Monthly Archives: January 2009

Average Auto Insurance Quotes

Posted by author on January 30, 2009 Comments Off

Reader’s Question:

Are the auto insurance quotes I get online the average rates?

Ray

Phoenix, AZ

According to the 2006 report of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), residents in Arizona spent an average of $913 on car auto insurance. This places them on the fourteenth rank among the states that have the highest insurance premiums. However, there has been a noted decrease of 1.9% in the last quarter of 2008 since the price of gasoline has increased, which led to infrequent use of cars. This essentially led to fewer cars in the streets of Arizona, hence the lower rates. The increase in number of speed-enforcement cameras has also contributed to lower traffic fatalities.

While there has been lower auto insurance rates, consumers still have a hard time maintaining their auto insurance coverage and thus sacrifice other needs. That is why keeping updated with the going rates is very vital, so that you know whether or not what you are paying is reasonable. This can be done by getting auto insurance quotes from companies accredited to do business in your area. Bear in mind, though, that these quotes are mere approximations of the actual rates since other statutory taxes have not yet been factored in. Rating system also vary from company to company, so the auto insurance quotes you get from one insurer will not be necessarily be close to what the others will assess you with.

Why Street Parking Can Increase Your Insurance Costs

Posted by author on January 30, 2009 Comments Off

Reader’s Question:

Would street parking my car at night cause my insurance rates here in Virginia to increase?

Dawn

Newport News, VA

Yes, there is a significant chance that your vehicle there in Virginia would be exposed to a higher risk of theft, vandalism or damage it is parked in the street at night. This is why you’ll notice most car insurance applications would ask you if you have a garage to park your vehicle in, which obviously gives more protection to your vehicle. The greater the risk of you filing a claim for damages done to your vehicle in the future, the higher the risk you represent to the car insurance company, which is reason enough for them to give you less-competitive insurance quotes and a more expensive policy.

Aside from street parking, here are some other reasons that you may not be aware of which can cause your insurance premiums to rise:

1.Winter conditions can also increase your auto insurance costs. We probably don’t have to tell you that driving in a snow storm, with frozen, slippery roads can be a very dangerous situation.

2.Customizing or modifying your vehicle. Cosmetic modifications are expensive, increases your vehicle’s risk of getting stolen or vandalized and certainly tends to increase the value of your vehicle. This means that you will need higher levels of coverage in order to maintain adequate protection on your vehicle.

3.Traffic offenses, moving violations, tickets.. they all tell insurance companies how risky you are as a driver. Again, higher risk means higher premiums.

If you’re interested in a more affordable insurance policy, we encourage you to use our free car insurance quote search tool to get the most competitive online car insurance quotes available.

Ways to Get a Cheap Car Insurance Quote

Posted by author on January 27, 2009 Comments Off

Reader’s Question:

I’m planning to buy a car this coming summer. I am a senior citizen, by the way. Is there a way for me to get cheaper car insurance quotes?

Sarah

Charlotte, NC

The first thing you need to know when getting a car insurance quote is the basic knowledge of how car insurance works. A car insurance policy may likely bring you down to a financial ruin if you don’t fully understand what it is for or how much it would cost you.

A car insurance policy’s amount may vary according to its coverage and the discounts that you can get to bring the cost down. The coverage is what you need to determine before anything else because each type of coverage has a corresponding amount. Whatever coverage you tell the insurance agent to add on to your policy is what they will compute. This computation may be high or low. If it is low, you are lucky. If it is high, I suggest you avail the discounts that are available.

One car insurance discount that I’m sure you could get is the Senior Citizen Discount. Typically, companies give a 10% discount on the insurance premium. It is very unlikely that a company will not grant you this discount. However, just to be sure, ask your state’s insurance regulator and see if this discount is mandated by the state and if it covers car insurance policies.

There are other discounts available in the market. You just have to check which one is applicable to you and which car insurance company offers them. If you need more information about insurance companies, you may check the internet and visit the web sites of your local car insurance companies. You may also get your free quote from their websites. Otherwise, you may give them a call or pay them a visit, so you could personally talk to the car insurance agent and ask whatever you need to know before buying that policy.

Five Things Affecting Your Car Insurance Quote

Posted by author on January 22, 2009 Comments Off

Reader’s Question:

What kind of information would car insurance companies use to know what kind of rate I should be charged here in North Dakota?

Wilson

Fargo, ND

Good question, insurance companies would usually get a variety of information from you to try and determine your car insurance quote as accurately as possible, it is important to remember that every car insurance company has its own way of computing premiums and insurance quotes, among the most common factors influencing your rates and premiums are the following:

1. Driver’s Age – fact: teenagers have the biggest car insurance premiums, followed by senior citizens. Drivers in their mid-twenties up to middle age have the best rates age-wise.
2. The type of vehicle- the kind of car being driven and insured would also impact how your rates are determined. The higher the value of the vehicle or the more popular it is among car thieves, the higher the insurance will be.
3. Where you live – if you live in a city that has a high crime rate, your auto insurance will be higher as compared to those in the country.
4. Your driving history – many car insurance companies check your driving record for as far back as three to five years in order to get a good idea if you are a risky driver.
5. Your credit report – how well you manage your bills can give be used as an indication of how risky you are while driving.

Car insurance companies, however, have their own methods of using these factors to compute rate so it is very important that you shop around for the lowest rates. Online car insurance qoutes are free and readily available on this website for you to search for the best insurance quote available.

Lower Insurance Qoute For Female Drivers

Posted by author on January 17, 2009 Comments Off

Reader’s Question:

Is it true that car insurance qoutes for male drivers are higher than those for female drivers?

Mark,

Washington, DC

Car insurance companies have different ways of computing for insurance policy rates. In general, they base it on how your experience with claims over a period of time. This experience pertains to both the claims that you have previously filed and your personal experience that could have led you to filing a claim. The latter could be in the form of an accident (whether it involves another vehicle or a natural phenomenon like a hail storm), a moving violation, or a theft/vandalism.

Typically, with all things being equal, female drivers between 18 to 25 years old would get lower insurance qoutes than male drivers of the same age bracket would. This is because, statistically, female drivers in this age bracket get involved in fewer accidents and traffic violations. Studies show that male drivers drive more than females do. This increases their odds of getting into an accident. Also, male drivers are generally risk takers when they are driving, making them commit more moving violations than female drivers who have more regard for safety.

The only time that you could get lower insurance qoutes would probably be when you get a bit older. Again, with all things being equal, you may get lower rates when you are older because companies expect that male drivers drove more than female drivers did when they were younger. Therefore, they are expected to be more experienced drivers as they reach adulthood.

Reporting Accidents When Getting Car Insurance Quotes

Posted by author on January 16, 2009 Comments Off

Reader’s Question:

I have been in an accident and my car insurance became very expensive after that. If I get insurance quotes from other companies, will I need to report my accident?

Lucy

New Orleans, LA

When getting insurance quotes from car insurance companies, personal data have to be provided as these will be the factors that affect one’s rates. Aside from the customary procedure of giving your name, address and age, you will be asked to report any traffic ticket that you have received in the past three years. You will also need to supply the company with information regarding past insurance claims after an accident. Remember that all accidents and traffic violations need to be mentioned whether they happened in your home state or not. This is because car insurance companies believe that individuals who have a history of not a few accidents and claims may not necessarily be safe drivers thus get to be assessed with more expensive premiums.

However, the rating system of insurance providers vary, so if you will have a hard time looking for a company willing to provide you with the state-imposed car insurance coverage, then you should not stop your search as there are over 500 car insurance carriers in the state of Louisiana. To facilitate your search, obtain a complete list of insurance carriers accredited in your state from the Louisiana Insurance Department. This way, you avoid giving out valuable personal information when getting insurance quotes from illegal car insurance companies out there.