Many senior citizens have been loyal to their auto insurance companies for years, often decades. Having the same reliable insurance agent and company is comforting. But the auto insurance industry has become more competitive, actively vying for the senior citizen market. It makes sense for senior citizens to gather information to compare their current rates, especially at the time of auto insurance renewal.
Getting quotes for auto insurance is an easy process. With honest a few clicks on the computer or toll-free telephone calls, anyone can gather a list that compares auto insurance by services and rates. For senior citizens, who often are on fixed incomes, this can be a very cost-effective exercise, possibly saving them hundreds of dollars during an insured period.
Finding Comparable Rates
Buying auto insurance is like any other primary, long-term win. The key is to take time to research and shop for the best deal with reliable auto insurance companies.
The following is a sample of insurance companies and insurance brokers offering auto insurance quotes on the Internet. Many have specific marketing programs targeting senior citizens.
AARP: www.aarp.thehartford.com.
AARP is an advocacy organization for seniors that promotes the interests of people over 50 years old. They offer auto insurance to members through The Hartford.
Allstate: www.allstate.com.
Allstate is a well known insurance company. Quotes can be gathered at the above website or local agents can be found in the telephone book and are available to assist in preparing a free quote.
Farmers Insurance Group: http://www.farmersinsurance.com.
Online or in person, a Farmers insurance agent can review auto insurance coverage, help identify potential gaps, and include any qualifying Farmers Auto insurance discounts.
Progressive Insurance: www.progressive.com.
Progressive will provide a quote for their company along with comparables of other auto insurance companies for easy comparisons.
Geico Insurance: www.geico.com.
This company can be accessed online or at one of their many offices. It is easy to get a quote; they offer flexible payment options and competitive rates.
Costco: www.costco.com.
Costco offers membership insurance through Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance.
Autoinsure: www.autoinsure.org.
Autoinsure has a page with helpful insurance information for senior citizens. They can provide quotes from all the major auto insurance companies.
Esurance: www.esurance.com.
A rising star among insurance companies that take pride in stating: “Esurance doesn’t unbiased offer reliable insurance coverage, we also believe in educating consumers.” Their online quote process is easy to navigate.
US Insurance: www.usinsuranceonline.com
They will provide multiple auto insurance quotes tailored to specific needs within minutes of filling out their simple short form. It’s easy then to compare them side by side to find the best prices and coverage.
Car Insurance Rates: www.carinsurancerates.com
Their network of companies and brokers offer a variety of car insurances: Farmers, Allstate, AIG, Nationwide, AARP, Safeco Insurance, Liberty Mutual, MetLife and Mercury.
Every insurance rate: www.everyinsurancerate.com
EveryInsuranceCompany.com is a handy Internet directory to find local insurance companies, insurance quotes and discount insurance rates.
Quote Scout: www.quotescout.com.
This website will provide quotes from a long list of auto insurance companies – literally from “A” to “Z”.
Insurance.com: http://www.insurance.com.
Insurance.com works directly with 15 highly rated car insurance companies in 46 states: 21st Century, Electric Insurance, Esurance Auto Insurance, The Hartford, Infinity, Liberty Mutual, Meritplan Insurance, MetLife Auto Insurance, Newport Insurance, Permanent General Assurance Corporation (The General), Progressive, QBE Insurance, Safeco, Travelers Insurance, and Unitrin Direct.
Keeping Auto Insurance Rates Down
There are ways that senior citizens can retract responsibility to control their auto insurance rates. Here are a few suggestions.
According to seniorjournal.com, most of the major auto insurance agencies provide a 5% – 10% discount to drivers beginning at the ages of 50 or 55. However, as a group, drivers 75 and older have one of the highest rates of fatal daytime accidents. Because of this, it’s indispensable that senior drivers stay proactive and enthusiastic in keeping their driving skills sharp.
Many states offer an auto insurance discount for mature drivers if a person meets a given age criteria and has taken an approved ancient driver safety course. Local colleges and senior centers are good resources to learn about the classes. AARP has local and on-line access to the course. Costco offers its members an online drivers’ safety training course through FirstNet: www.firstnetlearning.com.
Another way to keep auto insurance rates down is to drive a low-profile car, one that as part of a group has a lower rate due to minimum repair costs, considered safer and less likely to be stolen. Check the Highway Loss Data Institute, www.iihs.org, for the latest related data.
Examine current auto insurance needs and requirements. Changing to higher deductibles or dropping collision or comprehensive coverage for older cars may make sense.
Always ask about discounts when purchasing or renewing auto insurance.
And finally, the best long-term advice: Always drive defensively, discontinue alert and follow the driving laws. Maintaining a genuine driving record is the best way to hold auto insurance rates down.
Filed under Auto Insurance Quotes by on Mar 14th, 2011. Comment. 
Whether you just won a beautiful motorcycle off of an auction site such as Ebay or you have made a catch through Autotrader, once you have hold a motorcycle you will have to choose on how you will have it shipped to you. There are a few different ways that you can have a motorcycle shipped to you and each involves it’s very own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a motorcycle shipping procedure.
Choosing Motorcycle Shipping: Types: There are typically three ways that you can have your new motorcycle delivered to your door step. First, you may have the motorcycle shipped to you commercially via specially built brackets that are placed inside the truck or train. Second, you may choose to have a motorcycle shipped to you on an open trailer. Finally, you might choose to have the motorcycle shipping provided within a closed trailer.
No matter which option you choose it is likely that you have the same requirements with each one—safe arrival of your unusual motorcycle pick, low cost, and timely delivery. Here is a look at some of the factors to consider when deciding between each of the motorcycle shipping methods that have been previously listed.
Choosing Motorcycle Shipping: Safety of Purchase: When deciding between the motorcycle shipping methods, you are probably most concerned with the safety of your grasp. You want to make positive that the motorcycle that you bought arrives to you clean and unharmed just the way that you purchased it. The safest shipping method for your motorcycle is via commercial delivery with specially built brackets that will allow the motorcycle to remain in an enclosed shipping truck without allowing other items to reach into contact with it.
The second safest shipping contrivance for your modern motorcycle would be via an enclosed trailer as this will protect the motorcycle from both the weather and also from intruders. The least safe scheme to have your new motorcycle shipped to you would be via an initiate trailer design. Commence trailers allow motorcycles to come into contact with the weather conditions of the road which may include anything from rain and sleet to snow and dust. In addition to the weather conditions that the original motorcycle will face with this shipping method, it is also susceptible to theft since the entire bike can be seen by anyone.
Choosing Motorcycle Shipping: Cost: Each shipping method will have a varied cost that is based on many different things. Naturally, motorcycle shipping cost is based on the distance as well as the weight of the item and the shipping method that is chosen. If you choose to ship your motorcycle commercially then you will pay more to have the brackets custom built for your particular motorcycle to be placed on for shipping. Shipping via open or closed trailer tends to be less costly and they are usually about the same depending on the availability of transport company at the time when you are shipping your motorcycle.
The best arrangement to find the cheapest rates on motorcycle shipping is to shop around. Once you have determined how you want to have the motorcycle shipped you can call various transport companies to get price quotes based on your exact bewitch. Aim to get 6-8 price quotes if possible to determine the best deal on motorcycle shipping in your region. Keep in mind that price does not determine quality nor does it determine value—you get what you pay for!
Choosing Motorcycle Shipping: Timely Delivery: Depending on the shipping method that you choose the delivery of your motorcycle can take anywhere from just a few days to a few weeks. Commercial shipping probably takes the longest just because you have to wait for custom built brackets to be made for the bike before it can be shipped. However, once the brackets are formed the shipping of the motorcycle is likely faster than the other two methods.
Shipping via open or enclosed trailers will take about the same amount of time and will be based on each individual company. Keep in mind that many companies will not ship a motorcycle directly to your door because they do not have the machinery on their trucks to get the motorcycle off of the truck. Freight shipping will likely mean that you have to have the motorcycle delivered to a place where a fork lift is available to get the motorcycle off of the delivery truck. You will have to arrange this when making the shipping choice as most companies also have insurance terms that will not allow just anyone to remove the item from the truck.
Filed under Auto Insurance Quotes by on Feb 27th, 2011. Comment.
If you have recently purchased a new car or just want to make sure you are getting a edifying deal on your current car insurance, it pays to take time to compare quotes. When shopping for car insurance keep these tips in mind.
Shop around – Compare car insurance rates by getting online quotes from all of the major companies. Answer all their questions about your vehicle and driving record honestly and in detail.
Ask for Car Insurance Discounts – Ask an agent to have a look at your application and make sure you have been given all the discounts that you qualify for. In this economy car insurance companies, like every other business are putting a premium on acquiring and retaining customers. When talking to an agent make sure they understand that you are shopping around and will be comparing their quote with their competitor’s quotes. The most common discounts are listed below:
• Multiple Discounts – If you own a home it’s a good thought to contact the company you have homeowners insurance with as many companies give discounts if you have both your home and cars with them. Also ask for multiple car discounts if you have more then one car to insure.
• Electronic Car Insurance Bills – You can often receive a discount for receiving your statements and bills online as well as setting up automatic electronic payments.
• Car Alarms – If your car does not have an anti-theft design, have one installed. Most insurance companies offer discounts for these devices.
• Defensive Driving Course – Passing a defensive driving course can result in a 15% discount on your car insurance. Defensive driving courses are fairly inexpensive and usually only assume a few hours. In some states you can take defensive driving courses online.
Higher Deductibles – The higher your car insurance deductible, the lower your monthly payment so choose the highest deductible you can realistically afford. Asking for a one-year policy instead of a six-month one will also carve your monthly payment.
Coverage Needed – Become familiar with insurance terms and the various types of coverage and limits. Before talking to an agent, or getting an online quote know what coverage you need as well as the limits that fit your needs. Don’t end up buying more car insurance than you need.
Credit History – A clean credit history will result in a better discount so do everything you can to get your credit history in order.
Commuting Mileage – Check your commuting mileage closely and give the lowest possible one-way mileage. Insurance companies use this information to compute your premium.
Teenage Drivers - If you have a teenage driver in your house be sure they attend driver’s education. Check if your teenage driver qualifies for a good student discount.
Check Yearly - Get car insurance rate quotes once a year. Insurance rates change often and your circumstances may have changed. Ask if you qualify for new discounts.
Searching for cheap car insurance is never fun and can require a lot of legwork. In the end, the effort will be worth it as you explore your premiums topple. Following these tips will encourage you find the perfect car insurance policy.
Filed under Car Insurance by on Feb 24th, 2011. Comment.
There is something deeply detestable in this country and I can’t think of what is going to change it. I was watching P.O.V., a show that highlights excellent independent films and documentaries on P.B.S. They told the incredibly sad narrative of Libby, Montana. In the ’40′s they discovered a mineral there that was great for insulation dubbed Zonolite. It is actually a composite of many minerals, the largest allotment being Asbestos. You might think great, small town corners market on a broad product, plenty of jobs and a dying exiguous rural town will now survive, as long as they take precautions. But what actually happened is an old story of greed and selfishness that we have all heard before. In short, this is what happened.
In ’45 the mine was started and the company and the town had the glory days. Then the workers started getting sick with black lung. There was so much asbestos dust in the air at the mine that it would clog a mask in 10 min. So, the workers stop wearing them because the company told them that the dust was just as safe as the farm dust these cow pokes were used to breathing all there lives. Only problem is they had internal and site studies that told them otherwise. They even started keeping records of how many people had black lung and how many were dying starting in the late 50′s. The Union found out in ’79 and started the ball rolling on trying to obtain safety concerns met but everyone fought them, including the miners who believed that the company would never lie to them. The US gov. put pressure on the union to shut up, starting under Reagan, but all the other Presidents since him have known about the problem and did nothing, Republican and Democrat. You see if they were to admit the problem with this insulation, they would have a serious problem on there hands because the stuff was in an estimated 70 million homes at its height. In fact the home you are sitting in right now may still have that crap in it because of some EPA wrangling under the current president that did not allow for well-kept up outside of Libby. Would you maintain the company was saying this stuff was so safe that you could make cookies out of it and add vitamins to your diet? Turns out it was safer to eat those cookies that they gave to children than to work in the mine for a week. The town finally wakes up and fights to get the mine shut down and to get the gov. to make Grace Mines clean up its mess. But the mine files bankruptcy and we get stuck with the bill for clean up even though the Feds caught them funneling 5 billion dollars to dummy corporations. The Gonzales Justice Dept. settled the case out of court for 1 billion, and the people tranquil lost there health insurance, pensions and any chance t sue those bastards. The only good part of this story is that the man running the mine died of black lung along with 3 other members of his family because the dust on his clothes killed them. There are still an est. 35 million homes in this broad country with that crap in their roofs slowly leaking out and killing you and me. There is a bunch more awful facts about this story I could tell you, like how the Governor of Montana tried to stop the neat up process, but it would select too long and atomize your heart. This story never hit the national news.
And this week, we mark the anniversary of another death of a great American city, New Orleans. Bush says we don’t need new taxes to pay for our crumbling bridges; we just need to change our priorities. So, he goes down for a photo op. shimmering that most of the money allocated for Katrina relief (150 billion) has yet to be spent where it is needed most. Some people in New Orleans have gone 2 years without electricity. In America!!!! Sounds more like Iraq. And in the next few weeks the Democrats are going to give this pres. another free pass on Iraq and allocate another 50 billion for the war, bringing this year’s total to just over 300 billion. Change our priorities indeed.
The saddest thing of all for me is that these few foul things I have mentioned don’t seem to be outraging anyone but a few dedicated bloggers and activists that know one listens to. Y’all keep me from losing my mind. But lately, I gotta tell you, I don’t know if I am outraged or just out of rage.
Filed under Automotive Insurance Jobs by on Feb 22nd, 2011. Comment.
Car insurance can be confusing, and in this economy, it can be expensive. Thought the different terms used that insurance agents and lien holders use can save you hundreds of dollars per year. It is important to understand what a lien holder or leasing agent requires when it comes to car insurance before you originate to purchase a new or used vehicle.
When it comes to the additional interest insured allotment of the insurance world it is pretty simple and a necessity. What an additional interest insured is on your car insurance policy by definition is a company or person who is protected under your insurance policy if they are named in a lawsuit due to an accident that is deemed the policy holders fault.
Most leasing companies and lien holders require their car buyers to have this on their car insurance policies. Basically it will protect these companies from being sued if you are in an accident. This not only protects these companies from liability, but it can protect the policy holder as well. If this protection was not available the consumer would suffer due to increased car payments to pay for this liability.
Since additional interest insured is generally required on a person’s car insurance policy if they are leasing or financing a vehicle your insurance agent will have all the necessary paperwork to meet this requirement. Most individuals may not even know that they have this on their policy, however if you lease or finance a vehicle it is generally required. Because of this requirement that is why your insurance agent generally asks you if you are leasing or financing a vehicle and who through, that way he or she will have all the necessary paperwork ready for you when you purchase your policy.
References
1. Additional insured or additional interest. (n.d.) NADA Guides, Retrieved April 3, 2009, from http://www.nadaguides.com/default.aspx? LI=1-20-9-5101-0-0-0&l=1&w=20&p=9&f=5102&a=16&as=65&at=185&ap=319
Filed under Edmunds Insurance by on Feb 20th, 2011. Comment.
