Auto insurance can be confusing and mind boggling sometimes and it's hard to determine exactly why some individuals are receiving rates which are lower than others. There are many factors which contribute to the rate of auto insurance, some you have control over and others you don't.
Below you will find valuable information regarding the factors which are compiled in order to determine the rate of your car insurance. These will help you understand important aspects of auto insurance and why some individuals receive higher rates than others. Here are the top five factors which auto insurance companies will consider when determining your rate of insurance:
1. Age - Your age will greatly affect the rate of your car insurance. Teenagers and individuals who are just beginning to drive will have higher rates for no reason other than their age. There is nothing you can do about this, as you get older and become a more experienced driver your rates will go down. Although they will go down, they will not stay down. When you reach a certain age your car insurance rates will go back up because you are an elderly driver and your eyes and coordination may not be as effective anymore.
2. Auto Insurance Companies - This is a factor which you have control over. Some car insurance companies offer lower rates than others for many reasons. It is up to you to choose which one will benefit you the most both now and in the long run.
3. Gender - Whether you are male or female will also affect the rate of your car insurance. This is yet another factor which you have no control over. Females generally have lower car insurance rates because according to insurance companies men are seen as potential dangerous and careless drivers who are more likely to be involved in car accidents.
4. Type of Vehicle - As much as we would all love to be driving a shiny silver Porsche Boxter all around town, the insurance rates for these types of vehicles are unreal. If you want your auto insurance rates to be low, I would suggest driving a car with a lower price tag. The more money your car is worth, the higher your car insurance rate will be.
5. Driving Violations - This is another factor which you have control over. I know how tempting it is to race your friends the moment you get your license for the first time, but the amount of money you will pay in the long run hardly seems worth it. Any form of ticket you receive can potentially raise the rate of your car insurance. If you want to pay less for car insurance I would suggest abiding by the rules of the road.
Although these are the most important factors in determining your rate of car insurance, there are many other factors which also play a part in how much you will pay. Auto insurance is something we all have to pay for, but by researching and understanding the aspects of this form of insurance you are learning how to reduce your rate to your best ability.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Best Way To Determine The Insurance For Your Car
Monday, December 10, 2007
Florida Health Insurance
Florida health insurance costs can prove to be a very real obstacle to many Florida consumers that are searching for a comprehensive and affordable Florida health insurance policy. Florida health insurance premiums can be pricey at first glance. However, when you consider that even some routine surgeries plus a week or more in a Florida hospital could cost upwards of six figures then the importance of finding a Florida health insurance policy that is both comprehensive and affordable cannot be underestimated.
The Florida health insurance market is a very competitive market. This is at once a very good thing and a very bad thing for the Florida health insurance shopper. The competitiveness of the Florida health insurance market is good for the Florida consumer because it forces the top companies to drive down their rates in an effort to maintain affordable health insurance policies as they compete against each other for your business. The negative aspect of the Florida health insurance market's competitiveness is that many insurance companies are attracted to the strong demand for health insurance in the state of Florida and not all have the sterling reputation of an Aetna, Humana, or a United Healthcare.
Without mentioning names, this strong demand for Florida health insurance will attract health insurance companies to Florida that are forced to put calendar year limits in their policies or only cover benefits up to a certain amount (an indemnity style policy) in order to try and compete with stronger, more established companies.
Just to contrast the seriousness of this, imagine that you blow out your knee as you are exercising and you have to have arthroscopic knee surgery and a week plus in the hospital brings the total bill to $100,000.
With a strong reputable Florida health insurance company with an established dependable network such as one of the Florida health insurance "Big 3" (Aetna, Humana, and United Healthcare) you will have coverage of anywhere from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 per person without any calendar year limits and without limits on benefits payable for certain procedures. That $100,000 hospital bill is whittled down to your maximum out of pocket cost of probably around $3,000 to $5,000 depending on your policies deductible and coinsurance amount.
Now imagine that you had decided years back that you wanted to go with a Florida health insurance company that you had never heard of until then and purchase a seemingly attractive indemnity policy or a policy with a calendar year limit: if the limit on the policy is for say $10,000 for that particular procedure or maybe only up to $200 a day for every day in the hospital... guess what? Once you reach that limit threshold you are stuck with the rest of the bill. It is as if you do not even have insurance once you reach the limits in the policy.
The different Florida health insurance policies can be difficult to navigate without the assistance of an expert independent insurance agent. View Florida health insurance quotes from the top companies side by side and compare them to ensure that you have both affordable and comprehensive Florida health insurance.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Auto Insurance You Need to Know Your Quotes
Understanding auto insurance is never easy. Most of the time we laymen are completely unaware of the fine prints included in an auto insurance form and the full terms and conditions that govern our auto insurance policy. It is only when the time comes to file a claim do we realize the extent to which the policy is pitted against us and we ultimately end up getting nothing against the money we paid to getting our vehicle insured. The double talk invariably starts with the auto insurance quote.
Everyone knows car insurance in expensive - you need to know the right source to be able to find an auto insurance quote that is both cost effective and comprehensively suites your needs. In the internet era, this is comparatively easy to do. To find the right auto insurance, you first need to figure out how much coverage you need. Since this varies from state to state, check out what coverage does your local law require. Then make a list of the different types of coverage available and decide on how much insurance you need to buy above your state's recommended minimum.
General liability limit recommendations are $50,000 bodily injury liability for one person injured in an accident, $100,000 for all people injured in an accident and $25,000 property damage liability (i.e., a 50:100:25 ratio). Here again, the decision should be based on your financial situation as it does not help to buy excess coverage if you have no assets.
Once decided, you need to get the best competitive quotes for your auto insurance. Comprehensive help is available online through sites like www.InsWeb.com, www.YouDecide.com, www.InsureOne.com among a host of others. Just filling in a simple online form will give you a list of comparative quotes. Once you have the quotes, you need to compare the companies' records before you decide which one is the best for you.
Another important thing to do is make follow up calls to the insurance companies and talk directly to their sales people to confirm the quotes you have received only. While doing so, make sure you explore all options relating to discounts. Better driving records, safety equipment as well as being in certain professions can help you gain higher discounts.
Once through with all this, it is time to choose the best and most reliable insurance company. While certain companies may give lower quotes, when it comes to processing claims, they may give you nightmares. The best way to take this decision is to check out the company's record from the state department of insurance or get recommendations from a local auto dealer or body shop you trust. Recommendations can also be found online through sites like http://www.11-car-insurance.com that provide comprehensive details about most companies.
The last and final step is to read your policy end to end. Make sure there are no clauses that restrict you from suing the company or force you to make use of aftermarket parts for body shop repairs. Companies that are clear on these two clauses are generally the best ones to pick.