The bill that seeks to implement federal standards in state licensing law in order to limit the number of accidents among teens is now undergoing the second round of deliberations.
The STANDUP Act has been reintroduced in Congress and it may be getting traction especially with the study of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention that the leading cause of death among American teens is vehicular accidents. The teens’ level of inexperience as drivers is being considered a major factor for these accidents. The study revealed that they are four times more likely to get into an accident compared to drivers who are older.

Many American are unfortunately becoming aware of the increasing problem of auto theft, vandalism and how it affects your insurance rates. Every 27 seconds a car is stolen. It is estimated that at least 1 million cars will be stolen this year alone. Auto theft affects your insurance premiums so much so that there are instances where individuals living in certain locations are unable to even secure a regular auto insurance policy because of the risk of vehicle theft.

It’s bad enough that someone would vandalize or steal your car. To make matters worse, you will be the one who ends up paying increased policy rates. You should also know that if you own a car that is considered by auto insurance companies as being high risk for theft, you could pay higher rates as well.

What kind of theft coverage does most standard auto insurance policies cover anyway?

Comprehensive Coverage

Automobile theft is covered by your automobile insurance policy’s comprehensive coverage. If you are paying for comprehensive insurance coverage, you are paying rates determined by the likelihood of your car being stolen. Your auto insurance company will also review the car theft rates in your area, and whether your car’s make and model is frequently targeted by thieves.

Protect Yourself From Automobile Theft

In order to protect your car from thieves, and your wallet from rising auto insurance premiums, take immediate action to discourage theft. Some of the methods you use to thwart thieves could also result in discounts on your auto insurance policy that can further reduce your monthly payments. For starters, install an anti-theft device or alarm on your car. If you are in the market for a new car, ask the dealership to include this feature with your purchase. Check with your insurance company about a possible discount for having an alarm system.

Lock Your Doors

Always lock your car doors whenever you enter or exit your car. Don’t let the fact that you just need to make a quick run in and out of some place keep you from doing this. Also, never leave your car running with the keys inside of the ignition. Engaging in either of these acts can cost you your car. It only takes a few seconds for a thief to take off with your car.

Keep Items In Your Car Hidden From Sight

Avoid leaving items like your purse, packages, or envelopes in plain view. Once inside your car, a thief has immediate access not only to your vehicle, but anything else of value such as credit cards, cell phones or important documents. Consider tinting your windows to keep thieves from seeing what’s inside. Anyone looking to steal items from inside of a parked car in a parking lot would have to get very close against the window to be able to see what’s inside. That would look very suspicious.

Choose A Car With Low Auto Insurance Rates

If you plan to purchase a new car and are interested in getting the best rates, consider doing some research to find out which cars are most likely to be targeted by thieves. When you are ready to buy your car, avoid the cars on your list. Remember, auto insurance companies consider many different factors when calculating your rate. It’s important to shop around to make sure you get the best automotive deals available.

It is mandatory by most states to carry auto insurance. Auto insurance offers protection to the vehicle owners in the event of a sudden mishap. Many states make it mandatory, for vehicle owners to obtain liability coverage to protect other drivers in case of an accident. There are different types of auto insurance in the state of California. High-risk auto insurance is offered to drivers, who may be considered as high risk drivers. Generally, the premium of high-risk auto insurance is relatively high.

Teenagers are also considered as high-risk drivers, due to inadequate driving experience. As a result, they are charged very high premiums. There is a growing need to make the teenagers understand the importance of a good driving record. Safe driving and a good driving record are important factors that contribute to a lower premium. Insurance with higher deductibles always attract lower premiums. High-risk insurance is also required for cars that can be considered as high-risk such as sports cars. It is recommended to verify the class of the car before buying it. Teenage drivers can buy a ?stand alone policy?, from a company that offers insurance to teenagers.

Generally, car insurance companies determine the premium on the basis of several factors, such as age of the driver, the type of car, driving record, deductibles, and the credit score of the driver.

The driving record of a driver is severely affected by the number of accidents, and the violation of traffic rules. The number of speeding tickets issued to drivers also wrecks the driving record. Most insurance companies refer to the last three years of a driver?s driving record, while evaluating the premium of the policy. Women are considered as safe drivers as they usually drive at lower speeds. Drivers in the city may be charged higher than drivers from small towns. Newer cars also attract high premiums.

Many reputed insurance companies refuse to offer insurance to high-risk drivers. However, there are several insurance agents specialized in providing insurance, to high risk drivers and drivers who own a sports car. The insurance companies may also exercise some limitations, on the types of coverage offered to such drivers.

Auto Insurance

In 1997, the State of Arkansas started tracking the registered motor vehicles in the state with their vehicle liability insurance. This means that the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the motor vehicle in Arkansas must match its corresponding insurance policy declared on the States Office of Motor Vehicle database. Aside from having the same insurance policy on the data base, the state also requires all the vehicles registered in the state to have the required minimum liability insurance.

For bodily injury per one person, the required amount is $25,000 per accident. For bodily injury for two or more persons per accident, the required amount is $50,000.

The property damage per accident is $25,000.

All drivers driving in the streets, roads and highways of the state must carry their insurance cards and must present them to the officer of the law in case of an accident or a traffic stop.

The States Office of Motor Vehicles also requires all insurance companies to notify them of any non-renewal, cancellation and lapses in policy. This means that once your insurance is no longer valid, your vehicle registration is automatically suspended. You will then have to reinstate it and show your proof of liability insurance if you want to legally use it.

Home Insurance

Homeowners in the State of Arkansas generally choose from the three most common types of home insurance in the state: the basic, the broad and the special.

The basic home insurance protects the home from the basic perils, such as fire, lightning, hail, windstorm and theft. The broad home insurance protects the home from the basic perils plus the additional six other perils, such as building collapse, weight of snow or ice and damage from home appliances.

The special home insurance protects the home from all the perils except for earthquake and flood. If you want to have protection or coverage against fire and earthquake, the insurance companies can offer them at additional cost.

The premium for home insurance in the state depends on the following factors: the size of the home and other buildings in the property, the construction cost of the home, the chances of natural disaster occurring in the area, the material of the home, the location of the fire department in relation to the home and the crime rate in the neighborhood. These are the common factors that affect the rate of premium. There are, however, additional ways to reduce the premium; such as availing of the discounts. The best way to get the best price is for homeowners to shop around for home insurance and inquire about how they can avail the discounts they qualify for.

Health & Life Insurance

With the increasing cost of health care, it is important to get health insurance. In the State of Arkansas, there are several ways to find affordable insurance for the whole family. The first thing to do is to shop around for health insurance. Do your research and you will certainly find several insurers that will offer you health insurance that fits your budget. The next thing is try to get the major medical coverage.

Now under the law of the state, insurance companies are prohibited denial or limitation of coverage if you are under a group plan. The law also prohibits insurance companies from canceling a policy because of illness. If you are unable to get health insurance because of a preexisting condition, the Arkansas Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool will offer you coverage.

Now, in terms of life insurance, the most common types in the state are term life insurance and cash value insurance.
The term life insurance shall cover you for a period of one to several years and will pay the death benefit if you die during the covered period.

The cash value insurance is lifetime coverage. At the same time, you can borrow money from the insurance or your policy. This, of course, has higher premium.

If this article or a part of this article was beneficial to you, be sure to visit my website(s) as listed in the resource box below.

Here are the top 5 factors that affect car insurance premiums:

Gender – like age, there is really nothing you can do about this. Men are generally perceived to be the potential dangerous drivers and not the females. hence, females get lower rates.

Age – younger drivers, particularly teenagers, receive higher premiums for nothing else but age. Inexperienced drivers also receive this because their not yet considered “mature” with their driving. There is really nothing that can be done about this: you get older, you get better at driving and your rates will eventually go down.

Type of Vehicle – we would all love to cruise around on a Pontiac Solstice or Porsche Boxter but you won’t believe the kind of rates these kinds of cars get. If you want lower premiums, get a car with a lower price.

Auto Insurance Companies – now this is something you can control. Despite the determining factors, some companies just offer lower rates than others. It’s up to you to choose.

Driving Violations – this is another thing you can certainly control. While it may be so tempting to race around town upon getting your license, a police ticket is not worth it. It may be a single ticket, but it can do wonders to your insurance premiums as insurance companies keep track of your driving record.

As insurance companies tend to charge high premiums for car insurance, there are ways to lower it:

• Low mileages reduce significantly your premium. Thus, it is recommended to use your car only for short drives.
• Pay your insurance premiums in one installment as insurance companies charge more for monthly premiums.
• Don’t apply too much customization on your car because tweaking the stock features increases the premium.
• Don’t go beyond the speed limit. Speeding fines increase premium as insurance companies keep a record of this violation.

The Factors which Affect your Insurance Premium

Normal factors which affect insurance premium are age, location, car make, and the like. However, as there is a higher risk involved in sports cars, there is also a higher rate. Most insurance companies charge the same rate for sports car insurances even for different car makes since they have a record of the usual sports car predicaments.

It can be difficult to find an auto insurance company that offers affordable insurance. However, auto insurance is mandatory by law in most states including California. It is necessary for an individual, to be informed about the various insurance options available to them to select the best insurance. There are various auto insurance companies that offer free online quotes to customers. However, new and inexperienced people may face a lot of difficulty, in understanding the technical aspects and the various relevant clauses pertaining to insurance. Such customers can consult with an experienced insurance agent or broker. Many insurance agents provide online services to customers. These agents inform the customers about the various types of insurance coverage, factors that affect the insurance premiums, and ways of obtaining inexpensive insurance.

Insurance agents help the customers to decide on a coverage that is best suited for their requirements. An agent also enlightens the customers about the meaning and significance of deductibles, while determining the auto insurance premiums. Generally, the auto insurance prices fluctuate and vary, depending on various factors such as type of coverage offered, the insurance company, the credit score of the vehicle owner, driving record, and the type of vehicle. A good insurance agent offers invaluable tips, and is in a better position to negotiate a good deal, as the agent will write the policy to the customers to lower the insurance premiums.

All auto insurance policies require periodic renewal. An insurance agent can be of a great help in renewing the policies regularly. The insurance agent also has adequate knowledge, of the various discounts that are offered to customers by the insurance companies. Generally, all insurance companies have their own agents, who represent them and generate business for them.

Various online companies provide prospective leads to insurance agents. They may charge a per-lead fee, a monthly fee or an annual fee to provide these services.

oh man… I NEED A CAR!!!… I really need a car to go from point A to point B / here to there / anywhere to everywhere… hehhe…I need a car so I won’t bug my Dad to let me borrow his to get things like my usual cravings for coffee, burgers, pizza, chicken wings, or when i need to go to Blockbuster to rent games and such… hehehhee!!

I desperately NEED a car… but I still need to a research on cars… I want a BMW M5
Can I afford it? really that’s the question I leave to the philosophers…hehhe but for my price range it’s from $10k – $30k, so BMW M5 would be out of the picture…

Using the Vehicle Selector Aid from Autotropolis, finding a car that would suit me, just made my research pretty easy…I didn’t even have to leave the house. Lucky me…being the lazy dude that I am, this is the most fun and convenient thing. No one hassling you to buy this or that… hahahaha THE CHOICE IS ALL MINE AND MINE ALONE!!!! BWAHAHAHAAHAH!!!

the selections led me to these choices ….

1. 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
2. 2007 Saturn Ion
3. 2007 Toyota Yaris
4. 2007 Chevrolet Aveo

hrmmm… decisions, decisions…

What if I list my far-out Specifications and standards on the type of car I would need…

it should be able to fly, and I can drive to a side of a building, that car should be able to sense what i’m feeling on that time i’m driving it, so if i’m angry… it would change into a menacing car… like what the batmobile looks like hheee… voice-activated driving (oh YEAH! the best)… so i don’t need to hold the steering wheel, when i’m driving on the freeway, i can switch the voice-activated driving on and off anytime i want… and my steering or control pad would be like my xbox 360 controller, and oooohh, ooooohhh i know….I want a soda dispenser, a microwave oven, a coffee maker, a personal fridge and a grill… so i can make burgers, sandwiches, drink coffee anytime when I’m driving… and it should fold small enough to fit in my pocket so I don’t have to worry about parking too far…

The adventures of the QuickStop Project — BackPackers Crew : Jaren’s Quest for the perfect car and the mixture fantasy and reality…

Pic Link

AutoClub.com.AU

An auto insurance policy for non car owners? What for? Hold on tight because you’re in for a big surprise! A car insurance policy is a smart move even if you don’t own a car if you fall into any of the situations I will talk about later in this article.

If your city has a dependable mass transit system, you will not need a personal car for your daily movements. Car rental services are always there to take care of those times you may need a car for private use.

Along with renting a car, you’ll also have to get an auto insurance cover for the rent period. These rental service sell such car insurance policies. A non-owner car insurance policy is, however, cheaper for you on the long run if you rent cars often. You won’t have to be buying short term insurance covers from rental companies.

If your friends and relatives know that you have an auto insurance policy they’ll be more likely to release their car to you than otherwise. If you are a car owner, who would you consider more responsible: The fellow who has a non-owner car insurance policy and the guy who doesn’t? If you show that you are very responsible, people prefer to deal with you.

Hold on. A non-owner auto insurance policy works within a certain rule. If an accident happens, your non-owner’s policy cannot take precedence over the car owner’s policy. It kicks in only if the car owner’s policy’s liability limit cannot take care of the damages caused. I think an example will help make this clearer…

Let’s say you had an accident with a borrowed car that resulted in damages that totaled $27,000. In spite of your non-owner’s policy, the car owner’s policy will be used if his/her liability limit is, say, $30,000. If, on the other hand, there is a deficit where the car owner’s policy cannot cover such damage, your non-owner’s policy will take care of the balance.

It is good that you know that irrespective of the type of auto insurance policy you intend to get, you can make a lot of savings by capitalizing on the disparity in car insurance rates. This can save you several hundred dollars or even much more. Moreover, it’s very ethical — No shady deals here.

If the possibility of saving $1000 fascinates you, then take some time out to visit at least three insurance quotes site. All you’ll have to do is get and compare quotes. And, it will only take you about 5 minutes per site. Auto insurance quotes sites give quick, free non-obligatory quotes.

Shopping for auto insurance online? Looking for auto insurance discounters so you can get the cheapest rate? Here’s how to find them and the discounts they offer.

Auto Insurance Discounts

Auto insurance companies offer discounts for a number of different reasons. Here’s a list of the discounts that will save you the most amount of money:

* Home/auto discount – Most insurance companies will give you a 10 to 15 percent discount if you insure your car and your home or condo with them.

* Multi-car discount – Many insurers will give you a 10 to 15 percent discount if you have two or more cars and insure them with them.

* Safety and security discount – You can get a sizeable discount if you have safety and security devices installed in your car such as burglar alarms, anti-theft devices, air bags, and anti-lock brakes.

* Driver’s education discount – You can get a discount with many insurers if you’ve taken a driver’s ed course or a defensive driving course.

* Low mileage discount – You can get a discount if you drive less than the norm, especially if you drive less than 5,000 miles a year.

* Miscellaneous discounts – Different companies offer discounts for a variety of reasons – having a good driving record, being a senior, housing your car in a garage, not having filed claims, etc. Ask your agent about any discounts you may be eligible for before you buy an auto insurance policy.

Auto Insurance Discounters

Auto insurance discounters can offer cheap insurance because they keep their operating costs low.

You can find these companies by going to an insurance comparison website. There you can fill out a simple questionnaire and get rates from a number of different A-rated companies. The better sites even offer a chat service and a toll-free information line where you can get answers to your auto insurance questions. (See link below.)

If you’re in doubt about an auto insurance discounter’s reliability, you can go to your state’s insurance department website to see the number of claims that have been filed against them. You can also get consumer ratings and reviews of a company by going to epinions.com.