Car insurance Basis

Friday, August 17, 2007

Introduction

Car insurance is a necessary evil, one of the few types of cover that you are legally obliged to buy. So the less you pay for it, the better.The bad news is that car insurance has been getting more expensive and is likely to continue doing so.

Norwich Union caused a big stir in August 2006 when it announced that it was increasing the cost of its car insurance cover by 16%, with some drivers likely to see increases of up to 40%. Other insurers have already followed as the cost of accident damage and personal injury claims is rising rapidly.

So, when you next get a renewal notice for your car insurance, you could be in for a nasty shock. It’s not all bad news however, as many companies have decided not to raise their prices. This means shopping around for a better deal makes more sense than ever.

Affordable Car Insurance

Get Affordable Car Insurance QuotesOne of the leading reasons why people overpay for their car insurance is because they don't know how much car insurance really cost. Finding affordable car insurance is something a lot of people overlook while getting an auto insurance quote.

There are a few things to keep in mind while searching for an affordable car insurance rate as well as keeping it.

Don't drive like a manic. Speeding may be fun, but it only takes on accident.

Opt for a higher deductible.

Family cars cost cheaper to insure than sports cars.

Car Insurance Tips

1. Shop Around for your Car InsuranceObivously the car insurance rate will vary depending on who you ask. Make sure you spend the time to get at least 3 car insurance quotes. We have made this easier for you by allowing you to fill out one form and receive 3-5 car insurance quotes within 24 hours. Remember, don't just shop around for your auto insurance based on price alone. Check with your state insurance department's to see if other consumers have filed any complaints against that particular car insurance company. Make sure you deal with a insurance agent that takes the time and effort to make sure you understand the whole coverage and any questions you have. Friends and relatives can also suggest quality car insurance companies.

2. Compare Car Insurance Costs Before Buying a CarWhile you are in the market for a new or used car, be sure to check with your insurance company to see how much each type of cars will cost. The car insurance premiums consist of the car's actual sticker price, costs for repairs and parts, safety record and how high up it is on the list of most stolen cars. Most car insurers will offer discounts for cars that have features that cut back on injuries and theft. Examples include daytime running lights and any anti-theft devices such as lo-jack.

3. Get a Higher DeductiblesA deductible is the amount you have to pay before your car insurance policy is applied. Having a higher deductible will substantially lower your car insurance policy. Most deductibles are around $500. If you are comfortable enough with raising it to $1,000, you can save even more money.

4. Reducing Car Insurance Coverage on Older CarsIf you have an older car that isn't worth too much, think about lowering the collision or comprehensive coverages to reduce how much you pay. Most experts agree that if your car is worth no more than ten times the insurance premium, then paying for the comprehensive coverage may not be worth it.

5. Multiple Insurance Coverage from the Same InsurerA lot of insurers will give you discounts if you buy more than one types of insurance from them. Sometimes you may even be able to get a break on your car insurance by insuring more than one vehicle with the same car insurance company. Bottom line, just make sure you shop around because you will find one insurer to give you a discount on a multiple policy purchase.

6. Keep a Good Credit RecordSometimes insurers uses your credit history to help price a car insurance policy. Try to pay your bills on time and cut back on signing up for too many free credit card offers. Be sure to check your free credit report and free credit store to make sure there are no errors and mistakes on your record.

7. Avoid Speeding TicketsSpeeding tickets can raise your car insurance rates by up to 25% or more depending on how bad the speeding ticket is. Just keep that in mind when you are zooming along the highway.

8. Good Student DiscountFor you teenagers and young people out that, take advantage of good student discounts if you have at least a 3.0 GPA or higher.

Cheap Car Insurance

How to Get Cheap Car Insurance?
Getting cheap car insurance used to take a lot of time before the evolution of the world wide web. Consumers used to have to make phone calls after phone calls looking up car insurance companies in the yellow pages. Nowadays, someone looking for auto insurance can simply go to Yahoo or Google and do a search to find cheap car insurance. That may be how you came upon this site. We are here to help you in your search for cheap car insurance. It really isn't that much work. You fill out one form and we do the work for you. We have car insurance agents ready to compete for your business, no matter if you have a bad driving record or if you have a clean driving record.

Car Insurance Basics

Learning the BasicsThe typical car insurance policy contains six coverages that make up a car insurance policy. Each of the policies cost different amounts.

1. Bodily Injury Liability CoverageBodily injury liability coverage only will cover any injuries to you, the designated driver or the policyholder cause to another party in an auto accident. The policy will also cover anyone that is listed on the policy or anyone in your family while driving other people's cars; granted that you have their consent.You want to make sure you have enough car liability insurance in case you are ever in any serious accidents. Sometimes the other party may want to sue you for a huge chunk of money. If you don't have enough insurance, your personal assets could be put up to cover the difference. Definitely make sure you have more than the required state minimum to protect your valuable personal assets.

2. Personal Injury ProtectionPIP coverage will pay for any treatment due to injuries to the driver and any passengers while in the policy holder's car. The coverage will help cover medical payments, job wages lost and the amount to replace services that is normally performed by a person injuried in a major car accident. It may also pay for funeral expenses in some policy plans.

3. Property Damage Liability The damage liability coverage will for any damage to you (or someone driving your car with your permission) caused to someone else's property. Typically, this is only damage inflicted to someone else’s car, but it also includes outdoor property such as telephone poles, buildings, fences or any other objects your vehicle hits.

4. Collision Damage CoverageThis damage coverage pays for harm done to your car that was a result of a collision with another car, object or because of the car flipping over. It will also cover damage cause by street potholes. Collision coverage is usually packaged with a deductible of $350 to $1,000. The higher the deductible, the lower the coverage premium will cost. Even if you are at fault in the accident, your collision coverage policy will reimburse you for any cost of fixing up your car, minus the deductible of the plan. If you are not at fault, your auto insurance company will typically go after the other insurance company of the party at fault. If they are successful, you usually get reimbursed for the deductible.

5. Comprehensive CoverageComprehensive coverage will reimburse you for any property loss due to theft or damage caused by something other than a collision with another car or actual object, such as falling objects, earthquake, explosion, fire, windstorm, hail, flood, vandalism, riot, or contact with animals such as birds or cows.This insurance is typically sold with a $200 to $500 deductible, although you may want to choose a higher deductible as an way of lowering the insurance premium. This usually is not needed, but in the rare cases of an unexpected earthquake or fire, can definitely keep you on your feet.Comprehensive auto insurance will also reimburse you if your windshield is cracked or shattered. Some companies offer glass coverage with or without a deductible. Windshields can range as low as $99 to over $1000 in the higher end cars. Most of the time, the windshields are around $200-$500 dollars.States do not require that you purchase collision or comprehensive coverage, but if you have a car loan, your lender may ask that you carry the comprehensive auto coverage until your loan is paid off.

6. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist CoverageThis coverage is becoming more important these days because of the number of uninsured drivers, and will cover you, a member of your family, or a designated driver if one of you is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver.The coverage comes into effect when an at-fault driver has insufficient car insurance to pay for your total loss. This coverage will also help cover you if you are hit as a pedestrian.

Claims Information

Need to make a claim?

If your car has been stolen you should report the theft to the nearest PoliceStation and obtain a crime reference number before calling us.Call: 0845 246 2367Lines open: 8am-9pm Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm on Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sunday.

Out of hours call: 24-hour Accident Recovery Helpline Call: 0800 269 015

Calls may be recorded

What happens next?
When you phone, a Personal Claims Adviser will take the details of the incident and the crime reference number, if you have one.Your policy cover will be reviewed.We will confirm the amount of any excess which may apply.If the damage to your car is covered, we can arrange for the work to becarried out by one of our recommended repairers (if available).If the car is a total loss we will arrange settlement.

Cover Choices

Your Cover Options Explained
With Privilege car insurance, no matter what protection you need, you'll find we have the policy to match. Here's a straightforward explanation of your cover options.

Cover Options:
Comprehensive - Covers you for claims made by other people for bodily injury or damage to their property, as well as any damage to your car as a result of accident, fire or theft. Windscreen cover is included as standard.

Third Party, Fire and Theft - Covers you for claims made by other people for bodily injury or damage to their property, as well as any damage to your car as a result of fire or theft.Third party Only - Covers you for claims made by other people for bodily injury or damage to their property.

For extra peace of mind, you can now add any of the optional extras listed below to your standard cover for a small additional premium:Protected No Claims DiscountWe offer you the option of protecting your No Claims Discount once you have built up a period of 4 years' claim-free driving. For a small extra cost, you would be able to make 1 claim in any one policy year or 2 claims in 3 policy years, without it affecting your No Claims Discount.

Motor Legal Protection (MLP)
We will provide you with up to £100,000 worth of legal assistance in the event of a claim. This covers expenses such as solicitor fees, legal costs and any uninsured losses.

Guaranteed Hire Car Cover
In the event of an accident, we'll provide you with a courtesy car for up to 14 days at no extra cost. All repairs carried out on your car will be guaranteed for 5 years.

Car Insurance Benefits


When you choose car insurance from Privilege, you will be privy to a wealth of great benefits and services. No Claim Discount - up to 65%.Our 24 hour accident recovery service ensures that one of our network of approved repairers will service, collect, repair, clean and deliver your car back to you.

Courtesy car provided for you in the event of an accident (not theft or total loss), if you use one of our approved repair companies (subject to availability).

UK call centres; call our customer service and claims line and speak to a real person in the UKWindscreen replacement hotline, open 24 hours. Remember, windscreen claims won't effect your no claim discount Emergency roadside assistance will arrive within 3 hours of your call if your car's glass breaksSpecial offer on breakdown cover: enjoy 25% off your first year's breakdown cover, provided in partnership with Green Flag Motoring Assistance.Unlimited cover for manufacturer-fitted car stereosPeace of mind. For a small additional premium, you can choose from our range of optional extra covers.Car-seat replacement. We'll replace your child's car-seat following an accident, regardless of whether it has been visibly damaged.

Car Insurance Estimate

Shopping around for a car insurance estimate is not something most people look forward to. It is one of the least exciting chores that is required in order to have a car on the road, but it is worth seeking out the most competitive car insurance estimate available. Although getting a car insurance estimate from a number of companies isn’t a desirable task; many people spend far more than they absolutely have to each year on their auto insurance because they simply haven’t taken the time to compare rates and policies with other auto insurance companies. It would be hard to find someone who would walk into an appliance store and decide to spend $200.00 more on a washer that offers the same exact quality and features as the one next to it that costs far less. It doesn’t make too much sense to do the same thing with car insurance.

Most of the time, a car insurance estimate will include collision, liability and comprehensive coverage on a vehicle. Most households have two or more vehicles and every car should be included when seeking out a car insurance estimate. There are a few things that can be done to make getting a car insurance estimate easier and more accurate especially when dealing with more than one car insurance company.

One of the best things to do before looking for a car insurance estimate is to see exactly what the state requirements are as far as what the necessary minimum coverage is in order to have adequate coverage. This is something that might be better to do without the assistance of an insurance agency if possible because their job is to sell insurance and they make more money with the more coverage they are able to sell. In order to spend less time on the phone when looking for a car insurance estimate, it is a good idea to have a number of items handy including a driver’s license, vehicle identification numbers, make, model and year of each car and even the name and contact information for the company that is financing all vehicles if applicable. There are also a number of factors that can be taken into consideration when seeking a car insurance estimate that may mean additional savings per year. Features on each auto including airbags, auto alarms, anti-lock brakes and other things may mean discounts on auto insurance. Some insurance companies will even offer discounts for having more than one policy with their company as well as insuring multiple cars through with their coverage. Additional discounts may be found through other things like accident-free driving record, defensive driving course incentives and other discounts.
Other circumstances may cost a driver more with certain companies when looking for a car insurance estimate. Men under the age of 25, single drivers, younger drivers under the age of 21, the number of miles driven per day and even the kind of car that is driven can cost a person more money on car insurance when shopping around. The best part about this is that not one car insurance will probably charge the same amount of money for the same coverage so shopping around will prove that there are better choices available.


Car Insurance Tips



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