5 Things that affect the cost of car insurance
9th July 2006
1. Your driving record. If you spend your evenings speeding through downtown San Antonio, chances are you’re going to get caught. And when you do, the offenses go on your driving record, and your insurance goes up. So drive safely, and obey the law.
2. Your credit history. Now, this one is controversial, and not everyone agrees with it. After all, what does paying your bills on time have to do with being a safe driver? Car insurance companies use this as a measure to see how responsible you are, and believe that a good credit history translates into a safer driver.
3. The type of car you drive. The difference between a V8 powered car like a Mustang GT, and an economy car like a Honda Civic can be significant. It’s always best to get an insurance quote before you purchase a new car.
4. Your age. Let’s face it – younger drivers tend to be more irresonsible than older drivers. While it’s not always true, it is in most cases.
5. Where you live. Auto insurance rates are higher in places like New Jersey and New York, than they are in Oklahahoma. Why? Well to be honest I’m not really sure. But sure enough, they are. If you’re planning a move, you’ll want to get some insurance quotes first, so you’re not unpleasantly surprised.
This list isn’t all-inclusive – there are many things that have an effect on your insurance costs. What I’ve done here is outlined 5 of the major ones – most of which you have control over.
Why you need insurance – Part 2
9th July 2006
If you haven’t read part 1 of this series, that’s where you’ll want to start.
Now, on to part 2. There are some people who feel that they have enough money to take care of anything themselves. Perhaps the thought of wrecking an S-class Mercedes Benz doesn’t faze them. Why in the world should a person like this have car insurance?
One word – lawsuits. Without car insurance, a lawsuit could take every penny you have to your name. Wealthy people are often seen as targets by the less fortunate, so they must protect themselves. Undoubtedly the cost will be higher, since they need more coverage. It is, however, still necessary. Imagine a minor fender-bender that turns into a multi-million dollar lawsuit, to cover medical damages, maybe a little pain and suffering. All this can be prevented by having the proper insurance coverage.
Why do I need insurance – Part 1
4th July 2006
I know many of you out there in San Antonio are asking yourselves this very question – why do I need car insurance? After all, if you’re driving a 1985 Chevy Caprice that’s worth $500, you may seem to have a good point. If your car gets wrecked, you’ll just buy another one, right? Well, no, not exactly. Picture this scenario if you will. You’re on your way home from work one night, and it’s raining. We all know that San Antonio doesn’t have the best drainage system, so water tends to collect on the roads. You come over the top of a hill and see a car just over the top, and it’s far too late to stop. You ram right into the back of a 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan – that’s a $100,000 car.
Now, when the police get there, there’s no question that the accident was legally your fault. However, since you don’t have insurance, you’re in a heap of trouble. For starters, the friendly policeman is likely going to take you to jail, since it’s illegal in Texas. Secondly, you have to buy a new car. Next, you have a hefty repair bill for that Benz – they’re not cheap to repair! And that’s only if you’re lucky – the owner of the Benz may decide to sue – after all, his neck and back sure are hurting! Before you know it, you’re looking at a $75,000 bill – or more!
All of this could have been prevented with an inexpensive insurance policy. Since you own your car and don’t make payments, the minimum you need to carry is liability insurance. This can often be had for less than $100, depending on a number of factors.
Stay tuned for part 2!
How much insurance do you need?
30th June 2006
When the time comes to shop for insurance, the question that comes up most frequently is “How much insurance do I need?” And it’s a very good question – and not as easy as you might think.
When choosing how much insurance is right for you, there are a few things to consider. First, how much can you afford? If purchasing extra insurance is going to cause you problems with paying your bills, you probably want to reconsider. A good rule of thumb is looking at your total assets when deciding how much insurance to purchase. In the even that you are in an accident, and at fault, you want to make sure your assets are covered. No matter how good of a driver you are, you can’t always prevent an accident.
San Antonio Car Insurance
30th June 2006
Car insurance is a neccessity of life – especially if you live in San Antonio. Since San Antonio is a military town, we have plenty of out-of-state drivers here on the weekends. Since they don’t know our roads, they can make driving pretty frustrating sometimes. So not only is insurance important – it’s the law. Texas state law requires that all residents have a certain amount of coverage. Remember- if you’re making payments on your car, your requirements are higher.
Ok, so you know that you need insurance. There are dozens and dozens, maybe even hundreds of insurance agents in San Antonio. Your options for car insurance here are nearly endless – how do you choose? Let’s think about what is important. First, and maybe most important, is price. There’s no sense paying more than you have to so you can be insured. However, you also want to look at service and reputation. There’s nothing worse than having an inexpensive policy, but not getting the attention you need if you’re unfortunate enough to be in a car accident. Some San Antonio car insurance agents offer fantastic service, and others don’t. You’ll need to be careful choosing.
One last thing to consider when making your choice for car insurance in San Antonio is this – location. Perhaps the agent offering the best price, and with the best reputation is way on the other side of San Antonio. Are you willing to travel across town every time you need to meet with them?