All About Car

What’s new in the technology world?

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:22:53 +0000

It’s a tired way to start a modern article by referring to the speed with which the world has been revolutionized by the computer but, in this instance, it’s highly appropriate. When the first green shoots emerged in the late 1960′s and early 1970′s, computerization was all about automating in-house processes like the accounting system. The software to replace labor was still a few years ago. But, once it arrived, two things happened. The employers cut their costs and improved their profits by terminating the employment of tens of thousands. Second, by removing many of the people who used to deal with customers, the businesses began a slow decline in the quality of the services they provided. Today, corporations hide behind call centers and e-mail systems, rarely providing real people we can talk through our problems with.

Instead of using the Internet and automated systems as a smokescreen to suggest a reasonable quality of service, the new technology should be used to improve the customer experience. At some point, the quality of this aspect of service will come back into focus as a way of distinguishing between faceless corporations. Take the world of car insurance as an example of what can be done. If your vehicle is involved in an accident, what you want is a smooth system for handling your claim. This involves the minimum fuss in submitting the claim online, the identification of suitable bodyshops for performing the repairs, getting quotes with the least delay, and agreeing which bodyshop will actually do the repairs. All this administration needs to be fast because, if your vehicle is off the road, there are storage charges mounting up and rental charges for a substitute vehicle. Multiply this across all the policyholders and the cost to the insurers is higher than it needs to be. If this loss is controlled, premium rates can be stabilized if not reduced. It’s good for all.

That’s why it’s important to support a new website and mobile app for Android and the iPhone that will improve the current situation. They allow you to upload photographs of the damage using your cell phone or hand-held device with a camera, and circulate those pictures to bodyshops approved by your insurer near to where you live. The repair shops keep the site updated on whether they have spare capacity and offer an estimate of the cost of repairs within 24 hours. Because the site works with insurers to limit the list of repairshops to those preapproved by the insurers, there’s a minimum of delay in processing the claim and costs are kept to a minimum. At present, this is still at a beta stage with five insurance companies in a limited number of states. But, assuming the trial is a success, we could see this rolled out across the country. If it genuinely does reduce administrative delays and associated costs, we will see stable car insurance rates. It may not be the cheap car insurance we all want to see, but it’s a good step in the right direction. It should also act as a wake-up call to the other slumbering giants on both sides of the fence. There are creative software people and insurance companies who would benefit the customer by getting together.

Insurance on the internet

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:25:54 +0000

If you listen to the commentators, they all sing the same song. We’ve now entered the internet age. This is supposed to convince us something new and wonderful has happened. It’s such a complete break with the past it heralds the beginning of a new information age in which, somehow, we can all get ahead and do things never possible before. This is, of course, pure rubbish. The only difference between the digital age and the hard-copy age that went before it is the ease of access. Having a PC or some other online device gives you access to a vast library with a search engine to help you find the pages you need more easily. But, when you have the right page on the screen in front of you, it’s the same words you could have found in a book or some other written material. All that’s changed is the way the words are presented to you.

So, if you go back in time, printed words have always been used to manipulate people. They sell ideas to you. This means real power lies in the power to control access the means of publication. If a group can control what gets printed and distributed, the words can always tell the same story. But if the means of publication is open to other voices, this can give a completely different view of the world. This is why reputations can be made or unmade depending on who has the power to publish.

The problem for modern companies is anyone today can start up a blog or website. Many internet services are free to use. Similarly, the networking sites like Facebook allow people to write their opinions and describe their experiences. In the past, we would never get to hear Anne from Denver bought a steam cleaner that sprayed boiling water over her hands. Now she can write it and thousands of people can tweet it. It makes it very difficult for manufacturers and service providers to protect their reputations. This explains, in part, why insurance companies very rarely allow interaction on their sites. Since they cannot control what sometimes angry customers may say, they try to deny them a voice. Except there are now some very high profile sites on which people can complain about bad products and services. This movement is not yet sufficient to damage the vast insurance industry, but individual companies are finding it more difficult to prevent their reputations from slowly washing away.

This makes the recent announcement of a new online forum all the more encouraging. The intention is to allow people from both sides of the insurance relationship a chance to ask questions and have their say. Instead of a blank screen on which insurers give you the news they think you should hear, you can now ask about how to get more affordable car insurance rates, what to do if a claims adjuster low-balls the fair market value offer, and so on. This does not mean everyone on the forum will be an “innocent” consumer. There will inevitably be anonymous industry experts giving balancing views and opinions. But this is a hopeful sign of change. You may even get cheap car insurance quotes because of pressure through forums like this.

Quick Ways to Find the Cheapest Car Insurance For Young Drivers

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:02:03 +0000

When it comes to insuring first time or young drivers, or insuring high performance sports cars or imported cars, you are often going to be charged a premium. This is particularly true if you get your insurance through one of the bigger named companies. But the fact of the matter is, you don’t have to pay out the nose for auto insurance – no matter what. With all the competition in the marketplace, combined with an ailing and unstable economy, auto insurance companies are regularly lowering their rates to keep up with the competition and also to try to gain new clients.

But what do you do when you are looking for the cheapest car insurance for young drivers, or worse yet, cheap high performance car insurance.

The answer is simple, hit the internet.

It is not commonly known, but a good number of us overpay for our auto insurance as it stands. Now, there are a good number of reputable sites that allow you to compare rates for car insurance amongst a number of different providers – both big names and lesser known, but still high quality companies. So when you want the cheapest first car insurance guaranteed, or need cheap import car insurance, this is the path you need to follow to make sure you get the best deal possible.

In just a few short minutes, you can compare auto insurance rates across a huge number of different companies and quickly see the amount you could be saving annually on your auto insurance. When you need the cheapest first car insurance guaranteed – this is how you find it. And whether you need the cheapest car insurance for young drivers, cheap high performance car insurance, or cheap import car insurance, check out these valuable, easy to use, money saving tools and make the switch today that could save you hundreds of dollars a year on your insurance premiums.

Many insurance companies make a lot of money on consumers each year. Just saving an extra premium cost each month can help with groceries, your car payment, house payment, and even just getting odds and ends for your home.

With the economy they way it is, it is very important to save in as many areas as we possible can. This way you can enjoy less stress and more time enjoying life! Life is really meant to be enjoyed and not spent working overtime to pay for auto insurance!

Cheapest Car Insurance For You and The Drivers In Your Family

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:29:00 +0000

If you turn on the TV, read a newspaper, or surf the net, you are certain to be bombarded by dozens of ads for cheap car insurance. Since the ads come from many different car insurance companies, you must suspect that they cannot all offer you the lowest rate! In fact, your own premium will depend upon so many things that you really need to go through the process of giving some information before you can really make a good quote comparison.

Some factors that affect what you pay are your age and driving history. We all assume that young drivers, and drivers who have had a few accidents will pay more than middle aged drivers who have kept their record clean for several years. However, some companies will allow you to mitigate these factors by taking steps to protect your car in the future. Approved driver safety classes and car safety features will help. Young drivers who keep up a good grade point average will also find discounts out there.

The way you use your car, and even where you live, can also impact your monthly payment. These factors may be harder to control. If you commute ever day, or if you use your car for sales calls, you may have to accept a higher rate class than if you only use your car for infrequent trips to the grocery store. If you live in an area where car insurance companies believe thefts or accidents are common, expect them to charge more. The type of car that you drive also makes a difference. Sports cars, and cars that have been shown to cause a lot of damage to the other guy, will suffer higher payments. However, if your car has safety features or anti-theft devices, you can find discounts as well.

Some car insurance companies even factor in credit reports! They have statistics to prove that people with better credit are responsible for less losses. And so, some of the insurers factor that in too. If that is the case with your company, the best advice I can give you is to try and keep your credit clean, or to take steps to get it clean in the future.

One very common way to find discount insurance, is to have more than one policy with the same company. Since they want to earn all of your business, some companies will offer you a discount so they can also cover your home, rental property, or other cars in your household. Even though the rate to cover your car may not be cheaper, if you factor in a heft home insurance discount, it may work out better.

However, not all of the insurers use the same system when they are calculating an individual’s monthly premium. So you need to shop around and see which one would be the best fit for you, and your family. You may find that you are better off sticking with your old company, but sometimes it may be well worth the trouble to switch out for cheaper coverage from a more competitive insurer.

Cheap Car Insurance For a Bad Driving Record

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:42:49 +0000

If you have a bad driving record, is it still possible to save money on car insurance? The answer to that is yes! There are ways that a consumer can save some extra money when it comes to their car insurance. I will give you a few tips that will help to save you some money.

1. Raising your deductibles on your comprehensive and collision coverage will lower your premium. During this time, working on your driving record is a must, but it will take time.

2. The more features you have added on to your policy will cost you more money. Remove some of the features such as towing and rental car reimbursement.

3. If you are driving an expensive car, such as a sports car, you might want to consider driving a car that is less expensive. This way you can have collision coverage and not comprehensive coverage.

4. Some insurance companies check credit scores to see if you are a risk. Improving your credit score will lower the risk.

5. Comparing prices and getting quotes online. The prices with different car insurance companies can vary considerably. It is best to shop around and compare prices. Online quotes are free and can make choosing much easier.

There are different options if you have a bad driving record to get cheaper car insurance rates. Always, check around and compare policies online, prices, and know what your options are. Try working on improving your driving record. This will save you much hassle in the near future.

Classic Car Insurance Guide

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:50:47 +0000

If you’re a classic car owner, you’re probably quite proud of your vehicle. You’ve gone through lot’s of trouble finding, buying, repairing, and restoring your classic car to get it into tip top shape. If you have all this time and money invested into your vehicle, you’re probably thinking about how you can insure and protect it.

However, you can’t just call up your regular insurance company and get proper insurance for your classic car. Since classic cars are valued differently than newer ones, insuring them is quite different. Classic cars are one of a kind investments, which takes special expertise to value and insure. Fortunately for you, classic car insurance is offered by several niche insurance companies. You can find these companies on the internet rather quickly.

As you browse these sites and compare terms and quotes, you’ll notice a couple restrictions that come into place before you can get classic car insurance. First of all, you must have a solid driving record. If you’ve got a long history of accidents, you probably won’t be allowed to get a policy. Many policies require ten years of driving experience.

Another common requirement is that you have prove that you have another form of transportation for everyday use. Since classic cars have a poorer safety record than modern ones, it’s not expected that you’ll be driving it all the time. In fact, many policies will limit you to under 5000 miles of driving per year. This isn’t that limiting, unless you’re trying to use your classic car as a real means of transportation.

You also need to make sure that your car qualifies as a classic car. Every company has different policies for defining what qualifies as a classic car, so be sure to check with your company to makes sure that your car qualifies.

You should also understand what kind of policy you’re getting. Since many classic cars are one of kind, they can be hard to price. You can get several types of policies: actual cash value, stated value and agreed value. Actual cash value works like regular car insurance, which just pays you for the cost of the car. Stated value will pay you up to a certain stated value for the car, but there are no guarantees of this value. Agreed value policies pay you a pre-agreed upon amount in the event of an incident, typically with no deductible. As you might imagine, these policies get progressively more expensive.

This should give you a basic idea of what you’re up against in terms of getting insurance for your classic car. Be sure to get several quotes so that you can get the best deal to protect your special investment. You will have much greater piece of mind knowing that your prized vehicle is properly insured.

Third Party Car Insurance – Get Quotes Online

admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:48:04 +0000

Car insurance is to protect you and your car when accidents happen on the road. Although a lot of people know this but many choose to ignore the importance of having it. All state requires people who owns and drive a car to have car insurance.

This is for the driver’s safety as well as the passenger and the third party that would be involved in the accident. But many of those who owns a car doesn’t have car insurance to some maybe they don’t have extra money for getting insurance.

While others have extra money but chose not to get it. One of the reasons why people don’t get their car insured is because auto insurance is very expensive for their budget.

But today you could find lots of affordable and cheap insurance online, you just have to have the determination and effort to find it. There are many different types of auto insurance such as comprehensive car insurance, bodily injury, collision coverage, towing etc.

One of these coverage options is the third party car insurance. Here is the difference between comprehensive and third party coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers your vehicle when they are stolen or they are damaged by natural disaster such as hail storm, flood, earthquake, falling tree, tornado etc.

It also covers your vehicle when it is hit or when it hits other cars it also covers the other car that you hit. Because it covers many damages not only yours but also the other party’s damage its rate is much expensive.

The third party car insurance is much cheaper and more affordable for most people because it only covers for the third party’s damage. In some area or state this insurance is referred to as liability insurance. In car insurance term third party means the other side that you have caused damage on for the second party will be the insurance company and you as the one responsible for the accident will be the first party.

This insurance is important for most state will be requiring you to get a policy that will protect you from the damage that you have done to the other party by getting an insurance that will compensate the other party.

Here are some tips and advice for those who want to get third party car insurance.

If you think you can’t afford to get or you don’t want to get comprehension coverage for your auto insurance then you could get for a third party instead. This third party will help you pay for the damage that you have inflicted on the other party in an accident.

But you also have to bear in mind that third party only covers for the damages of the other party and does not include the damage done to yours. So you will still need a policy that will also protect you, your passenger and your car.

The only one who can choose for the right insurance for yourself is you. So you need to consider your protection as well as the other party’s.

Classic Cars’ Valuation – Insurance Purposes

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:40:20 +0000

The insurance company may not reimburse you with a full market value if your classic car happens to be stolen or lost. The problem may be further aggravated if your beloved classic is a vintage, rare and historic collection of cars. Thus you should approach this matter from inception, particularly understanding the classic car valuation. The value of a vehicle is usually determined by the market trends at the moment.

It is extremely unlikely that an owner of a classic car to know the car value at any time upon buying it. The same applies to the insurance company who has to estimate the price of the risk. Besides, the company will have to take into consideration the repair costs are subjected to higher repair charges compared to normal vehicles. In order to prevent the occurrences of such problems, most underwriting companies that provide classic car insurance or classic vehicles collectors will come up with an agreement policy called the “Agreed Valuation”.

This policy is to ensure that should a classic car owner happens to claim that his car is beyond repair or has been written off, the insurance company should compensate the full amount of the agreed value. But in most cases, this is only applicable for a certain period of time. However if there is changes in the value of your vehicle, you should inform your insurance company to get a new car valuation done.

If it is too difficult to attain the classic car value of your car then you may consider bringing up a concord where it includes the agreed value as part of the insurance plan to prevent unwanted problems between you and the insurance company in the future. Usually there will be an “Agreed Valuations Certificate” issued to you by the company. Hence if you wish to switch the insurance company remember to check if the new company acknowledges the certificate issued by your previous insurer. Overall, it is not advisable for car owners to spend on insurance premiums as the car insurance from any specialist car insurance is sufficient to guarantee you a safe reimbursement.

Cheap Car Insurance Rate Finder

admin — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:36:46 +0000

A cheap car insurance rate can be found by comparing multiple quotes. To succeed in this endeavor, you will need to dedicate sufficient time to research. It’s important to keep in mind that each insurer has their unique formula to calculate premiums. This formula will take into consideration the motorist’s age, marital status, car, driving record, and even their credit score. If you fall into a specific “niche” of an insurer, you can find nice rates.

However, obtaining the lowest rate is not the only important aspect. You also need to make sure that you are well protected, as well as that the insurer is a reliable one.

The first aspect is to ensure that you have the right type of coverage. For instance, if you park your car in unsecured locations, you may be better off obtaining comprehensive, which would cover any losses if your car suffered vandalism or theft. By the way, auto theft is a specific subject, and you may want to find out how it works with your specific insurer. For instance, some insurers will not pay a claim for a stolen car, if the doors of the car were left unlocked or the keys were left in the ignition. Back to the types of coverage: if you have a newer or more expensive car, you may also consider collision, which will repair your car after an accident. There are other types of coverage that can help you achieve an appropriate level of protection.

Finally, you may want to look into the company that offered you a cheap car insurance rate, prior to settling with them. This can be done by reviewing their financial rating and studying unbiased customer reviews about that company.

Where to Get Cheap Car Insurance for Students

admin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:47:58 +0000

Students typically have little extra money to spend, but unfortunately have to pay top dollar for car insurance, with drivers under age 25 paying the highest car insurance rates of anyone. So where can you get cheap car insurance for students?

Shop Around

Insurance rates can vary widely from company to company, so you need to comparison shop to make sure you’re getting the cheapest car insurance you can.

The best place to comparison shop for car insurance is on an insurance comparison website. On such a website, you complete a form with information about your vehicles, personal information, coverage limits, and deductibles. Then you’ll receive fast quotes from multiple A-rated insurance companies and you can choose the cheapest quote from the best company.

On the best comparison websites, you can also talk with insurance professionals through an online chat service or toll-free telephone service and get all your insurance questions answered (see link below).

Plan to Save

To keep your car insurance as cheap as possible, follow these tips:

* Keep your grades up so you can qualify for a good student discount.

* Enroll in a driver’s education or defensive driving class.

* Drive carefully and safely so you can qualify for a good driver discount after three years with no tickets or accidents.

* Keep your credit rating in good shape. If you have poor credit, your insurance costs may be higher.

* Before you buy a car, check into the cost to insure it. Your premium will be affected by the car’s sticker price, potential repair costs, overall safety record, safety features, and the likelihood of theft.

* Set your comprehensive and collision deductibles as high as you can afford. If your car is more than five years old, consider dropping comprehensive and collision coverage altogether.

* Ask your insurance company if there are any additional discounts you might qualify for so you can get the cheapest car insurance possible.