The Secrets Of Cheap Car Insurance For Teen Drivers

Just yesterday they were cutting their teeth on your car keys. Now your precious angel is all grown up (or so they think) and their ideas of what they should be doing with your car keys have changed a little bit. Are you ready for the challenge of trying to findcheap car insurance for your teen driver?

There's always been a tremendous amount of hype about teen drivers and cheap carinsurance (or the lack thereof). Most parents expect their monthly premiums to fly through the roof when their teen gets their drivers license, and in most cases they're not far off. Did you know that the average sixteen year old is, statistically speaking, ten times more likely to be involved in an accident than a thirty or forty year old driver?

Those numbers probably don't come as a shock to anyone, especially anyone living in a major urban area like Los Angeles or New York. Experienced drivers get into accidents every day in these bumper car towns, so a driver with no experience dealing with the fact that many people forget how to drive when they're stuck in traffic is doomed before they ever step out of the house! The down side is, fixing cars costs money. If your insurancecompany's going to be paying for claims (which they expect to do if they're bringing a teen driver on board) they're going to charge you for it.

The good news is that cheap car insurance for teen drivers isn't as unheard of as most parents think it is-understanding, of course, that "cheap" is entirely relative. There are things that you as a parent and your teen as a driver can do to keep costs low while at the same time minimizing the chance that they'll be involved in an accident.

First and foremost, make sure your teen completes a formal driver's education program, with X number of hours spent working with a driving instructor with nerves of steel in the passenger's seat. Most schools offer a driver's education program, and in some states it's mandatory; however, if your teen's school doesn't or they're not enrolled make sure they complete a formal training program. Not only does that add positive points to their license right from the very beginning (which is going to pave the way tocheap car insurance more quickly than anything else you can do) it will also teach them some of the basics for dealing with emergencies when they're behind the wheel.

Secondly, if you really want to find cheap car insurance for your teen driver you're going to have to convince them to help. Teen drivers with good grades are able to enjoy good student discounts, so this might be the time for your teen to find their place on the school honor roll or Dean's list. Also, once they hit the highways encourage them to follow the rules of the road and keep their nose clean. A clean record will go a long way toward sending your car insurance premiums spiraling.

Finally, take an active role in the hunt for cheap car insurance. Consider purchasing your teen their own car or restricting their driving privileges to the least expensive vehicle in your household. Shop around to see which car insurance providers are teen friendly, and consider raising your deductibles in exchange for lower premiums for the rest of the year.

Cheap car insurance for teen drivers isn't the impossible dream many parents think it is, but it's up to you and your teen to take the steps that will make that dream a reality.

About The Author Clifford F. Berman is CEO of http://QuoteScout.com. For more information on cheap car insurance for teen drivers, visit them on the web at http://www.QuoteScout.com.

Car Insurance Comparison - 3 Steps to Multiple Quotes

Are you part of the 75% of consumers who don't shop for an annual car insurance comparison? If so, don't feel guilty -- shopping for car insurance takes time and multiple quotes can get mighty confusing. At least, that was true of the old-fashioned way where you had to pick up the phone and power dial half-a-dozen different agents to get quotes.

But the times they are a changin' and now it's possible to complete a car insurance comparison in less time than it takes to drink a cup of coffee. How, you ask? Online, of course! Your car insurance comparison can all be accomplished quickly and painlessly if you fire up your computer and follow the three steps outlined below.

Step 1. Gather some basic personal information before you start. You will want to have: a copy of your current car insurance policy (so you can refer to current coverage amounts); the make and models of all cars being insured; a history of accidents or other car insurance claims over the past five years (for each driver being insured). It's also helpful to know the approximate length of time you've been insured with your current company -- you'll get a better quote if you haven't been switching around between companies.

Step 2. Now it's time sit down at your computer and choose an online insurance quote provider. These are companies who have relationships with dozens, perhaps hundreds, of major car insurance companies. By using an online quote provider, you aren't limited to getting quotes from just one company. And we all know that competition results in lower prices, so it's in your best interest to get quotes from as many different companies as is feasible. But limit the number of quotes you get to seven, or you'll burn a few brain cells trying to compare them.

Most online quote provides will match you with at least five different insurance companies. These companies can range from small independent agents who are located near you, to the very largest insurance companies who do business in all fifty states. Depending on the state where you live, you may also receive a quote from one of the strictly online companies like Esurance (but these companies are not licensed to provide insurance in all fifty states).

If you aren't sure which online quote provider to use, there is one recommended at the end of this article.

3. Now it's time to actually complete the online application. The good news -- you only have to fill out one application in order to receive multiple quotes. Complete the application as completely and honestly as possible. The insurance companies will use the information you submit to provide their initial quotes, but they will verify all of your personal information before agreeing to a final policy. It's important to remember that an online insurance quote will save you time, and probably money, but it's not an opportunity to defraud the insurer.

Once your application has been submitted, all you have to do is sit back and wait for the quotes to start coming in. You'll probably have the first one in your email box within the hour. Once you receive at least five quotes, you should have a pretty good idea of your best car insurance rate. If it's been a few years since your last car insurance comparison, chances are, you're looking at savings of about 15% on your car insurance. Now wasn't that worth an hour of your time?

Ready to start your car insurance comparison? Visit the online quote provider recommended below… they provide five quotes from local and national insurancecompanies and the service is free.

About The Author Barb Dearing is a writer specializing in topics that help consumers save money. She recommends the following website for free car insurance quotes: http://www.shop-car-insurance.com/3.html

Best Car Insurance Rates … 5 Tips to Slash Your Premium

With household budgets cut to the bone, more and more consumers are shopping to find the best car insurance rates available. There is no question that a carefully planned insurance strategy, coupled with a handful of quotes from competing insurance companies, can lower your car insurance rates by a few hundred dollars -- or enough to cover one of your monthly car payments!

So how do you plan the ideal car insurance strategy? Here are five tips to get you started:

1. Don’t get caught with a lapsed policy. As soon as your policy expires, you fall into the "uninsured" category of car insurance buyers. This means you will have a harder time getting insurance and are likely to get charged up to 20% more than somebody who has a steady history of insurance coverage. So shop for car insurance rates 30 days before your policy expires. This also provides you extra time to find and compare the best car insurance rates.

2. Pay your premium in full. If you pay your car insurance premiums on an installment plan, your premium probably has a finance charge built into the cost. Some companies charge $15-20 for the privilege of carrying a few hundred dollars for 90 days. In that case, you may actually save money by charging your premium on your credit card. Also, ask your car insurance carrier if they offer a "fast payment discount." Some companies actually provide a discount if you pay your full premium within 10 days.

3. Think twice about "first accident" forgiveness. You already know that there is no such thing as a free lunch -- the same is true of car insurance. You may actually be paying a higher upfront premium for the privilege of avoiding that first accident, but why pay for something that hasn’t happened yet? Ask your insurance company what that same policy would cost without the first accident forgiveness. It’s possible you’re better off without it.

4. Install an alarm or vehicle recovery system. Anything you can do to reduce the chance of theft is going to reduce your car insurance premium, by as much as 10%. Insurance companies know which alarms work best and they value vehicle recovery systems the most. The system and installation can be fairly pricey, but they pay for themselves based on the premium discount. Ask your agent about the discount and then shop for a reputable system. Some name brands are LoJack, VehicleRECOVER, Mobileguardian, or GM’s OnStar.

5. Shop online for multiple car insurance quotes. It’s a fact of life -- competition breeds lower prices. With so many car insurance companies begging for your business, it only makes sense to compare as many of them as possible. The old fashioned way was to use a phone and yellow note pad, but that can take time and gets confusing. These days, it’s easy to shop for the best car insurance rates online, usually by filling out just one form at one website.

By implementing as many of these tips as possible, you’ll be able to confidently and easily shop for the best car insurance rates. But remember, the clock is ticking -- so get started before your current policy expires!

If you're ready to start shopping, you may want to visit the website recommended below to find your best car insurance rates.

About The Author Barb Dearing is a writer specializing in topics that help consumers save money. She recommends the following website for consumers who are shopping for online car insurance: http://www.shop-car-insurance.com/9.html

Don't Buy Car Insurance - Until You Learn the Language

OK, let's be honest for a moment. How many of us fully understand our car insurance policy? For instance, can you explain the difference between your comprehensive clause and your collision coverage? If not, you are certainly not alone. Most of us just sign on the dotted line and trust our agent to understand the mumbo-jumbo of car insurance speak.

By taking a moment to learn five basic definitions, you can feel more confident when talking with your agent. It's likely that more confidence will prompt you to ask more questions, and with that added knowledge comes added negotiating power, better coverage, and lower rates. So let's start translating a few car insurance terms.

1. Liability - Bodily Injury and Property Damage (BI/PD)

This coverage provides protection if you are at-fault in an accident that causes injury to people or damage to property. Property damage includes physical damage to other vehicles as well as other property, such as a building, sign, etc. Most states require a minimum limit of BI/PD coverage. Higher limits are usually available and always recommended - it's wise to consider the worst case scenario. If you are in an at-fault accident and total a very expensive car, yet have low liability limits on your insurance, you'll be responsible to pay out-of-pocket for the damage.

2. Collision Coverage

This coverage pays for damage to your car caused by an at-fault collision. This could be a collision with another vehicle or other property, such as a building or sign. This coverage includes a deductible and may be required by a lender for a financed vehicle. This insurance also applies to hit and runs and uninsured motorist coverage but keep in mind you'll have to pay your deductible to repair your car in either case.

3. Comprehensive -

Also referred to as Other-Than-Collision or "OTC" ... this coverage pays for damage to your car for reasons other than a collision. This includes theft, fire, vandalism, windstorm, etc. This coverage includes a deductible. Collision coverage and Other-Than-Collision coverage are collectively known as "Physical Damage" coverage. Comprehensive coverage may be required by the bank that finances your vehicle.

4. Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM)

In a perfect world, everyone would have high limits of auto insurance and this coverage would be unnecessary. Unfortunately, this is not the case. UM coverage kicks in if you are in an accident with an uninsured driver. Limits are similar to limits of liability and some states require at least a minimum limit of UM.

5. Medical Payments Coverage

This coverage pays reasonable medical expenses incurred by you or a passenger(s) in an accident. The limit is per person and is usually a dollar amount (e.g. $5,000). Different states have different specifics on this coverage so talk to an insurance agent in your area.

Following an accident, these five coverages work together to get you back to where you were before the accident. Some of the five may be mandatory, depending on where you live. Others, while not required, should be carefully considered since their contribution to your claim may be essential.

OK, now that you have a firm understanding of the basics, you're ready to go forth and buy car insurance! Visit the online quote provider recommended below -- they provide five online quotes for free.

About The Author Barb Dearing is a writer specializing in topics that help consumers save money. She recommends the following website for free car insurance quotes: http://www.shop-car-insurance.com/4.html

Free Car Insurance Quotes - 6 Ways To Slash Your Premium

When was the last time you compared free car insurance quotes? More than a year? More than two? According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), only 20 to 35 percent of us comparecar insurance rates annually. If you are part of that group, there is a good chance you are paying more for car insurance than your neighbor who regularly shops for car insurance quotes. Perhaps a lot more!

But before you dial up the phone and start calling insurance companies, take a moment to review a few steps that can help to reduce your insurance premiums. Not all of these steps will apply to every individual, but there should be a couple of items on the list that can significantly reduce your car insurance cost.

1. Make sure you inform the insurance company of any recent changes to your vehicle that could affect your insurance rate. For instance, have you installed an anti-theft device?

2. Think about any changes in your lifestyle that would affect your driving habits. Have you left a job in order to work from home? The reduction in miles driven can have a significant impact on your car insurance quote.

3. Check you budget and decide whether or not you can afford to pay your entire car insurance premium up front. While it can be convenient to pay monthly or quarterly installment payments, the insurance company usually adds an administrative or finance fee to your premium. When you are comparing car insurance quotes, ask each provider if they offer a discount for customers who pay in full within the first ten days of the policy.

4. If you have teen drivers in the household, wait until they are fully licensed before adding them to your car insurance policy. Most insurance companies will extend coverage to teens with learning permits without listing them as drivers on your policy.

5. Ask about good driver car insurance. This type of policy requires the placement of a small tracking device in your vehicle -- and then checks up on speed, acceleration and braking patterns. The result can be lower premiums for safe driving habits.

6. Ask about pay-as-you-go or by-the-mile insurance. While not offered by every insurance company, these types of policies are becoming increasingly popular in certain states. Programs like these reduce premiums for auto owners who drive fewer miles, thereby reducing traffic, pollution -- and the risk of car accidents. According to a recent study, almost two-thirds of households would pay less for auto insurance under this type of plan, resulting in an average savings of $270 per car per year.

So there you have it -- now that you have a few new ideas for reducing your carinsurance costs, you can start gathering those free car insurance quotes. Luckily, onlinecar insurance providers have made this process a breeze. By entering your information into one online form, it is possible to get as many as five free car insurance quotesquickly and easily.

If you are interested in getting multiple online car insurance quotes, be sure and visit the website recommended below.

About The Author Barb Dearing is a writer specializing in topics that help consumers save money. She recommends the following website for free car insurance quotes: http://www.shop-car-insurance.com/2.html

The Best Car Insurance - 3 Tips to Keep In Mind.

Shopping for the best car insurance? Sure, price is certainly an important factor to consider. But what else should you keep in mind as you shop? Take a moment to review three small steps that will insure you are getting both the cheapest and the best car insurance.

1. Start by shopping for multiple car insurance quotes. While this step used to involve hours on the phone while you shopped local agents, you can now use an internet-based quote provider to supply fast multiple insurance quotes from major national insurance companies. (One such company is mentioned at the end of this article.)

2. Once you have your car insurance quotes in hand, it is time to research the business reputation of the companies you are considering. The best way to do this is by visiting the website for the department of insurance in your state. Most departments have websites and many will publish the consumer complaint ratios for all of the insurance companies that sell insurance in your state. This ratio tells you how many complaints have been received by a car insurance company for each 1,000 claims filed.

If your state doesn’t publish a complaint ratio, try checking nearby states to see if they publish this information. While an insurance company may have varying practices in different states, checking its reputation in neighboring states will give you a feel for the general reputation of the company. If they are getting a lot of complaints in other states, there is a good chance you can expect the same customer service in your own state.

3. You aren’t finished yet -- now it is time to consider the financial strength of the insurance companies you are considering. As recent economic events have shown, even the largest companies may have weak financial fundamentals. The best way to research the financial strength of a company is to check its ratings at A.M. Best and Standard & Poor. These two companies publish financial ratings for all of the insurance companies. Why is this important to you? Because the financial strength of the insurance company will determine its ability to pay out claims. Which is the only reason you buy car insurance in the first place!

A.M. Best will rate each company with a letter grade from A++ (the highest) to E. An F means the company is in liquidation and S means it has been suspended. You are only interested in companies with at least a B+ rating.

Standard & Poor rates companies from AAA (the highest) to CC. Avoid any company with a rating of R (under regulatory supervision) or NR (not rated). Consider only those companies with at least a BBB rating.

Yes, it is a little extra time and effort to research the customer service and financial ratings of the car insurance companies you are considering. But all of the research can be done on your computer in less than an hour. In the end, you can relax, knowing that you found not only the cheapest car insurance, but truly the best car insurance.

For more tips on finding the best car insurance, please visit the website recommended below.

About The Author Barb Dearing is a writer specializing in topics that help consumers save money. She recommends the following website for free car insurance quotes: http://www.shop-car-insurance.com/2.html

Your Best Car Insurance Quote - 3 Things To Do Before You Shop

Everybody knows that to get the best car insurance quote, it's important to shop at least five different car insurance companies. But before you even get those quotes, there are a few things you can do to make yourself (and your vehicle) more attractive to insurers.

1) Keep Your Credit Clean…
Studies have shown a direct correlation between your credit score and the likelihood that you will file an auto insurance claim. For this reason, almost all insurers pull your credit report. Your credit report shows an insurer if you pay your bills in a timely fashion and have had the same credit accounts for a long time. Someone who does this is considered more stable than someone who pays late and frequently opens and closes accounts. This information is used to create your "insurance risk score", which is one factor that determines yourcar insurance rate.

Tip: If your credit history is not strong, start cleaning it up. If there is unusual credit activity on your account, wait about a month for it to return to normal before shoppingfor car insurance quotes.

2) Think About the Type of Car You Plan to Buy…
Insurers have a rating system for every car make and model. Most use a system devised by the Insurance Service Office, which starts with the cost of the vehicle and then factors in safety and theft data. Cars are given a rating from 1 to 27, and the higher thenumber, the higher your premium.

Tip: Look up your car's relative risk online. If you're trying to keep your car insurance premiums low, it's best to consider this risk before you buy that high-risk sports car.

3) Pay your insurance premium in full ...
"Fractional premium" fees are usually charged when you pay your annual premium in six-month, quarterly or monthly installments. There is almost always an administrative fee to break down these payments also. This can really add up.

Tip: Ask about fees for paying in installments. If the fees are small enough, it may be worth it. If not, bite the bullet and pay for the insurance premium in full.

OK, you've cleaned up your credit, chosen a low-risk car and have budgeted to pay your full car insurance premium up-front. Now you're ready to shop for your best car insurance quote!

Visit the website recommended below to get free online quotes.

About The Author Barb Dearing is a writer specializing in topics that help consumers save money. She recommends the following website for free car insurance quotes: http://www.shop-car-insurance.com/2.html

Buy Car Insurance Online - 3 Ways to Get the Job Done

Let's face it. As a society, we have become addicted to instant gratification. We demand an instant solution to every problem. For example, we no longer want to spend the morning on the phone, talking to multiple insurance agents while we shop for carinsurance quotes. No, we want instant car insurance quotes. And thanks to the modern miracle known as the internet, we can have them.

Thousands of consumers are forsaking theirlocal insurance agent and seeking to buy car insurance online. It's easy so see why -- the time spent shopping online can be a fraction of the time spent talking on the phone with multiple agents. But there are several ways to buy car insurance online, and a few factors to keep in mind with each. Let's begin by taking a quick look at three different methods to buy car insurance online.

1. You can solicit a quote from one specific company. If you have already chosen a particular insurance company (perhaps the one with which you're already insured), you can submit an application online at that company's homepage. All major insurance companies accept online applications.

This method allows you to submit the information when it's convenient for you -- perhaps in the evening when you have the time but your local insurance agency is closed. Then the insurance company will review your application and contact you with a quote. They may email the quote or have your local agent contact you. The downside is that you won't have quotes from other insurance companies for comparison.

2. You can solicit a quote from an online insurer. An online insurer is an insurance company that does business only on the internet, such as Esurance. They have no local agents and they aren't licensed to provide insurance in all states. However, if you live in one of the states in which they are licensed (they will let you know when you apply), the online insurer will provide an immediate quote to you by email. The benefit is the quick response time, but the drawback is that once again, you are only getting one quote. To get multiple quotes for comparison purposes, you would have to submit applications to multiple online insurers.

3. You can solicit multiple quotes from an online quote provider. An online quote provider, such as NetQuote, is a company who has relationships with dozens of thelargest insurance companies. By submitting one application with an online quote provider, you can receive multiple quotes from a number of different insurers. Most online quote providers have relationships with all of the various kinds of insurance companies, so you are likely to receive quotes from local agents in your area, as well as large national insurance companies who do business in all fifty states.

Depending on the state in which you live, you are also likely to receive instant emailed quotes from an online insurer such as Esurance. This method allows you to get multiple quotes for comparison purposes without having to submit multiple applications.

Which of these three methods is best for you will depend on the amount of time you have to invest shopping for car insurance quotes, and the number of quotes you are seeking.

If you are ready to buy car insurance online, please visit the online quote provider recommended below. They will provide at least five free quotes with one application.

About The Author Barb Dearing is a writer specializing in topics that help consumers save money. She recommends the following website for free car insurance quotes: http://www.shop-car-insurance.com/11.html

Classic Car Insurance - 6 Questions to Ask Before You Apply

Are you ready to shop for classic car insurance? Maybe, maybe not. Before you pick up the phone, let's take a minute to review the six questions you need to consider before you talk with an agent.

Essentially, your agent is going to want to know how much the car is used and how you plan to maintain it. Knowing the answers to these questions will save you time on the phone -- and put you in a much better position to negotiate the best insurance coverage for your classic honey.

1. Do you plan to insure the car for what you feel it's really worth? Your agent will undoubtedly ask how much insurance coverage you are seeking -- if your personal opinion of value is higher than the vehicle's appraised value, you may want to consider a higher level of coverage.

2. Do you plan to participate in car club events? If so, you need to consider the amount of liability you can incur in such events. A classic car that is stored 365 days a year has much less potential for liability claims than a car that is driven regularly in parades and other event.

3. Are you planning an extended period of renovation for the car? If so, do you need to insure the car while it's off the road?

4. Do you plan to ship the car any time soon? If so, additional coverage may be warranted since the car will be outside of your control.

5. How many miles a year do you expect to drive the car? If these miles are limited, you may be able to negotiate a lower premium. Be sure to ask about any maximum mileagelimitations. An annual restriction of 2,500 miles may be imposed by your car insurance company.

6. Who will be repairing or maintaining the car? Again, if the car is outside of your control, you may want to consider higher theft and damage coverage. On the flip side, if you personally maintain the car within secure confines on your property, you may want to pay for minimal coverage.

The answers to all of these questions need to be considered before you decide how much coverage is warranted for your classic car. Also, car owners should be aware that some insurance companies specialize in classic car insurance. But as with any car insurance policy, it's best to get quotes from several insurance providers before making a decision.

Hopefully, by carefully considering the answers to the six questions we've discussed, you'll be prepared to shop for the best coverage for your classic car.

You may want to visit the website recommended below to get at least five quotes for your classic car insurance.

About The Author Barb Dearing is a writer specializing in topics that help consumers save money. She recommends the following website for free car insurance quotes: http://www.shop-car-insurance.com/6.html