Since 1977 insurance has been a big piece of my life. Especially since it is costing me an arm and a leg to keep buying it. For years the insurance industry has been telling us how they save us money. Yet it seems that every time things were going well along came a rate hike. They said it was because costs were going up. Well what has happened to all the money I have paid into the system.
My insurance carriers have paid one claim to my family. That was $550 paid to a body shop after a deer ran in front of my car during the wee hours of the morning. I paid more in premiums that year than was paid out in the claim. As a whole we have had only 2 speeding tickets and 1 demolish in a combined 68 years of driving experience between my wife and I. I do not count my children but they have not had any tickets or accidents either.
So why do I hold getting rate hikes when all the advertising tells me that they can save me $500 over my current carrier.
Today I spent all day getting quotes from insurance carriers. My current carrier is Allstate. For our cars we currently pay $103.76 per month. That is over $1200 per year. We do not have novel cars and the cars we have are both paid for completely so we carry the required insurance by law with additional liability coverage just in case. I spent a lot of time today getting quotes. About 45 minutes to have out all the online forms and 4 hours fending off phone calls which started less than an hour after completing my first online form.
I was really surprised at how fast the response was actually. And of course the first question from everyone was when do you want your fresh insurance to go into effect. The one thing that bothered me is that my current company even called me and offered me a quote.
Now you shouldn’t be surprised at the results. In fact no company wanted to actually give me a quote that I could fill them to. Every quote that I received had a disclaimer on it. All of the disclaimers basically said the same thing. They said that this quote is not binding until the policy is actually issued and may go up after we have completed your checks. What checks I gave them all the information that was requested what are they going to do now? Well the biggest thing it seems is your credit rating. Poor credit results in higher premiums even if you have a splendid driving recount. (Our credit is just average I guess at approximately 688) One representative actually told me if my credit was over 700 they would discount the policy after the first 6 months. All but one would not let us pay except by automatic draft from our checking anecdote. I asked about bundling our house insurance for additional discounts and two of the agents said they couldn’t do it but would earn a note and a local agent would contact us for that.
I was really kind of disappointed in the level of care that I got. Especially after all the money they are spending on commercials to get me to call. The agents I spoke with were not really agents at all but were “customer representatives” and any questions out of the ordinary would have to be relayed to a licensed agent. So for all the big talk about trust and suited hands and saving money it all comes down to a really big company spending an awful lot of money on advertising and very shrimp money on actually delivering a quality product at a decent price.
All said and done. I will finish where I am for the time being. No single company could place me more than $100 on my yearly cost and no single company was willing to provide me reasons why they were not saving me the promised $500.
When you need insurance. Pull out your local phone book. Call all your friends and family and net someone that has a good reputation for service. Don’t look to the lizard in a suit that steals money from the boss’s desk. Look to a quality reputation.
Filed under State Farm Auto Insurance by on Mar 13th, 2011. Comment. 
After you buy a car you need insurance. Just support in mind that all auto companies are different. Although the auto companies are regulated one the state-to-state basis, not every insurance company available will offer the same types of products and services. Questions that stem from insurance and cars are how auto insurance rates are regulated. Regulators from the state view the required information that they mandate be submitted. The state requires insurance companies to submit a file that shows how their specific insurance company calculates customer rates. It is also good to know that insurers are not allowed to deviate from the file rates. Overall, the state regulators know the information and rates of all the companies in the state.
Five facts that could save you money on auto insurance
1. Its good to know that all car companies have to stay apt. They cannot, and should not sell you auto insurance below state minimum. If you do chose those minimums you might suffer later on by covering a lot of out of pocket expenses.
2. When searching for an auto insurance company look for several, and get all the quotes
3. After you received quotes from all the insurance companies don’t sell yourself short by picking the cheapest one. That could be your biggest mistake. Why? Because some companies might offer more than others. Just make sure that the quotes all range around the same numbers.
4. Manufacture sure you don’t lie to insurer. Tell them about your driving history
5. Don’t assume that all auto insurance companies are the same
Filed under Types Of Auto Insurance by on Feb 26th, 2011. Comment.
When I was in high school, back in the mid-80′s, my aunt drove my cousins and I to school in her Comet. It wasn’t a huge car, it had four doors, a brown body with a white top and all style baby.
I remember my cousins being embarrassed about riding in it. Me, I really didn’t care, since it was better than walking to school, especially on those amazing humid days we tend to get here in Miami. This being the case, it wasn’t a surprise that when it came time for me to start community college my aunt gave me the car. She was going to give it to one of my cousins, but she refused to drive anything that didn’t honest come off the showroom floor. I was ecstatic over this snub, since it meant I was getting a car! I was truly thrilled because this meant I had finally attained a positive amount of freedom. I could go to my classes at any time. I could go to the mall, to the movies, anywhere and not have to depend on anyone taking me or picking me up. It was great…until I actually had to drive it.
To begin with, the fuel gauge was broken. I never knew how much gas I had. At first I would just fill the tank whenever I thought I was getting low. But I stopped doing that after several instances in which I’d overflow the tank and gas spilled all over my shoes. From that point on, I would unprejudiced fuel up every three or four days. It wasn’t too much of an imposition, especially since at the time five or ten dollars worth of gas got you a pretty long way. The car also didn’t have a working air conditioner, which was brutal since I was attending Summer classes. I looked forward to the Winter term thinking I wouldn’t have to inconvenience about getting to school dripping with sweat. My excitement however was short lived. In the mornings once I began the winter term, I realized in order for the car to actually go anywhere, I needed to let it warm up for almost half an hour! I had to wake up, go outside in the freezing morning, (yes I know it’s Miami but for us fifty degrees is cold) turn on the car, hit the gas for a minute then let it stay running while I got myself ready for school. And of course since it had no air-conditioning that meant the heater didn’t work either. Sometimes it was colder in the car than it was outside!
After driving it for about two years it finally died on me. My dad and I went to drop it off at a junk yard, and can you believe they wouldn’t occupy it? Not even for parts! It would up objective sitting in our drive-way for several months, until one day I noticed it wasn’t there anymore. Turns out my cousin’s then boyfriend was asked by my aunt to “produce it disappear.” The car was still registered in my aunts name, so she ultimately had to portray it stolen. There was no insurance on it so she never received anything for it, just extra room in her drive-way.
I look back now and realize it was actually sort of fun to drive that car, when it worked properly. It wasn’t fast, and whenever I’d hit the gas to rush up, it sounded like gun-shots coming at me from behind. It was rusty and there were several holes in the rear door. But it was a tank. I was once hit on the side by a Honda Prelude. The Prelude’s bumper was smashed inward, whereas my Comet drove away with a mere scratch, which my dad attempted to buff out. Why he even bothered I’ll never know.
Filed under Eastwood Auto Insurance by on Feb 24th, 2011. Comment.
If you are like me, you want to find the cheapest auto insurance you can. The best way to find cheap auto insurance is looking on the Internet, making sure that you drive safely, and making sure to install safety features on your vehicle. After reading this article, you should know the best ways to find cheap auto insurance.
The best way to find cheap auto insurance online is the internet. It allows you to be able to get quotes for lots of different companies. Some of the biggest auto insurance companies allow you to compare rates with other companies, which give you an advance. Many companies provide discounts online that would not be offered at there location. It is good to take advantage of any possible discounts available. The internet makes it possible for you to get a fast quote and check many different companies. It allowed me to score a very cheap price which I feel I would not have found if it was not for the internet.
When looking for cheap auto insurance you want to drive safely this is important. If you have a good driving record, getting the best auto insurance quote is easy. Auto Insurance companies are very nervous to insure people who have a bad driving picture. Most people will notice if you have a bad driving record your auto insurance can nearly double or even triple. Many people who have a awful driving record will find themselves wanting to lie about it in order to gain cheap auto insurance. It is always good to drive as safely as possible if you want to glean a good cheap auto insurance quote.
If you really want to get cheap auto insurance then installing safety features in your car is a smart idea. Almost every auto insurance company will agree that this will cause less accidents and will stop more claims in the future. The anti theft feature is a good thing to install on your vehicle. It prevents theft and keeps your car from someone stealing it and that diagram you do not need to file an insurance claim. If you shop around you can find many ways to preserve your vehicle safe and you will find that this will also lower your auto insurance payments and help you save money. A lot of people don’t realize that this is a tremendous savings and can easy save them a lot of money each year by fair adding safety features to there car.
Finding cheap auto insurance can be a tough challenge but by following these simple steps, you can easily set aside hundreds every year on your auto insurance. The next time you feel that you are spending a lot of money on auto insurance go online and shop around, drive safely and add a safety system to your vehicle.
Filed under Auto Insurance Reviews by on Feb 21st, 2011. Comment.
Many people call around for auto insurance quotes looking for cheaper prices. It is not disputable that label is the number one reason why people shop around for a different insurance company. While cost is very important to everyone there are other factors to consider like the quality of company giving you cheap quotes, if they are there when you need them most, how long it takes to settle a claim, and more. Here are the top 5 questions you should ask auto insurance agents as you shop to compare their rates with other companies.
1 – Are There Extra Charges For Splitting The Premium Into Payments?
This is very important because while some companies charge a few dollars, others charge $15 dollars a payment or even apply interest charges to payments as high as 22-25%. While many companies may quote you a big rate, their payment penalties in a lot of cases will make them more expensive in the long run.
2 – Is Your Company Rated Highly Financially Secure?
There are outside fair companies that rate auto insurance carriers on their customer service and financial stability. For financial stability A.M. Best rates most or all auto insurance companies. Their top rating, AAA, means they will be very financially gather so that company will have no jam paying your claim quickly. If the company is rated lower, like A, they may not have the financial backing to quickly fix your car or cover catastrophic losses.
3 – What is Covered By Your ERS, Or Towing, Service?
Not all emergency roadside services are created equal. Many companies include ERS for free or low cost when you purchase comprehensive and collision coverages (full coverage) for your vehicle. While it seems like a great deal to get the coverage for free, that coverage may only pay to tow your car 7 miles or less and it may not veil you if you go out of state. The best ERS covers you as far as it takes to get to a repair facility. If you have the tow coverage and your car breaks down, you should be able to use your ERS to get to the closest garage as to get it fixed. Anything less could wind up costing you a lot of money in excess tow miles so compare the services companies offer and fabricate sure the insurance package you choose has this included.
4 – What hours are you originate?
Many insurance companies are open from 9-5, Monday-Friday. What if you need help at night or on weekends? With many companies and independent agents you need to wait for them to win into the office. Picking a company that is opened 24/7 will ensure that help is a phone call away if you have an accident, emergency, or need your questions answered during off hours due to your own busy work schedule. When you are shopping to compare auto insurance rates this is very famous and is worth spending a couple extra dollars for a policy that offers around the clock service.
5 – How Long Will It Hold to Choose A Claim?
Some companies will dawdle and make you wait weeks, sometimes months before paying the claim to get your car fixed. This goes in line with financial stability. It seems like the more financially secure a company is the quicker your car is repaired. None the less, this is a great ask to ask when you are shopping to compare auto insurance rates because some companies assign a lot of anguish into great claims service while others are happy to pick your insurance payments and leave you with bad claims service.
While there are more questions you may have of your prospective auto insurance company do not forget to ask these 5 when you are shopping around. As you compare their rates, remember, the cheapest company is not necessarily the best insurance company. You get what you pay for so shop for great pricing and a great company.
Filed under Types Of Auto Insurance by on Feb 19th, 2011. Comment.
