Automotive Guruz

Prepare yourself for the things that insurance providers ask

For an insurance company, you are both a risk and a potential source of revenue. You are a risk when you drive around while drunk, are a teenager who drives around with other teenaged friends, are driving a “risky” type of vehicle, or belong to a certain economic background. These are just a few and they actually have a very long list of statistics and voluminous numbers to help them quantify or measure this risk.

That’s the reason why they will ask you so many questions before they’ll give you the auto insurance quotes that you need. That’s not to say that this article’s purpose is to provide you a way to somehow get lower insurance premiums but rather to make you understand how insurance providers think. If you know how they think, then you’ll know how they’ll act.

Where Do You Live?

While it may be very easy to fake your identity on the Internet and maybe get an email account that does not display your real name, there are other things that they could use to help determine how much premium you’re going to pay. Almost all insurance providers who have an online presence ask this question first before they even ask you your name: your zip code. Others even get very specific and ask you not just your zip code, but the zip code where your car is parked at night.

Why? Because the moment you provide your zip code, huge computer servers in the background start pulling out data about the following:
• Vehicular accidents that happened in that zip code
• Vehicular thefts in the location
• The list of insurance companies that are licensed to operate in that location
• Traffic density
• Accident fatalities and many more

These days, even where you live could be held against you.

Who Are You?

Right after you provide your zip code, the plethora of seemingly innocuous questions that are then hurled in your way all boil down to the desire of the insurance provider to get to know you.

• Who exactly are you?
• What’s your job?
• How much are you making?
• Do you already have car insurance? How long?
• How much are you paying for it?
• Who’s your insurance provider?

To be sure, there are more questions than these and you’ll get to joyfully fill them up later as you sign up for the policy.

Don’t assume that they’re just being friendly and getting to know you. What they’re actually doing is building up your “risk profile”. What’s a risk profile? That’s how likely you are to figure in an accident and then try to collect on your insurance!

Insurance companies are businesses after all, and the more risky policy holders they have, the more likely they’ll lose money.

It’s nothing personal, so don’t worry.

There are quite possibly hundreds of questions that could be asked about you when you try and get auto insurance quotes. There’s actually no way you could cheat them or even lie to them since they have personnel who can verify your identity and whether everything that you’ve said is accurate or not. The best way to approach this is to provide truthful information about you. It would also make the insurance provider feel that you are trustworthy.

Different insurance providers have different risk thresholds and some may be willing to offer lower rates to high risk policies if you just know where to find them. Go ahead and feel free to compare and see how you’ll fare.

Very few people actually like to get auto insurance, but everyone is required to

For most people who are financially constrained, getting auto insurance is an added expense that they’d like to forego rather than face. Some would even say that they’d rather take their chances just to save a few hundred dollars every year. Unfortunately, not only is it illegal to drive around without any form of automobile insurance, it’s also a bad financial decision especially if the time comes when you will actually need it. The best alternative is simply to compare auto insurance rates to find out which one could give you the best coverage at the lowest premium.

Willing to Take the Risk?

Just imagine figuring in an automobile accident and then trying to tell the other party that you have no insurance. You can guess who the person will be they’ll most likely call first – their attorney. Automobile accidents all over the world are declining despite the increasing number of vehicles currently on the road. Much of this has to do with better government regulation when it comes to driving under the influence and breakthroughs in vehicle safety technology. But the number of motor vehicle traffic collisions is still not very encouraging.

In the United States, the number of vehicular accidents for 2008 is 10.2 million. According to the US Center for Disease Control, in 2009, 3,000 teenagers died due to fatal car crashes.
In Canada, 2,209 people died in 2009. (Information from Transport Canada)
In the UK, 2,946 people died in 2007. (Statistics.gov.uk)

Accidents are Called Accidents for a Reason

Accidents, collisions, deaths and damage to property happen because nobody expects them to happen. Everyone thinks that they’re safe and therefore, they chose to ignore the risks and chose to not get automobile insurance. While auto insurance may not in itself prevent accidents from happening, they do give a certain amount of financial protection for the vehicle. They ensure at the very least that the cost that would be incurred for vehicle repairs would be compensated for, in the unfortunate event of a crash.

You may avoid paying auto insurance illegally if you chose to not get it, but you can never avoid accidents or their consequences when they do happen. Most of the consequences are also financial in nature and can be sufficient to bring a middle income earner to declare bankruptcy. Prudence dictates that you try both approaches. Get the cheapest auto insurance while at the same time, lessening your risks by driving defensively, attentively and by taking the necessary precautions. In truth, there is very little you could do to directly influence the insurance premiums that you’re going to pay. But if you’re armed with the right tools and knowledge, you might be able to compare auto insurance offerings of different companies. Some have reported that they were able to get hundreds of dollars in savings by using this approach while at the same time getting adequate protection. Your financial well being in the future, will be determined by the decisions you make today. Choose the safest path by investing a little amount in insurance for your car.

Did you know that there are 2,496 Fatalities in Canada due to Motor Vehicle Traffic Collisions?

Granted that the number is significantly lower when compared to 1984’s 3,580 fatalities, they’re still an astounding proof that fatal accidents occur frequently even in Canada. This data was taken from Transport Canada in collaboration with the Canadian Council for Motor Transport Administrators. It’s high time that you get protection whether it’s in the form of cheap car insurance or a more comprehensive type of insurance to make sure that your transportation asset is protected.

Moreover, these numbers from 2003 might also interest you:
• The more susceptible age bracket that experience fatalities are those who are 65 years old and above. While the next most susceptible are those who are aged from 35 to 44.
• Most of the fatalities are the drivers who account for 53% of the fatalities.
• All in all, there are 21,436,025 licensed drivers in Canada for the year 2003.

Don’t Procrastinate

Though the numbers are going down, much needs to be done. The efforts to bring these numbers even further down would definitely take a lot of effort not only from the government but also from its citizens. Better vehicle safety standards and measures, traffic guidelines, technology and even increasing driver awareness are all contributing to both the protection of life and property. But you have to understand that the government can only do so much. It cannot regulate every behavior of all Canadian drivers when they’re on the road. You could be cruising along in the optimal speed, wearing your seatbelt, observing every single road regulation and still have the unfortunate circumstance of figuring in an accident if you encounter someone who is not as diligent as you.

It’s easy to think that such might not happen but what if it does? Are you prepared? Getting cheap car insurance is all about mitigating the risks of an uncertain future. It’s about protecting your transportation asset to ensure that even if you do figure in a motor vehicle traffic collision, you’ll still be financially ready to move on.

You Hold Your Financial Future

Car insurance is heavily reliant on several conditions pertaining to your profile as a driver. For sure, statisticians are always crunching down the numbers and trying to predict the amount of risk for every car insurance holder.
If you belong to a high risk segment of the populace such as those who belong in the age bracket that’s most susceptible to car accidents, those who frequently drink alcoholic beverages, those who live in the rural area and others, then your insurance premiums could get higher. It all depends on how much risk the insurance company sees in your profile.

You can look around and compare from among the many different insurance companies, but the difference would only be minimal. Look at it this way: If you were going to protect a valuable asset, would you spend little or would you spend substantially more if it could guarantee protection?

If you’re in the market for a new family car, you’ve got a lot of choices to consider. A good rule of thumb is to evaluate your options based on these factors: safety features, size of the car, convenient features, affordability, and additional costs like car insurance and maintenance.

1. Safety
When buying a family car, be on the lookout for these essential features:

• Electronic stability control (ESC)
• Antilock brakes
• Side and curtain airbags as well as driver and passenger airbags
• LATCH systems for car seats
• Seat belt type (shoulder belts are preferred over lap)

Checking crash test reports from trusted organizations such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also can help you find some of the safest cars for the whole family.

2. Size

Sedan, minivan, SUV or wagon – which one offers the most room and best seating options for your family? Minivans and SUVs are popular choices due to their roomier interior and flexible seating options, like third row seating for extra passengers and second row seats that fold into the floor when you need extra storage space. Some vehicles even offer backseats that swivel 180 degrees and removable tables. Consider how many kids – and items – you’ll be hauling before buying a family car.

3. Convenience

If you have a family, chances are you’re on the go – a lot. Some cars have convenient rear-seat entertainment systems that feature TV and DVD players. Some vehicles also offer Sirius radio and MP3 player docks to play all your family’s favorite music.

Another useful feature built into many of the latest minivan models is remote control sliding doors. They offer quick and easy access to your vehicle’s rear cabin, which is great when your hands are full.

4. Affordability

New family car models with the latest safety features may cost $10,000-15,000 more than standard models. If you’re looking to spend less than that, late-model used cars may be a good alternative. It’s possible to find one in your price range that offers the important features you need, but it may require a little more patience and research on your part. Check with dealerships each week and research car history reports to help you find a great deal on the best family car for you.

Finding the best family car takes patience as you evaluate each choice based on safety, size, convenience and affordability. Also, don’t forget to protect your new family car with reliable car insurance coverage. Get a car insurance quote to find affordable rates on the coverage your family needs.

Whether your windshield cracks due to a falling object or shatters in a collision, there are certain factors to consider when determining how to handle the situation. How do you know when you need to get your glass replaced and when you can safely drive home without it? Are there any windshield repairs that you can do yourself? And, what kind of car insurance can help cover the costs associated with glass replacement?

Replace vs. repair

From small cracks to broken windshields, you may be wondering when you should replace your window or windshield and when it is safe to continue on your way.

• Small chips or cracks – Even the smallest chip or crack in your windshield can quickly turn into a large one, so you should try to get it repaired as soon as possible. Especially if you find the damage is obstructing your view, be sure to have it repaired or replaced to keep you safe on the road.
• Large cracks or shattered glass – Repair all large-scale glass damage (i.e. cracks longer than six inches) immediately. Any large crack in your car’s glass can shatter if not properly fixed.

Do it yourself or call a professional

If you’re thinking about fixing your car’s glass yourself, you’ll want to understand what you’re getting into. Most glass replacement projects are best left to the professionals. Unless you are considering a temporary solution for a small crack or chip, keep in mind that most windshield repair companies will come to you and can typically replace your entire windshield in as little as 30 minutes. However, if you are looking for a quick (but temporary) solution for a minor chip or crack and don’t have access to a home glass repair kit available, consider using:

• Super glue
• Clear nail polish
• Clear packing tape

These three temporary “remedies” may prevent a minor chip from turning into a large crack, but be sure to get permanent repairs done by a professional. Since they come to you, it’s a hassle-free way to make sure the repairs are safe, secure and done in a timely manner.

Coverage you can count on

Depending on the car insurance coverage you have, windshield replacement coverage may be part of your policy.

• Comprehensive auto insurance coverage will cover windshield damage due to vandalism, fallen objects and certain natural disasters.
• Collision coverage will cover windshield repair due to a car accident, whether you’re at fault or not.

Accidents happen, but it’s important to be prepared in case you ever have a cracked or broken windshield. Be prepared with the information you need to keep you safe on the road. And don’t forget the peace of mind that comes with having the right car insurance coverage for your needs.