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.

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Secured Home Loans - The Good and the Bad

A home loan taken out with a security arrangement otherwise known as a mortgage is a common arrangement with most banks and lenders. However it remains to be seen whether or not it is advantageous to the borrower/mortgagor. This article will discuss some of the pros and cons of a secured home loan.

Define and Differentiate

At the onset it is important to differentiate a loan with a mortgage. The former entails borrowing money goods or credit with payment of principal and interest. The latter results in the same arrangement but with an additional clause that in case of failure to pay a specific number of amortizations (installments) the property used as security will be foreclosed upon, either judicially or extra judicially. The security property maybe the property bought via the loan and/or a different property. It may be real or personal, tangible or intangible, provided both parties agree to the same becoming the security or collateral.

The Good

The first and most obvious advantage is the fact that a loan with mortgage increases the chances of loan/mortgage approval. This is especially true if the collateral has high demand, is of significant value, and easily disposable. This is because loan approval is all about controlling and managing the risk of loss. If the collateral is valuable and marketable then the risk of loss is zero or minimal. 

Another advantage is the fact that the application process gets fast tracked. This is because once the risk of loss has been determined as zero or minimal the only hurdle is the procedural aspect of the application. Of course this presupposes the collateral is free from any other encumbrance that will negatively affect the security arrangement with the lender/mortgagor.

Second, lower interest rates can also be expected. This is because interest rates are used to control and factor in risks. Simply put, the lower the risk the lower the interest rates and vice versa. 

Third, aside from the interest rates, the loan terms should also be better. This is based on closing costs, type of mortgage, prepayment penalties, etc. Of course to maximize this advantage the borrower/mortgagor must negotiate knowing the industry standard for his/her financial situation.

The Bad

The most obvious disadvantage is the fact that none payment of a specified number of installments may cause the borrower/mortgagor to lose the mortgaged property. Worst case scenario is that the foreclosure may not even totally wipe out the debt. And in some cases the collateral may not even be the purchased property. 

A less obvious disadvantage is the fact that you reduce or deplete the equity of the security property. For example, Mr. A mortgages his home worth $300,000. The cost of the mortgage reduces the equity of the home to half its market value. This in itself is not a bad thing, but it will deprive Mr. A of the opportunity cost for the entire equity just in case he needs it for emergency purposes.

In Closing

A secured home loan may or may not be advantageous to the applicant borrower/mortgagor. However in order to actually realize and maximize the advantage the arrangement must be entered into not only willingly but knowingly. And with clause modifications and insertions advantageous to the borrower/mortgagor, such as the number of defaults, notice of defaults, redemption period, etc.

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Life Insurance Application For a Quote!

There are numerous life insurance companies offering competitive (and not so competitive) rates on all types of policies.  The key, as you might deduce, is comparative shopping.  Each company requires an application and can then give you a quote based on the information you provide them.  It is imperative that, when filling out the primary questionnaire that you be as forthcoming and honest as possible.  Remember, you are vying for a quote, and it is preliminary, so should the company find out you were less than totally honest on your questionnaire, or on your following medical exam, the company can choose to withdraw their acceptance and cancel your newly procured life insurance policy.  Best case scenario, if they do not rescind their approval, they could very well use the newly found information that was deemed incorrect on the questionnaire as an excuse to raise your premiums to levels that you are unable to afford, forcing you to either reduce your coverage or start all over in your quest for an affordable life insurance company.  Simply put, if you are unsure as to an answer on any questionnaire or medical exam, just admit that you cannot remember or do not know and let the financial experts at the insurance company sort it out.  If you answer in this way, you have covered yourself by not putting down information that could later come back to haunt you.

Life insurance companies, like any other type of business, exist to make money and, therefore, they have very strict guidelines that they follow to demarcate the healthy from the unhealthy.  Healthy, young applicants receive the best, most affordable premiums, while others struggle to qualify for the second best premium rates offered.  It is said that 5% of applicants misrepresent certain facts in order to qualify for a better premium rate.  The main reason for this is the fear of having to pay rates that are nearly unaffordable for minor health problems they believe might cause the insurance companies concern.  There is a reason why your mother’s favorite saying was probably something to the effect of, “honesty is the best policy”, even though she was not speaking of insurance policies.  

If you lie to your life insurance company it usually turns out doing you more harm than being honest would have done to your premiums.  The legal term (yes, it is illegal and there is an actual name for it) is Material Misrepresentation, meaning you have misrepresented facts that are crucial to the company’s ability to issue your policy.  The underwriters who are in charge of studying the details on your application and deciding if you qualify for any of that company’s life insurance policies are good at what they do, and are skilled at deducing facts from fiction.  Also, before you are issued a policy, an independent medical exam is performed and many facts can be verified by this exam as well.  You will be given blood tests, an electrocardiogram and other tests, and these along with your previous medical records and prescriptions obtained from your primary care physician are used to evaluate your health, and by proxy, your honesty on the application.  If there are medical problems that you attempted to hide with false statements on any of the paperwork you turned in, the insurance company has every right to deny you coverage.  In addition to this denial after all of the work you put forth attempting to obtain an affordable policy, the false claims you attested as truth will go on your permanent record and every time you apply for insurance, be it life or health or whatnot, the company will be able to see that you have a history of misrepresenting facts on previous applications for insurance, making you more of a risk.  This not only stains your integrity, but upon your passing, it could very well put your family’s financial well-being at stake, allowing an opportunity for the life insurance company to deny your death benefits claim.

Insurance fraud is a serious crime, and should not be taken lightly.  The companies take it quite seriously, as should you.  In the long run, honesty will bring you peace of mind, just as life insurance can do.  If you are honest and forthcoming on your application, then you have nothing to worry about, and you can rest assured that your family will be able to collect the death benefits upon your passing and not have to worry about their financial future.  In your heart, you know at the time of your passing, one less thing to worry about will mean the world to them, and their financial assurance from your life insurance policy is one gift you can leave them when you’re gone.

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Get a Lower Car Insurance Quote

If you are thinking of buying an insurance coverage for your car, then you have to make sure that you know exactly how to shop around for the lowest quotes.  But it is important for you to avoid compromising the quality of a specific coverage in exchange for a low price.  Look for an affordable auto insurance which has a good coverage. This will allow you to receive the kind of financial assistance that you need in case your car gets damaged.  The following tips can help you find lower insurance quotes for your car without sacrificing the quality of your choices:

1.  Check your credit reports and improve your credit rating first.  Note that your credit history and score can have a huge impact on the kind of car insurance quotes that you will receive.  If your credit score is high, then expect to receive lower quotes.  If you have a poor credit score, then it is advisable for you to raise it first before you start applying for car insurance.  Among the many things that you can do to improve your credit score are keep your credit card balances low, avoid missing bill payments, avoid defaulting when it comes to paying your debts, avoid opening more credit lines if not necessary and monitor your credit reports and ratings periodically.  It is also advisable for you to dispute any inaccurate information that you think have caused your credit rating to go down. This is a major help in instantly raising your score, thereby increasing your chances of getting lower car insurance quotes.

2.  Provide insurance companies with essential details.  You have to make sure that you supply insurance companies with the kind of details that they are asking for.  These include your marital status, your zip code, safety features of your car and the commuting miles of your car per year.  If you do not supply all these information, then there is a great tendency for insurance companies to provide you with higher car insurance rates.  Make it a point to supply insurers with more details as this is a major help in qualifying for discounts.

3.  Do comparison shopping.  You should consider using the different websites online that offer services in terms of comparing insurance quotes.  Bear in mind that you can actually get a substantial amount of savings every year by comparing the rates of different insurance companies.  It is also advisable for you to include the company where you get your other insurance in your list of choices.  It is because this company may be capable of providing you with lower rates since you are already one of their clients.  Aside from that, you can also easily negotiate for the rates of Raleigh Bikes.

4.  Add devices into your car that can help prevent theft.  Among these devices are tracking systems and car alarms.  By installing these anti-theft devices into your vehicle, you get the chance to avail of great discounts.  You should also know that enrolling in a defensive driving class can help in reducing the amount that you need to pay for your premiums.  All these can help reduce the chances of your vehicle from being stolen so expect different insurance companies to provide you with lower quotes.

You can get to know more Information here. 

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Will the new breathalyser law affect you?

If a company has a van, which is being driven by multiple employees, any driver van insurance may be ideal and will mean there is greater flexibility when choosing who can use a van each day.

To prevent drivers from causing traffic accidents employers should actively encourage workers to adhere to the rules of the road. As a result, if workers drive safely while building up a history of no-claims, managers may be more likely to receive cheaper van insurance at renewal. 

In 2010, according to the Royal Society for The Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), approximately 250 people died and 1,230 suffered serious personal injuries in alcohol-related traffic accidents in Britain.However, according to a BBC report, around 4,000 people die on the roads each year in France – with drink-driving being a contributing factor in the majority of collisions.If staff members need to drive through France, they may be affected by a new law introduced to combat the effects of drink-driving and so all drivers should be also be made aware of any applicable regulations abroad. The new law came into effect on the 1st July 2012. 

From this date, anyone driving in France must carry two NF approved breathalyser kits in their vehicles or risk an on-the-spot penalty fine of €11 (Roughly £8).

 

To ensure drivers are following this new law, French police are planning to carry out random checks on vehicles entering the country via ferries or through the Channel Tunnel. However, foreign drivers without breathalysers will be excused from penalty fines until 1st November.

This regulation has led to many motorists rushing out to buy breathalyser kits, causing unprecedented demand. In just one week, Halfords sold double their annual target for breathalyser sales and are reportedly selling the kits at a rate of one every minute. 

Currently, motorists travelling in France may also receive an on-the-spot penalty fine if they do not carry a high-visibility safety jacket or a warning triangle in their vehicles for use in the event of a car accident. The new breathalyser law was passed in an attempt to prevent accidents and will, hopefully, save around 500 lives a year. 

Yet, according to a web survey carried out by the Institute for Advanced Motorists (IAM), 82% of respondents believe this law will not have any effect on drink-driving, while 70% feel motorists will only carry the breathalyser kits in order to comply with the authorities.

A motorist can use their breathalyser to find out if they are over the limit – in France the alcohol limit is 30mg lower than in the UK. If the breathalyser indicates a driver has too much alcohol in the blood, he or she must refrain from driving until the alcohol is completely out of their system. 

Otherwise, they may receive a driving conviction if found guilty by the French authorities – which may substantially increase the price of their company’s van insurance policy and could result in disciplinary action.

An online, van-only insurance provider. To find out how much your van insurance policy could be, click here to get a quote .

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How telematics can benefit businesses

The headlines of Britain’s news media make troubling reading: “EU could change Eurozone countries’ budgets”, “Ocado says trade disrupted by jubilee celebrations”, “Administrator to cut services after takeover of ailing NHS trust”. 

Wherever you look, it seems organisations may be trying to cut back and reduce costs.

In this harsh economic climate, most companies will probably try to make certain savings, but van insurance is an essential expense for any distribution company – and yet, it can also be very expensive.Research by Autonet Insurance showed, in January 2011, male drivers under the age of 22 had to pay an average of £2,550 for their van cover.With this expensive price tag companies may look for ways to reduce the cost of their premiums, and some may find that they are more likely to obtain cheap van insurance with the help of telematics. 

Some companies refer to telematics technology as a “spy” because it monitors various aspects of a driver’s motoring behaviour. For example, if a staff member drives recklessly, by breaking speed limits for example, his or her employer will know about it.So, staff members may drive more safely if managers install black boxes (telematics devices) in their vehicles and let employees know that they are monitoring their driving habits.In 2012, Co-operative Insurance provided encouraging data to back up the efficacy of telematics technology by analysing the driving habits of 10,000 telematics policy-holders.After finishing their research, the company determined those aged between 17 and 25 were approximately 20% less likely to suffer a vehicle collision than drivers with a normal insurance policy. Furthermore, after a traffic accident, insurance claims for telematics customers cost around 30% less than those with standard cover. 

 As well as potentially reducing the severity of a traffic accident, telematics may have a variety of other benefits. For example, TRACKER, a telematics company, published a survey in 2012 showing 22% of companies had been able to use telematics to improve their fuel consumption. In addition, 38% reported improvements in customer satisfaction after installing black boxes in their vehicles.

Finally, a company may be adversely affected if vans are stolen. However, a black box monitors the location of a vehicle – meaning it can be tracked in the event of theft. Although this device will not guarantee the safe recovery of a stolen van, it may provide some peace of mind to managers and can help police in apprehending the thieves. This extra security device also helps to bring down insurance costs. 

According to a survey carried out by ALD Automotive and YouGov in 2012, more than a third of UK businesses with more than 500 employees are using telematics technology. As a result, these companies may be able to save money on their fuel costs as well as improve driver behaviour and employee productivity.Furthermore, as long as staff members drive safely and build up a history of no-claims, employers may see a reduction in the price of their van insurance at renewal. 

This guest post was provided by iVan Insurance, a van-only online insurance provider. To see if your company could claim cheap van insurance, click here to get a quote

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Reducing employee stress is great for businesses

In these harsh economic times, distribution companies may feel the need to send drivers out on multiple assignments, increase the number of deliveries or fulfil more orders. However, although this may lead to quicker profits, it might have an adverse affect on a workforce. 

If an employee feels they have an excessive amount of work, deadlines or requirements, they may begin to get stressed. Although a small amount of pressure may help to motivate, encourage or to make a task more fulfilling, a staff member may suffer from stress if that pressure becomes too much. This might have an adverse effect on a person’s well being. 

Even worse, stress often has a cumulative effect. If one employee starts to become ill because of stress, the rest of the workforce may have to carry out his or her duties; further increasing the pressure. However, although stress can affect the productivity of a business, it can be deadly on the roads.When a person gets behind the wheel, they should focus all of their attention on driving safely and following the rules of the road. Yet, if a motorist is suffering from stress he or she may be unable to focus properly and their driving ability might suffer.If an employee becomes stressed and starts to drive erratically, they are far more likely to use more fuel than someone who is calm and content. In addition, if this driving behavior results in a traffic accident, an employer may see the price of their commercial van insurance increase greatly.

Employers have a legal duty to ensure staff members do not suffer because of their workload. If employees are starting to show tiredness, irritability, indecisiveness or increased levels of sickness, a manager should take appropriate steps to reduce stress levels.This could include changing work policies, extending deadlines, ensuring staff members take their breaks, making a vehicle more ergonomic or simply educating employees about the dangers of stress.If an employer is unsure about what might cause excessive pressure at work, they should either hire a competent person to carry out a stress audit or ask staff members if they are feeling anxious while driving. After undertaking these measures, duty-holders should then implement suitable steps to reduce or eliminate the causes of stress. 

A company which has an effective stress-management policy may experience a variety of benefits, such as increased productivity and better decision making from employees, as well as a reduction in mistakes, personal injury, sickness absence and staff turnover.Furthermore, a company with an effective stress management system is more appealing to clients, investments and customers. After all, very few shareholders would invest in a company with a poor accident record.By ensuring employees drive safely behind the wheel, distributors may eventually see a reduction in their van insurance premiums and might even help road safety by preventing traffic accidents from occurring. 

This guest post was provided by iVan Insurance, an online only insurance company specializing in van cover. To receive a commercial van insurance quote, click here .

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