Dec/110
Car Insurance For a Woman – Some Interesting Facts
It is somewhat interesting to note that car insurance for a woman is often cheaper than that for a man of the same age. There are many reasons that insurance companies can legally ask for less money to give the same policies, but most would point out that, statistically, women are in less traffic accidents than men, and therefore tend to be viewed by insurance companies as a less risky driver to insure.
This is not just a guess!
Naturally insurance companies cannot just claim these things, and will often take into consideration national traffic data along with insurance industry statistics to ensure that their reasoning is sound and just.
For example, car insurance for a woman might be less because national statistics prove that younger men of a certain age account for a large number of traffic violations and accidents. Insurance statistics also add up to the fact that female customers making claims tend to have a lower total cost of repairs than males.
The times they are a changin’
Interestingly enough, trends are beginning to change and not all companies are sticking with a different set of costs for men and women. Additionally, there are some companies that are now geared entirely around coverage for women and these offer additional features such as roadside assistance, courtesy cars, and even coverage for their driver’s handbags in the event of theft of the car.
When a policy offers only car insurance for a woman the total cost is not derived strictly based on their gender of course. A woman with a bad history for traffic incidents or violations, who maintains a low credit score, or who is unmarried and owns a single vehicle with high annual mileage might see their monthly premiums even higher than a male of the same age and driving the same car.
It is also important to note that a woman who adds a male family member to their policy may see any discounts removed at the time that the additional person is added.
Like all others seeking auto insurance, a woman will need to be assessed based on the amount of risk they represent to the insurance company. Naturally, a savvy female shopper will apply the same standards to their potential insurance company and look at the insurance rating and performance data on any that they contact. If their financial stability is not very good, it is best to seek out other alternatives.
Nov/110
Car Insurance Fraud – What You Need to Know
Car insurance fraud is one of the most widely perpetrated crimes in the insurance world. There are different ways in which fraudulent activities are done to trap the innocent and milk thousands of dollars out of him. Though insurance companies have their own sets of ways to find out if an accident was genuine or made-up, there are also ways in which you can avoid being a victim of car insurance fraud.
There are three terms that you need to be aware of when it comes duping a person through insurance fraud- ‘rear-ender’ scam, panic stop and swoop and squat. In the ‘rear-ender scam’ the fraudster will drive his car in front of you and then apply hard brake so that it looks like you have hit his car from behind. The ‘panic stop’ is when a group of miscreants driving a car will come in your way and one of the passengers will signal the drive to make a move and brush the car close to you. When you hit their car, each passenger would give testimony and ‘collective proof’ of how you rammed their car. The ‘swoop and squat’ is when two vehicles are moving alongside each other. One of the cars cuts and disappears into the lane quickly while the other one is ‘hit’ allegedly by your car. The car that swoops and zooms into the lane is the ‘swoop vehicle’ and the car that’s hit is the ‘squat car’
In all of the above three cases, you will be made to appear as the villain of the picture; the law and the insurance company may assume that you caused the accident. In such a case, the criminal may ask you for compensation and your insurance company will have to pay him, making you liable to pay high premiums to cover that insurance. How can you prevent yourself from falling prey to these types of car insurance or automobile insurance fraud? Here are some handy tips:
1. Keep a sharp eye on the automobiles around you. Do not allow cars to brush past you especially if there is no traffic. Keep an eye on vehicles that look as if they are intentionally following you. Keep your eyes open at passengers who are looking at you for prolonged amount of time
2. Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the other one. Do not closely follow another vehicle; if it suddenly applies brakes and stops in front of you, you will end up colliding against the vehicle and you will be probably held accountable for that accident
3. Though traffic rules forbade you, people do the opposite and talk on the phone during driving. Also do not constantly converse with people in your car while driving and do not turn your back often because it can be distracting.
If you have car insurance, you will be able to get cover during both genuine accidents and also against accidents perpetrated by scammers. However, if you are blamed for a car accident and do not have coverage, then you can be liable for those damages out of your own pocket
Oct/110
Car Insurance Buying Tips That You Need to Follow
Many buyers of car insurance lose hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of dollars due to over-spending on costly insurance premiums. Maybe because you received a few speeding tickets years ago, you think that high insurance rates are a given and so you don’t bother to shop around. Another reason for your high premiums could be that the insurance agent managed to convince you to include coverage items that you really don’t need.
When researching car insurance, the first thing you will need to first consider is what all your insurance policy should cover. Forget the little stuff such as the car towing benefit. A car insurance policy comes with a number of parts, which include big things like litigation cost coverage in case you are involved in an accident. Also covered in most car insurance plans are medical costs that may be incurred for the occupants of your car should you become involved in an accident.
Going through a policy’s small print and understanding it all can be a daunting task for sure. If you have questions, seek out a legal professional for help. You should always proceed with caution about the premium rates being quoted by an insurance agent. Don’t automatically go with the first quote. Shop around and hear what other insurers can provide for the same coverage items.
Having said that, be realistic. If you have lots of tickets and have been recently involved in an accident or two, your premiums are going to be high. That’s because you will be considered a high-risk driver. In this case, you have a couple of options. First, you can bite the bullet and pay the higher rates. Or, you can take your chances and go with higher deductibles and less coverage. In this case, you’ll have to come out of your own pocket if you’re involved in an accident.
But again, be thorough with your homework and get as many quotes as you can. You will definitely be surprised at how widely the rates will vary among insurance companies.
Oct/110
Why Does Your Car Insurance Quote Increase After an Accident?
Car accidents usually result in an increase in insurance premiums. Even if you are not responsible, your insurance company will have to incur some costs. There is an increase in car premiums and policy quotes because the accident will be rated against your coverage. There are a number of types of insurance coverage that can include collision, personal injury protection, and medical coverage. If you are found ‘at fault’ for an accident, coverage such as personal liability and collision will cover you, your vehicle, and personal injury to the other driver. Often, if you have just one accident, you will see an increase in your insurance quote.
Car insurance quotes will increase because you will be considered a high risk driver. The premium will reflect the nature of the accident and the costs associated with the accident. Insurance companies will usually charge ‘points’ to your policy. Depending on the insurance company, these points will be charged to your policy for a certain period of time that usually ranges from three to possibly seven years. If you are in an accident that was your fault, the insurance company will consider that you are a high risk of having accidents in the future and increase your rates. You will also receive higher insurance quotes. The length of time between an accident and your quote and premiums decreasing depends on a provider’s policies. As well, you may have to pay a higher deductible for the insurance.
Another reason why an accident can increase your premiums when you are ‘at-fault’ in an accident is that there are some companies who will not insure you. When there is less competition for your business, then there is less incentive to give you a good deal. As a result, your insurance quote will be higher. When you add the insurance ‘points’ into the mix, it is easy to see how an accident can become very expensive. If you have a faultless driving record, it is unlikely that your premiums will increase after an accident that was determined not to be your fault.
You can normally expect a rate increase of between 20-40%. This increase is based on the Insurance Services Office’s (ISO) criteria of raising a premium after an accident. According to the ISO, for multi-car policies, the surcharge is 20 percent of the base rate, and for single-car policies it is 40 percent. It is important to remember that there are other factors taken into consideration after an accident such as your age, gender, and driving record. These factors will affect how high the percentage increase will be.
The increase in premiums is not done so that the insurance money can get their money back, but is based on the risk that you may be involved in another car accident. Each insurance company has different policies and standards, but they look at your chances of getting into another accident. The number of accidents that you are involved in also increases your insurance premiums.
Some companies will absolve past accidents after a set period of time has expired. This can be two years, or as much as five years, but the period will vary depending on the insurance provider. Basically, you have to show the insurance company that you are no longer a high risk driver.
The best way to avoid high car insurance quotes is to avoid an accident. You can do this by practicing safe driving. One car accident can seriously impact your car insurance quote and the premium that you will pay.
Oct/110
Car Insurance Premiums Too High? Quick Ways to Save on Car Insurance
I guess Ben Franklin did not know about car insurance when he said that only death and taxes were inevitable in life! All 50 US states require a proof of financial responsibility to operate a car. Most of the time that proof comes in the form of a minimum allowed amount of liability insurance. Liability insurance covers you in case you cause property damage or injury while driving. It pays “the other guy.” If you have a newer car, especially one that you still owe on, you probably also want to purchase insurance to cover your own property damage in case you are responsible for an accident.
If your old car insurance company has just nailed you with a rate increase, or if you are looking for new insurance coverage, you can do a few things to shave your rates! Of course, my first bit of advice would be to shop around with the top rated insurance company. I, myself, saved nearly 50% by hopping from one national car insurance company to another after I had purchased a late model car.
If you cannot find an affordable rate, consider raising your deductible. It is a slight gamble because you will be responsible for the higher amount if you do have an accident. However, you may save the difference in premiums within a few months, and it is certainly a quick way to lower your payments.
This may surprise you, but protecting your credit is one of the best things you can do to save on car insurance! Many large insurance companies have begun to use credit scores as a basis for premium rates, and so paying your bills on time can be a good time to save on car insurance. Of course, you’ll also be saving on interest and avoiding late fees! People with good credit pay less for many things, which should also help them keep those credit scores up!
Look at available discounts. Safety features and anti-theft devices often trigger substantial car insurance discounts while protecting your safety and vehicle. Consider a driver safety course. Accredited driver safety courses can shave ten or twenty percent from your bill every month. Many of these courses are available, and some can be taken at home with a video or PC. It would certainly be worth a few hours to save hundreds of dollars over the course of a year.
Drive safely. I know that one minor accident caused my rates to pop up. Of course, some accidents are unavoidable, but try to keep your record as clean as possible. Not only will you save yourself from possible injury and certain inconvenience, you will save money on your bills!
Combine policies. Many insurance companies want all of your business, and so they are willing to offer discounts for multiple policies. If you own a home, check into home and car discounts. If you have more than one driver in your household, see if you can all save money by using the same car insurance company.
Use a highly rated company. Even if Joe Insurance Company has rock bottom rates, you will not save money if you do not have a reputable company backing you up.