Think you’re a better driver than lots of other people out on the road? Then you may want to check out Progressive’s Snapshot program. According to the company customers can save up to 30% on car insurance according to how much, when and how they drive. Examples of people who could save through this program include those who travel often and leave their cars parked at the airport several days a week, families with an extra car that rarely gets driven or drivers who don’t slam on their breaks.
Once you sign up, Progressive will send you a device that plugs into the car’s on-board diagnostic port, a feature not typically found in older vehicles. The small device then sends driving data to Progressive. After pulling data for at least 30 days, customers will find out if their eligible for a discount which could be up to 30%. Then that discount will be applied to your policy. Those who drive less often and during safer times of the day are more likely to get a discount.
Right now the program is only available to new Virginia customers. Customers will have access to their recorded data through Progressive.com. The good news is the program will only help rates go down– not up. “More than 100,000 customers countrywide get personalized car insurance rates by sharing a picture of how, how much, and when they drive. Now, Virginia customers are just 30 days away from saving with the Snapshot program,” Richard Hutchinson, Progressive’s general manager of usage-based insurance said in a company statement.
Tags: road, picture, diagnostic port, Usage based insurance, Technology Internet
Many of us know of a few obvious ways to reduce our auto insurance rates. You can increase your deductible, or for an older vehicle, you can trim down your policy to include just liability coverage. However, there are a few other ways you can decrease rates that many people don’t take advantage of. Here are seven cost-cutting measures many people overlook.
1. Drive less
One way you can reduce your auto insurance premiums is to drive your car less. It seems fairly obvious, but few people may be willing to change their driving habits in order to get a break on their insurance premiums. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), some car insurance companies give discounts to people who drive less than a certain number of miles annually.
If it’s available in your state, you might also consider a pay-as-you-drive (PAYD) policy. These programs allow insurers to track the number of miles you’ve driven (some look at odometer readings while others use GPS systems), and reward those who drive less than the average motorist with discounted rates.
2. Move to a safer ZIP code
Your auto insurance rates are partially based on where you live. Some cities have a greater risk of car theft, and insurance companies are likely to charge higher premiums if they believe vehicle theft, vandalism or break-ins are more likely to occur in your neighborhood. If it’s feasible, you might consider moving to a safer ZIP code. When you notify your insurance company of your move, you may find that your premiums are lower.
3. Park in a garage
Vehicles parked on the street are often attractive targets for those looking to steal a car. If you
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Automobile insurance is a necessity that cannot be overlooked by any person who drives a car. Irrespective of the age, gender and nationality, every person who drives a car in the United States should have a valid insurance policy that at least covers the minimum requirement as specified by the state laws in which the person drives. Finding the right type of auto insurance coverage that does not empty your pockets is an uphill task. Before you sign up for an insurance coverage, you need to get automobile insurance quotes from as many providers as possible so you know who is offering you the best at low costs. There are many ways in which you can obtain these quotes from the innumerable companies waiting to offer their coverage.
Going to the company
One of the ways in which you can obtain your quotes is by going to the insurance provider’s office directly. However, for people who are running on a tight schedule and have too many jobs on hand, this may not be the right choice. This is the perfect option for people who would like to be thorough with everything and do not want to take any chances signing up for insurance coverage without a visit to the office of the provider.
Making a phone call
Every auto insurance provider today has a customer service department, exclusively to help clients get the quotes. Most of the numbers are toll free numbers and you can obtain the quotes without having to spend money. You can also save a lot of time as compared to visiting their office. On the downside, these quotes are only verbal and you will not have a copy on hand to compare it with the quotes that you get from the other companies.
From the internet
The concept of internet has made the lives of people simpler. A
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Older Britons find financial products such as annuities and insurance confusing, according to new research from the charity Age UK. Its figures show that 61% over the age of 55 find it hard to work out what products will suit them best.
And only around one in three of the people in this age group feel confident that the financial decisions they have made have been the best for their needs.
What’s more, just over a third of over-55s claim they never know who to ask for guidance on financial products.
However, if you are concerned about your lack of understanding of products aimed at this age group, the good news is that moneysupermarket.com is here to help.
Pensions
An annuity guarantees to pay an income for life – the amount you receive will depend on the value of your pension pot and your age – but once it’s bought you don’t have to worry about running out of money, even if you live longer than the average life expectancy.
Most people buy their annuity from their pension provider – but you don’t have to.
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A new survey says fewer American households now carry life insurance than any time in the past 50 years. LIMRA, an insurance industry group conducted the survey and says that now millions of families are living without this important safety net. The study shows that 44% of households have an individual life insurance policy and 30% have no life insurance, whether from an employer or individual.
Families with the greatest need for coverage are typically viewed as those with children under the age of 18, and right now 11 million of those households are without life insurance protection. Premiums actually cost much less now than they did ten years ago. According to statistics from ING, a $500,000 20-year term policy costs about $25 a month.
There are several reasons experts say explain the drop in coverage including the recession, procrastination and fewer insurance agents. The cost is why 40% of families say they don’t have life insurance. But ironically, if the primary income earner in the family were to die, 40% say they would have trouble meeting expenses. Another reason is the lack of urgency that life insurance carries. It’s a voluntary purchase which is why many people delay buying it. “A lot of people really overlook the whole need (for insurance) until they have a health condition, and then life insurance prices are out of reach for them,” Amy Danise, editor of Insure.com, told USA Today.
A final explanation for the lack of life insurance is the reduction in insurance agents. About four out of five families don’t have a life insurance agent, according to the study. Statistics show that in 2010 there were 184,873 affiliated agents. Two decad
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Yesterday a friend of mine revealed on Facebook that he got a compliment on his driving. When he returned to his vehicle there was a note on his windscreen with the words “Parking Fine”!!
We all have different strengths and weaknesses in our driving ability – and some simply struggle to park in the demarcated zone. This has often provided some humour as well – such as the above note that appeared on the windscreen of a student friend of mine!!