Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Saving on Car Insurance

car insurance car insuranceCar Insurance provides cover for vehicles against financial loss and damage caused in accidents. The degree of protection that you can get from car insurance companies depends upon its category. Different kinds of insurance provide cover for incidents and damage of different nature.

Before obtaining car insurance cover, it is important to look around and choose the cheapest car Insurance. In order to do that, you should search for different car insurance quotes, and then analyse the variations amongst them. By looking at how the quotes vary from each other and how much cover is provided, you will be able to decide which one is the cheapest and most effective for you. The most significant factors that affect a car insurance quote are the model and make of the car, how old the car is, job of the policyholder, gender of driver, residence and experience of the driver.

There are different kinds of cover available for car insurance. The cost of your car insurance also depends upon the kind of cover you get. In the UK, three categories of cover are available. These are Fully Comprehensive, Third Party and Third Party Fire and Theft Insurance.

The Fully Comprehensive Car Insurance cover is the one that provides the most protection against losses and damage, and is owned by more than half of the total car insurance policy holders. It covers for accidental damage to your car and also the other vehicle, damage due to fire, physical injuries to passengers, damage due to break ins, and windscreen damage. It also provides cover for personal belongings that have been damaged. Extra options, such as personal cover for accidents and green card can also be included in the Fully Comprehensive cover. This cover is most suitable for cars that are brand new and have high cost value.

Third Party Car Insurance is the one that is the most cost effective and provides cover only for the damage caused to the property, car, driver and passengers of the third party. It does not cover for the damage to your car or driver. This insurance fulfills the minimum legal requirement, and can be obtained for cars, which are not new and are not worth too much with poor performance.

car auto insurance quoteThe Third Party Fire and Theft Insurance has all the features of the Third Party Insurance, but in addition to those, it also provides cover for your car against damage and losses caused by break ins, stealing and fire. This cover is suitable for cars that are not very new but have good performance.

After you have decided the kind of car insurance cover most suitable for you, based on your car's model, value and your budget, you can choose the cheapest car insurance. It is easier to look for quotes and make comparisons because most of them can be obtained on the internet quickly - and making comparisons doesn't take up too much time. Car insurance may seem complicated and not worth your time, but if you invest in it now you won't be sorry later.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Cheap Car Insurance - How to Get It

With gas prices being the way they have people all over the country have started to get creative with their finances and the costs associated with auto travel.

Prices vary from company to company, so it pays to shop around. Get at least four to five price quotes. You will find that there are several websites out there that can save you the time from doing this the slow and hard way as they will often get you quotes from up to a dozen companies all at once. You can call companies directly or access information on the Internet. Your state insurance department may also provide comparisons of prices charged by major insurers. And no, companies like Progressive that claim they will compare other companies, but they are an insurance company, so they are not to be trusted. They only have one interest, and that is to promote their own business.

Bigger is not always better. There are several low cost automobile insurance companies offering competitive rates in relation to the big names out there. This makes it possible to save a bundle on this expense. Many people seem to ignore this cost and tend to accept the burden of expensive insurance even when monthly payments almost match a car payment. In one case, I lowered my car insurance rates by about 50% when I found a good local company (I had switched from a really big name company).

One of the best ways to get cheap car insurance is simply to use a service that forces insurance agents and brokers to compete against one another. At the end of this article is one example of such a site. As soon as you finish your online quote request, multiple agents will contact you. But it is important to NOT sign up with any one of them immediately-Instead, let them know that you are awaiting calls from other local insurance providers. After 5 or so of these people have contacted you, you should have a good idea of what sort of range you might expect to pay.

Then, if you really want to get the cheapest car insurance possible, simply tell the agents that you are ready to buy within the next 24 hours with whichever company offers you the lowest insurance rates. This really puts the fire under them, and is sure to create the most optimal pricing for you. Of course, be sure to carry through on your promise.

If it makes sense, you may want to consider getting a bundle package. Basically, see what it might cost to insure not only your car, but also your home, property, health and life insurance. This can save a person around 10% - 30% depending on the company you go with; and it does make paying your bills easier as well.

Oh, and one more tip, remember that the more info you provide upfront, the more accurate your quotes will be, and the more likely the insurance companies will be responsive to your inquiry. This is especially true when filling out a quote from multiple companies.