How to save on new car insurance

If you are shopping for a new, 2010 car or truck to replace a vehicle that is several years old, you could be in for a surprise when you learn the costs of new car insurance. Protect yourself from the shocking premium before you purchase your new car.

Think body style

New car insurance can vary widely from one body style to another. For example, you may know that sports cars cost more to insure than family sedans. That general rule of thumb doesn't just apply to traditional sports cars; it also applies to the two-door versions of popular family sedans such as the coupe version of the Honda Accord. That's because people who drive these cars statistically tend to drive more aggressively than their sedan counterparts, making them a greater risk and causing their insurance rates to rise. Interestingly, convertibles tend to have lower insurance rates than their hardtop counterparts.Since bigger cars are safer, you might think that larger vehicles, like crossovers and SUVs, are cheaper to insure. This is not always the case. The largest SUVs can inflict more damage on smaller cars in a collision, which means costlier repairs, again leading to higher insurance rates.

Consider the engine and transmission

Like body style, the car's engine and transmission often can affect the insurance rate. Generally, the greater the horsepower, the higher the cost of new car insurance, even when you are considering the same car with a variety of engines. When it comes to transmissions, cars with manual transmissions are generally more costly to insure than those with automatic transmissions. An exception to this rule is the pickup, which often has a manual transmission because of its use as a work or tow truck. The reason for the higher rates again relates to the typical driver. Those behind the wheel of cars with higher horsepower and manual transmissions tend to drive more aggressively and become involved in more collisions.

Look at the brand

While body style, engine size and transmission type are all major factors in the way that rates are computed for new car insurance, rates can vary for similar, competing vehicles primarily due to their safety ratings and their likelihood of being stolen.Edmunds.com's True Cost to Own tool features average insurance rates among other ownership costs over a five-year span for all cars and trucks. Using this data to compare three sets of competing vehicles, I found it revealed insurance rates that varied widely between models.
For example, comparing similarly equipped versions of the 2010 Honda Civic and the 2010 Nissan Altima showed the Civic cost $1,615 less to insure on average over a five-year span. When comparing similarly equipped models of the 2010 Toyota Camry and the 2010 Ford Fusion, there was a difference of $859 in the Fusion's favor. When comparing the two best-selling pickups, the 2010 Ford F-150 and the 2010 Dodge Ram, both similarly equipped, the F-150 cost $592 less to insure on average over a five-year span.
Once you've narrowed your choices, call your insurance agent or use a free online quote service such as Insureme.com and supply the exact details of the makes and models you are considering to obtain insurance quotes before you make your final decision.

SOUCE:
http://www.bankrate.com/

3 Easy Steps to Buying Car Insurance

Nowadays, buying car insurance couldn’t be easier. Gone are the days when you need to drive to different car insurance providers to ask each one for a quote. Right from the comfort of your home, you can follow our 3 simple steps to purchase the best car insurance cover for an affordable price.
The first step of buying auto insurance cover consists of collecting your personal information. Most insurance companies will ask for your driver license, your license plate numbers, current insurance policy (if any) and record of any accidents or traffic offences you may have had. You will also need details of other drivers you would like to add to insurance policy.

Once the required information is available, the second step consists of using you computer to go online and start requesting a quote from different insurance providers. Instead of contacting each insurer for a quote, we have made this process simple. At Buy Car Insurance Today, you only need to use our simple for select your State or Zip Code in order to start getting auto insurance quotes for available insurers in your area. This option is provided because not all car insurance providers operate in all states. Some offer cheaper quotes than others depending on where you live.

In some cases, car insurance companies will not be able to offer you a quote. This is often because you have been involved in too many accidents or have made many insurance claims. If this is your case, we recommend contacting you state authority for car insurance guidance. They will be able to advice you on car insurance providers willing to insurance high risk drivers.

After shopping around, you should be able to find competitive car insurance quotes from different providers. Many auto insurance consumers reported saving of over $500 on their first online insurance policy. This is because insurance providers offer discount for new customers in attempt to gain repeated business.

The third and final step is comparing the quotes while weighting your particular needs for your car insurance cover. Each insurance policy differs on the level of cover and costs involved. The insurance provider who offers the cheapest car insurance quote for the best cover should be the one you should pick and research. From that point, you can search the internet to find read user reviews, quality of service and claim process. If you are happy with feedback and reviews on your chosen insurance providers, your decision to purchase auto insurance should put your mind at ease for a while. At least, until you decide to buy or renew your car insurance policy. 

source:

http://www.buycarinsurancetoday.com/car-insurance-articles/easy-steps-to-buying-car-insurance.html

Choosing the Right Car Insurance Cover

Shopping for car insurance requires taking into account many factors in order to achieve the right balance between the insurance cover you should have and the cheapest premium available. Buying a cost-effective insurance start with determining exactly what coverage you need and how much you are willing to spend on your car insurance.

Get the Right Coverage for your Car

If you happen to be driving an old car with a cheap replacement or repair value, it may help reduce you premium if you reduce your collision coverage. The downside to this is if you happen to be involved in accident causing damage to your car, your insurance provider will not cover the costs of repair or replacing your car. You should only do this if you are willing to pay for the entire cost of damages to your car after an accident.

Reduce your Deductibles

Another important factor that controls how much you pay for your insurance premium is the amount of deductibles you choose. The higher you are willing to pay in case of an accident, the more likely it will reduce you premium. Often it’s case if adjusting the deductibles among other features to get the best protection for the cheapest cost.

Liability coverage adjustment should be approached with utmost care. Injuring or killing someone is the biggest risk and payout you are likely to face while on the road. We recommend you have more than the limit required by law for your state. Many drivers aren't aware of various costs involved hitting someone on the road. If you are found to be liable after an accident and the insurance claim exceeds the coverage limit in your insurance policy, any other costs will need to come out from your pocket.

Insuring Against Uninsured or Underinsured Drivers

Everyone knows that automobile insurance is required by law in all US states. However, there are thousands of uninsured or under insured drivers on the road. Whether it’s ignorance, carelessness or simply being unaware, many drivers run the risk of being involved in an accident with uninsured or underinsured driver. Therefore, it important to check if you have uninsured or underinsured motorists’ coverage and if you can increase this cover. If the event you are involved in an accident with a driver who doesn't have a car insurance or their insurance cover is not sufficient, your insurance company will step up and cover any additional costs.

Medical Insurance in your Automobile Insurance Policy

Medical insurance cover is optional in some states and often not required, especially if you have an existing insurance policy in place for this purpose. After all, you don’t want to pay for the same cover twice. However, if you often have family, friends or business partners in your car, it’s worth checking that you have the right medical coverage for your car as it would cover injuries to all passengers in the event of an accident. Family members usually claim under your health or medical insurance policy, but people outside your family will have to take you to court for negligence to claim any liability insurance. This can be very expensive and may even make you bankrupt if your insurer is not covering these costs.

What is the Car Used for?

Purpose of car usage is another factor that determines if you insurance company will cover damages in case of an accident. A vehicle that has been insured by your wife’s employer for business purposes will not be covered if it was involved in an accident while being driven for personal purpose, such as going on vacation.

Conclusion

There are many factors that need to be taking into account when purchasing the right insurance. Understanding what you must have in your insurance policy, ensures you know what coverage you need and will help you make a better decision with comparing quotes from different insurance providers.

Travel Insurance Tips

Savvy holidaymakers will shop around to make sizeable savings on flights, package holidays and accommodation. However, many of them overlook travel insurance (also known as 'holiday insurance') and simply accept it as an add-on. This is an expensive mistake because some travel agents in the UK can make more profit from selling travel insurance policies than they do from the holidays themselves.
This money saving article will examine how you can save cash on your travel insurance - whether you should choose an annual or single-trip policy, where to go for cheap travel insurance and more.

What do you need to cover?
Before you think about what you need to cover you might ask - 'do I need cover at all'?
Though travel insurance is not mandatory, it is advisable to take out a policy as complaints about lost baggage are a common occurrence and medical bills in foreign countries can be astronomical for non-citizens. Medical claims are frequent with a third of UK tourists suffering from 'Delhi belly' while abroad according to Halifax, with almost two out of five travellers sick for two or more days losing around £42.42 per person a day off the cost of their holiday. If you're going to a country with poor medical facilities, ensure your policy includes repatriation costs.
The levels of cover available vary greatly and there's no point paying for something you don't need. Consequently here is our recommendation for the level of cover you should take out on a typical travel insurance policy:

• Medical expenses (£2m)
• Personal liability (£1m)
• Cancellation (£3,000)
• Baggage (£1,500)
• Cash (£250)
• Also make sure the travel insurance company has a 24hr emergency line and cover for legal costs.

Bear in mind however, that the amount of cover you need depends on your circumstances. For example, if you are taking a low cost flight for less than £50 is there really any point in securing cancellation cover? By the time you have paid off the excess you might only be claiming back £10. Additionally, be wary of ridiculous amounts of medical expenses cover - some will offer as much as £20m, when £2m is nearly always adequate.
It's also important to take out travel insurance as soon as you book your trip - particularly with the cancellation stipulation in mind. If you book your holiday months in advance but plan to wait until the last minute to secure your insurance then you won't be covered if you are forced to make a cancellation - perhaps due to a family bereavement or illness. So book your travel insurance to start immediately after booking your holiday to give yourself peace of mind and make sure your cancellation cover at least matches the cost of your holiday.
Also pay close attention to baggage cover. Typically a policy will cover around £1,500-£2,000 for lost baggage, which is nearly always sufficient. However, many policies have single-item limits, usually ranging from £200-£300, and there may be an excess to pay in the region of £50-£70. According to Age Concern Insurance Services, around a third of Brits don't bother to check the terms and conditions of their policy - so ensure you read the small print thoroughly and look for any notable exclusions.

10 Tips to Reduce Car Insurance Premium

Insurance of your vehicle is one of the most expensive parts of owning a car. Sometimes, people end up paying more for car insurance than the value of the car, which is unreasonable. Here are some tips to reduce the premium of your car insurance:

Tip #1. Try to get quotes from as many companies as possible. It is easiest way to spot the best deals.

Tip #2. Try to have more than one insurance policy with same insurance company. Try insuring your car with the company that insures your house. It is likely that they will offer you a discount on one of the policies.

Tip #3. If there is a second car in your family, then you stand a chance of getting a discount. It is known as the second car on the motor quotation.

Tip #4. Choice of the car also affects the insurance premium. The make and model of the car, the engine size, its age and value are used to calculate insurance quotes. To keep car insurance premiums to a minimum, choose a small car that has low modifications and a small engine.

Tip #5. Car modifications should be kept to a minimum. They affect the premium to some extent. Modifications that enhance the security of the car such as alarms reduce the premium.

Tip #6. Keep your car parked safely in a garage. It reduces the risk of theft and the insurance premium significantly.

Tip #7. The deductible is the amount of money that you need to pay before your insurance company steps in to pay the rest. You can offer to pay a higher deductible and save a lot of money in the process. By offering to pay an excess, you reduce the risk associated with you. This way, you only pay for small damages and your company pays for the big ones.

Tip #8. A no claims bonus is an effective way of reducing insurance premium. You need to have your own car insurance policy before you can claim a no claims discount.

Tip #9. Women are considered safer drivers than men. Thus, some insurance companies offer cheaper car insurance to women. If your car is used equally by a male and a female family member, then you can get the insurance in the woman's name. Also, it is advisable to young drivers to add the names of older and more experienced drivers to their car insurance.

Tip #10. Even if you are happy with your car insurance company, it is better to check offers of other companies every year before you renew your insurance.