Archive for August, 2008

Aug
31
iled Under (insurance) by admin on 31-08-2008

  • Shop around.

    Prices vary from company to company, so it pays to shop around. Get at least three price quotes. You can call companies directly or access information on the Internet. Your state insurance department may also provide comparisons of prices charged by major insurers. Get quotes from different types of insurance companies. Some sell through their own agents. These agencies have the same name as the insurance company. Some sell through independent agents who offer policies from several insurance companies. Others do not use agents. They sell directly to consumers over the phone or via the Internet. But don’t shop by price alone. You want a company that answers your questions and handles claims fairly and efficiently. Ask friends and relatives for their recommendations. Select an agent or company representative that takes the time to answer your questions. Remember, you’ll be dealing with this company if you have an accident or other emergency.

  • Before you buy a car, compare insurance costs.

    Before you buy a new or used car, check into insurance costs. Your premium is based in part on the car’s sticker price, the cost to repair it, its overall safety record, and the likelihood of theft. Many insurers offer discounts for features that reduce the risk of injuries or theft. These include air bags, anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights and anti-theft devices. Some states require insurers to give discounts for cars equipped with air bags or anti-lock brakes.

    Cars that are favorite targets for thieves cost more to insure. Information that can help you decide what car to buy is available from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ( http://www.iihs.org/ ).

  • Ask for higher deductibles.

    Deductibles represent the amount of money you pay before your insurance policy kicks in. By requesting higher deductibles, you can lower your costs substantially. For example, increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive coverage cost by 15% to 30%. Going to a $1,000 deductible can save you 40% or more. Just remember, the deductible is the amount you pay before the insurance company pays anything. For example, if the accident costs were $3,000 and your deductible was $1,000, you would pay $1,000 and your insurance company would pay the remaining $2,000.

  • Reduce coverage on older cars.

    If you are running an old clunker, you might want to think twice about collision coverage. It may not be cost effective to continue insuring cars worth less than 10 times the amount you would pay for coverage. Any claim payment you receive would not substantially exceed your premiums minus the deductible. Claims occur on average only once every 11 or 12 years. Auto dealers and banks can tell you the worth of cars. Or you can look it up online at Kelley Blue Book http://www.kbb.com . Review your coverage at renewal time to make sure your insurance needs haven’t changed.

  • Buy your homeowners and auto coverage from the same insurer.

    Many insurers will give you a discount if you buy two or more types of insurance from them. Also, you may get a reduction if you have more than one vehicle insured with the same company. Some insurers reduce premiums for long-time customers. But shop around; you may save money buying from different insurance companies despite the multi-policy discount.

  • Take advantage of low-mileage discounts.

    Some companies offer discounts to motorists who drive a lower than average number of miles per year. Low mileage discounts can also apply to drivers who carpool to work.

  • Maintain good credit.

    Your credit rating may affect what you pay for insurance. Credit makes insurance rates more accurate, fair and objective. While the use of insurance scoring varies from state to state and company to company, it is a fact that drivers with long, stable credit records have fewer accidents than drivers who don’t. Most people have good credit histories, so most people benefit.

  • Seek out safe driver discounts.

    Companies offer discounts to policyholders who have not had any accidents or moving violations for a number of years. You may also qualify for a cut if you have recently taken a defensive driving course.

  • When you comparison shop, inquire about discounts for:

  • $500 deductible

  • $1,000 deductible
  • More than 1 car
  • No accidents in 3 years
  • No moving violations in 3 years
  • Driver training course
  • Defensive driving course
  • Anti-theft device
  • Low annual mileage
  • Air bag
  • Anti-lock brakes
  • Daytime running lights
  • Student drivers with good grades
  • Auto and homeowners coverage with the same company
  • College students away from home
  • Long-time customer
  • Other discounts
  • Don’t forget the key to savings is not the discounts but the final price. A company that offers few discounts may still have a lower overall price.

    Joe Kahler is recognized as an expert on helping young adults successfully transition from home to being “out on their own”. His latest work has recently been assembled in his book, Out On My Own… Now What? Tips and Insights So You Won’t Be Left Hanging in the “Real World”!

    Joe received his undergraduate degree from Whittier College in Social Sciences and his Masters in Education from Arizona State University. His experience includes teaching, coaching, running numerous businesses, investing, selling insurance and real estate AND attending numerous personal, “hard knocks” training classes!

    http://www.outonmyown.com

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    Aug
    30
    iled Under (insurance) by admin on 30-08-2008

    If you are looking for tips on how to reduce the yearly premiums you pay on your home contents and/or home buildings insurance policies, the following are some sure-fire ways to do it:

    Increase the insurance excess amount

    While still maintaining a sensible threshold, why not increase the excess amount on the insurance policy? The excess amount is the amount you and the insurance company agree you’ll be liable to pay before you can make a claim on the insurance policy. In theory, with an increase in the excess amount should come a reduction in the premium - as there is less chance you’ll claim.

    Increase your home security

    Insofar as home contents insurance is concerned, security is a major contributing factor. Therefore, if you want to reduce your home contents insurance premiums, you should seriously consider beefing up your home security system. Depending on the valuation you have put on your home contents, ideas here should include putting in a home alarm system.

    Rent a safety deposit box

    While none of us like the idea of keeping our most prized possessions safely locked away in a safety deposit box, if you have one or two very valuable personal items, you may well find that it is a lot less expensive to keep these in a safety deposit box and only bring them out on special occasions than it is to pay an expensive insurance premium to keep them on-hand all the time.

    Look around for a new insurance provider

    Although you do need to consider whether or not your home buildings insurance provider is an approved insurance company, so far as your mortgage lender is concerned, these days the insurance industry is a very price competitive one. As such, take advantage of this and look around to see if you can get a cheaper deal either on the Internet or in the real world.

    Insure against the mortgage value

    Although it is never recommended practice that you only insure your home buildings against the mortgage loan outstanding, if money is tight and the amount of your mortgage outstanding is not too far off the real value of your home, you may want to consider insuring your home for the value of the mortgage loan outstanding. This way, with a lower home valuation should come reduced premium payments.

    Although there are a number of ways that you can reduce both your home contents and home buildings insurance, where possible it is best practice that you try to maintain adequate insurance to reflect the real value of all your wonderful possessions.

    Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the insurance site http://www.insure121.com/ where you will find information, news and links to the leading providers of home insurance in the UK.

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    Aug
    29
    iled Under (insurance) by admin on 29-08-2008

    Statistics have shown that ‘1 out of 3 pets’ undergo illnesses, injuries and disease each year. It is recommended that pets be kept away from chocolates, and other harmful substances and chemicals that poison the pet. Other valuable tips are available to pet owners over the Internet to help keep your pet healthy and avoid costs for treatment.

    Few pet insurance companies will offer maximum payout pet coverage. The policy may cover illnesses, diseases, neutering, dental, and other conditions that pets endure. It is important to shop around, since few companies’s offer policies that allow owners to file one claim (same condition) per year. The policy may stipulate, unless the animal has ongoing illnesses, then maximum coverage is not available.

    Once you find the pet insurance coverage of choice, you will need to understand the policy often is active immediately after the initial cost of coverage is paid.

    The majority of Pet Insurance coverage restricts claims if the pet is utilized for business, aggressive, or if you received a number of complaints from locals that you pet is causing trouble. Otherwise, the policies offer a variety of coverage, yet if your pet was ill prior to the activation of the policy, then you probably will not receive coverage.

    Few policies will not cover pets if the animal becomes terminally ill immediately after the policy is activated. Since there is no proof that the animal had pending conditions at the onset of the policy, the company’s will rarely offer coverage for the animal. Few company’s permit transferals, providing the pet is ‘less than 8 weeks’ old when the policy was taking out. The company will often allow the owner to prepare claims during transfers if the policyholder has applied and was accepted for the policy (8 weeks) within two weeks, and if the policyholder has a separate coverage.

    Third Party Liability Coverage is optional, however if you have a vicious pet you may want to consider this option over the Standard Packages. The policy is designed for the vicious animals; include Rottweilers, Bulldogs, German Sheppard and so forth. If your pet bites, or unravels nerves, or else causes damage to your neighbor’s property then under law, you are liable for damages, including mental health for recovery, medical and repairs. Thus, the third liability coverage is choice if you have a vicious pet. Vicious animals are unpredictable; therefore, believing that it can’t happen to you is setting your self up. Not so long ago someone I knew had a Rottweiler, which adored a frequent visitor, until one day the dog viciously attacked the long-term friend, causing injury. Therefore, if you have a pet that is unpredictable, it is wise to have coverage to protect your self and pet. In most instances (depends on the state) dogs of vicious nature are immediately injected with poisons that claim their lives. Some states may allow vicious animals to exist in the region but will obligate the owner to take out coverage for liability.

    The third party liability claims are handled differently from the standard policies. Since law, courts, and third parties are involved, the policyholder must submit documentation, citations, and other important details to receive disbursement. However, if you pet has ongoing complaints prior to the incident, most likely you will pay the charges of the damage and/or injuries incurred.

    The standard packages are for common animals that present no threat to human society. The packages will cover medical treatment including, heartworms, arthritis, injuries and so forth. Few states require that pet owners neuter their pets immediately due to over population, thus finding the policy that offers this coverage is essential since neutering procedures are often steep. However, few states offer immediate coverage, thus the owner pays nothing if the pet is neutered on a set timeframe. Therefore, check the state laws before taking out extra coverage.

    Finally, pets are living beings and require treatment like humans do, therefore get the proper coverage for your pet now and save your pet and money.

    Authored by Michael Bens. For more great information about all forms of insurance visit our free online insurance publication the Gabae Insurance Source to find the information you’re looking for!

    Also you can check out Gabae Insurance Articles to find the articles’ you’re looking for!

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