When is it a good time or safe time to raise your auto insurance deductibles? As with so many things relating to auto insurance it is based on various circumstances and your financial place.
For anyone who doesn’t understand an automobile insurance deductible, it is the amount of money you must pay initially called “out-of-pocket” if you have an accident.
For example if you have a policy with a $250 deductible, if you have an accident and the cost of repairing the car is $1,000, you are required to pay the first $250.
The higher your deductible is, the lower your premium will be. Most people today carry a $500 deductible.
When should you have a high deductible and when should you carry a low one?
Certainly if you are just insuring your car on a liability basis you would want a very high deductible, because you wouldn’t be repairing your car.
Some states require a minimum deductible.
If your car is collateral on a loan the lending institution will usually require a reasonably low deductible because they want to make sure their collateral is secure.
Outside of special circumstances, whether or not to have a high or outrageous deductible is straightforward; it should be based on your financial capabilities.
If you have a high deductible you will pay less premium, but if you are in an accident you will have more to pay. You are betting you can pause out of collisions with a higher premium.
If you have a low deductible you are going to pay more on a monthly basis, but if you are in an accident you will have to pay less money.
One trick people use is to rob the difference in premium between high and rude deductibles and save it. If they don’t need it they have created a fund.
Your decision reflects how you think you will do on the road and what you can afford.
Filed under Eastwood Auto Insurance by on Mar 13th, 2011. Comment. 
For a smaller community, New Prague Minnesota boasts a few car dealerships. All of them present petite town hospitality and help along with as much quality and services that the larger cities in Minnesota can offer.
1. New Prague Ford Mercury is located on Highway 13 and Highway 19 East at 1185 280th Street West in New Prague, Minnesota. You can call them toll free at 888-235-3166 or e-mail them at npford@bevcomm.bag . Their website is www.newpragueford.com Along with new and used vehicles; they also offer complete auto and truck repair including diesels. Free loaner cars are available. They were the recipients of the year 2002 president’s reward from Ford, are BlueOval Certified and are also Ford Quality Care Masters. Via their website, you can search through their unusual inventory, arrange for credit and view their specials. Their services are maintenance, repair, and parts including but not tiny to, Oil & filter changes, Inspections, Fluid replacements, Windshield wiper blades, Belts, Tune ups, Name-brand Tires, Batteries, Brake Service, Shocks, Struts, Suspension as well as Minor and Major Engine Service.
2. Mahowald’s is also located at Highway 13 and Highway 19 East, right across from Unique Prague Ford Mercury in New Prague, Minnesota. They can be reached by calling 952-758-4488 or by emailing them at generalmail@mahowalds.com .Mahowald’s sells and services all makes and models of Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Chevrolet and Dodge vehicles. Their website is http://www.mahowalds.com/ which offers a Fresh Vehicle Virtual Showroom as well as the ability to browse their current inventory of new and used vehicles. Their services include a Rent-It-All Center, a Mini-storage facility, as well as offering Kawasaki and Ski and Sea-Doo Products in their Mahowald’s Sports building.
3. Palmer Welcome Auto is located at 603 4th Avenue SW in New Prague, Minnesota. They specialize in used cars and can be reached by calling 952-758-2479
4. Auto and Truck Buyers Service of New Prague is located at 205 Main Street West Suite A and can be reached by calling 952-758-3630. They also specialize in used car sales.
5. Parts Plus, located at 205 4th Avenue SW in New Prague, Minnesota also offers a complete line of parts and accessories for foreign and domestic vehicles. Rental cars are available Call 952-758-4471 for more information.
Whenever buying a new or passe car from anyone, get sure that you understand all of the terms and conditions you are agreeing to before you sign anything. Shop around for the best APR, annual percentage rate, you can get when it comes to an auto loan but do not forget to also compare the other costs associated with a loan, such as loan insurance and loan processing costs. Talk to one of the specialists at any of these dealerships to see if leasing a vehicle would be better in your case instead of purchasing one. It is also advisable to bag any used car checked out by an independent certified mechanic. Buying a car does not have to be hard, it can be an exciting, palatable experience; Especially if you have your hometown neighborhood dealers in New Prague, Minnesota there to benefit you.
Filed under Mercury Auto Insurance by on Feb 26th, 2011. Comment.
GEICO stands for “Government Employees Insurance Company.” That really doesn't have anything to do with this piece, but is anecdotally interesting.
I just got my revised insurance information from the lizard auto insurance company (…'the cut rate insurance company' the 'fifteen minutes insurance company' or any of the other dig names which competitors buy out on them) and I was not happy. My wife and I have been accident free for some time now. No moving violations, no points, no incidents, no expired meters, no cutting off old ladies at the service station. We have largely been very gracious drivers, for all the driving we do.
So when I got the email the other day about our policy renewal, I was very excited. I had figured we had made a pretty stout dent in our admittedly reasonable insurance policy. We still have a loan out on our car which is Titanic-style underwater (ours is a 3 year old car with 110,000 miles) and we're anxious to get ahead of these things.
Our plans have always been to retire our small remaining plastic debt and then tackle the car head on. The fact that our policy is up for renewal and we haven't had any incidents in several cycles should mean that our policy will go down, right?
Well…No.
Our policy actually went up by some two or three dollars per payment (with five payments the added amount is something like $13.00 total). Still, that bugged me.
So as I've done since my earliest days of being fed up with a teething ring and wanting my bottle, I spoke up about it. I emailed GEICO and basically said, “what's going on? ” The always vigilant Gecko was quick to get back in touch with me. This is the truncated version of what he said:
“…You do have a immense driving record and your policy did not change because of the way you drive. Right now on your policy you are receiving our 5 year good driver discount which is saving you $66.10 every 6 months on your premium.
Your renewal policy reflects a statewide rate revision. As with all insurance companies, GEICO periodically reviews its loss statistics to determine if our rates are adequate to cloak the cost of claims. The results of our analysis indicated that it was necessary to increase our premium levels.
Insurance companies frequently reevaluate their rates in the light of economic conditions and the driving record of the insuring public. In this way, we are able to realize the purpose of insurance – the equal distribution of the losses amount the insuring public. All insurers use this principle.
We luxuriate in the time you have been insured with GEICO. We regret that it is necessary to increase your rates due to the overall loss experience in your state. Please be assured that we share your concern over the rising cost of insurance and are doing everything we can to keep our rates as low as possible.”
So I hope I'm reading that honest, because that sounds to me like socialized auto insurance. I mean, the diagram GEICO tells it, whatever I do with any insurance company as a driver doesn't matter because of the risk of what could happen. I don't want to begrudge the Gecko, but I don't want to be responsible for the awful decisions of strangers. I didn't get in that accident, I didn't total my car, I didn't sideswipe some strangers parked car; someone else did.
When did we all score so comfortable together in the tall tall bed of auto insurance? If you can't call that socialism, you might as well call it communism.
Filed under State Farm Auto Insurance by on Feb 24th, 2011. Comment.
According to an article about preventing automobile accidents inspiring teen drivers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens – - teen drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are four times more likely to be involved in a car crash than older drivers. If you win past this discouraging statistic and allow your teen to obtain their drivers’ license and get late the wheel of a vehicle, you must first obtain auto insurance for your teen driver. Auto insurance for teens is probably the most costly do of insurance that you will ever purchase; however, taking the time to search for the best auto insurance for teenagers will befriend reduce the cost to you.
Auto insurance for your teen driver will be expensive but there are steps you can take to reduce the cost of teen automobile insurance. One way to decrease the cost of automobile insurance for teenagers is not popular with most teens – - choosing a vehicle that is not a sports car, not a tag new vehicle, does not contain a powerful engine and does not have a sound system that would make an Imax theater jealous. In addition to age and driving history, automobile insurance companies bewitch into consideration the vehicle that the driver will be using when quoting rates. As with adults, the vehicle can affect the insurance rate and teens are infamous for wanting fast, loud vehicles, which also are a gargantuan distraction for them when driving. Even though it may not be popular with your teen driver, choose a modest, family vehicle for their first car. This will not only lower your automobile insurance (it will unexcited be high) but it could also reduce their risk for an auto accident.
In addition to choosing a vehicle, comparison shopping for auto insurance for teenagers is mandatory to bag the best teen auto insurance at the lowest rate. Start with your current automobile insurance provider and obtain a quote for adding your teen to your policy as well as a quote for a separate auto insurance policy for your teen driver. It is best to get quotes for both options, as obtaining a separate policy may be a better value than adding your teen to your insurance policy. Do not forget to ask for specials and discounts from your current company for family insurance coverage and long-standing customers. After you have an insurance quote from your new insurance company, contact several insurance companies and obtain teen insurance quotes to compare prices.
Asking for discounts for the following factors when comparison shopping can also save you money when purchasing auto insurance for teenagers:
1. Taking and passing a Drivers Education Course
2. Good Student Discount – discounts for teen drivers who maintain high grade point averages
3. Passing their driver’s examination with high scores
4. Taking a Defensive Driving Class or Accident Prevention Course
Do not opt to reduce insurance coverage to save money – - it is best to pay the slight increase to have full coverage on your teen driver than to save a few bucks and risk lowering coverage. For more information on how to protect your teen driver read the information provided at Progressive.com and Nationwide.com about teen drivers.
Filed under State Farm Auto Insurance by on Feb 21st, 2011. Comment.
With an economy on its last leg, folks are rightfully searching for a way — any way — to gash their monthly bills. It’s only natural that we take a look at one of the only staples of our lifestyles that is competitive on price: car insurance.
However, when you’re shopping for car insurance, you don’t only want to focus on rates. The coverage being offered and the level of service you will receive in the unfortunate event of a vehicle accident is also important. After all, what good is it to save money on your car insurance premium if after a claim the only replacement vehicle you’ll be able to afford is a bicycle? Those streamers obvious are pretty! But they will not succor propel you to 55 miles an hour to form it to work on time.
Did you know that:
1) Some insurance companies will offer you a discount and additional benefits if you served your country?
2) When you combine your auto insurance with other insurance products, such as your homeowner’s or another vehicle, you are afforded additional overall savings?
3) When you order your insurance online, you not only set aside but also take advantage of comparison shopping?
4) Six-month auto insurance rates varied significantly from company to company, from an average uncouth of $481 to an average high of $586 across the country between 1999 to 2004 (Progressive Insurance Study)
If you never took a moment to check out different auto insurance companies and their programs, you may be missing out on an array of benefits and savings. Not to mention that in this Internet age, it has become increasingly easy to come by quotes on car insurance and do thorough research on both local and national insurance companies from the comfort of your home computer. Here are a few suggestions for how to shop for car insurance like a true pro.
Consult Friends
One of the best ways to shop for car insurance is to ask your friends for their own personal quotes. Fortunately, auto insurance is one of those expenditures that folks are generally happy to divulge information about.
If you’ve got a friend in the same boat as yourself, who lives in the same area and has an identical driving report, you may be surprised to learn that he or she is paying powerful less for auto insurance for the same coverage that you’re getting quotes for.
The next logical question is obviously who your friend holds his or her insurance with! Calling in for a quote and signing up is a no-brainer if it turns out that you can secure the same type of insurance for less. If you’re not getting the dependable rate quote as your friend, please, don’t have a temper tantrum. Keep in mind that your friend may have been given additional discounts for adding other insurance products or being a member of certain associations.
Comparison Shopping Online
The Internet is a magical place. Think about it — where else can you learn how to cook, visit Thailand, chat with your friend in North Dakota, and search for a new auto insurance policy… all in one sitting!
Use the Internet for all it’s worth. There are gems waiting for you on the other side of Google that can completely change your life. When it comes to shopping for car insurance, there are a wide array of sites available that allow you to comparison shop. You simply pop in your basic information, including the make and model of your car and driving record, and minutes later you have a listing of companies who will be more than happy to serve you.
Again, you want to focus on more than rates – you’ve got to get into the guts of your quote. Some sites will give you a low rate, but what you are getting for the money is not comparable to your current coverage. You’ve got to understand the difference between liability, which only covers the other guy’s damages, and comprehensive coverage, which covers both you and the other guy. Not to mention, it is also important to do research into customer experiences with the company. The Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) and Consumer Affairs (www.consumeraffairs.com) are great places to start. (And boy, those complainants don’t hold anything serve, so you’re determined to get a full opinion of what to examine from your potential insurer.)
Regardless of the quotes you score succor, it is always a good idea to periodically put your car insurance policy to the test. Are you getting the best deal for the money?
“It really pays to shop around,” says Dick Luedke, spokesperson for State Farm Insurance. “Premiums for exactly the same coverage can vary substantially from carrier to carrier.” (MSN Money)
Don’t Forget!
When shopping around for car insurance, there are some actions you can occupy on your part to assure a better quote. For example, there are defensive driving classes that allow you to sit in for a few hours and enjoy anywhere from 10-15% savings on your auto insurance. Also, for current policies your rates might still be high if your insurance company didn’t bother to adjust your rates when the strikes against your driving record (including accidents and tickets) expired. It is up to you to be proactive about updating your insurer with your new information or shopping around for a new policy with your freshly clean record. Finally, where you live is one of the biggest determinants of how much you will pay for car insurance. So if you’ve been considering a disappear to a quieter, safer area where you don’t have to disaster about waking up to find your car stereo missing, maybe now is the time!
You are smart to want to shop for a good deal on car insurance, and you know what? You have the advantage here. Steal your time when shopping for car insurance and make positive that you’re using all of the resources that are available.
Filed under Farmers Insurance by on Feb 19th, 2011. Comment.
