Tricks and tactics to cut the cost

07:17 |


There are three types of insurance to choose from and you should consider all the options to get the right type. Also, once you've chosen make sure you check your policy carefully, so you know exactly what you are and aren't covered for in the event of a claim.
Third Party
The minimum level of cover you need to legally be able to drive on the roads is called 'Third Party'. It used to be the cheapest type of insurance but now bizarrely fully comprehensive policies can often be cheaper. Never assuem one costs less than the other; quote both.
Third Party covers you for any damage you cause to another person's vehicle and protection for any passengers in your car.
Therefore, if you are in an accident and it is your fault, you will have to pay for any repairs to your own car yourself, as your insurance won't cover it. It's more expensive because it's assumed you care less about your car and are therefore more likely to have an accident.
It’s generally the most suitable for those…
  • With cars worth less than £1000
  • Aged under 25
  • Without a no-claims bonus
  • Or living in a high risk area
Third Party Fire and Theft
Third party fire and theft has the same level of cover as third party insurance. However, self evidently, it also has the additional cover of assistance if your car is stolen or is set on fire.
Fully Comprehensive
This is the widest level of cover but can be the cheapest. The big advantage is if you have an accident and it was your fault you will be able to claim the cost of repairing your own car, and cover personal injury costs, as well as those of the other drivers.
The cover also includes accidental damage and vandalism, for example if somebody causes damage to your car when it is parked in the street and they then drive off. Plus you'll usually (though not always, so do check your policy details carefully) be able to drive other people's cars if you have their permission, although this is likely to be only be Third Party. Sometimes you'll be covered for driving hire cars too.
Fully Comp is a good idea if your car is worth more than £1,500 and gets more important the more valuable you car is. Many insurers will only offer fully comprehensive cover for higher value cars anyway.
There are a few ways of cutting the cost of fully-comprehensive cover, Tesco Value insurance offers a comprehensive policy but limits the repairs to garages it has relationships with, which lowers the cost. However this doesn’t automatically make it cheapest, ensure you first use the comparison sites in theCheapest Car Insurance article to check.
Don’t think third party’s cheaper than comprehensive
Counter logically lesser third-party policies often cost more than fully-comp.
Why? Car insurance rates are set by actuaries, who’s job is to calculate risk. And it’s likely third-party buyers are on average a higher-risk group, perhaps as overall they care less about their cars, and so prices are pushed up. To illustrate this in one low risk driver quote, we found £290 for fully-comp compared to £406 third-party.
Yet this isn’t a hard rule, third-party can win, but for price’s sake always check comprehensive out too, use the main Cheap Car Insurance guide to compare.

Reduce your risk, reduce your cost

Every application for car insurance is different. Each insurer’s price depend on two things, first the underwriters assessment of your particular risk focus and then the pricing model which dictates what type of customers the insurer wants to attract.
Therefore by reducing an insurer’s perception of your risk you can reduce the price you’ll pay. There are of course many factors you either can’t change or can’t change easily … age, gender, where you live and driving history. Yet there are things you can have control over:
  • Park and drive carefully

    Theft and accidental damage add a bulk to insurance costs. If you leave your car in a garage or driveway it’s a big deterrent to theft and means accidental damage is less likely, resulting in a 3% - 7% drop in insurance costs.

    And of course the more points on your licence the higher the cost. While speeding points remain on your licence for four years insurers check for convictions during the last five before they are removed from your record.

    One speeding conviction may only affect the price of cover by around 5% but any more’ll bump up the price, with two offences costing around 20% more. Being caught with a mobile phone is more serious and can double your quote!
  • Add a second person to an under-25s / high risk drivers insurance

    Insuring someone aged under 25 can cost a fortune. Yet by adding a second driver with a good record to the insurance, even if they won't use the car often, it can smooth out the average risk and sometimes reduce the premium. It won't always work, but it’s worth playing with quotes to check.

    However at no point should you add your name as the main driver on a younger driver’s policy instead of them. This is known in the industry as fronting and is fraud. When you come to claim, this will often be checked out and your insurance will be invalidated.
  • Pick a car

    The combination of car, engine size and value all impact car insurance cost. It’s worth considering this when you buy; a big super-powerful 4 by 4 for a 17 year old would cost enough to make Bill Gates balk.
  • Fit a security device

    Any extra security will help, fitting an alarm or immobilizer (especially one approved byThatcham) will reduce the bill substantially.
  • Don’t modify your car

    The more changes you make to your car, barring security ones, the more you’ll be charged. Always make sure you inform your insurer of any modifications to your car, whether you made them or not, or it may invalidate your policy. A modification is anything that is not part of the standard vehicle specification including factory fitted optional extras, such as alloy wheels.
  • Reduce your mileage

    The less you drive, the cheaper your insurance will be. Where possible try and reduce your mileage. This may sound trite, but actually the real key is incorporating the extra insurance cost when you make long journeys not just the cost of petrol compared to taking the bus or train (also read Cheap Trains article). If you drive your vehicle on business, always declare this rather than just include the business miles as personal, or the policy may be void.
  • Inform your insurer of any changes in circumstances 

    This is crucial as it reduces potential problems in the event of a claim; even if it’s just your address. Trying to get insurance after you've had a policy cancelled due to a fraudulent claim is very difficult, very expensive and will follow you for the rest of your life.

    A change in circumstances includes moving jobs, as insurers beleive this can affect your risk. Scandalously, the unemployed often (though not always) pay higher rates for their car insurance, so do inform your provider if you're out of work but also check to see if it’s worth cancelling and moving elsewhere, as you don’t need to be at renewal to change insurer.


If you’ve read these tips and thought, “it’s be quite easy to lie about this”, then of course you’re right. Yet lying on your insurance form is fraud. It can lead to your insurance being invalidated and in the worst case a criminal prosecution for driving without insurance. Don’t do it.

Tips and tricks for lowering car insurance costs

If you’re trying to finesse the lowest price, there are a few more things to watch out for. Car insurance marketing is clever. Its aim is to make you feel you’re getting the best deal but to maximise the insurer’s profit at the same time.
  • Get a ‘new’ quote from your existing insurer

    Often applying to your existing insurer as a new customer produces a cheaper price than its renewal quote. Insurers put out more competitive prices to attract new customers so simply start again and you could be better off.
  • Consider how much you’d really claim for?

    It's worth considering going for a policy with a higher excess (the amount of any claim you need to pay yourself). Many people will find that claiming for less than £500 worth of damage both increases the future cost of insurance and can invalidate no-claims bonuses, meaning it’s not always worth making a claim.

    So why pay extra for a lower excess? A few policies will substantially reduce premiums for a £1,000 excess, so try this when getting quotes. Of course the one downside with this is if you have a bigger claim you’ll have to shell out more, but often it’s a good balance of the risks.
  • Drive someone else’s car on your insurance

    If you have fully comprehensive insurance then often, although not always, it includes what’s called ‘driving other cars’ cover. This provides you with Third Party cover whilst reducing your mileage and therefore the cost of your own policy.
  • New car, free insurance

    Buy a new car and it may include free insurance for a few years. While this is only worth a few hundred a year to an experienced driver, to a young car owner it could be worth thousands and is well worth taking into account when you add up overall costs.
  • New Driver? Take an additional driving course

    PassPlus is a Driving Standards Agency course aimed at helping new drivers (within 12 months of passing their test) become more confident on the road. There are six modules; town driving, all-weather driving, driving out of town, night driving, driving on dual carriageways and driving on motorways.

    The cost of the course is around £200 but varies depending on where you live and the instructor or driving school you choose. Yet many local councils offer discounts of up to 50%, usually for those under 25, and in Wales it only costs £20 (check if your council is taking part).
    Once you have the certificate some insurers then discount the price of your insurance but but as there are not many there’s a high chance you can get cheaper cover elsewhere.

Extra tips for no claimers

  • No-claims discounts don't necessarily reduce the premium

    For every year you don't claim on the insurance policy you get a discount. This makes a substantial difference to the overall cost. If you do claim it's usually two years off this discount. This is deliberate to encourage people not to claim. You can also get a protected no-claims discount so that claims don't impact it.

    Remember though, if you do have an accident, even if you don't claim to keep your no claims discount, the price of the policy can rise simply because you may be assessed as a higher risk in the future.
  • Try to keep your no-claims if switching from a company car to a private car

    If you have a no-claims bonus from driving a company car and try to find private insurance online, you'll find neither insurer nor broker will allow your previous no-claims bonus to count.

    Yet if you phone up most companies will give some form of ‘introductory or special bonus' to those switching to a private car. This is because these discounts are often applied manually as the online systems don't automatically allow a discount. There are also discounts available with brokers and some insurers where second cars for existing policyholders can attract introductory bonuses, but again these are call-centre not internet-based. See the Mulit Car Discount section in the main Car Insurance guide.

    The overall tactic I would suggest is first of all use the Cheapest Car Insurance four-step plan to establish your risk factor – then call the top three (or possibly five) providers listed and discuss this no-claims company issue.

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7 Insurance Tricks That Cost You Money

07:16 |

 Is there a way to get insurance against insurance? For some who have been victims of the scrupulous practices of some insurance companies, they probably wish they could purchase some protection against their insurance. Sadly, we often feel like we're at the mercy of the insurance giants, but there is a way to level the playing field: education. If you know their tricks, you know how to avoid them.

1. You May Not Need Collision Insurance
So you purchased an older model car. It's only worth $2,500 and is seven or more years old. As your car depreciates, it gets closer and closer to your deductible. Remember that the insurance company won't pay you any more than the value of your car, so if the value is the same or less than your deductible, you won't get any money. If you're driving an old car, consider not getting collision insurance. The minimum policy required by law is enough in your case. Don't count on your insurance agent to tell you, though.
2. If You Have a Car Loan, You Need Gap Insurance
After you got rid of that old car, you purchased a shiny new car complete with that brand new car smell that everybody loves. You took out a loan for $25,000 and drove home. Two weeks later your car was totaled and the insurance company offered to pay you $21,000 for the car. The bank is going to still want the $25,000 you owe, so you'll be on the hook for the other $4,000.
Without gap insurance, you have to pay it out of your pocket. If you have a loan for your car, you should also consider gap insurance.
3. Anti-Concurrent Language in Your Policy
You live in a coastal town and recently a major hurricane came through and caused major damage to your home, including tens of thousands of dollars in flood damage. Everything will be covered because you have hurricane insurance as part of your homeowner's policy, right? Wrong!
Your insurance company tells you that because of the anti-concurrent language in your policy, nothing is covered because flood damage isn't covered even though the damage was clearly caused by the hurricane. Adding insult to injury, they tell you that you should have read your policy. Does all of this sound confusing?
Make sure to ask your insurance agent about the anti-concurrent language in your policy and ask them to show it to you in the policy.
4. You'll Never Understand It, Anyway
Have you ever tried to read your insurance policy? Regardless of your level of education or your street smarts, these policies are written in an extremely complicated way, but this problem is quickly being solved. Legislation in more than half of the United States has been introduced or enacted in to law making insurance companies write their policies in plain English. Always ask for an explanation of the policy if you don't understand it. Do you have a phone that allows you to record? Turn the microphone on and record the insurance agent's explanation.
5. We Use Your Credit Score to Determine Your Rate
Had some troubles paying your bills? Bankruptcy? These may not seem like unreasonable items for your insurance company to look at if they're trusting you to make payments on your policy, but think of it another way: What if you believe in paying cash for everything and you have no credit? What if you're elderly and no longer make purchases requiring credit?
This practice assumes that having credit makes for a responsible person when in actuality, some people are so responsible that they don't need credit at all. When receiving a rate quote, ask the agent if they used your credit score as a metric to determine your rate.
6. We Get a Bonus If We Hassle You
According to a North Dakota Insurance Department report released in 2007, Farmers Insurance used to have an incentive program called "Quest for Gold" that rewarded adjusters with pizza parties and $25 gift cards if they met low payment goals. They weren't the only ones -- others rewarded adjusters with various gifts and pressured employees to meet low payment goals.
Before entering into negotiations with the insurance adjuster, know how much your car is worth, have a clear idea of the extent of your injuries and speak to an attorney if necessary. While not all insurance companies are going to act this way, they want to save money as much as you want to make money, so they will most likely not give you their best and fair offer without a little bit of negotiation on your part.

7. We Consider It a Claim If You Call
A neighbor accidentally hit a baseball through your kitchen window, but you don't remember what your deductible is and you've never made a claim against your homeowner's insurance, so you call the company to collect some information. You tell them the situation and simply ask for information.
Your insurance company may view that as a claim and adjust rates accordingly and the call may go in into the CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report on your house, which is available to anybody with a financial interest in your home. That one phone call may make it difficult to get insurance for your home.
If you have a question about your policy and must call, make your question into a general question that you are asking to gain an understanding on your policy.
The Bottom Line
Not all insurance companies are out to get you, but like all types of businesses, there are honest and dishonest people and you have to protect yourself at all times.
___ 

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The Most Expensive Cars to Insure

07:16 |


A look at the most and least expensive 2011 vehicles to insure.
New car is one of the biggest purchases you make, even before you consider how much the insurance is going to cost. Generally speaking, the more expensive the car, the more likely it is to come with a hefty insurance bill. Insurance rates for a vehicle, irrespective of the driver, are determined primarily by how much agencies have paid out for repairs on that model in the past.
"Rates could be high because there are lots of claims on the car or because the few claims that do exist are high since the parts are so expensive," Amy Danise, senior managing editor of Insure.com, told MainStreet. This is why luxury cars like Mercedes and BMW models cost more to insure. Driver behavior also contributes to the cost of insuring, say, a convertible. "People are buying these cars to go fast and that's why they're crashing them," Danise explains.
Conversely, family cars like station wagons or sedans with low horsepower generate lower insurance rates since they're used more often to commute than to drag race. Which 2011 models specifically present the best (and worst) insurance deals?
Methodology
Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services, which monitors insurance rates, to calculate the average premiums for a single 40-year-old male driver who commutes 12 miles to work each day. This theoretical driver has a clean driving record and good credit. All policies considered had limits of $100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident. They also had a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage.
Quadrant Information Services used car insurance rates from six large carriers (State Farm, Allstate, Progressive, GEICO, Farmers and Nationwide) in 10 ZIP codes per state.
Not all models are available for calculating average rates, especially some exotic cars, which is why you won't see Lamborghinis on the list, though, according to Insure.com, you can assume those carry hefty insurance bills. Note also that a person's rate may vary depending on their actual driving record.
Most Expensive
1. Mercedes SL65 AMG
Average National Annual Premium: $3,544

Style: Two-door convertible

Cylinders: 12
2. BMW 750i
Average National Annual Premium: $3,281

Style: Four-door sedan hybrid

Cylinders: 8
3. BMW 750Li
Average National Annual Premium: $3,281

Style: Four-door sedan hybrid

Cylinders: 8
4. Mercedes SL63 AMG
Average National Annual Premium: $3,263

Style: Two-door convertible

Cylinders: 8
5. Mercedes S65 AMG
Average National Annual Premium: $3,221

Style: Four-door sedan turbo

Cylinders: 12

Least Expensive
1. Chrysler Town and Country
Average National Annual Premium: $1,092

Style: Four-door wagon

Cylinders: 6
2. Sienna 4 Cylinder
Average National Annual Premium: $1,101

Style: Five-door wagon

Cylinders: 4
3. Toyota Sienna LE
Average National Annual Premium: $1,108

Style: Five-door wagon

Cylinders: 4
4. Honda Odyssey LX
Average National Annual Premium: $1,115

Style: Five-door hybrid, two-wheel drive, single overhead Camshaft engine

Cylinders: 6
5. Nissan Murano SL
Average National Annual Premium: $1,128

Style: Two-wheel drive, four-door utility

Cylinders: 6

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Everything You Need to Know About Life Insurance

07:13 |


Life insurance is a type of protection that can be bought and insures the buyer in the event of death. The risk that is assumed by the insurer is the risk of death of the insured. Life insurance is a very good purchase in order to protect a family, especially if you are the sole breadwinner. Additionally, life insurance can help pay for funeral costs and therefore ensure that your death will not be a financial burden for your family.
It is important to understand the process of life insurance in order to truly grasp its value. A life insurance transaction has three parties: the insured, the insurer, and the owner of the policy (the insured and owner of the policy are often the same person). One of the most important parties involved with life insurance is the beneficiary. The beneficiary receives the policy proceeds upon the death of the insured. Only the owner of the policy can change the beneficiary. If the beneficiary is an irrevocable beneficiary, then any changes in beneficiary must be agreed to by the irrevocable beneficiary.
In order to solidify a life insurance plan with an insurer, the insurer must evaluate the insured's lifestyle. The insurer evaluates the risk of insuring the customer. Some insurance companies will not grant insurance to people with serious health issues, or extreme lifestyles. Insurance companies charge differing amounts for life insurance based on the risk evaluation. Part of the risk evaluation is a health evaluation. There are for categories for people seeking life insurance: Preferred Best, Preferred, Standard, and Tobacco. Having no family history of illness or early cancer, and being extremely healthy and active can result in a Preferred Best rating. Depending on lifestyles, and family histories, a person is slowly moved down the ladder. It is easy to move down the categories but almost impossible to move up a category.
Life insurance is a legal contract that has terms and conditions. In the event of the suicide of the insured, most insurance companies will declare the policy null and void. Misrepresentation by the owner or insured on the life insurance application is also a plausible reason for the policy to be nullified. Insurance companies are entitled to know the circumstances of the insured's death and can decide whether or not the policy should be nullified if there is suspicion of suicide. A death certificate must be shown to the insurer to prove the death of the insured.
As with any insurance policy, life insurance takes a substantial amount of time to mature. Once matured, the 'face value' of the policy is given. A policy matures upon the death of the insured, or when the insured reaches a certain age. Depending on the policy, the insured can make differing amounts of payments over time. As with all insurances, failed payments result in the termination of the insurance.
Life insurance is a very good thing to have because it protects your family's financial well-being. In the event that you were the sole worker, life insurance can pay your family your salary for many years (depending on the policy). Life insurance can also cover the costs of funerals and therefore your death won't be a burden on your family.

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Posted by Unknown

Life Insurance Careers

07:12 |


Do you like to spend all day being sitting around? Fixed income is good enough for you? Do you feel economic stability is not a priority right now?
Well, if your answer to any of above questions is 'Yes', you should accept the fact youhave a very high chance of being unsuccessful.
But if, in the other hand, you are proactive, if you need to build a future for your family and yourself, establishing financial stability with a job that takes advantage of all your skills, then you should strongly consider a career in the life insurance world.Why choosing a career in insurance?
Well, one of the main reasons is that you get to help people. Nothing pays more that having someone looking into your eyes and saying 'Thank you, you really helped me'. You will be the one who provides trustful care to those who need it. Moreover, as you help them, you will be setting up a safe, stable future for you and all those who depend on you.
If you have good salesperson abilities, patience and good people skills, then success is a piece of cake. Remember, everyone needs life insurance, because nobody wants to leave his family uncovered when the unexpected happens; so it's just a matter of time: eventually they will seek for an agent to get themselves a policy. That agent could be you!
So, this is your time to make a choice. You are good for many things, there is a number of careers you could choose; but have in mind that the right decision is what separates the successful person from the unsuccessful one. Of course, you do not want to be unsuccessful. Why should you? You have the skills, you have the power, you have all it takes to success in the insurance world. You just need to take one step: get a life insurance career. Choice is yours.

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Bankers Long Term Care Insurance

07:12 |


How many times have you seen people whose life was turned upside down by an accident?
When an accident occurs, you must be prepared to face it. Nobody knows when bad things can happen, so it's good to count on a health care insurance policy.
However, a lot of people doesn't really consider all aspects of getting health care coverage; that is why a surprisingly big percentage of policyholders have chosen plain health care, not having in mind all of the advantages of long term care insurance.
Bankers long term care insurance policies are meant for everyone who cares not only for hospital coverage, but also keeps in mind all home care related issues.Imagine not being able to perform simple daily tasks, like getting dressed everyday, or even having a bath by yourself. Who will help you? Of course, your family and friends will take care of you. But in the event of a permanent disability; are you ready to change their lives that way?
We all are aware of the consequences of having a disability. Why not rely on a professional to take care of you? Sad but true: nobody wants to be a load on a beloved family member or a dear friend's back. They would do the best for you, no doubt about it, but it's just not fair for them.
Bankers provides long term care for you and your family,with plans designed for every household. If you really care on taking care of them, Bankers long term care insurance is the only way to go; because long term care begins where a plain medical ensurance ends; it does not only cover hospital and medicine costs, it lets you adapt to your new life, helping your loving ones to take care of you the best possible way. In short, it helps you live with dignity.
About the author: If you find this information useful you should visit the site http://www.official-insurance.net where you will find lots of interesting articles related to this topic, all original and wrote by Andreea Dinescu.

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Financing Your Car -- What You Should Know

07:11 |


Buying a new car is the dream of many Americans; as a result many are sold each year, that is after financing is obtained in order to pay for them. While you might think going and picking out a car and then receiving on the spot financing is relatively easy it is not always so. Before you head to your local dealership to buy the car of your dreams, consider these tips on automobile financing.
Tip #1 Credit Score Your credit score has everything to do with whether or not you receive automobile financing as well as the interest rates and down payment requirements you will receive. Because of this it is incredibly important for you to know your credit score before you ever head to the dealership. If your credit score is above 600 then you should be able to get financing without too much trouble, however if your score is below 600 you should spend a few months lowering your bills and focusing on increasing your credit score so you can not only qualify for financing, but also for a great interest rate in order to buy that new car.
Tip #2 Compare Rates Different lending institutions from banks, online lenders and the dealership will be able to finance your vehicle. However, each of them is likely to have different interest rates, fee structures, and general requirements for you to meet. As a result, you should evaluate as many financing options as possible in order to find the best deal for you. Because, when it comes down to it, you don't want to pay a single cent more than you have to for your car financing needs.
Tip #3 Get Pre-Approved If there is any way you can get pre-approved for auto financing then you should do so. The reason for this is when you are pre-approved and head to the dealership you will be able to negotiate as if you had cash in hand. This will allow you to qualify for all the rebates and discounts the dealership might be offering and you can negotiate the price of the vehicle down as well.
Following these tips will help you get the best financing available to you considering your personal credit score and financial situation, not to mention the car of your dreams. So follow these tips, save money and finally put that new car in your driveway.
About the author: "It is time that we the people stand up and declare we will not be overtaken by the car dealers, but rather we will take the car dealers by storm. Researching the cars is not enough; we need a way to research the dealers themselves."

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