Des Moines Car Insurance
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Save On Auto Insurance

We are all looking for ways to save money, but driving with out auto insurance is irresponsible, as well as illegal in most states. Today, even small accidents can result in thousands of dollars in damages.

Good news is that cars built today are designed to absorb ever-increasing levels of impact and are filled with technology, like air bags, Dual side-curtain air bags, Side Impact Protection Systems. All of these innovations have made today's car the safest ever built, but all have added cost to the price of both buying and fixing these cars and trucks.

Due to the high price of vehicles, ever increasing medical costs, and new bankruptcy laws it is financial suicide to drive with out insurance. When looking for car insurance, no one wants to pay more than they have to in order to get the needed coverage. Below are some suggestions to help you lower your insurance costs and get cheaper auto insurance.

1. Shop Several Companies

Prices vary widely from company to company. The carrier that offers the lowest rate on a middle-aged married couple might be one the highest on a 20-year-old male single. Get quotes from different types of insurance companies. Some companies sell direct through a captive agent force. Independent agents offer policies from several different insurance companies. You can find agents by searching Online, using a telephone directory or asking family or friends where to get cheaper auto insurance.

2. Move to a Higher Deductible

The deductible is the amount you pay on a claim before the insurance company pays. By requesting higher deductibles, you can lower your insurance costs significantly and get cheaper auto insurance. For example, increasing your deductible from 0 to 0 could decrease your comprehensive and collision coverage cost by as much as 30 percent. Switching to a ,000 deductible can reduce your expense by 40 percent or more. Just keep in mind, if there is a claim you are going to need to come up with that amount in order to get your car repaired. However, remember that the deductible is for the damages to your own car, rarely is there any deductible for the car that you "Hit".

3. Decrease Coverage on Older Cars

When your car was new, of course you purchased "Full Coverage' to protect your investment. However if your car is no longer a "late model" or does not have a value over ,000.00, consider dropping collision and comprehensive coverage. Ask your agent to provide you with a quote both with and without these coverages. Your agent can tell you the Blue book value of your car.

4. Ask about Alarm Discounts

Does your car have any anti theft devices? Most cars today do have both passive and active systems. Most insurance companies will give you a discount of your insurance if your car is so equipped. The discount can be as much as 20% of the comprehensive portion of your policy. It is important that you let your agent know.

5. Exclude a driver

Not all drivers are created equal when it comes to car insurance. The rates on teen drivers are much higher than drivers in their 30s or 40s. If you have young drivers in the household that do not drive your car, you can save a considerable sum by taking them off your policy. A word of caution: If you exclude a driver from your policy and they do take your car out for a spin and have an accident; you will not be covered for that loss.

6. Part-Time Drivers

Most companies give a discounted rate for a part-time or occasional driver. This is of no use if the part time driver is an older driver, but can make a dramatic difference when the part time driver is a young driver. But remember to ask your agent, and not assume they gave you the discount so you can get cheaper auto insurance.

7. Maintain a Good Credit Record

It might seem that is no connection between "Good Credit" and low insurance costs, but many insurance companies will now run credit reports each time you apply for a quote on your car insurance. Many people would be surprised to learn that a "Bad Credit Score" can raise your insurance rate more than having speeding tickets. Not all companies credit score; always ask the agent if they are going to run your credit. If a representative asks you for your social security number, assume they are planning on running a credit check. Verify your credit record on a periodically to check for any errors.

8. Check Your Driving Record

I have had clients whose driving record show accidents and tickets that were inaccurate. Such mistakes happen more frequently than many agents or representatives at the Security of State are willing to admit. These mistakes can significantly increase the cost of your insurance. Check your credit record on a from time to time to check for any errors.

9. Shop Before You Buy The Car

Insurance carriers heavily surcharge some cars, motorcycles or trucks. That means that even though two cars that have the same value, might have dramatically different insurance rates.
After you buy the car, you might find that the monthly insurance payment is more than the monthly car payment. This is particularly true for the combination of young drivers and high performance cars.

10. Don't Put In The Small Claim

Insurance works best when it is used for which it was intended- to protect you against major financial losses. Insurance companies today share loss information through a central network. As a result these losses follow you from company to company. Companies count "Frequency" as well as total pay-out; so if you have 0 in damages and a 0 deductible
It might be wise to avoid having the claim on your record. click here for cheaper auto insurance now.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    How to save on auto insurance?
    I want to save on auto insurance? If any one can refer me website for accurate quotations then it will be good.

    • ANSWER:
      This question gets asked many times each day, everyone of us is different! Just get onto an insurance site, enter your info and the car (it is enough to enter the year, make and model), see what pricing you get.. You can opt out just for minimum liability coverage, no collision or comprehensive, that is if you are willing to forgo the money you invested in the car if you total it and don't care if you are sued in case of serious accident.

  2. QUESTION:
    how do I save on auto insurance?
    I want to save on auto insurance.....what factors can lower your rate? I need to know things such as an alarm, and kept in the garage, but what other factors can help me getting a low rate?

    Thanks everyone

    • ANSWER:
      You may want to try a website that compares multiple companies at once to get you the best price. I am paying less than ½ after I did.

      Go to: http://www.insureme.com/landing.aspx?Refby=616165&Type=auto

      Take care,
      Casey

  3. QUESTION:
    What are some things a driver under 25 can do to save on auto insurance?
    I don't mean the basic stuff like drive safely, don't speed, etc. I mean, what are some insider things that you can do? I guess I'm looking for insight.

    • ANSWER:
      Get one of those license plate covers that blurs your plate # when speeding through those red lights, the camera can't catch you then. Works for me.

  4. QUESTION:
    About how much does a car alarm save on auto insurance?
    I know this depends but just give me a GUESS.

    or how about; use yourself as an example.

    How much do you save, or would you save,
    if you had a car alarm?

    • ANSWER:
      It depends on the state of course, but as an example, in New York, insurance companies are required to give a 5% discount for a car alarm. That discount is off of the comprehensive portion of coverage only, which is not a very large portion of the total premium. More advanced devices, like LoJack or remote disabling devices can get discounts up to 15%. Under 0 a year is what New York motorists pay for comprehensive, so you're looking at a year for a car alarm, for a tracking device.

  5. QUESTION:
    To save on auto insurance bills, every article on the subject suggests dropping collission and comp coverage?
    on older cars? Doesn't this ignore the fact that - these coverages are pretty cheap, not huge savings. And if your car is that old and cheap, you're likely poor and can't afford to just shell out 00s in repair or replacement costs at one time!? What am I missing, please?
    Personally, I am fully able to fund a new car purchase, but the premium reduction still doesn't seem worth it.

    • ANSWER:
      Exactly. Older vehicles (that aren't sports cars) are fairly inexpensive to insure as far as collision and comp are concerned. Another option would be to bank 00 bucks and then raise your deductible to 1K. That way you can 'self insure' any losses up to a thousand dollars and still save some on insurance premiums. Face it -- until lawyers and greedy people back off the insurance companies the rates will NEVER see a significant decrease.

  6. QUESTION:
    How to Save On auto insurance quote online?

    • ANSWER:
      You just search around a lot!

  7. QUESTION:
    Looking to save on Auto insurance costs in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, any tips or ideas?

    • ANSWER:
      The best thing would be to look around at lots of different insurance companies and to get multiple quotes. That way you will be able to compare the plans and the costs. Also keep an eye on what the companies offer and make sure that they are all providing the coverage that you need, since each state requires different types of coverage. Also ask your friends and family for advice and suggestions. Many times they may already know a good company that they would recommend.

  8. QUESTION:
    If you are 17 years old and live in NJ can you save on auto insurance if you show proof of enrollment?
    in a driver training course? [6 hrs driving]
    in a driver training course? [6 hrs driving]

    or show proof of COMPLETION? [thx]
    If i get my permit as a 17 year old [ not 16 ] , I don't have to [by law] do my "6 hrs" with a driver training facility.

    However if i do, can i save on auto insurance if i completely the 6 hrs?

    • ANSWER:
      Insurance companies don't want proof of enrollment. They want proof of completion.

      In NJ unfortunately, insurance for someone your age will not be cheap, AT ALL.

      You got a couple of things against you. Your age, when you first got licensed (assuming you just got your license) and more than likely, no credit history (NJ pulls credit scores for insurance rating purposes).

      If you do in fact go shop for insurance, you best bet is gettin an old car and insuring it for only liability. full coverage would be extremely expensive.

      You could get a good student discount if your grades are good in school. You would have to show proof like a letter from a school official indicating your grade point average and such. Driving training discount you will still be able to get but you have to complete the course first.

      Also, try your best not to get any tickets or into any accidents for the next 3 years.

  9. QUESTION:
    Is it a good or bad idea to change my auto insurance provider to save ?
    6 month policy to go from 97.90 to 90.90.

    Analysis on future rates?

    • ANSWER:
      It depends on who you are insured by now and where you are going. Insurance companies frown upon people who consistently change their carriers and give more benefits to people who stay with them longer. is very little money to be messing wtih consistent coverage.

      Who are you going to and from? If you are going to go to a National Chain like State Farm, I would say it's a smart decision. If you are going to a local insurance agency, you are giving up better customer service, more resources for your claims, and the ability to take your insurance with you should you move to another area.

      Make a smart decision, but if you are changing companies just to save a penny a day, I think you need to reevaluate.

  10. QUESTION:
    how much will i save on my progressive auto insurance by parking in a garage?
    is it a big savings? any estimated dollar amnt? i live in an average sized city in MN if that makes any difference

    • ANSWER:
      There will not be a price difference whether you park in a garage or outside. That is not one of the factors which affect your premium.

      As far as location - generally premiums are rated by territory - and the larger/more busy the city - the higher rated the territory is.

      It is nearly impossible to provide an estimated price without having your MVR (motor vehicle report) run & knowing prior losses.
      Your best bet to get the best price is going to an agent - paying a or dollar processing/policy fee & having them find the best rate for you out of their companies. Most agencies/brokerages work with at least 10 to 15 different companies. It's worth going to a few different agencies as well as checking out AAA & Costco insurance.

  11. QUESTION:
    How to save money on online auto insurance with a hybrid car?

    • ANSWER:
      Same way as you save money on normal cars, plane tickets, plasma tvs etc

  12. QUESTION:
    Do you think it is smart to have limited tort and auto insurance it saves 0 a year.?
    I can save 0 dollars on my insurance if i limited my tort. I can still sue for major injury and for DUI if a driver hits me but i am limited in other ways. Good idea or bad?

    • ANSWER:
      Bad Idea, you never know what can happen, insurance will find any reason to wash their hands..don't give them any more.

  13. QUESTION:
    How do I save money on health insurance and auto insurance?
    I have 2 kids and 3 cars. Is there any way I can reduce the health insurance and car insurance price???

    • ANSWER:
      You can try and raise the deductibles

  14. QUESTION:
    How much do you save on your auto and homeowner's insurance this year?
    I am looking for a way that can save me even more on my auto and homeowner's insurance. Can anybody share me their best way to save on their auot and homeowner's insuarnace?

    • ANSWER:
      I save 0.00 this year on my auto and home oner's insurance thanks to my friend. All I did is I call 1-877-855-8111 using the PIN#: KXMC9 and Rep Last Name: DU. Within 10 minutes, I got quotes from nine difference inurance companies and I pick the best price quote which happen to be The Hartford. I cancel my policy from AAA and pick Hartford and I save 0.00. I am very happy about the service and the money I save. :)

  15. QUESTION:
    WHERE CAN I SAVE BIG ON AUTO INSURANCE!?
    the general geco safe auto???? ect...

    • ANSWER:
      Hey,

      The best way to get cheap insurance is to shop around and get quotes

      Here are some places you get almost 10 quotes within 5 minutes

      http://www.aiquote.net/DiscountCarInsuranceRates.php
      http://www.aiquote.net/2Insure4Less.php

      P.S let me know when you got an insurance policy 50% lower than your current policy thanks to me :D

  16. QUESTION:
    Can I save money on auto insurance, if I change the address on my drivers license?
    I live in Los Angeles, CA. I have a very messed up driving record. Countless tickets and 2 suspensions. I never hurt anyone though. I have a 2007 Accord Coupe. The registration has my sister and my name on it. My sisters driving record is perfect. I recently got another ticket so the insurance went up to 0. A month!!! My question is, if I change my drivers license address and get a new car under my sisters name only, would the insurance be cheaper and would it cover me if I got into an accident???

    • ANSWER:
      Yes it will but be careful which company is because even if the vehicle has insurance and you drive it and you're not listed it might deny the claim. You should try progressive they will pay the claim no matter who is driving it.

  17. QUESTION:
    What auto insurance company actually help you save money ?
    Please base this on actual experience. I want some good advice. I have State Farm for now and I want to save.

    • ANSWER:
      There are plenty of insurance companies that are cheaper than State Farm. You can go to Progressive's website and they compare for you. If price is your main concern, State Farm is probably not for you, if you want service and a company that will pay your car to pre-wreck condition, Stay with State Farm and avoid the headache of the smaller companies. Here in Louisiana, State Farm, Farm Bureau, and Allstate pay the best labor rates to shops and have what I think are the best policies for returning your vehicle to pre-accident condition. Smaller companies pay less for labor and sometimes cut you a check as soon as they look at it, based on their labor rate, not necessarily your preferred shop's rate, hoping you will cash it and shop for someone to repair it for the cheapest. I would prefer to pay a little more and not have to fight with the discount insurer's policies of using aftermarket sheetmetal, and not wanting to pay to R/I (Remove/ Install) everything associatied with the repair.

  18. QUESTION:
    Where to save money on auto insurance??
    I have a few tickets, old as hell tho...Im still gettin f'd by progressive....other options??

    • ANSWER:
      Geico?

  19. QUESTION:
    Many executives will save an organizations money by not having auto insurance on the fleet of company vehicles?
    Many executives will save an organizations money by not having auto insurance on the fleet of company vehicles, whereas, in their personal finances, they will carry insurance on their family car. Take something from your experience that illustrates the difference in attitude from the point of view for an individual to an organization. Explain why the organization attitude toward risk is different from the individual attitude.

    • ANSWER:
      The point of insurance is to spread out risk to mitigate a loss that would pose a substantial burden. For a corporation, an entire fleet of vehicles averages out the risk, whereas for the individual there is a great amount of uncertainty in driving only one or two cars. Also, corporations have a much different definition of what a loss that is a substantial burden- for the individual, a wreck that does 25,000 in damage would be hard to swallow, but any company with a fleet probables does millions per year in sales.

      For the record, I highly discourage a business from taking such a strategy, but don't feel like going into all the detail.

  20. QUESTION:
    how to save money on online auto insurance?

    • ANSWER:
      Buy your own car for cash then get minimum.

  21. QUESTION:
    Would you like a free quote on your auto Insurance?
    I have the best rates just let me know if you want a quote....home and auto together save's the most money!

    • ANSWER:
      NO COMPANY EVER charges for quotes for personal insurance. So you're not exactly giving anything away, ya know?

  22. QUESTION:
    Hebrews and Shebrews: Do you have good advice for saving on my auto insurance?

    • ANSWER:
      Being a She-brew, I:
      1) Drive a car that is not expensive to insure.
      2) Shop around.
      3) Make sure to get the AAA discount offered by many insurance companies.

      So now let me ask you this:
      What does your question have to do with religion, and why would you assume that Jews know more about saving money and buying auto insurance than, say, Baptists or Hindus?

  23. QUESTION:
    Shopping for Auto Insurance Online, is it Safe?
    I have had my identity stolen and now I am very sceptical of shopping online for anything. I am looking to try to save money on my auto insurance by shopping around but can only find companies who want to give me a free online auto insurance quote. People aren't aware that during this online process you must enter your social security number, and all your personal informaion online. That is Crazy!!!
    Do people really think that this is SAFE way to shop for auto insurance?

    • ANSWER:
      Stick with the major carriers websites. Avoid web sites not associated with a major carrier that offer comparative quotes. The quotes you receive will be estimates and the result will be that the policy will not be issued at the price that was quoted.

      You might also look to be sure you are on a secured site. look for "https" in the URL.

      P.S. Are you secure in your knowledge of the appropriate coverages. Lots more to auto insurance than price. Speaking of pricing you might also passing up a hefty multi policy discount by shopping your auto insurance apart from your homeowners insurance.

  24. QUESTION:
    Would it save money to divide family members onto two different auto insurance companies instead of just one?
    We are trying to reduce our monthly car insurance payment. There are 4 adults on the family policy. My 2 kids live at two different addresses. One is 22 and the other is 24. We have a 2000 SUV, a 2006 Saturn, 2001 Toyota Echo, and 1994 Ford Taurus. We want full coverage on all except the Taurus. Would it save to divide the family onto different 2 different policies from 2 different companies?

    • ANSWER:
      Yes, that would probably help reduce cost. You may want to try getting a quote online. I am paying less than ½ of what I was before.

      Go to: http://www.insureme.com/landing.aspx?Refby=615451&Type=auto

      Take care,
      Casey

  25. QUESTION:
    Can your mom save me 20% on auto insurance?

    • ANSWER:
      That's pushing it.

      Maybe 19%...

  26. QUESTION:
    First time NSF on my auto Insurance. Any ways to save it?
    Hi, my auto insurance company gave me extra on NSF charge for this month. They withdraw money on first of every month now it was my mistake that i did not have funds in that account. Now they sent me a letter stating they will be taking extra this month on 14. Is there any way i can save this money.... like i feel they should have given me a notice at least.........before that extra money..... please suggest a way to save this amount. Thank you.

    • ANSWER:
      You have to call the company. Only they know what they can do to help you. Every company is different.

  27. QUESTION:
    Pa. auto Insurance 100 mile from home college student discount law.?
    I live in the state of Pennsylvania. My question is does anyone know if Pa. auto insurance laws don't allow insurance companies to give you a discount on your rates if you have a college student attending school at least 100 miles from home. I recently saw this on the Motley Fool site about how to save money on your auto insurance rates. When I contacted my agent she said Pa. doesn't allow such a discount. Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      It's not a law. Insurance companies can, if they want, give an "away at college" discount, IF the student is more than 100 miles from home, WITHOUT A CAR.

      I've HAD a PA license for a long time. Either your agent doesn't know what she's talking about, OR, she only represents one company that does NOT give an away at school discount.

      Most companies in PA do this. BUT. If you have a car with you, you're not entitled.

  28. QUESTION:
    Can Jesus save me ... money on my auto insurance?

    • ANSWER:
      THATS GREAT!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAH!!!!!
      GOD-CO!

  29. QUESTION:
    Does anyone have any ideas for a catchy phrase for insurance sales?
    I need a catchy phrase for a desk slogan. Something like, "Ask me how you can save money on your auto insurance and you will receive a special gift". That's boring though. Any ideas?

    • ANSWER:
      ...Let's not meet by accident, come in see how much you can save now...

  30. QUESTION:
    Higher deductibles save me more money on auto / car insurance in the beginning for a newly landed immigrant?
    I am a new immigrant to Ontario, Canada. I didn't had >5 years license from the place I've come from. So I had to go through G1 and then G2. Now it is 7 months I have got both.

    As a first driver on a newly leased Honda Civic '08 model car, State Farm is giving me 260 on high deductible of 00. They raise it more if I settle it for 00. But, they are giving me option to break the contract whenever I want to WITHOUT a panelty, anytime.

    So my idea is, to get an insurance from Statefarm on high deductible for 3 months or so, (and of course drive as safer as I possibly can), and get a second insurance from TD or Belair or RBC after 3 months. Would this lower my insurance after 3 months as a 2nd insurance? Do you think its a wise step to take? Of course I should not run into accident but I cannot go lower than 00 as a deductible for sure, I would have way too high premium on 0 or 0 is out of question.

    Please suggest! :) ... Much appreciated!

    I'm based in Missi, ON.
    Not to mention, I need a car right now for sure! In fact had the leased sign! So, can anyone help with insurance ideas? Any other company that can be lower at rates for my kind of driver (a bit more at least)?

    • ANSWER:
      for one you should wait for 6 months, and after that go shopping. Don't jump into the first insurance that comes along. Took me 3 months to get safeauto 500 deductible and 2 cars only 225

  31. QUESTION:
    Speeding Ticket during Auto Insurance Renewal Period -- BEST way to save?
    I will be convicted of speeding when i pay the bill....however, my Auto Insurance renewel is coming up....What is the best method to possibly keep my insurance premiums from going up...is it best to:

    A) Pay the speeding ticket and get the conviction on my record BEFORE signing up with a DIFFERENT (New) auto Insurance Company?

    OR

    B) Joing a DIFFERENT (New) auto Insurance company and then pay the speeding ticket (which will show up then as a conviction on my record)?

    Thank you.

    • ANSWER:
      It really doesn't matter, because the insurance company will ask you about it on the application, and they will also run your driving record. If you don't tell them, you have committed fraud on your application which gives them a way to drop you.

      So, either way they will know and charge accordingly.

  32. QUESTION:
    Third Person is wondering how many people save money with Geiko?
    I need to save money on my auto insurance. Third Peson appreciates your answers.

    • ANSWER:
      Thinking Is Winning does not have Geiko.

  33. QUESTION:
    How is Geico Auto Insurance?
    So we all like to save as much money on auto insurance as possible. I'm debating switching to Geico cus it'll save me about 0-240 a year (i'm starting to sound like a commercial). Anyway this is a question for people who currently have or had Geico Auto Insurance. I hear internet auto insurance companies tend to be bad when it comes time to file claims etc. I haven't had an accident (knock on wood) but if it happens, I'd like to know i wouldn't have a huge run around dealing with Geico..any good or bad experiences with them?
    ~Gavin

    • ANSWER:
      I've had great experience with them all the way around, and I've been with them for over 6 years. Best customer service around, I'd definitely recommend them! (I only had one claim and it was handled timely and very satisfactory)

  34. QUESTION:
    Based on Floridas basic auto insurance coverage if i have a deductable of 100. should i increase it to 500 why
    will increasing the deductable to 500. save on my monthly insurance and can i apply the savings towards increasing my liability limits. Please explain why

    • ANSWER:
      It depends on the car. For the most part you will save money by increasing the deductible but if the car is old then you won't notice much of a difference. If you go to your insurance company website you should be able to get quotes on what changes to your policy will do.

  35. QUESTION:
    can I turn auto insurance off and on like a light switch and save $ when I am working on my car & not driving?

    • ANSWER:
      You will want to keep an active policy at all times, otherwise you won't save money. The option that would best apply to your situation (and has different availability depending on your state and which company you insure with) is sometimes called "suspended coverage". What it does is keeps Comprehensive coverage (this covers theft, vandalism, weather damage, fire and generally things that can happen to a parked vehicle) but removes liability coverages, which tend, especially for an older vehicle tend to be the most expensive. A WARNING: If you suspend coverage, you cannot then drive your vehicle until you notify your company to change you back to liability. Usually this can be done by phone, but sometimes requires that you wait until the following day to drive the vehicle, as with many companies, coverages become effective at 12:01 a.m. on the date following the day when you contact them to make the change. Also, some companies require that the removal of liability be requested in writing. It's not exactly a light switch, but it could save you some funds.

  36. QUESTION:
    Auto Insurance Increase-Is this too much?
    I backed into a tree that was in my blind spot 2 nights ago and got an estimate today of 46.00 damage. My deductible is 0. My insurance agent quoted me a 75% increase in my monthly insurance cost. 75%!!!! This is ridiculous to me considering I have no other points on my insurance or any history. In the end after paying this increase over 3 years (plus deductible), it will cost me 10. Shouldn't insurance save you money? Isn't there anything I can do (other than pay to fix my car out of pocket)?

    • ANSWER:
      Every insurance company is going to operate a little differently when it comes to making claims- particularly if your rating is affected.
      If your insurance goes up 75% chances are you are still going to be better off financially if you make a claim (unless you already have ridiculously expensive insurance)
      If you are under a rating 1l then I would expect that your rating would drop from renewal, but it seems strange that you are getting charged the extra straight away.
      Unless your policy is at renewal at the moment.

      You can always shop around for another insurance company after you make the claim- you will still have to note your recent incident (which will probably affect your premium- but you need to be honest about it because if you don't say you have made a claim or had an incident and then you need to make a claim with the new company later they may not pay out because you lied to them.

      It is possible that you have an insurace plan that 'rewards safe drivers' by heavily peanalising those who do make claims. As I said- every insurance company will handle claims and premiums slightly differently.
      But I would recommend getting some quotes from different companies, and then working out whether it is worth it to make the claim.

  37. QUESTION:
    Are all of the automobile insurance companies trying to get you to change because they want you to save?
    Is the reason they want you to quite your insurance company and switch to there's because of the profit they make in selling you insurance or because they are really interested in saving you money? Are they thinking of you or their profit?
    Is your auto insurance company a crook and cheating you out of your money?
    If you switch to some other company, will you switch again the next time you see a different advertisement on TV?
    Should the coverage protect regardless of age, occupation, area driving in, needed coverage at the same price in all states?

    • ANSWER:
      Every company is in the market to do business and make profits by increasing their customer base. More customers=more business. As the customers increase, the variable costs do increase but the fixed costs remain the same, leading to reduced cost of business. Thus bigger companies can afford to offer their customers bigger discounts. Take the example of The Hartford. It’s a huge 200 year old Insurance giant. With a sound base already established, they can afford to pass discounts and lower prices to their customers. The lower prices attract more customers in turn; more customers lead to lesser prices, so it’s a cycle! As long as an Insurance company is reliable in handling claims and giving you cost effective policies, it’s not cheating you. It’s making money out of honest business and adding to the National coffers as well!

  38. QUESTION:
    What can you tell me about auto insurance deductibles?
    My wife just got a new car and while registering it with our auto insurance company, I found out that we have 0 deductibles on both of our cars. Turns out we can save per 6-month policy if we raise it to a 00 deductible? Which is smarter to do?

    • ANSWER:
      Deductibles are the portion of the claim you are willing to pay. The higher the deductible, the less the insurance company has to pay, so they don’t need as much premium.

      Choose the highest deductible you are comfortable with. Some people don’t want to worry about having to pay anything if they have an accident, so they choose 0 deductible. They will pay a higher premium because they are letting the insurance company cover more of the risk. Others would rather pay less premium to the insurance company so they choose to take on some of the risk and pay less premium.

      Are you and your wife accident prone. If you have had a few accidents in the past, you might want a lower deductible. If you have not had any accidents or just one in the past, then it is worth it to you to have a higher deducible. If you have high liquidly, and you could come up with a ,000 to cover the deductible in an accident easily, then choose the higher deductible. If you would have trouble coming up with the ,000, choose a lower deductible.

      There are two deductibles on your auto insurance policy. One is for collision and the other is for comprehensive. Collision is when you run into someone or someone runs into you and leaves the scene. Comprehensive is when your windshield is cracked when hit by an object on the road,(like a stone,) or a deer runs in front of your car. I usually recommend to my clients to take ,000 deductible on collision and 0 on comprehensive. I like the lower deductible on comprehensive because today’s cars have windshields that are much more expensive to replace. Nothing is more annoying than to have a small stone crack a windshield,(something totally out of your control,) and you have to come up with ,600 to replace it. With 0 deductible on comprehensive, you just pay 0 and the insurance company pays the rest.

      So, here are four rules to follow when it comes to homeowners and car insurance.

      1. Don’t try to cover the first dollar of loss, but insure against the larger catastrophe.
      2. Don’t cover risks that will have little impact on your wealth, happiness, or success.
      3. Have an insurance expert on your side to help you design the policy to fit your financial life situation.
      4. Save the recaptured premium to help pay future premiums.

      Number 4 is the least understood by most people. I advise my clients to save the difference. For example, if your annual insurance premium with 0 deductible is ,500 and with ,000 deductible is ,500, take the ,000 savings and put it in an account somewhere. Now each year you are saving ,000 of premium you did not have to spend because of the higher deductible.

      Here is how you use the money. In the example above, take the ,000 savings and put it in a Muni Bond mutual fund (federal tax free in most cases) at the beginning of the year. At the end of 10 years at a 5% rate of return, for example, the account will have ,206. Of course we know, insurance premiums tend to increase by small amounts each year, but in this example, you would have paid ,000 in premiums and have accumulated ,206 in the mutual fund. Most people don’t save the premium difference, but you can see, in this case, you have saved almost as much as you spent. Now if you want, you can use the Muni Bond account to subsidize future premiums, or just keep saving the difference. Secondly, if you have an accident a the end of the first year, you have ,000 in the Municipal Bond mutual fund, so you now have the money to cover your deductible.

      The same thing applies to homeowners as well. The only difference is there is no comprehensive coverage on a homeowners policy. The higher deductible, the less premium you pay,

  39. QUESTION:
    How much do you pay for Auto Insurance A Month?
    what do you pay a month on your auto insurance. and do you think it's to much or do you save money?

    • ANSWER:
      5.

      Vehicles:
      1988 Toyota Supra Turbo
      1989 Toyota Supra
      1993 Honda Prelude.

      Full coverage on all. Yes, it's 5 for all three vehicles.

      I think it's plenty cheap.

  40. QUESTION:
    Is it possible to get liability auto insurance and comprehensive?
    I went ot my insurance agent and she told that i cant get comprehensive by tis self that i would need collision. I was just hoping to save money by cutting the full coverage on my insurance into lialibty and comprehensive only. Is it possible? Or my agent was right?

    • ANSWER:
      Well, your agent is wrong. If the car is in a locked storage facility and not registered for road use (you turn in the plates) you CAN get comp by itself, as long as you have a second car on the policy which IS registered and DOES have liability coverage.

      Or, you can insure the car for just liability and comp - no collision. Now, if there's a LOAN on the policy, the lender won't accept that - they'll put forced placement coverage on the car, and eventually repo your car if you don't pay the extra 0 or so a month to the loan. But that's not the AGENT'S problem, that's YOUR problem - that's the deal between you and the lender.

      If it were me, I'd make you sign off that you understand that deleting collision means there's no coverage for your car in an accident, and it won't fulfill any loan requirements. And it can't be added on, retroactively, after you get that ,000 bill from the lender. But I'd do it, after you signed off. It's not MY responsibiltiy to be sure you comply with your loan agreement.

  41. QUESTION:
    Would universal health care save the auto industry?
    The most expensive part of a GM manufactured car is the health car paid to the employees who work on it. Beyond that all nations we compete against these cars made in nations where there is a single payer system and thus their employers need not purchase insurance for their workers.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15828-2005Feb10.html

    • ANSWER:
      It would definitely help General Motors and Ford. Both of these companies are doomed. They blew it years ago. The union contracts are way too generous. (Instead of being grateful, the union members are all angry and bitter.) It's over for them. Every year GM and Ford are going to continue to lose market share. I wouldn't buy a car from either of them. These companies are no longer relevant. Someone should do a study to find out exactly how these companies screwed up as bad as they did. It is truly amazing. Their cars are inferior to the cars made by the Japanese. (I'm an American and I have to buy Japanese cars because I need a car that is reliable.)

      It's also amazing that many union auto workers retire in non-union states, such as Florida.

      Toyota and Honda manufacture a lot of cars in the US and they are doing fantastic.

      Good question.

  42. QUESTION:
    I just got my tax return back. Should I Pay on Credit Card, or pay auto insurance in advance (saving )?
    Car insurance is 800 for 6 months, paying it ahead saves me . This would be 0 for the year.
    My Credit card is at 29%. I hope to pay it all off either way next tax season.

    Which saves me more money between now and next March?
    I am assuming i will only carry the 0 balance on my credit card for another year. Do i save more than 140 in 12 months?

    • ANSWER:
      Pay down that credit card! It will save you more money in the long run.

      ***Well yea, $ 800 @ 29% per month(12 months) is $ 232.00.

  43. QUESTION:
    New drivers (permit); what can save money on insurance?
    Okay, new drivers in the family (got the permit today). Of course, DMV rats you out to Allstate, and Allstate charges a ton for insurance (Arm + Leg). Oh, two new drivers. So I'm looking for ways to show good character to Allstate or find a cheaper insurance.

    Now, I know some basic things about Auto Insurance:
    A) Good grades (above 3.0 gpa) can get a discount from some insurers (usually 10%). Have this.
    B) I drive a moderate car (not SUV or sedan). Good condition.
    C) The car will be shared between 2-3 young drivers. Since they can't all be in the car at once, I imagine this could reduce costs.
    D) No criminal record and no disciplinary file at school.
    E) In the Fall, Drivers Ed is offered. I understand that it also can reduce costs
    F) Parents are responsible drivers (low insurance)

    Who tends to be cheapest with Auto Insurance? Am I wrong in any of the above statements, and is there any other factors that can save money? Where is the best place to get a quote?

    Thank you!
    OK, some info:
    -Geico does not insure teen drivers. So that's out.
    -The car is a 2001 Sports Sedan (Maxima).
    -Allstate gives BS and only gives the discount for drivers ed, not grades or other stuff.

    • ANSWER:
      You have most of the basics down - obviously did your homework (but I could tell from your grades!)

      So, the multiple young drivers may not be a good thing. Each of you can be in an accident alone - multiplys the odds.

      It would help to "piggyback" on your parents policy and pay them the difference. It can be cheaper to insurance multiple cars under the same policy, rather than individually.

      Also, if you have a short commute (one way) to school or work, that helps.

      I have found that Mercury tends to be cheaper over all. I have used them in the past. I just switched to cover with our home owners policy which saved me money (it's the bundling concept -like above with multiple cars).

      Good luck - and be safe.

  44. QUESTION:
    How much does the "Gecko" tacked on to your auto insurance to pay for their commercials?
    I had a thought the other day when a barrage of “the gecko” commercials kept coming on TV. How can “the gecko” save you money when he’s paying for all those commercials? Then a portion of your insurance premiums must be paying for the commercials. So how can they save you any cash when they’re tacking on extra fees to pay for all that advertising? I think they get you in the door with low rate and keep raising it over the years until your paying way more than you should be.

    • ANSWER:
      Seeing that cute little guy on tv makes it all worth it.

  45. QUESTION:
    If I change auto insurance companies to get a lower rate, does that look negative on my record?
    I could save about .00 monthly if I switch companies. I'm just wondering if that will look bad on my credit or if it will have any adverse effects on anything that will be taken into consideration for future insurance evaluations or reviews for credit worthiness. Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      It will not affect your credit in any way. It is your right and privilege to pick your own company and agent. If this is a good company, go for it. That is a savings of almost 0 a year. Please make sure you are not giving up any coverage so you don't find out the hard way - after you have a claim.

  46. QUESTION:
    I just saved money on my auto insurance. Could I be pregnant?

    • ANSWER:
      It's possible. Did the gecko wear a condom?

  47. QUESTION:
    What does it mean to "be on your parnets auto insurance policy?"?
    Is it legal? How much can you save? The title of the car is in my name, should it be in their name?

    • ANSWER:
      if the title was in their name and you listed as a partial driver the insurance would be a lot cheaper,and yes its very legal to do this,sometime its the only way younger people can afford to drive a car,insurance is high on younger drivers now days,but if they agree to do this it would be a good idea,it would save you a whole lot of money,good luck.

  48. QUESTION:
    What resources can I use to find people wanting to lower their car insurance online?
    I want to help people save money on their auto and home insurance in the United States.

    • ANSWER:
      First idea - DON'T SPAM folks trying to get answers!

      Pay for your advertisements like Warren Buffett does!

  49. QUESTION:
    Hafe you ever had Hartford auto and home insurance and did they pay out claims and treat you right?
    I have been approached by Hartford AARP auto and home and they can save me almost 0 per year on this insurance. I am looking for comments on this insurance as to how they treated you.

    • ANSWER:
      AARP recommended products are top flight companies. Hartford is one of the most respected of all insurance companies.

  50. QUESTION:
    Actual Auto insurance Savings?
    It seems like every auto insurance commercial I see states they can save you 0 from their competitor. What is the truth behind those numbers that you see on the commercials? I never can find an equal quote for 0 from Company A and ,000 quote from Company B for an identical policy. Does anybody know if they actually do save you 0 from other policies or is there some something else behind the numbers?

    • ANSWER:


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