Insurance World

There are approximately 20 various types of insurance policies available and auto, home, life and health top the charts.

The concept of insurance has been recorded to be first practiced as far back as 2nd and 3rd millennium B.C. Just about anything you think about or hold value too these days can be insured. Auto or vehicle insurance is one of the most common types of insurance and is a basic policy to protect you against losses incurred from car accidents, theft, vandalism and various other mishaps. Auto insurance can be purchased for different vehicles like cars and trucks as well as recreational items like motorbikes, boats and motor homes. In recent years the internet has been instrumental in helping people to know the various policies available to meet their needs and compare prices.

What’s auto insurance for anyway?

Auto insurance is basically a contract between you the customer or car owner and an insurance company. According to this contract you the customer agree to pay a certain amount of money or premium to the insurance company and the company agrees to payout any losses as defined in the policy.

The main items covered in auto insurance policies are:

1. Property: in case of damage or theft of a car the reimbursement is paid under the property coverage.

2. Liability: covers expenses incurred for bodily injury or property damage to the other person and or yourself.

3. Medical expense: medical coverage helps pay for treating injuries, rehabilitation and funeral expenses.

Most insurance policies are valid for six months to one year and need to be renewed before the policy expires to avoid gaps of coverage where you would be liable if something were to happen. Insurance companies will usually notify you by mail when it is time to renew your policy. Insurance companies charge a flat rate premium regardless of how much the vehicle is used. Some insurance companies also offer various types of discounts.

The Benefits of Auto Insurance:

In order to protect your assets and financial situation it is very important to purchase auto insurance, this is the main purpose of auto insurance. Auto insurance is not only important for the protection of your vehicle but also in most countries it is required mandatory by law.

It is very important to conduct a detailed study when buying auto insurance coverage because there are different types of policies with different benefits. Consult an expert before investing in any insurance to ensure you get the right type and best rates possible.

If you’re fed up paying too much for your car insurance duck2water (www.duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk) have put together the top ten ways you can reduce your premium without reducing the level of cover:

1.Buy online
Buying online can save you time and money. Companies who spend millions of pounds on advertising or run large call centres have to cover these costs somewhere, and they do so by adding these costs onto the price of your insurance premium. Although online insurers do have overheads, they are much less than high street and telephone insurers, which means they can offer car insurance at up to 60% cheaper than other companies.

2.Drive a cheap and less powerful car
Car insurance companies calculate their premiums on the basis of the car engine size, the probability that it will get stolen and the cost of repairing it. Although smaller cars such as Ford Fiesta’s and Renault 5’s are more prone to being stolen than larger saloon cars, they are cheaper to repair or replace and are therefore cheaper to insure.

3.Build up a ‘no claims history’
Car insurance companies give discounts for safe drivers with a good no claims record. By building up your no claims history you can benefit from a reduction (up to 60%) off your premium, and this discount can be transferred from company to company.

4.Increase your car security
More security means lower risk for your insurance company and you can benefit from cheaper rates by locking your car in a garage a night, or installing an insurance company approved immobiliser or tracker.

5.Increase your voluntary excess
By deciding to pay a higher excess it also means you’re less likely to make a small claim on your insurance and are therefore considered a lower risk.

6.Obtain more driving qualifications
The Pass Plus qualification costs between Ј100-150 and involves taking lessons in different driving conditions such as at night and on the motorway. By becoming a more skilled and experienced driver most insurance companies reward their customers by reducing their premium. As a result, the qualification usually pays for itself within the first year of qualifying. Another option is the advanced driving test, but this can take much more time to pass than the Pass Plus.

7.Use your car less
Clearly, the more you use your car the higher the probability is that you’ll be involved in an accident. As a result people who travel hundreds of miles every week are likely to have a higher car insurance premium.

8.Don’t get on the wrong side of the law
Insurance companies don’t like motoring convictions as they mean a driver is seen as a higher risk. Certain motoring convictions are considered worse than others, for example drink driving offences mean that your premium will be double the usual rate.

9.Reduce the number of people under your policy
The more people on your insurance the more you’ll have to pay. So, if possible try to have as few drivers on your policy as feasible.

10.Live in the countryside
As a general rule, the further you live away from a city the cheaper your car insurance is likely to be. By living in the city your car is more likely to be stolen or be involved in car accident. You can save up to 50% on your car insurance by moving from the city to a rural location.