Wednesday, July 23, 2008

How Can I Get Benefit from Comparing Auto Insurance Quotes?

Why comparison is important? What is the significant of comparing things with each other? How can I get benefit from comparison? All will be answered shortly later in this article, first for all lets understand why do you need to compare two products?

For example you are shopping for a nice couch and seen an advertisement in the Sunday paper for one you really like. You bought that couch and paid the amount, now on your way to home you see another furniture store having the same couch with better material at low cost. What happened? You didn’t comparison shop. You selected and purchased the first thing you saw. Why do I use this analogy? To exemplify why comparing auto insurance quotes is important. I have practice to do comparison before buying any products because comparison saves my money.

Whether your vehicle is brand new or has a few years upon it, we all want the same thing: good coverage. It can mean the difference between being sued and protecting our assets. A new car must maintain Collision and Comprehensive coverage. On an older model however, or where you have a poor driving record you may want to consider dropping them or not having them as part of your policy to obtain a cheaper premium.

Another way to save money on your premium is by foregoing car insurance endorsements like towing and rental car expenses. While they are not expensive, they may not in fact be necessary at all. Going with an auto club like AAA for towing and labor protection tends to be more cost- effective. And keep in mind with an auto club for your towing and labor protection you avoid the aggravation of filing a claim every time you use the service. Daily rental insurance is often a better deal particularly if you are someone who relies heavily upon their car. It offers you much in the way of convenience and the cost is minimal.

When looking at online auto insurance quotes make a comparison on the following:
  • Quality of customer service
  • Reputation
  • Costs
  • Online/Phone versus Paper for Filing Claims
  • Safe Driver Incentives
  • Hidden Fees
Sometimes we get caught up on the name. As a result, we do not take the time to consider whether they are really the best company for my personal auto insurance needs. Or am I being drawn in by clever jingles, catchy phrases and flashy television commercials?
You may find several insurance companies in the same pricing range. The determining factor at that point may be how knowledgeable the Customer Service Representatives are about their company products or whether they are courteous. The purpose of comparison shopping is to get the most for our money. Rich or poor I don’t know of anyone who likes to waste money. Why pay for services you don’t need? Why go the cheap route to save a few bucks when in the end it can end up costing you dearly?

Exercise the freedom of choice we have with the availability and ease of surfing the Internet and having tons of information at our disposal. With the costs of living increasing and food prices, even food staples going through the roof why not take the extra keystroke or two and compare and get the best price possible rather than picking the first thing you see?

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The Truth About Cheap Auto Insurance

Cheap auto insurance: fact or fiction? For drivers paying hundreds of dollars a month in order to insure their vehicles against theft and damage and protect themselves from litigation in the event of an accident the prospect of cheap auto insurance may seem as much a myth as anything found in Grecian history. Yet there are hundreds of companies out there claiming to be able to provide exactly that. What is fact and what is fiction? Does cheap auto insurance really exist-and at what cost?

The sheer quantity of auto insurance companies around the country almost guarantees that you will be able to find cheap coverage. Unless you have been labeled a high risk driver there is going to be someone out there who is willing to take a chance on you. The question is, is it worth it? Is the money you’re going to save every month worth the possibility of receiving substandard coverage?

Advantages of Purchasing Online Cheap Auto Insurance

Let’s take a quick look at the pros of purchasing cheap auto insurance. First and foremost, you’re going to save money. That’s a no brainer! You’re going to pay less every month in premiums, sometimes as much as 40% less than you would through some of the "big name" insurance companies. Can you imagine what you’d do with an extra 40% of your income? Take a night out, save it up for a vacation, buy a new car! You can undoubtedly find something better to do with a little extra money that send it to a nameless, faceless auto insurance corporation on the chance that you might have an accident.

Another perk to cheap auto insurance is that your coverage usually isn’t cheap. In order to remain competitive most companies that offer cheap insurance also offer the same full coverage that you would have if you were paying twice as much a month in premiums! As long as you are meeting your state’s minimum coverage requirements you can comfortably choose to do business with any insurance company you want.

The Disadvantages of Cheap Auto Insurance

The downside to cheap auto insurance is that if you have an accident you are likely to find yourself paying considerably more in deductibles than you would otherwise. Insurance companies make their profit from the premiums they bring in, and if they’re paying all of their premiums out in repairs in a year they’re going to go under pretty quickly! Companies that offer cheap auto insurance premiums compensate for this by charging their customers more in deductibles for each individual accident, decreasing the amount that they are forced to pay and substantially increasing their profit margin.

The other caution point for drivers is that most companies offering cheap auto insurance to their clientele have a very strict set of criteria which must be met before they will be willing to pay a claim. That means that you may believe you are covered only to get a rude awakening the first (or second, or third) time you try to file a claim. It’s important before you sign on the dotted line to purchase cheap auto insurance that you take the time to read and familiarize yourself thoroughly with the fine print.

The bottom line is that cheap car insurance can be a blessing on the beleaguered pocketbook, but consumers should approach these companies with caution. Before you purchase cheap auto insurance, make sure you know what’s going to be covered-and what you have to do to make sure your claim is met.