Car Insurance Getting Increasingly Expensive When You’re Elderly

Posted on December 2, 2009 by aishu

There were 550 serious accidents last year where the driver was over aged 70 and where driver was either killed or badly hurt, reports the Institute of Advanced Motoring . That statistic represents 8% of the national total of 7,035 similar accidents. That means that the over 70′s’s have more, very serious accidents per mile than any other sector of the population. This view is supported by the Association of British Insurers whose research shows that drivers aged over 70 are 13% more likely claim on their insurance than the drivers aged between 40 and 50.

Car Insurance Getting Increasingly Expensive

As the number of elderly drivers will double during the next ten years, this represents a problem for elderly drivers and their families – not to mention the insurance industry, police and indeed all of the emergency services!

You can probably predict the response from the insurance industry. Many insurance companies already reckon that drivers over 80 are as high a risk as the under 25′s – and charge premiums to match! Some are even progressively loading premiums once the driver reaches 60. Then at 70, you’ll find that many insurance simply refuse to offer cover. Norwich Union and Esure won’t quote after 70 and by the time the driver reaches 80, the field narrows to specialised insurers who insure elderly drivers. Help the Aged and Age Concern both market policies that have no upper maximum age. Cornhill only accepts new policyholders up to 84 but if you’ve been insured by them for a few years, there’s no upper age limit. RIAS and Saga are also pleased to consider older drivers.

As the price of car insurance is based on historical claims experience, a 75 year old male driver can expect to pay at least 33% more than if he were aged 50. By the time the driver reaches 80 the premiums hit boy racer levels! So if you’re in your early 50′s keep smiling at the lowest premiums you’ll ever experience – they won’t last forever!

And the fairer sex fare even worse. Whilst younger women are renowned for their safe driving, they become more accident-prone as they get older. Whereas male drivers improve with age. (Where have we heard that before!) As a result, elderly women drivers pay the highest rates for car insurance.

It’s a biological fact that eyesight and reaction times worsen as age creeps on. And with traffic becoming heavier and road networks ever more complex, elderly drivers can more easily become disorientated and confused. Even a fraction of a second’s delay can make the difference between an accident and a near miss. Insurers are reacting by insisting that more elderly drivers take a medical before agreeing to provide insurance. The best advice is to build up a no claims record and as soon as possible and buy No Claims Protection. This protection cost a bit more but it’s well worth the money. Then make sure you pay for any small bumps yourself.

But there are some simple steps that older drivers, and indeed all drivers, can take to reduce the likelihood of them having an accident and thereby making themselves more insurable. It’s often more about those little things and being alert to likely problems. For example, car parks are a breeding ground for small accidents. Knowing that take more care. Before you get back into your car, walk round it to see how much room you’ve got. Then edge out carefully making sure that other drivers in the car park aren’t driving into the area you’re moving into. Then, if advancing years has stiffened you neck and all-round visibility is a bit more difficult, take special care at junctions and when reversing. Remember to move you head and swivel your shoulders – that way you’ll increase your sweep of vision.

Many of the policies for older motorists contain special provisions designed to assist them. On Saga’s policy for example, ex company car drivers can use any no claims record they’d built up and if a couple are insured and the main driver decides to quit driving, then the spouse can take over the no claims record. Other policies also provide full insurance cover for anyone who takes over driving in an emergency. Cornhill will even payout £250 if the DVLA stops you from driving for health isues associated with age.

In moves to diminish the numbers of accidents involving the elderly, the UK Government is investigating the issue of deteriorating health amongst elderly drivers. It seems to be considering the idea of obligatory health checks for elderly motorists. At the same time some local councils are introducing initiatives of their own. Torbay council has launched a scheme to encourage families and GP’s to take more responsibility for encouraging elderly drivers who are not really fit drive, to give up. A road safety spokesperson for Torbay council said, “The problem is that the elderly can’t always see themselves when it’s really time to give up driving so those closest to them must take responsibility for that.”

In the meantime, a survey carried out by the Institute of Advanced Motorists confirms that older motorists are aware that they represent an increased accident risk. Seven out of ten older drivers surveyed said they would like to take a refresher course for motorway driving skills and six out of ten wanted to improve their performance at junctions and on unlit roads. In response to these issues, the Institute has extended its advanced tests to older non-members to encourage them to improve and build up confidence. The tests also help spot any serious problems that should encourage the driver pack up driving.

Comparing Auto Insurance Quotes Online

Posted on November 30, 2009 by aishu

Auto insurance refers to the insurance which is used for insuring the automobiles against any kind of uncertain accidents that may cause damages to the vehicle. The main purpose that the insurance serves is to give protection against the losses incurred due to accidents. Auto insurance is a type of insurance that consumers must buy to protect the life span of their vehicles and also for any kind of damages that the vehicle may suffer in an accident. Auto insurance is used to insure many automobiles such as cars, trucks and any other kind of vehicles that may need it. Different kinds of coverage are available under these insurance schemes such as Third-Party Foreign Theft and Fully Comprehensive insurance, to suit the interest and the needs of the insured.

Comparing Auto Insurance Quotes Online

Before buying auto insurance, it is very important that the person requiring insurance analyses the companies that provide vehicle insurance quotes. Different auto insurance companies offer different quotes for the insurance of the vehicle, so the consumer must look out for the best one, which suits his needs and which proves to be highly economical. Many auto insurance companies also give different discount schemes to attract more and more consumers. The consumer can save a good deal of money while purchasing auto insurance by comparing the quotes of different auto insurance companies and choosing the cheapest one which satisfies all needs.

Comparing the auto insurance quotes of different companies on the internet for buying insurance provides a wider platform to the consumer, where they can compare auto insurance quotes from several companies and choose one among them. The main thing about choosing a quote is that the quote need not necessarily be cheap but the company must be an established one which the customer can rely on should they have an accident.

The consumer should not only compare the quotes of different auto insurance companies but also the company’s reputation and their way of service. While comparing, the consumer is more acquainted with the different kind of coverage that are available and can choose among them according to the needs. Buying auto insurance online is the most popular way of buying insurance because it is really fast and convenient, which suits to the busy life of people who have little time to phone around the various companies to relay the details of the insurance cover they are after over and over again. And the best part is that it is free of cost, i.e. no cost is involved in gathering the quotes online from different auto insurance companies.

Auto insurances are needed because of the reckless accidents that happen on our roads day after day. These can only be reduced once the certainty of the accidents is reduced. The auto insurance companies quote their prices for insuring depending upon various factors like the age of person to whom the vehicle belongs, the location where the car is bought and supposedly to be used and also many other factors like whether the driver already has points on their licence. If the car travels less than a specific limit of miles then such cars are likely to receive some kind of mileage discounts.

Why Sports Cars Cost More To Insure

Posted on November 28, 2009 by aishu

Have you ever wondered why sports cars cost more to insure than other types of car – even when the purchase price of the sports car is less expensive? If so, the following are the main reasons why this is the case.

Car Insurance Group Categories

Expensive Sports Cars Insurance

While many of the factors that determine the make-up of car insurance quotes are not known, what is known is that insurance companies ‘group’ certain types of cars into categories. For this purposes, insurance companies have groups ranging from 1 through to 20. Group 1 is the least expensive type of car to insure. Group 20 is the most expensive type of car to insure. So, if you buy a Fiat Panda, you’ll be classed a Group 1 car driver. Buy a sports car, any sports car, and you are looking at being classed a Group 15 and above driver. Buy a performance sports car, such as a Porsche 911, and you’ll definitely be Group 20 driver!

Theft

Over 2 million car crimes happen in the UK each and every year. Aside from popular model cars, such a Ford, the biggest car crime category is sports cars! Have a soft-top convertible sports car, and the chances of it being stolen are red hot! So, even if you live out in the countryside with no one else around for miles, you will still be seen as driving an extremely high risk car when it comes to car theft. With increased risk, comes an increased premium!

Accidents

Insurance companies are not charities – they’re in the business to make money. As such, they keep vast amounts of data and part of that data tells them that if you drive a sports car there is an increased risk you’ll be in an accident and that the accident will be more serious (and costly) than if you were driving a regular car. As such, the premium charge is going to be higher.

Under 30?

Unless you have just won the Lottery, if you are under 30 there are no appealing factors when it comes to insuring a sports car. Not only do the insurance company see the car you drive as being a high risk car to insure, but you as the driver are far more risky to insure as well. Consequently, car insurance premiums for those 30 years of age or under, driving sports cars, is probably the highest of all types of car insurance available in the UK today.

Discount Car Insurance – Saving Money On Car Insurance Is Easy

Posted on November 23, 2009 by aishu

Car insurance is one part of our family budget that we will always have to deal with and so it behooves us to get better informed. We would all love to buy some form of discount car insurance. The reality of that already exists. There are more discounts in car insurance than ever before. Some of the newer vehicles have so many of them that they are often cheaper to insure than some of the older vehicles. Let’s review some of the discounts available when purchasing car insurance.

Discount Car Insurance

Multiple Policy Discount – This one is common and yet there are many people that do not take advantage of this discount. This discount can be as high as 15% with some companies.

Good Driver Discounts – Insurance companies love to reward the driver that has an excellent driving record. These are profitable policyholders and help bring the over all rates down.

Auto Safety Features Discount – Automobiles with airbags and seatbelts receive lower rates. Anti-lock brakes and anti-theft devices also lower car insurance rates. The vehicle identification number will identify all of these features and so it is important to give that number to whoever is quoting your car insurance.

Young Driver Discounts – Many companies give substantial discounts for high school and college students that have a 3.0 grade point average or better. The drivers training discount has been a standard discount for young drivers. Find a company that has both and you will help lower premium dramatically.

Senior Citizens Discounts – Drivers 55 and older are given retirement discounts if no longer employed. Homemakers can qualify automatically at age 55 with some companies. Mature driver discounts are also available when a driving course is completed.

Lower Tort Option – There are some states that have a lower or limited tort option. This is your ability to sue for pain and suffering. The lower tort option limits your ability to sue but at the same time it can save you 20% or more in your premium. Contact your agent or insurance company about the tort laws in your state.

Auto Gap Insurance: A Financial Safety Belt

Posted on October 25, 2009 by aishu

Auto Gap Insurance: A Financial Safety Belt

Why is gap insurance considered as a financial safety belt? Simply put, it keeps you from being financially ruined when disaster hits your car. For example you are in this situation, you bought a late-model car three months ago using a car loan with a regular car insurance. The car costs $30,000 and you have already made three payments of $900 each month. Then, disaster strikes. An electric post falls and slams down on your car. The car was flattened to half its height.

Auto Gap Insurance

Immediately, you reported it to the auto insurance company, which they in turn play with numbers, mileage, depreciation, market values, and other related stuff. After a couple of days, the adjustor informs you that the worth of your car at the time of the accident is $25,000. This is the amount that the auto insurance company will provide you. But the finance company that gave you the loan will still consider the car to be worth its original price. They also play with numbers, interest rates, taxes and license fees. Then they come up with the amount of $38,000. This is the amount that you need to pay them. If the auto insurance company releases the $25,000, where will you get the remaining $7,000? Your car is already a wreck but you still owe the finance company.

You need not face such a dilemma if you have gap insurance. With the gap insurance, you can ignore the difference between the amount covered by the regular car insurance and the amount you owed the car loan company. This difference is called a “gap” and the gap insurance bridges it so that you need not rack your head for additional financial resources.

A car lease contract must also have a gap insurance. It is a feature that prevents you from draining all your finances. Some dealers who lease cars don’t offer a gap insurance. This is okay as long as they include a “gap waiver” in their lease contract. This waiver declares that you are no longer responsible for gap charges that may occur when your leased car is wrecked.

When you get a gap insurance, determine how much is offered in the gap policy. You should also know how much will be added to your monthly bill. A gap insurance, for it to be recognized, must be accompanied with comprehensive insurance policies that cover collision.

Sometimes, a gap insurance may no longer be needed if the terms in your regular auto insurance policy indicated that the company will pay off the full amount you owed from the car loan lender.

Georgia Car Insurance Quote – What Is A Good Deal?

Posted on October 24, 2009 by aishu

Some Georgia Car Insurance statistics

The average auto insurance expenditure for 2003 was $758.69 per year. When compared to the rest of the United States this is very affordable. Georgia ranks right in the middle as number 25 in the contest for the most expensive car insurance. The number one position belongs to New Jersey with average expenditures of almost $1,200 per year. In cities like Detroit and New York the averages are much higher and range from $3,000 to $5,000.

Georgia Car Insurance Quote

Although Georgia is considered affordable there are still many ways to decrease your monthly auto insurance bill.

As any business insurance companies have costs and can only budge so much on what kind of price they can offer. 65% of the premium that you pay goes straight to claim payouts. This leaves only 35% for overhead and profit. Overhead and taxes account for 25% of your premium which leaves 10% profit. (2004 Insurance Information Institute) 10% profit however leaves plenty of room for an individual to compare car insurance quotes and shop around for a good deal and find it.

How to pay only for what you need

First and foremost do not insure yourself for damages that you can afford to pay. Insurance is wisely used only to cover damages that cannot be paid for out of your own pocket. For instance compare what higher deductibles would save you compared paying one in the case of an accident. Think about what your driving record has been like in the past three years and make a good guess as to what your record will be like in the future three years. Is it likely to change?

Get Car Insurance Rate Comparisons Online

Posted on October 23, 2009 by aishu

Auto insurance deductibles on my way to a company authorized seminar, a deer hit my car, causing considerable damage. As it was my personal car, not my company’s, my auto insurance will be used to cover the damages. Free auto insurance rate quotes and new car prices direct. Auto policies are heavily regulated by the state you live in and most situations require insurance to pay no matter who’s driving your car. Visit Answer Financial for car insurance, home insurance, life insurance, health insurance, auto insurance, vehicle insurance, boat insurance, renters insurance and more. Flood damage to your car is also covered if your auto insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage.

Get Car Insurance Rate Comparisons Online

Allstate – Get an online car insurance quote or retrieve your saved auto insurance quote. Prepare for the unexpected: Find the right Auto Insurance, Get free quotes for car insurance from some of the nation’s leading insurers. Adding supplemental insurance coverages like towing and labor or car rental reimbursement to your basic auto insurance policy may save you money.

When researching auto insurance companies, consider the following: Customer Service You want to be treated right when you buy car insurance. Get car insurance rate comparisons, and buy your auto insurance policy instantly. AIG Auto customer service representatives are available 24/7/365 to provide answers to your car insurance queries. Only by shopping around and comparing auto insurance quotes will you find the cheapest car insurance rates going. If you rely on your regular everyday auto insurance to cover your rental car, chances are that anyone living in your house is covered. Credit card coverage Some credit card companies will supplement your auto insurance when you rent a car.

Buying a less expensive car will cut down on your insurance and liability coverage costs. Gap Insurance: If you are driving a newer or unpaid for car, consider adding this coverage to your policy. Compare each insurer’s insurance rates, features and coverage to get the car insurance policy you need fast! Superior Car Insurance will provide free immediate online quotes, affordable car insurance coverage, and the satisfaction of being more than just a number… UIM coverage pays for death and injury expenses to you or occupants of your car when the other person’s insurance is inadequate.

Coverage OptionsDepending on your situation, your car insurance coverage needs will vary. Negligence, omission of reasonable care of vehicle, or failure to remove vehicle keys while vehicle is unattended will void coverage under this insurance contract. In fact, some states require all motorists to carry this coverage to gain protection from inadequate insurance coverage of other drivers. That’s why you should research insurance coverage before you buy your car. GEICO is probably the only company who will still give you car insurance coverage if you are currently uninsured.

The insurance company is totaling my car. An insurance company totals a car if repairs would cost more than it is worth. When you begin shopping for car insurance, look for a company that is reliable, secrure, and financially sound. The car insurance market is highly competitive and every company wants your business.

Low cost car insurance Alternatively, Insurancewide can find the car or breakdown insurance company that best matches your individual insurance profile. Please click to write your own UK car insurance company Buying insurance for a company car varies very little from purchasing it for standard vehicles.

The differences between regular auto insurance and insurance bought online

Posted on October 19, 2009 by aishu

The unlimited advantages that the Internet has brought to our lives have even transformed the way we go about availing something as routine as auto insurance. With the option of applying for auto insurance online, car owners are spared a tremendous amount of time, effort and trouble that is involved in applying for regular auto insurance through an agent.

auto insurance online

It isn’t merely the convenience of being able to compare auto insurance quotes but also to be assured of comparing the best rates available for auto insurance. The option of applying for auto insurance online offers the additional benefits of learning about new discounts and doing away with the need for locking in on a long term relationship with a particular insurance company.

The old days of going through the tedious process of getting quotes from auto insurance companies are behind us as you can get all the insurance quotes you desire and the type of coverage you want. The online option of comparing auto insurance quotes also means that you will be able to go through each plan in detail on the insurance sites in order to assess both the quality of the coverage as well as the rates.

Discounts are a major advantage of online auto insurance as they enable you to save in hundreds in premiums. A variety of discounts can be found and qualified for online from opting from an alarm system in your vehicle to enrolling for certified defensive driving courses that reduce premiums for some of the companies. The more you explore auto insurance sites online, the more discounts you will find.

The Internet is of course, synonymous with the amount of time you can save, not to mention of convenience of being able to do things at your own pace. This means not just doing away with having to schedule appointments with agents but also filling forms in the middle of the night and completing them the next day. Online insurance companies arrange to have the completed paperwork sent to you for your signature and presto, the process is over without having to miss out on a single day at work.

Switching insurance companies is also made extremely easy with online auto insurance. Prior to the advent of the Internet, it was the norm to stick to the same insurance company irrespective of their rates. Online, however, it is up to you to check as often as you like on the availability of low rates. Every time you come across better rates, you can make the switch to another company in no time at all.

The essential secret to online auto insurance is research, as rates can be widely varied between the make of vehicles and models. Discounts can also be found on accessories and features to ensure that eventually you are paying the lowest car insurance rates possible.

The Costly Lure Of Free Car Insurance

Posted on October 18, 2009 by aishu

Although not a completely stagnant market, selling new motorcars in the UK these days is hard work. Combating this, one very successful way that car manufacturers have found to attract new buyers to the motorcar market in the UK is to offer the first year’s car insurance completely free with the purchase of a new motorcar.

Wonderful, but before you jump in and buy that new car, consider this:

if you are under the age of 25, while the first year of your motor insurance is going to be completely ‘free’ (i.e. paid for as part of a sales gimmick by the car manufacturer), subsequent years won’t be! So, before you buy that brand new SUV, 4×4 or sports car, you may want to enquire what the insurance will cost you subsequent of year 1 – otherwise you may well find you have the nicest looking car sitting on a car driveway in your neighborhood!

if you are going to buy the car using one of the car manufacturers’ payment hire-purchase payment plans, read the fine print to see if you are contractually required to use the same car insurance provider throughout the term of the hire-purchase period. If so, you may want to reconsider the value of buying your new car this way as there is a very good chance you can find cheaper car insurance elsewhere.

remember that even if you are the perfect driver and have no accidents or need to call upon the car insurance company’s services, it is going to have no bearing on the auto insurance quote for year 2. This is the case because you’ll not be credited with any ‘no claims bonus’ for that period.

if you decide to go ahead with the deal, check carefully to see what the car insurance exclusions are as, in most cases, the car insurance being provided for the first year is fairly basic and won’t cover you for a number of circumstances and events that you may automatically have assumed they would.There is little doubt that the lure of a year’s free car insurance policy as a marketing tool has been extremely successful, but faced with this and the opportunity to try and negotiate some free extras or upgrades with your new motorcar, you may very well want to consider taking the option of negotiating for the free extras or upgrades because in the long run the free motorcar insurance being given to you by your car salesman is going to be anything but ‘free’ and will almost certainly end up costing you far more than if you had arranged the car insurance yourself online.

The benefits and drawbacks of buying your auto insurance online

Posted on October 13, 2009 by aishu

With the Internet providing great shopping experience to most online buyers, people are now willing to buy more than just books and gifts on the net. The shopping list now includes financial products like insurance and mortgages.

: buying auto insurance online

An auto loan is one such product that you can purchase on the net with some great advantages. Instead of approaching several different automobile dealers or banks and credit unions, one only needs to fill in one simple form to get multiple quotes from several auto insurance providers. The quotes are free and receiving them does not subject you to any prior commitment. This allows the prospective buyer to browse, consider and compare all the possible options available to him and choose and change insurance companies according to his requirement.

Most online auto insurance companies offer very competitive rates that are made possible by the low overhead costs of their virtual offices. In addition, the cutthroat competition in the segment adds to a price war that works in favor of the customers as it has virtually eliminated application fees and made costs cutting a company priority for insurers.

Online shopping for auto insurance includes not only finding the lowest rate of interest but also exploring the various discounts that are available on different policies. You may qualify for a discount if you fulfill certain requirements like installing a vehicle safety alarm system or taking a certified driving course or already carrying multiple insurance policies from a particular auto insurance company.

The biggest advantage of buying online is the convenience it gives. One can connect to the net at one’s own convenience and complete all the necessary steps right from inquiry, to comparing the auto insurance quotes to actually applying for the insurance policy. One need not schedule a meeting with any auto insurance agent or endure his sales gimmicks.

The facility of payment calculator available on auto insurance sites gives a precise knowledge of what impact a particular payment rate, (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually etc.) has on the total payment due on the policy. Shoppers can work on the calculator to work out which policy suits him the best.

Though there are certain disadvantages to purchasing auto insurance online, most them get outweighed by the benefits. When purchasing online, one has to be very careful about submitting the accurate personal and credit information. Any error can rob you of the best possible quotes. Check for any non-disclosure agreements on the site of the insurance company and internal security measures taken by the company so that you know that any sensitive information about your credit doesn’t get circulated on the net.

Another common error is to value flash over substance. Don’t get fooled by impressive looking web sites and auto insurance quotes that look too good to be true. Before making any final decision, ensure that the company has a physical address, a good customer support system and that someone from the company has actually bothered to get in touch with you personally. Overall, a little caution can do away with the risks of buying online and get you a good auto insurance policy.