Best Money Saving Articles Online

Car Insurance: Steps for Making a Claim

Aug 19, 2009 More Saving

A car accident can be a harrowing and traumatic event. One will be shaken and often not thinking clearly. If you are involved in a car accident, you have to think about your condition as well as the events that took place because you will most likely have to file a auto insurance claim.

In order to prepare for the results of a car accident, the following steps should be followed in order to make a proper claim:

1. After an accident, your heart will be racing and you may be disorientated. You need to gather your thoughts and think about how to proceed. If you are hurt, and the car is not a danger such as on fire, retrieve your cell phone and call 911. If there is no emergency such as a serious injury, call the police. Check to see if anyone else is hurt. Ask for people who witnessed the accident to stay and talk to the police.

2. Swap contact information, including phone numbers, license plate numbers, and car insurance details with the other drivers involved in the accident. When the police arrive share all the details you remember about the accident so that they can write an official report that can be given to the insurance companies. Make sure you tell the police officers that you want a report. If the officers won’t do it because the accident took place on the property of an establishment like a store parking lot, then ask the store owner or a security guard to write something up. If you have a camera, take pictures of the accident scene that includes any vehicle damage.

3. Contact your insurance company, even if you are not at-fault. Also, compensation is based on the extent of fault so you need evidence to support your claim. Most insurance providers have a toll free claim number. Make sure you have your policy number available. If the other person is at-fault, you must make a claim. You are entitled to have the insurance company process your claim and resolve any disputes. Your insurance company will advise the other driver’s insurance provider that you are making a claim and seeking compensation. You will have to make a list of all items damaged. If the other driver does not have car insurance, you will have to negotiate directly or go to court. Some experts suggest that if the other party is at fault, you should file claims with both insurance providers.

4. Once you have submitted all of the paper work to the insurance companies, they will sort out the claim. You may have to speak to the other driver’s provider about your recollection of the accident. Your insurance provider will tell you what statement is required. Before you give your statement, write down what you remember about the accident.

5. A claims adjuster will inspect your damaged car in order to assess the costs of the loss. They will also assess if the damage can be repaired or if you require financial compensation. If you are financially compensated, the insurance company will write you a check minus the deductible. A car accident can be a very emotional time in one’s life. It is important to remember that you need to keep yourself together so that you can make the right decisions regarding your physical well-being as well as filing a car insurance claim.

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4×4 Insurance Explained

Aug 17, 2009 More Saving

Every type of vehicle insurance has to be tailored toward the specific vehicle it is insuring. In the case of 4×4?s, insurance coverage has to cover the excess risks and hazards that are sometimes involved. Regular car and truck owners are not always subject to these risks and receive lower rates. Before you choose an insurance company to go through, make sure you know all of the facts on 4×4 insurance. This will help you choose a plan that best fits your needs.

4×4 vehicles differ from regular cars in that may sometimes be used for off road driving. Some people even use them for racing in the mountains or deserts. If you plan on incorporating these sports you insurance will be much higher compared to someone who sticks to the road. If you choose not to be insured for off road driving you will not be covered for any damages done while driving in these areas. This is because you will be at a higher risk for damages like broken windshields and popped tires while driving off road. Insurance companies will have to charge you more to compensate for the higher risk of driving.

The types of 4×4 insurance are not unlike regular car insurance. You have your basic liability, which will only cover what happens to other people and vehicles in a crash. You also have comprehensive and theft coverage which compensates you for damages from vandalism and theft that might have occurred. The highest costing insurance plans will cover the cost for fixing other peoples vehicles and hospital bills as well as your own. Make sure you revise what is in each policy before you choose one because companies will vary slightly within the terms of each agreement.

4×4 insurance is more expensive than regular insurance largely because of the fact that the parts cost more to fix and replace. Small, mass produced cars have more parts available, and they are often less expensive. 4×4s may require you to get extra insurance to cover parts that are not considered stock. If you get into an accident and receive damage to these additions, the insurance company will not pay to replace them unless you have specific insurance for it. This can be particularly frustrating for people with wide screens, a common 4×4 addition.

If you like to work on your 4×4 you may want to add salvage retention rights to your policy. If you are involved in an accident this gives you the right to keep the parts for other vehicles while still being covered for the damages. This only applies if your vehicle was totaled and you have to get a new one. Salvage retention also lets you put on your own additions and updates without worrying about affecting your insurance coverage. Often times these alterations can cause your insurance to become invalid without specific coverage. Your original 4×4 insurance policy will most likely not include salvage retention rights, so be sure to add it on if you require it.

Tags: a, Auto Insurance, automobile;truck, automobiles, c, Car Insurance, cars, e, f, finance, i, insurance, More Saving, n, p, personal finance, u, v, Vehicle Insurance

Top Question When Renting A Car

Aug 16, 2009 More Saving

Whether or not to take out rental insurance, when you are renting a car, has been a major decision among all renters. It is important, when you rent a car, that you understand these companies want to sell you insurance because it is a way for them to make more money. On top of that, rental companies encourage you to take out their insurance because it protects their car, and that is all that matters to them.

Here are some of the most asked questions about rental insurance, and the answer are most likely going to surprise many of you.

Q: DOESNT MY REGULAR CAR INSURANCE POLICY COVER ME WHEN I AM DRIVING A RENTAL CAR?

A: The answer is yes, most car insurance will cover you fully when you are driving in a rented vehicle, however as with all things it is a good idea to contact your car insurance company in advance and ask them about this coverage. Don’t wait until you are standing in line at the rental agent to attempt to make this decision, know the facts before you get there.

Q: WILL THE CREDIT CARD THAT I USED TO RENT THE CAR COVER ME FOR ANY DAMAGES?

A: There is not straight yes or no answer for this question. Most of the major credit card companies do offer additional rental insurance, however you should always check prior to using it for your rental.

Q: IF I AM COVERED BY MY CREDIT CARD AND MY CAR INSURANCE DO I NEED TO PURCHASE THE CAR RENTAL INSURANCE JUST IN CASE?

A: NO, NO, NO….Although many companies will tell you that you are not covered under any insurance but theirs, this is absolutely not true. The truth is, the insurance coverage that is offered from a rental car company will provide you will no covers that you are not already be offered through your insurance and credit card companies.

Before you pick up your rental car, it is important that you find out all the required details from your insurance and credit companies. This is the difference in money in your bank or the rental company’s

Tags: a, Australia, automobile, c, Car Hire, Car Insurance, car rental, car rental queensland, e, h, holiday, i, insurance, More Saving, n, r, rental, Rental Car, Rental Insurance, t, travel, travel & leisure, travel tips, u, v, vacation

Shopping With The Insurance Supermarket

Aug 14, 2009 More Saving

An insurance supermarket is exactly what it sounds like. Most people are familiar with supermarkets. This is generally the place were you can achieve all of your grocery needs. One stop shopping if you will. Similarly, the insurance supermarket is a place for all of your insurance needs.

Things are very valuable these days. We all work very hard for what we have and want to keep it. This requires us to have insurance. If you don’t do some research, you may end up paying too much or being underinsured. The insurance supermarket gives people the opportunity to see what is available and compare prices.

Homeowner’s insurance can be very costly. It is in fact, as anyone with a mortgage can tell you, required by your bank. Even if you own your home outright, without a mortgage, home owner’s insurance is an absolute must. Without it, your financial well-being is vulnerable to personal accidents, natural disaster and other unforeseen mishaps.

If you are purchasing an automobile through a dealership, you will also be required to have automobile insurance. You can eliminate the time consuming and tedious task of visiting many insurance companies, until you find the one that fits, by using the insurance supermarket. Here you can obtain many quotes in order to compare the cost of each offered policy.

It is a sad but true fact that none of us know when we will die. Whether from old age, accidents or illness, the one thing that we all do know is that we will die eventually. This makes life insurance a necessity for everyone. Even if you have no family members that you are concerned will have to pay for your remaining estate upon your death, there will with certainty be costs incurred.

Health insurance seems to be the topic of everyone’s conversation these days. Finding affordable health insurance is serious business. Many people have absolutely no idea where to begin. Once again insurance markets will eliminate the need for ridiculously lengthy hours of research in order to obtain the best health insurance available to you at the best price.

If you are purchasing a new motorcycle, boat or camper, you will want to make sure that you have enough insurance coverage in the event of loss or damage. You will not have any difficulty obtaining quotes for these.

The insurance supermarket has made shopping for affordable insurance as simple as logging onto your computer. This is definitely an excellent method, whether you are in need of one type of insurance or many combined.

Tags: a, auto, Auto Insurance, b, business, business;finance, Car Insurance, e, f, Family, finance, h, health, i, insurance, More Saving, n, t, travel, u, Van Insurance

5 Super Fun Kid-Friendly Destinations That Won’t Break The Family Budget In This Economy Crisis

Aug 14, 2009 Save Money

An economy crisis, like what the world is currently experiencing, could make all hope for summer fun seem impossible. With families scaling back and trying to make smaller budgets work, it may feel like there is no room for any “extras” to keep the kids entertained. Well, the fact of the matter is that, despite the economy crisis, there are plenty of great places to take your kids for some much needed summer excitement.

Cheap and exciting times can be had if you and your kids look at things a little differently this summer. From experimenting with silly and frugal recipes to finding fun spots that you can get to easily and get supplies that you can buy for cheap, there is no shortage on opportunities for a good time for those that seek them out. Try out these 5 super fun kid-friendly destinations that won’t blow your family’s budget in this economy crisis:

Try your local McDonald’s, Wendy’s, or Chick-fill-A Playland! Indoor playgrounds are fantastic places to visit with the kids. They love to do all of their regular outdoor playground stuff in the comforts of an air conditioned playland. You can get all the fun without all of the finances also by buying the cheapest thing on the menu. Often, you can get by with spending less than $1 per person! Buy for cheap a fun goodie like ice cream or cookies and your kids will be even more satisfied.

Try a scavenger hunt out in the woods. Besides being a lot of fun, this is a perfect activity that you can use to teach your kids the importance of protecting the environment. Buy for cheap a little bug kit from the dollar store and some notepads before setting off on a great adventure. You don’t have to go any place grand, you local park will do just fine. Take your environmental consciousness a notch higher by biking or walking to your destination if possible.

If you can, have some fun at the beach. Buy for cheap some gas to get you to the nearest sandy place and watch the kids have a ball. You don’t have to plan to stay at any fancy hotels, just make it a day trip and bring along some snacks that you can buy for cheap in advance. Most beaches are free and full of playtime opportunities for kids.

Some people won’t be able to get to the beach. That’s ok…most community parks have a sandspot of kids. Use those same dollar store finds that you buy for cheap, and let the kids dig and build until their hearts are content right at their local park. But, be sure to carry snack that you can buy for cheap with you, otherwise, you could end up spending unnecessarily on vending machine goods.

Set up a backyard camping adventure. Who ever said that you have to go to a National Park to have a good camp out? Buy for cheap a tent, some foods to make some easy and frugal recipes like trail mix or a fruit salad using fruits that are on sale and in season. Keep the fun going by limiting access to the house. That will really make you and the kids feel like you are out in the wild.

Summer fun doesn’t have to cost an exorbitant amount of money. You can buy for cheap different things that your kids can use to explore, play, and learn during their visits to these 5 cheap and cool destinations. This economy crisis brings with it enough stress. Don’t let it rob your family of a cool, cheap summer!

Tags: a, Children, e, entertaining children, f, finance, Free, frugal tips, k, m, manage finance, n, p, playing, r, s, Save Money, savings, spend less, spending

Lowering Your Monthly 4×4 Insurance Rates

Aug 10, 2009 More Saving

4×4 insurance rates are often higher than the rates for other vehicles and take extra effort to find good rates for. Your 4×4 will be seen by insurers as extra risky and more hazardous, making your insurance rates much higher. You can avoid these prices by taking the right actions. The most important factor to getting low rates is to search online for multiple different quotes.

Your first goal should be to assure your insurance agent that your 4×4 will be kept safe and out of site while it is parked at home. One of the biggest risks with these trucks and SUVs is that they will be stolen or vandalized. Keep your 4×4 either in a garage or behind the house where it will not be seen. While acknowledging that your vehicle is at lower risk for these occurrences you may get lower rates.

If you have previous experience driving a 4×4 then you may be eligible for a lower rate. While this is not always the case you should ask your insurance agent if it makes a difference. Also by having more experience you will be less likely to get into an accident ad you will know how your vehicle responds better.

Your driving record will always take a toll on your insurance rates, no matter what type of vehicle you plan on getting. The insurance company will review how many claims you have received over the time that you have had insurance. Even just one claim may make your rates higher, while two or more will single you out as a high risk driver. Keep your record clean and clear for as long as possible by driving carefully. If you have no claims for a long enough period you may be able to get a claims bonus on your 4×4 insurance. Some people will even pay out of their pockets for an accident rather than making a claim. In some cases this may be less expensive than paying for your increased rates and deductibles.

By getting a 4×4 with a category 1 or 2 security rating you may end up getting lower rates as well. These categories indicate that your 4×4 is equipped with the finest safety features, making it harder to steal and safer in accidents. Your agents will look for these extra features while gauging your insurance premiums to determine the risk of your vehicle. Opt for the best security possible when choosing your vehicle.

Last but not least, military personal are among the few who receive top notch 4×4 auto insurance rates. These special rates include the National Guard and will deduct a percentage of the costs. Those who are not in the military have to find the best rates by looking around as much as possible. Before going to companies check online to discover what your quote is. This saves you the time of driving around to every individual insurance company.

Tags: a, Auto Insurance, automobile;truck, automobiles, c, Car Insurance, cars, e, f, finance, i, insurance, More Saving, n, p, personal finance, u, v, Vehicle Insurance

The Legacy Of NASCAR Pioneer Lee Petty

Aug 10, 2009 More Saving

Although he’s now better known as ‘Richard Petty’s dad’, Lee Petty had a very successful career behind the wheel himself. More significantly, he played an important role in the development and growth not only of his own family business but of NASCAR racing as a whole. Petty Enterprises has now owned race teams for over four generations and Richard Petty–aka “The King” is considered the greatest driver in stock car racing history.

Lee Petty was one of the first businessmen car owners in a day when many NASCAR drivers were moonlighting (or daylighting) bootleggers and moonshine runners. He raced in the very first NASCAR stock car race ever on June 19th, 1949. Among his many firsts in the sport is the dubious distinction of bringing out the first caution flag in NASCAR history. To chronicle his achievements in the sport in a nutshell, he won 50 Cup races, including the first one ever on a paved track. He also caused his share of trouble”todays driver fracases are mild by standards of Lees day and he was never a man afraid to mix it up. He once hit Curtis Turner over the head with a wrench after a race, and another time got into a fistfight during the pre race festivities. Lees two sons quickly joined the skirmish but the fight was ended by Mrs. Petty (Richards grandmother) swinging her purse”made heavier than the typical pocketbook by the .44 handgun she carried inside.

Lee also won three NASCAR championships (the precursor to today’s Sprint Cup) during his career. He also shepherded his son, Richard, into the sport. Surprisingly, things didn’t immediately go well for the Petty offspring–he’d race only 9 times in the first season and ended up in a wreck more often than not. He’d eventually turn things around and the man now known as “The King” Richard Petty would go on to win a staggering 200 NASCAR races–a mark that may never be broken.

Lees career was cut short by a nasty accident at the 1961 Daytona 500, where his car hit a guard rail and flipped a few times. Lee suffered a number of broken bones and internal injuries. He raced a few more times, but hung it up for good in 1964. He left the management of Petty Engineering to his sons Richard and Maurice and spent his time enjoying friends and family and playing golf. He played frequently until a few months before his death in 2000 at age 86 after surgery to treat a stomach aneurysm.

Lee Petty holds a few NASCAR records that may never be broken. He finished in the top five 231 times out of 427 races, and still holds the mark for best average finish for a full time driver at 7.6th place. Making this level of success all the more impressive, it was done in an era before big money sponsorships, on poorly maintained tracks and against legitimate criminals who spent most of their time bootlegging moonshine. The fact that Petty enjoyed so much success in that era is a credit to his toughness, dedication and courage.

Tags: a, auto racing, automotives, More Saving, n, Nascar, Nascar Drivers, nascar greats, nascar history, nascar legends, p, r, race car drivers, recreation, Recreation Sports, s, Sport, Sports, stock car racing, t, u

Consequence of Lying to Your Car Insurance Company

Aug 7, 2009 More Saving

Car insurance companies are very strict on their insurance packages and most times, they look at your details to be able to award you the necessary insurance. Therefore, it is not uncommon to find car insurance buyers looking for ways to falsify their details in the bid to reduce their premium price and get cheaper auto insurance quotes. In fact, research has shown that in the UK alone, over 10% of all drivers have lied at a point in time about their details or records while in the US, it is estimated at a whopping 27%. Details that are mostly lied about include the age and address of the driver. In some cases, drivers have been known to leave out speeding tickets, drunken driving records and bans on driving they may have received.

Sadly, many drivers seem to think this is the norm and therefore lie about all these when they are applying for an insurance policy. And this is further influenced by the thinking that the companies are mandated to pay and reward them. Most informed drivers know that falsifying your records is seen as fraud while the uninformed drivers think it is ok to lie about their records. The truth is insurance companies are beginning to catch up with this trend and are taking steps against the frequent occurrence of such acts. One of these steps is in the installation of software that will function as a lie detector and will compare all the different data for traces of irregularities. Besides this, insurance companies now have penalties that are meted out on culprits of this act. These include:

1. Cancellation of the Insurance Policy. All culprits will lose their rights to any form of insurance with the company of they are caught. This means that all the monies paid prior to that time will not be retrieved or paid back and the driver will forfeit all attendant benefits.

2. All Claims will be lost and denied. All drivers caught in the act of falsification will be denied all claims. During accidents, most drivers and car owners resort to the insurance company to offer some form of relief. Even if the claims are genuine, the insurance company will desist from making the required payment if it detects false information.

3. Blacklisting in all car insurance companies Depending on the severity of the false information, most insurance companies will willingly blacklist the driver thus making it really hard for him to drive his car.

4. May pay Fines If the driver is found guilty of severe falsification or under the insurance act, he would be required to pay the sum of one hundred thousand dollars and another two hundred thousand dollars if there are other offences discovered. 5. Jail Terms.

In Canada, all offenders could face up to ten years in prison and may be forced to pay a sum greater than five thousand dollars if found guilty. So whatever the case may be, it is in your best interest to tell the truth at all times.

Tags: a, ajax, b, business, business;finance, c, car, Car Insurance, f, Family, finance, financial, h, health, home, i, insurance, j, l, liability, life, More Saving, n, o, ontario, s, society

The Difference Between 4×4 Insurance And Regular Car Insurance

Aug 6, 2009 More Saving

4×4s are subject to special rates and different kinds of insurance that other cars don?t usually have. If you have a 4×4 you are probably already aware of these differences. The extra features of a 4×4 make it capable of more, and therefore need extra insurance to handle the extra hazards they may encounter. Purchasers of this type of insurance should worry about getting the right type of policy to cover all of their specific needs.

While it depends what policy you have, most of the time car insurance is very basic in its coverage. In most cases it will cover the other driver and their vehicle. Other policies include your vehicle and even cover theft or weather damage. 4×4 vehicles are not much different in how they are insured however they are different in what happens in a crash scenario. When a crash happens a 4×4 vehicle will do more damage than a normal car would. Thus it makes your rates increase.

Another huge factor is that 4×4 vehicles are targeted for vandalism and theft more. This is especially true if you live in the city versus in the country. Since the insurance company has the city as a higher risk zone for theft you will pay more in insurance. It?s best to live in a rural area where your high profile vehicle won?t be as likely to be targeted.

Fixing a 4×4 vehicle tends to be more expensive than fixing a regular vehicle. There are a few different reasons for this. The first reason is that 4×4 vehicles have parts that are specialized and harder to find and thus they are more expensive. Another reason is because many 4×4 owners will add extra parts to their vehicle. While these parts may make the vehicle perform better, as they do with sports cars, they are not covered by insurance and thus are more expensive to fix. Some companies will allow you to insure these parts however you will have to pay much higher premiums to do so.

Finally the biggest difference between 4×4 vehicles and cars is it?s off road capabilities. Your standard car insurance won?t cover your vehicle if you go off road. This means that you will have to either pay for the repair costs yourself or have to see if your car insurance company offers off road protection. If they do then you will have to pay a higher rate. Also if you?re an enthusiast that likes to race or enter other various competitions you may have to get those covered separately. In some instances it?s better to be covered for a single day then pay high interest rates every month.

It?s important to know that as with sports cars 4×4 vehicles will be more expensive naturally when it comes to insurance. The best thing you can do is to compare quotes from various companies and find the lowest rate. You can also greatly reduce the rate of your vehicle by having it just for a recreational vehicle. You will also want to read through the policies that each company offers. This is because some companies will cover some situations while others won?t. If you plan on doing something besides driving your 4×4 vehicle you should ask your insurance agent what they can cover.

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Denny Hamlin Wins Pennsylvania 500 NASCAR Race

Aug 5, 2009 More Saving

Denny Hamlin ended a sophomore slump of sorts when he won the rain delayed Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. The win was Hamlins first of the season and broke a 50 race winless streak. His last victory had come in 2008 at Martinsville Raceway.

After the race, an emotional Hamlin dedicated the victory to his grandmother who passed away late last week at the age of 91:

She understands the competition of the sport and she understands how much she means to me. Like today, she’s pretty proud. We definitely had some angels with us today.”

The unique triangle configuration track at Pocono bedevils many drivers, but Hamlin has always performed well here. He swept both races here as a rookie in 2006 and after the race his boss J.D. Gibbs made note of that fact:

I told him earlier, we’re going to lobby for a few extra races at Pocono”

Hamlin is now fifth in the NASCAR championship points standings after the victory. Tony Stewart increased his lead over Jimmie Johnson to 197 points with a 10th place finish.

Montoya finished second, and now stands in 8th place in the overall points standings. Clint Bowyer finished third and expressed pleasure with the solid performance in his postrace comments:

“Things haven’t been going our way all year long so it feels good to have something swing our way.

Former Indy Car driver Sam Hornish, Jr. took fourth”his best finish since coming to NASCAR. Kasey Kahne rounded out the top five.

Points leader Stewart will have a good opportunity to increase his lead this weekend, as NASCAR heads to Watkins Glen, NY to race on the road course there. Stewart is considered not only the best road course driver among current NASCAR competitors, but arguably the best of all time.

Tags: a, auto racing, automotives, More Saving, n, Nascar, Nascar Drivers, nascar races, Nascar Racing, p, r, recreation, Recreation Sports, s, Sport, Sports, stock car racing, t, u