Supplemental Health Insurance

Supplemental Health Insurance
5 Reasons You May Need It

You have a job that provides health insurance benefits as part of your compensation plan. In today's economic world, having these benefits may make you feel as though you've won the lottery. But before you pop the champagne, take a minute (or an hour) to read over your policy.

There is a good chance that your employer has had to make some compromises in the coverage in order to provide the policy at all, so you may find that you are responsible for more of your medical expenses than you had thought. This is where supplemental health insurance can be life-saver (or at least save your savings account).

Supplemental health insurance, or "gap" insurance, is a secondary policy that pays for out-of-pocket medical expenses not covered in your primary plan such as deductibles and co-payments. Some supplemental policies even pay you a cash benefit for lost income due to illness or injury.

If you fall into any of the following five categories, you may want to think about supplemental insurance as part of your overall health insurance strategy.

1. Are you self-employed? If so, you aren't covered at all by an employer's health plan and you need to provide all coverage yourself. For your primary insurance, you may want to consider a catastrophic policy -- which only covers major medical events and requires you to pay for office visits, prescriptions, and other minor medical care -- but which comes at a much cheaper cost than comprehensive health insurance. A supplemental policy would help cover your out-of-pocket costs, and perhaps more importantly, provide a cash benefit if you become too ill or injured to work.

2. Are you responsible for your family's health care? Remember, each person who is on your primary health plan is subject to an individual deductible and co-pay maximum, making your out-of-pocket expenses larger than an individual's health plan might be.

3. Do you lack savings? If even a few weeks off work could mean financial disaster for your family, you may need additional insurance to provide cash benefits. These cash payments can be used to make mortgage payments and buy groceries when you're off work because of illness or injury.

4. Are you concerned about the risk of cancer? There are certain supplemental policies that provide cash benefits to policy-holders for cancer treatments and the related expenses of treatment.

5. Do you have a pre-existing medical condition? Most health insurance plans will not provide benefits for medical conditions that existed before coverage became effective. However, a supplemental policy can sometimes be purchased to specifically cover a pre-existing condition. Not all insurers offer such coverage, but with careful shopping, you should be able to locate one to meet your needs.

The supplemental coverage is not always necessary for those who are fortunate to have a comprehensive primary policy. But for certain situations, a supplemental policy can be the difference between financial disaster and financial health.

Top 10 Insurance.

1: Insurance Should be Bought and Used for Every Disaster
Insurance is designed to protect one from catastrophic disasters. An insurance rule of thumb: If you can pay for the loss or damage without a financial hardship then pay it, otherwise expect your insurance premium to eventually show an increase. Also, buying every type of insurance just isn't necessary. Sometimes the risk is worth taking rather than paying a premium.
US Expat Health InsuranceMedical insurance for US expats.

2: If I am Alive, I Must Need Life Insurance!
Life insurance is designed to take care of one's dependants after the caregiver's death. If you have no dependants, then you probably don't need life insurance. This includes children and retired persons... usually they don't have people that depend on their income so life insurance for these groups can, in rare instances, be beneficial but is usually unnecessary.

3: I'm the Breadwinner in the Home, So Only I Need Life Insurance.
Have you seen the cost of childcare lately? Add that along with housekeeping, food preparation, home accountant, and school transportation. From that list alone one can see how much a spouse really contributes to the household budget. It is estimated a non-working spouse contributes at least, but usually more, the equivalent of a full time job. For this reason it is important to buy life insurance for everyone in the household if the absence of their income would cause a financial hardship.

4: Whole & Universal Life are the Best Since I Can Get My Money Back
Term life insurance is probably the best choice for most. Term life is set for a specific term, like 10-30 years, with a much lower premium than whole and universal life. Your best bet?

5: The Flood Insurance is Only for People Who Live in a High Risk Area.
Everyone who lives in a National Flood Insurance Program area is eligible and can buy flood insurance. These areas are not always prone to floods so even if you think your area is low risk you may be eligible.

6: Our Insurance Will Cover My Son When He is Delivering Newspapers
If your vehicle is used for anything but personal use, then you will probably need to extend your personal auto policy to cover business use of your vehicle. Don't think just because you were unaware of your coverages this will get your accident paid for--your insurance policy is a contract that you agreed to adhere to. If you don't understand all the coverages in your contract you need to contact your agent about the questions you have.

7: I Don't Need Disability Insurance Because I can Get Social Security.
Don't count on Social Security to take care of all your needs if you become disabled. If you are able to get Social Security for your disability (not all get approved to receive disability benefits so don't assume you will) then you will still have to wait months before you receive benefits and your disability needs to be long-term to qualify. And even if you qualify for benefits, will it match your current salary? Probably not.

8: If I Need Nursing Care When I am Older, The Government Will Pay for it.
Again, don't count on Medicare or Medicare Supplemental Insurance to pick up the bill. If you can qualify, Medicaid may pay up to half of the cost. Choosing long term care insurance can help you pay for the costs of a nursing facility or home care if the need arises. Also, do you really want your family to have to pick up the bill if you acquire a long term illness or disability? Long Term Care Insurance is a great option and if started early in life the premiums can be very reasonable.

9: Umbrella Insurance Coverage is Just for Rich People.
The Umbrella insurance is not just for the wealthy. With the common occurrence of lawsuits, umbrella insurance is a must for every home, auto, and watercraft owner. Umbrella insurance is designed to give one added liability protection above and beyond the limits on homeowners, auto, and watercraft personal insurance policies. With an umbrella policy, depending on the insurance company, one can add an additional 1-5 million in liability protection.

10: If I Don't Purchase Health Insurance it Won't Affect Others.
The people who don't purchase health insurance eventually affect the lives of every American. When many people in a company choose not to purchase health insurance, it sends a message to the employer that health insurance may not be an important benefit, which in-turn could cost other workers a loss of their health insurance benefits. Also, when healthy people don't buy health insurance, the costs raise for others because the risk is spread through less people. For these and other reasons, many have encouraged the government to switch to a universal health care system where the government would help manage health care.

American Home Owner Insurance

Learn How To Save Approximately Twenty Percent With A Home Security Set-Up

Personal security camera systems are getting more and more common place as price plus availability continue to improve. House holders and Business owners can benefit from installing these security cameras. House holders utilize personal security camera systems for several reasons. Safety is presumably high on that list. Supervising the safety of family members, specially small kids plus older members, the safety of dogs and the security of personal belongings give home owners sobering reasons to purchase private security camera systems.

The Security Cameras for the supervising of dogs and small kids are very simple and affordable to fit when only a small place is to be monitored. For instance, checking the babies room or the area where your dog passes their day when home owners are away can be set up with a computer and a webcam that sells for under 20 dollars.

The parents can quickly see when and how well an infant is snoozing, what kind of attention the infant receives when awake plus what kind of daily timetable is being observed.

Pet lovers will be able to look in on pets, checking movements and demeanor and recognize instantly if your dog becomes ill or is hurt in some manner.

We can use a personal security webcam system to keep an eye on senior moms and dads who rather to live by themselves and preserve their independence as much as possible yet might well have an fall or health emergencies.

House holders installing a personal security webcam system will be able to add a layer of protection affecting personal belongings while saving nearly 20 % on American family home insurance.

Start-up retail owners can benefit in several ways by installing a personal security webcam system. Business offices plus shop floors can be monitored for damage via misfortune, violation or even staff theft.

The security camera systems are available in all sizes, like simple to hide to simple to miss. Oftentimes the best personal security webcam system utilises a combination of sizes and types of webcam. Concealed security cameras can be installed to keep an eye on particular areas of the shop floor, specially those controlling sensitive information.

Bulkier security cameras can be installed in very visible places to deter burglaries, thievery and malicious mischief. Personal security cctv cameras come wired or wireless. Wired security cameras are generally installed by electricians or security service providers during the construction of your house or store.

Wireless security cameras can be installed whenever construction is completed and almost anyplace. These wireless security cameras are quickly added-to to include additional security cameras for more capabilities.

Nonobligatory plugins for personal security cctv cameras consist of motion sensors, smoke sensors, heat changes sensors and more.

Supervising of a personal cctv camera system can oftentimes be carried out by cellular phone, personal computer, plus other portable electronics plus by TV. House holders can capture webcam images digitally or on storage devices like a DVD or videocassette recorder. House holders that rather to do so can avail of a monitoring system which automatically notifies the authorities when alarms are activated.

The installation of a personal cctv camera system offers homeowners a means to keep an eye on the safety of loved ones, pets and belongings. Most American homeowners insurance companies grant discounts of up to 20 percent on property where a cctv camera system is used.

Auto Insurance Company

Auto Insurance Company
What to Look for in an Auto Insurance Company

Choosing an auto insurance company is a decision that can either save you, or cost you, several hundred dollars per year. You would think that finding a car insurance company would not be too difficult. After all how different can they be? It turns out they can be very different as many drivers would be happy to attest.

The automobile insurance company you choose should have competitive rates, responsive customer service, and an efficient claims process. Finding this information is easier than it has ever been due to the wealth of information that exists on the Internet.

Finding this information online can be done by most people fairly easily. It is easy enough to find the price for auto insurance from each company by visiting an automobile quote web site. The prices will be displayed in a few minutes after answering a few questions.

The level of customer service is also easy enough to gauge just by making a few simple phone calls. By calling a prospective auto insurance claims department you will get a good feel for how the company does business. Feel free to ask them any questions you may have. After speaking to each company you will have a very good idea on what you can expect from the company after you purchase a policy.

The last piece of information can be a little bit harder to find, but it is definitely out there and worth finding. The claims process is the hardest thing most people will do with their insurance company. If the process goes smoothly and the car is repaired quickly you will be very satisfied, but if there is a problem it will sour your experience with the auto insurance company that you do business with.

As you can see shopping for auto insurance can be a difficult process. By using the above mentioned tips you will save the most money and have the most peace of mind after purchasing your auto insurance policy.

Before You Buy Travel Insurance.

Before you buy travel insurance, you need to have done some initial planning for your trip. There are a number of factors that affect the type of travel insurance you will require and how much it is going to cost you. Have as much information on hand as possible so that your Australian travel insurance company will be able to provide a robust travel insurance quote. Although you can buy travel insurance right up to the day before you leave, it is better to arrange your travel insurance in good time before your departure.

Before you buy travel insurance, here are some of the facts you will need to have answers for:
* Who is to be insured?
* What are their ages?
* Does anyone have pre-existing medical conditions? If so, what are they?
* Which countries will you be travelling to on your holiday?
* What type of activities are you going to take part in on your trip? Will they include climbing, scuba diving, skiing, or other similar “dangerous activities”;
* Do you require insurance cover for any unusual activities, such as professional sport?
* What type of luggage and personal effects are you taking with you? If you are taking expensive equipment, then you may have to itemise and declare those items to get individual cover for them.

Particularly if you are booking an expensive pre-paid trip, such as a cruise or an extensive package tour, it is important to take out your travel insurance as soon as you make your holiday deposits. The main part of the travel insurance, the cover for medical, delays, etc., is valid from the day of departure, but the cover for loss of deposits and non-refundable flight costs is valid from the day you take out the travel policy. Of course, you don’t plan to cancel your long-desired trip, but you can’t always predict the health of your nearest relatives or other unexpected events.

Think longer-term as well - if you are a frequent traveller, does it make more sense to take out an annual multi-trip policy rather than a standard policy? Depending on how long your trips are likely to be, an annual travel insurance policy can cover you for every trip you make throughout the year, including business travel.

For a younger person travelling in their gap year, they may need a policy that will cover them if they decide to work as part of their time overseas. Check to see whether it includes labouring work, as well as white-collar jobs. Many casual overseas jobs won’t include insurance in your remuneration package, so travel insurance cover is essential.

Whatever style or length of overseas trip you are planning, make sure that you include travel insurance in your “must-do” list - the sooner you buy it, the better!

Car Insurance

The Insurance companies ask for an awful lot of information when it comes to getting car insurance quotes. The level of detail required by the companies is all used to judge the risk you and your vehicle pose, and how likely it is you will make a claim. There are a lot of myths and rumours surrounding car insurance quotes however, most of which are utter rubbish. Here we dispel the fiction and reveal the truth behind your car insurance quote.

The Car Colour Makes a Difference

A common myth but utterly untrue; many people are led to believe that the colour of their car will have an effect on their car insurance quote. There are two schools of thought on colour affecting car insurance premiums. The first idea is that the popular car colours: silver, black and red are easier to sell on and hence hold their value much better. Higher value cars tend to have more expensive insurance quotes, and so the myth goes that if you want to get a cheap car insurance quote, buy a car in a lurid pink.

On the other hand, rumours would have you believe that unusual car colours by their rarity are much more expensive to repair if there is any body work damage, and hence insurance companies require a premium for buying a car in fluorescent yellow. Both explanations are completely false; car colour has no bearing whatsoever on your car insurance quote.

The Credit History Will Be Reviewed

Whilst this was certainly prevalent a few years ago, in most cases now car insurance companies will not check your credit rating. The advent of the internet has made car insurance a highly competitive market, and with so many companies out there, insurers are much less likely to take your credit history into account than they were in the past. Whilst it is true that you can receive a discount to your car insurance quote for paying upfront rather than in instalments, this is true for all customers and has nothing to do with credit rating.

Living in a Sunny Area Will Get Me a Cheaper Quote

The reasoning behind this perpetuated legend comes from the true fact that drivers are less likely to have an accident in clear and dry weather conditions. As the myth goes, if you live in an area which has historically better weather, you will on average have more days on the road with clear and dry driving conditions which means you should have fewer accidents as a result of your geographic location. This myth arises from confusion about one of the criteria asked for from insurance companies. When getting a car insurance quote, companies require you to provide an address because they monitor the average crime levels in your neighbourhood. The weather is of no consequence to your car insurance quote.

Life Insurance Sector

The experts within the life insurance industry have urged many potential customers to think again with regards to their insurance policies. They claim that there is generally no need to live without any type of life insurance policy in these uncertian times as there are so many variable types on offer.

The Types
For those looking for a bit of excitement and variety, there is the option of a Variable life policy, which encourages the customer to amass a sum of money in order for it to be invested in a stock offered by the given company. The amont payable would be based on how well the investment does.
Those looking for more traditional cover could choose a whole life cover which means you pay into a policy in order for it to be attributed out to a nominated beneficiary when you pass away.
Despite the variety and comprehensive cover on offer, the industry struggles to reach all of its intended audience.

Few
Only last year Norwich Union revealed the depressing news that over 20 million adults in Britain do not own a life insurance policy or any kind of protection cover.

The leading insurance company has warned that many of the population without life insurance policies are risking financial ruin by leaving their future up to chance.

The Research has shown that the main reason for not purchasing life insurance is that they either haven't thought about it or considered taking out a policy (37%).

Head of protection marketing at Norwich Union, Darren Dicks commented; "These findings are cause for concern as they suggest many people are taking an 'it won't happen to me' approach to protection. Around 52% of UK adults have no life cover at all and the remainder are either underinsured or unsure about what type of cover they hold."

Peace of mind
Everybody, particularly families, are being urged by leading insurance companies to protect their mortgage and their lifestyle with the appropriate insurance as the realities of the credit crunch begin to take effect.

American Home Owner Insurance

How To Save Approximately 20% With A Home Security Set-Up

The Personal security camera systems are getting more and more common place as price plus availability continue to improve. House holders and Business owners can benefit from installing these security cameras. House holders utilize personal security camera systems for several reasons. Safety is presumably high on that list. Supervising the safety of family members, specially small kids plus older members, the safety of dogs and the security of personal belongings give home owners sobering reasons to purchase private security camera systems.

The Security Cameras for the supervising of dogs and small kids are very simple and affordable to fit when only a small place is to be monitored. For instance, checking the babies room or the area where your dog passes their day when home owners are away can be set up with a computer and a webcam that sells for under 20 dollars.

The parents can quickly see when and how well an infant is snoozing, what kind of attention the infant receives when awake plus what kind of daily timetable is being observed.

Pet lovers will be able to look in on pets, checking movements and demeanor and recognize instantly if your dog becomes ill or is hurt in some manner.

We can use a personal security webcam system to keep an eye on senior moms and dads who rather to live by themselves and preserve their independence as much as possible yet might well have an fall or health emergencies.

House holders installing a personal security webcam system will be able to add a layer of protection affecting personal belongings while saving nearly 20 % on American family home insurance.

Start-up retail owners can benefit in several ways by installing a personal security webcam system. Business offices plus shop floors can be monitored for damage via misfortune, violation or even staff theft.

The security camera systems are available in all sizes, like simple to hide to simple to miss. Oftentimes the best personal security webcam system utilises a combination of sizes and types of webcam. Concealed security cameras can be installed to keep an eye on particular areas of the shop floor, specially those controlling sensitive information.

Bulkier security cameras can be installed in very visible places to deter burglaries, thievery and malicious mischief. Personal security cctv cameras come wired or wireless. Wired security cameras are generally installed by electricians or security service providers during the construction of your house or store.

The wireless security cameras can be installed whenever construction is completed and almost anyplace. These wireless security cameras are quickly added-to to include additional security cameras for more capabilities.

Nonobligatory plugins for personal security cctv cameras consist of motion sensors, smoke sensors, heat changes sensors and more.

Supervising of a personal cctv camera system can oftentimes be carried out by cellular phone, personal computer, plus other portable electronics plus by TV. House holders can capture webcam images digitally or on storage devices like a DVD or videocassette recorder. House holders that rather to do so can avail of a monitoring system which automatically notifies the authorities when alarms are activated.

The installation of a personal cctv camera system offers homeowners a means to keep an eye on the safety of loved ones, pets and belongings. Most American homeowners insurance companies grant discounts of up to 20 percent on property where a cctv camera system is used.

How Car Insurance Works

How Car Insurance Works

1. Introduction to How Car Insurance Works
2. Understanding Your Auto Insurance Needs
3. The Price of Auto Insurance
4. Car Insurance Deductibles
5. Lots More Information
6. See all Buying & Selling articles

Understanding Your Auto Insurance Needs

Just because your state requires a minimum amount of insurance doesn't mean that's exactly what you should purchase. In fact, most motorists purchase more coverage than their state requires so that they are covered for a variety of problems-not simply a fender bender. In order to better determine your auto insurance needs, consider these five guidelines:

To Know Your State Laws
Remember that forty-seven states require that you purchase liability insurance. Liability insurance is what pays for bodily injury and property damage that you cause another driver. Fifteen states including Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey also require that you buy Personal Injury Protection (PIP). This coverage pays for your medical expenses and lost wages in the event of an auto accident. Your insurance minimum will most likely be determined by state law, but many people are encouraged to purchase more than is required.

To Know Your Options
There are a lot of car insurance options; but knowing what you most likely will need is the key to making sure you are appropriately covered. Do you want coverage for a rental car if your car is damaged? Do you want an extended warranty to pay for parts and labor if your car breaks down? If your car is leased, you will probably need gap insurance which pays for the difference between what your insurer pays and what you owe on your lease if the car is completely totaled.

To Know How Much Money You Want to Spend
If you know your state laws and have examined your personal needs, now you can put together the different pieces of auto insurance coverage in one total policy. The first piece of the policy is almost always liability insurance. If you only have minimum liability coverage and you injure someone, their attorney can go after your personal assets. So, you need to know your assets and what you can afford to lose in the event of an accident. Many insurers feel that minimum liability is a gamble. In fact, that is why it is often only a little more money for more protection. After all, if you do get into an accident, it is much better for the insurance company to be responsible than for you to be personally responsible. Remember to run through various scenarios such as if I totaled someone else's car, will my insurance cover it? How much will I have to pay out of my own pocket? The answers to these types of questions will determine what coverage makes you feel most confident should an accident happen.

To Know Your Vehicle
If your car was totaled, would you be able to afford to replace it? If not, you will want comprehensive and collision coverage. The decision to buy this coverage is usually based on the value of your car. Guidelines usually suggest that if your car is worth less than $2,000, it won't be worth it to buy comprehensive and collision. If you own a $50,000 car though, it would most certainly be worth it to pay an extra $200 annually or so to insure that your car will be replaced if you get in a serious accident.

To Know About Your Other Insurance
Many people don't realize that other types of insurance including health insurance and homeowners insurance may pay for damages due to an auto accident. For instance, if you have comprehensive health coverage, you probably won't need more than the minimum required Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Make sure you know what insurance coverage you already have so that you don't purchase unnecessary coverage.

The best way to figure out your own auto insurance needs is to examine potential policies and know how much you are willing to gamble. For instance, it may not be worth it to you to purchase collision insurance if your car is not incredibly valuable and would therefore cost less to fix than to keep insured. Auto insurance is simply about how much you are willing to pay out of your own pocket versus how much you want the insurance company to cover. Once you decide this, you're all set to purchase your auto insurance policy.

The Price of Auto Insurance
There are several factors that affect the price of auto insurance. Of course, prices vary by company and you should compare prices thoroughly before you purchase a policy. The first thing that affects your policy's price is, of course, what kind of car you drive. For instance, a sports car costs more to insure than a family sedan. If you purchase a vehicle that has a high theft rate, your coverage will probably be more expensive. Essentially, though, your coverage will be based on the value of your car.

Other factor that affects auto insurance costs is where you live. If you live in an area where there is a high occurrence of accidents or vandalism, insurance will cost more money. For instance, since more cars are damaged in urban areas than in rural areas, you will probably pay more for insurance if you live in a city.

How often you drive will also affect your insurance costs. The more you drive, the higher the chances you will be an accident. Drivers who have long-distance commutes will pay more than people who live near their workplace. Meanwhile, if you only use your car on weekends, your insurance rates should be lower than someone who commutes to work daily.

The final factors that affect the price of auto insurance have to do with who you are. Your age, sex, marital status and driving record are all taken into account when you buy an insurance policy. Accident rates are higher for drivers under the age of 25, so if you are young, expect to pay a little more. Also, accident rates are higher for young males and single males. It doesn't seem fair, but if you are an unmarried 19-year-old male, your insurance rates will definitely be affected. If your driving record is impeccable, though, your rates will be lower. Obviously, drivers who are prone to traffic violations or accidents will have to pay more for insurance than safe drivers.

If these cost factors are beginning to scare you, don't worry. There are several ways to keep your insurance rates down.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my insurance go up if I have an accident or get a ticket?
Insurance companies charge higher rates to drivers with tickets and accidents because they are statistically higher risks. Claims statistics and studies by law enforcement agencies show that the chances of having an accident increases depending on how many tickets and accidents a driver has already had.

If I lend my car to a friend, is he or she covered under my insurance?
Most policies will cover drivers who have permission to use your auto. But check your policy, or ask your agent, to see if the conditions of your policy will change for drivers who are not regular operators of the car.

I have an older car whose value is very low - do I need insurance?
You should always have bodily injury and property damage. In most states you're legally required to carry a minimum amount.

Will my insurance cover my leased car if it is stolen or totaled in an accident?
Your insurance company should handle your claims the same way whether you own, lease or finance your car. But, make sure to check on your company's rules about leased cars.

What does my auto insurance policy cover when I rent a car?
It depends on your policy. The best thing is to review your policy or ask your insurance agent. For example, your policy may cover cars rented for pleasure, like vacations or special events, but not for business.

Tips For Obtaining Low Cost Home Insurance

Tips For Obtaining Low Cost Home Insurance

The low cost home insurance is not hard to find if you know how to find it and one of the best ways of doing so is to allow a specialist broker to search around on your behalf for the quotes. The quotes will be delivered to you and you do not even have to move out of your chair to get them. You can then take your time and compare those quotes from some of the top UK providers.

There are many ways that you can keep the cost of home insurance down and one of them is to increase the amount of excess you are willing to pay. All providers will add excess onto a policy which is the amount that you will have to pay towards a claim, if of course you make one. By offering to pay more for this excess you will save on the monthly premiums. However you will have to take into account that you would have to find the excess outright if you should need to make a claim.

The home insurance will include theft of items from your home so you can make savings on the premiums which allows you to obtain low cost home insurance the safer your home is. To do this you can install a good quality alarm on the property, install window locks and ensure your property is surrounded by good quality fencing.

The policy will also include loss of belongings by fire and again one way of cutting down the premiums could be by installing such as fire alarms. Often you will be asked if you smoke and non smokers might be offered cheaper premiums as they could be seen as less of a risk than those who smoke.

The premiums for home insurance are based on how much you wish to insure. If you were to take a wild guess and this guess is way over the cost of replacing all of your possession in the worst case scenario, you would be paying out for insurance you do not need. To ensure that you do not over insure yet do not under insure you need to take an inventory of all of your belongings. This means that you need to go around your home and jot down the cost of all items not forgetting such as possessions in the attic, cupboards or drawers. The figure you get to is the sum you need to insure against if the worst case scenario should happen and you lost all your belongings in a fire.

Finally, one way of obtaining low cost home insurance is to never just renew the policy year after year. Just because you got a great deal on your home insurance last year does not necessarily mean that you will get the best deal this year. Insurance brokers will usually increase their premiums each year and if you just renew you could find that you are paying well over the odds for your home insurance. Again allow a specialist broker to make a search for the lowest premiums and then compare the premiums at your leisure.

Young Driver Car Insurance

Young Driver Car Insurance - 5 Ways to Make It Affordable

Are you dreading the day when you have to add your teen to your car insurance policy? You have probably already heard nightmare stories from friends whose young driver car insurance resulted in a 50-100% increase in the family's overall premiums.

Many car insurance companies consider drivers under the age of 25 to be at much higher risk for vehicle-related accidents. And if you've driven by your local high school parking at 3:00 lately, you probably know too well the driving habits of young drivers. There are a few things you can do to help your teen become a safer and cheaper-to-insure young driver. The following five ideas will have a positive impact on your young driver car insurance rates:

1. Keep that driving record clean. Even one DUI infraction can multiply a young driver's car insurance premium by a factor of ten. And that's not just for one year. The increased annual premium is likely to stay in effect for three years, costing literally thousands of extra dollars in increased insurance premiums.

2. Keep those grades up. Some car insurance companies offer lower rates to young drivers who qualify as full-time high school or college students and maintain at least a 3.0 grade average. It doesn't hurt to ask about it when you're shopping for car insurance quotes!

3. Consider an accredited driver safety course for your young driver. Some insurance companies sponsor them locally, or check online with the National Safety Council. Your young driver might qualify for a car insurance discount, and is likely to become a safer driver in the process. A double win.

4. Consider a safer car. By avoiding sport cars, expensive cars, and SUV's your young driver may save up to 50% on car insurance premiums. Consider a newer model car with airbags as a cheaper, and safer, alternative for your teen.

5. Stuff the car with safety features. To keep your teen safe, and save on car insurance premiums, consider adding side-airbags, automatic seat belts, and anti-lock brakes to your young driver's vehicle.

By considering these five factors that affect young driver car insurance, you can make those teen years a little less expensive and a lot more enjoyable.

When you're ready to start shopping for young driver car insurance, consider getting multiple quotes from the online service recommended below. They provide at least five free quotes from major insurers.

Public policy

In the United Kingdom
The UK government introduced a law that required every person who used a vehicle on the road to have at least third party personal injury insurance in 1930.
UK law is defined by The Road Traffic Act 1988, which was last modified in 1991. The act requires that motorists either be insured, have a security, or have made a specified deposit (£500,000 as of 1991) with the Accountant General of the Supreme Court, against their liability for injuries to others (including passengers) and for damage to other persons' property resulting from use of a vehicle on a public road or in other public places.

The minimum level of insurance cover commonly available and which satisfies the requirement of the act is called third party only insurance. The level of cover provided by Third party only insurance is basic but does exceed the requirements of the act.

The Road Traffic Act Only Insurance is not the same as Third Party Only Insurance and is not often sold. It provides the very minimum cover to satisfy the requirements of the act.
For example Road Traffic Act Only Insurance has a limit of £250,000 for damage to third party property and does not cover emergency treatment fees. Third party insurance has a far greater limit for third party property damage and will cover emergency treatment fees.

It is an offence to drive a car, or allow others to drive it, without at least third party insurance whilst on the public highway (or public place Section 143(1)(a) RTA 1988 as amended 1991); however, no such legislation applies on private land.

The Vehicles which are exempted by the act, from the requirement to be covered, include those owned by certain councils and local authorities, national park authorities, education authorities, police authorities, fire authorities, heath service bodies and security services.

The insurance certificate or cover note issued by the insurance company constitutes legal evidence that the vehicle specified on the document is insured. The law says that an authorised person, such as the police, may require a driver to produce an insurance certificate for inspection.
If the driver cannot show the document immediately on request, then the driver will usually be issued a HORT/1 with seven days, as of midnight of the date of issue, to take a valid insurance certificate (and usually other driving documents as well) to a police station of the driver's choice. Failure to produce an insurance certificate is an offence.

If a vehicle has been substantially modified, the modifications must be notified to the insurer, otherwise the policy becomes invalid. In the case of a police check finding that the modifications have not been notified to the insurance companies, the driver would be prosecuted for the disclosed offence.

The Insurance is more expensive in Northern Ireland than in other parts of the UK.[vague][citation needed]

The most motorists in the UK are required to prominently display a vehicle licence (tax disc) on their vehicle when it is kept or driven on public roads. This helps to ensure that most people have adequate insurance on their vehicles because an insurance certificate must be produced when a disc is purchased.

The Motor Insurers Bureau compensates the victims of road accidents caused by uninsured and untraced motorists. It also operates the Motor Insurance Database, which contains details of every insured vehicle in the country.

Principles of insurance

Commercially insurable risks typically share seven common characteristics.

= A big number of homogeneous exposure units.
The vast majority of insurance policies are provided for individual members of very large classes. Automobile insurance, for example, covered about 175 million automobiles in the United States in 2004. The existence of a large number of homogeneous exposure units allows insurers to benefit from the so-called “law of large numbers,” which in effect states that as the number of exposure units increases, the actual results are increasingly likely to become close to expected results.
There are exceptions to this criterion. Lloyd's of London is famous for insuring the life or health of actors, actresses and sports figures.
Satellite Launch insurance covers events that are infrequent. Large commercial property policies may insure exceptional properties for which there are no ‘homogeneous’ exposure units. Despite failing on this criterion, many exposures like these are generally considered to be insurable.

= A Definite Loss.
The event that gives rise to the loss that is subject to the insured, at least in principle, take place at a known time, in a known place, and from a known cause.
The classic example is death of an insured person on a life insurance policy. Fire, automobile accidents, and worker injuries may all easily meet this criterion. Other types of losses may only be definite in theory. Occupational disease, for instance, may involve prolonged exposure to injurious conditions where no specific time, place or cause is identifiable. Ideally, the time, place and cause of a loss should be clear enough that a reasonable person, with sufficient information, could objectively verify all three elements.

= The Accidental Loss.
The event that constitutes the trigger of a claim should be fortuitous, or at least outside the control of the beneficiary of the insurance.
The loss should be ‘pure,’ in the sense that it results from an event for which there is only the opportunity for cost. Events that contain speculative elements, such as ordinary business risks, are generally not considered insurable.

= A big Loss.
The size of the loss must be meaningful from the perspective of the insured.
Insurance premiums need to cover both the expected cost of losses, plus the cost of issuing and administering the policy, adjusting losses, and supplying the capital needed to reasonably assure that the insurer will be able to pay claims.
For small losses these latter costs may be several times the size of the expected cost of losses. There is little point in paying such costs unless the protection offered has real value to a buyer.

= The affordable Premium.
If the likelihood of an insured event is so high, or the cost of the event so large, that the resulting premium is large relative to the amount of protection offered, it is not likely that anyone will buy insurance, even if on offer.
Further, as the accounting profession formally recognizes in financial accounting standards, the premium cannot be so large that there is not a reasonable chance of a significant loss to the insurer. If there is no such chance of loss, the transaction may have the form of insurance, but not the substance. (See the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board standard number 113)

= Calculable Loss.
There are two elements that must be at least estimable, if not formally calculable: the probability of loss, and the attendant cost. Probability of loss is generally an empirical exercise, while cost has more to do with the ability of a reasonable person in possession of a copy of the insurance policy and a proof of loss associated with a claim presented under that policy to make a reasonably definite and objective evaluation of the amount of the loss recoverable as a result of the claim.

= Limited risk of catastrophically large losses.
The essential risk is often aggregation. If the same event can cause losses to numerous policyholders of the same insurer, the ability of that insurer to issue policies becomes constrained, not by factors surrounding the individual characteristics of a given policyholder, but by the factors surrounding the sum of all policyholders so exposed.
Typically, insurers prefer to limit their exposure to a loss from a single event to some small portion of their capital base, on the order of 5 percent.
Where the loss can be aggregated, or an individual policy could produce exceptionally large claims, the capital constraint will restrict an insurer's appetite for additional policyholders.
The classic example is earthquake insurance, where the ability of an underwriter to issue a new policy depends on the number and size of the policies that it has already underwritten.
Wind insurance in hurricane zones, particularly along coast lines, is another example of this phenomenon.
In extreme cases, the aggregation can affect the entire industry, since the combined capital of insurers and reinsurers can be small compared to the needs of potential policyholders in areas exposed to aggregation risk.
In commercial fire insurance it is possible to find single properties whose total exposed value is well in excess of any individual insurer’s capital constraint. Such properties are generally shared among several insurers, or are insured by a single insurer who syndicates the risk into the reinsurance market.

Auto Insurance

Types of Insurance:
Auto Insurance

Any risk that can be quantified can potentially be insured. Specific kinds of risk that may give rise to claims are known as "perils".
The insurance policy will set out in detail which perils are covered by the policy and which are not. Below are (non-exhaustive) lists of the many different types of insurance that exist.
A single policy may cover risks in one or more of the categories set out below.
For example, auto insurance would typically cover both property risk (covering the risk of theft or damage to the car) and liability risk (covering legal claims from causing an accident).
A homeowner's insurance policy in the U.S. typically includes property insurance covering damage to the home and the owner's belongings, liability insurance covering certain legal claims against the owner, and even a small amount of coverage for medical expenses of guests who are injured on the owner's property.

The Business insurance can be any kind of insurance that protects businesses against risks.
Some principal subtypes of business insurance are (a) the various kinds of professional liability insurance, also called professional indemnity insurance, which are discussed below under that name; and (b) the business owner's policy (BOP), which bundles into one policy many of the kinds of coverage that a business owner needs, in a way analogous to how homeowners insurance bundles the coverages that a homeowner needs.

The Auto insurance

The Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy. Auto insurance provides property, liability and medical coverage:

1. The property coverage pays for damage to or theft of your car.
2. The Liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage.
3. The Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses.

An auto insurance policy is comprised of six different kinds of coverage. Most countries require you to buy some, but not all, of these coverages. If you're financing a car, your lender may also have requirements. Most auto policies are for six months to a year.

In the United States, your insurance company should notify you by mail when it’s time to renew the policy and to pay your premium.

Life Insurance

Life Insurance

The Life insurance provides a monetary benefit to a decedent's family or other designated beneficiary, and may specifically provide for income to an insured person's family, burial, funeral and other final expenses.
The Life insurance policies often allow the option of having the proceeds paid to the beneficiary either in a lump sum cash payment or an annuity.

The annuities provide a stream of payments and are generally classified as insurance because they are issued by insurance companies and regulated as insurance and require the same kinds of actuarial and investment management expertise that life insurance requires.
The annuities and pensions that pay a benefit for life are sometimes regarded as insurance against the possibility that a retiree will outlive his or her financial resources.
In that sense, they are the complement of life insurance and, from an underwriting perspective, are the mirror image of life insurance.

The Certain life insurance contracts accumulate cash values, which may be taken by the insured if the policy is surrendered or which may be borrowed against.
Some policies, such as annuities and endowment policies, are financial instruments to accumulate or liquidate wealth when it is needed.

In some countries, such as the U.S. and the UK, the tax law provides that the interest on this cash value is not taxable under certain circumstances. This leads to widespread use of life insurance as a tax-efficient method of saving as well as protection in the event of early death.

In U.S., the tax on interest income on life insurance policies and annuities is generally deferred. However, in some cases the benefit derived from tax deferral may be offset by a low return.
This depends upon the insuring company, the type of policy and other variables (mortality, market return, etc.).
Moreover, other income tax saving vehicles (e.g., IRAs, 401(k) plans, Roth IRAs) may be better alternatives for value accumulation. A combination of low-cost term life insurance and a higher-return tax-efficient retirement account may achieve better investment return.

The Life insurance or life assurance is a contract between the policy owner and the insurer, where the insurer agrees to pay a sum of money upon the occurrence of the insured individual's or individuals' death or other event, such as terminal illness or critical illness.
In return, the policy owner agrees to pay a stipulated amount called a premium at regular intervals or in lump sums.
There may be designs in some countries where bills and death expenses plus catering for after funeral expenses should be included in Policy Premium.
In the United States, the predominant form simply specifies a lump sum to be paid on the insured's demise.

The most insurance policies, life insurance is a contract between the insurer and the policy owner whereby a benefit is paid to the designated beneficiaries if an insured event occurs which is covered by the policy.

The value for the policyholder is derived, not from an actual claim event, rather it is the value derived from the 'peace of mind' experienced by the policyholder, due to the negating of adverse financial consequences caused by the death of the Life Assured.

Home Insurance.

Types of Insurance:
Home Insurance

The home insurance provides compensation for damage or destruction of a home from disasters.
In some geographical areas, the standard insurances excludes certain types of disasters, such as flood and earthquakes, that require additional coverage. Maintenance-related problems are the homeowners' responsibility.
The policy may include inventory, or this can be bought as a separate policy, especially for people who rent housing. In some countries, insurers offer a package which may include liability and legal responsibility for injuries and property damage caused by members of the household, including pets

The home insurance, also commonly called hazard insurance or homeowners insurance (often abbreviated in the real estate industry as HOI), is the type of property insurance that covers private homes.
It is an insurance policy that combines various personal insurance protections, which can include losses occurring to one's home, its contents, loss of its use (additional living expenses), or loss of other personal possessions of the homeowner, as well as liability insurance for accidents that may happen at the home.
It requires that at least one of the named insured occupies the home.
The dwelling policy (DP) is similar, but used for residences which don't qualify for various reasons, such as vacancy/non-occupancy, seasonal/secondary residence, or age.
It is a multiple line insurance, meaning that it includes both property and liability coverage, with an indivisible premium, meaning that a single premium is paid for all risks. Standard forms divide coverage into several categories, and the coverage provided is typically a percentage of Coverage A, which is coverage for the main dwelling.

The cost of homeowners insurance often depends on what it would cost to replace the house and which additional riders—additional items to be insured—are attached to the policy.
The insurance policy itself is a lengthy contract, and names what will and what will not be paid in the case of various events.
Typically, claims due to earthquakes, floods, "Acts of God", or war (whose definition typically includes a nuclear explosion from any source) are excluded.
Special insurance can be purchased for these possibilities, including flood insurance and earthquake insurance.
The insurance must be updated to the present and existing value at whatever inflation up or down, and an appraisal paid by the insurance company will be added on to the policy premium.
The fire insurance will require a special premium charge, plus the addition of smoke detectors and on site fire suppression systems to qualify.

The home insurance policy is usually a term contract—a contract that is in effect for a fixed period of time. The payment the insured makes to the insurer is called the premium.
The insured must pay the insurer the premium each term. Most insurers charge a lower premium if it appears less likely the home will be damaged or destroyed: for example, if the house is situated next to a fire station, if the house is equipped with fire sprinklers and fire alarms.
The perpetual insurance, which is a type of home insurance without a fixed term, can also be obtained in certain areas.

In the United States, most home buyers borrow money in the form of a mortgage loan, and the mortgage lender always requires that the buyer purchase homeowners insurance as a condition of the loan, in order to protect the bank if the home were to be destroyed.
Everybody with an insurable interest in the property should be listed on the policy. In some cases the mortgagee will waive the need for the mortgagor to carry homeowner's insurance if the value of the land exceeds the amount of the mortgage balance.
In a case like this even the total destruction of any buildings would not affect the ability of the lender to be able to foreclose and recover the full amount of the loan.

The insurance crisis in Florida has meant that some waterfront property owners in that state have had to make that decision due to the high cost of premiums.

Auto Insurance Company

Auto Insurance Company - What to Look for in an Auto Insurance Company

Choosing an auto insurance company is a decision that can either save you, or cost you, several hundred dollars per year. You would think that finding a car insurance company would not be too difficult. After all how different can they be? It turns out they can be very different as many drivers would be happy to attest.

The automobile insurance company you choose should have competitive rates, responsive customer service, and an efficient claims process. Finding this information is easier than it has ever been due to the wealth of information that exists on the Internet.

Finding this information online can be done by most people fairly easily. It is easy enough to find the price for auto insurance from each company by visiting an automobile quote web site. The prices will be displayed in a few minutes after answering a few questions.

The level of customer service is also easy enough to gauge just by making a few simple phone calls. By calling a prospective auto insurance claims department you will get a good feel for how the company does business. Feel free to ask them any questions you may have. After speaking to each company you will have a very good idea on what you can expect from the company after you purchase a policy.

The last piece of information can be a little bit harder to find, but it is definitely out there and worth finding. The claims process is the hardest thing most people will do with their insurance company. If the process goes smoothly and the car is repaired quickly you will be very satisfied, but if there is a problem it will sour your experience with the auto insurance company that you do business with.

As you can see shopping for auto insurance can be a difficult process. By using the above mentioned tips you will save the most money and have the most peace of mind after purchasing your auto insurance policy.

Classic Car Insurance

Classic Car Insurance - 6 Questions to Ask Before You Apply

Let's take a minute before you pick up the phone, to review the six questions you need to consider before you talk with an agent.

The 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 mileage limitations. 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.

How To Find The Right Health Insurance Plan

The Health Insurance 101
It can be scary to get sick, with the doctor's visits, medication and the feeling that you don't quite know exactly what is going on.

However, possibly more frightening than that is going through all that without the safety net of health insurance to lighten the amount of medical costs you will incur through inevitable treatment and care.

There are roughly 46 million people in the U.S. currently living with no health insurance, and while the government is working on a way to reform the healthcare industry, a new kind of healthcare plan may still be a couple of years away.

For the uninitiated, this may be a good time to get familiar with the basics of healthcare because aside from some its confusing aspects, it's more important to live with health insurance than live without it.

Do I need healthcare insurance?
Without health insurance, a person or family may be forced to incur the full costs of their doctor's visits and hospitalizations, which can quickly accumulate to a small fortune. Also, it isn't enough to just get treatment when you are sick. Preventative care is another important element of healthcare and could save on costs in the future.

Getting regular checkups and physicals with a doctor within your healthcare network can ensure that you are keeping an eye on your body and maintain optimal health.

The last, people who are under a health insurance plan will pay less for doctor's visits and hospitalizations when compared to people who are not enrolled in a plan. And given the current state of the economy, isn't the name of the game being fiscally responsible?

How does this system work?
In a typical healthcare plan, which is called a fee-to-service plan, an enrollee pays a monthly premium (which is like a monthly subscription for a certain service) and when the patient has to visit a doctor or a hospital, the health insurance provider pays a portion of the bill.

Which plan is for me?
A Good question and it's one that only you can answer since there's a lot of different factors that go into choosing a healthcare plan.

One thing to keep in mind is a term called "pre-existing conditions." If you had a known illness or injury prior to you signing up for healthcare, it may affect your coverage. Some plans only consider a condition pre-existing if treatment was involved. Other plans may have a wider definition.

It's important to determine what exactly you need from a healthcare plan. Older people may want coverage that includes surgeries and prescription medication while younger people may be more inclined to embrace a plan that's more about preventative care.

Another element to factor in is whether or not you have a certain doctor you are comfortable with or a family doctor who knows your medical history well. Some healthcare plans have specific networks that only allow you to visit certain doctors, while others allow you to see whoever you choose.

The co-pay may be a bit higher for the out-of-network physician, but if it's with someone you trust, it may be worth it.

If you are between jobs and waiting for the start of your coverage from another health insurance, or if you are on strike or laid off, or if you are a seasonal employee or recent college graduate and your need is for only a specific period of time, short term health insurance may be a great option for you.

Who has these plans?
Most people in the U.S. get their healthcare insurance through the company they work for, which most likely has a relationship with a certain healthcare insurance provider.

However, some people like to investigate the kind of coverage a different provider has or may want to have health insurance that isn't tied to their job, in case they leave that company or get laid off.

In that case, some people have employed a health insurance agent to help them determine which public healthcare plan might be best for them.

Staying with the same healthcare plan may also help people avoid experiencing gaps in coverage if they lose their job. Gaps in coverage can be a potentially dangerous situation because you will be solely responsible for any medical bills.

Tips For Obtaining Low Cost Home Insurance

The low cost home insurance is not hard to find if you know how to find it and one of the best ways of doing so is to allow a specialist broker to search around on your behalf for the quotes. The quotes will be delivered to you and you do not even have to move out of your chair to get them. You can then take your time and compare those quotes from some of the top UK providers.

There are many ways that you can keep the cost of home insurance down and one of them is to increase the amount of excess you are willing to pay. All providers will add excess onto a policy which is the amount that you will have to pay towards a claim, if of course you make one. By offering to pay more for this excess you will save on the monthly premiums. However you will have to take into account that you would have to find the excess outright if you should need to make a claim.

The home insurance will include theft of items from your home so you can make savings on the premiums which allows you to obtain low cost home insurance the safer your home is. To do this you can install a good quality alarm on the property, install window locks and ensure your property is surrounded by good quality fencing.

A policy will also include loss of belongings by fire and again one way of cutting down the premiums could be by installing such as fire alarms. Often you will be asked if you smoke and non smokers might be offered cheaper premiums as they could be seen as less of a risk than those who smoke.

The premiums for home insurance are based on how much you wish to insure. If you were to take a wild guess and this guess is way over the cost of replacing all of your possession in the worst case scenario, you would be paying out for insurance you do not need. To ensure that you do not over insure yet do not under insure you need to take an inventory of all of your belongings. This means that you need to go around your home and jot down the cost of all items not forgetting such as possessions in the attic, cupboards or drawers. The figure you get to is the sum you need to insure against if the worst case scenario should happen and you lost all your belongings in a fire.

Finally one way of obtaining low cost home insurance is to never just renew the policy year after year. Just because you got a great deal on your home insurance last year does not necessarily mean that you will get the best deal this year. Insurance brokers will usually increase their premiums each year and if you just renew you could find that you are paying well over the odds for your home insurance. Again allow a specialist broker to make a search for the lowest premiums and then compare the premiums at your leisure.

Your Move, Your Car Insurance and You

Part of the beauty of living in a country that has fifty states rather than just one is the fact that you're free to move from place to place without having to spend hours (and dollars) convincing some government bigwigs to give you permission to do it. If you want to pack your bags and move from New York to San Francisco all you have to do is look for an apartment. You cut off your electric, turn on your California phone number…and make some changes in your car insurance.

The car insurance, like many other things, is regulated by state rather than federal government. That means that the regulations that dictate how much, how little and what kind of coverage you're required to have are going to change dramatically as you travel from the east coast to the west-and if you're not ready for it you may find yourself underinsured when the time comes.

The first thing you should do when you hop state lines (after you find your plates and cups, of course, is find out what the mandatory state limits are for minimum coverage. Your mandatory minimum coverage (also known as minimum liability coverage) is the amount of money your insurance company will pay out if you're involved in an accident.

The first number represents the bodily injury liability maximum coverage for a single person injured in an accident; for example, if you were driving and hit a car holding a driver and no passengers that would be the amount your car insurance provider would pay to cover their medical bills and any recuperative therapy. The second number stands for bodily injury liability for two or more people; in other words, any passengers in their car (or yours) injured as a result of the accident. In the example above (which is the actual minimum insurance requirement guideline for the state of Alabama) the insurance company will pay up to $50,000 in medical bills.

The third number shows how much your insurance company will pay for any property damaged-other vehicles, guard rails, street signs, street lights (yes, it's actually happened-something other than a tractor-trailer successfully sent a street light crashing to the ground after an accident), gas station windows or anything else that happened to get in the way.

These liability minimums are going to change from state to state, meaning you'd be wise to find out what your new state minimums are before contacting your insurer. Your old policy limits might not be up to par for your new home, and while most agents will be able to advise you on what changes you need to make to your policies every once in a while a new agent will slip through the cracks and sell you a policy that doesn't meet state standards. Unfortunately, that's still going to be considered your fault-even if you asked.

There are plenty of resources available on the web that will help you find your state's guidelines. Once you have those numbers in hand you'll officially be ready to become a resident of Monkey's Eyebrow, Arizona-or anyplace else you want to call home.

Auto Insurance for Teenagers

Teenagers looking for cheap auto insurance rates can complete a quotes comparison and sort out the companies which will offer low prices in a matter of minutes. Thanks to automated online technology, teens can answer a set of questions to get instant quotations from many recognizable brands offering a large variety and types of coverage.

Compare rates, then buy online to get proof of car insurance:
Teenagers who saved on auto insurance.

Why is it important for a teenager to compare car insurance rates:

When it comes to teenagers, getting rates from a variety of carriers is important because it helps locate those who offer a cheaper rate to teens. In reality, some companies even target the teenage drivers because they are profitable in the young driver category. In the other hand, some coverage providers let you know that they find you too risky by quoting an outrageous premium.

OnlineAutoInsurance.com offers instant auto insurance rates from a group of companies who are quite competitive in the teen category. Give it a shot, it only takes a few minutes to compare side by side prices from popular insurers.Parent and teenage driver.
For Parents:
Is it cheaper to add me to my parent's policy or get my own? The best way to answer that question is to get quotes from other companies to see the insurer to offer cheaper auto insurance for the desired coverage. Simply enter zip code above to begin providing the basic information needed for a teenager's quotes from multiple companies.

Frequently asked questions by teen's parents:

Should I add my child to my policy or have them open a new one? - Adding your child to your current auto insurance policyDetermining whether you should add a child to your current auto insurance policy or have them open a policy independently depends on a few factors. First of all, it is a good idea to have your agent or carrier give you a quote for the addition of the child. Remember that if you have multiple vehicles on your policy, he may cause an increase in premium for all vehicles on the policy.

What Kind of Car Should My Teen Drive?

Nothing beats the thrill of being handed your first set of keys to go out for a spin. Most parents teach their child to drive in their own car, while others opt to purchase a vehicle that will be deemed as the teenager’s. Parents do their best to set ground rules for the new driver such as setting curfews, weekly mileage limits, and requesting insurance money from the teenager. They do their best to explain the traffic laws and enforce driving the speed limit. One additional safety measure we can take is thoughtfully deciding what car the teen will drive. Whether the new driver will be driving the car every day or just once a week, the vehicle needs to be in safe and good working condition. There are a few factors to consider when deciding which vehicle to allow your child to operate on the roads.

Year of the vehicle
The year the vehicle was manufactured has a great deal to do with how safe it is. For instance, beginning in September of 2007, it was required that all seatbelts in a vehicle be a three-point belt, which is a lap belt and a belt across the chest. Before then, middle seats in the back seat of a car were permitted to only have lap belts. Some older cars have a stationary lap belt with a moving chest belt (when you close the door the chest belt moves towards you) in the driver and passenger seats. These are not as safe as a stationary three-point belt.

The year of the vehicle also indicates the use of airbags. Consider your child being hit by another driver; would you want airbags in just the front or would you prefer side airbags as well? Until 1995, airbags were not mandatory in trucks, so some do not have them. Some vehicles are equipped with side curtain airbags, rear curtain airbags, knee airbags, and even roll-sensing side curtain airbags found in some SUVs.

Obviously, the age of the vehicle will predict how much work it will need in the future. You may find it difficult to find replacement parts for some older cars, and you might find yourself needing to fix an older vehicle more often than a newer vehicle.

Make and model of the vehicle
Some of the manufacturers that produce vehicles are known to offer a quality car that will run for many years and only needs the basic tuning. There are other manufactures that people know to be leery of, having a reputation of faulty parts and weak abilities. Finding a manufacturer, or make, of a vehicle that will keep you from worrying about the car falling apart after a few months of use is a way of knowing you’ve purchased a safe vehicle.

The model of the car is also important. For example, a Subaru Forrester wouldn’t get a male teenager in as much trouble with traffic violations as a Subaru WRX. A sportier car will be driven faster just because it can be driven faster. While both models are safe cars from Subaru, you typically wouldn’t see a teen racing around in a Forrester, but you can bet you’d see the teen become a lead-foot in the WRX. Do the smart thing and avoid allowing your teenager to drive a car that invites speeding or other reckless driving.

You will also want to consider a model that is mid-sized or larger. It may not be very safe to let a new driver behind the wheel of a monstrous SUV, but it is definitely a safety hazard to allow a teen to drive something very small. There is little protection in a small, two-door vehicle, despite its being cheap to buy and inexpensive for gas. Teenagers don’t have the experience needed to quickly maneuver around a semi-truck or other large vehicle if in distress.

Safety features
Many cars on the road today offer safety features. These features are both passive and active safety devices. Earlier mentioned were seatbelts and airbags, an active and passive safety device respectively. These two features save thousands of lives each year when used correctly. Encourage (and maybe demand) your teen driver to fasten the seatbelt before the engine of the vehicle is even started. Also have your teen pass this rule on to any passengers coming along. An anti-lock break system is another safety feature you may require for your teen’s car.

Price
The price of your teen’s car will probably factor into your decision, but every parent will have a differing opinion here. Some parents will outright purchase the car for the teen, while other parents require the teen to purchase their own vehicle. The third group of parents offer to help pay for the car by either matching what the teen has saved or by giving a flat rate. Whichever group you fall into, remember that cheaper cars are older cars, and older cars tend to have more problems and are less safe. Teenage drivers need vehicles that will be dependable and offer safety, not only for their wellbeing but also for the wellbeing of the other drivers on the road.

Cost of Insurance
Teenagers are one of the most expensive groups of drivers to insure. Because of their lack of experience and relative inability to make good judgments quickly, they are involved in more traffic violations and accidents. Companies rate auto insurance for teenagers as high risk, meaning they pose a higher risk of filing a claim than an older driver.

Each vehicle costs a different amount to insure. Safer vehicles cost less to insure, but newer vehicles cost more than older vehicles to insure. When deciding which car to allow your teenager to drive, talk with your auto insurance agent and find out which car out of your possible choices would fit your budget best.

Because every family is different, there may be additional factors determining which car to allow the teenager to drive. These are only the basics to consider. This decision is an important one, but the more important thing to consider is whether or not your teenager is ready to operate a vehicle without a parent’s supervision. Putting a mature teenage driver behind the wheel of a safe vehicle is the best chance to avoid any accident situations.

How is My Policy Premium Determined?

Do you really think your auto insurance policy premium is just a random number the insurance company came up with? Of course it isn’t. There’s a method behind the madness of figuring out someone’s policy. The catch is, every company figures the numbers a little differently. There are a few main items that affect your rates, and once you know them, you can work at improving those factors to the best they can be so you can be sure to get low rates. Here’s a list of 9 things that factor into your auto insurance premium:

Driving Record: Isn’t it obvious that your past performance behind the wheel indicates what you are likely to do in the future? Auto insurance companies seem to think so. If you have a driving record full of past traffic violations and accidents, you are sure to see a higher premium than someone who does not have a list of offenses. Even if you have made the decision to drive better from now on, you will still need to prove this to the insurance company by having a certain time period (12 months or longer) free from any incidents. Anyone who has a clean driving record will get a better premium price.

Vehicle’s location: Where you drive your car on a regular basis and the location where it is parked when it’s not in use is a vital part of determining your premium. If you are driving your car or storing it in a location where there is a high crime rate, you will be paying more for auto insurance because there is an increased risk your vehicle will be stolen or vandalized, which will end up with you making a claim to the insurance company. Parking your car over night in a locked garage in a low crime suburb will give you a cheaper premium than parking the car on the street in the city during the night.

Credit score: Believe it or not, your credit score has an affect on your premium. You may begin to wonder what the correlation between credit scores and driving have with each other. Truth is, there is little direct connection. A bad driver could have a really good credit score, but unfortunately, on average this is not the case. Most people with bad credit also have a bad driving history. Auto insurers are led to believe that people who have a good credit score (or higher) are more responsible and cautious in general, including in their driving habits. Therefore, people with good credit are probably going to be filing less claims.

Age of driver: The age of the driver plays a tremendous role in the cost of the premium. The older the driver, the more experienced the driver is, which theoretically means the less chance there is of that driver filing a claim with the insurer. Young drivers don’t have the same level of know-how in dangerous situations on the road, and they tend to not see everything going on. Younger drivers are also seen as carefree and a bit irresponsible. These young drivers are eligible for discounts if they receive good grades, showing their level of responsibility.

Car: The make, model, and year of your vehicle is also an important factor in determining a driver’s rates. Think of it as the more the car is worth, the more insurance you will be paying to drive it because it costs more to replace if it’s damaged. To compare, think about driving a Porsche or BMW versus a Hyundai. The Hyundai is worth much less to replace than the Porsche or BMW, whether it is just a replacement part or replacing the entire car. If you want to keep your rates down, drive a modest car that is a few years old.

Mileage: When requesting a quote from any auto insurance company, you are asked how many miles you drive, or how many you estimate you’ll be driving in the next year. This is because the number of miles driven affects the premium. The thought here is the more miles you drive, the more you are on the road and the higher the risk is that you will be requesting a claim from the insurer. Anyone who is commuting every day of the week has a greater chance of being involved in an accident or receiving a traffic violation. A person who rarely drives has less of a chance.

Coverage purchased: Each coverage offered to drivers costs an additional amount and is added to the total policy cost. While some coverage options, like bodily injury liability and property damage liability, are necessary to drive legally in the United States, other coverage options are just that - options. By carefully reading through and understanding which additional coverage options you want to add or take off, you can increase or decrease your premium accordingly. Although it’s tempting to only carry the absolute minimum coverage on your policy, it may be wise to rethink and purchase a little more so you are better protected.

Deductible: For an auto insurance policy, each driver is given the choice of how much deductible should be included. A deductible is the dollar amount the policyholder needs to pay to the insurance company before the insurance company will pay for medical bills or repairs. The deductible amount varies, but it’s typically $250, $500, or $1,000. It could be even more with some insurance companies. When the policyholder chooses a high deductible, the insurance company lowers the premium because the policyholder is taking on more financial responsibility for accident-related expenses.

Marital Status: It’s true that married individuals pay less for auto insurance than their single friends. Insurance companies do not favor someone who is married over someone who is not; there is simply a strategy behind it. Insurers believe that someone who is married will take fewer risks because of their spouse. These fewer risks include driving safer when the spouse is also in the car.

There are other factors that determine an auto policy’s premium. You can always talk to your insurer to find out what else goes into making your premium. Some of these factors are easily changed, while others aren’t. Do what you can to make changes in your life so your premiums will decrease.

10 Ways to Save on Auto Insurance

Saving on auto insurance Looking for ways to cut back on living expenses? How about decreasing the amount of money you are spending on auto insurance? If you didn’t think there was any hope in saving money in this area of life, think again. There are quite a few ways to reduce the cost of your auto insurance. Read on for some saving methods:

Tip #1: Shop around
It’s no secret that the company offering the cheapest insurance rates usually wins the customer. Auto insurance companies take this into serious consideration as they make their decision in how much to charge a customer. They know that if you find a cheaper rate for the same coverage, you are most likely going to switch companies. You can use our site by entering in your information and we will provide quotes for insurance coverage from different auto insurers. If you happen to find a cheaper policy elsewhere, go to your current insurer and let them know. They may be willing to match it.

Tip #2: Drive safe
The more often a driver is issued a traffic ticket, the more money that driver will pay towards auto insurance. The same is true for accidents, too. By having these marks on a driving record, an auto insurer will view you as a risky driver, and risky drivers pay higher auto insurance premiums. If you want to pay a lower premium, you will need to clean up your driving record and keep it clean. With no accidents or tickets on your record you can rest assured you are getting a great rate from your insurer.

Tip #3: Get good grades
If you are the parent of a driving student, encourage your child to get good grades as this will lower their insurance rate and save you money. Teenaged drivers are very expensive to insure, and by getting B’s or better on their report card they will show they are more likely to think better in a stressful situation behind the wheel, and therefore have less accidents and make less claims to the insurer.

Tip #4: Take a class
Auto insurance companies offer different classes to drivers to help better the knowledge and driving skills of their clients. It is thought that after a driver passes these classes, the driver will practice more caution on the road, which leads to a decrease in making claims for accidents. Some of these classes include a defensive driving class that trains behind the wheel, while other classes are offered inside a classroom. There are classes that can teach you how to drive a large van and there are classes offered where the instructor will work with you one-on-one. Proof of passing the class will get you a discount on your premium.

Tip #5: Store your vehicle
You’ll notice as you give your information regarding your vehicle to potential auto insurers, they want to know your zip code and the place in which you park your vehicle at night when it’s not in use. This is because the location of your parked vehicle factors into your rates. If you live in an area where the crime rate is high, you are going to be charged more for your premium, and if you park your car in the street you will also pay more. Keeping your car parked in a locked garage in an area with low to no crime will get you cheap insurance.

Tip #6: Safety features
Having safety features on your vehicle will also save you money on auto insurance. These safety features include the VIN number etched into your windshield and other places of your car, having a car alarm, and having low-jack or other theft-prevention system installed to locate a missing car are just a few of the possible safety features that will help prevent your car from being stolen or will help track down and recover your car if it is ever stolen. An insurer views these features as helping a vehicle and owner possibly making less claims for a stolen vehicle.

Tip #7: Keep all owned vehicles on one policy
If you have more than one vehicle in use in your household, you will want to consider placing all of the vehicles on one policy. By adding your new spouse’s vehicle or your teenager’s car to your existing policy, you will save money compared to putting those vehicles on their own separate policy.

Tip #8: Take the bus
Auto insurance companies also base your rates on the number of miles you drive per year. They figure the more mileage you put on your car, the more frequently you are on the road. This leads to an increase in accidents and traffic tickets, and possibly more claims will be made to the insurer. Another way to save on auto insurance is by driving your vehicle less. Take the bus to work or carpool with others to your destination. By doing this you will also save on gas and the wear and tear of your car.

Tip #9: Get a cheaper car
Some cars are more expensive to insure than others. More specifically, vehicles that are brand new, SUVs, or flashy sports cars will cost more to insure than a vehicle that is more used and modest in nature. When you are comparing cars to purchase, give your insurer a call and ask what the estimated rates would be to insure those cars. There may be a major difference between the estimated rates and you could prevent a huge disappointment by making that call. It will also be much cheaper to insure your teenage driver if you allow them to drive an older and modest car as well.

Tip #10: Increase your deductible
Most auto insurance policies allow the driver to choose the deductible amount. This amount is the dollar price you would pay out-of-pocket in the event you need to make a claim. The insurance company will cover the rest of the cost, up to the amount you have already purchased. Deductibles usually range in the amounts of $250, $500, to $1,000, and may even go higher. When you choose to only carry a $250 deductible, you will pay higher insurance rates compared to if you carried $1,000 for your deductible. Find out the difference in cost and see if it’s worth having a higher deductible amount to save money on your policy.

There is no magic way to easily get cheap auto insurance, but with a little work on your end you will be able to find a way to lower your rates and pay a premium cost that is more manageable for your budget.

Why Would My Car Insurance Company Cancel My Policy?

It is possible for an auto insurance company to cancel a driver’s policy without obtaining permission from the driver. Some drivers believe the contract between the company and the driver will only be canceled upon the request of the driver, but this is not completely true. An auto insurer may terminate the auto policy at their discretion. The law of every state is that all drivers must hold proof of financial responsibility, or a form of auto insurance, to operate a vehicle on main roads. If a driver is found without auto insurance (or the equivalent) that driver will be held accountable and will be punished with fines, the suspension of the vehicle or license, or even prison. Each driver needs to be aware of the current status of their auto policy as often as possible.

Fortunately, an insurer cannot decide to stop providing insurance to a person without first notifying the policyholder. An auto insurance company is required to send a notice to your address they have on file at least ten days before the policy is to be canceled. This notice will inform the policyholder of the cancellation date and the reason why the insurance company is terminating the policy. This time period allows the driver to receive the notice and contact the company to resolve the issue before the policy is canceled. If the driver wants the policy canceled, simply waiting until that given date and doing nothing will automatically cancel the policy.

There are legit reasons as to why an insurer would cancel a policy. All drivers carrying auto insurance should be aware of reasons an auto insurance company may cancel their policy. Most of the reasons pertain to the driver who is insured and their actions.

An insurer can cancel a policy because of late or not paid bills. When the premium bill is disregarded and not paid, the auto insurance company will cancel the policy because they do not believe they should insure the driver when the driver is not paying for that protection. Making your premium payment on time or early will guarantee your insurer to not terminate your policy on account of late or missed payments. Any driver who struggles to make payments on time might want to consider paying the premium in one lump sum instead of making monthly payments, or contact your insurer about an automatic bill pay through either their site or your bank.

Any driver who has experienced this may easily be able to fix the problem with a phone call to the insurer and paying the bill right then.

Another valid reason an insurer can cancel a policy is due to misrepresentation or fraud. By claiming something to be true when it isn’t, the auto insurance company can void the policy. This is why it is important that when providing information to your auto insurance company, you give the honest truth. If you park your vehicle on the street but claim to park it in a locked garage, you are providing false information. When the insurance company finds out about the misrepresentation, they can cancel your policy.

All potential customers are asked to give information regarding themselves and the vehicle they wish to insure when applying for a policy. Auto insurance companies take the provided information and use it to determine the premium cost for that policy. There are certain things that cause a premium to increase or decrease. Take the example mentioned above. The person whose vehicle is parked in a locked garage will pay less for auto insurance than the person whose vehicle is parked in the street. An auto insurance company is willing to provide cheaper rates to the locked garage because that person is making an effort to keep the car safe. Auto insurance companies do not like to be lied to.

A third possibility for the cancellation of a policy by the insurer is when the driver has been deemed too dangerous to insure by the company. Any time a policy is formed or renewed, the insurance company assigns a level of risk to each driver. As the level of risk increases, so do the premium prices. (The level of risk indicates predictions made by the insurer that the driver will make a claim.) Each time a driver is involved in an accident, the level of risk increases. This is also true for receiving traffic tickets since people only receive traffic tickets when they are not obeying traffic laws. Don’t worry too much if you are involved in one accident or traffic ticket though. As long as these are very infrequent or never, you will not need to worry about the insurance company canceling your policy.

A more serious situation would involve driving under the influence, or a DUI. Participating in this act may cause serious accidents or even death, and the penalties for driving drunk are expensive. An auto insurance company may not be too forgiving about receiving even one of these offenses.

If your policy has already been canceled or not renewed by the insurance company, you will need to find another auto insurance company or contact your previous insurer to reinstate your coverage. The quicker this is done, the better. Auto insurance companies look at the length of the policy lapse and may charge more for you to have auto insurance again. Auto insurance companies are very particular about how safe and responsible a driver is, and showing a long gap between your previous policy and this new one will show them a lack of responsibility.

By the time you have new auto insurance coverage, you will be set and legal to drive again. Sometimes little mistakes, such as forgetting to pay one bill on time, are no big deal IF they rarely happen and are resolved quickly. The trouble really begins when those little mistakes occur over and over again, and it becomes apparent that you are not as responsible as once thought by the insurer.