My Credit Affects My Car Insurance Rate? - You probably know that lenders use information in your credit report to determine if they’ll give you credit. But did you know that in some states, insurance companies also consider your credit history? Good or bad, your credit history may affect your ability to purchase homeowners or auto insurance coverage and help determine what premium you’ll pay.
For example, consider these scenarios:
Two years ago, you were unemployed for six months. Before you could find a new job, you fell behind on several credit card payments. Now your auto insurance rates are going up, even though you’ve never filed a claim against your policy.
You’ve always paid your bills on time, and you’ve always paid cash instead of applying for credit. Why could this be a problem? Similar to when you apply for a mortgage or credit card, your lack of credit history means you’re an unknown quantity – there is no history of monthly credit card payments.
Many people believe that only their driving record is important, but that’s simply not the case. The majority of auto insurance companies consider credit to be a very important rating variable.
What’s the score here?
Insurers have always used various criteria to determine who to insure and at what rates. For example, if you’re applying for auto insurance, your insurer might consider your age, driving record, make and model of your car, and how many insurance claims you’ve filed in the past. But within the last decade, insurance companies have also begun using credit information as an additional factor to help predict which persons pose more risk. Insurers believe that the healthier your credit history, the less likely you are to file a claim against your auto or homeowners insurance policy. And the more likely you are to pay your insurance premium payments.
If your credit history (along with other factors considered) suggests that you are likely to be a responsible driver, you may be offered a lower premium. But if your credit history is tarnished–or if you have little or no credit history–you may pay higher premiums for the coverage you’re offered. You may even be denied coverage altogether.
How you can improve the score
If you’re denied insurance coverage because of your credit history, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act allows you to order a free copy of your credit report from the bureau used by the auto insurance company who denied you. If you feel the information provided to the credit bureau is incorrect, you can dispute it.
If you’ve been turned down for insurance, this may feel like too little, too late. But if your credit history is affecting your ability to get auto or homeowners insurance (or the premiums you’re charged for it), here are a few things you can do:
Clean up your credit immediately. Pay your bills on time every month, get rid of the high interest credit cards, and don’t spend beyond your means.
If you don’t have any credit, get some. Your lack of history is what’s hurting you; to the insurance companies, you’re an unknown quantity. Although you don’t want to run up excessive debt, you do want to show that you can use credit responsibly. Use your credit regularly, and always make your monthly payments in a timely fashion.
Once a year, get copies of your credit report from all three major credit bureaus. (The information contained in one report may not be reflected by the others.) Make sure the information on them all is correct. Dispute any errors with both the creditors and the credit bureaus involved.
Shop around for insurance. Depending on the insurer, prices for the same coverage can vary substantially.
Consider higher car insurance deductibles to save money. For both homeowners and auto insurance, higher deductibles can lower your premium costs. Just make sure you can cover the deductible should you be faced with a claim.
For now, the use of credit reports is an industry standard. Make your credit work for you by watching it closely. In most cases, you may be rewarded with lower premiums if you do so.
For more information about auto insurance please go to: Insurance.com
Please note that this description/explanation is intended only as a guideline.
So there you have it, a detailed article describing how your credit rating can impact your car insurance premium. The article includes some very good advice about how to address this issue should it affect you.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Car Insurance Guide
Car Insurance Guide - If you’re new to car insurance or simply looking around the market for the very first time, we hope that the information on our site is of use to you. Our car insurance guide has been put together by industry experts, we’ve taken away the sales pitch and hopefully provided you with what you’ve come here for…. information.
Most car insurance companies, assume that you do not know everything about car insurance. This enables them to charge you much more than they would normally. It certainly pays to do your homework and research the market before making your calls.
Also, check out the Internet for the lastest car insurance offers. Many companies offer additional discount if you purchase over the Internet.
Free car insurance is fast becoming a favourite incentive offered by car manufacturers. It’s very attractive, especially for younger drivers who have just passed their driving tests. Often, car insurance for young people is very expensive, so free car insurance becomes a very interesting offer. However, is there a hidden cost to “Free Car Insurance”? The article below written by Jospeh Kenny, explores this question.
How much car insurance
Deciding upon how much car insurance you should buy depends largely on how old your car is. There are also many other factors that you should take into consideration. These have been covered in more detail in the article below.
Rental car insurance
Whenever you rent a car, you’re normally offered a whole host of additional “services” by the car rental company. This is to be expected, they are in the car rental business and are looking to leverage other channels to increase their revenue and profits. The question is, should I buy rental car insurance?
Car insurance claim
If you’ve had an accident or a been involved in a small scrape, regardless of whose fault it was, you’re most likely going to need to complete a car insurance claim. Read through the following information to learn about this process, right from understanding you policy to why you should not release your insurers to early.
Car insurance no claims
Your car insurance no claims is like a certificate of how much of a careful driver you are. The longer you have had your no claims bonus, the greater the time it has been since you’ve made a claim on your car insurance. The better your no claims, the higher your no claims bonus which means the cheaper your car insurance premiums will be.
Click here for more information relating to car insurance. Or call toll free 866-526-9669 . Thank you for visiting the car insurance guide.
Lowering your car insurance costs
Lowering your car insurance costs - As the old saying goes, it certainly pays to shop around. This is even truer when it comes to buying car insurance or renewing an existing policy. We’ve detailed below our top tips for getting the most value for money when it comes to care insurance:
Prices will vary depending on insurer, if you have the time (it will pay off in the end) try to get about 5 quotes for your insurance. It’s possible to receive a car insurance quote via the Internet or via their telephone line.
Never automatically renew your insurance with your existing insurance company, research suggests that by shopping around at renewal time you can save as much as £112 on your car insurance.
Consider increasing the voluntary excess you would pay should you have an accident, insurance companies often reduce the policy amount in these situations.
Consider different types of car insurance companies. Some car insurance companies, specialise in the provision of certain type of insurance, for example driver’s under the age of 25 or women drivers.
If you’re in the market for a new car, always check the insurance costs before completing your purchase.
Negotiate a deal for including other forms of insurance with the same company, for example home contents or pet insurance.
Purchase from a car insurance provider that sells direct to the consumer rather than through a broker. This will cut out the middle man and often give you additional savings.
Check out our other great resources.
Prices will vary depending on insurer, if you have the time (it will pay off in the end) try to get about 5 quotes for your insurance. It’s possible to receive a car insurance quote via the Internet or via their telephone line.
Never automatically renew your insurance with your existing insurance company, research suggests that by shopping around at renewal time you can save as much as £112 on your car insurance.
Consider increasing the voluntary excess you would pay should you have an accident, insurance companies often reduce the policy amount in these situations.
Consider different types of car insurance companies. Some car insurance companies, specialise in the provision of certain type of insurance, for example driver’s under the age of 25 or women drivers.
If you’re in the market for a new car, always check the insurance costs before completing your purchase.
Negotiate a deal for including other forms of insurance with the same company, for example home contents or pet insurance.
Purchase from a car insurance provider that sells direct to the consumer rather than through a broker. This will cut out the middle man and often give you additional savings.
Check out our other great resources.
Tips for Lowering Your Insurance Rate Before and After You Buy 2012
Tips for Lowering Your Insurance Rate Before and After You Buy 2012 - Rates vary by customer, vehicle, garaging street, and all the other factors that affect your insurance premium. Car insurance rates are filed by an insurance company to the state's insurance departments. In some states the car insurance rates may be "file and use" or "use and file". The diffference is that with "file and use" you have to wait for the state to approve the rates before they can be introduced to the public. You may already know that the cheapest car insurance rates are available by shopping online, but looking through the web site after site to find out who has the best rates can be a tedious task. With CarInsurance.com you can quickly and easily compare the lowest rates from multiple companies, so you really can get the best car insurance policy available to you without all the work.
A typical filing of car insurance rates with the state, requires these items for approval:
Cover Letter - Identifies and outlines the component parts of the filing, with a brief description of the purpose of the filing.
Explanatory Section - Provides details and supporting documentation with respect to the filed materials. Also, with respect to form filings, an index of the forms being filed should be provided.
Filing Fee - The correct fee must be submitted with the filing. This fee typically covers the filing costs the state incurs when reviewing the rates.
Endorsement Forms or Comparison Forms - Possible changes to filing since initial request and comparisons for justification.
Car Insurance Rates - Supporting actuarial and company financial data are required with most filings.
Referenced Material: Any referenced material must be included with each car insurance rate filing.
If you have any questions about car insurance rates and their variations. The easiest way to compare online is to get a quote. You can try different options with our quote questionairre and find the car insurance rate variations to see how it affects you.
A typical filing of car insurance rates with the state, requires these items for approval:
Cover Letter - Identifies and outlines the component parts of the filing, with a brief description of the purpose of the filing.
Explanatory Section - Provides details and supporting documentation with respect to the filed materials. Also, with respect to form filings, an index of the forms being filed should be provided.
Filing Fee - The correct fee must be submitted with the filing. This fee typically covers the filing costs the state incurs when reviewing the rates.
Endorsement Forms or Comparison Forms - Possible changes to filing since initial request and comparisons for justification.
Car Insurance Rates - Supporting actuarial and company financial data are required with most filings.
Referenced Material: Any referenced material must be included with each car insurance rate filing.
If you have any questions about car insurance rates and their variations. The easiest way to compare online is to get a quote. You can try different options with our quote questionairre and find the car insurance rate variations to see how it affects you.
Buyer's Guide to Motorcycle Insurance 2012
Buyer's Guide to Motorcycle Insurance 2012 - Okay! You’re finally ready to go get that sexy cruiser you’ve had your eye on for months. You’ve done all your research (on Motorcycle.com, obviously), found the best price at a reputable dealership, you’ve even checked out helmets and found a riding jacket that perfectly matches your new bad-ass image. Whew! You’re shopping is officially done, right?
Wrong! It’s just the start if you have yet to check out your Insurance options. Know this: motorcyclists cannot operate their bikes on public roads or highways without insurance. There are penalties for riding un-insured, not the least of which is getting ticketed for not having liability insurance. In certain states, such as California, you can’t even purchase a new bike without your insurance lined up.
Let the Insurance Shopping Marathon begin.
Just like Loans, the more you shop around, the better your chances of getting the best insurance rate. There are a billion insurance companies out there, so start by asking your home and auto insurance agent about motorcycle insurance. If the company doesn’t offer it, ask your neighbor with the shiny new Kawi Ninja what company he uses. Search motorcycle websites and forums for rider recommendations. Finally, with your list of ‘A’ and ‘B’ companies on hand, dedicate a day to call as many insurance agents as you can.
But wait!! There are some answers you’ll want to have ready once you’re talking insurance plans and rates with an agent. Here, a little preparation goes a long way in making the best impression (which results in an ideal rate) on an insurance agent. Know what they’ll ask before you pick up the phone.
3rd Party Liability: Insurance that covers other people and their property in the event of an accident that is your fault. Instead of you personally paying for the damage to the other party’s property, your insurance pays the bill. It doesn’t cover damage to you or your property. Most states require you to have at least liability insurance on your bike.
Full Coverage Insurance: (also called “comprehensive”) is available in different amounts, and will cover you and your property in an accident, whether the event was your fault, someone else’s, or “no-fault”. Full coverage also extends to any passengers on your bike present in the accident.
Look into a combination of liability insurance and comprehensive insurance.
This will provide you with the most coverage overall in the event of a mishap.
Essentially, know your basics, know what to expect, and make sure that you understand the details of any insurance package you are purchasing. Although no one wants to get in an accident, they happen to the best of us, and the whole experience can be a lot less painful if you’ve got a good insurance plan to back you up.
Wrong! It’s just the start if you have yet to check out your Insurance options. Know this: motorcyclists cannot operate their bikes on public roads or highways without insurance. There are penalties for riding un-insured, not the least of which is getting ticketed for not having liability insurance. In certain states, such as California, you can’t even purchase a new bike without your insurance lined up.
Let the Insurance Shopping Marathon begin.
Just like Loans, the more you shop around, the better your chances of getting the best insurance rate. There are a billion insurance companies out there, so start by asking your home and auto insurance agent about motorcycle insurance. If the company doesn’t offer it, ask your neighbor with the shiny new Kawi Ninja what company he uses. Search motorcycle websites and forums for rider recommendations. Finally, with your list of ‘A’ and ‘B’ companies on hand, dedicate a day to call as many insurance agents as you can.
But wait!! There are some answers you’ll want to have ready once you’re talking insurance plans and rates with an agent. Here, a little preparation goes a long way in making the best impression (which results in an ideal rate) on an insurance agent. Know what they’ll ask before you pick up the phone.
1. Your Personal Liabilities
Just like with Auto insurance, your age and your driving record are key factors. Auto accidents do count when buying motorcycle insurance. If you’re older but a first-time rider, you will likely have a higher rate. However, you might be able to offset that by investing in special DMV or motorcycle classes – just be sure to hang on to your certification for proof.
2. They know where you live
Working or living in a high crime/ high accident area can affect your rate. Have a plan for how you’ll store the bike. A garage, an alarm, or any other form of security for your parked bike is necessary no matter where you live. A bike that spends most of it’s time in an open, unsecured area is clearly a risk for any insurance company to take on.
3. The Bike
Just like in auto insurance, that glitzy, brand-spankin’ new model is going to cost more to insure that an older stock bike.
4. How much you ride
If you live in the part of the country that has a definite riding ‘season’, make this apparent to your agent. By only using your bike for half the year, your mileage stays low and your rate usually will follow suit.
5. Lastly, avoid over-insuring, since you’ll never get more than the market value of your bike in the event of an accident.
Bear in mind that the rate is not based solely on your bike, but also your lifestyle, your riding habits, and your history. Once that is out of the way, you need to pick an insurance plan.
3rd Party Liability: Insurance that covers other people and their property in the event of an accident that is your fault. Instead of you personally paying for the damage to the other party’s property, your insurance pays the bill. It doesn’t cover damage to you or your property. Most states require you to have at least liability insurance on your bike.
Full Coverage Insurance: (also called “comprehensive”) is available in different amounts, and will cover you and your property in an accident, whether the event was your fault, someone else’s, or “no-fault”. Full coverage also extends to any passengers on your bike present in the accident.
Look into a combination of liability insurance and comprehensive insurance.
This will provide you with the most coverage overall in the event of a mishap.
Essentially, know your basics, know what to expect, and make sure that you understand the details of any insurance package you are purchasing. Although no one wants to get in an accident, they happen to the best of us, and the whole experience can be a lot less painful if you’ve got a good insurance plan to back you up.
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