your auto insurance premium. If you want to lower your insurance costs, obtain auto insurance quotes to get the best rates.

Don’t pay bills late
In most states, insurers use your credit score as one of the factors in determining what’s called your insurance score. If you have a low insurance score, you will be charged more for your insurance premium, because you are considered more likely to file a claim on your policy. According to the Insurance Information Institute, actuarial studies show how a person manages his financial affairs is a good predictor of future insurance claims.

To improve your credit score pay your bills on time, keep balances low on unsecured revolving debt, such as credit cards, and apply for and open new credit accounts only as needed. Maintain the necessary minimum number of credit cards and other credit accounts, but limit yourself to a maximum of three or four cards. Check your credit score, before you apply for auto insurance quotes.

Don’t pay premium in installments
Most insurance companies add on administrative fees, if you don’t pay your auto premium in full. Installment fees can drive up your car insurance costs. Your annual fees usually will be higher if you have to make more payments. Remember to total up these fees, when you are determining your auto insurance costs. If the fees are low, it may make financial sense to pay in installments. If they are higher and you have the money, you will save money paying your car insurance in full.

Buying a New Car? You May Need Gap Insurance

lwitt — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:31:42 +0000

If you are taking out a loan to buy a new set of wheels, you may need to buy additional insurance if you owe more than your car is worth. Guaranteed auto protection insurance pays off the full amount of your loan, if your car is stolen or totaled in a crash. Remember your new vehicle’s market value decreases about 20 percent as soon as you drive off the dealer’s lot. This means if you made a low down payment, it is likely your loan could be greater than your car’s value for a few years. If you think you need gap insurance, ask about this option when you apply for auto insurance quotes.

Car depreciation
Your car’s value depreciates as soon as you drive it off the lot, but it continues to fall significantly for the first two or three years. If your car were to be stolen or totaled during this time, your insurance company would pay you the actual cash value of your car. If you owe more than that amount on your car loan, you will have to pay the difference. To find out how much your new car will depreciate in value, check out Edmunds.com. If you think you will need gap insurance, make sure you ask about this additional coverage when you get auto insurance quotes.

New policy
Before you buy a new car, contact your insurance agent or your insurer to find out if you can add gap insurance to your current auto policy. Some insurance companies offer gap insurance as a rider to an existing policy. In some states, insurers may automatically include gap insurance when a customer purchases a new car. Buying gap insurance from your current auto insurance company will make it easier for you, in the event you have to file a claim. Instead of filing separate claims with two different insurance companies, you can file one. If you need to buy gap coverage, get several auto insurance quotes for the best price.

Dealer’s offer
When you buy a car, the dealer will usually offer gap insurance. The cost is often rolled into your monthly car payments. Although it is convenient to buy the additional insurance from the dealership, it will often be more expensive than if you bought the policy on your own. Gap insurance generally costs less than $100 per year. Turn down your dealer’s coverage, until you have received other auto insurance quotes. You can always go back to your dealership and add gap insurance on later. When you shop around for gap insurance, carefully review the policy for any exclusions.

When you are ready to buy a new car policy, you can call agents in your local area, contact insurance companies directly or use InsuranceQuotes.com to instantly get competitive auto insurance quotes from the nation’s leading insurance providers. Simply fill out an online form on InsuranceQuotes.com to find the right insurance coverage at the best possible price in minutes. Take the time to protect you and your family today.

Bad Driving Record May Increase Life Insurance Rates

lwitt — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:26:24 +0000

You probably know that if you have traffic violations, you will pay more for auto insurance. But did you know that having a bad driving record could also drive up your life insurance rates? That’s right. Life insurers consider drivers who have traffic tickets to have riskier behavior that could cost them their lives. In fact, almost 40 million Americans die in car crashes each year, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute. If you have a tarnished driving record, make sure you shop around for life insurance quotes.

Driving record
Your insurer may not ask you about your driving record on your life insurance application, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not considering it when they determine your premium. Many insurance companies simply retrieve that information from your state’s department of motor vehicle. Since your insurer has access to your driving record, it’s best to include any traffic violations on your application, if they are requested.

Some life insurance companies will not insure you, if you have a bad driving record. Even one speeding ticket can increase your premium and damage your safe-driver record. But every insurance company has different underwriting criteria. So, if you do have traffic violations, make sure you shop around to find the most affordable life insurance quotes.

Older tickets
Life insurers are more interested in more recent traffic violations rather than older ones. So, if you have a ticket from a few years ago, it won’t affect your premium as much. This is why it is important to get life insurance quotes, until your traffic violations no longer appear on your driving record.

Auto insurance
If you do get a speeding ticket, find out if you can get it dismissed. In some states, you can ask the department of motor vehicles or the traffic court to erase the ticket from your driving record, if you haven’t had any recent citations and if the violation was minor. You also may be able to enroll in a safety course to remove the violation from your record. Check with your state’s department of motor vehicles to see what options are available. Remember a traffic ticket may not only increase your costs for auto insurance, but also for life, health, disability and long-term care insurance.

Is Your Home Vacant? You Still Need Insurance

lwitt — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:00:04 +0000

Did you move to a new home, while your old house is still on the market? If so, you may have to update your homeowners’ insurance or buy a new policy. Standard home insurance policies cover occupied dwellings, not uninhabited ones. If your former home has been vacant for a month or more, your current policy may not cover you against losses from damage or theft. Make sure you get enough coverage for your vacant home, when you get home insurance quotes.

Vacant homes
With home sales sluggish around the country, more homeowners are being forced to leave their old homes vacant for longer periods of time. Homeowners may have to move to take a new job or move to a cheaper residence, before they are able to sell their homes. Even if they do find a buyer, completing the sale could take months. Homeowners have to insure their former dwelling, until the deal is final. If the homeowner has to move out before the sale is closed, he may have to either update his insurance policy or buy a new policy to get enough coverage.

Uncovered losses
If you leave your home vacant for a month or longer, your home insurance policy may no longer cover damage from fire, theft, burst pipes or vandalism. From the insurer’s point of view, the homeowner isn’t around to maintain and protect the home. So, the risk to insure your home against losses increases, even if you don’t have many belongings left in your old home. As soon as you know you will be moving out of your house, call your insurance agent. If you need to buy a new policy, apply for home insurance quotes.

New policy
Once you have determined how long you will leave your old home vacant, call your insurance agent or insurer and ask you if can adjust your policy. Be aware that insuring an unoccupied home will be more expensive. However, if you don’t update your homeowners insurance, you will liable to pay for any losses that are no longer covered under your existing policy. Many insurers don’t write policies for vacant homes, so you may have to buy a new policy. Make sure to get home insurance quotes to get the best price and coverage.

Remember when you buy a homeowners or a renters policy, you’re insuring the structure of your home and your personal belongings in your home. Once you have determined the best coverage for your family’s needs, you’re ready to obtain home insurance quotes. Call agents in your local area, contact several insurance companies directly or use InsuranceQuotes.com to instantly get competitive insurance quotes from the nation’s leading insurance providers. Take the time to protect you and your family today.