Thursday, May 31, 2007

Cheap Car Insurance in El Paso, Texas

Every day in El Paso, Texas on average nine vehicles are stolen. Although the majority of those are trucks, there are a few late model cars that thieves are aching to get their hands on as well. For motorists in this city driving one of these vehicles on the thieves most wanted list equates to higher car insurance premiums. Short of selling your nice looking set of wheels to buy a hunk of junk with four tires, there are things anyone living in El Paso can do to secure a cheaper car insurance rate.

The first is fairly obvious and that's to have some sort of alarm system installed in the vehicle. Although many thieves don't even blink at the sight of a car alarm, many car insurance companies sit up and take notice in the form of reduced premiums. In most cases, the vehicle owner will have to show proof that the system is in the car or truck by way of a receipt for the purchase and installation of the unit. Other local insurance companies may ask to examine the system themselves. Utilizing this type of discount is a great way to secure the safety of the vehicle at the same time you are saving money.

Another often missed tip to save on car insurance has little to do with the car at all. Many insurance companies in the El Paso, Texas area use a person's credit history to judge their car insurance rates. This helps them to determine if the person is trustworthy and responsible. If you've got some missed credit card payments or perhaps a late mortgage payment, this can actually negatively affect your car insurance rates. Try to stay on top of all your bills and pay everything on time. You'll be glad you did when it comes time to renew your policy.

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Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Personal Property Inventory For Insurance Purposes

We recommend you inventory all the items in your home and the home itself once a year.
We have found the best time to do this is right after the holidays. The house is clean and well decorated, and a lot of the items from the attic are already out on display. The fastest way to inventory your home is with video. Walk from room to room recording each room; open drawers and closets, as you record your items talk in to the video about when you bought the bigger and more expensive items and what you paid for them. Video your jewelry and silver service. If you can record the serial numbers and model numbers of your items, this will help verify exactly which model of the item you had for the insurance adjuster. If you are the victim of a burglary, the police can verify these items are yours if they are recovered.

Once your inventory is completed, we recommend making a copy of the video, or burn it to a cd or dvd, and keep a copy off site. Keep it at the office, at a parent's home, a safe deposit box, anywhere where it can't inadvertently be thrown away, or lost in a fire at your own home.

After the inventory is completed, verify that the coverage on your homeowner, renter, or condo insurance policy has enough coverage to replace all of your items.

When you inventory the inside of the home, take pictures or video the outside of the home as well to document the condition and features of the home.

One idea I heard about to protect your jewelry is to hide them in a pot in the kitchen cabinets. I was told by a jeweler that many burglars are now using metal detectors to find hidden metal items in peoples drawers and or mattresses. The kitchen has too many metal items for a metal detector to work efficiently.

Unfortunately no one is completely safe from a thief. The truth is that if a thief really wants an item you have, they will find a way to take it. Our best advice is to insure the items and know they can be replaced.

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Saturday, May 26, 2007

How to Compare Low Cost Homeowner's Insurance in Nevada

If you are financing your home then it is almost a certainty that your mortgage company forces you to carry homeowner's insurance. But did you know that you don't have to carry your policy with the company that your mortgage holder would like to choose for you? In fact, comparing low cost homeowner's insurance in Nevada could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in wasted premium payments each year.

If you're searching for the best low cost homeowner's insurance in Nevada you first need to take a few simple steps to make certain that you don't pay more for your insurance than you absolutely need to.

Start by clearing any weeds or brush well away from your home. This will make your home less susceptible to fire damage and that will help keep your homeowner's insurance premium lower. Also, cut back any bushes around doors or windows which might serve as a blind for burglars as they prepare to break into your home. By removing hiding places for possible burglars you lower your homeowner's insurance premium even further.

Buy and install the recommended number of fire and smoke alarms for your home and make sure they are all working properly. Buy a fire extinguisher for your kitchen and if you have a basement and an upstairs, buy a fire extinguisher for each floor of your home. Having fire extinguishers will also lower the cost of your homeowner's insurance.

Make certain that all doors have a working deadbolt and that all windows – including upstairs windows – have a working lock.

If your credit rating is good, keep it that way. If your credit rating is bad, start today to fix it. Pay off credit cards and then cut them up or put them in a drawer and only use them for emergencies. Believe it or not, your credit rating has an effect on the premiums you pay for your homeowner's insurance.

Finally you'll want to go online and compare policies and prices at several of the websites specifically designed for this purpose. In your quest to save money do not make the mistake of underinsuring your home. You need to know what the cost for replacing your home would be and make sure that you are taking out a policy that covers the full replacement cost of your home and its belongings.

Comparing low cost homeowner's insurance here in Nevada is a time-consuming process, but think of it as a long-term investment. Because each dollar you can save today will add up over the years to a huge savings for you and your family.

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Thursday, May 24, 2007

Cheap Car Insurance in Chicago, Illinois

Car accidents can happen anywhere and unfortunately some of them are serious enough to cause injuries. For someone who is at fault, not having adequate car insurance coverage can mean a lifetime of financial hardship. Although many people feel that car insurance is an unnecessary expense because they'll never be involved in an accident, that's simply not true. Car insurance in Chicago, Illinois is required by law and it's in place to protect every driver on the road. In fact, if a driver is caught by the authorities in Chicago driving without valid car insurance more than once they can expect to pay a large fine and have their driver's license taken away for half-a-year.

Although some car insurance policies do cost an extraordinary amount of money, there are ways to find cheap car insurance in Chicago, Illinois. The main thing to remember is that you need only buy the coverage that is required by the state in addition to what you feel is necessary. Also this minimum amount of insurance isn't right for everyone or every situation it does have its advantages.

The type of car you drive and your driving record both play a part in determining how much your car insurance rates will be. For cheaper car insurance in Chicago you should purchase an older model car. Buying something brand new may be very appealing, but the added cost in premiums, is disappointing. If you are considering a late model vehicle, call an insurance agent before you finalize the purchase to ask about what the insurance rates will be. In addition, drivers should do their best to keep their driving record as clean as possible. This means no accidents and no speeding tickets. When a driver is at fault, even in an accident where there is minimal damage, insurance rates can skyrocket.

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Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Cheap Renters Insurance in Sacramento - Where to Get It

Looking for cheap renters insurance with a reputable company in Sacramento? Here's how to find it quickly and easily.

Renters Insurance

Renters insurance includes the following coverages:

1. Personal property coverage - pays to replace your possessions if they're stolen, or damaged by vandalism, theft, fire, smoke, storms, plus plumbing and electrical failures.

You have two options when purchasing personal property coverage. You can get actual cash value replacement coverage which only pays what you property was worth at the time it was damaged, or you can get replacement cost coverage which pays what it actually costs to replace an item.

For expensive items such as jewelry, furs, electronic equipment, collections, or antiques, you may need to get additional insurance as these items may not be fully covered.

A standard renters insurance policy does not cover you for earthquakes or floods, so if you live in an earthquake or flood zone you'll need to get additional insurance for these disasters.

2. Personal liability coverage - pays for court judgments and legal fees if visitors hurt themselves in your home and sue you. It also covers you if their property is damaged.

Most people get $300,000 worth of liability coverage, but you may need more if you have a lot of visitors or have a lot of personal wealth you don't want to lose in a lawsuit.

3. Loss of use - pays for your living expenses such as hotel and restaurant bills if your home becomes unlivable due to fire, smoke, plumbing damage, or other causes.

Cheap Renters Insurance

Because insurance rates between companies can vary by hundreds of dollars for the same insurance, the best way to get the best price on renters insurance is to compare rates from different companies. And the best way to do that is to go to an insurance comparison site.

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Monday, May 21, 2007

Auto Insurance - The Consumer's Guide

1. Obtain your agent or brokers licensing information to make sure that you are buying auto insurance from a properly licensed agent or broker. You can do this by obtaining a business card which usually would have a license number on it due to state laws. If you are purchasing online, you can find the websites licensing information under "about us". If you have a hard time finding licensing information, you may want to think twice about the website you are visiting. One you obtain a license number, you can visit your state's department of insurance and check the status of the license.

2. It is important to understand the difference between an insurance company and an insurance broker. Brokers are not insurance companies; they are independent insurance salespersons. The broker represents you, the client in order to find insurance on your behalf through the represented companies. An insurance company usually preforms the underwriting, claims handling and billing on behalf of their own company.

3. Make sure you receive the proper paperwork and copies of your applications including proof of insurance and payment receipts. When you apply for insurance, the broker will probably help you complete an insurance application form. This form will be sent to the insurance company. Read the application carefully before singing or agreeing electronically. Do not sign if the application has blanks or is incorrect. Also keep a copy of the auto insurance application for your records. Be sure to understand your payment plans or installment plan. Some companies will include billing charges if you make installments rather than paying the terms premium in full.

4. Take your time and ask questions. Read all forms carefully, take your time. Dent let anyone try to rush you. Ask questions; a broker or agent should take the time to explain everything slowly and with words you understand. If a broker makes any promise to you, get it in writing. Never sign any form that is empty, have the broker draw a line through those spaces before you sign.

5. Find out more about auto insurance. Insurance is expensive, you can save a lot of money, possibly hundreds of dollars each year, after year, by learning more about insurance. A good place to start is you state's Department of Insurance website. Be sure to obtain several quotes from licensed insurance agencies or companies to ensure you are receiving the best rate possible. Some websites offer quotes from multiple online auto insurance companies. One such website is http://www.OnlineAutoInsurance.com. They offer quotes through several top rated auto insurance companies, and in some states, you can purchase the policy online.

Make sure to go over the above five steps to ensure quality and savings when you buy auto insurance.

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Saturday, May 19, 2007

Car Insurance For A Teenager In A Single Parent Home

Those turbulent teen years: They are still kids in adults' bodies. Because they now require a number of things that adults enjoy (like driving), they need at least the minimum car insurance cover required by law.

I know you know that teenagers probably account for more crashes than all other age groups combined. I also realize that you know that this means very high premiums. As if you didn't have enough challenges. But the law is the law and you'll do well to get your teen covered.

A question arises: Shouldn't my ex-spouse be the one to bear the burden? It depends. It depends on your insurance company's policies. You'll do well to check with yours as they have different positions...

Some may maintain that whoever has custody of the teen driver is responsible for his/her auto insurance. Others may have a policy that puts that responsibility on the parent that has more custody of the teen driver. Some yet will expect both parents to have their teen driver on their car insurance policy irrespective of who has custody of the child.

Different positions but the summary remains that somehow someone has to bear the responsibility of providing this all-important cover. If you withhold information regarding the fact that you have a teen driver, your insurance company may be empowered by law to cancel your insurance policy. Therefore, if you are in doubt, ask your insurance company.

Since adding just one teen driver could add as much as 50-100% to your car insurance premium, it's important that you learn how to make the most savings possible. Different insurance companies have different policies. They have different parameters for calculating your car insurance rates. Therefore, take the time out to understand this process. That way, you'll be able to take advantage of all the concessions possible.

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Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Car Insurance Savings Tip -1

There are many tips you can pick here and there on reducing what you pay in your car insurance. Some will result in savings of a few dollars; others could save you a few hundred dollars. In this article, I'll dwell on one that could save you a few hundred dollars depending on how you apply it...

Your premium is determined by a lot of factors. Among these factors is how much you pay as a deductible. I like ensuring everyone understands every term used in my articles due to differences in terms across locations. So, let's define the term "deductible."

When you file a claim, the insurance company expects you to contribute or pay a certain amount before they'll pay out the agreed compensation. This amount is called your deductible. If you agree to pay a high deductible, you'll get a lower premium. If for example, you increase your deductible from $400 to $1000; your premium might be lowered by as much 30%. Depending on your circumstance, this could mean savings of a hundred dollars or much more.

You must take some time to think this through before making a decision. If what you'll get as savings justifies the one time deductible (However high it is), then you're better off going for it. However, if you think otherwise then you have to go with what's best for you.

After doing all this, you must take your time to understand the foundational process for realizing huge savings in car insurance and certain facts that you must not ignore about car insurance quotes and comparison sites.

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Tuesday, May 15, 2007

When can home seller cancel deal?

Editor's note: Robert Bruss is temporarily away. The following column from Bruss' "Best of" collection first appeared Sunday, March 26, 2006.

DEAR BOB: I had a contract to sell my home. I gave the buyer seven days to bring me an acceptable mortgage letter from a bank, but he presented a letter from a mortgage broker indicating final approval of his loan was subject to "underwriting." His bank returned his $1,000 deposit check for insufficient funds. Can I legally terminate his contract? --Jorge S.

DEAR JORGE: From your description, it sounds like your buyer is in breach of the sales contract. That letter from a mortgage broker indicating his mortgage approval is subject to "underwriting" is worthless.

Purchase Bob Bruss online.

Today's smart home buyers get preapproved in writing by an actual lender before shopping for a home. If your buyer had done that and shown you the lender's approval letter or certificate, you could feel confident he'd obtain a mortgage.

Although mortgage brokers can obtain such preapprovals for their borrowers, because they are not the actual lenders, mortgage brokers can issue only prequalification letters, which are nonbinding on actual lenders.

Especially because your buyer's $1,000 deposit check bounced, if I were in your shoes, I would feel confident canceling that sale for breach of contract. For full details, please consult a local real estate attorney.

ANOTHER DISADVANTAGE OF GIFTING A PROPERTY BEFORE DEATH

DEAR BOB: In a recent article, you answered a widow's question about gifting her property to her daughter and son-in-law. But one tax consequence you failed to mention, which snares many people, is the fact that by gifting real estate before death to a child, the child loses the opportunity to receive a stepped-up basis to market value upon the donor's death --Tim F.

DEAR TIM: Shame on me. How could I have forgotten that major benefit of inheriting real estate instead of receiving it as a gift before death?

A big disadvantage of a property gift is the donee takes over the donor's adjusted cost basis. In the situation you describe, the mother presumably had a very low cost basis if she owned the property for many years. The gift donee takes over that low basis.

However, when real estate or other assets are instead inherited, the heir receives title by inheritance with a new stepped-up basis of market value on the date of the decedent's death. For more details, please consult your tax adviser.

MUST HOMEOWNER FORM A CORPORATION TO RENT A HOUSE?

DEAR BOB: Do I need to form a corporation to rent my single-family house as an investment property? My son says "yes." --Christina K.

DEAR CHRISTINA: I'm sure your son is a fine young man, but he is mistaken on this issue. Landlords do not need to form a corporation before they can rent their property to tenants.

Millions of property owners rent real estate to which they hold title in their own names without forming a corporation. Perhaps your son was thinking that forming a corporation to hold title to the rental house would limit your liability.

But forming a corporation is not necessary. Nor is it a good idea, especially because holding title in a corporate name forfeits your rental property income tax benefits.

However, before renting that house to tenants, please consult your insurance agent to be certain you have adequate liability insurance. You need a rental property owner's insurance policy, not a homeowner's insurance policy. With adequate liability insurance, you can rest easy and forget about all the drawbacks of owning corporate real estate. For more details, please consult a local real estate or tax attorney.

The new Robert Bruss special report, "How to Sell Your House or Condo for Top Dollar With or Without a Real Estate Agent," is now available for $5 from Robert Bruss, 251 Park Road, Burlingame, Calif., 94010, or by credit card at 1-800-736-1736 or instant Internet delivery at . Questions for this column are welcome at either address.

(For more information on Bob Bruss publications, visit his ).

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Sunday, May 13, 2007

Do You Need to Buy Rental Car Insurance?

Do not wait until you are in a predicament at the rental counter. Before your adjacent business trip, happen out if you are covered through your ain automobile insurance policy or through your credit card company.

Business Use

Since the disbursal is for business use, take the coverage the rental agency offers for at least two reasons: 1) If you have got an accident, your insurance carrier will not be aware of it and thus it will not impact your personal auto policy rates. 2) It is a deductible business disbursal whereas your personal auto policy is not.

Auto Insurance

Call your agent to happen out what your auto insurance policy covers when you lease a car. To be properly covered in your rental, your existent policy must include liability, comprehensive and hit coverage for rental vehicles. Liability insurance covers you if you injure another individual in an accident, and comprehensive and hit insurance screen the rental car if you are responsible for the damage.

Credit Cards

After you cognize what your auto policy covers, check with your credit card company. Some credit card companies offer hit and theft insurance when you utilize their card to pay for a rental, but this coverage is usually secondary to your personal auto policy. Significant limitations may apply: For example, the card company may necessitate that you worsen the rental agency’s hit damage release — a proviso of your rental understanding that bounds your liability for damages to the car. Remember, a credit card will only cover damage to the car, not liability claims against you. That agency your credit card will not protect you if you injure others or destruct property. In addition, this coverage might except business usage or be limited to a certain clip period of time and geographic area.

Rental Insurance

If you make not have got adequate coverage through your auto insurance policy or credit card, you should purchase coverage. The most misunderstood portion of rental insurance is the hit damage waiver. A hit damage release isn’t really insurance; instead, it is a warrant that the rental company will pay for certain damages. Rental agencies offer hit damage releases or loss damage releases for about $14 to $20 per day. If you worsen the hit damage waiver, you accept duty for all damages.

The hit damage release also covers "loss of use" — the money a rental agency loses when the vehicle cannot be rented owed to damages. In most states, an automobile insurance policy will not cover this cost and you could happen yourself personally responsible for it.

In addition, when you damage a rental car, some agencies will anticipate you to pay up presence for repairs or substitution costs. This agency the money come ups from your pocket and you must get reimbursed by your auto insurance company. The hit damage release protects you from these up-front costs.

In improver to the hit damage waiver, most rental agencies offer:

• Supplementary liability insurance, which moves as secondary coverage to your personal policy

• Primary liability insurance for drivers who don’t have got auto insurance policies or don’t desire to utilize them

• Personal accident insurance

• Personal personal effects protection that sees your belongings

So, ultimately, it depends on your situation, but do carefully see all of these possibilities and most of all, make certain you are covered!

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Easy to Use Tips to Save Money On Your Homeowners Insurance

The terms you pay for your homeowners insurance can change by 100s of dollars, depending on the size of your house and the insurance company you purchase your policy from. Here are some ways to salvage money.

Shop around.

Prices change from company to company, so it pays to shop around. Get at least three terms quotes. You can name companies directly or access information on the Internet. Your state insurance section may also supply comparisons of terms charged by major insurers.

Get quotes from different types of insurance companies. Some sell through their ain agents. These agencies have got the same name as the insurance company. Some sell through independent agents who offer policies from respective insurance companies. Others make not utilize agents. They sell directly to consumers over the phone or via the Internet.

But don't shop terms alone. You desire a company that replies your inquiries and manages claims fairly and efficiently. Ask friends and relations for their recommendations. Contact your state insurance section to happen out whether they do available consumer ailment ratios by company. You can also check out www.badfaithinsurance.org/indexdetaillist.html

Select an agent or company representative that takes the clip to reply your questions.

• Raise your deductible.

A deductible is the amount of money you have got to pay toward a loss before your insurance company starts to pay a claim. The higher your deductible, the more than money you salvage on your premium. See a deductible of at least $500. If you can afford to raise it to $1,000, you may salvage as much as 25%. If you dwell in a disaster-prone area, your insurance policy may have got a separate deductible for damage from major disasters. If you dwell near the seashore in the East, you may have got got a separate windstorm deductible, if you dwell in a state vulnerable to hail storms, you may have a separate deductible for hail, and if you dwell in an earthquake-prone area, your temblor policy have a deductible.

• Buy your home and auto policies from the same insurer.

Most companies that sell homeowners’ insurance also sell auto and umbrella liability insurance. (An umbrella liability policy will give you extra liability coverage.) Some insurance companies will reduce your insurance premium by 5% to 15% if you purchase two or more than insurance policies from them. But do certain this concerted terms is lower than purchasing policies from different companies.

• Don't mistake what you paid for your house with rebuilding costs. The land under your house isn't at hazard from theft, windstorm, fire and the other hazards covered in your homeowners policy. So don't include its value in deciding how much homeowners insurance to buy. If you do, you'll pay a higher insurance premium than you should.

• Ask about price reductions for home security devices.

You can usually get price reductions of at least 5% for a fume detector, burglar dismay or dead-bolt locks. Some companies may cut your insurance premiums by as much as 15% Oregon 20% if you put in a sophisticated sprinkler system and a fire and burglar dismay that rings at the police, fire or other monitoring stations. These systems aren't cheap and not every system measure ups for a discount. Before you purchase one, happen out what sort your insurance company recommends, how much the device would cost and how much you'd salvage on premiums.

• Seek out other discounts.

Many companies offer discounts, but they don't all offer the same price reduction or the same amount of price reduction in all states. Ask your agent or company representative about price reductions available to you. If you've completely modernised your plumbing system or electrical system recently, some companies may also supply a terms break.

• Stay with the same insurer.

If you've been insured with the same company for respective years, you may have a price reduction for being a long-term policyholder. Some insurance companies will reduce insurance premiums by 5% if you remain with them for three-to-five years, and by 10% if you're a policyholder for six old age or more. To guarantee you're getting a good deal, periodically compare this terms with the terms of policies from other insurers.

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Car Insurance - Premium Drop?

It was announced recently that the average cost of car insurance has dropped slightly heralding possible, further decreases this year. It was thought that we would continue to see a rise in the price of car insurance premiums this financial year, following the record highs at the end of last year.

The typical quoted premium given as reference last year by the AA's British insurance premium index, was stated as £806, whereas this had dropped by £4 to £802 during the first quarter of 2007. This is still only marginally below the all time high.

During February, it was also announced that premiums were rising with young drivers and woman being targeted in particular. Drivers under the age of 25 will find it particularly hard to find cheap car insurance due to a rise of around 5.8% over the preceding 12 months.

Unfortunately opting for third party, fire and theft, a popular choice for those under 25, will prove to be equally as expensive, as this is earmarked for an upward progression throughout the proceeding year. This is thought to be due to the commonly quoted fact that these drivers are 5 times more likely to be involved in a car accident than a person of age 35 and over.

Don't worry those of you unfortunate enough to be included in this category, many online insurance companies are currently offering special introductory rates for those of you willing to do a bit of searching. Another way of saving money on a car insurance policy is to check out the hidden extras you may be paying for. For example, most policies include optional extra legal protection and hire car option, which if not essential will produce a saving when taken off the policy. Also, don't forget to check out the excess stated on the policy as a larger voluntary excess will reduce the premium price noticeably.

But still it must be taken as good news for the rest of us that at least there has been a drop on the price of the average car insurance policy. This is especially important after the recent budget announcement that many larger cars would see a noticeable increase in car tax prices.

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Monday, May 07, 2007

Exposing the Car Insurance Quote Mystery

Congratulations, you have got just purchased the car of your dreams; you worked a great deal, now it is clip to see it. Car insurance is compulsory in all states, and must be maintained throughout ownership. Insurance quotes can change from company to company, and there are a few factors that you can control, and other factors you cannot. A full apprehension of how insurance quotes are arrived at, will give you the best rate, and upper limit coverage.
Factors that cannot be controlled include the age of the driver. Park sense states us that a new driver would be more than of a hazard to an insurance company, than an constituted driver. Therefore a driver in their early 20's would pay a higher insurance premium than a driver in their 40's. Further, aged drivers have got poor reaction time, and similarly would pay more than of a premium. The ideal drive age would be between 35 to 55 years; anyone younger, or aged would pay more.
Gender is another uncontrolled factor that insurance quotes are based on. Statistically, insurance companies see females as safer drivers than males. As a result, female drivers pay less than their male counterparts.
There are factors, which we can control, namely the amount of traffic tickets and accidents. A ticket is a misdemeanor of law that could potentially ensue in an accident. Insurance companies scowl on this, and will punish the driver with higher rates. Similarly, accidents could bespeak a pattern of behavior; as such as the driver is penalized with higher rates.
Where you dwell is another controlling factor that personal effects insurance quotes. Living in a rural area, sets the driver at much less hazard of accident or theft as compared to life in a city. As a result, city drivers will pay a larger insurance premium than rural drivers with very few exceptions.
Desire to drive a Porsche 911 Carrera? It will cost you. The more than your car is worth, the higher your insurance quote will be. The logic should be obvious.
Car insurance companies are now looking at your credit worthiness. Bash you have got excessive, outstanding credit, or no credit at all? If so, you are a hazard in the eyes of the insurance companies, and will get socked with higher insurance quotes. Keeping your credit in check will demo the insurance companies you are responsible, both financially, and on the road. As a result, you will pay lower premiums.
Your business can set you at a higher risk. Jobs that necessitate many hours of driving, or drive in risky conditions, or topographic points will set your quote at a higher rate. Less driving, and exposure to high-risk opportunities, will ensue in lower premiums. Additionally you desire to maintain your annual mileage down to a minimum. The more than miles you drive, the greater the hazard of accident.
Vehicle theft is a hazard factor that tin easily be minimized. Most companies will give you a price reduction for having better security for your vehicle. An alarm, or another approved anti-theft device will usually ensue in some discount. Some companies may take a firm stand on having such as devices installed on more than expensive and desirable cars before they even see offering you a price.
Some companies look favorably on drivers who have got taken a defensive driver’s course. They see this as a committedness to safer driving, thereby lowering the hazard of accident, resulting in lower premiums.
Keep in head these are just general guidelines, and the difference in terms between assorted companies can be significant. What one company may see a high-risk factor another company may not see as so important. The underside line, maintain your credit in check, be careful on the route and take a car that tantrums your budgets.

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Insurance Glossary of Terms

Assured - Those insured under the terms of an insurance policy.

Benefit - The money paid to the policyholder when a claim is made.

Bid Price - The merchandising terms or cash-in value of your unit of measurement holdings.

Bonus - Relates to a with-profits policy. The amount of money added to the benefit collectible under the policy. The amount is dependent upon the net income made by the insurance company. Added bonuses cannot be taken away.

Convertible Term Assurance - A term insurance policy which gives you the option to convert your current policy to a whole-life Oregon endowment insurance policy, without having to take additional medical examinations.

Critical Illness Insurance - A policy that pays out a lump sum of money on the diagnosis of life threatening unwellnesses indicated in the terms of the plan.

Decreasing Term - A word form of term life insurance where the death benefit lessenings each twelvemonth as per your policy. Premiums stay level. This type of certification is frequently sold as mortgage insurance. There is no resignation value for this policy.

Endowment Insurance - An insurance policy that pays a declared amount at the end of a specified time time time period or upon the death of the insured if it happens within that period.

Family Income Benefit - Term self-assurance which pays money to the life assured’s dependents for a set period, rather than paying a lump sum.

Guaranteed Bond - A chemical bond in which principal and interest are guaranteed by an physical thing other than the issuer. Guaranteed Bonds can be income or growth.

Increasing Term - The screen and the amount you pay into the policy are increased by a specific percentage each twelvemonth calculated on the original sum of money insured. Designed as a manner to addition your life screen as your earnings increase.

Investment Bond - Combines investing with some life cover. The payments you do into an insurance policy Oregon investing bond, usually a lump sum, are invested in the insurance company's with-profits or unit-linked funds (Life Funds). Different types of chemical bonds include the guaranteed chemical chemical bond and unit-linked single insurance premium bond. Not to be confused with a company or authorities bond, an investing that offers a fixed rate of interest and an country where your chosen Life Funds may be invested.

Life Fund - This usually mentions to Unit Of Measurement linked Investing Funds. These are finances run by Life Assurance or Pension Companies. Such finances are used for people holding life self-assurance policies to put in. The assets held within the monetary fund are divided into a number of units. When an investor lends to a Life Fund, units of measurement of measurement are allocated to investors in proportionality to their investment.

Maturity - An agreed day of the month when an endowment policy stops and the proceeds, including any bonuses, are payable.

Mutual - A life insurance company that is owned by its with-profits policyholders.

Offer Price - The terms at which monetary fund units are bought.

Premium - The amount of money paid into an insurance policy.

Proprietary - A life insurance company that issues its net income to its shareholders.

Qualifying Policy - A life self-assurance based nest egg program that have to be written for a minimum of 10 old age and must fulfil certain qualifying policy criteria to guarantee the concluding payout is tax free.

Renewable Term - Term Insurance that may be renewed for another term without grounds of insurability.

Single Premium Policy - Where a single lump sum of money is paid for an insurance policy.

Sum Insured - The amount of money that is guaranteed to be paid under an insurance policy, before any bonuses are added.

Surrender Value - Not applicable to all life insurance policies. The amount that an insurance policyholder is entitled to have when he or she discontinues coverage

Term Insurance - Provides policyholder with protection only. Life insurance collectible to a donee only when an insured deceases within a specified number of old age (the term). If you dwell beyond the term you make not have any payment. This is thought to be the cheapest type of insurance.

Terminal Bonus - This is an extra fillip determined when a death or adulthood claim is paid. Terminal fillip is often only paid if the policy have been in-force for a minimum number of old age at claim time. The amount is dependent upon the net income made by the insurance company.

Unitised With Net Income Fund - Also known as a Unit-Linked With Net Income Fund. A type of Life Fund that tin put in United Kingdom and overseas shares, property, fixed interest securities and cash. When you put in this monetary fund through an insurance policy, you purchase 'units'. When an annual fillip is declared, you can either have more than units of measurement or it is added to the unit of measurement terms on a day-to-day basis. Due to the improver of bonuses the unit of measurement terms makes not reflect the value of the implicit in investments.

Unit-Linked - Also called Unitised. If your insurance policy is unit-linked, some of your money is used to purchase 'units' in a fund. The value of your policy at adulthood is dependent upon the growing of the monetary fund in which the policy is invested. Generally mentions to policies that offer protection and economy such as as endowment insurance, whole life insurance and investing bonds.

Unit-Linked Single Premium Bond - A single lump sum of money life insurance policy where your investing is distribute over a number of Life Funds.

Whole Life Insurance - Whole life insurance supplies a death benefit for the policyholder as it constructs up cash value. The policy stays in military unit for the lifetime of the insured, as long as insurance premiums are paid according to the policy agreement. You can take insurance that pays out on death a guaranteed sum of money of money of money of money only, the sum plus any bonuses that have got been added, or the sum plus any further value from the growing of the finances invested in.

Without Profits - When a policy attains adulthood or the policyholder dies, the amount paid out is the basic guaranteed sum only. You would not be entitled to any bonuses.

With Profits - Relates to insurance policies that compound investing with protection. This type of policy is entitled to a share of the net income made by the insurance company. Premiums are invested in the with net income fund, reversionary bonuses are applied usually on an annual footing which reflect the investing growing of the monetary monetary fund assets. On death and/or adulthood a additional terminal fillip might be applied to the monetary fund value.

With Net Income Bond - An insurance policy where your lump sum of money is in most cases invested in a Unitised With Net Income Fund (which is listed under the Life Funds section).

Friday, May 04, 2007

Tips to Reduce Your Home Insurance Costs

All homeowners are looking for ways to reduce our home insurance costs. Costs go on to lift and budgets get tighter and tighter with each passing play year. Here are 8 tips to reduce your home insurance costs.

1. Increased Home Security

Most homes are fitted with some kind of security device. To do the most of your Home Security Discount brand certain that you home is fitted with: dead thunderbolt locks, fume detectors, fire fire extinguishers and a burglar and fire dismay that are monitored. You brand not have got got got to have all of these to have a price reduction on your home insurance so even if you only have one or two make certain that you inquire for the savings.

2. Keep your credit score as high as possible.

While it would look that a good credit score would have got nil to make with insurance rates, it is a fact that they do. Home Insurance companies are using your credit score as an index of responsibility. The theory is the more than responsible the individual the less claims they will have. So, insurance companies are giving lower rates to those people with a better credit score.

3. Consolidate your policies.

Most, if not all companies that sell home insurance, offer price reductions for insuring your autos with them. These price reductions can sometimes salvage you up to 30% off of your sum insurance bill. Plus, you get the added convenience of having one agent for both your home and auto insurances.

4. Protect your home with updates.

Discuss with your agent about the possibilities of receiving home insurance price reductions for keeping your home in good repair. Some home insurance companies will offer nest egg for a anew roof, electrical, HVAC, plumbing system updates. The price reductions are generally not adequate to justify the substitution but if you needed it anyway, be certain to get the price reductions if applicable.

5. Brand certain you are not over insured.

Your home insurance coverage should not necessarily be what you paid for them home. Land values are calculated into the concluding sales terms and should be considered when insuring the structure. In others words you cannot ache the dirt. A good thought is to name local detergent builders and inquire them what new home building cost per square ft is going for. Take that number, multiply that modern times your square footage and that is the amount that your home should be insured for. Companies will not pay more than than what it is going to cost to reconstruct the home anyway, so do certain you are insured correctly.

6. Stay away from low deductibles.

The deductible is your part of the claim that must be paid before the insurance company pays for the claim. The lower your deductible, the higher your insurance premium will be. Deductibles can range anywhere from $100-$5000 or more. The bulk of homeowners will carry a $500 deductible, but the nest egg 1 can have by raising your deductible to $1000 can be significant, up to 20%. It doesn’t take too many claim free old age to do up the difference between the two deductibles, but retrieve you should never raise your deductible to a degree that you could not afford to pay.

7. Ask your Home Insurance Agent

Most of the time, an agent will do certain that you are receiving 100% of the home insurance price reductions that you measure up for, but it doesn’t ache to ask. Some insurance companies have got price reductions that others make not. Some offer price reductions that most would never daydream as being a price reduction such as as 55 and retired, non smoking, military service, law enforcement, single parent discounts, etc.

8. Don’t be afraid to shop Around

Home Insurance shopping is easy. Insurance shopping online is even easier. Companies like ours at HometownQuotes.com (yes, I am biased) have got given you the ability to get multiple home insurance quotes by filling out a word form that takes about five proceedings to complete. Also be aware that not all insurance companies are created equal. There are some bad 1s out there but most, at worst, are pretty good. Getting the best terms is great, but check up on the company offering you that terms at reputable insurance evaluation land sites like Moodys.com Oregon AMBest.com.

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Using The 'Autograph' To Get Cheap Motor Insurance

What if your motor insurance provider told you that you could get up to 25 percent discounted from your next car insurance policy simply by showing them that you were a safe driver? It would sound obvious won’t it - after all, basically, isn’t that what a no claims bonus is all about? Well, you can guess again, because with the new “autograph” device getting up to 25 percent discounted on your car insurance policy in the years to come is going to be a very real experience!

What Is The Autograph?

Basically, an “autograph” is a device that you ask a garage to plug into the diagnostic part of your car (which can be found underneath your steering wheel). The autograph will then record all of your driving skills, including how fast you drive, your average speed, whether or not you need to suddenly break (and, if so, how often), the times of the day that you like to be out and about on the roads, what your average mileage is, what your longest and shortest journeys are. In fact, the list is endless. After a pre-determined period, say three or six months, you then return to garage that installed the autograph and they will uninstall it and replace it with a new one. The old autograph is then plugged into a computer and all the requested recorded data is feed into a computer and sent to your motor insurance provider. Your motor insurance provider can then take a look at all of this recorded data and can decide, more accurately, if you are a high or low risk driver!

Benefits of the Autograph

If you are a good driver, the benefits of agreeing to use an autograph are easy to see – after all, recorded data rarely lies! The downside to using an autograph is the fact that it is recording the data collected in the car. This has two effects – first, you have to have a car capable of recording this data (i.e., not too old); second, the data collection cannot differentiate between drivers. As such, if you have a car in your house that is driven by several different people, the autograph will not be able to tell who is driving the car at any given time. Consequently, if you have your son or daughter on your car insurance and they tell you they like to drive at 50 miles an hour, while the autograph tells the motor insurance provider they like to drive at 120 miles an hour, it’s not likely you are going to be getting the 25 percent policy premium discount you were looking for!

All in all though, as with pay per mile car insurance, getting cheap car insurance using an autograph device, although being the way of the future, is here to stay and will most probably benefit far more motor drives than it inhibits.

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

What Are the Best Resources for a Home Insurance Online Quote?

If you really want to get the best possible rate on home insurance, you had better be prepared to spend some time shopping around for the best deals. This may entail that you call whatever home insurance companies you can think of and talk to a variety of different agents to see what they can do for you. When you have finished going through the phone book to all of the different home insurance providers that you can think of, it may be time to turn your attention to the internet, as there are massive amounts of amazing places to find low home insurance online quote prices.

A great place to start when looking for a home insurance online quote is the website of the home insurance company itself. Often, all you have to do is answer a few quick questions about where you live, and give out a few bits of contact information, and in a few days you will either get an email from the home insurance provider with rates for you or someone from the home insurance company will call you. Either way, the process to visit each home insurance company you are considering doing business with is quick, fast, and easy.

However, there are other, faster ways where you can get bulk amounts of home insurance quotes online. The sites you visit may not look as reputable, but bulk insurance quote websites can really help you discover some of the lowest possible home insurance rates that you will ever be able to find online. And even if you have no luck visiting such a broad spectrum home insurance website, you can always use the names of the home insurance companies they recommend to you to try and get even lower rates by visiting their direct websites or giving them a call. So, whether you are looking for a home insurance online quote or if you would rather do things the old fashioned way (through the telephone), then the internet is still a great place to start your search.

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Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Your Credit Affects Your Auto Insurance Quotes

Your credit information plays are a part in your auto insurance quotes. If you have bad credit, the insurance company finds you to be a bad risk. If your credit score shows good credit, your auto insurance quotes will be lower than someone with bad credit will because you are considered a good risk.

Insurance companies look at the credit history as a way to see how you manage your credit as a behavior pattern. They use this to determine if you may file more claims than someone with good credit may. This sounds unreal, but this has been a practice for many years with car insurance companies.

If you have no credit history, the insurance companies still look at your driving record and age as part of the auto insurance quotes. The car insurance companies might not offer the same discounts to you if you have no credit history as they do to someone with good credit history. It is important to have some kind of credit history when applying for car insurance.

The car insurance companies are considered to have reasonable reasons to see your credit report as a way of determining your auto insurance quotes. If you find that, the insurance company has obtained the wrong information on your credit report you can ask to clear this matter up before obtaining the auto insurance quotes from the car insurance company.

The insurance score is different from the credit score. The insurance score helps to determine if you will have a higher risk for insurance loss. Although, this theory cannot be sound advice when giving you auto insurance quotes, the car insurance company still uses this type of information for giving you a lower or higher insurance rate.

The insurance company looks at how much you owe and how you pay back your debts. They look at the type of credit you have along with how long you have had credit history with a credit score. If you meet all the standards for good credit history, you may receive lower auto insurance quotes. Because no one knows exactly how the insurance company scores you with your credit score, it becomes hard to no what a good credit score is as far as car insurance companies go.

If you receive auto insurance quotes that appear high, ask the insurance agent about this problem and determine if it was because of your credit history or your age and driving record. This is important information to know when you look for auto insurance quotes. The car insurance companies do like to work with you to give you the best quote on an insurance policy.

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