Archive for December, 2008

Pay As You Go Auto Insurance

Wednesday, December 31st, 2008

The changing needs of consumers looking for auto insurance, has been the reason why insurance companies have looked for ways to respond to their needs over the years.

Consumers all across the country are looking desperately for some way to save some money on auto fuel as gas prices continue to be very unstable. Our finances are now tightly bound by many consumer goods, among which is the soaring price of gasoline and the costs involved with paying auto insurance. Insurance companies have chosen to respond to this situation by creating a new insurance program which is known as a pay as you drive program, that could provide policy holders some financial relief.  

Officially called Environmental Defense, the program’s purpose is to use it to track an individual’s car mileage. In order to accomplish this, there are two proposed methods of operation.One method of doing this is accomplished by installing a proprietary odometer in an embedded cell phone that calls in your mileage to the insurance company.   

The other method to track your mileage involves installing a GPS device into a phone in your car, like the On Star system, which reveals your actual travel route. If you are indecisive on which method will be best for you, maybe you need to find out a bit more information.   

Some consumers object to the GPS system, because they believe that it infringes on their right to privacy. The GPS system may have some certain advantages over the propriety odometer method of tracking mileage because it tells how many miles you travel and also the quickest and easiest route to travel. You should make a comparison of your concerns for privacy and the probable benefits of each method.
The Environmental Defense has the idea that a pay as you drive program will save the consumers money and help reduce pollution, because the insurance companies will offer incentives for driving less.An added benefit of the pay as you drive program, is that it could end up reducing driving and congestion in cities where traffic problems with overcrowded highways are prevalent.    

Drivers could gain more control over their auto insurance premiums through the pay as you drive programs, thus making auto insurance more affordable.   

You can easily make a determination of how much money a pay as you drive program can save for you. This type of program will charge part of your annual premium rate into a per mile fee by assigning your car to a group of consumers according to vehicle type and the frequency of usage plus your location according to your zip code. When the per mile rate is determined you most likely will have to pay an upfront fee for your pre-determined mileage.
The determining factor of whether you receive any rebate or if you have to pay more for your insurance is the amount of time you spend driving your vehicle.      

There have been estimates of some policy holders being in a position to receive almost a twenty-five percent savings on their auto insurance costs with this type of program.

If our futures can be improved through the pay as you drive auto insurance programs cutting the cost of insurance and relieving the congestion and pollution on our highways, it will be much better for every one.

Compare Auto Insurance Quote – How To Find The Best Car Insurance Rates Online

Tuesday, December 30th, 2008

Whenever you receive a car insurance quote from a company, make sure you compare it with other quotes, given by other companies that offer the same features. But, to make sure you take the right decision, here are a few advices that will help you make the process simpler.

The first thing you must do before deciding on other insurance policies, is to check what your current auto insurance policy offers you. Take into consideration everything it has to offer, including limits to bodily injury, property, underinsured or uninsured motorists, the deductibles that it offers and if you´re ready to pay for towing your car. Or, if you have coverage just for collision or if it´s comprehensive.

After you take note of all those features, find out which ones you will probably need in the future and change what you don´t need. A good example is taking out the comprehensive coverage if the car being insured is an old one, with very low value. You can save a few hundred dollars by choosing collision coverage only.

The second part would be to find good information on the cars you own and the people that drive them. Some of the information you will need includes:

1. The SSN (Social Security Number) and the driver license of each driver that will use the car

2. The model, make and year of the cars to be insured.

3. The mileage that it gets daily and if you use it for pleasure or business.

4. What safety features it has, like alarms, ABS, air bags, etc.

Try to get more than three car insurance online quotes, from a number of different sources, because rates can be different from one company to another. Use some paper to note all the online quotes that you receive, accompanied by comments on each company that you write down.

Something that should be kept in mind when you make your choice is to pick a company that has financial stability, great customer service and a fast claims service.

When you find that one car insurance online quote that looks best to you, keep it under observation for some time, to make sure it´s the right one for you.

If you´re talking to a representative or an agent, ask plenty of questions, to save as much money as possible on your insurance policy. Another good tip is checking for an online customer service at the company that you want to pick.

Visit my site and compare auto discount insurance quotes online. Learn where to get cheap car insurance quotes online.