Brokers, Bundling and Budgets: Simple Steps for Super Savings on Car Insurance

Brokers, Bundling and Budgets: Simple Steps for Super Savings on Car Insurance

You want to save money on your insurance, but it's often easier said than done. You approach your insurance agent, tell her that you want to pay the lowest premium possible, and she just smiles and nods. While not all agents are out to maximize their commissions at your expense, some agents just don't know how to save you money. Why? Because they work for one insurer and can only offer one product line. What you need is the flexibility to get what you need at a price you can afford.

Comparison Shop

There's no substitute for shopping around. This simple act can save you thousands of dollars over life of your policy. Thankfully, comparison shopping is pretty simple to do on your own thanks to online quote engines. These software programs will locate quotes from companies authorized to do business in your area and itemize the quotes in an easy-to-read format.

From there, it's a simple matter of signing up with the insurer that you like. Most quote engines can show you up to 20 different company quotes.

Bundle Other Insurance Products Together

Most insurers will offer you a premium discount if you bundle two or more policies together. Why? Because part of the way insurers make money is through something called "premium float." The "float" is money that is collected from policyholders but is not yet needed to pay claims.

This money is invested until it's needed. The profits made from the investment go toward paying future claims or straight to the company's bottom line. By bundling policies, you're providing the insurer with additional investment funds - something they will gladly reward you for.

Get A Broker

Brokers can do research that is difficult or impossible for you to do on your own. If you've had problems in the past with speeding tickets, or anything else license-related, a broker will be able to search for companies willing to deal in adverse risk - policyholders that represent higher-than-average risk to the insurer.

By doing a sort of "prequalification," a broker can make sure you get fair treatment by an insurer, find premiums that are affordable with coverage you need to drive on the public roads. In the end, it doesn't really matter whether you go through experts like BrokerLink or contact someone directly. What matters is that you have an advocate to shop around for you.

Ask About Special Discounts

Insurers almost always offer discounts - even if they don't advertise it. VIN etching in automotive glass, being an alumni of a local college or university, having good grades as a student driver, being a member of a fraternal or social organization, and having taken a defensive driving class are all easy discount wins.

If your vehicle comes equipped with an active alarm system, you'll get a discount but auto insurers will also offer you discounted premiums if you install an aftermarket unit. So, don't get discouraged if you drive an older vehicle without an alarm.

Ask About Deductibles

Deductibles can make a huge difference in your premium. In general, low premiums are associated with high deductibles. Conversely, high premiums are associated with low deductibles. Want to save money instantly? Raise your deductible. Just be sure to save some money so you can meet your deductible when you need to file a claim.

AUTHOR BIO:

John Wilber is a retired insurance broker and grandfather of five. When he's not visiting with his grand kids, he likes to write about what he learned in the insurance business at BrokerLink in order to help others.

Discount Car Insurance for Seniors

Discount Car Insurance for Seniors

The problem that many seniors have with car insurance is the fact that they are on a fixed budget, which makes it tough to continuously pay inflated car insurance rates. Seniors are one of the age groups that are hit with higher rates, as insurance companies see them as more likely to get into accidents or end up with traffic tickets for things like missing stop signs and not signaling properly.

Thankfully there are several ways in which seniors can get discounts on their car insurance. Some of the discounts are easy to obtain, while others involve a little work. On top of this, there are few things that seniors can do to ensure that they are receiving the possible car insurance rates.

Shop Around for an Insurer

Shopping around to receive the best possible price on car insurance is very important for everyone, especially seniors. Some insurance companies let you pick your price range and then fit your insurance policy to that amount, while others will offer you several rates to choose from. There is no harm in checking with other companies, so make a list of the ones that you want to try and call them up. You can even ask a computer-handy child or grandchild to check online for you to see if you can save money by going paperless.

Ask About Insurance Discounts for Seniors

Some car insurance companies offer discounts only for seniors. There are a number of groups for those older than 55, like the AARP, that have special insurance programs for their members. You can also ask your insurance company if they have any of these specials, and then see if you qualify. There might also be discounts if you bundle all of your insurance policies together under the same company. Every penny counts so don’t be afraid to ask!

Consider Going Down to One Vehicle

One of the best ways to save money on your car insurance is by going down to one vehicle. Even if you keep your second car, by calling your insurance company and having it put on liability only or non-driving status, you will get a discount. Of course, if you drive this car and end up in an accident, you’ll have to pay to have it repaired. This is why it is usually cheaper to sell your extra vehicle and only have one.

Take a Driving Course

One of the best ways for seniors to save money on their car insurance is by taking a driving course. As people age, their reflexes begin to slow down. This is why insurance companies charge them more: slower reflexes could potentially mean more accidents. Taking (and passing) a driving course signals to the insurance company that senior drivers are still diligent on the road, netting them a discount on their car insurance premiums.

Of the many things that seniors can do to receive discounted car insurance, shopping around and asking for discounts are two of the most important. Taking a driving course might be pricey, but the discounts received on insurance premiums can make up for that expense. Lastly, going down to one vehicle, if at all possible, can help seniors save a lot of money on their car insurance. In fact, this last one can cut their premiums in half, since they will have half as many vehicles.

ABOUT AUTHOR

This car insurance article was written by insurance expert Terry Wood. Terry is a writer with a website that helps users save money on quotes.

Insurance: A Guide

Insurance: A Guide

"Remember kids, I have life insurance" - Adam Savage

This is a guest article from Tatyana Levin

These days one must be financially savvy. Money is not easy to come by and should be managed carefully. With the availability of tools that make it easy to keep track of current events, the stock market, and even your own money, it would be almost a crime to not utilize these tools to make the best and most informed financial decisions. Unfortunately, the more there is, the more there is to keep track of. This applies both to tracking tools and money (the small curse within the comfort of having money to keep track of).

The savvier ones of us dabble in investments, and the savviest make their living that way. The key is that they know what to invest in. Not magically, of course; investors do a significant amount of research to learn how to optimize their portfolios, but they have the understanding.

A grossly overlooked investment is insurance. This may be because is not typically referred to as an investment with the exception of whole life insurance that has a specific investment component within it. Webster’s defines the word “invest” as a commitment of money for a return and “insurance” as a guarantee. This makes insurance the safest type of investment, because your returns are guaranteed. But returns are not always financial in the case of insurance. They can be, if there is an unforeseen accident, but the most certain return is the feeling of security.

Now there are many different types of insurance, and what you need depends on your current situation. Obviously you only need auto insurance, found using auto insurance leads if you have a car, and you only need renter’s insurance if you rent and have possessions that you would need insured. Insurance is for those who have something to lose. With an attachment to something, either emotional of physical (or dependence, not like physically being glued to your car), comes the fear that it will be damaged or ruined in some way. For example, if your house caught on fire, you would be devastated. What would add insult to injury is not having a way to recover from this horrible disaster.

These types of examples are not unique to this article. That is the way that insurance is sold. As they say that clichés are clichés for a reason, insurance is promoted this way for a reason. The foundation of the concept of insurance is uncertainty, and it is the same uncertainty that is conjured up when investing.

The main difference between insurance and investment is that not having insurance creates a feeling of uncertainty while investments by nature are uncertain. Therefore, investing in insurance creates security and is the only secure investment that exists (and is legal). Getting insurance should be one of the easier financial tasks if you apply all the resources available with technological advances like smart phones.

About the Author: This article was written by Tatyana Levin, a copywriter for InsuranceFiles.com

4 Insurance Myths That Are Not to Be Trusted When Planning Your Finances

How Smartly to Save Auto Insurance

How Smartly to Save Auto Insurance

If buying a automobile itself was not stressful enough settling on a yearly extravaganza of its insurance is definitely one. We know auto insurance is a necessity but it necessarily does not mean lump sum fixed cost that is emptying your pockets as well as pushing up your stress levels. You need to study the market and choose the correct insurance that saves your money and keeps your driving experience pleasant.

1.Pick a Suitable Car

While buying a car along with considering style, comfort, fuel features also do consider its insurance costs. For better details call up the car salesperson and find out about the insurance costs for the selected car. Popularly. cars in the mid-sized category like the sedan, mini-van, mini-SUV cars come with a better deal as they provide more safety and less prone to accidents. Furthermore, cars that belong to the higher end usually mean higher premium too as they are more prone to theft, more expensive, more speed and more accidents. So while buying the car if you are more conscious of the premium you will have to pay for it then you might end up choosing the model that will help you save on insurance costs.

2. Maintain a Healthy Credit Report

Paying all your bills timely reflects more than just your personal traits it appeals positively to the insurance companies for you. Auto insurance companies usually offer a better deal to people with a better credit score. For instance, the length of your credit history, paying your bills on-time, not carrying high balances on your credit cards etc reflect your personal responsibility and whether you are worth taking a risk on. Moreover, it has been noticed that if you have a high credit score, an excellent driving history, and zero claims on your record, you will qualify for low rates easily.

3. Increase Deductible

Deductible means the money you pay on an insurance claim before the company starts paying you. Higher deductible lowers your insurance premium because the insurance company’s costs are reduced by the amount of these deductibles. Actually, having a high deductible on your insurance implies you will claim less, which means you are a lower risk to the insurance company, and can therefore be charged lower rates. However, this also means that you need to keep that cost for the deductibles in case of an accident or breakdown, with yourself untouched safely tucked away in some bank account so that you can reach out for it immediately when in need.

4. Sound Driving Record

Your driving record obviously affects your premium all through Accidents and tickets add points to your driver’s license and raise your rates. Many critics have analysed that getting caught for not wearing a seat belt, speeding up to 14 mph over, tailgating, reckless driving will not be approved by the insurance companies and will raise your insurance costs as high as 10-15%.

5. See Around for the Best Deal

One of the biggest financial mistakes most people often do is not to check for more than three insurance quotes before finalizing on the one. Studying around the market before finalizing is necessary. Moreover, after the first few years you can always look outward for better deals. One of the most common misconceptions is that renewing your car insurance policy with the same provider will be the cheapest option but, while this might have been the case up to a certain point, let’s not forget that things are constantly changing. One of the very few positive aspects of the current times is that it requires businesses to be very competitive in order to remain in the game; as a result, many car insurance providers offer attractive discounts for new customers, making it quite profitable to sign up with them instead of renewing insurance with the current provider. You can use the Internet to compare and study available offers and pick the best one.

6. Look for Possible Discounts

There are various other factors, relating to gender, age, smoker or non smoker, profession etc that can get you a better mileage to find a cheaper rate. For instance, if you are holding a driver's license for a long period of time you might bargain a better insurance deal. Again, adding safety features like air bags, anti-theft systems or anti-lock brakes to your car helps you gain lower rates from insurance companies. Another factor that is often overlooked is mileage. The more you drive, the higher the risks of an accident, so if you only use your car occasionally you may be eligible for another discount. You can opt for car-pooling or public transport also. Also older cars attract lower insurance rates hence opting for a second hand car also might prove beneficial to save an extra dollar.

Whatever insurance you are opting for be careful to read the papers well, to understand what you are paying for. Before finalizing, consult the agent and your finance consultant’s fro best possible results.

Brianne is a writer/blogger. She loves writing, traveling and reading books. She contributes on Hydroxycut

Do You Really Need Dental Insurance?

Do You Really Need Dental Insurance?

From Editor: This is a guest article contributed by Richard Keane

The monthly budget of many individuals and families is already overcrowded with bills and things to pay for. The thrust of many people is how to prune down their budget and reduce the number of things that they have to pay for. People are thus going through their expenses to find services and products that they could do without. Against this backdrop, one question that many ask is, do I really need dental insurance?

At first glance, you may be tempted to answer a quick no, the reason being seemingly quite simple. Why put up with paying monthly premiums for dental cover, when you take such good care of your teeth and have no cavities or toothache? Well, each person will have to answer that question in light with their own circumstances. At present, about 30% of Americans do not have any form of dental insurance cover. That translates to about 100 million Americans that do not have dental cover. You may be quick to ask yourself, if they can stay without dental insurance, why can’t I do the same too?

The right answer for you

To properly determine the right answer for you, you need to first consider the reasons why people take or need insurance. Insurance policies are not necessarily taken because of present danger or crises, are they? We seek insurance coverage because of possible negative eventualities that may occur. A person who takes a theft and burglary home insurance cover will not stop taking steps to prevent his home from theft and fire. The cover is taken to provide cover and compensation if and when a burglary or theft does occur.

But I take good care of my teeth

Taking good care of your teeth is not always good enough reason to drop dental insurance. Based on the statistics of people without dental insurance coverage mentioned above, we can conclude that there are about 100 million Americans who will have to pay from their own pocket to cover the costs of any dental treatments that may arise. Or, they will have to suffer in silence and go without dental treatment if they cannot afford it. Is the option of going without dental insurance still looking attractive?

An expensive market

Dental treatments are very expensive and you will need to consider if you will be able to bear these costs yourself without dental insurance. For example, as a dentistry guide, crowns go for between $500 and $3,000 per tooth. Even when you have the best of oral hygiene habits, gum disease issues or accidents such as a fall could occur that will require expensive dental treatments. Without adequate cover, you will have to pay for it yourself or do without it.

What are the advantages of dental insurance?

Dental insurance, without a doubt offers a number of advantages. It can cover the costs of routine visits and checkups and costs of emergency dental treatments. Depending on the type of insurance plan, you can even earn interest on the policy and receive a cash payout from the insurer. The major factor that makes many people hesitate or consider doing without dental insurance is the costs associated with paying monthly premiums. When you consider the rising costs of living generally, plus the costs of several insurance policies that you need, it may all seem overwhelming. With proper budgeting and management, many people seem to succeed.

In conclusion, the answer to the question, do you need dental insurance, is best answered by you. You have to determine the amount of dental related risks that you are willing to expose yourself and your family to.

About Author: Richard is a freelance writer who enjoys producing content related to health, dentistry and finance. If you get the chance please pay him a visit on Twitter at @thefreshhealth


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Top 3 Myths About Life Insurance Debunked

Top 3 Myths About Life Insurance Debunked

The world is an unpredictable place, and there is often no way of knowing what is waiting around the corner. Many of us don’t consider life insurance to be something that applies to us, and see it as something reserved for the wealthy. This is a risky way of thinking, as life insurance is designed to protect those without financial stability, and will provide support for your loved ones when they need it the most. This article examines the top 3 myths about life insurance, and explains why these can lead to problems for your loved ones after your death.

Spouses Who Don’t Earn a Salary Don’t Need Insurance

If the main breadwinner in a family passes away prematurely, it can leave the surviving family members in financial difficulty. Taking out an effective life insurance policy will ensure your family are provided for in the event of your death. It is also important to consider what would happen if your spouse passed away.

If your spouse is a homemaker and looks after your children whilst you are working, you will need to consider the implications of not taking out life insurance.

You could be left with the options of having to leave work to look after your children, or paying for expensive child care. Without life insurance, this could leave you in extreme financial difficulty. Taking care of children is not the only task a homemaker performs. They also cook, clean, and keep the household running smoothly, and all of these potential expenses would need to be considered.

Insurance Is Only For Those with Children

Even if you do not have children yet, you may want them in the future, and taking out life insurance ensures financial security for your future family. If you are a couple, you will need to consider what would happen if one of you died. Could the other cope with the financial burden of your combined debt? If you are single and uninsured, your estate (insurance, investments, property) will pay off any debts you have.

If your debts are more than your total worth, your family will be expected to pay these after you’re gone. Life insurance forms part of your total financial worth, and can be used to pay off debts in the event of your death. If you are diagnosed with a terminal illness and are unable to work, some life insurance policies will pay out early. This would offer peace of mind in the event that you become critically ill.

It’s Too Expensive

Any amount of life insurance is better than none at all. As life expectancy is increasing, the price of life insurance is falling. There are many reasonably priced policies aimed at people who cannot afford to put a large amount of money aside each month. Life insurance premiums will increase dramatically if you wait for your health to deteriorate before you take out a policy. If you start putting money into a policy from a reasonably young age, you will quickly build up a sizable amount.

Some policies start from as little as $5 a month, and if you were to pay this tiny premium for 45 years, you could end up with cover well over $50,000. Not only would this ensure that you could stop working if necessary, but you would also know that your family could cope financially after your death.

These are the most prevalent misconceptions about life insurance. Unfortunately there are more, and many people leave their families open to stress and financial hardship by not providing some form of protection. Life insurance should never be left until health complications arise. If you have questions that need answering, consult with a financial adviser or life insurance provider who would be happy to help you, and give yourself the peace of mind that an effective life insurance policy can bring.

Jeff Noble is a personal finance consultant. He enjoys passing on his insights online through blogging. Get more details on other common myths, visit the link.