Archive for the ‘Car insurence quotes’ Category
Every state in the country has some kind of law requiring car insurance - or “proof of financial responsibility” - in order to register and operate a motor vehicle on public streets. While the minimum coverage amounts, and even the type of insurance other than liability, may vary, the point is that you must be insured in order to drive legally.
Car Insurance Quotes
Unfortunately, the cost of insurance, while regulated to some degree, also varies widely, even within the same state, depending on the reputation of the insurance company you choose, and on many factors from the make and model of your car, to your age, occupation and credit score, and of course your driving record. Knowing this, it makes sense to compare quotes from several insurance companies before making a decision.
There are two ways to go about comparing car insurance quotes. The old school method is to sit down with a telephone and a notepad and call several agents and companies, asking questions, and hoping you remember to ask the same questions every time. For better results, however, you can request quotes through CWIK.com, and then only call representatives if you have specific questions about credits or discounts that may not have been included.
How to Comparison Shop
Once you’ve received quotes from different companies, you need to make sure you’re comparing policies correctly. Here is a list of specific points of comparison:
1. Coverage: What is included (liability, collision, uninsured motorist, comprehensive), and what are the coverage limits? Be certain that you’re comparing like amounts and like coverage.
2. Coverage Period: Are you being quoted for six months, or a year? What are the exact starting and ending dates of your coverage period? If you are transferring from one insurance company to another, you’ll need to know when to cancel your old policy.
3. Deductible: How much will you be required to pay out-of-pocket when you file a claim? Is it a percentage or a flat amount, or is it scaled depending on the amount of the claim filed?
4. Premium: How much are you paying for your insurance? Are you being billed semi-annually, or monthly? Is there a discount for automatic payments, or EFT transactions?
5. Discounts: What discounts have been applied? Are there credits or discounts that might apply?
Knowing what to look for, and understanding what questions to ask will help you make accurate comparisons of the car insurance quotes you receive. Remember to ask the agent directly if you have a question not answered in the initial quote. CWIK. com is here to help.
Car Insurance Rate Discounts for Students
With 16 to 19-year old drivers being involved in more traffic accidents and having the highest insurance rates of any age group, we all have good reason to look for ways to reduce the cost of car insurance and the risk of fatal car accidents. You can have some influence over your car insurance rates if you follow some simple tips.
Before you even begin looking for car insurance discounts, consider the fact that the student’s age and the type of vehicle he or she drives are the two largest factors that influence car insurance rates. The IIHS is looking to increasing the driving age from sixteen to seventeen years as a statistically proven way to reduce traffic accidents and fatalities. A more humane solution can be the use of “graduated licensing” now being implemented in some states. Regardless of whether these factors come into play in your case, the best choice of vehicle is a larger, older, lower performance vehicle for safety and insurance rates. You may not be the envy of the fraternity or sorority, but a 2000 or older FWD 4-door sedan or minivan (Ugh!) is likely to be the cheapest to insure and offer the safety of a larger vehicle.
Driver Training Discount
Young drivers under 21 years old may receive a discount of up to 20 percent on car insurance for completing Advanced Driver Training or defensive driving courses, if not used to mitigate a tarnished driving record.
Good Student Insurance Discounts
A student who performs well in school is more responsible and statistically less likely to get into a traffic accident according to insurers. Most insurers consider students for a “Good Student Discount” if their grades are in the top 20 percent of the class, has a “B” average, a “3.0″ GPA, or is on the Dean’s List.
Infrequent Driver Student Discount
You can save money insuring the family car if the student only uses it when home for winter break. Some insurers will not require this type of student to be covered. With such infrequent usage, the son or daughter will be covered just like any other relative or friend who may use the family car very infrequently.
Low Mileage Student Driver Discounts
If a student needs to drive only a short distance to campus daily and uses public transportation or carpooling to cut down on the number of miles, a Low Mileage Student Discount may help reduce your car insurance rates.
Discount for Adding a Student Driver to an Existing Policy
Parents who add another driver to their existing car insurance policy can save on their car insurance rates, especially if they already receive a safe driver discount.
Youthful Driver Discounts
Drivers who are single, under 21 years old, and living at home with their parents can reap car insurance discounts. When considering adding another driver to your existing car insurance policy, it is always better to consult your agent first.
Temporarily Remove a Student from your Policy While She is at College and Not Driving.
Many insurers will allow you to remove your student son or daughter driver from the main policy and save money while they are away at college and not driving. While the student is at home and driving during winter break, put her back on your policy.
The Biggest Student Driver Discount
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize that the greatest Student Driver Insurance Discount will be reaped by avoiding an accident. By getting into a traffic accident that requires the filing of an insurance claim, you run the risk of increased car insurance rates which will take much effort to repair. By maintaining an unblemished driving record, you can help save on lower car insurance rates, and keep you and your passengers safe.