- Why is my car insurance so high?
- Looks like we'll jump right in with the hardest
question first. Actually a lot of factors go into the computation of an
insurance premium. Let's look at a few of them.
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- The kind of car is a factor since some cars may
present a higher risk than others. For example, a two door may have a
higher repair cost than a four door. A four-wheel drive sport
utility vehicle is generally more expensive to buy and to insure than one
that is not four wheel drive. The insurance for a sports car
will cost more than insurance on a mid-size family car.
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- Your driving record, age, sex and marital status
all factor into your rate as some general groups of people have proven
to be safer drivers than others. Generally an older driver is cheaper
to insure than a younger driver, a married driver less than a
single driver, and a driver without prior accidents or violations
less expensive than someone with a history of violations.
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- Where you live is
important since areas with more traffic yield more accidents. Also, some
areas have higher incidents of vehicle theft and vandalism.
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- Finally, the type of coverage you purchase also
affects your rate. For example, many people do not purchase medical
payments, towing, or rental in order to keep premiums lower.
- How can I get a lower car insurance rate?
- First, be a safe driver without tickets or
accidents. If you are a safe driver, you will get better rates. Most
companies look at tickets and accidents in the last three years, although
some companies may look at the last five years. Some companies consider
multiple alcohol violations regardless of the timeframe.
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- Second, keep your vehicle insured at all times.
Most companies now offer a discount if you have current liability
insurance. Some companies will even offer lower down payments to those who
have had insurance without a lapse for six months or a year.
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- Consider a higher deductible, you'll probably
realize a considerable savings. The higher the deductible, the lower the
premium. Ask your customer service representative to show you the
options.
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- Be sure you get all of the discounts you
deserve. Companies offer home ownership discounts, multi-car discounts,
good driver discounts, driver education discounts, VIN etching discounts,
alarm discounts, daytime running light discounts and full payment
discounts, just to name a few. Answer all of your agent's questions
completely and honestly so he can help get you the best rate.
- What is EFT and how can it save me money?
- Electronic Funds Transfer is where the insurance
company automatically drafts your bank account each month rather than you
sending a check for your installment payment. Some of our policies now
offer as much as a $60 per year discount if you use EFT. Plus, you don't
run the risk of missing a payment and getting a cancellation notice.
- If my policy is canceled, what do I do?
- First, contact your company as soon as possible
to get new insurance in force. If your current company cannot provide
reinstatement of your policy, visit our Quote
Center for a quote on new coverage. You should not drive your vehicle
until new coverage is purchased.
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- Remember, it is illegal to drive in most states
without auto insurance. While penalties vary from state to state, you
could lose your driver's license for driving without insurance. In some
states, you car can be impounded by police. Plus, you could be personally
responsible for all of the damage caused by an accident. Overall, it's
just not worth it to drive without car insurance.
- What is a driver exclusion?
- A driver exclusion is an endorsement to your insurance
contract that allows you to decline to have certain driver(s) covered by
your policy. This could make your premium lower, but if a driver is
excluded, there is no coverage for this person under any circumstances.
You should carefully consider the reason and ramifications of any driver
exclusion before you sign the exclusion form and if you have any
questions, ask your company. Driver Exclusions may not be available in
your state.
- I've been insured with "some other company" for a
long time, why should I even get a quote?
- There are a lot of good reasons to consider using
24 7 Insurance Quotes .com
for a quote. Many times we can save you money over what you are
currently paying. Plus our companies offer online quotes and policyholder
services. We offer stable, financially sound companies, most A-rated or
better and all have excellent claims service and good payment plans.
We have knowledgeable, friendly customer service representatives
here to help you and answer all of your questions. And maybe most
importantly, you get all of this at a very low price.
- I have recently filed bankruptcy, can you insure my
home?
- In most cases, yes we can. When you get your
quote, please make the customer service representative aware of your
situation and chances are that we can still provide you with an excellent
company and very competitive rates as long as your home meets other
underwriting requirements.
- My house have never flooded, why do I need flood
insurance?
- Let's begin with the "not so obvious" fact that
flood insurance is not included on a standard homeowners or mobile home
policy. You must buy flood insurance separately. Most flood policies
are backed by the National Flood Insurance Program even though they are
written through a participating insurance company. Choose your flood
insurance company as carefully as you would choose any other insurance
company.
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- Now, back to your question. Remember that most areas
of the country can flood at some time or another whether from heavy rains,
melting snow, or other unusual weather conditions. Any area is
vulnerable to flooding at some time or another, even if you have not
flooded before. Flood insurance rates are lower in the less
flood-prone areas. In fact you might be surprised at how affordable flood
coverage can be, especially if you qualify for the preferred risk
program. Remember statistics show that the vast majority of flood claims
occur in areas that "have never flooded before."
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- To learn more about flood insurance, take our
flood quiz.
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