I toyed with the plan of purchasing online car insurance. I thought I would achieve a lot of money. After all, I see hundreds of Progressive and Geico insurance commercials each and every day. These commercials promise grand savings. After I did a shrimp research myself, I found that I might save a few dollars. What I would lose, however was priceless: a relationship with a car insurance agent.
I like my car insurance agent. He is always there to answer my questions. When someone backed in to me at a Walgreen’s parking lot and then filed a claim against ME my car insurance agent was there. When I received a strange bill on a Saturday morning, it was my car insurance agent’s cell phone that I called. There are many benefits of having a car insurance agent as opposed to an online policy. I would like to share five car insurance agent benefits with you:
Benefit of Having a Car Insurance Agent #1: You Have Somewhere To Go If you Have a Question
If you have an online policy and need a ask answered, you have to call a 1-800 number. I am definite that many people can vouch for the fact that sometimes you don’t get the best service through a 1-800 number. Of course, there are exceptions. I am sure there are many polite and courteous people working at online insurance companies that will help you. However, if you have an urgent request and can’t advance someone by phone you can visit your car insurance agent.
Car Insurance Agent Benefit #2: Someone is Watching Out for You
A great car insurance agent benefit is that you always have someone watching out for you. If there is a unusual discount available, they will apply it to your story. If they have a new product available that might save you some money, they will call and tell you about it.
Benefit of Having a Car Insurance Agent #3: They May Help You Save Money on Other Insurance Policies
A spacious car insurance agent benefit is that they can help you with most of your insurance needs. Most car insurance companies that have agents have a vast array of insurance services available – from auto insurance to life, renters, homeowners, boat, RV, and even medical insurance. Your car insurance agent knows your personal needs and can recommend policies. Sometimes the discount you are given on the policies for having multiple policies almost pays for the added policy itself. Having an insurance agent that knows what you need and can get you the policies you need is a spacious benefit.
Benefit of Having a Car Insurance Agent #4: A Car Insurance Agent Can Keep Your Records in Order
I can’t speak for all car insurance agents, but my car insurance agent keeps a file of any documentation I give him. I have a homeowners policy through him and I gave him a CD with photos of what is in my home. On the CD was also my excel spreadsheet of what I paid for my immense ticket items. I have a copy of the CD in my fire proof satisfactory, but if something happens to that too I know I have my records in order. My car insurance agent keeps that CD in the event I have a catastrophe we can start working a claim true away. They won’t even have to ask me for a list of my items, as they will have everything moral at their disposal!
Car Insurance Agent Benefit #5: Having a Relationship with a Human
These days you don’t even have to even call a pizza place and talk to a human to place an order. You can order pizza online, send flowers online, bank online, you can even go to school online. The Internet and computers have taken an interesting role in our lives, oftentimes replacing very well-liked social mechanisms. Sometimes it’s nice to just have an idle conversation with an actual human being. If you are in a car accident, your computer can’t send flowers and a win well card to the hospital. Your computer can’t call to see if you are doing okay. Your computer can’t get sure paperwork around for you. Having an actual car insurance agent reaps the benefits of actually having a business relationship with an actual human being who cares about you and your family. That’s one wait on that’s hard to replace.
Filed under Farmers Car Insurance by on Mar 14th, 2011. Comment. 
Used trucks are at a premium right now in this economy. The cost of buying a stamp new truck anywhere is just a bit too much to swallow for many runt businesses, farmers and car buyers. Even in markets such as Sioux Falls, used trucks are a hot item.
According to the Keloland Automall statistics, the most searched truck for sale is a used Ford F150. The Keloland Automall covers the Sioux Falls, Sioux City, and Northwest Iowa state, so that’s quite a big territory of people looking for used Ford F150s for sale.
Before you buy a frail truck in Sioux Falls, or anywhere, you need to make sure you know exactly what you need it for. That will determine the type of truck you capture. Are you hauling items, hauling trailers, or just driving around town? Do you need dually? What about GPS? There are many options in used trucks, so make sure you know what you need and then make a list of what you want.
After you have your list, call your insurance agent and find out how distinguished insurance will cost on the different trucks you are looking to assume. You don’t want a nasty surprise after you’ve already bought your truck. This is one thing many buyers don’t think of doing. But different vehicles have drastically different insurance premiums. It doesn’t hurt to check that out before you buy a new to you vehicle.
Next check the safety ratings and consumer reviews. There are many different websites that review vehicles or have consumer reviews. I like reading Consumer Reports for their objective reviews. I usually cut whittle down my list after reading reviews.
If you don’t need a big engine, then I would recommend against buying a used truck with one. They are gas guzzlers. It’s painful filling your tank when gas is near or over $4 a gallon.
Also contemplate if this will be a family truck. Extended cabs are nice, but can be a real pain to get a parking spot. You have to park diagonally else the back slay sticks out quite a ways.
Finally you are ready to read dealership reviews and find the best position to buy from. Customer service is huge and I can’t stress that enough.
Make sure you do your due diligence and you’ll make a astronomical used truck capture without any buyer’s remorse.
Search trucks for sale in Iowa City by looking for Iowa City dealerships.
Filed under Farmers Car Insurance by on Feb 18th, 2011. Comment.
Shopping around for car insurance is a given in today’s economy, but getting a decent premium price is just the beginning of what savvy car insurance shoppers need to focus on. What you don’t know can have a big impact on your wallet or pocketbook. Smart Money has some smart tips for keeping as much of your money in your possession, and away from your car insurance company.
1. The motive for recommending a policy may be self interest, not your interest.
Large auto and home insurers use “contingent commissions” to compensate agents that sell their policies. The basic two types of commissions are “steering commissions” for signing customers up for a particular insurance company, and “profit based commissions” for signing customers up who don’t file a lot of costly claims. The problem with the first type of commission is agents may sign you up to a company just for bigger commissions, and the second commission type agents would discourage you from filing a claim at all. Protect yourself by asking agents why they made a clear recommendation.
2. Young drivers are at a disadvantage right from jump.
According to AllInsuranceinfo.org it typically takes three years of driving experience to get a lower rate. Drivers under 25, especially males are in a high risk group and will find it difficult to procure insured. In the short term a lower rate is possible by picking a lower engine capacity vehicle, and staying away from high performance sports cars. Younger drivers can also ask their insurer how to get a lower premium rate, which may be as simple as taking a defensive driving course.
3. Bad credit may hurt you as well.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, a New York based organization, over 90 percent of insurers use credit histories as a basis for insurance underwriting. Unfortunately, since the 1990′s insurers have found a correlation between low credit scores and filing multiple claims. Check your credit report for inaccuracies before shopping for insurance.
4. How are insurance premiums calculated? “Good luck finding out for certain”
Prices vary from state to position, and according to a study in 2007 from The National Association of Insurance Commissioners the prices varied from a obscene of $664 in Iowa to $1,343 in the District of Columbia, based on a 2005 year long average of $949. Twenty years ago premiums fit into four or five pricing tiers, based on a persons age, where they lived, and their driving record. Now many more variables have been added, including home ownership and credit history just to name a few. Insurers use this information differently so it’s almost impossible to figure out where you stand with a particular insurer.
5. Car looks and runs substantial after repairs, but the value fair dropped.
Even after using manufacturer parts and not generic after market parts your cars value may still diminish after an accident and repairs. So there isn’t a total loss the diminished value on the car can be written off your tax return. Consult your tax preparer to get maximum write-off value.
6. Totaled your car? No way your getting full value
You may be surprised to find out that Insurance companies do not use standard sources like Kelly Blue Book to determine valuations. Instead many insurers use claims servicing companies. Don’t win the first offer from your insurance company. Consult autotrader.com or Edmunds.com to find better comps, and verify prices on the insurers report by calling the sellers listed. If that doesn’t work for you go through your own appraisal-arbitration process by hiring an appraiser, especially if the difference is $1,000 or more.
7. The car is declared totaled by Insurer
It’s becoming even more difficult to have all repairs covered, which is what most policyholders would prefer. An insurer is likely to declare your care totaled if repairs exceed 70 percent of the total value of the vehicle. It’s gets even trickier if the frame is damaged. If you don’t agree with your insurers declaration of totaled you can appeal the decision.
8. Your mechanic is under our employment contract.
Insurers have always had recommended repair shops, but now in the last decade it’s gone a step further. Allstate in 2001 announced the purchase of a nationwide chain of car repair shops. Consumer advocates are nervous with this type of set up. Some site a conflict of interest, especially since insurers are trying to keep cost low. Some insurers may reduce or waive your deductible if you exercise their recommended repair shop. Honest have an after repair mechanic certify the job was done correctly.
9. Brand loyalty may not be a good belief.
You might be better off comparison shopping once a year rather than automatically renewing with the same company. Gain a variety of quotes from Allstate, Progressive, Geico, and State Farm. You may be surprised at the results.
10. Switching Carriers may cost you so be careful.
If your going to switch carriers get obvious to accept a new carrier before you cancel your old carrier. Your vehicle must be covered by insurance at all times with no lapses. if their is a lapse in insurance coverage it may cost you dearly.
Filed under Farmers Car Insurance by on Dec 18th, 2010. Comment.
Finding a good deal on auto insurance is not too hard, but does take some research and time. As an economist, I like to find the best deals for my money, especially on my auto insurance policy. This article will provide some tips for getting the best possible deal on car insurance, and will examine some common money saving discounts.
Where can I find cheap car insurance?
Car insurance can be purchased either online or from a brick and mortar establishment. Online car insurance companies will usually give the best rates since they can bypass paying for an insurance agent. When considered the best inexpensive car insurance you should research the company’s customer services, since an insurance company is only as good as their customer service when filing a claim. Shopping around at multiple companies online will yield the best deals for cheap car insurance.
What are some common insurance premium discounts that will get me cheap car insurance?
1. Good driver discount
Have you been accident and ticket free for the past two years and always make sure to look both ways twice before moving into traffic? Noble drivers are offered lower premiums than drivers with accidents are and moving violations are, because they pose less of a risk to the insurance company.
2. Good student discount
Are you a student or do you plan to return to school soon? Getting good grades (3.0+) can help bring your premium down considerably. When filling out online insurance applications make sure that you look for the honorable student discount!
3. Multiple policy discount
Do you have homeowners insurance and car insurance? Combining these two policies is a common way that customers assign on their premiums.
4. Higher deductibles
Anyone looking for inexpensive car insurance will often trade high premiums for higher deductibles. Be careful when considering high deductibles because in the event of an accident you could be paying a worthy amount of money.
5. Safety features
Did you know that you could save money by having safety features such as side air bags, ABS, brake assist, and four-wheel drive? Safety features make your car safer in the event of an accident and for accident prevention, which makes you less of a risk to the insurance company. When purchasing a new vehicle be sure to add these safety features to not only keep you safe, but to keep your premium down.
Sources:
Personal experience
Filed under Farmers Car Insurance by on Dec 16th, 2010. Comment.
