Archive for the ‘car insurance’ Category

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Progressive Auto Insurance Tracks Drivers

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

An innovative new device can help drivers get cheap car insurance.  Jolie O’Dell’s article “Insurance Company Tracks Driver Responsibility With In-Car Device” on Yahoo!News describes the “Snapshot” program.  The device plugs into cars to track the responsibility of drivers.  If it shows that you are responsible, you can get up to 30% off of your car insurance premium.  Progressive auto insurance is offering this device in New York right now, but hopes to bring the program to other states soon.

Progressive monitors drivers for 30 days with the small device that plugs right into the diagnostic port in your car.  The “Snapshot” tracks what time of day you drive, how frequently you drive, if you make sudden stops, and other driving behaviors.  Drivers who drive less often or during the least busy driving times will get larger discounts off their car insurance premiums.  There is no GPS with the device so drivers don’t have to worry about being tracked or losing privacy.  This high-tech device may be used by other insurance companies in the future.

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Posted in car insurance, cheap car insurance, Progressive car insurance, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Required Car Insurance in Ohio

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Drivers in the state of Ohio pay less for their car insurance than drivers in most other states, but they better have the correct coverage or they will pay a penalty.  According to “Complying with Ohio Insurance Law” from Online Auto Insurance, all Ohio drivers must follow the Financial Responsibility (FR) law of the state.  Drivers also cannot allow someone to drive their car if it is not properly insured or if the other driver cannot prove Financial Responsibility.

An insurance company like Encompass Auto Insurance can help Ohioans obtain the minimum coverage they need to be legal.  The liability limits they need to cover are $12,500 for one person’s bodily injury, $25,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $7,500 in liability coverage for property damage.  All car insurance companies will issue an identification card with your proof of coverage that should stay in your car or with you whenever you are driving.  You’ll have to show the police that card in the event of a traffic stop or car accident.

If you really don’t want to purchase insurance coverage, you can satisfy the Financial Responsibility law by purchasing a $30,000 government bond from the Ohio Treasurer or a few other sources and filing a certificate with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) stating your financial coverage.  Without carrying the proper insurance coverage, your license could be suspended, your car could be impounded, and you could pay hefty fees to get both of those back.

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Lower Your Car Insurance

Saturday, November 20th, 2010

According to Wallet Pop’s Gina Roberts-Grey, “Cutting the cost of your car insurance” is easier than you might initially think.  The author’s tips usually only take a quick phone call or a bit of research and can save you quite a bit on your car insurance.  Bundle up any insurance policies that you can.  Usually keeping your homeowners and car insurance policies with the same company can save you money.  Always check back in with your insurance company every year or so to see what kind of new discounts may be available.  Most consumers buy insurance then don’t think about it again when this can cause you to lose out on discounts.

Shopping around is crucial to finding the best car insurance.  Agents don’t have access to all insurance companies so shopping online and calling companies like Infinity Auto Insurance to get rate quotes may end up saving you money.  Check your current policy and see if there is any excess coverage that you don’t need to carry and that your state does not require.  Don’t add teenage drivers onto your car insurance policy because your car is almost always covered no matter who is driving.  Adding teenagers onto your policy will inevitably increase your rates, but is not necessary unless they have their own car in their name.

The article recommends dropping collision and comprehensive coverage from your car if it is seven years old or more since the value has decreased so dramatically.  By taking on some more risk and increasing your deductibles, you could save up to 30% on your car insurance bill.  Since your deductible usually is only applied when an accident is your fault, safe driving can help you save thousands by increasing your deductible.  There are also many unique discounts you can find to save you money from having a car alarm to parking your car off of the street.  Contact car insurance companies to find out how you can save money.

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Deer Effect State Farm Car Insurance

Friday, November 5th, 2010

The cost of those seemingly cute, cuddly deer out in the streets is actually more than you might imagine.  Not only do they eat plants and crops, they can carry lyme disease and wreak havoc on your car insurance.  Allan Sloan’s Fortune article on CNN Money discusses the financial impact of what he calls “rats with hooves.”  That may be a bit harsh, but “The case against Bambi” has valid financial points.

State Farm car insurance says that 1.14 million accidents between deer and cars occurred in a one year time frame ending this June.  That cost drivers and insurance companies close to $4 billion in damages.  And if you include the accidents where drivers didn’t have any car insurance or comprehensive coverage, the cost of damages is even higher.  In the past five years the number of deer related crashes has increased by 21%, while the number of miles people are driving only went up by 2%.  The likely cause of that statistic is that there are a lot more deer out on the roads than there were five years ago.

The worst part is that deer are causing human fatalities in car crashes.  It is estimated that 140 people were killed just last year because of deer-vehicle accidents.  The top five states where accidents occurred were Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Virginia.  The fewest accidents were in Rhode Island, Alaska, Nevada, the District of Columbia, and Hawaii.  With fatalities and skyrocketing costs associated with deer-vehicle collisions, the author ponders whether eliminating some deer for the greater good of humans is the next step.

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New Jobs at Progressive Insurance

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Those looking for jobs in the insurance industry are in luck, according to Insurance Journal’s “Progressive Expanding in Colorado, Florida, Ohio, Texas.”  Last month a detailed report on Progressive Insurance hiring in Cleveland was posted on this blog.  The company is expanding their hiring in Colorado, Florida, and Texas as well.  All of the jobs should be added by the end of next January, so interested applicants are urged to act fast.

Available call center jobs in the areas of sales, claims, and service will number in the hundreds in each location.  Progressive plans to add 200 workers in its Colorado Springs, CO location; 175 workers in Austin, Tx; 260 workers in the Cleveland and Mentor, Oh area; and 240 workers in Tampa, Fl.  The company is seeking applicants who are not only smart but outgoing.  They also want people interested in flexible schedules and offer competitive pay and many on-site perks to get the best candidates.

Training is paid and flexible schedule options include working four 10-hour days and getting three days off each week.  The car insurance positions will help answer customer questions and complaints, file claims in the case of a car accident, and sell policies to new customers.  Progressive Insurance is growing fast and hopes to find energetic problem solvers to add to their customer driven business.  Their focus on innovation, diversity, taking risks, and a strong company culture make them a great place to work.

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Cut Your Donegal Insurance Bill in Half

Tuesday, October 5th, 2010

By taking on some more risk when it comes to car insurance, you may be able to lower your insurance bill by as much as half with companies like Donegal Insurance.  Fox Business recently posted an article entitled “How to Cut Your Car Insurance Bill in Half” to explain how to go about it.  First you’ll have to research your individual state’s minimum coverage requirements because they do differ.  Many states have minimum coverage of 25/50/10, which translates to $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property-damage coverage per accident.  However most insurers set you up automatically with 100/300/50 coverage which is significantly more than the minimum in most states.

By reducing your liability limits to the minimum you can save a lot of money.  Other ways to save include getting rid of your collision and comprehensive coverage, increasing your deductible to at least $1,000, and dropping your uninsured motorists (UM) coverage.  By using all or a combination of these changes, you have the ability to lower your car insurance payments by half.  In the article’s financial example, they lowered their minimum coverage to 25/50/10, eliminated their comprehensive, collision, and rental coverage, but left their UM coverage there.  Payment reductions were 35% for a Cadillac Escalade, 46% for a Chrysler Town & County, 47% for a Toyota Camry, 48% for a Hyundai Santa Fe, and 50% for a Ford F-150.

You have to understand that reducing coverage like this will add a lot of risk to your car insurance needs.  Be sure to speak with an agent or multiple agents to see what type of risk and coverage is best for your individual situation.  Another good way to lower your car insurance payments is to shop around and see what pricing you can get from a company like Farmers auto insurance.  Look for deals and make sure that the company has a good reputation from the BBB and lacks a lot of complaints.  You can save a lot of money by shopping around.

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Posted in car insurance, Donegal Insurance, Farmers auto insurance | No Comments »

Estrella Insurance Will Protect You

Sunday, September 26th, 2010

Whether shopping for car insurance or warranty programs, finding a reputable company that will be around is crucial.  Recently Great Lakes Warranty Corporation filed for bankruptcy and went out of business, according to “Car Insurance Company Leaves Customers Out In Cold.”  The story is from The Pittsburgh Channel as reported by Paul Van Osdol.  They have left thousands of car owners with warranties that most likely will be useless because of the demise of the company.  According to court documents, there are more than 24,000 consumers holding warranties with this now defunct car insurance warranty company.

The Better Business Bureau has already received hundreds of complaints regarding claims that have gone unfulfilled.  Filing a claim with the bankruptcy court is really the only way to try and recoup some of the money spent on a now useless car warranty.  While bad luck happens to good people, researching the history of the company you are purchasing any type of insurance through is crucial.  Estrella Insurance and Mercury Insurance are smaller car insurance companies with good reputations for protecting their customers.  By researching through the company’s website, the Better Business Bureau, and other consumer recommendations, hopefully you can avoid the problems that these warranty consumers are dealing with.

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Cheap Car Insurance

Monday, September 6th, 2010

There are four great ways to obtain cheap car insurance, according to Bankrate’s article “4 shortest routes to cheap car insurance.”  The best step before purchasing car insurance or even after is to shop around.  You can use online tools to get quotes or call around to different companies.  Always ask the companies a lot of questions, including what discounts may be available.  Sometimes Erie insurance and other smaller companies can get you better rates than the big guys.

Changing to a higher deductible is another way to lower your car insurance rates.  You can decrease your monthly payments by 1/4 simply by increasing your deductible by a few hundred dollars.  It’s important to have enough money to cover your increased deductible available in case you need to make a claim, so be sure to save it in your bank account.  Another important step to take when trying to lower your car insurance is to take advantage of any discounts that apply to you.  Some companies offer discounts for driving fewer miles, having an alarm system, good driving records, and even for taking additional driver’s training classes.

By adding other insurance coverage on with your car insurance, you might be able to make your monthly payments for each cheaper.  Companies often give better pricing to customers who insure both their home and auto together.  It might save you money to insure more than one car with the same company if you have a family member needing insurance as well.  Shop around and ask insurers about any possible discounts they offer to get cheap car insurance for your vehicle.

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Car Insurance at Miami’s New RCC

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

A one of a kind new rental car center has just opened at Miami International Airport (MIA).  According to Just News article “Rental Car Center Eases Hassle At MIA,” this rental car center is a one-stop shop for Miami travelers needing rental cars.  The building houses sixteen different rental car companies and has a garage that can hold 6,500 vehicles.

Renting a car, obtaining car insurance, and much more will be available to nearly 28,000 people every day in this rental car center.  Officials in Miami say that it is the first of its kind in the United States.  There are also 130 gas pumps and 42 bays to wash cars available.  The Florida Department of Transportation is hoping to get stops at the rental car center for Amtrak, bus, and the county’s Metrorail transportation services.

So far, travelers are very happy with the center and have said it is perfect and it cuts down on complications that could arise.  The rental car center is expected to reduce the traffic congestion notorious at larger airports.  This is good news for insurance companies like Liberty Mutual who see a lot of fender benders outside of airports.  There is also a new shuttle bus service for the rental car center.

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Pay Less Car Insurance to Safeco

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

There are many steps you can take to lower your car insurance bill, according to “A few quick steps could cut your car insurance bill in half.”  The article, by Sandra Block of USA Today, gives numerous tips to help consumers lower their car insurance rates.

Decrease the amount of coverage that you are holding on an older vehicle.  If it isn’t worth much to begin with, make sure you aren’t carrying too much insurance.  At some point in your car’s life span, it can be wise to eliminate collision and comprehensive coverage.  While it isn’t always easy to determine exactly when to do this, you can save up to 40% from your insurance rates.  It has been said that once your vehicle is worth less than 10 times your premium you should make this move.

By raising your deductible, you can can decrease your car insurance bill from companies like Safeco car insurance by nearly half.  If you are a safe driver and can fairly easily come up with the money for a higher deductible, this step may be right for you.  Before buying a new car, make sure that you find out how much more it will cost you to insure.  Your rates will be based on the price, theft rates, safety records, and repair costs.

When looking for insurance coverage for a teenager, make sure to check rates for adding them to your policy as well as getting them their own.  Purchasing from a high-risk insurance company for your teenager could cost less than adding them to your policy.  Always research any discounts that may apply to you.  If you start working from home or using public transportation more, you might qualify for a low-mileage discount.  Certain safety features, a good driving record, maintaining your policy for many years, and driving less overall should be able to get you discounts as well.

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