Auto Insurance Savings: Tips for Lowering Your Premium

April 29th, 2008

It’s not exactly cheap to drive and maintain a car these days. As gas prices waver up and down and salaries fail to keep pace with inflation, it seems we’re all looking for ways to cut costs.

For those of us who drive, auto insurance is a necessary requirement enforced by law. Though we hate paying what we sometimes feel are outrageous premiums, the financial protection we gain from those policies is a trade-off we just can’t live without.

Just ask anyone who’s been involved in an accident lately.

But there is good news. As this mobile society struggles to keep up with increasing costs, auto insurance premiums have finally begun a downward trend.

According to one reliable source, the average auto insurance premium fell almost 2 percent last year, to an average of just over $2,300 per household.

That may not sound like much, but it translates to an average savings of $60 a year.

If you weren’t one of the lucky ones who got a pleasant surprise when your auto insurance policy renewed this year, don’t despair. You can still save money on your premium by following a few simple steps:

  1. Comparison Shop. If you have a good driving record and/or buy a safer car, your premium should go down. Plus, with some companies now charging lower rates, increased competition means better auto insurance rates for you! Take advantage of online marketing services like InsureMe.com to find the best
    auto insurance rates from competing insurers.
  2. Find out what your insurance will cost before you buy that new car. Auto insurance companies typically charge more for cars that are expensive to repair or don’t fare well in accidents. So before you drive off that lot, make sure your new car is considered safe, and relatively cheap and easy to repair
    by your insurer. This will help minimize risk…for both of you!
  3. Ask your insurer for discounts. These cost-savers can lower your insurance premiums more than you might think:
    • Combining two or more cars on one auto insurance policy
    • Buying a car with airbags or other safety equipment
    • Installing anti-theft devices in your vehicle
    • Completing a driver’s education course
    • Insuring your home and auto with the same insurer
    • Applying for a mature driver discount (for those between 50 and 65)
    • Getting good grades (for students under 25)

  4. Take the highest deductible you can afford. Your deductible is the amount you pay out-of-pocket, in case of a claim, before your insurance company starts paying its share. The higher your deductible, the lower your premiumit’s as simple as that. Just be sure you’re able to absorb a larger portion of your loss in case of an accident.
  5. Improve your driving record. The more tickets and accidents you have, the more your auto insurance costs. So drive cautiously, improve your motor vehicle record, and inform your auto insurance company of the change. They’ll reclassify you as a safer driver, and lower your auto insurance rates in the process!
  6. Consider dropping comprehensive and/or collision coverage if you drive an older car. Physical damage coverages like these reimburse you for damages to your own car. But if the vehicle you drive is several years oldor worth less than $1,000it may not be worth much anyway. Dropping such unnecessary coverage can really save you money.
  7. Review your policy regularly, and keep your coverage updated. Your auto insurance rates may fluctuate due to:
    • Adding or removing a driver from your auto insurance policy
    • Replacing an older vehicle with a newer one
    • Adding or removing a vehicle from your policy
    • Increasing or decreasing the number of miles you drive annually

Talk to your insurer if you encounter any of these situations. Under the right circumstances, you’ll reduce the impact on your walletand walk away a few dollars richer!

If you’re looking for ways to counter prices at the pumpsand everywhere else, for that mattertake these tips to heart.

About InsureMe

Penny Hagerman is a copywriter and insurance information expert with InsureMe in Englewood, Colorado. InsureMe links agents nationwide with consumers shopping for insurance. Specializing in home, life, long-term care, health and auto insurance quotes, the InsureMe network provides thousands of agents with insurance leads every year. For more information, visit InsureMe.com.

Renters Insurance Quote and How to Get One

April 11th, 2008

Getting a renters insurance quote isn’t difficult at all. There are many ways to get a renters insurance quote, but because you want an accurate quote, you need to go about obtaining it in the right way. The fastest way to find an accurate quote is to combine several research methods, including online quotes, telephone quotes, and a personal visit to the insurance company.

Start your search for a quote online. This will enable you to compare rates from many different companies. Make a note of the lowest rates, and then visit the websites of those companies. Look to see what is included in the renter’s insurance coverage that each company offers. Some won’t cover as much as others will.

After you’ve determined which companies offer the best deal for the best price, contact them by telephone for a more accurate quote. Online quotes are not as accurate as direct quotes from the agencies. If you have car insurance, contact the company that insures your car as well. You may be able to either get a discount on your auto insurance or on your renter’s policy by insuring both your car and your belongings through the same insurance company.

Some companies will require you to meet certain standards. For example, you may be required to have bolt locks on your door. They may determine that some items are not insurable as well. Make sure that you visit the agent, or have the agent come to your rented home to get a more accurate rate, and to ensure that you meet the requirements for coverage.

Renters insurance quotes usually are not more than $200 for one year of coverage. However, the rates vary depending on where you live. If you live in a high crime area, your rates may be higher. If your insurance company determines that you live in a fire trap, your rates will be considerably higher, if they even agree to cover you at all. You will need to speak with an agent to get the most accurate renters insurance quote.

Insurenters.com provides you with information on renters insurance related issues, the pitfalls and the best tips. We are dedicated to help you find your renters insurance. http://www.insurenters.com/

How Can I Compare Life Insurance Quotes?

April 6th, 2008

The online life insurance companies offer a free service where you can request a free quote for your life insurance needs. This enables you to compare life insurance quotes to see where you can save money with one over the other. To compare life insurance quotes, all you have to do is request a quote from as many companies as you wish and them compare the terms, the premiums, death benefit and clauses contained in each one.

There are also internet sites where you can compare life insurance quotes from up to five different companies at one time. This saves you the time of having to wait for each quote to come in and then print each one off to compare the best rates. The reason for comparing the quotes on life insurance is to make sure you do get the best rates on life insurance. This lets you get the best possible death benefits at the lowest possible premiums.

There is no problem with entering your information on the online life insurance company websites. These companies are looking for your business and are therefore secure sites. Your personal information will not become part of the public domain when you want to compare life insurance quotes. The company does have your best interests at heart and does want to have you as a customer.

To get the best rates on life insurance you need to look at the companies themselves. Choose life insurance companies with a proven track record. This way you know that when you compare the life insurance quote, an agent has checked it and that you won’t run the danger of the company going out of business. Just remember that you do have to look at the length of the term to get an overall picture of the best rates on life insurance. A longer term with low monthly premiums means you won’t have to start your search for the best rates again in the near future.

The best rates are ones that you can afford. You should start out with an amount that you can afford each month and then compare life insurance quotes that come close to that amount. You may have to revise the amount of the life insurance and the length of the term to get the best rates that fit your budget. You can always upgrade to a longer term, a higher payout or even whole life insurance when you can afford it.

To get the best life insurance rates you need to get a few quotes and then compare the life insurance quotes that you have. But it’s not just about price. There’s more to compare than just price.

For a website totally devoted to Life Insurance visit Peter’s Website Life Insurance Answers and find out about Term Life Insurance Rates as well as Cheap Life Insurance and more, including Online Life Insurance, Term Life Insurance and Life Insurance Agents.