New Classic Car Insurance Products

New Classic Car Insurance Products

Classic Car Insurance Company Launches New Specialist Policies

The UK's leading online classic car insurance company Car-Insurance.tv has announced the launch of classic car policies designed to offer cheaper cover for women driver insurance and young drivers with age and gender related car insurance schemes.

PRLog (Press Release)- Aug 04, 2009 - Online UK classic car insurance comparison company Car-Insurance.tv ( http://www.car-insurance.tv ) has announced the launch of a range of new products and schemes specifically aimed at young drivers, lady drivers and senior drivers who own classic and collectors cars.

Marketing Director Dave Healey said, "Our online classic car insurance comparison system, is the largest in the UK and is particularly designed to make large premium savings with cheaper premiums for owners of classic and collectors cars."
"We are particularly good at finding you the best cover by your car type make and model, with our car marque insurance schemes, however many of these schemes did not offer tailored cover for women, older and young drivers."

"We recently undertook a survey and comprehensive review of our online customers which has revealed to us that we were missing out on some large segments of the market, in particular classic car insurance covers for young, old and lady drivers. The addition of the new products means we can now provide a much better Internet experience for these groups of people and we can satisfy the buying intentions of more of our customers, which include some large niche segments of the UK car insurance buying population"

Mr Healey added "Our classic car insurance schemes already offered fully comprehensive, all risks policies to young drivers over the age of twenty three. The addition of the new schemes and policies will allow us to offer classic car insurance to drivers aged twenty-one or over.
Many older cheaper cars, which are particularly favoured by this younger age group, are now eligible for classic car insurance cover."

"Our lady and women driver customers will also gain from the introduction of the new classic schemes." Mr Healey stated.
"Statistics have long shown that women drivers make fewer claims than their male counterparts. The survey showed that many of our more expensive performance and sports classic car policy holders were women."
"In order to offer these female drivers the range of covers that are available under standard cover, we have incorporated many classic car insurance schemes and policies that are designed exclusively for women drivers. They offer discounts found on standard covers and a range of benefits including agreed valuations"
"Classic car owners over fifty will also benefit from comparing schemes that offer large discounts for mature drivers with a decent driving history."

Cheap Classic Car Insurance?

Cheap Classic Car Insurance?

If you own an older motor you may qualify to have it covered under a specialist classic car insurance policy. But what are the cover restrictions and is it cheaper in the long term? Our expert Dave Healey Investigates.....


Cheap Classic Car Insurance Cover


Do you own a car over fifteen years old? If you do you may well be entitled to cover it under what is known in the industry as a classic car insurance policy. In the past there were many more restrictions on cover under this type of policy and specialist motor insurance brokers and insurance companies were very particular about the type, age make and models of the cars they wished to cover on their books.


Times have changed and technology has led to many more cars now fitting into a bracket that was once reserved for the glamourous, collector and vintage car owners. It is now possible to obtain both cheap quotes and classic car covers online from many providers including the majority of those famous high street brands, who have realised that nearly fifty percent of the cars on the road now fall within the strict underwriting parameters for classic car policies. Consequently premiums in this market, which were always cheaper than standard cover, have become much more competitive in recent years, with the entry into the market of many of the larger insurance companies.


When searching for the right covers it is wise to get a range of classic car insurance online quotes from various different sources. Not all motor companies are the same, and neither are all classic policy conditions.


When applying for a classic quote you should be aware of the varying limits of cover and restrictions that may be put on driving the vehicle.
For example many of these policies will only allow you very limited road mileage each year, sometimes as little as 3000 miles per annum.
This is fine if you have an expensive collectors car that is garaged throughout the year and only taken out for the odd cruise or rally.
The problems occur much more frequently when non valuable classic cars are insured under this type of policy when they should really be covered under a more embracing standard motor insurance. Unfortunately, restrictive policy conditions often only come to light after an accident and a claim is made, rejected by the insurer and leaves the policyholder feeling missold and abandoned.


If you have decided that a classic car policy is right for your car, then when applying for quotes online always check that the policy is right for you, the owner as well.
Many policies are designed to charge by the lifestyle of the insured and as with all car insurance there is a tendency for cover to be cheaper for older persons and women drivers.
Many companies will not issue classic motor insurance to persons under the age of twenty five, although this is changing as well, and there are some very good providers out there who will cover drivers as young as twenty one.


If the value of the car is not particularly high and the replacement costs of parts and repairs does not warrant a specialist policy, you may well be better advised to seek out quotes from a mainstream insurance company.
They often have additional online discounts and offers which the classic policy providers are not in a position to offer.


As with all car insurance, what may initially appear cheap at policy inception could cause some unpleasant surprises when it comes to making a claim.
Shop around for specialist car insurance and Classic Car Insurance. Compare prices and insurance covers from both major high street brands and the smaller insurance specialists to ensure you not only get a good deal, but get the adequate levels of cover you require for your classic car, as well.

Muscle Car Insurance - American Classic Car Insurance for Muscle Cars

Muscle Car Insurance - American Classic Car Insurance for Muscle Cars

During the 1960's and early seventies, a unique class of American automobile appeared, and almost instantly became widely popular, particularly with younger drivers, before fading rapidly from the scene to become a modern day classic - This was the so called 'Muscle Car'.

Muscle Cars were so called because of their powerful engines and blazingly fast acceleration. Most muscle cars were fitted with V8 engines generating over 300 to 400 bhp and therefore were always expensive to insure. Muscle cars were also fitted with high performance engine parts such as specialist valves, camshafts, intake manifolds and free flowing exhaust systems that helped to generate extra engine power and consequently - higher car insurance premiums

American performance cars prior to 1960 were usually the heavy top of the range models fitted with the manufacturers most powerful engines.
The exception to the rule was the Chevrolet Corvette, America's first sports car built in 1953. By 1962 the Corvette had been fitted with a V8 327 hp engine fitted and became the first of the breed of true two seater American muscle cars, replacing the much heavier and larger performance models. With the success of the Ford Mustang introduced in 1964 other car manufacturers were quick to follow and led to most of the muscle car market being dominated by small lightweight vehicles fitted with big V8 engines which became known as 'Pony Cars', although there were many exceptions as older classics such as the Ford Thunderbird were upgraded with larger more powerful engines.



The Muscle car period ended in the mid seventies with the oil crisis and petrol rationing , which coupled with high insurance and emission controls, led to a downgrade of some engines and the cars passed into history as some of the greatest American classics ever produced.



At Car-Insurance.TV we have specialist American classic muscle car insurance schemes for the complete range of Muscle cars including:

1960 Chevrolet corvette
1961 Chrysler 300-G
1961 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport
1961 Dodge Polara D-500
1961 Ford Galaxie 500XL
1962 Ford Thunderbird
1964 Pontiac Tempest GTO
1964 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray
1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu
1966 AMC Marlin
1966 Dodge Charger
1966 Pontiac Tempest GTO
1967 Ford Mustang GT Fastback
1967 Chevrolet Camaro Super Sport
1967 Dodge Dart GTS
1968 AMC AMX Fastback
1968 Pontiac Firebird 400
1968 Plymouth Roadrunner
1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E
1968 Chevrolet Impala SS 427
1968 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Cobra Jet
1969 Dodge Charger 500
1969 Pontiac Tempest GTO
1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
1969 AMC Hurst/SC Rambler
1969 Ford Shelby Cobra Mustang GT-500
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS 427
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
1970 Ford Torino Cobra
1970 AMC Rebel Machine
1970 Oldsmobile 442
1970 Plymouth Hemi-Cuda
1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
1970 Plymouth Duster
1970 Buick GSX
1970 Plymouth Roadrunner Superbird
1971 Chevy Nova Super Sport 350
1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351
1971 Plymouth GTX
1973 AMC Javelin AMX
1973 Buick Riviera
1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

To name but a few of the more poular American muscle car classics we offer specialist schemes and insurance cover for at the cheapest UK rates.

Get an American Classic Car Insurance quote today to see how much you could save on cover for your American Muscle car classic.

How to reduce car insurance rates

How to reduce car insurance rates

Nowadays in America, getting car insurance at cheap rates is becoming a big issue. There are list of persons who are looking for car insurance at cheap rates.
Everyone knows the truth that all car insurance agencies are not same. If you are paying the bills at right time then this cheap car insurance is good, but if you do not select proper cheap car insurance company or if you do not select proper cheap car insurance then it may turn into very bad condition. If you are going to claim against any accident in cheap car insurance company then it is not that much of attractive.
Do not blindly take any cheap car insurance quotes from the brokers. You should travel around all car insurance companies which are providing cheap car insurance and select one company which is best suitable for you.
You can reduce your car insurance rates by following these tips without compromising other things. Their tips are very useful for those who are looking for cheap car insurance.
The 7 easy tips to reduce your car insurance rates, those are:
1. Search for the deductible amount. Based on this amount, your policy rates will fix that means your policy rates are openly related to this deductible amount. If you increase deductible amount and have good driving history then at the time of claiming, you need not have to pay large amount.
2. Check your car model, because some types of cars will attract the higher rates of car insurance which are like sports cars. If you are going to buy a new car then you have to know which model cars will get cheap car insurance.
3. Drive very carefully because your cheap car insurance depends on your driving history. If you have more than 2 accidents and 3 tickets which are issued by traffic commissioner then you won�t get the cheap car insurance.
4. If you want to get cheap car insurance policy then you have to keep your car at safe place that is off road or garage.
5. If you are going to renew your car insurance then blindly renewal your car insurance. You have to check thoroughly and ask if you have any doubts.
6. If you are going to do multiple insurance such as home and car then find out suitable company which is providing both policies and take the quote from them and check what they are offering. If you think that is suitable then sign on the policy.
7. You can search for cheap car insurance companies through online. There are many companies which are offering cheap car insurance through online. Don�t always settle with same insurance company.

Car Data Check Update

We have recently updated our information on obtaining an online car data check.

As part of our commitment to offering motorists the very best information associated with owning and running a vehicle in the UK, we can provide below a useful guide to obtaining an online car data check.

Obtaining a car history report (before you buy!) can sometimes reveal facts about the vehicle�s past i.e. previous accidents, turned back or �clocked� odometer, failed emission test, flooding, number of owners, etc. To instigate a vehicle check you will often need just the vehicle�s VIN number � (definition: The manufacturer�s serial number as shown on supporting documents).

There are a small number of legitimate and trustworthy companies offering this service in the UK. One of the industry leaders of this service is Experian. AutoCheck can help to narrow the search and will save you time. Once you have identified a few possible cars all you need to do is to enter the registration numbers into AutoCheck and you will receive lots of very useful information. AutoCheck Is Very Comprehensive�..

Co-Operative Motor Launches on HomeApproved

HomeApproved is delighted to announce the launch of Co-Operative car insurance. The only provider in the UK with a customer-led Ethical Engagement Policy, reflecting their customers� views on a range of ethical issues. You could save you as much as �191*. Compare their car insurance prices NOW!

With The Co-operative motor Insurance, customers get more than they expect, for less � that�s because what many insurers charge you extra for, The Co-operative Insurance include as standard.

Awarded Best Motor Insurance Provider 2009 by Your Money and the Platinum Motor Insurance Claims Satisfaction award 2008 by Consumer Intelligence.

*Based on independent online research by Consumer Intelligence during May 2009. 10% of customers achieved this saving with The Co-operative car insurance.

Van Insurance Launches with Homeapproved

This month has seen Homeapproved launch its new Van Insurance Quote section.

Our online commercial vehicle quotes are sure to deliver a great policy, at an ultra competitive price. Policies will provide the right level of driver and commercial vehicle cover for businesses across the UK.

Visitors to the website can choose from two of the most well known insurers � Direct Line and Budget. All levels of van insurance cover can be purchased online:

Fully Comprehensive Cover
This offers the best and widest cover, including the loss of or damage to your van. It usually includes extras such as personal injury and medical expenses.

Third Party Only
This is the cheapest and most basic insurance. It covers damage to someone else or their property, but not to your van.

Third Party Fire & Theft
The same as third party cover, but also covers theft of your van or damage by fire.

Safer Driving for Youngsters

You�re never too young to learn to drive, according to Mercedes-Benz World. Its academy aims to cut accidents involving the most vulnerable road users.

Learning to drive is one of the most satisfying and challenging things you ever do. At first it can seem deceptively simple, but learning to drive is a lifetime process � you never stop learning � you adapt your knowledge and skills as you grow and develop through life. The Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy offers several programmes for people at different life stages.

For young drivers they offer Pre-Road, Licence and Post-Licence Sessions. All of them offer various products to suit your needs. Being a good driver is much more than just passing the driving test. Their goal is for you to develop skills that go beyond controlling the car and mastering traffic situations.

Fact: One in five new drivers has a crash within six months of passing the test, according to Brake, the road safety charity. A further 70 per cent report near misses. In 2006, 300 newly qualified drivers and their passengers were killed and 10 times as many were seriously injured � not to mention the casualties among those they plough into.

Mika Hatakka, a Finnish psychologist and key player in many EU projects designed to improve (make safer) the training of drivers says, �The UK is one of the safest countries in Europe to drive,� he says. �Your death rate is the lowest after Malta, the Netherlands and Sweden. But one of the black spots is still 17-year-old drivers. It�s not a problem just for the UK � everywhere the youngest drivers are the most at risk.�

�The Swedes,� Hatakka says, �reduced the age at which people could start driving by a year, giving them 18 months to practise before taking the test at 18. The average number of hours they had spent behind the wheel before passing rose from 50 to 120 � and the accident rate dropped by 40 per cent.�

That�s a lot fewer poignant bunches of wilting flowers at the roadside. If 16-year-olds are going to clock up more hours before being let loose on the roads, they will have to do so off-road, in places such as the old Brooklands circuit where the Driving Academy (which teaches pre- and post-licence skills) is based.

Sainsbury�s Motor Insurance On Dangers Of Second-Hand Child Car Seats

Sainsbury Motor Insurance

Sainsbury�s Motor Insurance is urging parents not to buy second-hand child car seats because it is impossible to know if they are safe or whether they have been damaged in an accident.

Latest research reveals that some 713,000 child car seats (around 14 per cent) currently in use are given by a friend or family member or even bought second-hand and that around a quarter of a million (5 per cent) may need replacing because they have been involved in an accident or minor bump.

Recent analysis of the online auction site, Ebay, confirms that trading in second-hand car seats is a reality, with some 131 �used� child car seats for sale on the website. Sainsbury�s motor policies offer new-for-old replacement seats after an accident as a standard feature, even when there is no perceived damage.

In addition to the importance of using a brand new child car seat, Sainsbury�s also warns that parents should make sure that they choose one that is compatible with their car and ensure that it is fitted correctly. Some two-thirds of child car seats are not fitted correctly. Below is useful advice when buying and installing child seats:

Is the child seat suitable for my child? It is essential that the child restraint is suitable for your child. Check the packaging before you buy.

My Child�s Weight and Age	Suitable Restraint
Child weighing up to 10kg (22 lbs) roughly from birth to 6 -9 months	Rearward-facing Baby Seat (Group 0)
Child Weighing up to 13kg (29lbs), roughly from birth to 12-15 months	Rearward-facing Baby Seats (Group 0+)
Child weighing 9 � 18 kgs (20 � 40 lbs), roughly from 9 months � 4 years	Forward-facing child seat (Group 1)
Child weighing 15 � 25 kgs (33 � 55 lbs), roughly aged from 4 � 6 years	Forward-facing child seat or/ booster seat (Group 2)
Child weighing 22 � 36 kgs (48 � 79 lbs), roughly from 6 � 11 years	Booster cushion (Group 3)

Safety Standards : ISOFIX
ISOFIX stands for �International Standards Organisation FIX�. It is a standard for installing child seats into cars and is intended to make fitting child seats quick and simple.

When cars are manufactured, ISOFIX points are built into them. Child seat manufacturers also build ISOFIX fitting points on their child seats. This will enable ISOFIX child seats to be simply plugged into the ISOFIX points in the car.

ISOFIX is an essential development because many people find it difficult to fit child seats correctly, and many surveys have found that a high proportion of the child seats are not fitted securely enough.

ISOFIX is designed to solve all these problems. The ultimate aim is that any ISOFIX child car seat you buy will fit your car simply by plugging it into the ISOFIX points.

Texting at the Wheel Raises Crash Risk 23 Times

An article which appeared in today�s Daily Mail shows that drivers are 23 times more likely to crash when they text at the wheel.

The study has revealed that dialling a mobile, or using or reaching for an electronic device increased risk of an accident sixfold. Experts used cameras to continuously monitor drivers and truckers for more than six million miles.

It found some spent as long as five seconds looking at their phone as they texted before crashing. At 55mph, this is enough time for a car to cover the length of a football field. Overall, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting � far higher than previous studies had concluded.

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in the U.S. also concluded using a headset was not substantially safer than a hand-held device, because answering and dialling still take drivers� eyes off the road. Voice-activated systems were far less risky, it decided.

An institute spokesman said: �Talking and listening to a cell phone allowed drivers to maintain eyes on the road and were not associated with an increased safety risk to nearly the same degree. These results show conclusively that a real key to significantly improving safety is keeping your eyes on the road.�

The risks of texting applied to all drivers, not just truckers, the researchers said. Last night a spokesman for the road safety charity Brake called for greater action to clamp down on those who use mobiles at the wheel.

Sarah Fatica said: �Brake is not at all surprised by this research and hopes that all drivers will take heed and turn their phones off before getting in a car. �It�s simply not worth risking someone�s life to send a text message.

�We are calling on the Government to invest more funds in road policing so that legislation can be enforced and those drivers who continue to flout the law are caught and punished.� The research follows a study last year which revealed that motorists who write text messages while driving are more dangerous than those who drink or take drugs before getting behind the wheel.

Tests showed that reaction times deteriorated by 35 per cent while sending a text, compared with a 12 per cent drop for drivers at the legal alcohol limit and 21 per cent for those under the influence of cannabis.

At the time, RAC Foundation director Prof Stephen Glaister said: �We need to ensure that text devotees understand that texting is one of the most hazardous things that can be done while in charge of a car.�

Last year waitress Philippa Curtis, 21, was jailed for killing a woman in a car crash after she sent text messages and made calls while driving on a dark dual carriageway. She failed to notice 24-year-old Victoria McBryde, who was waiting in her car for the RAC after one of her tyres burst

Insurancewide.com to Close its Doors

It is with some degree of sadness that we at Homeapproved UK Car Insurance learned of the impending demise of Insurancewide.

Insurancewide have been in litigation with HM Revenue and Customs, regarding the partial VAT exemption accorded to Insurance Companies and their intermediaries. The claim against the Company is in the region of �650,000.

On the 15th May 2009, the High Court ruled that the Company will not be required to pay VAT on internet based commissions and HMRC have the right to appeal. On June 19 2009, they informed the Company that an appeal will be lodged.

This matter has cost the Company over �470,000 in the five years of the case, and it is estimated that defending the appeal will cost a further �180,000. If HMRC were successful, then they would have a claim against the Company for a sum in excess of �650,000.

Insurancewide was the original insurance comparison website, launched in 1999 and has historically enjoyed considerable success working with such prestigous brands as AOL, Tiscali, eBay and Yahoo.

Trader Media (who run autotrader) are also invovled in the same legal battle. Insurancewide is due to close on 31st August 2009 � unless it gets help!

Consumers see no value in expensive motor policies

The vast majority (89%) of British consumers do not believe that paying more for their car insurance results in the delivery of a better product or service from their insurance provider according to a market survey conducted by Datamonitor.

�These findings are extremely worrying for UK insurers,� said Liz Hartley Datamonitor�s Principal Consultant for Financial Services Consulting.

�It shows that British consumers do not see any point of differentiation among providers, and essentially believe that car insurance is a price-based commodity. It is therefore important in this economic climate � particularly given that premium rates are currently hardening due to weak investment returns � that insurers look to reinforce their value proposition with consumers.�

This view is supported by other findings from the study. Compared to the US, for example, where over half of car insurance policy holders automatically renew their policies each year, only 9% of British consumers actively allow their policies to roll over, while 44% claim that they shop around for better deals each year.

According to Datamonitor, these inherent high rates of customer churn mean that, for UK insurers, the cost-to-serve will continue to rise. However, it appears drivers in Britain do see comprehensive car insurance as being an essential insurance to hold and maintain, even during the economic downturn, and are not willing to compromise the features and perceived benefits that they currently receive.

Indeed, only 5% of survey respondents claimed that they would look to trade down to third-party-only cover in an effort to save money, and 13% said that they would look to reduce their premiums through increasing excess amounts or through reducing the total sum insured.

�This is reflective of the open and competitive insurance market that exists in the UK generally,� said Ms Hartley.

�It is a buyers� market and, as such, consumers do not believe that they need to compromise when negotiating their insurance policies; indeed, there is almost an expectation of �more for less� each year.�

Datamonitor said the price mentality adopted by British consumers is in part being fueled by the high penetration of price comparison websites in the UK, with 34% of respondents claiming to have used a site of this type to find the best priced car insurance, compared to only 23% of respondents who used a comparison site to find the best priced house and contents insurance.

�The economic downturn and the high cost of motoring in the UK generally mean that consumers will continue to spend a disproportionate amount of time looking for savings on their car insurance policies,� said Ms Hartley.

�However, over the medium to long term, the onus will be on car insurance providers to actually begin to re-establish value in their proposition through understanding the need states and drivers that are important to consumers, and marketing their products accordingly. At the moment, nearly every car insurance marketing campaign in the UK centers on reduced price, and the essential benefits of the product, such as safety, security and well-being, are lost.

�These messages and the underlying importance of needing to have car insurance have to be re-emphasized, along with the reassurance that, if people do need to make claims, they will be treated equitably and fairly.�

Police and Insurers Crack Down on Car Theft

A new partnership between stolen vehicle recovery firm Tracker and the police could help car insurance companies save thousands of pounds.

The recovery company has joined forces with the Association of Chief Police Officers Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service allowing the police to track and recover vehicles once they have been taken, following a two month pilot scheme.

The initiative, which is known as Operation Semita, has the backing of a number of insurers, including Tracker parent company RBS Insurance. As part of the initiative, the proceeds gained from the vehicle recovery, will be split evenly between Tracker and the insurers.

Tracker managing director Bill Raynal said that around 50% of UK insurers had signed up to the deal, although others were unhappy with halving the proceeds.

He added: �We have a large number of insurers taking part in the scheme but some want to hold out for a greater percentage. However, we are keen to have all insurers signed up.�

Tracker said that around one million cars currently had their tracking facilities installed and that it had recovered more than 18,000 vehicles since 1993.

Car insurance premiums see first Q1 rise for six years

The average quoted premium for an annual comprehensive car insurance policy rose by more than 1% over the first quarter of 2009, according to The AA�s latest benchmark British Insurance Premium Index.

This is the first time for several years that there has been a first-quarter increase in car insurance premiums. The average quoted premium, based on data from over 80 insurance providers on a basket of 1,000 customers, rose by 1.3% to �751.60. The Shoparound index, an average of lowest three premiums for each customer and is closer to the premium most people will pay, rose by just under 1% to �504.38.

Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, says: �Although 1.3% may not sound much, premiums fell during the same period in each of the past five years, so this increase is a significant indication that insurers are determined to address past underwriting losses this year, as we predicted last year.

�Premiums tend to fall a little during the first three months of the year. It�s when most car insurance renewals take place while the new March car registration change prompts customers to look for new insurance cover, so competition between insurers tends to hold premiums in check.

�But the industry is facing escalating costs, falling investment income and underwriting losses. Premium rises are therefore inevitable.� Mr Douglas pointed out that theft, fraud, personal injury claims and legal expenses were all contributing to increasing costs.

�Figures issued by The Association of British Insurers show that the value of detected fraud rose by 30% last year. Insurance cheats add an estimated extra �40 to the average premium paid by honest motorists.

�In addition, theft claims for modern expensive cars, where thieves first steal the keys by either robbery or burglary, rose by 15% over the six months to April, compared with same period last year.

�Personal injury claims and their associated legal costs also continue to rise, especially as the recession takes hold.� Mr Douglas said that for every �100 in premiums received by motor insurers, around �105 was paid out in claims. He added that the economic downturn had also contributed to reduced investment income and depleted reserves from which insurers pay claims.

�Over the past 12 months, the average quoted premium for comprehensive insurance rose by nearly 11%. I expect premiums to increase by at least a similar percentage over the rest of 2009,� he added.

How to Apply For Car Insurance: 2

After you have decided on the company that you want, the next step is choosing the policy. This is where things can get confusing for a first-time buyer. You want to make sure that you have an insurance agent that explains everything to you. The insurance agent should be going over all of the forms that you need to fill in.

Just be aware, you need to fill in your SSN (Social Security Number), address proof, copy of job offer letter (this is not required all of the time), salary slip of past three months (not required all of the time), you will need a copy of your driver�s license and finally age. All of this data is what they need in order to get your policy ready.

The rate that you are quoted is going to be based on a lot of things � you age, gender, make and model of your car � a lot of different factors go into car insurance quotes, so remember that. Also, keep in mind that you do not have to choose the first rate that you get quoted � that is the great thing!

How to Apply For Car Insurance: 1

If you are a first time driver and a first time person applying for car insurance, the entire process is something that can be extremely confusing. I know that the very first time that I tried applying for car insurance that was not under my dad�s � it sucked! Well, I am going to make the process a little easier on you and make sure that you understand just how to apply for car insurance and what steps are needed.

The first thing that you need to do is understand the car insurance company that you are considering. This is going to take some time � after all, researching the companies is hard work. You want to find a company that is not only great, but a company that is going to have a policy that is going to suit all of the needs that you have.

Also, you need to decide if you want to choose a car insurance company that is based online or one that isn�t. There are car insurance companies like Esurance that are based completely online and that can be confusing for someone that does not have the internet.

Hybrid Car Insurance � What�s Up With It? Part 2

Now that we have discussed some of the top hybrid cars, let�s dip our talents into the cost of repair. This is one of the major reasons why car insurance companies are giving quite a discount on hybrid cars. They are not all that hard to repair and a lot of the parts right now are available everywhere, which is certainly something that is very, very good.

Another thing that car insurance companies are paying close, close attention to is accidents by hybrid cars and what the accident rates are. Are people being safer now that they have a hybrid car to worry about? It seems so and that is reason enough for the car insurance companies to get involved � after all, they have to pay out money whenever someone gets into an accident.

It really pays to find out what you car insurance rate is going to be whenever you are getting a hybrid � discounts are certainly something everyone wants and you need to take advantage of �em!

Hybrid Car Insurance � What�s Up With It? Part 1

Hybrid cars are all the rave right now. Whether you are looking to save the environment a little bit or you are looking to save some money on gas, no matter your reasoning, you are definitely going to have to ensure that you get car insurance. The special thing about hybrid cars is that you can actually find car insurance companies that will give you quite a bit of discount just for getting a hybrid car.

In the next couple blogs, we are going to go through hybrid car insure and truly give you the lowdown on it � honestly, I think that it is pretty much the same insurance minus a few things.

Firstly though? The top cars in the hybrid market are: The Toyota Prius 5 door, The Honda Civic Hybrid 2 door, the Toyota Camry Hybrid 4 door, the Ford Escape Hybrid 4 door and the Honda Insight 2 door, all of which are awesome!

What Affects Your Car Insurance Premiums? 2

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At one time or another, most of us will get at least one traffic violation; some of us will get many more. No matter what the number, you can sort of balance out any traffic violations you have on your record. For instance, taking a course in defensive driving will look very good. It can aid in keeping points off your driving record and it may convince your car insurance company to keep your rates low.

Driving safe in the first place is your best bet, though. There are a lot of car insurance companies which offer discounts for safe drivers. As long as your record has been clean for about five years, you can benefit from this.

Age affects your premiums too. If you are between sixteen and twenty four, you will likely have very high premiums. There are exceptions, especially for students. Males in this age group are even worse off in terms of risk factors, which can increase premiums.

What Affects Your Car Insurance Premiums? 1

Car insurance premiums seem to be increasing at an exponential rate � and some of them are much higher than others. The battle for lower premiums may seem like one you cannot win, but that is not true at all. Quite the contrary, there are several things you can do it decrease your car insurance premiums.

First of all, you need to consider both your driving record and your claims history. Any insurance claims you have had will be mentioned on your record, and they can make your car insurance more expensive.

Thus, you do not want to report every little thing that happens to your car; that will send up a red flag.

And frankly, there are some things you do not need to report; they are easy to take care of yourself. Typically, any at fault claims tend to have more of an effect than any non at fault claims.

What Types Are Out There? 2

There are a number of other types of insurance all drivers should be aware of, beginning with comprehensive coverage. This coverage will pay if your car gets damaged or even totaled in a fire or due to a theft. Sometimes this type of coverage is required if you finance your car.

Rental reimbursement will reimburse a specified amount of money each day, or any transportation costs while your vehicle is undergoing a repair after an accident.

Protection from an uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance is just what the name suggests. Both you and your passengers, as well as anyone who is authorized to drive your vehicle, will be protected.

Towing and labor coverage will cover a particular amount of money for labor charges if your vehicle breaks down; it does not matter whether an accident occurred.

What Types Are Out There? 1

A lot of people are not aware of the types of car insurance available out there. However, you know to know what your options are when looking for a new policy, so let�s take a look at some of those lesser known types of coverage.

To begin with, there is bodily injury coverage. In the majority of states, this type of coverage is mandatory. It is used to pay for lost wages, medical bills, medical treatment, and even funeral costs � for anyone who gets harmed in a crash.

Property damage liability coverage can pay for any repairs or replacements of vehicles or property when an accident occurs.

With medical payments coverage, medical expenses can be paid if they go over what is covered by your personal insurance protection.

Personal injury projection will also pay medical expenses, along with a percentage of any wages

Finding The Right Car Insurance Policy For You!

Car insurance is something that can be customizable to everyone � after all, that is why there are so many different policies out there. Let�s say that you have a friend that is only paying about $100.00 a month for his car insurance premium and you want to get in on that deal. So you go to the same car insurance company and your car insurance policy, which you think is the same as your friends is one hundred dollars higher � what happened? Well, there are many reasons for this.

Your friend could have better credit than you, or they could have a bare-boned policy. For many people, the bare-boned policy is a fantastic one and it suits their needs just fine, however, if you have a nicer car, you might want to chip in and get yourself full coverage just to ensure that if something does happen � you are going to be covered.

While car insurance might be difficult to compare and contrast, there are many car insurance companies that can come up with a policy to suit all of your needs!

Know How Much Car Insurance You Need: It Will Help!

Car insurance policies are difficult to get � believe it or not, unless you are a car insurance salesmen, you probably are not going to be able to understand them fully. However, this does not mean that you need to sign up to be a car insurance agent just yet, you just need to know exactly what you are getting in order to find out what works for you. What most people do when they purchase car insurance is purchase everything all at once because they do not understand what is out there.

It is very important to know exactly how much auto insurance you truly need. This will not only help you keep your car insurance premiums extremely affordable, but you will not be paying for services that you are not going to use at all. For example, your deductible is something that you should keep on the higher end, simply because that will help your monthly payment and you do not need a low deductible.

In the next blog, we are going to talk about finding the right policy for you and why some of your friends might be paying lower premiums!

Keeping premiums at minimum when buying a new car

Even though gas prices have gone down these past few months, recession is still in full swing, so it always pays to save money in every way possible. So if you are in the market for a new car, here are some ways to save on car insurance premiums:

1. Do not buy a flashy car.
Flashy and fast cars automatically have you pay higher premiums because of the expense associated with these vehicles. Repairs, spare parts, maintenance, as well as the tendency to get into accidents (because you have a fast car, you might be tempted to put the speed to the test) are all factors that contribute to the increased premiums.

2. Have good driving habits.
Practicing defensive driving and having little or no traffic violations mark you as a safe and low risk driver that insurance companies are willing to give low premiums to.

Love Old Cars? Insurance Warning

People or should we say, Americans are very passionate about cars that they collect, maintain and restore some of the best vehicles ever produced by the auto industry. These old classics are some of the best and most powerful cars around and more seldom than not they come into your garage with faulty engines that can be repaired but some opt to do with an overall engine swap which is cheaper. May it be to maintain the original feel or for upgrade purposes, the engine is an integral part of the whole vehicle and is also important to you and your insurance company.
Do you know that swapping your old engine for a better more powerful one if not done correctly can invalidate your car insurance policy. Such actions are considered to be modifications and your car�s chassis is matched from the factory and are both encoded within the cryptic VIN number. There is a legal way of doing this with the proper papers presented to the DMV and insurance company regarding the engine and it�s history. Getting the DMV files updated legalizes your upgrade or engine swap, getting the records straight and lessening the headache of insurance claims.

Alarming Statistics - City Drivers are Cheaters

Statistics in the US show that auto insurance claim fraud is on the rise even with today�s stringent requirements and investigative procedures. Many who live in the city seem to know too much about the insurance industry that they fail to observe proper claims filing and processes thinking they can cheat the provider. What they do not know is that in the long run, they are marring their standing with providers and even a quick shift may not offer a solution for these providers share information and data regarding customers.
Being honest is still the best policy for a good reputation may be the only thing standing between getting auto insurance in the future. Using falsified information and details can also invalidate policies as sated in the extensive fine print so be aware of such provisions in your policy (insurance fraud is also punishable by law). Be as honest as possible so your provider works with you not against you making claims processing a breeze and easy.

Car Insurance: What You Should Know 3

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Prices of car insurance premiums are different for each company. So, the best thing to do is for you to shop around for the policy that is big on savings, big on coverage and big on service! Remember insurance policy prices are dictated by the state, not by the company and definitely not by the agent - so you cannot haggle with an agent for a lower price, but you can look for an insurance company which has the best service along with a reasonable price. Of course, you have to make up your mind and decide on the kind of coverage that you want. Do you want the extra coverage? If so, which ones do you think you need?

Have The Best Car Insurance

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Insurance is important for a person who has just learned driving. It will cover some mishaps, th new driver could get into simply because he/she is relatively inexperienced in driving our dangerous streets. In case a new driver happened to bump the rear of an exorbitantly priced machinery, the cost of repairs alone is impossibly sky high! Acquiring a comprehensive car insurance would be your best bet to cover you in cases like this because it will take care of the damages that you caused to your and the other car and it will also be responsible for paying the medical expenses of injured passengers involved in the accident(third party liability). When shopping for the best car insurance, get at least 3-5 quotations from reputable car insurance companies, compare their premiums and extent of coverage. If you hate reading legal jargon involving car insurance, you can ask your sales agent about the salient point of the policy.

Tricks to Getting a Lower Premium

In today�s economy, consumers are continually trying to think of ways to save their hard-earned money. If you want to know how you can lower your car insurance premium, here are some factors that may help you:

1.Your address � neighborhoods that have little traffic compared to congested cities are at lower risk for accidents,and translates to lower premiums. On the other hand, neighborhoods that have a higher rate of vehicle thefts may result to higher premiums.
2.Driving Violations � having a record of accidents or driving violations (such as speeding tickets, DWI, etc.) means that you are at a higher risk for accidents and will mean higher premiums.
3.Accident Claims � insurance companies will check on the accident claims you�ve made in the past. The more claims, the higher premiums.
4.Occupation � There is a statistical correlation between your occupation and risk. A salesman who drives around a lot is more likely to have a higher premium than his secretary who sits behind the desk all day.
5.Education - A higher education means lower premiums. This is one case where ignorance isn�t bliss.

Car Insurance for The Hurricane Season

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There are various types of insurance coverage available and the extent of damages covered under each type differs. A comprehensive coverage basically provides car insurance for the hurricane season as well as damages occurring from natural disasters such as rain, wind, storm, fire, flood, snow and tornadoes.

If your car is damaged in a hurricane there are two types of coverage?s available, namely gap coverage and rental reimbursement. In case of gap coverage one gets paid the difference between the amount that you owe on the loan and the actual value of the car. However, in case of rental reimbursement the coverage pays you for a rental car till your car is repaired so that you are not left without transportation while the car is being repaired.

One can take special care during hurricanes such as parking the car indoors, moving it to higher ground or parking it away from telephone poles and trees in case one is denied car insurance for the hurricane season. The best period to buy car insurance for the hurricane season is when there is no approaching news about natural disasters being predicted by the weather department. This is so because some companies refuse to give car insurance for the hurricane season when they know that a disaster is about to hit the area.

In case of an approaching hurricane and if you have not obtained a car insurance for the hurricane season one can take certain precautions. The first tips is to get the car repaired and in proper working condition. Have all important documents such as license, vehicle registration, insurance policies and medical information kept in waterproof bags in the car in case you get caught in a hurricane. Do not venture out on the street if there is an emergency declared and avoid paths that cross the storm. If the car is parked in a garage check the garage door and cover the car with thick padding.

Comprehensive Insurance for Cars

If your car is damaged by flood, fire, earthquake, storms, explosions, falling objects, vandalism, or even just a contact with animals, it is to your advantage if your insurance
policy coverage is comprehensive. One classic example is when you are driving along a highway, there is a truck in front of you and a stone was kicked up and caused a crack in your windshield, a comprehensive car insurance coverage will normally cover the expenses for the repair of your windshield. Another is when you hit a deer or any animal for that matter, while driving down a road, your comprehensive car insurance will pay for the repairs.

Elderly Car Insurance

It is statistically proven that elder drivers are more careful on the road compared to younger drivers. And because of this, it is far easier for elder people to acquire car insurance that has lower premium but with higher coverage. However, not all insurance providers are particularly keen on providing coverage for the elderly just like with new drivers or provisional license holders.

The elderly need not despair because there are far more number of insurance companies that cater to the needs of this group with excellent policies. Those fifty years and above can secure additional insurance benefits from these companies which may include up to 75% no claims discount and 10% online discount for new customers.

High Gas Prices - Slower Drivers

Yep, at least there is some good news that is coming out of the gas price hikes that are currently sweeping the country. People ar in fact driving slower on the roads and they are obeying speed limits. This used to be a challenging area for law enforcement for drivers have been known to go over the set speed limits for an infinite number of resons they can conjure up. Driving slowly allows more fuel economy allowing you to maximize the gas you put in your gas tank. People are also choosing not to fill-up rather estimate their consumptions for the week (even by the day) and filling up just a bit over that to allow for emergency stops or drives. If people only folowed the speed limits then their gas guzzlers wouldn�t have consumed too much gas and supply would have lasted a tad bit longer. Drive Safe Guys.

Don't Forget To Ask Your Agent About A Good-Student Discount

Don't Forget To Ask Your Agent About A Good-Student Discount

Hard to believe that it's "back to school" season again. In this deep recession we're in, parents will be looking to save money as much as they can on college expenses. One often overlooked way to save on car insurance is the good-student discount that many insurance companies offer. However, like most discounts, your agent probably won't volunteer the savings information. You have to ask for it.

Good-student discounts can be significant. Here's a clip from a recent WSJ article:

"...don't be shy about touting your child's grades to your insurer. Most companies offer "good student" discounts. For instance, State Farm takes 9% to 35% off a premium, depending on the student's gender and whether he or she is kept on the policy as an occasional driver or is at school..."

How Driving Distracted can Affect the Lives of Others

How Driving Distracted can Affect the Lives of Others

With the rush-rush-rush mentality most people have these days, it's no surprise that more and more people are driving while distracted. Eating, talking or texting on a mobile phone, making adjustments to the radio, talking with passengers -- all take a driver's focus off of the road. Driver inattention is a leading factor in many crashes. I'd like to share a couple of stories with you, so that you'll be a little more aware of how driving while distracted can affect the lives of others. If this prevents one accident, it will be worth it to me.

In May of 2002, my aunt Sandra was coming home from a late shift at the local convenience store. It was a little before 7 in the morning, and all she wanted was to get home, take a hot shower, grab a bite to eat, and get some sleep. Suddenly, her car was hit head-on at nearly 60 miles per hour. She was killed instantly. Her car was hit with such force that the transmission was nearly in the back seat. The other driver was in intensive care for two weeks, and when he finally left the hospital there were careless driving charges waiting for him. He admitted that he'd been on the phone, arguing with his wife, when the accident happened. The state of Georgia suspended his license for six months, and that's it.

My uncle was both grief-stricken and furious. How could the other driver's only punishment for causing a fatality be losing his license for six months? He refused to let it stand, and brought a civil suit against the other driver. My uncle prevailed in court, and was awarded a judgment of $550,000. To date, he has collected less than $25,000 of that money.

Distracted drivers cause more than 26% of all traffic fatalities. Here are some other important facts on driving while distracted:

• Distracted driving is the #1 killer of American teens. While alcohol-related crashes among teens have dropped, the number of teen-related traffic fatalities remains unchanged, because distracted driving is on the rise. (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance Study and NHTSA study)
  
  
• According to a national survey of teen drivers, over 90% say that they don't drink and drive. However, that same nine out of 10 say they've seen passengers distracting the driver, or witnessed a driver talking on the phone.
  
  
• Brain power used while driving decreases by 40% when a driver listens to conversation or music.(Carnegie-Mellon University study)
  
  
• More than 80% of drivers admit to hazardous behavior such as steering with their feet or knees, shaving, applying make-up, or changing clothes while driving. (Nationwide Mutual Insurance survey)
  
  
• Driving distracted can slow reaction time as much as, if not more than, being drunk. A University of Utah study reports that a driver on a cell phone is just as impaired as a driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 (the legal limit in most states).
  
  
• Over the past few years, almost every state has passed some sort of legislation against distracted driving. New Jersey is considering a law that would mandate the same penalty for cell phone use as they would for a drunk driver that caused a fatal crash.
  

Of course nothing will bring my aunt back, but if these tougher laws can prevent one more family from going through the pain that my family has experienced, I'm all for it.

While not as traumatic as my uncle's story, I have also had a run-in with a distracted driver. About two months ago, I was in a grocery store parking lot when my car was hit in the driver's side door by a man who was backing up. Thankfully I wasn't hurt, but my car was damaged pretty badly. He obviously wasn't paying attention to his driving, and I believe it was because of text messaging, because after I called the police, he was texting back and forth the whole time -- even AFTER the officers arrived! The officer asked him if he'd been texting while driving. I'm not sure why he would admit to text messaging while he was driving. I believe he was just nervous, and blurted it out without thinking. I was livid, but rather than get angry at him I decided to let the insurance companies handle it. As it turns out, that was a mistake. The other driver didn't have insurance! I found out through a letter from his insurance company that he'd let his coverage lapse. My husband and I paid $700 out of our own pockets for the repairs, because we didn't have uninsured motorist coverage. We definitely do now, though.

Distracted drivers contribute to tens of thousands of crashes, and thousands of fatalities each year. Many of these accidents, including the one that took my aunt's life, could have been avoided if the driver had given their undivided attention to the road. E-mail, text messaging, that phone call, changing the station on the radio- that can all wait until the next time you stop. Please, for your own safety and that of the motorists around you, pay attention to the road, and drive safely.

Car Insurance: Technicalities Can Catch You!

If you have a car, you have to have insurance-it's the law. But what you don't know about insurance can hurt you. I'll tell you what happened to me. A little over a year ago, I was driving my husband's car (for only the second or third time, ever), and I was involved in an accident. I was making a left turn in front of oncoming traffic, and a Ford Expedition hit the car on the right side near the front tire. My vehicle was picked up, pushed another fifty feet, and came to rest against a cement telephone pole. I was judged to be at fault, and my husband's insurance company dropped his coverage because I was not registered as a second driver on his policy. It turns out that insurance companies frown on that sort of thing.

After the accident, I got a letter from the DMV requesting proof of insurance coverage in force at the time of the crash. I figured, "Hey, no problem- I can fill this paper out, with his policy number, name, and all the other necessary information, and that will be the end of it!" It was far from over. A week later, I got another letter (not quite so nice this time) stating that my driver's license had been suspended because I'd failed to provide proof of coverage.

I was confused. I thought that I had fulfilled all their requirements. However, the DMV had a different take on the situation. They thought that I was trying to get out of my responsibility for the accident, by supplying the insurance information that was in my husband's name. The insurance company was no help, as technically I shouldn't have been driving the car to begin with.

The car was totaled. The other person's vehicle had over $12,000 in damage, which probably contributed to the insurance company dropping my husband's coverage like a hot potato. Since the insurance company only paid the other driver $10,000, that person sued me for the balance. I'm just now paying that off.

I eventually got the situation straightened out, though. I provided an affidavit to the DMV that I had only been driving the car for an emergency reason (I was on my way to the hospital because my sister was having a baby). They then accepted the proof of insurance that I had supplied to them before, and I was able to get my license back three weeks and $350 later.

That little oversight on my husband's part ended up costing both of us. He didn't feel the need to have me on the policy because I didn't drive the car that often, and he thought it would save money to exclude me from it. Turns out, it would have been cheaper to just add me as a driver.

All's well that ends well, however. I am more careful in the way that I drive now, and I am in the process of restoring my "daily driver" - a 1969 Pontiac LeMans. The insurance (which is higher due to the company considering my vehicle a "muscle car", but that's a story for another post) is in my name, so there's no mistaking who's covered in case of an accident.

To sum it up, what you don't know CAN come back to bite you later. If you are married, make sure that you are on the car insurance policy. If I had known the importance of that issue a year ago, I wouldn't have lost my driver's license, or been sued. It may only be a technicality, but it's an important one.

Not Having Affordable Auto Insurance Could Get Your Vehicle Repossessed

If you watch TV or surf the internet at all, chances are you have seen one of the many commercials aimed at convincing consumers to compare rates for their car insurance. Everyone says that they have the best coverage for the best price, but some companies even offer rate comparisons at their expense to help you make the right decision. All of the geckos and Jackie-O-esque spokespersons can make one shy away from actually getting the quotes because of the constant bombardment of advertising. But what if the big corporations have a point?

My husband discovered a while back that maybe all of that pushing is actually a push in the right direction. He learned the hard way that not having affordable auto insurance can ultimately lead to getting your car repossessed. It sounds like a stretch, but it really happens, as it happened to my husband Lee once upon a time.

The story goes like this: Lee was performing a juggling act with his debts, and soon realized that he simply had more expenses than he had income. The automobile insurance he had on his SUV was too high for him to keep up with, so he let it lapse. His intentions were to catch up as soon as he could and stay off the road as much as possible until the situation was cleared up. Unfortunately, he didn�t get the opportunity to put his plan to the test. Midwestern-based ALF Insurance had a different plan in mind.

The insurance company reported to Lee's credit union that he was uninsured.

In a surprising but completely legal move, ALF Insurance gave LSI Credit Union the heads up on how Lee's insurance had lapsed, which took things from bad to worse. We all know that if a lending institution holding a lien finds that the borrower does not have proper insurance, they can slap their own expensive insurance plan on them without warning. LSI Credit Union did just that, and told Lee that if he didn�t want their sky high rates he should find his own insurance. Needless to say, that was easier said than done, not because the geckos and 60s receptionists weren�t there waiting with a quote, but because he couldn't afford what he had before, much less the new payment. Now the newly imposed car insurance was attached to Lee�s car note, which put the vehicle in jeopardy. He couldn�t manage to get a new policy and pay for the one that was now attached to his car loan. After months of struggling to make the new, inflated note, he had to submit to a voluntary repossession of his truck.

As a married guy with a pretty smart wife (if I must say so myself), Lee has grown from the experience and does a different juggling act these days. Instead of juggling debts, he is a bargain shopper, always with an ear to the ground on the best deals in commodities, food, retail items, and insurance, making 'the switch' whenever it is advantageous to do so. Considering the circus that is our current American marketplace, it's an act that's a lot more fun to watch.

Switched to Geico

I recently switched my car insurance to Geico. Sure, this sounds like a commercial, but it's true.

The company that used to insure me, State Farm�, was adequate, but they had a problem with me and my out-of-state driver's license. I tried to get my license transferred to my new state when I moved but, in my current state of residence, the ID requirements are way too rigid, so the whole process ground to a halt. If I had moved before September 11, 2001, I wouldn't have had any problems transferring my license.

So, because of the license issue, State Farm eventually decided that they no longer want my business . I didn't shed any tears when I got the news that I was being dumped. The customer service at the State Farm office where I was insured wasn't very cordial. I often got an "attitude" whenever I would ask simple questions about how my insurance policy works, and I don't like that. The way I see it, when you are paying a company good money for a service, and they give you an attitude like you are their employee, then it's time to go. Yup.

To be fair to State Farm, I can report that there is a different State Farm office near my current residence, and from what I can tell the service there is quite good. I went into this office some months ago to get a document notarized. I had to wait for the next available agent, since at that moment there were other motorists being helped. I sat down and listened to the conversations (I'm not nosy; the office was small and I could not help but hear the chatter.) The agents were polite and they took the time to explain things in detail, which is the way it should be. An agent eventually notarized my document, and didn't charge me anything for the service. The agent seemed a bit stressed with paperwork, a constant stream of walk-in clients and a phone that just kept ringing, but she still managed to smile and provide gracious service regardless.

Since each State Farm office is independently owned, I guess you just have to find the right office if you are going to insure with them.

Another reason why I wasn't too upset about State Farm's decision: there's so much competition out there that I knew I wouldn't have any trouble finding a new carrier, even with the time pressure (I needed a policy fast because a lapse of insurance coverage is serious matter. Most car insurance companies won't even consider insuring you if you have an insurance lapse.)

So I shopped around online, and eventually ended up with Geico. I signed up online, but made a phone call to Geico before executing that final mouse click to seal the deal. I needed to be sure that they wouldn't have a problem with my out-of-state license before I finalized my order. A very helpful agent told me that he understood my situation and that Geico didn't have a problem insuring me. So the deal was done.

So I'm now a Geico customer. My premium is reasonable (I'm paying about $200 less per cycle than I was paying with State Farm) because I'm over 35, I have a good credit score and a I have a clean driving record. I've never had to file an insurance claim, and I hope this trend continues. If I have to file a claim with Geico at some point, I'll be sure to blog in depth about it here.