How Your Auto Insurance Rates Are Impacted By Your Driving

If you have a driving record that is below average what steps should you take to improve your auto insurance rates? A great method to use given the circumstances is to do some homework and find online car insurance rates from providers that work with clients in your situation.

Each month when you receive you car insurance bill you wonder how is it possible to decrease your auto insurance rates in order to lower the monthly premium. Time and time again your annual insurance rates continue to go higher for no apparent reason. The vast majority of the auto insurance companies continually up your online car insurance rates to adjust for inflation or just to increase their profits.

However, there are many factors involving your driving record that determine your car insurance rates. Many of us have some knowledge of what these factors are and their effect on car insurance rates, but it is important to review this data to be sure you thoroughly understand your situation.

Traffic Tickets and Your Auto Insurance Rates

In general, having just one minor ticket on your record is not going to affect your auto insurance rates quite that much. If you were speeding only a few miles over the limit or missed a stop sign, you may have a small increase in your rates by only a few percentage points. It’s when you have more than one ticket and they are considered major that you’ll really feel the pinch.

For instance, when you have a speeding ticket usually the insurance company will ask how much over the limit it was; less then 10 miles, 11-15 miles, or 16 and over. Obviously the person at 16 and over the limit is going to see higher car insurance rates than the person that’s less than 10. And just having one such ticket is not usually a big deal but having more than one in a three-year period is.

Major traffic tickets will negatively impact your car insurance rates across the board. Usually rate increases between 10% and 25% are common for DWI or DUI offenses. Consider the increase in your auto insurance rates for being cited not only for a couple of major moving violations but having a DUI in addition.

How Much You Drive

The time spent behind the wheel and the purpose for driving will normally impact your car insurance rates. The more time you spend behind the wheel the greater the chance you will have an accident. Long commutes to your job will increase your rates over drivers who have relatively short commutes to the office. Moving closer to your work may not be an option however you may be able to use your car less frequently by joining a carpool or finding a different way of commuting to your job.

In addition, if you choose to use your car in conjunction with your business your auto insurance rates will be adjusted. Insurance companies take this into consideration because of the additional risk involved and the possibility of having to settle a future claim. With auto insurance rates on the rise and there to stay, it is best to try all means necessary to reduce your online car insurance rates as low as possible.

Auto Insurance. How Common Sense Helps.

Many people would be surprised to know that just like any other thing in life, common sense can play a very important role in saving you some money in you Car insurance. Did I hear how?

1) If you think about your car insurance premium before buying a car you’ll save a lot of money. It’s no secret that certain cars are very expensive to insure. But at the same time, you can get a comparable car that will cost you far less if you ask the right person.

2) Thinking through what you get as insurance coverage will also lower your insurance rates a great deal. Depending on how much you bought your car, certain policies or coverages will certainly be worthless. For example, if you bought your car for $15,000, is having a $25,000 collision policy going to be worthwhile? Moreover, since you know that the value will depreciate over time (And this is without subtracting the deductible you’d pay if you make a claim) does it make sense spending so much in premium that won’t benefit you in any event?.

Am I advocating getting cheap cars and taking the lowest coverage you can get? No I just need for you to be aware of the things that affect you insurance cost. Think through all the factors and you would actually be surprised at how it could affect your choice and decisions.

Equipped with these knowledge, you can go to town, choose the kind of car you want and look very closely at how to save on your insurance. You would be making your decision with a view to have the best of both worlds. It basically is your decision to make.

Finally, you must have gathered that regardless of whether you are getting an expensive car that would mean you would spend a lot more, with the right knowledge, you could still find ways to save on your car insurance.

MASH & Hyundais

MASH was a classic game when I was a kid. We’d sit and play it anytime we were supposed to sit quietly. The best part was always discovering who you were destined to marry. The next best part was always discovering if you were going to live in a Mansion, and Apartment, A Shack or A House (MASH).

But right up there at the top of the list of fun MASH divinations was what car I would be driving once I was all “grown up.” I had no idea what kind of car I might like to drive (I was only 8, maybe 9) but I gave it my best shot when I was asked to create the initial list. It usually looked something like this:

1. Bug

2. Ferrari

3. Truck

4. Convertible

I know, I know. Feel free to make fun. It’s a ridiculous list, but I was just a child and laughing too hard would be mean. So you should probably stop now. Since then (and I won’t tell you exactly how long it’s been “since then”) I’ve gotten a bit better at identifying what I like and what I don’t like when it comes to the cars that I drive. And I also wonder why my small, young self had never heard of the Hyundai! They’ve got such a great lineup. The Accent is perfect as a first vehicle with its affordable price. The Elantra is an environmentally friendly car and also offers more room than its closest competition.

The Sonata is the next step up from the Elantra and is even classified as a “large car” through the EPA classification system. It’s got a lot of really great safety features that come standard. The Hyundai Azera received the JD Power & Assoc. APEAL study recognition twice. The Tucson has a great crossover combination of car and SUV. The Santa Fe and the Entourage are both “Top Safety Picks” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Veracruz has the Hideaway seat offering a third row. And we can’t forget the Tiburon that is just plain eye catching with the sport tuned suspension to support the sporty look!

So…if any of you feel like playing MASH I’d like to venture out a little bit with my list of vehicles. I don’t want a slug bug, my husband has a truck and I don’t need the BMW (it’s just for the name anyway). But…I may leave the Ferrari on there just for kicks!

Gas Mileage Improvements: Can You Win 10 Million Dollars?

Improve my gas mileage! That’s the statement that’s been going around since nearly the dawn of the industrial age. Nearly 100 years of just trying to figure out how get further on a gallon of gas.

Although gas mileage devices have nearly doubled the actual mileage most cars get in the last 75 years, progress on this front has never been slower. Looking back over the last 20 years or so you will see very little improvement.

The fix? The Auto X Prize competition has officially launched in March and is sponsored by the Progressive auto insurance company. The goal? The first 100mgp car and you can still get in.

A $10 million dollar prize is up for grabs folks and the first person or company who can demonstrate a 100mpg in cross-country races will take home the prize.

Up for the challenge? The competition races begin sometime in 2009 so if you think you can somehow “improve my gas mileage” it’s time to quit thinking and get building!

Do you think you have what it takes to make your mark in history? So what exactly are the rules to this competition? What is the goal of it all?

Well, of course, the main goals are obvious. We need super energy efficient cars that will not only clean up our environment but also break our dependence on foreign oil. And at the top of the list? Improve my gas mileage!

The cars that are developed need to be easy in concept and simple to communicate and understand. Cars that you and I can work on. What a concept huh?

It needs to be a car that will benefit the entire world and as such this will be global competition. Anyone anywhere can enter. No matter where you come from, your brains are welcome.

The resulting cars need to be something people can buy. No concept cars will be accepted so your submission must be something that is ready for production.

There are other rules such as independent and non-partisan contestants, an understanding of the emissions, performance, fuel efficiency, ect.

Not to worry with those much though. If you can come up with it and it can be manufactured, then all you shade tree mechanics get on your grease gloves and get to work!

The implications of such a contest are huge! Not only for the winners of the contest but for the entire world in general.

Are you thinking how life could change for you and the world in general as this technology reaches into other industries as well. Things would change on a global scale.

There is much more info online concerning the cars with best gas mileage if you know where to look so let your finger do the walking and maybe you too will see gas mileage improvement beyond your wildest imagination!

Welcome to the New World of the Greedy Gas Pump

Gas prices are a hot topic right now, and have been for some time. With increased demand, especially from developing third world countries like China and India, continued unrest in the Middle East, and lack of investment in new refineries, the problem continues to grow worse and shows no signs of slowing down. And while we may certainly feel we have it bad, some countries actually pay more at the pump than we do, including the U.K, Germany, Denmark and The Netherlands, largely because of heavy government taxes on gasoline to discourage their consumption, a technique that is also employed with cigarette and alcohol taxes in some regions.

In the U.S, the price of a gallon of gasoline has nearly quadrupled in the past decade. Here’s a quick look at the average price of gas through the past decade.

U.S. Regular Conventional Retail Gasoline Date Cost Per Gallon

Source: Energy Information Administration

That price jumped dramatically since August of last year, with the price in New York topping $4 a gallon in May 2008. The scariest thing to consider is that gas prices have by no means hit their ceiling, with the cost of oil per barrel actually resting at a lower rate than it did in the late 1970’s considering inflation, though the price of oil has gone up considerably in the past few years.

So what can be done, if anything? Is this just a natural case of supply and demand that we’ll have to accept and cope with? The short term answer at least is yes. While oil companies make record profits that could be taxed by the government, therefore reducing personal tax on gas, this is unlikely to occur.

On the distant horizon of course is the creation of alternative fuels or methods of powering automobiles. The current main alternative is ethanol, but it currently costs even more than gas itself, and there are unanswered questions surrounding the impact it may have on food prices if it ever went into mass production.

Hybrid cars are another alternative, but also another expensive alternative, with studies estimating that the actual savings in gas would not make up for the difference in cost of the automobile over a standard economy car for as long as ten years.

Of course the best way to avoid gas prices is to avoid using so much gas. Biking is becoming a popular alternative means of transportation, and almost a necessity for cash starved people. Getting that office carpool set up, or finally caving in and joining it or other good choices.

As much as we may hope otherwise, high gas prices mess up household expenses and are here to stay and should be considered the norm if anything, and not high. You can reserve the word high for what they will reach in the future, as it seems all but a certainty that they will continue to rise. Planning ahead for the future could save you a lot of money down the line. As for the present, pumping up those old bicycle tires and finding your helmet in that box in the basement would be a good start.

Car Insurance Fraud and Scams: How to Avoid Them

Being in a car accident is a difficult thing whether the accident was your fault or not. Unfortunately, there are individuals out there who make it their career to scam people in one way or another and they do it by endangering lives, causing financial pain, and causing mental anguish. That is why it is good to be aware of these frauds and scams because the unsuspecting are usually those who end up with higher car insurance premiums, points against their license, and even cancelled insurance. Don’t let this be you. Be aware of what these scammers do and do everything you can to avoid it.

The types of scams

There are several scams that are well known amongst law enforcement and the general public alike. These scams include:

- The Exaggeration Scam: This is the scam in which the individual doing the scamming has inflicted prior damage to their car to make it look like the damage occurred in their accident with you. These individuals stage the accident, although the crash may be legitimate. Because their vehicle was not appraised prior to the accident, the damage they inflicted on it cannot be proven to be or not to be part of the accident. They are given the benefit of the doubt and they receive payment for that damage from your insurance.

- Rear-ender Scam: The scammer will dodge out in front of you and will then slam on their brakes. They make sure that they do this when you don’t have enough time to brake and avoid hitting them. Unfortunately, the police and the insurance companies automatically assume the second car is at fault in a rear-end crash.

Another unfortunate thing about the rear-ender scam is the fact that a false medical claim usually follows. The scammer convinces a doctor that they sustained injuries in the crash. What happens is that your insurance pays for their pain and suffering, as well as their medical bills. Sometimes these scammers may even have a medical accomplice who receives a payoff for their cooperation.

- The Good Samaritan Scam: This is the individual that waves you on when you can’t see if traffic is coming. However, they wave you into the path of their partner and they ram right into you. What happens is that it looks like you drove out into traffic, which makes it look like your fault. When the cops arrive, the waver denies they ever waved you on.

How to avoid these scams

First and foremost, you need to be a defensive driver. You have to always stay alert and not always trust those around you. If someone waves you on, don’t trust them. You still need to creep out into the street until you can see. You can wave at them to thank them, but don’t gun it out into traffic. You also need to do everything you can to make sure there is plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. If someone darts out in front of you, you need to slow down just in case.

Furthermore, you should be sure to document everything in case of car accidents. Keep a disposable camera in your car to take pictures of the accident and make sure you listen to what all of the witnesses say to the police. You also want to acquire a copy of the police report when it is available so that you can tell your insurance company about your suspicions. Insurance companies are experienced in stopping scammers, so provide them with everything you have so that you can turn the tables on the scammers.

Auto Security Devices - Customization Options

A car may be one of your most important assets. However for most of us our car is more than just an item. It is how we get to work, move our kids around, a link to freedom. Eventually you get attached, it reflects your personality, and you learn it’s quirks. For those who are passionate about their cars as well as those who just want to keep their possessions from being stolen there are auto security devices to keep it safe.

I am not saying that auto security devices can provide you a complete guarantee against car theft. No, they can’t do that and therefore don’t even think of lapsing on the premium payment for car insurance. But these security devices certainly make it extremely difficult for any car thief to rob you of your favorite set of wheels.

Car alarm systems include several basic elements. The most obvious is an alarm, which draws people’s attention when suspicious behaviors, such as attempts at forced entry, occur. The purpose of an alarm is to scare away potential thieves before they can carry away your possessions.

It is hard to identify one best alarm system since there are so many different products on the market. A general rule, however, is that the best car alarm systems are fail proof and able to distinguish between, say, a thief and your dog. A puppy brushing against the door of your car should not be construed by your alarm system as a threat.

There are times when auto security devices come pre-installed when your purchase your car. This means the security system and other devices are already installed upon purchase. If you are planning to install other auto security devices in your car, you can take your car to an auto shop or some electronics dealers. Before doing so, it’s a good idea to get quotes and read reviews of the various system devices available.

You also need to customize the security system. You can attach GPS devices to track your car. You can also install devices that can lock your car using your cell phone or handheld device. Make sure that you get the customization of auto security devices done by a respected dealer.

Getting a Ticket in a Rental Car: Are there Additional Fees?

When driving a rental car, there is a question that looms in the mind of the renter. One of those questions is, “What happens if I get a ticket?” That is a very good question because the car is not in the renter’s name. The car is in the name of the rental car company. This means things can get a bit complicated, depending on the company that you’re using. Sure, it is simple to say that you just shouldn’t do anything to get a ticket. However, it isn’t always that easy.

Getting the ticket

So let’s say you get a parking ticket. You didn’t mean to. You just simply didn’t see a sign or parked at a parking meter and forgot to pay it. So you go home, write a check, and mail the payment for your ticket to the city. However, you find a couple weeks later that you receive a letter from the rental car company telling you the ticket has not been paid. You know you paid it, so you call the city and they tell you that they received the payment. You then call the rental car company and you find out that they will charge a fee to you for you having to pass their contact information to the city that has issued you the ticket. This is because it is then on their record that one of their cars received a parking ticket. The catch to this is the fact that the officer issuing the ticket has to take down the VIN and license plate numbers on the car, which are registered under the rental car company.

Sometimes, the only way a fee is assessed is if the car rental company pays the fee and then they pass on the cost to the customer. However, in an instance where you pay the ticket and the car rental company contacts you, chances are they have not checked to see if the ticket was paid. These companies receive thousands of tickets per day and do not have the manpower to check if each and every ticket was paid. When the municipality that issued the ticket contacts the rental car company about a citation, they automatically assume that the ticket was not paid. Sometimes you can fax a receipt from the original payment to the car rental company to have your money refunded. However, the car rental company will charge a fee.

If you receive a speeding ticket, then the penalty is against you and not the car you are driving. Your personal driver’s license is involved. The police do check the plates to ensure everything is in check, but it is you who has to pay the penalty and not the car rental company. In fact, the car rental company may not be notified that such a citation occurred in one of their cars. The only way is if something happens you do not pay your fine. If the car rental company has to get involved in that case, then you can expect some kind of additional cost.

Exceptions

There are no exceptions to parking tickets, but the one exception regarding a speeding ticket being against you and not the car is in the case you are caught speeding on camera. If the camera catches you speeding, the authorities use the license plate number to find out where to send the ticket. The rental car company gets the ticket. They may pay it, but will pass the cost and a fee on to you for taking care of it. Yes, it is good to be careful, but it is also good to know how you can be ticketed in a rental car just in case it happens to you.

Mercedes Benz Fans in Chicago Hunt Online

Most people know someone who is crazy about cars. From their earliest days, they were passionate with anything on wheels. At age two, they pointed and crowed at passing cars. In grade school they meticulously studied the details of their favorite models and eventually learned to create pictures of them from memory. They could impress their high school friends by closing their eyes and telling the make of a car that passed by just by listening to the sound of the engine. As adults, they loyally read automobile publications and began looking for their own cars.

For a multitude car lovers, nothing less than a Mercedes will do. Whether it is a shiny new sexy Mars red two-door Cabriolet convertible or a little driven pewter four-door luxury sedan, Mercedes worshipers will look at nothing else. Finding perfect car is not always easy, however. It can take a lot of phone calls, days spent driving around to regional dealerships, and a great deal of disappointment before you are finally hooked up with the car of your dreams.

To find a great Mercedes Benz Chicago car hunters are turning more and more to online car sites. No matter whether you want a brand new car or searching for a superb quality pre-owned Mercedes, it is so much simpler to look from the comfort of your own home! You can see pictures of the cars, both inside and out, and learn every fact about a car from the actual mileage to the amount of front shoulder room.

Once you have made your initial choices, you can use the site to arrange a test drive and even apply for financing. Further assistance is available once you own your car. This is a fast place to search for parts, and you can even schedule “doctor’s” appointments for your car through the website.

It is easy to see that using an online site to search for your next vehicle can save you a lot of annoyance. There are hundreds of luxury cars featured, and it is fun just to go to the website and daydream!

What Is So Special About Womens Car Insurance?

Women drivers are well known for their well, it really depends on the perspective you are looking at them from. If you are a male driver that has an unbelievable need to put your foot down then they are nothing but a nuisance. However, if you happen to be a car insurer then you will probably be more than happy to offer them car insurance at a cheaper rate than you would a man of the same age, driving experience and make and model of car. Womens car insurance is a big sector of the insurance industry at the minute and there are plenty of reasons why.

However, it is necessary to look into the financial and practical reasons as to why car insurance quotes are cheaper for women than men. The former can best be explained by the case of Mr and Mrs Bickley from a small village in the West Midlands. Their brand new Ford Focus needed insuring and so they both set about getting quotes.

They are both aged 29, with Mrs Bickley being older by three months. They live in a rural, low crime area and have a secure garage attached to their home. The only difference, apart from gender, is the fact that Mr Bickley had 4 years no claims bonus instead of the 3 that Mrs Bickley had.

The Bickleys went to E-Sure and CIS directly to get individual car insurance quotes as well as a couples one to compare the prices. Mr Bickley, having a years more no claims bonus, should have had lower quotes, but Mrs Bickleys quote was 107 less instead, all because she is a woman!

This is a great example of the fact that women pay less for their car insurance than men. This is because women do not have as many accidents, and have far fewer serious accidents if the statistics are to be believed. This all points to the fact that women do not tend to claim on their insurance whereas men do. As such, an insurer can lower the premiums for women because their profits are greater as a result of the lack of claims!

Men tend to drive far more quickly on the roads than women and do get pulled up by the police for driving offences more. Men also apparently have a lower concentration level and so are more likely to get distracted by something as they are driving.

The choice of car is also a big part of why male car insurance premiums are higher. Men have a habit of buying faster and more powerful vehicles because women think practically rather than living out their fantasies. If anything happens to the powerful cars, whether stolen or in an accident, it costs more to fix or replace them, which contributes to the premiums as well.

There are also now specialist womens car insurance providers that will only offer cover for women. They will not insure men at all. Again, this makes the insurances out there more affordable for the female of the species and narrows the options for cheap car insurance for the men!