If you own a car (or plan to in the future) then you need to learn the facts of life as they relate to car insurance. How do you know which car insurance companies can give you the best car insurance rates if you don’t take the time to learn? Read on for some important car insurance know-how that can help make your ride a smoother one.

1. Talk to professionals at a variety of car insurance companies before you decide upon how much of a deductible you need as well as how much liability coverage you should have. Always spend the money you have for car insurance where it can be the most useful. To put it another way, raise your deductible and increase your liability coverage. This should not affect your premiums that much. Experts recommend that everyone should carry liability coverage of $500,000, as opposed to the traditional $300,000.

2. Total liability is important but insurance coverage per person is even more important. When considering car insurance rates, find a car insurance company that will write your policy up in such a way that the total amount for an accident is the same as the total amount per person.

3. It pays to shop around for the best car insurance rates. Get car insurance quotes from a number of different companies. Don’t just get one quote and decide to sign up. When phoning around for car insurance quotes, do not simply ask for a quote but instead provide numbers based on the coverage you are looking for and then work from there.

4. Use every opportunity to take full advantage of a discount that a car insurance company has to offer you. Have you gone a number of years without having an accident? What about a parking ticket? If yes then the car insurance company is likely to offer you a discount. This is also the case if you drive under a specified number of miles annually, if you keep your car stored in a garage and if your car boasts features such as airbags, anti-lock brakes, an alarm or a tracking system. There are many things that can earn you a discount. As you shop for car insurance quotes and rates, don’t forget about car insurance discounts as well!

5. If you decide that the car insurance rates at another company are better than the ones you are currently receiving, notify the car insurance company you are presently dealing with in writing that you are cancelling your policy and going elsewhere. Make sure that there is no period of time when you switch from one company to another that you are driving without insurance.

6. Peruse car insurance rates and car insurance quotes online. There are many car insurance companies that can offer you enough information at their websites for you to decide if you want to learn more about what they have to offer. Take the time to do what research you can online.

Car insurance for young drivers tends to walk hand in hand with high insurance premiums. The reason for this is because insurance companies charge the highest premiums for the drivers that they believe are most likely to put in claims. The more claims any one driver places, the more money the insurance company must pay out. This is not something that the company enjoys doing so they charge higher premiums to anyone who falls into the anticipated group.

Statistically speaking, young drivers comprise the largest group of those making claims. The reasons for this are because they are less experienced on the road and tend to have more motor vehicle accidents. Another reason for this is because young drivers do not have a no claims bonus and therefore are not eligible for a discount of any kind.

While young drivers actually comprise a small percentage of drivers, they are most often involved in car accidents (and in particular young male drivers). Young men are involved in approximately ¾ of all driver related deaths on the roads and in approximately 2/3 of accidents where there are serious injuries.

Let us take a look at a statistic from our neighboring country- Canada. In the capital city of Ottawa, in 2007 there were 2,831 young male from the ages of 15 to 24 who were involved in motor vehicle accidents. This is compared to 1,650 young female drivers in the same age group. (Source: “Safe Young Drivers- You Hold the Key”

The sooner you can get yourself some car insurance as a new driver the better it is for you in the long run. This will enable you to begin building up the no claims bonus which could, at a future date earn you a discount that could run as high as 70 percent.

Car insurance for young drivers can be expensive for the aforementioned reasons and therefore you must be smart when it comes to deciding how much money you want to shell out to buy a new or used car. Car insurance is something you need to purchase before you drive a new car off the lot so make sure you shop around for different rates. Make sure you figure car insurance into the total cost of buying and operating a car. You do not want to purchase the car of your dreams only to discover that you are short on money to pay for your insurance! This is an absolute no no! Be a more efficient financial planner and plan for car insurance for young drivers.

When it comes to car insurance for young drivers, find out about the different types of insurance that are available to be purchased and then choose wisely for your individual needs. For a young driver, liability may not be enough. You might want to purchase collision insurance as well as theft protection (if your car is new or reasonably new).

There are many things to think about once you decide to buy a car and join the throngs of drivers already out on the highways. Car insurance and young drivers should always be a top priority. It is always a good idea to seek help on making important insurance choices from someone you can trust who is experienced in matters of these kinds. Bear in mind that there is much more to having a driver’s license and owning a car then just how you are going to look in the driver’s seat.

Finding car insurance quotes is not as hard as it may seem.  But finding good car insurance quotes can be a bit more of a search.  A great place to start is your current insurance company, if you have one.  Your driving habits may have changed and your coverage may not be the best choice for you anymore.  Reevaluating your current policy is a good first step.

Another great resource is the yellow pages.  It may seem overly simple, but most of the major companies will advertise there.  You may also find a few local insurance brokers that you didn’t know were there.  Sometimes a smaller company can offer you more for your money.  Getting a car insurance quote over the phone usually requires just some basic car information and your driving habits.  At that point they should be able to give you free car insurance quotes immediately.

Television is another source of technology that makes it even easier to get car insurance quotes.  Most of the nationwide companies advertise on all possible stations, so it’s not hard to find their phone number.  Again, be prepared to provide your vehicle’s information and any relevant information on your driving record.  Calling and talking to an agent can be one of the best ways to get accurate car insurance quotes.  It is less likely that any information will be left out that may skew your quote with an agent on the phone to help guide you.

Probably the most popular option for car insurance quotes is the Internet.  Most of the companies you find elsewhere will quote car insurance online, which you may want to take advantage of.  This also provides you the opportunity to further investigate the company that you may be doing business with.  Information is your ally in all business ventures and your car insurance is no different.

Another advantage of Internet car insurance quotes are the websites that will compare rates for you.  The Internet has provided the opportunity to get car insurance quotes from ten or fifteen companies at once.  That way you can see at one time which of the car insurance quotes is the best for you.  They will likely vary greatly and having them in one spot saves you the time of comparing them yourself.  Car insurance quotes are available in almost any form you can imagine, but always be sure of the information you provide.  That is the key to getting  accurate Car Insurance Quotes

If you do not keep up with your car insurance in Florida then the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has the right to suspend all of your driving privileges. Driving is a privilege after all and not a right! Your vehicle tag and registration can also be suspended. The term for this can last as long as three years or until you can prove that you have obtained car insurance.

Here we have listed a selection of companies that sell car insurance in Florida. This list is by no means exhaustive. Most of these companies have offices located throughout the state and agents ready to assist you at all times. Remember cheap car insurance is not always the best insurance. Check each insurance company thoroughly before you make a decision to purchase a policy

· AIG Insurance
· Allstate
· Farmers Insurance
· Liberty Mutual
· State Farm
· Met Life
· Progressive
· Geico
· Mercury
· Nationwide
· Allianz of America
· American International Group
· Safeco
· Travellers
· Westfield Group
· OneBeacon Insurance Group
· Zurich North America
· Unitrin
· Hanover Insurance Group
· Hartford Financial Services Group

One of the greatest advantages is the time element. There is no wasting of time when you shop for an online car insurance policy. It is just a matter of finding companies that interest you and then filling out the form that is provided at the site. You do not have to call up this company and that company and wait hours for calls to be returned to you.

It generally takes only a matter of minutes for you to receive the insurance quote. Is it an affordable car insurance quote? That is something only you can decide based on the income you earn and your budgeting requirements.

In the offline world it is all too common to have to pay to receive a selection of insurance quotes. This makes affordable car insurance more of a fantasy than a reality when you have costs that are adding up even before you have chosen a policy!

The online car insurance quotes are free and you are not charged based on volume. You are not charged at all and you are under no obligation to choose any one in particular. You can peruse a selection of insurance companies over the web to find the one can quote car insurance online.

If safety and security is a concern to you (and who would it not be a concern to?) then rest assured that all reputable insurance companies with online presences use special encryption technology to keep the information on any forms potential clients fill out online as safe and as confidential as possible.

Your information will not be sold to any third parties. As well, your information will not affect your credit score in any way. What you provide on any free online forms when you look for affordable car insurance is strictly for the purposes of choosing a suitable company from which to buy an insurance policy for your vehicle. Enough said?

There are a variety of factors that go into the process of how a company is rated. As well there is more than one company that is responsible for the rating system. Some of the factors that must be taken into careful consideration are as follows:

·    Price
·    Level of customer satisfaction
·    Financial stability of the company
·    Response time for claims

If you are in the market for a new insurance provider for your vehicle, take a close look first at the agencies that rate companies and then from there devise a list of car insurance companies worth considering.

J.D. Power and Associates

This company takes a close look at what consumers have to say before they create a list of some of the most desirable and highest rated providers of auto insurance. They look at the cost associated with coverage as well as how much variety exists among the policies that companies offer. They also look at how policyholders are billed and how they go about accepting payments. Finally, they consider how easy or difficult it is to reach a representative from the company when a problem arises.

J.D. Power and Associates is considered to be a very reliable source for consumer information on car insurance. They are an independently run company that takes no money from any insurance providers. Two of the companies that commonly rank high according to J.D. Power and Associates include Amica Mutual and USAA.

Department of Insurance in Your State

If you take the time to search online you should be able to find a website that is available for the Department of Insurance in your state. Here you will find a list of some of the most highly ranked car insurance providers in the state where you reside. Be aware however that there are some companies that may not offer policies in your area and therefore will not show up on the list.

Financial Stability

How can you as a consumer determine if an insurance company is financially viable and therefore a safe bet for your insurance needs or not? Check rating companies that provide this information. One of the most well known is Standard and Poor’s.

Bear in mind however that a rating company such as this will provide you with only the financial stability of the company you are considering. You will have to look elsewhere for ratings for customer satisfaction, price of premiums, etc. This information on its own is still a wise gauge for whether the company is one you want to do business with.

List of Car Insurance Companies to Consider

Here we list some of the top rated car insurance companies that you should put at the top of your list. These companies include:

·    USAA
·    Amica
·    State Farm
·    Erie Insurance
·    AAA
·    Allstate
·    Geico
·    Liberty Mutual
·    Progressive

In most case you will be required to carry an SR-22 for 3 years. You must carry continuous insurance during the specified period of time before SR-22 status is considered no longer necessary. If your policy lapses or is canceled, your car insurance company is required to notify the state immediately and your license will be suspended again. Tough rules but such is life for the high-risk driver.

SR22 insurance requirements do vary by state. SR22 insurance online in California is simply an online quote for SR22 insurance. Kentucky, Delaware, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma and don’t require SR-22s, but if you have an SR-22 and then decide to move to one of these states, you must continue to meet the requirements of the SR-22 state where the offense was committed. Though the SR-22 standards are similar from state to state, you should always check with your car insurance company or agent to verify SR-22 specifics for your state.

Finding affordable SR22 car insurance can be quite the challenge. Car insurance companies charge exorbitant premiums for high-risk drivers. SR22 insurance rates vary greatly among insurers so you must always do a quote comparison before purchasing your SR22 insurance online. SR22 insurance is not cheap, especially if you are a young driver.

Keep in mind maintaining your SR-22 status is a very serious business. Most states list SR-22 status on your driving record. This is so officers can look and see if you have it. Typically, individual state motor vehicle departments are responsible for enforcing the requirement, but that does not make it any less serious

The choice to buy car insurance is not a choice at all. Under the law, anyone who operates a motor vehicle on the road must carry a car insurance policy. This means that no matter what you must find room in your monthly budget to pay premiums to an insurance company. It is never wise to act irresponsibly and think you can get away without having car insurance. If you are stopped by the police and you cannot show proof of insurance then you will suffer more than just a fine. In fact your car can be confiscated immediately. You will then have to pay impound and storage fees and will still be required to show proof that you have motor vehicle insurance in order to get your car back!

If the policy you have now seems too high then before your coverage expires or before you renew it find a car insurance broker who can use his contacts and his expertise to find you a better rate. A broker is often the most effective and the fastest approach to finding an insurance policy that works for you.

A broker is an individual who does not work for one particular insurance company but instead is an independent free agent who has access to the policies of a number of different insurance providers. The broker in essence can do the shopping for you. What he or she does is searches the database of both small and large auto insurance companies to find a rate that is appropriate to the things you have told him/her are most important to you.

Bear in mind that a car insurance broker is privy to companies that you have probably never even heard of. Most consumers can name only the big names in the industry because they are well publicized. Most brokers (at least the good ones!) know their trade inside out and can be of tremendous help to the average insurance customer.

You may not be the one shopping around for an affordable car insurance policy for yourself but it pays to shop around for an insurance broker. Look for a person who comes with good recommendations. Ask other people you know if they used a broker and if so, who they used. Choose a broker that you can communicate with easily and one you can trust.

Small economy cars while stingy on gas consumption will disappoint you with insurance premiums. Every year, the Highway Loss Data Institute, analyze the actual insurance losses associated with the most popular vehicle makes and models. Since car insurance companies use comparable kinds of facts to set premiums, the rankings give consumers a look into how their vehicle choices affect their car insurance premiums.

Just like always, the statistics suggest that small cars and speed are an expensive combination for insurers — especially with young drivers behind the wheel.

A rule of thumb is, if the car is fast it will be expensive to insure. If the car is small it will be expensive to insure. If the car is small and fast it may prove to be cost prohibitive to insure, especially if you are less than 25 years old, a young driver in the insurance business

10 Most-Expensive Cars to Insure

These vehicles account for the highest dollar amount of losses for car insurance companies

1. Cadillac Escalade EXT 4WD
2. Subaru Impreza WRX 4WD
3. Hyundai Tiburon
4. Mitsubishi Lancer
5. Scion tC
6. Acura RSX
7. Nissan Sentra SE-R
8. Suzuki Forenza
9. Nissan Sentra/Mitsubishi Eclipse
10. Chevrolet Cobalt two-door

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

10 Least-Expensive Cars to Insure

These vehicles account for the lowest dollar amount of losses for car insurance companies

1. Ford Five Hundred 4WD (now the Ford Taurus)
2. Buick Rendezvous 4WD
3. Buick Lucerne/Buick Rainier 4WD/Honda Odyssey
4. Ford Freestyle 4WD/Subaru Outback 4WD
5. Buick Rendezvous/Honda Pilot
6. Chrysler Town & Country LWB
7. Honda Pilot 4WD
8. Buick LaCrosse/Chevrolet Uplander/Ford Escape/Volvo V70
9. Dodge Grand Caravan/Ford Freestyle 4WD
10. Ford Explorer 4WD/GMC Sierra 1500 4WD/Toyota Highlander/Toyota Sienna

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Keeping you car insurance premiums down can be as easy as narrowing your choices for a new car down to 3 or 4 models and calling your car insurance agent and comparing rates. You will be surprised what you learn. The list of cars with the lowest insurance cost may surprise you.

Lower Your Deductible

If you take the time to read enough articles about finding affordable car insurance one piece of advice that you will be given over and over again is that you can lower the premiums you pay by increasing your deductible.

For those who do not know what a deductible is, it is the amount of money that you must pay out of pocket when filing a claim before the insurance company will help you out. The higher amount you are willing to foot the bill for in the event of an accident or any type of altercation your vehicle is involved in, the lower will be the money they will charge you in premiums.

Let us look at an example of this. Let’s say that you have a deductible for 500 dollars. One evening it is raining and you run into a tree and damage the front end of your car.  When you file a claim with the insurance company you have to pay 500 dollars to your insurance provider before they are willing to pay out any money in order for your vehicle to be repaired.

Why a Deductible?

A deductible is in place in order to reduce any fraudulent claims that the insurance company has to deal with. The logic behind it is this- the more you have to pay out in terms of a deductible the less likely you will be to file a claim. This then makes it possible for your premium to be lower.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, if you decide to raise your deductible from $200 or $300 and bump it up to $500 then this can serve to lower your premium by as much as 15 to 30 percent. If you in turn decide to go even higher and raise your deductible to as much as $1000 then your premium can decrease by as much as 40 percent or in some cases, even more. Be aware however that this applies more to newer cars or cars that are only a few years old as opposed to older vehicles. If your car is at least 10 years old or older then you may able to lower your deductible somewhat but the savings will not be as great.

Affordable car insurance can be yours if you find a way to strike a positive balance between the deductible you pay and the premium you pay. Savings can be yours!