What Insurance Companies Do Not Want You To Know

By Susan Reynolds

In these tough economic times, people are trying to cut corners in many different ways, especially when it comes to dealing with their vehicles. People are traveling less, waiting longer to fix problems, searching around for the cheapest gas, and/or buying more fuel efficient cars. Cars are a big money investment, particularly car insurance. Did you know that car insurance companies have a large amount of discounts available to their customers? These discounts can drastically reduce the amount a policy holder must pay annually for their car insurance.

Though these discounts are available, insurance companies don?t offer them right away and to receive these benefits you more likely than not need to inquire about them. It is estimated that on a yearly basis, insurance companies collect millions of dollars on premiums they would not receive if their customers took advantage of all discounts available to them. Therefore, here are a few suggestions on how to save on your premiums. Never forget to inquire is these are available to you because they change depending on where you live and what company provides your insurance.

It is likely that the most common of these discounts is for have no blemishes on your insurance record. The percentage of your discount will increase for a clean record, however, there is a limit to how much discount you will receive for this. Anti theft devices. On a yearly basis, car insurances companies have to pay hundreds of millions of dollars because of stolen cars. So anything you do that will reduce the likelihood of your car being stolen will reduce the likelihood of the insurance company having to pay for a stolen car. Therefore if you own any anti theft devices you should inquire about the discounts they may entitle you to.

Another discount is the advanced driver?s discount. The idea behind this discount is that the more experienced you are behind the wheel the less likely it is that you will be in an accident. Even young people can take advantage of this discount through the advanced driver training course.

Often, the premium discounts associated with advanced driver training and anti theft devices are so significant that the cost for obtaining the training or devices is covered, sometimes several times over. Yet another discount that you should inquire about is the multi policy discount. The insurance companies are for-profit companies and want as much of your business as they can obtain. For this reason, many will offer a discount if you obtain your automobile and homeowners? insurance through the same carrier.

Similar to the multi policy discount is the multi vehicle discount. If you utilize the same insurer to provide coverage for more than one vehicle, you may be entitled to a discount. And, if you drive your vehicle 5,000 miles a year or less, there is a low mileage discount to which you may be entitled.

Above are just a few options to help lower the cost of your insurance policy. Ask you local agent about these and any other discounts for which you may be eligible. Car insurance companies want to insure low risk clients. Take advantage of this. - 21396

About the Author:

Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African Insurance Provider who specialises in Car Insurance Options.

Tips On How To Get The Most Off A Budget Car Rental

By Jonathan Wills

Many a traveler has turned to budget auto rental as a way of getting around without having to use expensive taxi services. It's best done before your trip is undertaken but you can just show up to a budget rental place and sign up for a car.

Well maybe not a lawnmower, but sometimes, well most of the time, the people that assist you in car rentals just doesn't have your best interest in mind, so you end up paying a truckload of money for a pool of frustrations. To avoid this here are a few tips to get the budget, out of budget car rental.

1. If you don't mind which agency you're using, choose sites that allow you to pick your price. You will definitely get the best price for the value and they might even choose to give you some upgrades and an unlimited mileage package. It won't cost you extra and you'll get a nice budget car out of the deal.

2. Make sure you look for deals that combine flights with hotels with budget rental cars. You'll pay less for your vehicle and such packages will allow you to pay one fee for everything. It's better to try these at online travel sites and avoid those that are combined with airlines. Airlines provide a convenient deal but not at budget prices and you'll end up paying more than you expected to.

3. Use the internet to reserve a rental car. Ah, the internet, what other good can it provide? Yes there are budget car rentals on the internet that can give you a better bargain. Some budget car rental sites even go as far as internet only discounts. Aside from that you can easily get upgrades and depending on the season, at least one rental company is bound to have a special offer that can help you save money, plus, you can rent a car in the comfort of your own home, beat that!

4. Make sure you take the time to ask for discounts that fit for you. Even when you think you may have gotten the best deal and are ready to sign on the bottom line, there may be a deal through your Credit Card Company or AARP card that you haven't thought of. Some frequent flyer miles apply to the renting of budget rental cars. Not everyone will have such discounts but if you dig deep, you may just come up with something.

5. Many of the budget car agencies don't spend a lot on maintenance so you'll need to check for dents and scratches yourself during the auto pick up. That way you'll not likely get charged for dents that you never did at all. The same is true for windshield wipers, air conditioning and other features a car has. Check them all out because you could get charged if they don't work when you return the car, even if they hadn't worked prior to that. Think about the brakes, the radio and any accessories the car has so that you know they work when you get them.

6. When thinking of insurance, make sure you don't already have coverage for rental cars on your regular insurance. If you do have coverage, you don't need to pay for extra coverage through the budget rental agency. They will have you sign a waiver to make sure you waive your right to have rental insurance through the rental company. If you're not sure, get the insurance through the budget agency as it isn't that expensive.

7. You can actually save money if you check out with the agency early in the morning. This is because the previous days cars haven't been returned yet so you are more likely to get a free upgrade to a bigger car. - 21396

About the Author:

Jonathan is a regular traveller in his role as consultant for an air travel website. He often is asked how to find the best value cheap travel tickets as well.

Get Your Dream Home Instantly

By Sikkir Rautunai

People nowadays are more conscious of what's going on in their surroundings. After all, it's not that easy to miss the endless reports on worsening international relations, rapidly occurring environmental degradation and touchy religious scandals. Whether one likes it or not, it contributes to a very stressful life. This results to people wanting to get away from it all and staying inside their own homes in order to have a quiet time alone.

In order for this so-called relaxing and rejuvenating exercise to be successful, it follows that you must have a living area favorable for such a goal. It is not necessary to renovate your house or buy high end items to achieve a great environment. What you should remember is that your place must fit your individual taste. Read on for the different ways to get your ideal home.

First, decide on a particular motif. If your home is basically just a box where you lounge and retreat to after a crazy days work, then you might try amplifying the style factor by consulting an interior designer. If such a plan is out of the household budget due to monetary constraints, purchasing and reading home and interior design magazines will also help you in a big way. It will assist you zero in on the theme that you really want.

There are many available selections to choose from. If your family fancies a European-inspired place, search for a Mediterranean style. Consequently, if they are into Oriental decors, having a Zen place or Chinese pagoda will do the trick.

Second, single out a hue that will complement the total look of your home. Do the soothing sounds of the ocean waves calm you? Then, pick a can of paint in aquamarine and make it as your solid backdrop. Should you go in a different route and opt for a shade that reminds you of forests, selecting mint green or moss green will do the task masterfully. Now, if you prefer sticking to cozy colors that reminds you of the earth, get light brown, beige, cream or taupe for a warming effect.

Third, be conscious of the size of your rooms. Utilizing an indispensable piece of material like a mirror will create an illusion that the space is much bigger than it actually is. Buying multi-purpose furniture in a size relative to the room is also a great idea because you will not unnecessarily occupy too much valuable space. Consequently, if you have a bigger area, ensure that your equipments and accessories will not get drowned because they are too small to be noticed. This simple act of proportioning your stuff to the size of the room may seem like a no-brainer but failing to follow these rules will result to a disorganized set up.

Fourth, acquire affordable ornaments that will bring make your place come alive. This means that you have to harness the important effects of accent pieces like lamps, throw pillows, rugs and other knick knacks there is no need to rush to upscale boutiques for decorative accents if you don't feel like it. A lot of flea markets and bargain shops are sprouting all over the country today so there is no excuse not to buy these wares.

With the aforementioned tips, you can easily now have the dream houses you have been wishing for. Be creative and patient as you go through your home improvement phase. It won't be long before everything you have been thinking of will materialize right before your very eyes. - 21396

About the Author:

For more info about planning, beautification and constructing your own garage building kits hurry up and visit our homepage. Do not miss reading our latest article: Garage Floor Plans.

Tips For Reducing Your Car Inurance Premium

By Graham McKenzie

Car insurance is a requirement needed for all the licensed car drivers who drive a vehicle. But, lots of the drivers do not know about the varieties of car insurance or premium rates that are available. Some people end up renewing the same car license year after year without knowing that they are paying far too much for the car insurance. To get the best rates for the car insurance available you have to make sure to do some comparison shopping. You have to make sure that you receive all the discounts that you really qualify for. Having a clean driving record can really save you a fortune on car insurance.

You may have been already insured but it must not stop you from comparison shopping. This procedure cannot be underestimated and can save you a lot of money. You have to weigh all the options and go around trying to compare all the rates and then at last choose the one that is best fit for you. There are plenty of factors that might influence upon you when you are going to buy car insurance. For example the place you live, your age, your driving record, the type of car you use, and the distance you drive all comes into consideration when you apply. With all these things to consider there surely must be a insurance provider who will be ready to provide you a competitive rate that will be far cheaper than your previous insurance.

It?s also a good idea even after you?ve chosen a company to occasionally make a phone call and see what else is out there. Rates, as well as your circumstance are subject to change and you could be pleasantly surprised that the company you are already insured with has come up with a new, lower cost program that fits your needs.

These discounts can save you a lot of money on your car insurance policy. You must research continuously to know about all these discounts since they are not advertised. You may be already receiving a good discount, but it is not the end. You can continuously ask your car insurance dealer about new discounts available for you. For example if you have a good driving record you might be qualified for the discount that is eligible for a good driver.

Every car comes with certain safety features, which vary from car to car. Depending upon the safety features of your car, you can get discounts on the policies. An insurance company might provide you discounts, if you get other things insured as well from the same company, for example your home and your car.

Having a good driving record is critical. This will generally save you the most money. The one thing all companies have in common is giving lower rates to safe drivers. Abide by all traffic laws and be aware of what?s going on you when you drive by being on the lookout for driver?s that aren?t driving safely. While it?s true that some accidents you can?t avoid, driving safely will help you have a good driving record to keep the cost of your car insurance down.

To some of the drivers their monthly car insurance bill may appear as a financial burden. But this may come in handy when you are involved with a serious accident that has significant financial ramifications. So considering these reasons you must make sure that there is no lapse in your car insurance. The more you search, the better rates could be found. - 21396

About the Author:

Graham McKenzie is the content syndication coordinator for Carinsurancesa.co.za, a leading South African Car Insurance portal.

Comparing Smartbars And Bullbars, Facing The Facts

By Damian Papworth

I'm a bit of a 4WD buff, I always have been. From climbing impossible mountains to cruising through the sand dunes for an ocean fishing expedition, I just love getting out there, into places unreachable by foot or road.

Recently on an outback excursion I hit a kangaroo. I was only doing about 10km/h so the damage was minimal, but this incident got me thinking about frontal protection. So I called my mates at All Vehicle Accessories in Melbourne to have a chat about bullbars.

So I rang the guys at All Vehicle Accessories in Melbourne to get a bullbar installed. While chatting, they told me about these new pastic bullbars. Intrigued (as I'd never heard about them before) I jumped onto Google to do some research. Smartbars vs bullbars, what would protect us the best. Initially I found a lot of opinion and little fact, but digging a little deeper, a pretty clear picture emerged.

Frontal protection products are designed to do 3 things in a collision. They are designed to 1. Protect the passengers in the vehicle. 2. Protect the vehicle in a collision. 3. Pretect the object being struck in a collision. So that was my first point of reference. Which product did a better job in a collision, the bullbar or the smartbar?

Its pretty funny when you look around for information on the relative safety performance of bullbars and smartbars. People who love bullbars keep pointing out that at 150kms/h a collision will be fatal. So to be clear, we are not looking at the 150kms/h collission. Rather we are comparing performance of these products at speeds up to and including fatal impact, but not exceeding it. That means at speeds which are less than and equal to the point where a collision becomes fatal to the vehicle, passengers or pedestrian.

The two frontal protection devices perform differently as they have been designed to do different things. Bullbars have been designed to be the "unbreakable barrier". They are intended to form a barrier between your vehicle and the collision that nothing can get through. Smartbars on the other hand have been designed, through their hollow polymer construction, to absorb, cushion and decelerate the forces of impact. Ie. To be a "frontal airbag" if you like, albeit for your car. When you look at the independent tests, there really is no escaping it. The fact is that up to the point of fatal impact, smartbars protect your vehicle, your passengers and pedestrians better than bullbars do.

To put this point in perspective though, into words you can feel, smartbars are made out of similar materials that they make those big wheelie bins from. Imagine you fell over in the street and smacked your head into a big iron postal box. It would hurt right? Now compare the same fall if your head hit the middle of one of those big wheelie bins. The bin would cushion the impact somewhat and the damage to your forehead would not nearly be so bad. (Or painful for that matter) Thats the way the smartbars work.

Beyond protection, there is the matter of performance. Given smartbars are significantly lighter than bullbars, its not hard to see that this equates to better fuel consumption, better tyre wear, better suspension wear and safer handling for your vehicle. Vehicles just drive better with a smartbar. Did you also know that the construction of a smartbar creates about 1% of the greenhouse emissions that bullbar construction creates? Better performance on the road, better performance for the environment.

And I have one final point to make on the subject. I love taking the jeep out bush but I'm pretty lazy about it when I come home. I don't want to spend hours polishing, buffing or scrubbing my bullbar because its rusting a bit (especially after those ocean fishing trips) or has lost its shine. A quick wipedown with a soapy sponge is all the smartbar takes to clean. Which means I can spend my time planning the next trip.

These are the facts I found when researching frontal protection products for my Jeep. The protection of my family was my #1 consideration, so getting this right was important to me. If you are considering frontal protection products I encourage you to do your own research, try to seperate fact from the immense amount of image based opinion out there, and pick the product that best suits your purpose. - 21396

About the Author:

Smartbars vs bullbars, there is no competition in Damian Papworth's mind.