Car Insurance Quotes

Posted on 5/25/2010 | 1 Comment
At car insurance Megastore we recognize that women are safer drivers than men and believe it's only fair they should be rewarded with cheaper car insurance. We offer a choice of over 300 products from leading insurers, many designed exclusively for women with female-friendly features such as full breakdown cover and 24/7 claims assistance.

Typically, women's car insurance premiums are on average 30% below that for males in a similar age group. This is particularly true for lady drivers below the age of 28 and is reflected in our pricing. Simply click here now to see what we can do for you.

At Car Insurance Megastore we offer affordable insurance cover for lady drivers of all ages from 17 onwards whether they have a full license or are just learning. We deal with young professionals and mums with 4x4s through to more mature ladies or even those that have been unlucky and have a claim or even received penalty points on their driving license. There's a policy to suit all circumstances or choice of vehicle.

There are a number things that lady drivers can do to make further savings on their car insurance - such as undertake a 'Pass Plus' course. And there are opportunities to build no claims bonuses / discounts on their first policy. We also offer cheap insurance for women traveling abroad.

Our team of expert advisers have been arranging insurance for many years and fully understand women's policy requirements, which is why we offer such a wide range of benefits. Apply online for a quote with us now or contact our call centre on 01902 83 4444. We have a live support option on the website which allows us to monitor your application in real time so you get the best policy and we can immediately respond to any questions you may have.

So whilst it's not always easy being a woman in today's world, one thing that is easy is arranging your car insurance with the Car Insurance Megastore.

It seems unfair that women should be penalized with high premiums when the research clearly shows that they make fewer claims than men, and that's what we support.Try the Car Insurance Megastore today for affordable cover for lady drivers.

10 Steps to Buying Auto Insurance

Posted on 5/21/2010 | 3 Comment
Introduction
The following simple steps will help you determine how much car insurance you need to carry. And it will also help you get the best coverage at the lowest price. If you are confused about any of the terms we use, be sure to review the glossary in "Little-Known but Important Insurance Issues."

Step 1: Starting Out
When it comes to auto insurance, you want to be adequately covered if you get in an accident but you don't want to pay any more than you have to. So how can you navigate your way through this murky subject?

Keep telling yourself there is money to be saved. How much? Hundreds, even thousands, per year. For example, one of our editors typed all of his insurance information into a comparative insurance service. The quotes (for very basic coverage on two old cars) ranged from $1,006 to $1,807 — a difference of $801 a year. If you're currently dumping thousands into your insurance company's coffers because of a couple of tickets, an accident or a questionable credit rating, shopping your policy against others may be well worth the effort.

Look at it this way — you can convert the money you save into the purchase of something you've desired for a long time. Hold that goal in your mind

Step 2: How Much Coverage Do You Need?
To find the right auto insurance, start by figuring out the amount of coverage you need. This varies from state to state. So take a moment to find out what coverage is required where you live. Make a list of the different types of coverage and then return for the next step. (You will find a list of each state's requirements and an explanation of the various types of insurance in "How Much Auto Insurance Do You Really Need?" Also, check out "Little-Known but Important Insurance Issues" as it has a glossary of basic insurance terminology.)

Now that you know what is required, you can decide what you need in addition. Some people are quite cautious. They base their lives on worst-case scenarios. Insurance companies love these people. That's because insurance companies know what your chances are of being in an accident, and how likely it is for your car to be damaged or stolen. The information the insurance company has collected over previous decades is crunched into "actuarial tables" that give insurance adjustors a quick look at the probability of just about any occurrence.

So how much insurance should you buy beyond your state's minimum?

Experts recommend that if you have a lot of assets you should get enough liability coverage to protect them. For instance, if you purchase $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage but have $100,000 in assets, attorneys could go after your treasures in the event of an accident in which you're at fault and the other party's medical bills exceed $50,000.

General recommendations for liability limits are $50,000 bodily injury liability for one person injured in an accident, $100,000 for all people injured in an accident and $25,000 property damage liability (that is, 50/100/25) given that half of the cars on the road are worth more than $20,000. Here again, though, let your financial situation be your guide. If you have no assets, don't buy excess coverage.

Another issue to consider is that the limits of any uninsured and/or underinsured motorist coverage that you purchase cannot exceed the limits of your liability coverage. Such coverage, he said, can be valuable, as it will cover lost income if you're out of work for several months after being injured in a major accident.

Your driving habits may also be a consideration. If your past is filled with crumpled fenders, if you have a lead foot or a long commute on a treacherous winding road, then you should get more comprehensive coverage. Keep in mind that you don't have to buy collision and comprehensive coverage. If your vehicle is older, if you have a good driving record and if there is a low likelihood that it would be totaled in an accident, but a high likelihood of it being stolen, you could buy comprehensive but not collision.

Step 3: Review Your Driving Record and Current Insurance Policy
Before you begin shopping for insurance you should check the following: the status of your driving record, your current coverage and the premiums you are paying.

You should know how many tickets you have had recently. But time plays tricks and our memories repress painful incidents. If you can't remember how long that speeding ticket has been on your record, check with your state's DMV. If your record will soon improve, and the points you earned will finally disappear, wait until that happens before you get quotes. Nothing drives up the price of insurance like a bad driving record.

Also, you should contact your auto insurance company or pull out a recent bill. Jot down the amount of coverage you have and what you are paying for it. Take note of the yearly and monthly cost of your insurance since many of your quotes will be given both ways. Now you have a figure in mind to try to beat.

Step 4: Solicit Competitive Quotes
Now that you have made several practical and philosophical decisions, it's time to start shopping. Begin by setting aside about an hour for this task. Bring all your records — your current insurance policy, your driver license number and your vehicle registration. Drink plenty of coffee. Have a phone at your elbow. And, of course, power up your computer.

Begin with the online services. If you go to InsWeb.com or other online insurance quote sites, you can type in your information and get a list of comparative quotes. These forms take about 15 minutes to complete. If this bores you, just remind yourself how much you will be saving and that you can use the money to buy something nice for yourself. If the entire shopping process takes you two hours to complete and you save $800, you're effectively earning $400 an hour.

A few things to keep in mind: 1) When you use quote sites, you may not get instant quotes. Some companies may contact you later by e-mail, and some that are not "direct providers" may put you in touch with a local agent, who will then calculate a quote for you. (A "direct provider," like Geico, sells an insurance policy to you directly; other companies like State Farm sell insurance through local agents. We'll discuss the pros and cons of each later.) 2) It's not easy to get quotes from these sites in all states — if you live in New Jersey, for instance, you'll probably find it faster to pick up the phone, since most insurers in this state currently don't provide online quotes.

You can also try getting quotes from some of the insurance companies listed on the Edmunds.com Web site — Liberty Mutual, Geico or Progressive. These forms will take about 10 minutes each to complete.

Step 5: Record and Compare Quotes
While you're researching companies, make notes in a separate computer file or on a piece of paper divided into categories. This will keep you from duplicating your efforts. When you visit the different online insurance sites, you should take note of several things:
  • Annual and monthly rates for the different types of coverage — make sure to keep the coverage limits the same so that you can make "apples-to-apples" comparisons
  • An 800 number to call for questions you can't get answered online
  • The insurance company's payment policy (When is your payment due? What happens if you're late in making a payment?)
  • Discounts offered by the insurance company that pertain to you
  • The insurance company's consumer complaint ratio from your state's department of insurance Web site (more on this later)
  • The insurance company's A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's ratings (more on this later)
Step 6: Work the Phones
Once you have exhausted your online options, it's time to work the phones. Those companies you haven't been able to get an online quote from should be contacted. At times, doing this process verbally can actually go faster than the online counterpart, providing you have all the information regarding your driver license and vehicle registration close at hand. When you get a quote, be sure to confirm the price. Also, ask them to fax or e-mail the quote to you as a record.

Step 7: Look for Discounts
While talking to the insurance companies' telephone salespeople, make sure you explore all options relating to discounts. Insurance companies give discounts for a good driving record, favorable credit score, safety equipment (for example, antilock brakes), certain occupations or professional affiliations and more. For more guidance in this area, check out "How to Save Money on Auto Insurance."

Step 8: Choosing the Right Insurance Company
You now have most of the information in front of you that you need to make a decision. However, there is something more to consider. You can clearly see which company is least expensive, but when you need them to cover a claim, what kind of job will they do? To put it another way, which is the most reliable insurance company?

Below, we offer a number of issues to guide your thinking and help you reach a decision:
  1. Visit your state's department of insurance and check consumer complaint ratios and basic rate comparison surveys.
  2. Get in touch with local body shops or dealerships you trust and ask which insurance companies they recommend.
  3. Consider contacting an insurance agent for additional information about a particular company.
  4. Check out the financial strength ratings for an insurance company by referring to the A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's ratings.
  5. Look over J.D. Power and Associates' consumer satisfaction surveys reviewing auto insurance companies.
Step 9: Review the Policy Before You Sign
So, you've done your research, and you've decided on a company. Before you sign, though, read the policy. In addition to verifying that it contains the coverage you want, there are two clauses that you should look for in the contract:
  1. Retain your right to sue. "Find out if you are giving up your right to go to court and will be forced into arbitration if there is a disagreement [between you and the insurance company]," one expert advised. "You're much better off if you don't give up this right…. It makes it easier for [insurers] to take advantage of you." If you find a clause to this effect, all isn't necessarily lost. "At least in theory, a contract is a mutual agreement, so you should be able to cross out that line in the policy," he said. If the company won't agree to the policy sans clause, then you should probably take your business elsewhere.

  2. Avoid aftermarket parts requirements. If an insurance company has written in the policy that "new factory," "like kind and quality" or "aftermarket parts" may be used for body shop repairs, go to another company, one expert advised. If you own a relatively new car that you plan to keep for a while, you will probably be much happier if you spend a little more time researching companies on the front end rather than try to fight the company when you have a claim.
Step 9: Review the Policy Before You Sign
So, you've done your research, and you've decided on a company. Before you sign, though, read the policy. In addition to verifying that it contains the coverage you want, there are two clauses that you should look for in the contract:
  1. Retain your right to sue. "Find out if you are giving up your right to go to court and will be forced into arbitration if there is a disagreement [between you and the insurance company]," one expert advised. "You're much better off if you don't give up this right…. It makes it easier for [insurers] to take advantage of you." If you find a clause to this effect, all isn't necessarily lost. "At least in theory, a contract is a mutual agreement, so you should be able to cross out that line in the policy," he said. If the company won't agree to the policy sans clause, then you should probably take your business elsewhere.

  2. Avoid aftermarket parts requirements. If an insurance company has written in the policy that "new factory," "like kind and quality" or "aftermarket parts" may be used for body shop repairs, go to another company, one expert advised. If you own a relatively new car that you plan to keep for a while, you will probably be much happier if you spend a little more time researching companies on the front end rather than try to fight the company when you have a claim.
Step 10: Cancel Your Old Policy
After you lock in the insurance policy you want with the company you select, you have two more things to do. The first is to cancel coverage with your existing insurance company. Second, if your state requires you to carry proof of insurance, make sure you either have it in your wallet or the glove compartment of your car (some experts discourage this, however — if your car is stolen, the thief has everything he needs to prove the vehicle is his).

Now, there's one last thing to do: reward yourself for saving so much money on car insurance.

Checklist
  • Determine your state's insurance requirements.
  • Consider your own financial situation in relation to the required insurance and consider buying more to protect your assets.
  • Review the status of your driving record — do you have any outstanding tickets or points on your driver license?
  • Check your current coverage to find out how much in premiums you are paying.
  • Get competing quotes from an Internet insurance Web site such as InsWeb.com, YouDecide.com and InsureOne.com.
  • Make follow-up phone calls to insurance companies to get additional information about coverage.
  • Inquire about discounts you might qualify for such as a multiple policy discount.
  • Evaluate the reliability of the insurance company you're considering by visiting your state's insurance Web site.
  • If you have chosen a new insurance company, remember to cancel your old policy.

Save Time With Auto Insurance Quotes

Posted on 5/20/2010 | 2 Comment

Article:
Getting auto insurance quotes can be very
time consuming and frustrating. The time factor often causes
people to go with the first company they call because it takes
so long. Shopping online for is the best solution to saving time
and getting the best quote.

When you are trying to compare insurance quotes you might find
only a few companies in your local yellow pages. This doesn’t
means that you are limited to only these companies. It only
means that these are the only companies paying to advertise in
your yellow pages. You must go online to find out which
companies you can use. There are an abundance of companies
online that you can get quotes from and you will not be limited.

The importance of comparing quotes is so you can get the best
price for a policy. Because it is the law you carry auto
insurance you want the best price. Even if you rarely leave your
home and have a perfect driving record you still must have
policy. When you compare the different coverage options through
different companies online you can verify you are getting the
lowest rate available to you.

Calling insurance companies
for quotes can be extremely
frustrating and you almost need to set aside several hours of
your time. You might be required to wait on hold for long
periods of time in order to be transferred to the right
department and you must give your information over and over to
each company you call. When you go online to obtain quotes for
your car you will find that you save a lot of time. This is
because you can have quotes from handfuls of companies within
minutes. In addition, you will only be required to type in your
information one time to get quotes from many different companies.

When you get auto insurance quotes on the Internet the time
saving factor is a big benefit. Don’t spend hours on the phone
with different companies and don’t limit yourself to your local
yellow pages. When you shop online you will have access to tons
of different companies that can provide coverage to you and you
will save hours of time. In addition, you can get the best price
possible for your auto coverage. Looking online could save you
hundreds of dollars on your policy and get the exact same
coverage you are getting now.

Car Insurance Coverage Details and More

Posted on | 2 Comment
Article:
Buying a car insurance policy means you need to become familiar
with the details of each type of coverage. Do you know what you
want in terms of coverage? Or do you need to consider more
details before you move forward? The fact of the matter is that
there are many details that surround the car insurance industry,
available policies, and you as a consumer. For this reason you
need to know as much as you can about the car insurance
industry, as well as what you are looking for.

What coverage details are most important to you? This is among
the most important questions that you will face. For instance,
you may feel that a low deductible is as important as it gets.
In this case you will need to search for a car insurance policy
that offers many options in this area. This will allow you to
see what is available and how much it costs.

Of course, you don’t want to get hung up on one coverage detail.
Remember, it is important to consider anything and everything
that has to do with a policy; especially if you are ready to
make a buying decision. Skipping over one detail may be a huge
mistake.

The details you face as a car insurance consumer will determine
what you end up with and how much you pay. Remember that every
detail, big and small, is important to your future. Once you
realize that this is the case you should be able to begin your
search for car insurance. Are you ready to buy a policy? Once
you know all about car insurance coverage details your answer
should be a resounding yes.

3 Things to Consider When Buying Cheap Full Coverage Auto Insurance

Posted on | 1 Comment

If you’re looking for cheap full coverage auto insurance you’ve got to be a bit confused about all the choices you have. And, because most people want to get quality coverage along with money savings, it can take a bit of time to consider different aspects before deciding upon which company to go with and which policy to buy.

Understanding what the terms mean will speed up the process.

Full Coverage Insurance - Full coverage insurance is comprehensive coverage that covers you personally for every type of insurance that your insurance company offers.

Here are some examples:


Medical Costs

Medical costs could be an option for some policies. When you have a full coverage auto insurance policy the medical costs of everybody in your car are covered if you get into an accident and sustain injuries.

Liability

Liability is also covered when you have a full coverage auto insurance policy. So if an accident is your fault, this coverage makes it possible for all the damages you’ve caused to be compensated.

Liability coverage should be part of everyone’s insurance policy because you never know who will be blamed if there’s an accident. In this case it’s far better to be safe than sorry.

The Cost of the Premium

It pays to compare premium costs with different insurance carriers if you’re looking for cheap full coverage auto insurance because the cost of identical coverage can vary by hundreds of dollars or more per year.

The premium will be based on your age, your gender, and how old your vehicle is.

By the way, if your car is on its last legs you may not want to invest in full coverage because the premiums will be higher. You could end up paying premiums based on the current market value of the car. It usually makes more sense to get cheap full coverage auto insurance policies for newer vehicles.

Some comprehensive insurance polices cover you in case of arson or vandalism, but they aren’t very common.

When comparing premiums you can check out companies online and get in touch with some insurance agents who can keep you abreast of information about cheap automobile insurance.