How Car Insurance Saves You Money

By Rory Van Wyk 

We're told that we absolutely have to have car insurance for a variety of reasons. What would happen to you if you were in an accident? Who would pay to repair your car? What would you drive if your car was in for repairs? How would you pay to fix someone else's car if an accident was your fault? These are all questions that you should be asking yourself. In fact, these very questions lead us to some of the reasons why having a reliable car insurance plan in place saves you money:

1. Screech, crash!

The sounds that no-one wants to hear. The squealing of tyres across tar, the crunch of metal and glass as it connects with another solid object. The unfortunate reality is that car accidents happen and, whether it's your fault or not, someone has to pay. There will either be one damaged car, two, or more! The point is, you never know. Accidents are unpredictable and do not happen intentionally, that's why they are called accidents. How will you afford to fix your car if you have an accident? Even if the accident is not your fault, the other party may not have car insurance, so the repair costs for your motor vehicle will be lumped on you and you alone. Forking out thousands or more for repairs can leave you penniless - and that's if you even have the money available to fix your car in the first place. If your car is entirely written off in the accident, what then? How will you afford to replace it? That monthly car insurance premium is sounding more appealing already, isn't it?

2. Whodunnit?

If you're at fault for the accident, you'd better be prepared to pay up. If you don't have insurance to cover damages that you have inflicted on another person's vehicle, you will have to pay out of your own pocket. Don't have the money on hand to repair? Too bad, you may find yourself in some serious financial trouble. All of this is paired with the fact that you somehow need to scrape together the money to fix your own car too... and heaven forbid you crashed into a luxury vehicle!

3. Rental woes

When you have a comprehensive vehicle insurance policy in place, you will be given a rental car to drive while yours is being repaired or replaced. This means that you won't miss work, won't have to spend money on costly public transport, and you won't have to beg friends and family for lifts.

As you can tell from these three points above, having car insurance is absolutely crucial for both your wallet and for your own peace of mind. Not only will it save you time, money and heartache in the event of a collision, it also gives you peace of mind when knowing that you have roadside assistance and car hire while your car is in for repairs providing that you take on a plan that includes these options. It's just too risky not to have insurance. The money that you spend on your premiums each month will go a long way in saving you money later on in the event of an accident. Shop around for comparative insurance quotes from reputable companies and you may find that they are not even half as costly as you once thought.

MiWay is a direct, short-term insurance provider offering a range of value-for-money insurance products. As well as motor, household and homeowners insurance, there are also add-on products such as warranty cover and liability cover. 

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

Can You Really Save With Online Auto Insurance Quotes?

By Brian Hemsworth 

The promise is simple-a few minutes could save you a bundle on insurance, but is there any truth to the promise? Can getting a quote online really save you money, can it reduce the hassle of shopping for insurance, and if so, what's the catch? I decided it was time to find out.

One of the first companies to sell insurance online was Esurance. Launched in 1999, they offered auto insurance to a somewhat timid Internet audience. Back then people had lots of concerns about purchase transactions and the risk of credit theft online. Surprisingly, Esurance took off. They were acquired just a year later, and according to the website Metrics, reached Internet sales of more than $350 million by 2005.

What helped them overcome the consumer concerns was that they helped customers get past the pain of calling or going to see insurance agents, something some people would put on par with going to see a dentist. Soon traditional insurance companies jumped in the fray, and the insurance business has never been the same since. Today the number of online quotes generated numbers in the tens of millions annually.

THE BENEFITS

What advantage does online quoting give you? I've identified three key benefits to online quoting. The first is convenience. Rather than calling an insurance company or visiting an agent's office, you can get a quote from the convenience of your own home... or office... or with a smartphone, the convenience of being just about anywhere. You can get a quote anytime of day or night. For many, this is truly a great benefit.

The second benefit is the ability of receiving quotes from multiple companies. When you call traditional insurance companies like Allstate and Nationwide, you'll find out what your insurance cost will be from them only. When you call a multiple quote service, such as Progressive, QuoteHero, or The General, they actually quote multiple companies. Progressive quotes "a handful of companies", whereas companies like QuoteHero access more than 25 insurance carriers.

The third benefit is that it is fast. Geico says, "Fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent." My experience is that 15 minutes is a long time. I tested several companies, and found I received quotes as fast as just a couple of minutes.

THE DRAWBACKS

There are some downsides to online quoting. One that I find little discussion of is the quality of the quote you receive. What I mean is that one thing you give up is having an insurance agent working with you.

This can lead to errors, mostly by you. If you ask for the wrong coverage, you will get a quote for the wrong coverage. Also, you need to be sure the quotes you receive are "apples to apples" and quoting identical coverage. Changes or additions can impact pricing.

This drawback is not as bad as you might think, as most of the online services now offer toll free assistance. If you have questions about coverage, state minimums, or things that can affect your rates, you can reach a live person if you desire by making a phone call.

The second drawback, and huge one in my opinion, is that some online services will actually sell your name and contact information to local insurance agents. This results in a bombardment of phones calls hoping to get you to "sign the dotted line" with them right away.

In doing research for this article, I had the experience that I began to receive phone calls just minutes after I received my quotes. Five different agent and companies contacted me during the next few days. One local agent still calls me and emails me months later!

Upon close inspection, research showed that one site I found had the following in small print: "By clicking "Get Quotes!" I provide my signature, expressly authorizing telemarketing calls from up to eight insurance companies or their agents or partner companies".

The website Consumerist.com features an article supposedly written by a former insurance telemarketer. She tells the website that they paid $8 per hot lead. She also volunteered that their phone efforts were far more effective than email or mail, which is a big reason you get bombarded with calls right away, while the lead is hot. While I can't vouch for the website or the author's authenticity, it sounds in-line with what I experienced.

TIPS FOR SAVING

First off, not all companies sell you name. One I found, QuoteHero.com, expressly states they don't sell your name. In fact, for some policies you don't even have to provide any personal information! That's a big deal for me, drastically reducing the harassment factor.

Next, if you have it, get a copy of your existing policy, and make sure you know want kind of coverage you need. If you are driving an older car, you might be looking for the very minimum coverage your state requires. On the other hand, if you are older, have a lot of assets or an expensive car, make sure you are covered appropriately.

And finally, make sure to get numerous quotes. In a recent article, U.S. News & World Report recommended to readers to shop their auto insurance annually, and that online was a good way to do that "in minutes". Edmunds.com concurs, stating, "by doing some comparison shopping, you could save hundreds of dollars a year." In research done recently, tests around the country indicated the average person's savings to be just over 30% when factoring the difference between the high and low quotes!

Can you save with online quotes? Yes, I did. But compare multiple carriers, and be careful to read the fine print to make sure the insurance company isn't just going to sell your name to the highest bidder!

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

What to Do If You Don't Make Your Auto Insurance Payment

By Andrew Stratton 

Have you ever gotten so busy that you forget to make your auto insurance payment? It can happen to anyone, so it is important to know what you need to do as soon as you realize you have missed your payment. There could be some major issues if it goes unpaid for too long, so here are some things you need to know.

Contact Your Insurer As Soon As Possible

If your auto insurance policy has lapsed, the very first thing you need to do is contact your agent. If you just forgot to pay it on time due to oversight, explain the situation and see if they will reinstate you without penalty. However, if you missed the payment because you didn't have the money (and you still don't have the money) and it will be some time before you can pay, it may be a bigger problem for you.

Some insurers will reinstate you as soon as you make your missed payment. However, there are other companies who will charge you a penalty and may even declare you a risk, causing your premium to go up. They may decide to cancel you altogether and not allow you to use their services.

Be Prepared to Reapply for Your Policy

If your company doesn't cancel your coverage, they may still make you re-apply for a new policy. This means that you will have to be approved, and you'll need to pay another deposit. You may also have to agree to a certain payment method to have your coverage reinstated. For example, they may require you to have a credit card on file or set up for automatic withdrawals from your bank account.

Make Sure You Don't Drive Until Your Policy is Reinstated

Once your policy has lapsed, you are no longer covered to drive your vehicle. This means that you are uninsured and can get into major trouble if you get caught driving the vehicle with lapsed coverage. Not only could you face substantial fines, but you are also setting yourself up for a lawsuit if you get involved in an accident. If you injure someone and you are uninsured, the injured party could sue you directly for their injuries. Even a small gap of one day between lapsed polices could result in major repercussions for you.

Letting your auto insurance go unpaid can have some major negative results. Unlike when you miss a credit card payment where you just pay a late fee, not paying your insurance premium will require more of a process to repair. Stay on top of your payments by paying it early if you can. If you can't afford your payments, see if you qualify for a better rate with your company.

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

Tips On Lowering Your Auto Insurance

By Subhashish Bose 

The best thing about insurance is that the more you have knowledge about the workings of insurance, the more premiums you will be able to save. Here are few simple steps that can turn the reader into an informed consumer and help in maximizing the savings.

Get a quote and apply online

The thing to note about auto insurance premiums is that premiums could vary widely, depending on the company providing the coverage and this could be to the tune of hundreds of dollars or more. Hence it is imperative to get a thorough comparison of different coverage provided by the various insurance companies.

Make sure all your cars are on the same policy

Check to find if "Multi-vehicle discount" is offered to customers who plan to insure more cars than a single one in the same policy. You get savings on both the cars.

Insure both your car and home with the same company

Many insurance companies offer insurance of both your home and car on the same policy and that could give you a discount called the "Multi-line discount". The insurance provided is perfectly legal as you could get discount off your premiums.

Increase your deductibles

In short, the insurance premium is lower with higher deductibles. Hence if you could pay $1,000 for repair job, then you could increase by $1,000 your deductibles and you will be able to pay less for your insurance.

Older car owners should consider dropping your collision coverage

If your car is getting older, you may have to drop the collision coverage on your car policy. However, you need to weigh the collision coverage cost with the car value and deductibles.

Drive carefully

One of the most influential factors when calculating insurance rate is your driving records. Your insurance rates are affected by your tickets for up to three years while with accidents, it is a minimum of six years. You could be paying extra premiums over the years with a bad driving record.

Drive a "low-risk" car

The insurance are calculated based on the claims history for that car. With a greater likelihood of the car being stolen or meeting an accident, the greater is the amount to be paid for insurance. If you plan to purchase a new car, compare quotes to know the different rates charged.

Don't drive to work

Insurance rates go higher if the car is used for commuting to work on a regular basis. So sharing a ride or taking the bus will help in lowering your insurance premiums ultimately.

Take a driver's training course

Licensed drivers with an approved drivers training course to their credit within the last three years have to pay a lower premiums. It makes sense to drive safely and pay lower insurance rates.

Install an anti-theft device in your car

Many car insurance companies take into account the presence of anti-theft device installed in the car while determining rate. Hence it would do well to check with the company if they offer "Alarm or anti-theft discount".

There are many factors involved when it comes to looking for ' my car insurance ' as different quotes could be found for the same vehicle. Why not let My Car Insurance help you find the best insurance plan for your vehicle.

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

Various Advantages of Buying Online Car Insurance

By Volod Rab 

  Nobody can deny the benefits of having an insurance coverage for his or her car. This can help car owners get compensation when their cars meet with an accident.

If you have a car of your own, you should buy car insurance for it. If you do so, you will get a healthy amount (according to the agreement) on behalf of your service provider. With the advent of the internet and computer technology, buying this coverage online has been one of the most of the most preferred ways. As car insurance can ensure several benefits, it is getting an increasing attention from various parts of the world. As the consequence of it, many car insurance companies are taking their business online.

It can save money, time and effort.

Given below are the many benefits of buying online car insurance

Very Easy and Convenient

It is the easiest way to bring your car under insurance coverage.You just need to follow a few steps to buy it online. To ensure it, you do not need to visit an office physically. In case of purchasing it online what you need to do is to sit before your PC and search for the companies offering this service online. You can visit one service provider to another online, until you find the right quote for you from a trusted company. Choose a quote or policy that perfectly suits your requirement.

At the time of applying for it online, answer each question accurately and righteously. Try to avoid any kind of mistake or error. Get a print out of your application.

Cheaper

As the companies operate their business online, it becomes possible for them to offer the quotes at cheaper rates. This method helps them offer their service at cheaper rates.

Saves Money, Time and Effort for You

As you do not need to go outside of your home to visit a car insurance company, you can save your time and fuel. Going there by car requires spending of money behind fuel. It saves you from a number of efforts like going to an office in person, standing there in a long queue for collecting the application form, and finally filling it up manually.

Ensures Green Living

Getting this service online ensures green living, as we do not need to burn fuels for reaching an office physically. It saves fuels and rewards us a pollution-free earth for healthy living.

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

short term auto insurance

What is short term car insurance? Short term car insurance is exactly what you'd           expect it to be: car insurance that is designed to        provide cover on a temporary basis. Most insurance policies run for 12 months, but there may well be circumstances where you don't need protection for that length of time. Perhaps your car needs repair work and you've been able to borrow a friend or relative's vehicle for the week; or maybe your son or daughter is home from university for the summer and would like to be able to drive your car for a month or two. Can I just add someone to an existing policy? Of course there is always the option to add a friend or a relative to your existing car insurance policy, should you need to do so - but this might not be the cheapest way to arrange the cover you need, and it could jeopardise your no-claims bonus if whoever borrows your car has an accident while driving it. In addition, if something happened to your vehicle while a friend or relative was using it and you needed to make an insurance claim, that would probably mean an increase in next year's premium - whereas claiming on a separate, temporary insurance policy wouldn't affect your personal car cover in such a way. Can I buy temporary car insurance if I'm under 25? Insurance providers are generally happy to provide cover to any driver over the age of 18 and under 75 - but when it comes to temporary car insurance, you may find that providers are unwilling to offer cover to anyone under the age of 21. Drivers aged between 21 and 25 generally can buy short term insurance. If you have points on your driving licence, previous motoring convictions or a history of making motor insurance claims, you may also find it difficult to buy temporary car insurance. Is there anything else I need to know? It's important to be aware that buying occasional temporary car insurance is not a viable alternative to continuously insuring a vehicle you own. While you might think that you could insure a car you don't drive very often as and when you decide to use it, this is now illegal. Under Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) rules, it is an offence to keep a vehicle that is not either insured or registered with the DVLA as off the road, via a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). How can I get the best deal on short term car insurance? As with any other kind of insurance, the key to getting the best deal is shopping around. Decide what cover you need, and for how long, then compare quotes from different providers before making a decision. MoneySupermarket's directory of short term car insurance providers is a good place to start your research.

Tips On Lowering Your Auto Insurance

 

 

By Subhashish Bose

The best thing about insurance is that the more you have knowledge about the workings of insurance, the more premiums you will be able to save. Here are few simple steps that can turn the reader into an informed consumer and help in maximizing the savings.
Get a quote and apply online
The thing to note about auto insurance premiums is that premiums could vary widely, depending on the company providing the coverage and this could be to the tune of hundreds of dollars or more. Hence it is imperative to get a thorough comparison of different coverage provided by the various insurance companies.
Make sure all your cars are on the same policy
Check to find if "Multi-vehicle discount" is offered to customers who plan to insure more cars than a single one in the same policy. You get savings on both the cars.
Insure both your car and home with the same company
Many insurance companies offer insurance of both your home and car on the same policy and that could give you a discount called the "Multi-line discount". The insurance provided is perfectly legal as you could get discount off your premiums.
Increase your deductibles
In short, the insurance premium is lower with higher deductibles. Hence if you could pay $1,000 for repair job, then you could increase by $1,000 your deductibles and you will be able to pay less for your insurance.
Older car owners should consider dropping your collision coverage
If your car is getting older, you may have to drop the collision coverage on your car policy. However, you need to weigh the collision coverage cost with the car value and deductibles.
Drive carefully
One of the most influential factors when calculating insurance rate is your driving records. Your insurance rates are affected by your tickets for up to three years while with accidents, it is a minimum of six years. You could be paying extra premiums over the years with a bad driving record.
Drive a "low-risk" car
The insurance are calculated based on the claims history for that car. With a greater likelihood of the car being stolen or meeting an accident, the greater is the amount to be paid for insurance. If you plan to purchase a new car, compare quotes to know the different rates charged.
Don't drive to work
Insurance rates go higher if the car is used for commuting to work on a regular basis. So sharing a ride or taking the bus will help in lowering your insurance premiums ultimately.
Take a driver's training course
Licensed drivers with an approved drivers training course to their credit within the last three years have to pay a lower premiums. It makes sense to drive safely and pay lower insurance rates.
Install an anti-theft device in your car
Many car insurance companies take into account the presence of anti-theft device installed in the car while determining rate. Hence it would do well to check with the company if they offer "Alarm or anti-theft discount".

There are many factors involved when it comes to looking for ' my car insurance ' as different quotes could be found for the same vehicle. Why not let My Car Insurance help you find the best insurance plan for your vehicle.

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