Reader’s Question:

How can I get online car insurance quotes instantly? What is an auto insurance calculator?

Marge

San Francisco CA

You may be able to get car insurance online quotes instantly. There are various car insurance companies and comparison websites that provide you car insurance calculators to determine your car insurance quotes. It is quick, simple and easy!

What you need to do is simply enter your zip code and begin getting your car insurance quote.

The auto insurance calculator can help you determine what types of coverage is right for you. This coverage calculator provides basic suggestions for typical coverage needed based on the information you give. You may use this auto insurance calculator as a guide in selecting the coverage that is right for you.

One huge tip I can give you to help you lower your rates is to raise your deductible amount to the highest level you feel comfortable with. Now, you only have to pay out this amount if you have a claim and your carrier pays the claim. So, if you have been a safe driver with no claims in the last few years you should be able to save a ton of money with a $1,000 deductible amount over a $250 or $500 deductible.

Reader’s Question:

Is there like an auto insurance calculator somewhere that I can use to find out if I’m overpaying for my auto insurance here in Wisconsin?

Joy

Eau Claire, WI

There are definitely many websites, tools and financial management software available that can be used as effective auto insurance calculators, in fact there are so many tools and software coming out every year that we are not able to recommend one specific tool however, we could provide you tips and information on how to start getting savings on your car insurance premiums or find cheap auto insurance rates somewhere else.

First, you have to know get a good idea of what kind of car insurance coverage you have there in Wisconsin. Most of what you will really need falls under liability insurance coverage, if you have an expensive vehicle then consider keeping adequate amounts of comprehensive and collision however, there may be other aspects of your insurance policy such as towing and rental insurance coverage that you may never even need. Most credit cards have rental insurance coverage if you use them to get a rental, you may already have enough health insurance so Personal Injury Protection may already be redundant. Eliminate redundant coverage to save you money.

Next would be to focus on getting discounts on your policy that you are eligible for. Taking accredited Accident Prevention / Defensive Driving courses will make you eligible for discounts. Installing additional security and safety mechanisms on your car will also lower down your premiums. Accumulating less annual mileage and getting student drivers using your car to maintain good grades can also make you eligible to receive further discounts to lower your premiums.

Reader’s Question:

I’ve heard that there is a minimum requirement for auto insurance coverage that I need to get here in Oklahoma, is that true?

Eruel

Tulsa, OK

Yes, it is true that there are minimum requirements that you need to get on your auto insurance policy. Almost every state, as mandated by their Financial Responsibility laws, requires you to carry a minimum level of liability insurance before you are granted permission to drive. For Oklahoma that would mean 10/20/10 (Don’t worry, you don’t need any specialized auto insurance calculators, you won’t need to do math either). 10/20/10 simply means that your auto insurance coverage must have at least $10,000 worth of liability protection for any person you happen to injure during a car accident, at least $20,000 to cover for all people injured per accident, and $10,000 worth of liability protection if you are sued for damages to property.

This may sound like a lot but you will be surprised at how fast car accident damages ad expenses can accumulate, usually into very large sums of money. You can also be sued for huge amounts of settlements for injuries, pain and suffering as well as for lost work hours, and that is not including how much it would take to restore or repair your vehicle. It is always recommended that you focus on getting as much liability protection as you can.

You can go to auto insurance portals like this one, not only to get cheap auto insurance quotes but to also get information on how much liability you can get per provider and this is a good way of determining which provider can give you the most protection while still being affordable.

Reader’s Question:

I am looking for insurance on a new vehicle here in Texas and I’m wondering about the information I can get on the web (like those auto insurance calculator tools on insurance web sites), are they reliable?

Denver

Waxahachie, TX

Yes, the Internet has become a reliable medium for both consumers and businesses over the past few years. More and more companies are realizing the potential of the Web to increase their customer base and get more business. This is especially true for the auto insurance industry where the competition takes no prisoners. You will find many auto insurance portals nowadays (in fact if you are reading this, you already on one) that offers tools like online quote systems and auto insurance calculators that makes looking for and comparing auto insurance rates much easier as compared to a few years back, when you’re only choice would be to deal with auto insurance agents and brokers there in Texas in order to get decent rates (some of which only cares about making money).

Aside from getting rate quotes more conveniently, you will also find many auto insurance companies publishing a copy of their agreements and policies online, and some even go as far as allowing you to sign-up for a policy online. Companies today know that not everyone would have the time of the day to set-up a meeting, or even make a phone call, for new service. We want it fast and efficient and the Internet can and does make that happen.

Since auto insurance companies can sell directly to customers, it costs them less money than having to pay someone to sell you coverage. This means more savings and discounts that can be passed on to you as a customer.

One of the best ways to lower your annual costs is to raise your deductible amount to the highest level you can. If you are a safe driver with no claims in the last few years you will be able to save a bunch of money. You only have to pay out this amount if you have a claim that your insurance company pays for.

Reader’s Question:

I’ll be needing an auto insurance coverage for my vehicle loan here in Louisiana and someone told me I could get discounts on auto insurance premiums, is this true?

Constance

Lake Charles, LA

Yes, it is true that auto insurance companies do give out discounts and incentives depending on a customer’s specific circumstances and eligibility. In fact, not enough people remember to ask about this when applying for auto insurance coverage. Knowing what kind of discounts and incentives you are entitled to get there in Louisiana can definitely help you pull down your auto insurance premiums (sometimes saving you anywhere from a couple of hundreds to even a thousand dollars annually).

So I’m sure your very eager to know about how to get discounts already. One of the best ways to do this would be to go Online. There are many auto insurance portals (just like this one) that provides useful tools like an auto insurance calculator giving you an idea of how much insurance rates are in your area, as well as tools to browse and compare rates between multiple companies. Most auto insurance companies would also advertise their discounts on the web to attract more customers.

Some of the most common forms of discounts that auto insurance companies give include:

• Discounts for professional associations or memberships such as those for Military personnel, National Guard, Coast Guard, Firefighters, Police, Doctors, Teachers etc..
• Homeowners (mostly if you already have another kind of policy with the same company).
• Discounts for having a clean driving record and credit history within the past three or five years.
• Parents can get Good Student discounts for teenage drivers in the family that is doing well in school.
• Completion of Defensive Driving classes, as well as installing additional air bags and other safety measures on your vehicle.
• Raise your deductible amount to the highest level possible.

Reader’s Question:

I was stupid enough to get caught drinking a bottle (but just a bottle) of beer while driving, how would this affect my auto insurance rates here in Florida?

James V.

Boca Raton, FL

Sad to say it would affect your auto insurance rates significantly. Driving under the influence (DUI or also known as DWI) cases and arrests and convictions are serious traffic violations that definitely places you in a higher risk segment as a driver. And since insurance is a business of risk, the higher your risk of getting involved in future car accidents, violations and anything else that may cause you to file for a claim or require your auto insurance provider there in Florida to pay hefty sums of money to anyone you might have injured, the more they will compensate for this added risk by increasing the amount of money they charge you.

You might even lose your existing auto insurance coverage completely if your drivers license was suspended because of this incident. Which means that as soon as you get one, the said incident will be reflected on your record and would add a few hundred dollars on an agents calculator when you get a new policy.

If anything, think of this as just a setback, you won’t have to pay a high rate forever. You would need to make a great effort not to get involved in any other forms of accidents or even minor traffic violations for the next three years, until you’re record is cleaned up by which time you may already be eligible to receive lower rates on your auto insurance.

Reader’s Question:

I’m new and fairly clueless about this auto insurance thing, but I would need to get one soon since I will be buying my first car here in Louisiana. Can you help me?

Clarence

Baton Rouge, LA

A lot of people would know how you feel. For first time auto insurance buyers, just the fact that there are literally hundreds of auto insurance companies and policies to choose from can already be a bit overwhelming. Just how do you make sure that you are getting the best rates without sacrificing on a quality insurance carrier? Here are some suggestions and tips that can make it much easier for you to get the best policy for your insurance need there in Louisiana.

1. Understand first how much auto insurance coverage you will need. This would depend on how many people will be driving your vehicle, the make and model of the car you will be buying, as well as the minimum liability insurance protection amounts that your state requires you to purchase.

2. Get a good idea of what is being offered. There are many auto insurance portals, just like this one, that offers a timely and convenient way of comparing rates from different companies. Different providers offer different rates and you only need to use your calculator briefly to know which one will cost the least annually.

3. Look for discounts you can take advantage of, such as low-mileage discount, incentives for having a good driving record for the past 3-5 years, discounts for taking defensive driving classes and for putting additional security & safety mechanisms in your vehicle.

4. Raise your deductible to the highest level you can, you only pay when you have a claim your carrier pays.

Reader’s Question:

I will be renting a vehicle for my trip here in Georgia for about a month or so, should I still get auto insurance for it? Would this be a non owners auto insurance policy?

Peter

Sandy Springs, GA

You should definitely consider getting a Non owners Auto Insurance policy (if you don’t have a vehicle of your own) or look for alternative forms of auto insurance that you may already have (such as those given by many credit card companies if you use their card to rent a vehicle) before deciding to go with a rental car insurance. Not that there is anything wrong with rental car insurance, in fact the one there in Georgia would work just as well, but bust out your calculator and you’ll notice they cost a lot too, especially on top of the daily rental charge you are already paying for the vehicle. If you plan to pay the rental out of your own pocket, then consider the following:

Most rental car insurance costs anywhere from $10 up to $20 a day, whereas a non owners policy would set you back more or less around $50 a month. Since you are planning to rent for about a month and possibly even longer, its not too hard to see how this will one will go on your finances.

Also call your credit card provider, inquire about towing or accident auto insurance coverage options that you, as a card holder, may be entitled for. Most people don’t realize this and end up paying for redundant coverage. It would also benefit people who decide to get a car in the future, since those who has never had auto insurance would likely be charged higher premiums then those who have had at least a minimal form of auto insurance coverage.

Reader’s Question:

Is it true that my grandfather here in Maryland would have to pay high car insurance rates for being a senior elderly driver?

Sean

Baltimore, MD

Yes, it is true that a car insurance provider can charge your grandfather there in Maryland higher rates. The thing about auto insurance is that its an industry that uses ‘risk’ as the basis of its business. The higher the likelihood of someone getting involved in a car crash, the higher the provider would have to compensate for loss due to settlements (which can be up to tens of thousands of dollars per accident) in the form of higher premiums. Unfortunately, seniors, as a group are viewed as a having one of the highest potentials of getting involved in car crashes, this does not necessarily meant that seniors are lousy drivers, quite the contrary. Statistics however, say something else about seniors getting involved in car crashes.

Another factor that makes car insurance more expensive for the elderly driver would be just that, because they are elderly. Due to the physical effects of aging, it would be much more difficult for them to drive for extended periods of time, to have a quick enough reflex and avoid collisions, or to see clearly due to poorer eyesight. Your grandfather might not fit this description however, companies basically takes a person’s age group as a significant factor in calculating insurance rates. Your grandfather might still save on car insurance if he decides to drive an older, less expensive vehicle or increase deductibles to offset the higher premiums on his auto insurance.

Still, one of the best ways to lower your premiums is to raise your deductible amount to the highest level, like $1,000. if you have been claim free for a few years you will save a bunch of money.  You only pay this amount when you have a claim and your carrier pays the claim.