Thursday, January 28, 2010

Cheaper Than Cheap Auto Insurance - Does it Exist?

By Steven Stingfeld

Can dirt cheap auto insurance actually be found today? This is a very common question and the answer is a good one. Yes, you can find cheap auto insurance if you know what you are doing. Although it may seem very difficult to find car insurance that is on the cheap side, if you follow a few important tips you can easily reduce the amount of money that you are paying on your car insurance premiums.

There are always ways to seek a variety of quotes from different auto insurance providers. In the past, this was a laborious process. Today, online applications make it much easier to submit quotes to multitudes of companies. As a result, it is possible to review many different quotes in order to select the dirt cheap auto insurance that best suits your needs.

The cost of your auto insurance can also be affected by the mileage you put on your car every year. Those who drive only a few miles each year can get better deals on their insurance policy. This discount is given because those who spend less time in a vehicle are less likely to end up having a vehicle accident than others that drive many miles in a year's time.

Where you park your vehicle is important as well when you are not driving. Do you have it in a garage or perhaps an area that is gated? This can affect the amount you pay for auto insurance. When your vehicle is kept in an area that is protected, it is less likely to be in an accident and not as likely to be stolen. When there is less risk for your vehicle, then it is easier to get the dirt cheap car insurance you want.

The way you drive also can affect what you are paying for your auto insurance. If you happen to have many moving violations or speeding tickets the insurance rates are going to go up. On the other hand, drivers with a safe record often get discounts on their auto insurance. Those that take defensive driving classes are also able to get some discounts from insurance companies in many cases. It is important that you drive sensibly and carefully. Not only can it help you get cheaper auto insurance, but it is important for your safety and the safety of others.

Consolidating insurance plans can often yield a discount. For example, if you own three cars you could put all three cars under a single insurance policy. This could lead to a decent savings that would not be acquired if you took out 3 separate policies. It is also possible to acquire dirt cheap auto insurance by combining car insurance with home insurance policies. Once again, insurance providers love to offer deals in order to keep your business. Through combining various policies it can be possible to acquire a great deal on cheap auto insurance.

Is there an alarm on your vehicle? There is a good chance that you have one since most of the cars today have car alarms on them that came on the vehicle when you purchased it. Many insurance companies offer discounts for having an alarm on the vehicle. Let the company know when you are getting insurance and there is a good chance you'll be able to save some more money.

Even how you go about paying off the policy can have something to do with what you pay. If you decide to go ahead and pay for the whole policy at one time, often you'll be able to get a discount and get dirt cheap auto insurance. When you get a quote on insurance, find out if they offer this option. Companies like to get paid in full up front and they offer these discounts in order to get the money in the beginning.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Is It Very Difficult to Get Classic Auto Parts?

By Amy Nutt

If you are working on restoring a classic car, finding parts can be a challenge. Depending on the vintage and popularity of the model you own, parts may or may not be available through the original manufacturer. If they are, the manufacturer will charge a premium price, because there is less demand for those parts then there would be for parts for newer models. If you cannot get parts from the dealership or original manufacturer, you are going to have to get creative. Here are some options for you to consider.

Shop with Other Enthusiasts If you can join a classic car enthusiast club or website or simply network with other enthusiasts in your area, you may be able to find some contact information for parts suppliers that deal with used classic car auto parts. Some of the enthusiasts themselves may have parts they no longer need or cars they are willing to take parts from to sell. Of course, there is no guarantee that you will find parts in this way, but it is worth a try.

Go Online Another option to consider is shopping online. You can find many classic car parts on eBay and online classifieds websites. Shopping online opens the entire world to your disposal, so if you are searching for a very rare part, you have a greater chance of finding it. Keep in mind, however, that many stores and websites are geared toward American shoppers, so you might have to pay extra for shipping when shopping from Canada. Always watch the shipping fees before you commit to making a purchase, because these can greatly affect how much of a bargain or value you are getting for your money.

Also, keep in mind that you will not have the chance to see the parts before you buy. Make sure the online listing has very detailed photos. Even with pictures, though, you still run the risk of ending up with a rusty part, because the photographer can conveniently forget to show a side of the part that contains rust damage.

Head to the Junk Yard Another option is to visit a junkyard. Junkyards deal with cars of all years, makes, and models, and they salvage every part possible from the cars they get. Because most of the cars they take in are older, you have a high likelihood of finding something to fit your classic car.

Most junkyard owners are experts in car parts, simply because of the nature of their work. You can ask the junkyard owner to keep his eyes open for a particular part that you need.

Some junkyards even list their inventory online, giving you the chance to see what they have from the comfort of your home. If you do not live near the junkyard, you can order over the phone or Internet if they have what you need. Shopping for parts for your classic car can be like a treasure hunt. You have to be creative and the search can be a challenge, but with these resources you are sure to find what you need.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

What is a Car Insurance Deductible?

By Amy Nutt

Car insurance is not only a necessity when driving a car, it is also the law. When drivers purchase car insurance, they are required to pay a car insurance deductible. The deductible is part of every drivers insurance policy and they are responsible for paying it. Basically, a deductible is the amount of money that a driver is willing to pay for the insurance coverage. Deductibles differ by state, but generally, they can be $100, $250, $500, $1000 or $1500. For instance, if you had a deductible of $1000, and received damage to you car in the amount of $5000, you would pay $1000 and the insurance company would pay $4000. This money must be paid before your insurance company will pay your claim.

Selecting a deductible is an important decision because it will affect the cost of your premium. The higher the amount of the deductible that you choose, the lower your insurance premiums will be. You could possibly save up to 20 percent. Comprehensive and collision coverage are associated with the insurance deductible. Comprehensive covers any damage to your vehicle other than another car. This can include hail, ice pellets, physical damage such as vandalism, or hitting something such as a deer...etc. Comprehensive insurance also covers theft. Collision insurance covers damage caused to your car as the result of a collision with another vehicle.

Although the higher the insurance deductible, the lower the premium, you will still have to make sure you can afford the deductible in the event that you have to make a claim. It is important that set aside the amount of the deductible such as depositing it in a specific bank account. If you cannot deposit the entire amount, make regular deposits to make up for the shortfall until your reach the total amount.

Most car insurance companies provide deductible calculators on their website. Before you decide which deductible you will use, compare policies and how much each costs. If you need further information, contact an insurance agent.

Every driver has to consider how much money they can afford for coverage each month. It is important be informed about car insurance policies and their deductibles. This coverage is how your vehicle will be protected in case of a vehicle accident or damage. Choosing auto insurance deductibles is based on personal choice. The best choice is what best suits a policyholder's specific needs. An important factor in choosing deductibles is the price and how difficult it would be to obtain the car insurance deductible in the event of an accident. To find out the difference in prices, get several quotes from different companies. A general rule is: choose deductibles as high as you can afford.

The purpose of the car insurance deductible is to dissuade drivers from using their insurance policies for minor claims. If a driver has $500 in damages, and a $500 car insurance deducible, he most likely will not make a claim. By knowing and understanding what your state requires, how much coverage you can afford, how much you are willing to pay for insurance, how often you think you will make a claim, and how much of a deductible you can pay, you will be able to choose the right policy to meet your needs.

The History Behind Car Insurance & The Protection It Provides

By Marcus Worthon

Being one of the most popular and most sought after insurances in the world, car insurance is definitely one of the most talked about insurance policies as well. Be it the Us, Europe or Asia, it is mandatory by law, for people driving cars on public roads to own car insurance.

Have you ever wondered where did it all begin? In this write up, we try and explore some of the reasons and incidents which led to the foundation of car insurance policies and laws relating to them. The earliest hints of vehicular insurance com from ancient China, when the west was opening up to this far land.

Later, the concept of car insurance got a whole new twist. Policy makers from all over the world got together and decided that owning a vehicle and driving it on public roads (roads, in most parts of the world are considered to be the property of the public) was a privilege.

Policy makers in the US were strictly bent towards the idea that if you own a vehicle and drive it on public roads, you ought to have car insurance in order to prevent damage to any third parties. It was this thought process that made the ownership of car insurance mandatory in the US and in the rest of the world as well.

While car insurance policies in the US can be traced back to the early 19th century, he first law, making car insurance policy mandatory for people owning cars and driving them on public roads, came into effect in 1927 in Massachusetts. Right after this law was passed, its acceptance was widespread, not only in the US, but also In the rest of the developed and developing world. With the number of cars (and consequently, the number of accidents) on the rise, such laws have been welcomed with open arms all over the world.

While the first law, making car insurance mandatory in 1927 in Massachusetts, real ground work had already been started in this field in the early 19th century. A number of car insurance policies were written and the first policy giving a full liability cover was written in 1895 in England. Soon, three years later, America saw its first such policy, penned down by Dr. Truman in 1898. Policies offering a full liability cover are the most popular and preferred of all car insurance policies because of the fact that they not only insure the vehicle, they also reimburse the vehicle owner for any damage that he might have caused to others.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Antique Auto Insurance - Online Auto Insurance Quotes

By Matt Hellstrom

Antique or vintage automobiles are highly collectible items with a huge fan base. Although the antique auto insurance will only be able to cover the monetary value of a vintage or classic automobile, it is still wise to have some sort of recourse than having none in events these classic vehicles are damaged or stolen. These vehicles are a passion for many people and there are many collectors of classic and vintage automobiles.

These vintage or classic automobiles as they are popularly known are considered works of art and have a market value much higher than their real value, just like any other piece of art. Determining the price of a vehicle while processing an antique auto insurance policy is a tricky process. Though there are many companies out there selling such policies, there are only a handful that offer comprehensive and well drawn out policies that offer policies in tune with what your vehicle is actually worth.

In ordinary cases, an insurance company only pays for the actual cash value of the automobile. With each passing year this value depreciates. Antique auto insurance providers do not determine the value of a vintage or classic vehicle based on its utility value nor do they consider depreciation with age.

There are several methods to determine the value of an antique automobile that are employed by insurance companies offering antique auto insurance policies on antique and classic automobiles. The main one is the agreed upon price method which basically is the price acceptable to both the insurance company and the car owners. This value is arrived at after a consensus is reached on the price and a particular amount that is higher than the original cost of the car is fixed as the value.

An antique car's value is usually determined by a comparison based on the current values for similar automobiles as listed in popular vintage automobile magazines and price indexes that are in vogue. Sometimes the services of an independent assessor are sought to determine the value of the automobile.

One method that is less frequently adopted is to determine the value based on the total cost that has been incurred by the owner for the automobile over the years which include the original cost plus the amounts spent on repairs, up gradations, changing of parts, adding enhancements etc. This value is also usually higher than the original price by a large margin. The last method is to determine the actual cash value of the automobile as determined for any other by deducting the depreciation incurred over the years from the original cost of the automobile.

Most antique auto insurance lay down certain rules and stipulations that have to be adhered to for the policy to be active on the automobile. Keeping the automobile secure from theft, fire or corrosion and ensuring that it is not used for racing or commercial transportation is a usual requirement that is put forward by antique auto insurance companies. The other usual stipulations are that there should be another vehicle for general use in the owner's household and the antique automobile shall not be used for regular commuting purposes.