It doesn’t matter whether you’re dealing with a car insurance company or an agent, never expect the whole truth. Whether they are trying to boost their commission or just sweet-talking you, it’s rarely in their interests to tell you the full story. Always keep in mind what they don’t tell you is probably the thing that could save you money. Things like this:
1. Cancel the collision premium if your car is old.
If your car is 7/8 years old and worth less than $2,500, it’s likely your excess is close to the value of your car. So why pay for comp and collision premiums? A major collision will probably write your car off anyway so it’s wasted money.
2. Don’t use the same company for both home and car insurance
Unlike many bundle deals available today such as broadband internet and TV, it is rarely cheaper to bundle your home and car insurance. While many companies offer great deals on either type of cover, they rarely offer great deals on both. Unless you buy an umbrella policy, a bit of research is likely to show keeping your policies separate will return better savings. Continue reading →
According to The Beatles, “It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play.” So, in 1988, voters in California passed Proposition 103 which, as history tells us, proved to be one of the best Propositions they have voted for. Why? Because it pushed forward reform of the automobile insurance industry. The result? Evidence shows California has the most competitive market in the US with the slowest increase in premium rates. If you ever wondered what consumer protection should look like, California is the model all the other states should follow. Curiously, Illinois is the most unregulated market and the least competitive. Are Californians pleased with the result? Looking at the pattern of increases in the rest of the US, the estimate is that Californian drivers have saved more than $17 billion in premiums. That’s almost $2,000 per driver. What’s not to like about that? With the last year of recession, the continuing low premiums and strong competition between the insurers guarantees better service standards on claims, just when family budgets benefit from low monthly instalments and fast payments if there is an accident. Continue reading →