Insurance World

Most people, once they have an auto insurance company, simply just let their current policy renew and renew without checking to see if maybe they can get a better deal somewhere else. If that describes you, maybe you would look into exploring your options if you knew how and painless it really is. This article will show you just how easy the process is.

Shopping for a new auto insurance company
The easiest and quickest and as a result the most painless way to shop for auto insurance is to go on the internet. Many companies can give you quotes 24/7 on their websites. You can also get contact information for a particular auto insurance company on their site and call them up on the telephone. When considering switching companies, the first thing to do is to get comparison rate quotes from several
companies.

You do want to be very truthful about all your information so that you can get accurate quotes. The company will find out about any accidents, claims or traffic tickets anyway, so don’t try to hide anything. Also, when you get comparison rate quotes, make sure you compare the coverage you have with your current auto insurance company to what is available with any new company so that you can make a comparison that makes sense.

How to switch
Once you have found a new auto insurance company and purchased your new policy you must cancel your old policy. If you don’t cancel your old policy the old auto insurance company could assume you wished to continue your insurance with them. They would be expecting to receive premiums from you. When they don’t receive those premiums they would eventually cancel your policy due to unpaid premiums and report your lack of coverage to the Department of Motor Vehicles of your state. This could affect your credit and your ability to get a new auto insurance policy.

Canceling your old policy is easy.
Usually, all you need to do is to inform your old auto insurance company in writing, telling them when you would like the policy cancelled. They will then send you a form to sign and return, which in effect will cancel your policy.

One thing to note
Do not cancel your policy from your old auto insurance company until the insurance is actually in effect with the new insurer. This way you avoid any lapse in coverage. However, nowadays there is little chance of that happening. Most states require all drivers to carry a minimum amount of
insurance and your old auto insurance company will probably require you to show proof of insurance before they will cancel an active policy.

When you switch is very important
The best time to switch to a new auto insurance company is when the current policy is about to expire. When you receive your policy renewal notice from your current auto insurance company is the best time to switch. This is usually about a month before the current policy is actually going to expire. It is during this period when you can switch insurers without incurring any fees or penalties.

Also, because it is so close to the end of the policy term you would avoid trying to figure out the amount of unused premium that you are due from your old auto insurance company. You also avoid arguing with your insurance agent about exactly when you cancelled and how much the auto
insurance company owes you.

But yes, you can cancel outside of the 30 day period
If after taking into account the fee or penalty you may have to pay you may find that you still would get appreciable savings. So, while it is best you switch within that 30 day renewal period, you can actually cancel at any time.

Are you ready?
That’s all there is to it. Just think of all that extra money that could be coming your way if you follow these simple guidelines.

Term insurance provides coverage for a pre-specified period. For example, term insurance is designed to protect a mortgage or provide income for your family in case of your death. You pay the term insurance premium each month and as long as you pay the premium your policy will stay in force. Once the contract reaches maturity (usually in 10 years) you need to renew your policy at a higher price. If you die while you’re paying the premium your estate gets a large sum of money.

In contrast, permanent or whole life insurance remains in force until you die. You pay the premium on a monthly basis for a pre-specified term, which can range between 10 to 20 years. A portion of your monthly payment pays the insurance and the life insurance company that provided the insurance invests the remainder. Eventually you don’t pay any premiums but your estate still receives a large payment upon death.

Whole life polices have been criticized because their investment returns are low. Thus you were often advised to buy life insurance protection with a term policy and invest the difference between term and whole life payments in a separate investment vehicle, such as mutual funds, stocks, or bonds. Once you have built up a large pool of assets you don’t need the insurance because the assets will provide security and stability in the event of an unexpected death.

However, there is a new, more flexible product called universal life insurance. While the life insurance company controls the savings in a whole life policy, the savings in a universal life plan are owned and controlled by the policyholder. Insurance companies offer a large variety of investment options for this savings component, including mutual funds. Thus, you have the ability to meet your life insurance needs and increase your return on investment.

The major advantage of a universal life policy is tax-advantaged growth. When you pay the policy premium, a portion of the premium pays for the insurance and a portion is invested. However, when you are ready to withdraw the money from your investment, your cost basis ( the portion not subject to tax) is higher with a universal life policy. The cost base for a universal policy is equal to the sum of all your premiums - the amount of money you have invested plus the money you have used to buy life insurance. This is very useful because increasing your cost base will ensure you pay less tax once you sell your investments within the universal life policy.

Universal life insurance provides a powerful combination of life insurance and tax-advantaged investment opportunities. Investors should realize that universal life insurance premiums work twice as hard as other premiums. They should also know that choosing the right product is an important element in the overall success of this strategy. Finally, the benefits of this strategy are magnified if you are in a higher tax bracket.