Wednesday, April 30, 2008

What to consider when looking for auto insurance quotes

There are many options available online when you decide to go for auto insurance but did you know that there are several things that you may not realize that can determine the price you pay for insurance? You should look for the factors like where you live, what you drive, your personal driving record and more. Take a help from insurance agent of know insurance company, he can guide you further, when you call for a quote the insurance agent will ask you for personal information to help and determine whether you qualify for insurance through their company. If you are accepted then auto insurance quote will give you a sample of what you can except if you decided to go with that company.

Don’t look for the price offered by insurance company; you also want an insurance company that is financially sound and one that has been in business for a number of years. Insuring you vehicle is a big expense and because of that you want to make sure that you are getting the right deal that will ultimately protect you and your family, many insurance company gives prices of auto insurance quotes for one month, a quarter, six month or one year, if possible ask for a monthly quote so you can adjust your budget.

Once you have all your auto insurance quotes and you need to make a decision you need to consider several factors to help make your choice easier.

  • Look for the liability coverage first. This is the one that you will rely on the most.

  • Choose from the options that are offered. Each company offers something different in order to stay competitive in the insurance industry.

  • Decide which one you can afford the most. Your offers may all sound great but in the upcoming months you want to make sure that you can still afford your policy.

  • Upgrade or downgrade your policy at any time. This is just one of the many choices you have as a policy holder. You want to be able to change your policy as your needs change in the future.

While obtaining auto insurance quotes make sure you think about deductibles, keep in mind, a higher deductible will lower your premium payments which can save you money. A deductible will state to the insurance company that for a lower premium payment you agree to pay more if you are in an accident. Thousands of people go almost all of their life without ever using their insurance policy at all.

Make sure that you are completely satisfied with the policy and you understand all the information included in the auto insurance quotes before you purchase anything. Make sure you have the option to pay your premiums online or over the phone to save you time and money.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Red Flags to Watch Out for Buying Auto Insurance

Wouldn’t it be great if buying auto insurance was a simple as flipping through the phone book, closing your eyes and pointing at the first insurance provider you saw? In a perfect world this insurance provider would then proceed to provide you with excellent, inexpensive coverage and responsibly handle your claims for the rest of your life.

Unfortunately, real life doesn’t work like that. In real life there are auto insurance companies that are going to charge you absurd premiums each month, then do their best to slither out of their obligations when the time comes for you to file a claim. How to you deal with these companies? More importantly, how do you avoid ever having to do business with them in the first place?

Underneath you will find a list of "red flags" to look for when shopping for online auto insurance. If you see a company that is doing or promoting any of these, take the time to do some further investigation before making a commitment that you may come to regret further down the road.

Red Flags to Watch Out For When Buying Auto Insurance:

  • Contracts that have a lot of fine print. Expect any insurance policy to have a certain amount of fine print, but policies that make you spend hours with a magnifying glass are going to make you spend hours on the phone trying to get your claims taken care of as well.

  • Companies that promote one thing, but tell you that you don’t qualify when you walk into the office.

  • Salesmen that discourage you from shopping around. A good insurance company will be confident in their ability to compete with the other auto insurers out there. Expect a certain amount of persuasion from the sales staff to seal the deal "right now", but be wary of sales representatives that put an undue amount of pressure on you. There is one reason and one reason only that companies discourage their customers from shopping around-they know there are better rates someplace else.

  • Insurance companies with a bad reputation. Before you sign on the dotted line, take the time to check out a company’s reputation. While one or two disgruntled customers might be coincidence (you can’t please everybody) companies with multiple complaints and/or legal actions against them should be given a wide berth.

  • Companies that don’t advise you about your state’s minimum level of coverage requirements, or seem unable to tell you the details about your insurance policy. A legitimate, qualified insurance agent will know the ins and outs of auto insurance like the back of their hand, and they’ll be able to guide you toward the policy that best suits your needs. Everyone is new once in their lives, but an agent working for a qualified insurer will be able to provide you with the facts you need-or find someone who can.

  • Insurers without the proper certification. Unfortunately, con artists and thieves have begun branching out into the wide world of cheap auto insurance sales. Qualified insurance agents should have their credentials prominently displayed in their offices, and independent agents should be able to provide theirs at a moment’s notice.