Saturday, October 13, 2007

High Risk Auto Insurance - How to Get the Best Rate

Have your been classified as a high risk driver? Are you looking for auto insurance that won't cost you an arm and a leg? Here's how to get high risk auto insurance at the best rate possible.

High Risk Auto Insurance

High risk auto insurance is a type of insurance issued to:

* People with bad driving records

* Teenage boys and girls

* Drivers who own expensive sports cars or "muscle" cars

* People who live in a high-crime areas

Getting Cheap High Risk Auto Insurance

If you've been classified as a high risk driver you're going to pay more for your insurance than the average driver, but you can still bring your insurance costs way down. Here are the steps you need to take:

1. Pay all your fines, then call your department of motor vehicle office to clear your driving history.

2. Call your insurance agent to find out what steps you can take to downgrade your high risk category, such as taking a drivers ed course.

3. Switch to a low risk car such as a late model Honda or Ford sedan that has safety features like airbags and anti-theft devices.

4. Raise your deductible to an amount you can afford. Raising it from $250 to $1,000 can save you up to 40% on your yearly premium.

5. Purchase you car insurance through your homeowners or renters insurance company to get up to a 15% discount.

6. Consider dropping your collision and comprehensive coverage if your car is worth less than your premium plus your deductible.

7. Ask your agent for any discounts you may be eligible for such as senior discounts, low-mileage discounts, drivers education discounts, and other discounts.

8. Compare rates through an insurance comparison website. Because auto insurance rates can vary by hundreds, even thousands of dollars a year from one company to the next, comparing insurance rates will save you the most amount of money on high risk auto insurance.

The advantage of using an insurance comparison site is that you only have to spend a few minutes at one site to get multiple quotes, rather than spend hours on end visiting single company sites or calling individual insurance agencies.

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Friday, October 12, 2007

10 Ways To Make Car Fuel Last Longer

Fuel prices are steep and always rising. Car owners need to find ways to make their car fuel last longer. If you can squeeze a few more miles out of every gallon imagine the savings you can make on fuel costs. The world is constantly finding out ways to use transportation that is affordable and eco-friendly. There are solar battery powered cars as well as hybrid cars in use. However the majorities are still using petrol or diesel powered vehicles.

Whether you drive a two seat car, economy car or a sedan or a sports model that runs on gas you need to master ways in which you can make fuel last long. Here are a few tips given by automobile experts that will give an increase in miles per gallon (MPG):

1. Read driving tips give by the AAA. Drive at optimal fuel efficacy speeds and use the right gears at the right time.

2. Keep the car serviced and in top mechanical condition. Learn how to listen to the car and diagnose any knocks or strange sounds.

3. Ensure that the car air filter is clean. Fuel economy is greatly enhanced with a clean air filter. When an air filter gets clogged it blocks air flow and reduces engine efficacy. So remove the filter and hold it up to check if you can see light through it. Use a filter that can be cleaned and is better for the environment.

4. Always ensure that tires are in good condition and that they are properly inflated. Use the parameters recommended by the car manufacturer and make it a point to check tire pressure whenever you fuel the car.

5. Watch the speed fuel economy decreases with increased speeds. So drive within the speed limits and watch the difference in fuel consumption.

6. Try not to speed and brake constantly. Driving at a steady pace keeps shifting to a minimum and aids fuel economy. Ever watch how trucks drive at a constant pace? They don’t brake and speed like cars do and yet arrive at a destination in the same time frame. When you brake to a stop and restart the car much more fuel is used.

7. Learn all about acceleration and revs. Stopping and starting hurts the car and fuel use. If your car is an automatic accelerate moderately and allow the transmission to shift gear smoothly. Otherwise shift gear early so that the engine does not go wroom. Slowdown if you see a stop light changing well in advance so that you don’t have to brake suddenly.

8. Use the air conditioning sparingly. At lower speeds the AC will gobble fuel. So get used to air from the outside. Enjoy the breeze and roll down the windows.

9. For long road trips used recommended stock wheels. They offer greater fuel efficiency than wider cooler looking tires.

10. When you buy a car don’t go for looks look at aspects of fuel efficiency and mechanics.

Log on to the internet and keep abreast with reviews and tips given by automobile gurus on saving fuel and increasing the efficiency of the car. Websites like that of the AAA and road safety police also have great recommendations for motorists.

Drive happily and save fuel.

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Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Donating Car: Why Bother?

More and more people are deciding to donate their cars to charity. There are now thousands of charities that are now choosing to take cars in lieu of cash donations.

People chose to donate cars to charity for many reasons.

The first reason is for the car donation tax. In the US, taxpayers who donate to charity (any charity) can write the value of that item off of their taxes. When you donate cars to a charity, make sure to get a donation receipt and keep it for your records for April.

While some people do not need a car donation tax credit, they still donate their car to charities because they believe in the work of the charity. Charities such as the Kidney Foundation and the American Diabetes Association do wonderful work to find cures for different debilitation and deadly diseases. There are drop off locations in each state for these and thousands of other charities.

People are donating car to charity because they have been touched by the specific charity. For example, families touched by Habitat for Humanity (either by working on a house or having been given a house) can donate a car to the charity to help others find a house they can be proud of.

Donating car to charity is an easy way to get rid of a car. With the price of gas as uncertain as it has been the last few years--not to mention the money needed to insure multiple cars--many families are deciding to downsize their vehicle fleet to save money. Other empty nesters are getting rid of cars they do not need anymore after their children moved out and purchased their own vehicles. Rather than letting the vehicle rust in the driveway, these couples are donating car to a charity they like.

Mostly, people donate cars to charity because it makes them feel good! Something happens when you give to other people, either your time, a box of food, or even donating car to charity. We feel better about ourselves when we are not focused on ourselves but on others. Knowing that your car is going to be used to help others is probably the best thing you can do for yourself when you have an old car you do not want anymore.

There are thousands of websites of charities accepting car donations available through a quick web search. Do a bit of research and you will be able to find the perfect charity to which you can donate your car.

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Move Your Auto Insurance While Moving

Moving to a new house has a whole set of problems. Moving can also be a very expensive proposition. Whether you are shifting from one block to the next or to a different state entirely, you are going to have to spend a lot of money. Buying the house or paying the deposit on a rented apartment is not the end of the expenses that you shall have to take care of. You will have to hire some moving company to help you shift. You will have to go and apply for all kinds of new documents which shall demand payment right away. A number of costs will be incurred even as you try to become comfortable at the new place.

Thus, it may be a good move to look for ways and means to cut down on costs even as you change your address. One major expense that you might encounter while you shift will be that of insurance. You will be landed with the job of obtaining an insurance policy for your home. So, you will be shopping around for a policy that combines affordability with protection. At this time, it would also be a good idea to begin your looking out for inexpensive auto insurance.

You will have to update the information on your auto insurance policy anyway. At this time, it may be a smart decision to scout and see if you can come across an auto insurance policy which is less expensive. If you are shifting from a big city to a smaller town, you might just find some cheaper car insurance rates. This is because big cities have more traffic, more accidents, and filing claims is usually the rule. In smaller towns, fewer claims are made, and this results in lower premium rates for car insurers. Moreover, it may also be probable that your insurance company does not operate in the town to which you are moving. In such a scenario, you have no choice but to sniff out a new insurance company.

A number of insurance companies bring out great bargains for those who buy more than one insurance policy at a time. So you must inform your insurance agent that is providing you with home insurance that you would be looking at auto insurance. Multiple-policy insurance tends to be a great way to save as insurance companies encourage their clients to go in for more and more insurance plans by providing lower rates. No matter how you look at it, moving is costly. Hence, saving money becomes essential if you don't want to end up broke.

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