When it comes to searching for the right car insurance, it is very important to remember these tips to score the best quotes.
Shop around. This is most important when trying to find the best auto insurance quotes. Don’t settle for the very first company you come across. Many companies will provide different rates based on the individual’s specific needs. One shouldn’t feel obligated to choose the first company, just because it sounds good. Maintain in mind the saying might be true that the “best” might come “last”.
Check discounts. Many companies provide several discounts based on the driver behind the wheel. Some discounts are based on age, sex, driving history, etc. Some even offer discounts for having automatic monthly payments withdrawn from checking accounts.
Keep insurance policies updated. This is extremely important in factoring in the various quotes companies have to offer. The policy might need to be updated due to a change in jobs, location, and other aspects. If your job is closer to where you live, it might help the coverage rates decrease due to decreasing miles driven on the vehicle.
Be aware of changes to the insurance rates with “hidden” guidelines. Some companies try to lure car owners into purchasing car insurance at “Introductory pricing”, by promising to include all of these colossal deductions. However, some fail to mention the rates could increase later after the insured individual has been with the company for a while.
Be weary of the vehicle driven. People can save instantly on auto insurance by having a grand, affordable, and advantageous vehicle. Insurance companies look at the safety features of the vehicle, the make/model of the vehicle, and the pricing of the vehicle to determine the Insurance quotes. Before you decide to purchase a vehicle, call the Insurance companies to obtain different quotes of the particular car.
Know the ins and outs of each Insurance company. Create sure to research what all is included with your policy. Check for any deductible pricing to see what the deductible may be if involved in an accident. Check to see if there are any hidden rules in the Insurance contract. Also, it is important that each insured individual has a Proof of Insurance card, in case needed for routine traffic stops or other serious matters.
Acquire advantage of online websites who offer various quotes for many different auto insurance companies on one website. If alive to car owners prefer, they may visit http://www.insurance.com to receive various quotes from auto insurance companies.
Get on a personal level with an agent. Sometimes it may be better to work with an Agent who lives close to your particular area. Through random searches online, individuals can find several agents in the area who may help to get the person on the good path to securing an Auto Insurance company. For some people, it is better to talk in person rather than over the phone.
Don’t be frightened to file a complaint. If you feel that you have been taken advantage of or harassed, don’t be afraid to file a complaint. You have the option to file a complaint through your local State Insurance Commissioner’s website if you feel you were treated unfairly.
Look towards the future! This final tip is critical, as it is worth mentioning to keep all eyes and ears open for necessary hints. For your continued loyalty to the company, auto insurers will offer special incentives including special discounts based on your longevity with the company.
Filed under Automotive Insurance Jobs by on Mar 14th, 2011. Comment. 
Pay as you go car insurance is one of the newer options in auto insurance. According to automotive-insurance.suite101.com, pay as you go automobile insurance works as follows: drivers gallop a tracking device into their vehicle which tracks and records the miles traveled and then transmits the data to the insurance company. This procedure could also monitor your location like a GPS system and your driving habits such as frequent stopping, breaking, or heavy acceleration. Is pay as you go auto insurance fair for you? Read on to find out the pros and cons of this novel insurance program.
PROS:
If you have vulgar mileage, insurance companies offer you a 24% – 30% discount on pay as you go coverage.
Using pay as you go auto insurance on your secondary cars (cars you don’t drive as frequently as your main car) is VERY advantageous! You don’t have to pay as much as you would if you were using a pudgy coverage program with these cars, seeing how it is “pay as you go”.
Pay as you go auto insurance could benefit the environment. Since you’re paying for the insurance according to car mileage, people will want to lope, ride a bike, or exercise public transportation more often. This helps your pocket especially with high gas prices.
This program could possibly cut rates for young and elderly users by as powerful as 40%! That means if you are in the 18-21 year range, elderly, or a high risk driver, you should definitely look into getting this type of insurance!
CONS:
A tracking procedure seems like an invasion of privacy to some prospective consumers. So far there is only one company that does not include the GPS feature as part of their coverage. Also, you have to pay for this device separately from the insurance coverage, and since it is REQUIRED by most companies… you don’t really save any money.
This program is for low mileage drivers ONLY. Most insurance companies that offer pay as you go auto coverage require that the driver drive less than 10,000 miles per year. This saves you only up to 25%, if you drive less than 10,000 miles then you can save up to 40%.
You have to pay a fee for each mile you go over your program’s limit.
Rates differ depending on what time of day you drive. For example, if you’re driving between 4pm and 6pm, your rate will be higher than if you were driving 1am and 3am, because there is more traffic during the 4-6 time frame. Some policies limit night driving to only 10-20 miles per night because this is when most of the accidents happen.
If you’re looking into getting a pay as you go insurance plan, make sure you weigh ALL pros and cons before signing a contract. Check with each insurance company to see how their coverage works before you decide on one. Try to get the cheapest but most efficient (for you) coverage!
Filed under Automotive Insurance Jobs by on Feb 27th, 2011. Comment.
Vandalism is defined by the Mirriam-Webster dictionary as willful or malicious destruction or defacement of public or private property. What isn't well known is that the term Vandal comes from the word Vandilii which refers to a Germanic tribe who once established themselves as a major force over a huge share of North Africa around 429 A.D.
You might be asking yourself at this point, “What the hell does this have to do with gigantic customer service? ” Well, when your property gets vandalized I'm sure one of the first thoughts that goes through your mind is, “Who could have done this? ” Of course it's not the Vandilii tribe but vandals still roam our streets destroying property. The next thing that goes through your mind is, “I have to call people for help!”
I recently had an experience with vandals and if it hadn't been for the great customer service I received that day from several sources there's no doubt my day would have been hell on earth. Let me tell you about it.
One Sunday morning my wife decided to get some groceries and so she jumped into one of our Honda Elements and proceeded to drive away. She was able to get out of the driveway but realized something was horrible spoiled. As I was sitting on the floor playing with our children I saw her come in and knew something was wrong by the peer on her face. She then told me that the car had been vandalized so I quickly went outside to have a look. Three of our tires had been punctured, the rear end had been egged and the antennas on both our Elements had been stolen. I though out loud, “Who the hell did I piss off!” I stood there pondering our dilemma when I happened to spy over at the neighbors car and wouldn't you know, they had a flat tire also. Whew! Maybe I wasn't such a jerk after all. One can only hope. This prompted me to grasp a walk around the neighborhood and I found seven cars with flat tires and a few with egg on them as well. I made up my mind and called the police.
Now begins my dash into the world of customer service. I imagined the police officer that would arrive would be cold, distant yet efficient. He was efficient but I was greatly surprised at how well he conducted himself. I didn't expect him to be rude but I understand the police have to distance themselves in order to do their job. Officer Valverde was anything but. Officer Valverde arrived on the scene and took my information first because I called and he was kind and conducted himself professionally with a dash of empathy.
The morning was shot to hell and surprisingly I didn't feel angry or stressed. The contact with Officer Valverde had put me at ease and allowed me to get on with my day. The next step we took was calling our insurance company State Farm. Well, not call but file a claim online. It was Sunday and we knew we wouldn't be able to divulge with a claim rep until Monday morning so we consigned ourselves to file a claim and wait. The problem was we hadn't logged into our account for years and didn't know our security questions. Who the hell can remember what color their first car was? Apparently everyone but us can. Anyway, we called the assist line and got connected with Marlene from State Farm Internet Support. Marlene was fantastic! She was able to wait on us get logged into our account and she even laughed at my jokes. When I finished with Marlene my wife and I realized that we didn't need to log into the account to file a claim. I didn't feel it was a waste of time because I had such a great time talking to Marlene who only made the day better.
So our claim was filed and we were instructed to wait for a call from the claims office during normal business hours. If you're like me then you know how hard it is to wait for a call back. Promptly at 8 a.m. the next day I took matters into my own hands and called the claims office. You see I had to work later that evening and it would be hell without a vehicle. The young girl who answered the phone told me Katy Pauly with State Farm claims would be calling me benefit as soon as she could. I immediately thought, “Oh! Gargantuan! I'm going to have to wait a few days for the call back.” I was way wrong! Katy called me 15 minutes later and walked me through the process. She helped me select a repair facility and car rental agency. I asked if I should call them myself and she said no she was going to send them documents and they would call me. Aye! More waiting? I was done with Katy and felt relieved that things were getting done plus the fact that Katy laughed at my jokes.
It was still early so I thought I'd sit back and have a cup-of-joe but that was not to be. Ten minutes later I received a call from Disagreeable Country Automotive Services
Approximately ten minutes later I received an automated message stating that the towing company Sohle Pronounce Towing located at 1109 Mohegan Lane in El Paso, Texas (915) 585-6800 would be sending a driver to my home in about 20 minutes. Wow! That was hastily but I still had time for coffee, factual? Wrong! Eight minutes later I obtain a call from Chris the tow truck driver who tells me he's outside waiting to hook up my car. Unbelievable! I grabbed my coat and keys and ran outside. Sure enough Chris is standing by his truck cool as a cucumber. Chris and I chat as he pulls my car onto the flatbed and soon thereafter we headed off to the repair facility in less than 10 minutes. Chris was great. He was beyond prompt and he laughed at my jokes.
As we arrived to the repair facility Viva Ford Collision Center I didn't know where to go so Chris walked me to the front and delivered me to where I needed to be. Katy had notified Viva that I would be arriving this morning. I thanked Chris and he was off. Probably with a cape and mask rescuing some stranded motorist.
Now here is where the great customer service takes a turn and detours into “We Really Don't Care About You” land. I understand that sometimes people in the customer service industry have bad days so I didn't keep to great into my initial experience here. I had never dealt with Viva Ford located on 5550 North Desert Blvd in El Paso, Texas so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was a slow animated machine that walked through the paces one second, one itsy-bitsy, one hour at a time. I signed up at the front office and was told the estimator would be right with me. As I sat there other customers arrived and stated their case. Viva employees came, did their business and sent them on their way. I sat. And sat. And sat. After the 5th customer who had arrived after me was done doing their business I got up and asked if it would be much longer. The girl behind the counter hesitantly told me that she thinks the estimator had gone out to the car. What? Without me? Apparently so. I go back and sit and wait another 20 minutes before Pete my estimator calls my name. He says hello in a lack luster way and hands me some papers to sign. He tells me they will call me as soon as they have information on repairs. That's it. I am dismissed and I tilt my head sideways like a dog who doesn't understand. He glances up at me and stares me in the inspect. I guess I'll have to make the first move. “That's it? ” “Yes. We'll call you.”
I left Viva Ford as I imagined a cat would after it's been hosed. I walked away thinking to myself “Well they can't all be Set Farm or Cross Country Automotive Service or Sohle Express Towing and I decided to lift myself up and continue on my quest to find things done by noon. I then called Enterprise Rent-A-Car located on 5385 S. Desert Blvd in El Paso, Texas (915) 845-0268 whom State Farm I'm clear had already contacted. I began speaking with Paul who told me he was expecting my call. I told him I had just finished with Viva and would be walking to their lot. He told me to sit tight and that he would come and get me.
Five minutes later Paul pulled up and we were off. Paul picked me up in this little 4 door model that was nice but too small for my family of six. He explained after arriving to his office that this would be the car I would be using because it fell within the covered amount under my insurance plan. I asked him if they had anything bigger within my price range. He looked at his computer and told me they had a 2010 Chevy Silverado which seats six rather nicely but that it would be $4.00 over my coverage. Now, you might be thinking to yourself that four bucks is nothing but it can add up should the repairs take too long. After what I had just experienced at Viva Ford I wasn't at all confident they would be rushing to finish the repairs. I told Paul to forget it and that I would take the matchbox model he previously offered.
I guess Paul could see the disappointment in my face and stated with confidence, “I'll tell you what I can do. How about I knock off $2.00 on the total for the Silverado and you'll only pay $2.00 a day. How's that sound? ” It was a great gesture but I really didn't want to go over my coverage so I thanked him and said no. I saw him square his shoulders and I could see he had made an executive decision. “I'm going to bewitch off the $4.00 completely on the Silverado and give it to you under your coverage cost.” Well knock me down and call me Shirley. Again I was amazed at all the broad customer service I had been receiving this day. I thanked Paul profusely as he wrote up the transaction, A few minutes later I drove off the lot in that hulking piece of shiny metal and felt good all over again.
As I arrived home I looked at my watch and wouldn't you know, it was just before noon. As I sit here writing this record several days later I have yet to hear from Viva Ford. I called them a few days ago and was told they were buffing out the egg on my car but they level-headed had to inspect the tires. Seriously, how long does it take to check and replace tires? Anyway, I'm still in a good mood and would like to thank the El Paso Police Department and Officer Valverde, State Farm and Marlene and Katy for taking care of me and my family. I will continue to be a loyal customer. I want to thank Lakisha with Unfriendly Country Automotive Services and Chris with Sohle Express Towing for their fantastic efforts. Lastly, I'd like to thank Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Paul for going above and beyond what customer service should be.
I highly recommend the people I've thanked and the companies they work for. Great job!
Update:
I hadn't heard from Viva Ford again and the other day I was driving by so I decided to conclude and check the place of my car. As I pulled into the lot I peek my vehicle being driven away. I thought to myself, “Yes! They're taking it for a test drive. It has to be ready.” So I go in and ask for Pete who's (mis-handling) the repairs and after a short wait he comes out and stands there staring at me. I stare encourage a few seconds then tell him I just saw my vehicle being driven away and want to know what's going on. He tells me that the car is being taken to another shop so they can check the tires. What?! I can not believe Viva Ford can't afford to buy a large bin, fill it with water, submerge my tire to see where the air is leaking and repair or replace my tires. It's been two weeks. Just incredible. At least I have some good experiences from this whole fiasco and a wonderful insurance company like Area Farm to recall care of me. http://www.crosscountry-auto.com/ and spoke with Lakisha who was going to set me up with a towing company. Lakisha was quick and professional. It surprised me how efficiently Lakisha did her job. It was poetry in motion. Again I was told I would score a call from the towing company I had just selected. I didn't want to jinx myself so I said out loud, “Great! More waiting.” I was wrong again.
Filed under Automotive Repair Insurance by on Feb 24th, 2011. Comment.
Throughout my life I have had many different cars ranging from automatic to manual transmissions. There are many different cars you can get with many different features and options, so when you choose a car you need to be specific on what you want. Although I have been through at least six cars there is one that always stands out for me which was a 2002 Toyota Celica and to this day remains my favorite car. The Toyota Celica is a sports car and yet can also be a great first car for many teenage drivers.
The 2002 Toyota Celica that I owned was an automatic four-speed car with a 1.8 liter engine and it had four doors. This car was a immense car for me being a first time driver because it gave me the ability to feel powerful without having too much power under the hood. This was a subcompact front-wheel drive sports car that had power windows, brakes and steering along with a cloth interior. The gas mileage on the 2002 Toyota Celica was pretty gracious as I averaged 27 miles per gallon in the city and about 34 miles per gallon on the highway. I could go about 400 miles with the gas tank all the intention filled u,p which was nice being I was young and a beginner at driving. One of the best things about the Toyota Celica was the fact it handled the road well even in the snow, ice and rain. The performance of this car is amazing because the car handles well in all weather and this car usually is cheap to fix.
The inside of the car was also nice because it was a very stylish interior with a huge center console for all of my music and personal items such as purse and cell phone. The inside is big enough for at least four people with plenty of room to spare. The big backseat provides you with the opportunity to gather more of friends for social events and made shopping easier as well. The backseats fold down so you can have more room in the trunk for storing and hauling large objects.
The Toyota Celica has become a very classy sport car because of the design of the car and the way it handles on the roadway. As with all cars these days, the 2002 Toyota Celica has front airbags which is always nice to know you have in case you get into an accident. I also liked the fact I had cruise control in the car which is nice for long highway driving. Wheels were also very good on the 2002 Toyota Celica and were easy to find since they were the standard 195 60 R15 tires found on most compact cars. The affordability of the insurance is also another reason why I loved my 2002 Toyota Celica. Although I was young and this was technically a sporty car I only had to pay about 150 dollars a month. You can not beat the label for insurance on a car like this even full-liability was only about 200 dollars a month. The sport seats which were bucket style and the huge dash gauges only add to the reasons why this car is my favorite car ever. I liked the interior being stylish and having a fancy dashboard with huge gauges so I can see everything without blurring my eyes. The low bucket seating provided a stylish look and sporty seek to the car also but was not always the most comfortable seats if you are driving long distances.
I did not have to add a CD player to the car since it came with a factory one but did have to add a better sound system to it. The radio and speakers were factory models so you can only get so much from the system. If you want to really build your car sound as good as it looks, you need to buy a better CD player and speaker system. Overall, the main reason I loved the 2002 Toyota Celica was because it handled so good no matter what the weather was which made me feel safe and because the style was sporty. I loved how the headlights were a little narrow and slanted with the underneath fog lights. The back of the car had the small spoiler on it which made me feel really cool and like I was really in a fast car even though the car only went up to 140 miles per hour according to the dashboard. If you are looking for a fun and exciting car no matter how old you are, the 2002 Toyota Celica should be one of your options. This car provides a sporty look with the comfort and reliability of a regular compact car. This car is also great if you need replacement parts because they are easy to install and do not cost a lot of money. You can utilize 8,000 dollars to get a 2002 Toyota Celica and get many years out of it if you bewitch car of it and do recommended repairs.
Filed under Edmunds Insurance by on Feb 22nd, 2011. Comment.
There are over 200,000 IPhone apps in the universe as I write this, so trying to reach up with ideas for 10 more is close to impossible. It has been shown that games are the most chosen types of apps, so I am going to try and move away from that at least in the beginning and try my hand at a little geolocation pinpoints.
BESTShops- It's Christmastime in the city and wouldn't it be chilly to be able to have an app that would find the best present for Aunt Millie, or your little nephew, Junior? You just put in the demographics and maybe an interest or two, the app comes up with a list of possible presents, closet shops to you to buy them, and their locations.
FindABIKE '” You are serious about going green so you not only need a bike, but you need to know where to use it, where to acquire accessories for it, what the laws are in your area, and the best ways to keep your bicycle theft free. This app locates all the bikes within a specified state status ( you specify) all the trails, cycle lanes, and sidewalk communities, and the laws that cover the community you specify- best of all it also computes the number of miles you put on your bike during each ride.
InSEASON-If you are a locovore (only eat foods produced within 100 miles of your home) you might be presented with lots of challenges if you live in a set of the country that contains four seasons. This app will help you locate local farmer's markets, CSA's, and other regional vendors. You will just put in the area and the information will appear. This app will also help you keep track of those places you have visited, which ones were the best, and what make, meats, or other products you bought.
ZEROWASTE '” This app is a game. You plug in your spot and ZERO (the character who will follow you wherever you go) keeps track of your carbon footprint. The app also has the location of all recycling centers for all types of materials, where the trails and lanes are for your biking and walking transport methods, farmers markets, bus stops and schedules, and local organizations that are helping citizens get to zero waste. You can either play the game for a day, a week, or a month. At the end you will be connected to others in your community who are playing the game too, and badges will be awarded.
AutoRap- You are driving down a lonely street at night and the motor goes out! You are not a member of Triple AAA, your car insurance doesn't provide repair, and frankly, you are out of luck. Except you have AutoRap! This app provides every provider within a designated zip code radius that will arrive and get you- and they are safety screened as well. At the same time you are calling for help, a aid up control alarm in the app is contacting a security firm that is attached to the program.
SWIMFIN '” All the lakes are frozen, and you are new to town. Toddle in your state and every in-house pool that get visitors will pop up. This app will also connect you to the community of swimmers in your designated radius- and keep track of miles you are swimming if swimming becomes a lifestyle. After so many miles badges for miles in the water are awarded. Perhaps you will become the next Master Fin!
TownTutor '” You might have a child who is having trouble with math, you might be having trouble with math yourself, or your mother might want to learn how to play golf. Whatever the need, a tutor in your town is as close as this app. A listing of skills and subjects is on the roll- you designate your area, and a listing of screened tutor's rolls up. A security firm is also a section of this program. We can never be too careful. If you want to list as a tutor in a specific field '”an application button is available- and a screening will take place.
Virtual Weight Loss '” Since this an article about apps that we wish there were I am going to dwelling this app far and above those that most people wish for. We breeze in our weight and a variety of exercise machines pop up! You sit and eat potato chips with heavy doses of French dip as you watch your avatar, named Beulah blend in 15 minutes each on every chosen exercise machine. As we do this the calories expended are added up and after a week or so it will probably be shown that we have lost an enormous amount of weight. How realistic is that?
TVSyn '” Wanna play a character in your favorite TV show? Have you ever wanted to be Mariska Hargitay on Law and Order SVU? Or Prince William on the latest news cycle? This app gives you the chance to be anyone you want to be- any celebrity, any political pundit, and any sports pro! It also places you in their shoes; literally, you set up a Celebrity avatar, and become a fashionista. If you are a Sports Pro, your stats and endorsements pop up. Political Pundit? Your mouth becomes your tool! And the ratings wars begin. This is mutter and complete fantasy with a bit of right stuff mixed in.
ZAP '” Ideal for the lazy traveler! This app enables anyone to just plug in a longed for location and be there! Perhaps, you are tired of scraping those icy windows on your car every morning, and would prefer to be living in sunny Florida! Zap! And you're there! Perhaps your community is full of conservative cheese heads and you would prefer a more liberal style.
Zap! And you are in San Francisco! Zap will take you there!
So, that's it- 10 Great Apps that would be cool to use on an IPHONE or maybe in Congress. It all honest depends on you- and how virtual you want the world to get!
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Filed under Car Insurance by on Feb 20th, 2011. Comment.
