1. Do You Insure Your Home With A Different Company
Do you have a homeowners or renters insurance policy? If so, is it with the same insurance company that provides your vehicle insurance? If the answer is no, you’re paying too much – for both policies. Almost every insurance company that sells vehicle insurance wants its policyholders to also buy homeowners or renters insurance from them as well.

These insurers offer so-called multi-policy discounts. Usually, these discounts are at least 10% and some insurers apply the discounts to both the car insurance and the homeowners/renters insurance policy.

Tip. Talk to your agent about multi-policy discounts for your home and vehicle insurance.

2. Has Your Driving Record Improved?
Everyone knows (So it’s not really a secret) that the better your driving record, the less you will pay for vehicle insurance. But did you know that most people qualify as “good drivers” and are eligible for discounted premiums? However some good drivers pay a lot more than others.

Many auto insurance companies are actually a collection of several niche insurance carriers in which each caters to a certain type of driver and their respective vehicle insurance. The worst drivers go in one company, the best in another, but most drivers end up in one of the middle companies.

These middle people pay less than the worst drivers, but more than the best. The thing is, many of these middle people have driving records that are just as good as those who are insured by the companies that offer the lowest rates. Yet these middle people are paying more for their vehicle insurance. Why?

The usual reason is that they don’t know any better and their agent never bothered to tell them. That's right, NO ONE told them which insurance company in the group had the best prices. (Makes you wonder what that agent does with the 15-20% cut they get on your coverage!)Not to mention no one told them there was even a group of insurance companies. If you have a spotless driving record, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be paying the lowest price a group of insurance companies has to offer.

Tip. Knowledge is power! Make sure you’re getting the best discount for your car insurance based on your current driving record. Talk to your agent. And remember, be a safe driver. It will save you money.

3. Cool Cars Can Mean HIGH Cost
In other words, High-Profile usually means High-Cost – The type of vehicle you drive is a major factor in what you pay for insurance. (Although contrary to popular belief the color of your car is not important) Is your vehicle a magnet for thieves? Is it more expensive to repair than most cars? (The hood on some older models of Dodge Viper goes for upwards of $7,000) If the answer to either of the last two questions is yes, you’re paying more than the average car owner for insurance.

Note: To get detailed information on your vehicle(s) – or a vehicle you’re thinking of buying, visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety web site.

4. Is Your Deductible Is Too Low? Your vehicle insurance deductible is the amount you pay before insurance kicks in if you have a claim. For example, if you have a $250 deductible and you have an accident in which your vehicle sustains $1,000 in damage, you pay the first $250 and your insurer pays the balance, $750. The lower the deductible you choose, the more you pay. If you earn a lot of money or have significant assets, you can probably afford to absorb at least $250 and probably $500 if you have a claim.

Tip. If it’s been years since you’ve had an accident, you may be better off raising your vehicle insurance deductible and paying less each year for insurance. HOWEVER, be sure you run the numbers…. By that I mean make sure the savings is enough to justify the larger deductible. Is it really worth it to raise your deductible from $100 to $1,000 and save $100? That means you save $100- BUT if you have a claim, you just spent an extra $900 for the deductible. Be careful- only you can decide how the trade off fits your financial situation.

5. Do You Have Coverage You Don’t Need? – Let’s say you have an older car, one not worth very much. There’s really little point in having collision and comprehensive coverages. You don’t have much to protect. Remember, too, that you have to subtract your deductible from any potential payout you might receive.

Tip. Many insurance professionals believe that any car worth less than $1,000-$2,000 shouldn’t have collision and comprehensive coverage. Between the deductible and the extra expense of these coverages, the cost is probably greater than the benefit. How much is your car worth? An auto dealer can tell you, or there are plenty of books and web sites that have values of vehicles going back many, many years.

6. Are You Getting The Discounts You Deserve
Auto insurance companies offer several discounts for a variety of reasons. The vehicle has automatic seat belts, air bags, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft devices, etc. The driver is a good student, which is especially valuable if you have teenage children who will be on your policy.
Tip. Make sure you are taking advantage of all the discounts available to you!

7. Credit Where Credit Is (Or Is Not)Due
Is your credit record better than your driving record? If you have a good credit record, you could be eligible for discounted premiums from several vehicle insurance companies.

Fact: Many insurers now use your credit history (92% and climbing according to some recent industry sources) as a major factor in determining what to charge you for vehicle insurance. In some cases, with some companies, you could save money by shifting your business to an insurer that uses credit as a rating factor – even if you have a so-so or poor driving record. There is another side to this coin. This one is getting harder and harder: If you have a poor credit history, you could save money by moving your auto insurance to a company that does not use credit as a rating factor. Most insurers do not look at your credit report at your renewal if your credit has improved since you purchased the policy you could be eligible for the cheaper rate.

Tip. Regardless of your credit status, you should talk to your agent to make sure you have the best situation given your credit record, good or bad.

Whatever your driving record or coverage needs, you should shop around, or let an experienced insurance professional shop around, for the best deal for you. There are literally thousands and thousands of coverage options from hundreds and hundreds of insurance companies.

Remember, not only should you try to get the best deal(Premium) you can, make sure you have all the coverage you want/need. (I tell my clients to buy as much as they can "stomach") Using an Independent Insurance Agent is usually your best bet to get the most value for your auto insurance dollar. car insurance

Original Post: Cars Bikes Autos

7 Deadly Sins In Finding Cheap Automobile Insurance

In a lot of ways, finding cheap car insurance is a great idea as you can end up paying literally hundreds of dollars more every year for the same exact coverage you would get from a different company. But is cheap car insurance always the way to go? What are some dangers you need to keep in mind when shopping around?

Firstly, you need to get to know the coverage that is provided by your company no matter what you're paying for your insurance. Some people make the mistake of thinking that all damage to their car or all medical expenses are covered in case of an accident, no matter what. But sometimes a person is able to obtain cheap car insurance because they have less coverage for damage, theft, vandalism, injuries, and the rest. Take the time. You need to really understand what you're covered for and what isn't covered so you can be prepared in case something does happen. Like anything in life, it pays to be prepared. Fail to prepare and prepare to fail may be an old cliche, but there is a lot of truth in it.

Your deductible rate also affects whether or not you're getting very expensive or very cheap car insurance; some people don't mind raising their deductible rate because they know they're a cautious driver or they're driving an older car that they probably won't have fixed in case of minor accidents. But this is a individual decision you must make and you need to think. A lot of different factors can affect the decision.

Sometimes it's better to have more coverage than it is to have that cheap car insurance that won't cover much of anything in case you do need to make a claim. What about where you reside; is there a lot of traffic in your neighborhood? This can increase your chances of an accident. How far do you drive to work and how often do you drive in the evening and on the weekends? These too increase your chances of an accident.

But if you're happy with the level of coverage you have but still think you may be paying too much, there is just one way to get cheap car insurance and that's good old-fashioned legwork. You need to sit down on the internet or with the phone book and make some calls one afternoon or go online and shop at different websites. This can be rather tedious and maybe you won't like doing it, but remember it can save you literally hundreds of dollars every year. So really the time you spend you could in effect be working for hundreds of dollars per hour. And who doesn't want that?

Original Post: Cars Bikes Autos

Is Cheap Car Insurance Really Best For You?

It is never good to stick with the same company for too many years because you may be missing out on some great deals with someone else. It does not hurt to call or take a look because if you do not like what you see and hear with Zurich car insurance, then you can just stick with the car insurance company that you have right now.

As long as you are willing to answer a few basic questions, Zurich car insurance can give you a car insurance quote for the type of policy that you are in the market for at the moment. They may even advise you on some additional things you should look into for extra coverage that do not cost that much more a month.

Why Zurich Car Insurance

Many people wonder why they should give the Zurich car insurance company a chance. And the answer is simple, because you never know what possibilities are out there for you until you start knocking on doors. Zurich car insurance is known for having outstanding customer service and always wanting to make their customers feel like they are apart of a family instead of just a number. With Zurich car insurance you are a customer that is respected and cared about and they will go above and beyond to make sure that you are getting the insurance and service that you deserve.

Zurich car insurance has an excellent reputation for being one of the best in the business and that is something that they do not take lightly. They plan on keeping that record and will truly appreciate your business. With Zurich car insurance, you are made to feel that your personal situation is important to them. You will receive the outstanding care and concern that you would want and expect from a car insurance company. After all, insurance is all about keeping you safe and protected.

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Original Post: Cars Bikes Autos

Learning About Zurich Car Insurance