Insurance Saving money tips

Auto Insurance
1. You can save several hundred dollars a year by purchasing auto insurance from a licensed, low-price insurer. Call your state insurance department for a publication showing typical prices charged by different companies. Then call at least four of the lowest-priced, licensed insurers to learn what they would charge you for the same coverage.
2. Talk to your agent or insurer about raising your deductibles on collision and comprehensive coverage to at least $500 or, if you have an old car, dropping this coverage altogether. Taking these steps can save you hundreds of dollars a year.
3. Make certain that your new policy is in effect before dropping your old one.

Homeowner/Renter Insurance
1. You can save several hundred dollars a year on homeowner insurance and up to $50 a year on renter insurance by purchasing insurance from a low-price, licensed insurer. Ask your state insurance department for a publication showing typical prices charged by different licensed companies. Then call at least four of the lowest priced insurers to learn what they would charge you. If such a publication is not available, it is even more important to call at least four insurers for price quotes.
2. Make certain you purchase enough coverage to replace the house and its contents. "Replacement" on the house means rebuilding to its current condition.
3. Make certain your new policy is in effect before dropping your old one.

Life Insurance
1. If you want insurance protection only, and not a savings and investment product, buy a term life insurance policy.
2. If you want to buy a whole life, universal life, or other cash value policy, plan to hold it for at least 15 years. Canceling these policies after only a few years can more than double your life insurance costs.

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Accident Auto Insurance

If you find shopping for auto insurance quotes a bit overwhelming, you’re not alone. Fortunately, InsuranceQuotes.com makes it easy to get auto insurance quotes anytime, from the comfort of your own home. With the largest network of national and local insurance agents from the country’s top insurance companies, we offer plenty of resources to guide you in your search for the right policy— along with one simple, online application that allows you to receive and compare auto insurance quotes from multiple companies. And when you receive your free auto insurance quotes from our partners, we can help you choose the best policy for you.

Whether you’re shopping for insurance for a new car or looking for a better price on your current auto insurance, let InsuranceQuotes.com help you find the coverage you need at just the right price. Get your free auto insurance quotes today—and see just how much you could save! Why Do You Need Auto Insurance?

If you own a vehicle, auto insurance is an absolute necessity. Why? On average, an auto accident occurs every five seconds in the United States. With each accident comes the risk of serious injury to drivers, passengers and pedestrians, as well as damage to personal and public property. To better understand why auto insurance is important to you, consider the following:

* An automobile is one of the largest purchases many people will make in a lifetime. Auto insurance protects your investment by providing money for repairs or replacement in the event of an accident. * If you’re at fault in an accident, auto insurance protects you against financial loss due to property damage, medical expenses and potential lawsuits. * Most states require drivers to carry liability insurance. In fact, the consequences of driving without liability insurance range from impounded vehicles to heavy fines or even jail time. * Despite the stiff penalties of driving without insurance, approximately 14% of drivers in America are uninsured. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage protects you if you’re injured or your property is damaged by a driver who has no insurance or who doesn’t have enough coverage to pay for your loss.

How to Shop Smart for Auto Insurance Quotes?

When shopping for a vehicle, most consumers research everything from the manufacturer’s safety record to the location of the car’s cup holders—then compare prices to get the best value for their money. Likewise, because the cost of identical coverage can vary among insurers by hundreds of dollars per year, it’s important to understand the factors that affect the price of auto insurance quotes.

First, consider the type and amount of auto insurance you need. Buying coverage you don’t need is a waste of money, while carrying too little coverage may result in financial disaster if you’re involved in an accident. Depending on your circumstances, you may choose any or all of the following types of auto insurance:

* Liability insurance—the minimum coverage required by most states—protects you if you’re at fault in an accident resulting in injury to another and/or damage to another’s property. * Collision insurance pays for damage to your own car when you’re at fault in an accident. * Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you when you’re involved in an accident that is not your fault and the driver at fault is uninsured or doesn’t carry enough insurance to compensate you for your loss. * Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your car that is unrelated to a collision, such as theft, storm damage, fire or vandalism.

Secondly, keep in mind that many insurers offer premium discounts for non-smokers, low-mileage vehicles, safety or antitheft devices, or mature-driver classes. These special benefits can amount to serious savings every year. When researching insurance companies, remember to ask what types of discounts they provide.

Finally, when obtaining auto insurance quotes, be sure to choose a financially stable insurance company with a record of good customer service and prompt claims processing.

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Should I Install a Home Security System?

Should I Install a Home Security System?
Not so many years ago, a fail-safe home security system consisted of a good lock on the door, a large family dog, and perhaps a baseball bat propped up in the umbrella stand. Today, most locks can't keep experienced burglars out, fewer people can keep big dogs, and baseball bats provide little protection against well-armed intruders. More and more homeowners--and even apartment dwellers--are investing in home security systems to deter criminals, provide home protection, and give them peace of mind.

If you're wondering whether to install a home security system, then consider the following questions:

What are you trying to protect?

If you live alone with little more than a television and some furniture, and have little concern for your own personal safety (perhaps you have a black belt in karate), then your home security needs may be nil. If, however, you have children and/or other family to protect, you fear for your own personal well-being, and/or you own expensive antiques, art, jewelry, and other valuables, then your need for home security is probably much greater. The importance of what you are trying to protect should weigh heavily in your decision to install a home security system. You want to be able to sleep well at night knowing that both your loved ones and your valuable personal belongings are safe. If you can't do that now, then you may need some form of home security system.

Do you live in a high-crime area?

Another way to analyze your home security needs is to consider the likelihood that you will be the target of criminal activity. If you have lived in a neighborhood for a while, you probably already know whether it is safe to leave your doors unlocked at night, or whether you should barricade every window around the clock. If you live in a high-crime area, your need for home security is greater. If you are new in town, you might want to do a little research to find out about the level of crime where you live. The police station, local library, neighbors, and local real estate agents are all potential sources of information about the level of crime in your neighborhood. Use that information when making your decision.

Is your house a natural target for a burglar?

Even if you live in a low-crime area, be aware that there are certain types of homes that are more prone to burglary than others. For example, ground-level apartments are more likely to be targeted than apartments three or more stories up. Homes surrounded by thick bushes, plants, and trees are favored by prowlers because they offer plenty of places to hide. Old, weak, or cracked doors and windows are easier to break into. A house on a darkened street where the owners are seldom home is a very attractive target. In contrast, if your house has a wide-open lawn on a well-lit street that is posted with "Neighborhood Watch" signs, it is probably not the ideal spot for a burglar to ply his or her trade. Does your home invite or deter crime? The answer will help you make a decision about whether you need a home security system.

Does your homeowners insurance carrier offer discounts for home security systems?

Aside from safety, you may have a financial motive to beef up your home security. Most, if not all, insurers will give you a discount on your homeowners policy premium if you install a home security system. The available discount will vary from one insurer to another. It will also vary depending on what kind of security system you choose. Usually, insurers will give you a 5 percent discount merely for installing dead-bolt locks. A simple burglar alarm is likely to get you yet another 5 percent. If you decide to go with a more sophisticated home security system, complete with monitoring services, then you can expect a discount of up to 20 percent. (In addition to discounts for security devices, you can get discounts for installing safety devices such as smoke detectors or sprinkler systems.) Check with your insurance agent to make sure you're currently receiving any discounts you qualify for, and to see if you can save any more on premiums by installing additional security equipment.

Can you afford a system?

The price of a security system depends largely upon how sophisticated the system is. A typical higher tech solution is a full-perimeter system, which usually includes a series of sensors that, when armed, detect when a door or window is opened, broken, or tampered with. These systems typically operate on the principal that whenever one of the detectors is tripped, an alarm of some sort will sound. It may be a horn, bell, or beep and may be accompanied by flashing lights. If the system includes off-site monitoring, local police will be notified. Additionally, there are a host of other systems that can protect you if an intruder bypasses your perimeter system and succeeds in entering your home. Floor sensors can detect an intruder by the weight of his or her footsteps. Motion detectors sense any significant movements within their range.

The technology that goes into many modern systems is truly amazing, and if cost is not an object, very sophisticated systems are available. But don't let money discourage you until you have shopped around. There are many security systems to choose from, in a wide range of prices. Whatever you are trying to protect, you should be able to find something within your budget that will help you sleep better at night. Consult your local yellow pages, the Internet, or community newspapers for security system professionals and dealers.

Is there anything you can do to minimize the need for a home security system?

There may be steps you can take to minimize your need for a high-tech home security system. If you want to make your home safer and can settle for low tech, there are a number of things you can do.

* In addition to installing dead-bolt locks, replace old, cracked, or hollow doors with doors made of metal or solid hard wood.
* Don't rely on a slide chain to protect you if you are opening a door to see who's knocking. Install a wide-angle peephole device in the door.
* Make sure your sliding glass doors have keyed locks and cannot be lifted out of their frames from the outside. A pole or rod cut to the proper length and laid in the track of the door can prevent it from being slid open, even if the locks are compromised.
* Install removable pins, nails, and/or rods to prevent windows from being opened, and replace old or cracked windows and panes.
* Cut back bushes and trees that surround your house and windows.

Finally, try to create the illusion that you are well protected. Whether or not you have a home security system, purchase adhesive labels that say you do, and affix them to every door and window. Post a "Beware of Dog" sign, whether you have one or not. The illusion that you are well protected may deter a would-be burglar. If you are going to be away from your home, purchase an inexpensive timer that turns a lamp or two on at dusk, and off again at bedtime. It may create the illusion that someone is at home and deter a burglar who is waiting to make his or her move when the home is vacant.

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My laptop was stolen from my car. Will my homeowners insurance cover it?

My laptop was stolen from my car. Will my homeowners insurance cover it?

Imagine how awful you would feel if someone breaks into your car and steals your laptop. If that does happen, you could take solace in knowing that your homeowner insurance policy probably would cover such a loss.

"Your homeowners policy generally includes off-premises coverage [that] would provide coverage for your laptop or other possessions you own that were stolen from your car," says Cynthia Heismeyer, assistant vice president of corporate communications for Selective Insurance, in Branchville, N.J. Heismeyer described another insurance wrinkle - "If, however, your laptop was actually 'installed' in your auto, your coverage is under your automobile policy. The amount of coverage you have would be specified in your policy."

"In all likelihood yes, subject to the deductible of course," says Bob Hartwig, chief economist of the Insurance Information Institute, in New York. "There could be homeowners policies that exclude that, so double-check your policy wording to be sure of what's covered and what's not."

Your homeowner policy covers theft. "Your policy follows your possessions around, so if you carry your laptop from your home office to your car, and someone breaks into your car and steals your computer, you'd be covered," says Eric Goldberg, assistant general counsel for the American Insurance Association, in Washington, D.C.

Goldberg offered advice on the matter of policy deductibles. "Homeowner policies have deductibles, which are amounts the insured must pay before coverage kicks in. Deductibles often run $500 or $1,000. Keep that in mind if you are thinking about filing a claim. Let's say that you have a laptop that you bought for $2,000 five years ago. That computer may only have a replacement value of $700 today. That means that if you have a $1,000 deductible, you're carrier isn't going to pay you anything."

Chubb spokesman Mark Schussel took a different approach on the subject. "The old saying of 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure' applies in this instance. By that I mean, you shouldn't leave a computer, purse, jewelry, or other personal valuables on the front or back seat of your car. Don't leave something in the car that could attract the attention of a thief. However, if you have to leave a laptop in your car, put in your trunk and lock it."

"Under a Chubb homeowners policy, there is coverage for both theft of equipment and for the expense of recreating any data lost with that lap top," says Chubb's Schussel.

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