Usage-Based Auto Insurance Could Save You Money

Before we get started, I feel it’s only fair to offer a full disclosure: I despise insurance. I feel like it’s nothing more than a glorified practice in legalized highway robbery. Just so we’re clear.

That isn’t to say that having insurance isn’t helpful; I’ve had to use benefits from my insurance on more than one occasion, and it was nice to be covered when the time came. The hoops you have to jump through, however, and the impact that filing a claim has on your rates hardly seems worth it unless it’s a major, major crisis.

If you like the security of having insurance coverage, that’s great. What really gets my goat is being required by the government to have it, but I digress. I suppose it’s necessary to mandate auto insurance in order to protect other drivers on the road. It still doesn’t mean I have to like it.

Getting Affordable Auto Insurance

f there’s one thing that irritates me more than the government telling me I have to do something, it’s the government sticking its big nose into my private business. If I want to purchase 1985 Mustang Parts online, I don’t think it’s any concern of the government as to my motivation behind it. Again, I digress.

This time, it’s not really the government who’s doing the poking and prodding. It’s the insurance companies themselves. In what I suppose is an effort to be more competitive, some insurance companies are now offering the opportunity to qualify for even lower rates based on usage. There’s a huge catch, though.

In order to get usage-based rates, the company has to know how you’re using your vehicle. This means that you’ll have to agree to install some type of tracking device in your car so that the company can keep tabs on how you behave behind the wheel. It may sound like a great deal if you’re a good driver… until you really start to think about it.

License to Spy

The tracking device doesn’t just monitor how fast you’re going at any given time. It also tracks where you go, how many miles you drove to get there, and even what time you do all this driving. You’ll also have to submit yourself for monitoring on how hard you apply the brakes and how quickly you accelerate.

For some, the potential 30% savings from allowing this tracking may seem worth the total invasion of privacy. For me, well, I’ll just stick with what I have. It’s hard enough to have some semblance of privacy these days as it is, without willingly handing over a license to spy to my insurance company. It isn’t that I have anything to hide; I just don’t like the feeling of knowing someone’s analyzing every move I make. 

Michelle is an aspiring writer with a passion for blogging. She enjoys writing about a vast variety of topics and loves that blogging gives her the opportunity to publicly voice her thoughts and share advice with an unlimited audience.

Posted on 10:49 / 0 comments / Read More

Better Car Insurance for Your Needs

There are a few things that people need in order to be able to drive legally. A driver's license and proper insurance are absolutely essential when driving. There can be significant consequences for people who are stopped by law enforcement and don’t have proof of these things. There are several different types of car insurance coverage that drivers can get. The type of coverage that a person chooses has a lot to do with his or her individual needs, as well as any state law requirements. People have a number of different ways that they can go about finding car insurance. A lot of people find their insurance companies through word of mouth, while others take a more active role in finding the car insurance that they need. One of the best ways for people to find good auto insurance is with the help of the internet. Anyone in need of car insurance can do a quick search in one of the major search engines, and be presented with a long list of different insurance companies that can supply their needs. 

One of the best things about looking for auto insurance online, is that people can get auto insurance quotes quickly and easily. All they have to do is enter some basic information about themselves and their vehicle. After that they can a quote in a matter of seconds. 

The type of insurance that a person needs can vary from person to person. You can access an online car insurance calculator to see what quote is best for you. Some car lots require that they people who purchase cars from them, to have full coverage on the cars they sell until they are paid off. All types of auto insurance quotes can be obtained online with a few clicks of the mouse, but it’s important to keep in mind that the best insurance coverage is the type that fulfills all the needs of the driver; at the best price possible. 

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12 Ways to Reduce Your Car Insurance Premium

Car insurance premiums are rising all the time but there are ways you can potentially bring the costs down. Some of these ways involve addressing your existing policy and looking at the scope of its cover. Plus there are additional courses of action you can take before you actually buy a car.

Here are twelve ways you can lower your Car Insurance costs:

Obtaining a quote

One of the simplest ways to reduce your premium is simply to get a cheaper quote! Thanks to the rise in comparison sites it’s never been easier to check the price of your cover with just a few clicks of a mouse.

Alternatively you can speak to an independent insurance broker who will effectively do the same job. Scanning the market in this way is the first way to potentially bring your costs down.

Additional drivers?

Does your current insurance policy allow for any licensed driver to get behind the wheel? Restricting the number of people who are allowed to drive your car can save around 10% on your annual costs. If you don’t need others to be able to drive your car make sure you change the cover to allow for yourself only or you and your partner to drive it and you could see the price of your policy fall.

Pay up front if you can

Most insurance companies will allow you to pay your premium by installments but there may be a charge for doing so. There are many benefits in paying your premium monthly but if you can possibly afford to then you could try to settle the cost in one payment at the outset. This could save over £100 on your annual bill in some cases.

Restricting your mileage

Several insurers are now basing their premiums on the amount of miles you cover in a calendar year and will ask you to declare an estimate at the beginning of cover. If you find at the end of the year that your mileage is much less than you thought, remember to tell your insurance company. Lower mileage can mean lower costs but it’s important to be completely honest as databases can check this information at certain points in your vehicle’s life.

Security

The majority of modern cars come with a manufacturer’s alarm fitted as standard and for most motorists; this level of security is more than sufficient. However, it may be worth looking at other devices such as an immobilisers as this could bring your costs down. Speak with your insurance company first to ascertain whether there is sufficient discount available to make this course of action worthwhile.

Use your garage

Many insurers offer further savings if your car is placed in a locked garage at night. If you have access to this type of facility then remember to use it and ask your insurance provider to assess your premium accordingly.

Consider an advanced motoring course

After passing your test, further tuition can be offered by the Institute of Advanced Motorists and if you complete their course successfully, some insurance companies will reward you with a discount on your annual premium. The IAM course can teach you valuable lessons throughout your driving career too but if you’re solely taking it to save money on your premiums, check beforehand to make sure that your insurance company offers this type of discount.

De-modifying

When applying for insurance, we’re all asked whether our car has been modified. If it has, then a higher premium can be charged as a result. If you’re looking to purchase a new vehicle with unnecessary modifications then consider removing them. This may not be straightforward in the case of engine upgrades but even a body kit and spoiler can add to your premium so think about removing them and saving money.

Your voluntary excess

Further reductions can be obtained by increasing your policy excess – the amount that you would be responsible for paying towards repairs in the event of a claim. When you look at this option however, remember that there is likely to be a compulsory excess already in place so only take on  as much as you are comfortable with.

Reduce the ‘add-ons’

Many companies offer extras on their policy such as legal expenses and personal accident cover and some will automatically charge you for these. It could be the case that you have this type of extra cover elsewhere so be sure to check for unnecessary duplication.

Combine all cars under one policy

Many insurance companies now offer ‘multi-car discounts’ for insuring two or more cars under one policy. Not every provider does this but if you have more than one vehicle then this maybe  worth exploring.

Get a lower group car

One of the more straightforward options to save money is simply to change your car. If you have a high-group, high engine vehicle then it is going to attract a bigger insurance premium as a result.
Smaller engines can generally save on costs and it is very easy to research a list of cars and their insurance groups before you make the switch.

The post was written by David Lewzey of unemployment insurance specialists helpucover, who also offer pet, redundancy and income protection insurance. Visit them at http://www.helpucover.co.uk/. helpucover is a trading name of Pinnacle Insurance plc.

Posted on 03:28 / 0 comments / Read More