Insurance World

Whatever type of insurance you are taking out, there are some common mistakes that people make which cost them money and may leave them without cover when they most need it. If you are looking at insurance then you should avoid these common mistakes if you want to be fully covered and save yourself money:

Not updating policies

It is important to keep all insurance policies up to date to make sure that you have adequate and accurate cover. If your policy doesn’t allow for inflation then you might need to increase its value every few years. Also, with life insurance remember to keep beneficiaries up to date when any new event such as marriage or birth or death occurs.

Letting insurance lapse

If you have various bank accounts and insurance policies it can be easy to let an insurance policy lapse when changing accounts or closing an account. You need to make sure you keep track of all your policies, because any lapse could mean that you are not covered or that any continuous cover benefits you had are wiped out. For example, if you lapse on medical insurance you will be treated like a new customer and will not be covered for any previous illnesses you have had.

Not shopping around

Too many people take the first insurance policy that they are offered, without looking to see if it is really competitive or what they want. Just because you can afford a policy doesn’t mean it is the best one for you. You should always take your time to look for insurance, and get quotes over the phone or online before arranging meetings and finalising a deal.

Getting inadequate cover

Another common mistake is not getting adequate cover, either for home or life insurance. Although Ј100,000 might seem a lot for cover, if you die then your family has to live off this amount for years and it won’ t be enough. Make sure that you are fully covered for the value of your home and its contents and that your life insurance policy is adequate so that your family can survive.

Lying on the application

Although it might seem tempting to lie on your policy about something, the lender will usually find out and if they do you might be left with no cover. Although you might pay more for your policy by disclosing all medical problems, it is important to be honest on your application.

Using the wrong insurer

Perhaps the biggest mistake you can make is picking the wrong insurer for your policy. Although many insurers are perfectly honest, there are some that will cost you more money and simply won’t pay out when you need them to. If you are unsure about anything in the insurance agreement, do not sign it. Make sure you check over anything you sign and consult a solicitor if necessary.

Buying auto insurance is an important part of your overall financial planning. The auto insurance premium rate varies depending on the company and the type of policy coverage you choose to have. Here are some guidelines to lower the cost.

Shop Around- Compare the costs by shopping around at least four to five insurance companies and comparing the quotes. Take the help of your friends, relatives and yellow pages. Your insurance company should offer fair price and posses excellent service records. Check the financial ratings of the company as it indicates the strength and stability of the company.

Ask for higher deductibles- Deductible is the amount of money that you pay before making any claim for an accident. The collision and comprehensive coverage are sold with the deductibles. Higher the deductibles lower will be the premium rate. Increasing the deductible from $200 to $500 may reduce the cost by 15 to 30 percent.

Drop collision and comprehensive Coverage on older cars- If your car is worth less than 10 times your premium in the current market, consider dropping the collision and comprehensive coverage.

Buy auto coverage from your existing insurer- Buy insurance coverage from your existing carrier. This may help you to reduce the cost. Sometimes low rates are available for the longtime customers.

Avoid double health coverage- If you think that you have enough health insurance, and then avoid health coverage with your auto policy. This will help you to reduce the cost.

Maintain a good credit record- Insurers are using the credit history while determining the price of insurance. Statistically, the lower your credit score, the more you are likely to file claims. A person with a good credit score is more likely to settle the accident without the support of the company. Try to maintain a good credit record.

Discounts with low profile car- Cars that are expensive to repair or attractive to thieves will have a higher rate. Consider buying a low profile or average car as it your insurer might come up with discounts for such a car.

Take advantage of the low mileage discount- Obtain some discount on premiums by driving less than the national average mileage recorded per year.

Consult about group discount- Sometimes you can get some discounts on group plans provided by your employer, or a business groups, or other associations. Find out whether such a plan is available.

Seek Car Safety discount- Some insurers offer discount if you keep your car equipped with air bag, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft devices, automatic seat belts. Take advantage of this.