The Right Auto Insurance Can Save You Money!

Auto insurance is a protective feature that everyone needs who owns a car. Auto insurance allows you to have financial coverage in case you are involved in an auto accident; regardless of who is at fault. When shopping for auto insurance keep in mind that rates will vary dramatically for the same driver, depending on which company you ask. The key to savings lies in comparing many auto insurance quotes, to find the insurer that will give you the best rates.

If the auto insurance company you’re investigating is sound then it’s possible to purchase cheap auto insurance coverage that will give you peace of mind. Most states require you to purchase a minimum amount of auto insurance. In order to even drive your car you need to have at least liability insurance, in other words you have insurance to cover the expenses of the other party if you cause an insurance. If you are at fault in an accident, your liability insurance will pay for the bodily injury and property damage expenses caused to others in the accident, including your legal bills.

There are some insurance companies that offer discounts to those drivers who put fewer than a predetermined number of miles on their cars each year. Considering the high price of gasoline, carpooling and taking public transportation such as buses around town can help you save more than just premium dollars.

You’ll find that there are many places to locate cheap auto insurance to not only save you money but to also give you adequate coverage and protection.

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Auto Insurance safety measures

Why do you need a five step guide to auto insurance shopping? Because, if you want to get the best coverage for your buck, shopping smart for your car insurance is the way to do it. Also, car insurance is one of the top ways to chisel down your insurance budget if you know how to do it right. Let's start with deciding what car insurance coverage you need:

1. What Kind of Coverage Do You Need?:

Before calling the insurance company and getting your insurance quote, take the time to decide what kind of coverage you need. In every state you have to have at least liability coverage. But, you need to decide if you would like to add these additional car insurance coverages.

2. Choosing an Insurance Company:

When you are ready to select your insurance provider, besides just looking for the best car insurance premium, you will want to take some time to research what insurance company you want to go with by learning about their financial strength. Another important aspect of choosing your insurance provider is knowing if and how they will use your credit score to determine your rate. Take the time to research different companies and then make a list of the providers you are interested in contacting for an insurance quote. Here are some tools to help you research your car insurance company.

3. Making the Call:

When you have your list of selected car insurance providers you are ready to start calling around to search for the one who can give you the best deal. It is important to have certain paperwork handy, such as your drivers license number. In addition, having a list of discounts you may be entitled to can save you some extra money. Here are some resources to help you when you are ready to make the call.

4. Understanding Your Car Insurance Policy:
Now that you have your car insurance policy, do you understand what it means? Did you get what you paid for? It is important to know how your car insurance policy works and how it can work for you. Here is some help in understanding your policy.

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How to do Online auto or car insurance with cheap rates

You've bought everything else online, so why not car insurance? Many are now buying their car insurance online and finding that when they choose to shop from home to get an online auto insurance quote, they are getting more than just an insurance quote.

Instant Results:

Buying car insurance online is one of the best ways to get a quick and instant comparison of auto insurance quotes. Many online car insurance companies can now give you an instant online auto insurance quote. In addition, there are online websites that are not insurance companies, but serve rather as a search engine for insurance quotes so you can compare online auto insurance quotes from multiple companies. Getting instant results saves more than just time.

Cheap Auto Insurance:

Getting instant, real time online auto insurance quotes gives you a money savings advantage. Typically, when you look for a cheap car insurance quote from a local agent you end up spending so much time with one agent that you are likely to cave in and just purchase your car insurance from them. The agent knows this and they don't want to let you off the phone or out of their office until you purchase insurance from them. When you choose to buy car insurance online, you are in control and get the advantage of searching for car insurance quotes without the pressure. Getting more online auto insurance quotes that you can compare is a great way to get the cheap auto insurance you are looking for.

How to Change our Current Car Insurance into Cheap Insurance

Are you getting cheap insurance for your car? This list will help you obtain cheap car insurance - not cheap in terms of quality but easy on your wallet! Get your car insurance policy and compare your savings with this list to see if you are getting all of the savings you are entitled to, or print it out and use it when getting a new policy or obtaining an online car insurance quote.

Top Ways to Change Your Current Car Insurance into Cheap Insurance:

1) Theft Devices: Most new cars have theft devices. Some are automatic and some have to be started at the touch of a button, but all usually get discounts on car insurance. Also, some states provide extra discounts for such things as window sketching.

2) for a Multiple Car Discount: Did you know sometimes insuring two cars can be the same price as insuring one? If not the same price, insuring another car usually does not cost as much as you may think. If you have two cars, it is very wise to check with your insurance agent, or while obtaining your online insurance quote, to make sure you can get this discount on your car insurance. Also, if you are planning to sell a second car, the cheap car insurance trick would be to keep that car on just liability to get your multiple car discount. Sometimes people are surprised when they call their car insurance company to take a car off of their insurance, only to find that their price did not go down but possibly increased!

3) With Yearly Policies: Choosing a yearly policy can extend your savings on your car insurance. Purchasing a yearly policy instead of a six month policy gives you a rate that cannot be changed for one year vs. changing every six months.

4) Look Into Comprehensive Storage Coverage: If you are planning to store your car for any period of time, you can save on your car insurance by only keeping comprehensive coverage during the storage time. Since the car would be stored, it is very unlikely it will get in a collision or need the liability coverage.
5) Re-Check Your Mileage: This is a great way to get cheap car insurance: If you are really close to the "miles to work" break-off, you may want to check your mileage closely. When your car insurance company or insurance agent asks you "How many miles do you drive to work one way?" this is a crucial question that will designate you into a particular class. Each class can have significant differences in prices.

6) Look for a Group Discount: Many companies offer a discount on car insurance for being affiliated with certain organizations. These can range from credit unions, college sororities, or just having a certain credit card. Call your service center and ask them for a list of organization affiliations.

7) Lower Liability, Comprehensive, Collision, or Medical Payments Coverages: Of course, you can lower your basic coverages but it may just give you the cheap insurance you need right no!. Comprehensive and collision are probably the first to look at lowering by increasing your deductibles on your car insurance. Most vehicles that are on bank loans can have up to a $1000 deductible. Next, lowering your liability and medical payments could help, but only if you are having a hard time paying for your premium and is not recommended for general savings.

8) EFT Payments: Many car insurance companies are now charging up to $5.00 or more for mail payments, but sometimes nothing if you choose to have payments automatically deducted. And, sometimes the deductions can come from your credit card, so you don't have to worry if the money will be in your bank account when payment time comes.

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Car Insurance Company Rate Quote Comparison Worksheet

Looking for cheap car insurance? Comparing car insurance quotes and rates is one of the best ways to find cheap car insurance. This worksheet is designed to help you compare online car insurance quotes and get recommended car insurance coverages.

Below you will find a list of documents you will need to submit online car insurance quote information. Also included is a list of recommended coverages to compare when getting your car insurance rate quote.

What to Have Available to Obtain Your Car Insurance Quote:

1. Driver's License

2. Year, Make, Model of Vehicle

3. Vehicle Identification Number or VIN

4. Vehicle Finance Company

And Don't Forget Your Discounts:

Anti-theft Devices?
Airbags?
Anti-Lock Brakes?
Automatic Seat Belts?
Window Etching?
Multiple Car Discount?
Multiple Policy Discount?

List of Recommended Coverages to Compare When Getting Your Car Insurance Quote:
1) Injury Liability/each occurrence $300,000
2)Property Damage Liability/each occurrence $100,000
3)Medical Payments/each person $10,000
4)Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Liability/each accident $300,000
5)Uninsured Motorist Property Damage/each accident $10,000
6)Collision Deductible $500
7)Comprehensive (other than collision) Deductible $0-100

Ways to save our homeowners insurance

There are many ways to save with your homeowners insurance. You can print this list to use while shopping online or with a local agent.

1. Car/Home Discount: Insuring your car and home with the same company often will give you a package discount. This is a good tool to use when shopping around. Usually the agent can tell you what percent the discount is for insuring your car and home together.

2. Deductible: Raising your deductible can lead to substantial savings. Furthermore, it is best to have a large deductible to prevent you from using your insurance for small claims since many insurance companies are now adding a surcharge to as little as one claim, and surcharges can range anywhere from 10-85% depending on how many claims you file during a given time period.

3. Home Security Systems: Special burglar alarms can prevent losses and therefore make your house less of an insurance risk. Most any type of security system will help give you a discount, but the type that directly responds to local police and fire departments are most likely going to give you the most discount.

4. Dead Bolt Locks: Most agents will ask you this, but check again to make sure you are not loosing a discount if you already have them. If you don't, it is well worth it. Dead bolt locks are very inexpensive compared to the possible insurance savings, but make sure all of your doors have them because usually the discount only applies if there are dead bolt locks on every door.

Health insurance rates

Readers of the FedSmith site have been asking questions about the health benefits premiums they will be paying in 2009.

According to OPM, federal employees in the FEHBP will pay, on average about 8% more for their health coverage next year. The reality is that the average increase in cost may not be that important as some are going up much more and some will be going up less than the 8%. There are about 269 different options available and there is a wide range of price changes.

Here is the good news: About 20% of those in the FEHBP will have an increase of less than 5%. For those federal employees and retirees who pay attention to these things, you will note that the average GS federal pay increase for next year will be 3.9%. (This is just an average just as the 8% rise in health benefits premiums is just an average.) Federal retirees who qualify for the full COLA increase will probably be getting a bump of about 6% in January although the final increase is not yet known.

In effect, the percentage increase in your health insurance benefit premium is likely to exceed the percentage increase in your raise of COLA.

The open enrollment season for changing your health benefits plan starts November 10th - December 8th.

A word of caution when looking at the premium rates for your health insurance plan. Each person has a different situation. You will want to learn more about the details of a health plan before you enroll. The least expensive plan or the most expensive plan may not be the best one for your particular situation so consider all of the factors including your own health situation and the benefits a particular plan would provide you.

As far as the rates go for federal employees, excluding the rates for Postal Service employees which are different, the plan with the biggest dollar increase next year is the Blue Cross standard family plan which will go up $42.12 to a total of $356.59 per month while the "standard self" plan will rise $17.40 for a total monthly employee payment of $152.06.

The Blue Cross plans are among the most popular plans. For 2009, the rate for the Blue Cross basic family plan will go up $17.87 per month to a total of $216.48. The "basic self" Blue Cross plan will go up $7.65 to a total of $92.44 per month.

The Mail Handlers Standard Family plan also went up quite a bit. It will have a monthly increase in the employee premium of $37.89 (rising to $278.76) while the standard plan for an individual will go up $16.53 per month to a total of $129.70.

For those who may be wondering if there are any decreases in federal health plans next year, the answer is "yes." The SAMBA "high family" option is going down $50.40 per month to a total of $529.88 for the employee portion of expenses while the "high self" option will decrease by $23.01 to a total employee monthly payment of $212.10.

Here is the OPM chart outlining the 2009 non-Postal rates.

We always get questions about why it is so much more expensive for a family plan than the cost of health insurance for one person. The person asking the question is usually asking the question because the "family" in this case is two people with no children or children who are no longer covered. The answer is simple. The government "family plan" covers everyone in the family. In effect, a couple covered by a family plan is paying higher premiums to cover other families that may have three children and two parents. It's a great deal for the larger family but not so good for the smaller family.

Some readers also ask why the cost of health insurance is the same for smokers and non-smokers based on the assumption that smokers are going to have more claims and more health problems. There is plenty of evidence to support that contention. The political reality is that OPM probably does not want to open up Pandora's Box. There is little doubt that once the question of different rates for a different lifestyle is raised, advocates for a wide variety of lifestyle choices will emerge and a royal battle would ensue for different interest groups seeking better rates.

One other significant change the some readers will see in their health plan next year. There is a change, highlighted by the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE), regarding the cost of prescription drugs. There is an 85% increase in the co-payment cost of mail order prescription drugs which will rise from $35 to $65 under the Blue Cross Blue Shield mail order program.

Here is a quick summary of the information outlined above. Place your cursor at the top of each bar to see the exact dollar figure of the change.


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Texas Department of Insurance

The Texas Department of Insurance is responsible for regulating all types of insurance sold in the state of Texas, including health insurance policies.

If you are looking for health insurance coverage, the Department of Insurance has a list of insurance companies licensed to sell individual policies in Texas.

U.S. Department of Labor

If you get your insurance through your job, your plan is also regulated by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). They make and enforce the rules that your employer must follow when offering health insurance coverage to employees. For example, your employer cannot single out an individual employee to exclude her from the plan because she (or one of her dependents) has a costly illness. Also, if there are 20 or more employees at your job, you should be offered COBRA continuation coverage when you leave your job. The EBSA works to make sure that all of this happens and your rights are protected.

If you have concerns about your employer's practices in administering your job-based health coverage (for example, if you think you should have been offered COBRA continuation coverage, but were not, or if you feel that you were wrongly terminated from your health plan) contact your regional EBSA office.

Buying Individual Policies in Texas

As a general rule, insurers in Texas are allowed to reject your application for coverage based on your health status. However, you may qualify for coverage as a "HIPAA-eligible" individual if you:

* had at least 18 months of continuous creditable coverage, the last day of which was under a group plan
AND
* you have exhausted all COBRA continuation coverage which was available to you

People who are HIPAA-eligible are guaranteed the right to buy an individual policy from a private insurer. You can also buy insurance through Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool (described below). If you are not sure whether you are a HIPAA-eligible individual, your insurance agent or the Texas Department of Insurance can help you find out.

Alaska Division of Insurance

The Alaska Division of Insurance is responsible for regulating all types of insurance sold in the state of Alaska - including health insurance policies. They have two offices - one located in Anchorage and one located in Juneau. Either one can help, so choose the office closest to you.

If you are looking for health insurance coverage, they have lists of insurance agents and insurance companies licensed to do business in Alaska.

Alaska Comprehensive Health Insurance Association (ACHIA)

ACHIA offers coverage to individuals who are unable to purchase an individual health insurance policy because they have pre-existing health conditions. If you have been diagnosed with one of the health conditions listed on the ACHIA website, you are automatically eligible for ACHIA coverage - you do not need to apply and be rejected by an individual insurer first.

ACHIA also offer coverage to "HIPAA-eligible" individuals. This refers to people who have left job-based group coverage AND have elected and fully exhausted any COBRA or state-operated continuation coverage they were offered. ACHIA is intended to provide a permanent coverage option for people who are unable to find insurance after leaving their job and using all of the temporary coverage they have available to them.

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