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.

All right. To help dwelling the mood for a little discussion of the 2010 mid-term elections, I’ll use an actual quote. Hang on to something. Ready?

“I can neither confirm nor deny the truth or non-truth of that alleged fact.”

Whew.

I know, I know. Mind-numbing. You okay? You sure? All right, then. If you’re still conscious, let’s continue.

First, the good news: as an American, you serene get to vote, unless you’re in the military. Now, the bad news: as American voters, we’re not exactly presented with a buffet of enticing entrees, are we? A whole lot of hash, rehashed and rehashed. There’s honest something rancid about the term “career politician.”

“Why, welcome back, sir or madam. Good to see you again. Would you like Candidate A or the other Candidate A? “

Hmmm. Should you vote for the politician over here who will raise your taxes, or that politician over there who will raise your taxes? Hmmm. It’s like opening a box of 200 crayons, only to find out that all 200 are labeled “Bronte Mid-Winter Depression.”

Generally, our options tend to range somewhere between someone who is dishonest and self-serving, to someone who is just killing a little time in-between fraud charges, bribery indictments or some kind of deviancy investigation that involves non-voters, like Bangkok public school cheerleaders, or disgruntled farm animals. But according to the ongoing barrage of political ads, the differences between candidates are staggering. World-changing.

The candidates spend boatloads of money trying to out-awesome each other, while gasping in disbelief at the pure, raw evil of their respective opponents. And this “Oh yeah? Says you!” escalation, between creatures that otherwise appear to be all-growed-up adults, can be hilarious.

Witness:

————

“Senator, you need to man up.”

“Oh yeah? Well, you’re a really gruesome woman.”

“Oh yeah? Is that your real hair, or are you doing turf research for a putt-putt? “

————

The Memoir of O: In a tight Recent York Governor’s speed, candidate Rick Lazio dropped his swear against opponents Andrew Cuomo, Carl Paladino, Tony Soprano, Othello, Iago, Bilbo, Frodo and Topo Gigio. Paladino threatened some bad mojo in his borough, prompting a de facto promo for Lazio by J-Lo and de Niro at the Apollo.

A study commissioned by the Obama administration’s new Weather Czar positive that certain types of moisture in Republican-leaning states are granted an unfair advantage, and the White House called for another $30 billion to fund a new Precipitation Equalization program. As a result, hot states now take wetness from frosty states, unless the water was a pre-existing condition. Joe Biden claimed that this move saved or created oh, around 370 million jobs or so, more or less.

In South Carolina, a gubernatorial candidate released a campaign ad showing her standing in the bed of an extinct truck, piled high with ears of corn, shaking hands with a few dozen smiling citizens who were apparently big fans of corn, or stale trucks, or gubernats. Her opponent countered with an attack ad featuring a disgruntled tomato sandwich that had lost its health insurance.

Witness:

————

“Congresswoman, 87% of the time, you voted against the rights of water in the atmosphere to organize.”

“Oh yeah? Well, 89% of the time, you voted twice.”

“Oh yeah? Is that your face, or did your head get caught in a hay baler? “

————

In Maryland, a Democrat was accused of taking illegal campaign donations. The opposing Republican was then accused of taking hostages and robbing a bank. Joe Biden called a news conference and pointed out that the Republican had obviously lost his gruntle. The White House suggested that the hostages were planted by the Tea Party, causing Congress to immediately call for an investigation into Sarah Palin’s clothing budget, after which the TARP Czar sent $84 billion to a Brazilian bank, selected at random.

In the Delaware Senate race, the Republican was accused of feeding her own grandmother to a Rastafarian coyote. Her spokesman argued that everybody makes silly choices in high school, and was quick to point out that the Democrat candidate once robbed an organ bank at midnight and then built a proto-human monster. Since the Delaware DMV was closed at the time, the monster could not be reached for comment. According to unconfirmed reports, the monster has since been promoted to Supervisor and has achieved tenure.

In this 2010 free-for-all, here’s how gutter-scraping shameful the situation has gotten: in the California Governor’s race, a male candidate (or someone on his staff) referred to his female opponent as a “politician.” Then, for the next 96 consecutive hours, FoxNews breathlessly used the novel expression “somebody said the P word” at least 18 billion times. The National Organization for Women could not be reached for comment, since they were busy changing their stationery letterhead to read “The National Organization for Some Females, If They Support The Same Political Views That We Do.” On ABC’s popular morning talk show, “The Concept,” the distaff co-hosts were so offended that Whoopi Goldberg publicly proposed marriage to Bill O’Reilly, an act which nearly caused Joy Behar to walk off a few pounds.

Witness:

————

“I should point out that my opponent has never balanced a budget.”

“Oh yeah? Well, at least I was never arrested at a Shriners’ convention while holding an otter and wearing a shepherd’s outfit!”

“Oh yeah? Well, at least I never dug a pit and tossed in defenseless puppies while voting to inject radioactive isotopes into disabled firemen!”

————

This year, it seems to be a clear case of “throw ‘em all out.” Nobody’s seat is safe, not even San Francisco’s popular frequent flyer, Nancy “Let them eat food stamps” Pelosi. A recent poll claimed to prove that Madame Loudspeaker is even less popular than British Petroleum. Upon hearing this news, BP immediately filed for dual citizenship, formed the Earl Grey Party, and is challenging Pelosi’s House seat, running on an off-shore platform rebuilt by Halliburton and stress-tested by Joy Behar.

Given his plummeting approval ratings, nobody wants the President anywhere near their mid-term campaign, not even members of his own party. So the President has had to settle for taking extra vacations and making speeches at the United Nations, where he wowed the assembled diplomats by making several meaningful hand gestures and knowingly biting his lip during outbursts of fawning applause. He told the assembled nations that governments should reward hard work, not reckless risk-taking. He said this with a straight face (watch “plummeting approval ratings”).

Even the President’s inner circle are bailing. One top advisor resigned to go rush for Mayor of Chicago, but was stymied for a while by real estate issues back home. He had sublet his house, it seems, and now the tenant was refusing to vacate the premises. All ended well, though. According to the police report, the tenant died of natural causes after backing at high speed into eighteen bullets.

Witness:

————

“The people of our dwelling deserve a whole lot of stuff. And I am a whole lot of stuff. Vote for me, and I’ll give you a car and pay your mortgage.”

“Oh yeah? If the people of our state decide to honor me with their vote, I’ll make everyone taller and grant you the power to boom in several languages.”

“Oh yeah? When I’m elected, trees will drip fungible currency, and nobody in our state will ever die, if they’re registered with our Party.”

————

And then it came. The “October Surprise.” A document was unearthed that changed everything. To be specific, a birth certificate. And now we know.

The President of the United States is actually a 94-year-old Eskimo woman named Tina.

It is important to know that anyone under 25 years of age are going to pay higher auto rates than those who are older. It is also important to help keep your rates down, so you should not put a teenage driver on your policy. To effect it simply you will have to pay very high rates if you add a young driver, even if they don’t have an accident. In most situations you should discuss with your automobile agent about signing an exclusion create so that your teen driver can have their own policy, which is the best way to keep costs at a minimum and allow you to search for the best policy specifically for the them.

If a young driver is going to drive then they should be responsible for at least the cost of their car insurance. Additionally if you do this, the teen will be more likely to do whatever measures are needed in order to reduce the policy rates. The young driver will also be more likely to safer by taking the necessary steps to make their rates go down such as special driving programs and safety features.

Here are a few ways to reduce the car insurance rates for a young driver.

1. Special driving programs which are meant to improve a person’s driving are always good to attend. Take defensive driving, as well as making you a better driver, it will attend in lowering the car insurance rate that a young driver will get and make it much more affordable.

2. Make sure that the car is equipped with all the considerable safety options. Cars with recommended safety equipment are rated at more affordable rates.

3. Mileage is important when calculating your risk by an insurance company. The higher mileage you have, the higher the car insurance rate.

4. Insure an affordable car, a high rated car such as a sports car is much more costly to cover. Before you decide which car for the teenager to drive, bag quotes and prices of insurance on different cars. However if you prefer a sports car, you should be prepared for the high cost of car insurance even before you add the young driver factor.

5. Compare car insurance quotes from at least five companies. This is very well-known for young drivers because it not only can save money but can make certain they get the best coverage for the lowest cost.

Some great insurances to try first would be Geico, Progressive, Allstate, E-surance, The General and Safeco. It is important to check out all you can about any auto insurance company and what kind of programs they may can offer a young driver when getting your quotes.

Geico has developed a parent and teen driving contract for families and offers discounts for driver education. Progressive has a teen insurance program and offers discounts for graduation from driver education along with safety equipment discounts.

Safeco has a program called Teensurance, which has a device that can be installed and lets the parents know what kind of driver their teen is and can offer assistance should there be any car trouble to the teen while driving. The online tools that are available can tell parents if a teen goes over the pre-determined speed limit that was location in the system.

Progressive had the best rates for my young driver and over time Progressive was able to lower the rate based on their good driving habits.

References for this article include: www.geico.com/landingpage/go57-intent.htm
www.onlineautoinsurance.com/teenagers/
www.allstate.com/auto-insurance/auto-insurance-for-teens.aspx
www.progressive.com

Of course there are other schools of understanding. Some people relish the conception of being a car's first owner, breaking it in, enjoying the new car smell, as well as the time when the car will no doubt look its best, before scratches, dings, and other blemishes.

The bad news is that new car buying can be extremely difficult and competitive. Used cars are somewhat unique……you may find one 2 year old BMW 328i in shaded gray with 15,000 miles, but the chances of finding another one, at least close by, are remote.

So you want to look for a new car. Then prefer the following advice…learn it, know it, live it.

The new car market is a crowded one, and manufacturers often put additional incentives on certain models to help move them. Typically this is done for models that are not selling particularly well. Usually incentives are offered in the form of huge discounts or special rate financing.

With cash, a $25,000 car may offer an incentive of $4,000 customer cash or dealer cash for a final price of $21,000. Much more attractive, don't you assume? Or the same car may offer 0% financing for five years, resulting in much lower payments ($461 as opposed to $535 at 6%). Because most buyers are payment buyers, calculating if their monthly budget will allow for a given payment, obviously special interest financing is an attractive option.

Keep in mind that while customer or dealer cash can be applied to most any deal, you must have exceptional credit to be able to take advantage of rude interest finance rates.

Ignore sticker price. Nobody pays sticker price. Edminds.com has created an invaluable tool for car shoppers called the True Market Value pricing. Based on actual sales figures from a given region, TMV offers representative samples of what people are actually paying for a given model.

You can also set aside time and effort by shopping online for a car. Walking around a lot kicking tires isn't the greatest way to near to a decision, and you run the risk of becoming the worst of all consumers….the dreaded impulse buyer (known in car sales circles as “the next victim”).

You should instead contact the Internet managers of several different dealerships, determining the availability of a given model. If there are several available, then you have some negotiating leverage. If the car you are seeking is one of a kind, at least in your location, then you may find yourself at a disadvantage.

If you do choose the traditional advance of actually going into a dealership, take time to determine if you are comfortable with your surroundings. Is your salesman knowledgeable and worthy or impatient and pushy? Do not hesitate to ask for a different salesperson if you feel the need; this is far too important of a purchase to have to endure working with someone that you do not trust.

The best times to visit a dealership are during non-peak hours, when your salesperson will not feel rushed and you will have more access to the sales manager. If at all possible, execute an appointment to go in on a weekday morning. Avoid evenings as that is when things tend to ramp up, and if you must go on a Saturday, arrange it for right at opening time. Saturdays can get very busy for salespeople, and you don't want to rep yourself in the midst of that kind of chaos.

When you go in, bring the items you will need to complete the sale, such as your checkbook, registration, and proof of insurance. That way, once you have constructed a fair and equitable deal, you are ready and prepared to do business.

Overall, resist the urge to rush. Car buying has always had the reputation for being a long process, so be prepared to use several hours at the dealership before actually taking delivery. Occasionally you may find a dealer where things move along more rapidly, but don't count on it. Just recognize that car deals recall time and roll with it.

Before you start looking for car insurance for your teen deem about the kind of car they will be driving. If you assume your teenage driver a 2010 Honda Accord the insurance will be sky high because you will be paying for comprehensive and collision coverage for a new untested driver. If you buy your teenage driver a 1999 Honda Civic you will feel more comfortable carrying only liability on the car because the car is not worth that noteworthy money anymore. This is the number one factor to look at when you start looking for cheap auto insurance rates.

The next step is to call your current carrier. If you have been with a good insurance company for a long time they will usually quote you a lower rate than if were to call a unique carrier. Beget it or not insurance companies usually do reward loyalty and that includes cheaper pricing for teenage drivers. This is especially proper if the parents have crystal clean driving records themselves. Most insurance companies will include good driving discounts on the teenage drivers’ rates if the parents themselves qualify for them.

If you are a parent with a less than stellar driving record your insurance company may actually charge more for your teen because they consider your teen higher risk than the young driver whose parents have trim records. This is a good time for you to start shopping around for cheap auto insurance for your teenage driver.

As you shop for cheap car insurance your best bet is to shop for the whole family. Most insurance carriers will not insure anyone under 18 by themselves. Also, if you separate one car from your policy that car will lose a multi-vehicle discount that works in your favor to keep your insurance costs cheap.

So, beget a list of 3 top nationally recognized auto insurance companies and call them all. Make sure you mention you have a teenage driver in the beginning of the call as some insurance companies will reject policies that have new drivers on them. Also make determined you have your current policy with you so you can request rates based off your correct coverage’s.

While talking to the various insurance agents have them give you high, medium, and low coverage package quotes. It is suggested people who possess a home and have assets, like many parents do, carry their bodily injury limits at 100/300. This is very important because higher coverage’s protect your assets the best. But, when trying to find cheap auto insurance for teenage drivers, you may explore Bodily Injury limits at 50/100 or even down to your state minimum requirement (which would give you the low quote).

If you did buy your teenage driver a newer car that requires comprehensive and collision (or full coverage), have the car insurance agents quote you with higher deductibles like $750 or $1000. While it is not recommended to carry high deductibles, sometimes you have to when dealing with the high cost of insurance for teenage drivers.

If you do all this and are still having danger finding cheap car insurance for your teenage driver call an auto insurance broker in your area. You can find them listed in the yellow pages. These brokers deal with smaller insurance companies and will shop amongst them for you to find the cheapest rates. While these smaller companies may not get the highest customer service ratings or be nationally recognized they sometimes do give cheap rates for teenage drivers. Smaller companies may even insure your teenager on their own policy so you do not have to leave the carrier you have been with for years. While this is not recommended it may be the only affordable choice.

While there are cheap car insurance rates for teenage drivers available it just may take some time to find them. A lot of parents avoid expensive insurance rates by requiring their teenage driver bear a 3.0 GPA in school as many insurance companies reward good grades with a massive discount. Make sure your current insurance company is including all discounts available and ask them what you need to do to qualify for additional discounts in the future. Further, while the initial auto insurance rates may be expensive at first they could become cheap after the teenage driver has maintained a clean record for their first year or two of driving.

*All tips given here are based on author Kirstin Filliez’s experience while working as an auto insurance sales agent for the last 7 years. None of the tips guarantee lower rates, they are objective some ideas that have worked for other insureds in the past.

The motor vehicles department requires commercial vehicles to have liability insurance.

Commercial vehicles don't have to narrate their insurance policies to the state department. However, the proof of insurance carried by the commercial vehicles must state that it is one of the company owned vehicles. The proof of insurance carried by drivers of commercial vehicles doesn't need to state the number plate of the vehicle.

When buying commercial automobile insurance, companies will be asked to list the name of drivers. The company will check the driving records of the drivers. If one of the drivers has bad driving record, the insurance company will increase the premium cost. Some insurance companies will reject the application of the insurance policy.

Besides fleet policies, there are commercial auto policies that are designed for smaller fleets. Commercial auto insurance polices that cover smaller fleets of vehicles usually only hide certain types of vehicles. You will have to ask the insurance company about the type of vehicles that are supported by the insurance policy. If you have an insurance agent, you must provide him information about the vehicle rapidly including the types of vehicles, engine size, weight and etc.

There are many factors that resolve the cost of the commercial car insurance including business location, driver records, and type of vehicle. If the vehicle is situated in a state that has a lot of car theft cases, the insurance company will increase the premium cost. To lower the cost, you can install anti-theft features in all the business vehicles. Examples of anti theft features that are commonly installed in commercial vehicles include break lock, air bag, GPS tracking, seat belts, alarm and etc. You have to ask the company to provide information about the approved safety features. The drivers that are hired by the company must have valid driving licenses and profitable driving records. High profile car has a high premium cost because the replacement parts are expensive. Sedan cars that have middle size are charged with the lowest premiums. The amount of deductible you pay will also affect the premium charges.

You must choose the ways the commercial vehicle is being used. If the commercial vehicle is used for long distances, the premium cost will be higher. If you own the vehicles, your premium rates will increase as well. If the vehicles are owned by the drivers, your premium will be cheaper. If you want to shop for commercial vehicle insurance, you should do research with the insurance search engine. You can exercise the insurance search engine to compare the quotes and features of the commercial vehicle insurance policies provided by different companies.

A mountainous part of accident follow up is getting repair estimates from local auto body shops. Not intellectual where to open, we read through Yahoo! and Google reviews as well as Better Business Bureau ratings. That helped us to pare down our list of possible shops. Next came the legwork: getting estimates.

From our experience in visiting several local auto body shops, we found three that stood out as the best in customer service in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area:

LaMettry’s Collision Repair
From the moment I stepped in the door of the Burnsville site, I felt welcomed. They offered refreshments while I waited for someone to personally speak with me. However, the response time was so posthaste that there was no time to waste eating a snack.

With six locations throughout the Twin Cities, LaMettry’s is locally owned and family operated. They offer free estimates in person or online for all auto body repair including accidents and hail damage. LaMettry’s in Burnsville is located at 14601 Burnhaven Drive and can be reached by phone at 952-898-1636.

Southport Autobody
Finding Southport Autobody in Apple Valley, Minnesota, was a minor challenge as it is located approach an auto dealership. But any inconvenience was quickly set to rest by the sincere, qualified service. Quick to answer any question, my concerns were put to rest as I was put at ease.

Providing full-service collision, glass and auto repair, Southport offers free estimates online, at the shop or even offsite if requested. The I-Car certified technicians handle domestic and import models and work with all insurance claims. Located at 7640 146th Street in Apple Valley, Southport can be reached by telephone at 952-891-1540.

Fairway Collision and Automotive
As an independent, family-owned company, Fairway Collision in Vadnais Heights is committed to providing quality service and achieving the highest level of customer satisfaction. Further, it supports local sports teams, community programs and charitable organizations. The commitment to customers and to community is evident in how they welcome people as soon as they walk in the door.

From paintless dent removal to auto body repair to tune up to tires, Fairway provides full-service collision and automotive repair. With numerous certifications, the highly trained staff works on your car and works with your insurance company. Located at 125 East County Road F in Vadnais Heights, Fairway can be reached by phone at 651-483-4055.

When you judge all types of insurance that in today's modern world has become a necessity, car insurance is another added expense of having a car. So getting cheap car insurance has become a natural behavior of statistical driver. However, cheap car insurance can and is available to every driver out there.

To go for a inexpensive car insurance, you might want to go for the security measures, such are these: the anti-lock brakes, alarm system, day time running lights.

To convince the firms that you are making spend of these in your car, this will display a significantly less possibility for your car or automobile and therefore provide you a car insurance at an inexpensive charge. Most of the insurance providing firms are extremely rigid about these safety measures.

There are a quantity of other issues you can do to minimize your car insurance besides acquiring cheap car insurance quotes on the web. You can raise your extra which will lessen your premiums on a monthly basis, but substantially increase the sum you will have to pay out of your pocket when you make a claim.

All new cars now have to be insured earlier than they depart the showroom ground these days, but you can limit the quantity of insurance you will have to shell out by getting a inexpensive or moderately priced car. To insurance companies, less expensive cars mean less expensive repairs which suggests they will have to fork out less. The outcome is a decreased premium for the consumer who buys a more cost-effective car.

It is essential to understand a couple of factors about insurance when you are buying for low-cost car insurance. There are several issues that the providers will ask you about your private history. These issues can be your driving document, criminal describe, and even your academic describe at instances. Your driving file is of course really distinguished as it will display how accountable you have been on the road. If you have had some accidents in the past then this will not appear great and can increase the price of insurance premiums. If you have had issues with the regulation, you may possibly come across that your insurance prices will enhance.

Don’t let your budget determine where you want to go. YOU decidewhere you want to go and then start making plans to get there by determining several factors.

When?

There are several rules to follow in making a decision when to travel:

-There are three seasons to travel-high/peak, shoulder, low/off

-Traveling low-season is always the cheapest, but you need to determine if you want to winter in Alaska or summer in Egypt and the type of activities you wish to pursue on your journey.

-Benefits of shoulder season include: less crowded, better prices and great weather. The best months globally are May or September, followed by April or October-though the last half of April or first half of October.

-Know your world! When it’s winter here, it’s summer in Australia.

-Find out the local holidays! In Europe, kids are out of school for six weeks. Late July, all of August, and the first week or two of September are when the majority of Europeans are on vacation.

-How does the weather affect your activities? If you’re trip is mostly to snorkel or swim, then stay away from the full moon for a trip. It causes two to three days of jellyfish invasion every month and you’ll be unable to enjoy what you came for.

-There are pros and cons of traveling in each and every season. Determine why you want to go and what you want to do. That will help you better decide the when.

Determining cost

One of the more terrible tasks in figuring out your skedaddle is the question of money. How can I possibly afford it??????

Fragment ONE–before making plans

There are several things you can do all year:

-set aside money or make a special vacation savings account

-take your leftover change at the end of each day and add to your fun money jar for a trip

-BUDGET…..yes, it can be a horrid word, but if you thought for a trip—without lustrous where you’re going—all the better it will be when you do decide!

-Cut back! No, this does not mean eat rice and beans every day of the week. Determine where you can cut back and employ that saved money for a trudge.

Do what you do anyway and cut aid where you can. Grow your own garden! We all know the benefits of such and it DOES save money. –Our family goes without cable t.v., extra phone services, etc. and all that money goes toward family memories. You’d be amazed at how fast it adds up.

****This is a very personal decision to make about cutting back and determining budget. I can, however, offer you some insight into this that may aid you in your decision.

1-Our family made the decision long ago to go without all the *extra* stuff to spend it together–making memories that we can “steal with us”. We determined that we would not be on our deathbeds wishing we’d done more with our children in making memories to last an eternity.

2a-Don’t save it for “someday”. Someday never, ever comes. If you live by that creed, you’ll always say “I/we could never afford that!”. If you budget, get rid of the extras and are clear to exercise other ways to save on a journey (which I’ll share shortly), you CAN afford the journey of experiencing this beautiful world.

2b-If you wait too long, you may have not have the opportunity in this life. I’ve heard too many couples say….when the kids are gone (take them with you!), or, when we retire—and then find out that their bodies betrayed their plans and/or dreams.

Part Two–while making plans

There are many, many things you can do in your plans to lessen cost. I will list many here. Be flexible in your decision making and you’ll have a grand time!

ACTIVITIES:

-get brochures from tour operators and copy what they do together to create your own tour. Guides, maps, and library books to keep your own tour together at a small fraction of the cost.

-do an internet search for the area to which you visiting and add the word “coupon” You will find coupons to attractions, lodging, and food that can greatly encourage lower the cost.

-Read your recede guides from the library and get online! There is a LOT of free stuff to do everywhere you go. In Utah, you can visit the Museum of Natural History for free every first Monday of the month and the Fine Arts Museum every first Wed. of the month. In Europe, many museums are free the last two hours of the day (typically from 5 to 7 p.m.)

-do you have a museum or zoo or planetarium membership? All of these offer reciprocating programs with others around the nation and some around the globe! Some offer discounts, but most are free. Spy at the websites to perceive what is offered in the station you plan to be and you may find a great attraction for free or cheap

-look for attraction coupon combining. There are cities that offer passes to several attractions for one drastically reduced price (even SLC offers one!). The Southern California Pass saves $477 dollars for EACH adult ticket when bought through Costco versus each attraction at the gate. That’s a HUGE savings for a family!

TRANSPORTATION:

-fly in mid-week. It’s cheaper than flying on the same day everyone else is leaving to go home or head out on business.

-take the earliest flight…if you’re willing to get up at 4 a.m., you can save more money taking the 6 a.m. flight than the 10 a.m. flight when everyone else wants to go…PLUS you run less risk of delays as the plane more than likely spent the night at the airport! J

-check the brand of a single traveler. It can often be cheaper to check a flight and purchase four single tickets than buying four tickets as a group. That does NOT mean you won’t sit together. You can get your seats at check-in or still choose online with some airlines.

-you do NOT have to use an American based airline. It’s often cheaper to buy tickets from a foreign airline. (I once flew to Luxembourg on IcelanicAir and saved over $400 on the ticket. I flew out of Chicago and got where I wanted to go…for cheaper than any American airline)

-know your rental car options and where you can take them. Italy is notorious for auto theft and many rental agencies will not let you drive your rental to Italy. Renting in Italy will cost more, so, keep it at the end or beginning of your coast…and rent a car in another country or stick to a rail pass. Most of Europe is super easy by public transport anyway.

-Some TYPES of rental cars are also listed in the fine print. Don’t think you can pull a fast one at the border either. The fine print IS read AND enforced by border officials.

(we knew our car could go into Poland, but it still took ten minutes of the Polish border police to go through our rental papers and execute definite this was true.)

-It can be cheaper to sail than to drive in some cases. Small investigation can save you a lot of time as well as money.

-single travelers can encourage from acting as a courier to get a free flight. You must be bonded and insured, but it may be worth it for you!

-Read the small print on your Rail Passes (which you can only take OUTSIDE of the country where it’s being used). With a Swiss Rail Pass, you also get free museum entrances, discounts on lodging, and free bus rides

LODGING:

-look at a hotel’s website. Many offer *Web Only* deals that offer great rates and/or good packages with nice upgrades

-the single traveler can sometimes gain a cheaper room when booking for two beds. You do not have to share, but you also do not pay the “Single Supplement” that some hotels detached stiff single travelers on AND you get a bigger room to stretch out in

-if you are staying a week or longer, consider renting an apartment. Typically found under *holiday flat*, it is THE way to go that offers more plot, amenities like kitchen and laundry facilities, and is typically cheaper than any hotel room….especially in Europe! (Our family stayed nine days in a German apartment and paid a LOT less than we would have for a hotel room. We bought

food at the market and cooked our food…even cheaper!)

-Expedia and websites like it offer good prices AND other traveler’s opinions—great to know what others think! A BIG plus!

-consider a house exchange. Thousands do this every year. It’s a practice that has been around for several decades. That’s FREE lodging!

-you can stay with people from around the world in their homes in something called a *Homestay*. This includes everything from a London apartment to an Australian sheep farm and all else in between!

-if you are LDS, then a great site and service we’ve taken advantage of a few times:

For $35 a year, you can access a huge contact directory of other LDS members from around the world. You can stay in their homes for two or three nights and it includes breakfast….ALL FREE!

(we’ve loved the time we’ve spent with LDS families in other lands!)

-Know your prices! The KOA Las Vegas is more expensive than some hotels that are safe and nice! (first-hand experience!) Camping is not always the cheaper alternative.

-Know your laws! In the Scandanavian countries, it’s legal to camp on anyone’s property (no more than one night without their permission) and as long as you pick up after yourselves. That’s free lodging!

-HOSTELS are not just for students anymore. There are now hostels that are open to all ages as well as catering to families or the elderly. If you plan on being gone all day and don’t mind sharing a bathroom (few offer private baths), you can stay for cheap. Hostels also include kitchen facilities, a lounging area (many with internet and t.v.), lockers for your stuff while you go sightseeing, locked facilities with curfews (to keep you superb at night), and the chance to get to know others!

-convents! Many convents and monasteries have had such a reduction in membership that they’ve had to find original ways to survive. One of these ways is to offer lodging and food at a great price. Most of these are in Italy and France.

PACKING

Now that you’ve made the decision about where and when to go, and you’ve found some great deals…..you need to think about packing.

When you travel, you want go lightly. Yes, that’s moral….you CAN travel with ONLY ONE CARRY ON BAG and STILL have clean underwear! How?

-find out about the climate where you’re traveling and during the time you are there.

-do NOT pack for all the *what-ifs*. No one can carry that much!

-DO pack for what you’ll need to see some attractions. In many countries, you must wear a dress or skirt and place a scarf over your head to enter religious sites. Italy is big in this respect—even if you’ve bought the ticket…you won’t get in. Packing a light scarf with which to accessorize as well as to wear to clear attractions or protect you from wind or sun is very handy. You only need one…and you can wear it while you travel–leaving more room to pack.

This also includes not wearing shorts for the men to the same sites.

-Stick to two or three colors so you can mix and match without taking everything with you OR getting entirely sick of your clothing.

-dress nicely if flying. There are two reasons for this…..you wear your church outfit without wrinkling it AND those wearing skirts or nice pants (no denim or sandals!) are the ones gate agents will bump up to first or business class for FREE if there is room!

-Remember…you’ll be wearing an outfit while you travel-pack with this in mind

-wear your jacket or cardigan-don’t pack it-while traveling

-NEVER pack anything you have to iron

-roll your items –don’t lay flat—it saves space and CAN keep out wrinkles

-use the plastic space saver bags to pack only clothing and get out the air

-KNOW your weight limits! Even by saving space, you can easily add weight. Some airlines have weight restrictions on carry-ons. For example, it’s 15 pounds for British Airways–and that costs to go over!

-pack a copy of where you’ll be staying (on the way) and your home address (for when you go home) in case of lost luggage.

If you save a master packing list, you can copy it to expend each time you pack to save time and “do I need this? ” questions.

PACKING LIST

Two bottoms (pants/capris)

Two or three tops-you can layer with a cardigan if cold inside

Underwear for two days (remember, you’re wearing a pair!)

Socks/nylons -two or three pair as needed/desired

One pair walking shoes

One pair flip flops (great for beach, walking to a pool, or wearing in a shower or around a room if you don’t want to go barefoot)

Swimsuit/goggles (we rarely depart without encountering some excuse to be in the water)

One set of pajamas (I wear an East Indian caftan that I can wear while doing laundry, for sleeping, and can also be a beach cover-up–all with one piece of clothing)

Toiletries

Toothbrush

Tooth powder/paste

Floss

Hair brush

Deodorant (find the small size! It’s cheaper and half the size)

Razor (disposables are tremendous for trips!)

Sunscreen–you should always take a small tube or stick

Add to the list other things you may need that are optional for you–just make distinct they are the smallest sizes you can get, but DON’T go overboard! You do NOT need the what-ifs or everything in your medicine cabinet. Take the barest of what you feel comfortable with.

Medicines as needed

Vitamins (we spend one really good quality for adults and the kids have their own. I pack them in a small ziplock bag to save space)

I exercise free samples of shampoo and conditioner. They stay under the 3 ounce airport rule AND I’ll have more room for souvenirs on the way back. You can also purchase the travel size bottles OR buy a small bottle at your destination. It’s fun to try out different items that what we have at home, too.

Keep a large ziplock bag filled with all papers, reservation numbers, confirmation numbers, maps, and the well-known papers proving you’ll have paid (if you have) or things requested (if you have), etc.

Snacks! Take healthy and non-staining snacks. You will get hungry while traveling….and you won’t want to pay those tourist prices. Fruit leather, granola bars, crackers, dried fruit, and so on are enormous choices that take little room and won’t give you a blood sugar high. Keep these handy on an outside pocket or zipper, if possible.

Keep another great ziplock bag for all your items that you need to take out at airport security screening. Instead of doing it item by item, you’ll have it all in an easy, transparent bag to quickly grab.

Items I NEVER go without:

The items with a *P* in front, I actually do not pack in my carry on, but I build in my day-pack (purse)

-several plastic shopping bags. You’d be surprised at the things you’ll use them for (soiled items, keeping sand off food at the beach and then using it to carry out the trash you made, wet swimsuit for that last swim before heading to the airport and many other uses

-caribener–attach this the outside of your bag to attach other items and give your shoulder a break AND to set aside to the seat at the gate/station, etc. in case you should happen to doze off

-a handful of ziplock transparent bags….for tons of uses and some I’ll mention under another category

-floss -already mentioned, but you can use it to hang up stuff to dry, work as an eyeglass screw until you can pick up to one, exhaust as a tape measure when you go shopping but don’t want to try on clothing AND to take care of your teeth

*P*-Emergen-C we add a packet to water during the journey to our destination to keep up our immune systems. Also sizable to have on hand in case you feel hurry down. A super vitamin and energy burst!

*P* -a stain pen or wipes. Don’t let your accidents spoil your gawk! Attack with the stain pen and you’ll be good to go.

excellent umbrella—a minute one….you never know when you’ll consume it

*P*-first aid kit—quite dinky, you can get the Johnson & Johnson mini-first encourage kit for $1 at Walmart. It comes with bandages, alcohol towelettes, and ointment

*P*-several cough drops, lip balm, nail clippers

*P*-a small address book with addresses and phone numbers

*P*-if staying in the U.S., buy your postcard stamps BEFORE you go

*P*-mini sewing kit with safety pins included (your button WILL pop off on a trip! J )

*P*-brush or comb (you’ll feel better about yourself if you can run a comb through your hair on a longer journey)

inch couple of package of facial tissues-you never know when you find a region with no toilet paper

*P*-paper toilet seat guards. Get a small packet of five at Walmart for .97…..there are some scary restrooms out there!

*P*-liquid or gel hand sanitizer

THAT’S IT? You have the opportunity to do your laundry where the locals go. We’ve met some fun and interesting people, gotten advice, and experienced getting to know the locals of the land in ways we couldn’t otherwise. This is portion of the experience-it’s not impartial doing laundry on vacation. J

If you really don’t want to do your laundry, save money by taking it to a local Laundromat that will do it for you…for 1/3 the tag of the hotel’s laundry service!

WHILE TRAVELING

-even if you are not hungry or thirsty when the flight attendant comes around, engage the food and a bottle of water. You’ll want food or water later and you WON’T want to pay the airport prices

-if your flight is cancelled, don’t wait in a long line to get onto another flight. Bypass the line and head for the phone. Call the airline’s 1-800 number (don’t forget to include it in your address book!) and quickly be given another flight while everyone else is still standing in line. It will be quicker and less stressful

-keep your passport around your neck or in a place that is safe and secure at all times during the journey, especially while filling out the in-flight customs forms (unless YOU have your passport number memorized)

-find out where else you can occupy tickets for transportation, attractions, etc. They may be cheaper and/or faster. (for example–when in London and riding the Tube, we buy our tickets at cramped neighborhood offices….it’s much faster than the ticket machines and lines at the Tube stations)

-did you end up with too many souvenirs? If you’re in the U.S., simply buy a flat rate box for $8.10. For that notice, you can fill it as heavily as you want. Just mail it home!

-go to local grocery stores and stout retail stores (such as Kmart). You can get souvenirs for much cheaper than the typical tourist shops.

-if you have a Costco membership, check them out where you travel. They are worldwide and carry local items as well as what you’ll find at home—for the same prices. (when in Hawaii, we obtain the same Dole Plantation pineapple that sells from Dole for $6 for only $2.99 at Costco. Gas is cheaper for your car or rental car, too.if traveling with your family, share the hairbrush, tooth powder/paste, floss and other items that can easily be shared–it also takes less spaceuse a sheet of fabric softener to absorb odor and dampness..expansive for warm, humid climates and ocean voyages

SAFETY

No sail is suited if you haven’t taken precautions. Being prepared can save your sanity, your spin, and can help stay flexible enough to enjoy.

-check your passport to make positive it’s not expired. It will take 2 to 4 weeks to either get one or renew one. (plan for at least four weeks)

-if going out of the country, check the other country’s laws regarding passports. Some countries require a six month leeway before expiration and others need extra pages. (South Africa requires two free pages in your passport to enter the country).

If extra pages are necessary to be added, send your passport in and extra pages will be added free of charge.

-make sure have enough money in your checking account. Most foreign ATM machines do not grasp money from savings.

-make sure there is NO graffiti on your cash. It must be clean and not torn for it to be exchanged in some countries (eg. Japan)

-take extra cash in smaller bills and don’t keep it all in the same place

-ATMS offer the best rate of exchange. Never use the airport exchange offices. They have the worst rate of exchange.

-credit cards also offer immense rates of exchange, but some countries do not salvage them quite as readily

-In England, many post offices will exchange your cash for FREE! That’s the BEST rate of exchange! You can gather out where at

-Keep various forms of money available: cash, ATM/debit cards, credit cards (many places no longer accept traveler’s checks in our electronic age)

-discuss meeting places wherever you go if traveling with others in case you want to go on your own way for awhile or get separated

-use a small wedge to slip under your door. No one can get in while you are in your room/apt., etc. It’s a safe and cheap way to help yourself conclude safe–pick up at any hardware store

-watch your credit card receipts. Some countries print your entire credit card number on the receipt.

-tape a business card or name and phone number on your laptop. Many are not re-connected with their owners for lack of information

-in case of a medical emergency, your health insurance cards 1-800 numbers will not work outside the U.S. Before you go, call your insurance agency and net the local number…write it down in your address book

-create an ID for each child and every person traveling. If the unthinkable happens, you can hand it over to the proper authorities

On a piece of paper, place a recent photo, place fingerprints, address, phone number, any allergies, medications required, identifying marks or features, height, spy and hair color, etc.

Have it laminated and keep it in your daypack/purse

-Don’t walk around with your passport on you-unless required by the country in which you are. Most countries do not require this, however.

Keep it safely hidden or locked up.

-Keep extra cash in a waist money belt or exercise your passport neck bag and keep it under your shirt.

-Consider your purse, ladies. Get one long enough to wear over one shoulder and around your neck or wear a daypack. I highly suggest a daypack. You can carry a lot in it as well as a bottle of water and some snacks to prevent high-priced goodies if you accept the munchies.

-Watch your hand gestures. What may be acceptable at home may be insulting in other areas around the U.S. or the world.

-When traveling to another culture, fetch out acceptable etiquette—for example–never touch an Asian on the head and always take off your shoes when visiting any Polynesian island home, etc.

-take a whistle for each child. In case they get lost, a shrill whistle in the woods or in a crowd will help you rep them fast!

http://postoffice.co.uk

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN

Traveling with your children can be a fun and rewarding experience. The world offers the greatest education in history, culture, art, and humanity. You can build memories and negate lessons that would come no other way.

-before a ride, go to the library and find as many children’s books as you can on your destination. Read them to your kids or have your kids read them on their own. You’d be surprised at what excites them and what they’ll remember during your trip

-let your little ones assist you pack their bag. Allow your older children to pack their own bag…after you’ve taught them what and how to pack

-on a road inch, give the kids their own intention to follow. They can be surprisingly good at directions

-create a journey bag or box that is filled with trip-only fun items easily found at the dollar store or DI. It can create many happy hours on the way

-create a notebook or journal for each child with various headings such as “words I learned” “novel foods I tried” “something I didn’t know before” “most fun/most boring” and the like This can create a lifetime habit of journaling—for at home or on the road

-let the kids choose their own postcards for a friend of theirs or family member…write on it and send it off. Maybe they can even take over postcard duty!

-on a road trip, fetch out every two hours. Not only is it safer for you, but the kids need a bathroom break and a running break. Take a ball or Frisbee, etc. with you to have some family fun before resuming your journey.

-on a plane, have them take their own small backpack filled with a few original items (crayons and activity books), books, electronic game or travel game set, little cars, Ziploc baggies of healthy snacks, and so on. This prevents you from having to gather up and search through stuff to find them something to do, etc.

-many airports have children’s play areas. Find out where they are and let them play while you relax as you wait for your flight.

-don’t overplan….you’ll all be miserable. Check out local parks. The purpose of your ride together is to gaze and make happy memories as a family…not to cram as great as you can into as little time as possible.

-Stick to the buddy system EVERYwhere you go. Girls stick with girls and boys with boys for the restroom or changing rooms…no one goes alone anywhere

-It’s okay to stop and take a nap if you and/or the kids need one. You can enjoy the rest of your day even more when you’re all rested

(we once stopped in the middle of a beautiful Welsh park, plopped down and took a family nap on the grass. Now, THAT is a vacation!)

-let your kids have a disposable camera so they can take their own pictures, too. Limit to one per child….they’ll be more careful with the pictures they take

-children’s binoculars are cheap and they are useful not only in sightseeing, but they have fun with them on the road, too

-don’t forget the books on tape/cd as well as music

-stick to your at home eating and sleeping schedule…..kids off their eating and sleeping schedules can get pretty grumpy (so can the grown-ups!)

-be careful on trying too many modern foods with the very young–allergies can spout up ANYwhere!

-don’t forget your daily family scripture discover….I promise that it’s the best way to start any day…on a trip or not

-send your diapers and other baby needs on ahead that you know won’t be coming aid with you (see website page)

WEBSITES

These are websites to use to your travel advantage.
http://worldclimate.com

(What the weather is normally like for tens of thousands of places worldwide!)
http://weather.com
( Weather does the best job of delivering the essentials clearly. Get current conditions for 98,000 destinations worldwide, updated every 20 minutes.)

http://destinationcoupons.com/

(DestinationCoupons.com is a Free website offering worldwide discounts and coupons for hotels, car rentals, restaurants, shopping, activities and more!)

http://whichbudget.com/

(Find the cheapest flights around the world-116 airlines – 128 countries – 919 airports – 24545 routes)http://seat61.com/

(Maybe you don’t like flying, or are concerned about air travel’s contribution to global warming. Or perhaps you impartial prefer real travel by train or ship, where the journey is part of the adventure… Either way, The Man in Seat Sixty-One will tell you how to travel overland comfortably & affordably where you might reflect that air was now the only option.)Voted ‘Best Travel Website’http://babiestravellite.com/

(Babies Travel Lite delivers over 1000 name notice baby products including diapers, formula, food and more to travel destinations in the United States and worldwide. We also deliver baby supplies for home use.

Babies Travel Lite carries a full line of organic products including baby food and formula; diapering, bathing and sun care items; and Earth worthy diapers.)

http://librivox.org/

(FREE MP3 or Ipod downloads of books, poetry, short stories—a great way to prefer a lot of *reading* material without the weigh down of books!)http://restaurant.com/

(this is a GREAT website for discounts on eating out away or at home pay $10 for a $25 meal is one example)http://www.squaremouth.com/

(Compare hundreds of travel insurance plans from the top providers and buy immediately or expend the comprehensive research features.)http://www.postoffice.co.uk/

(find post office locations in the UK for free money exchange–what a deal!)http://expedia.com

(this is our favorite website for deals, traveler’s opinions, etc. We’ve conventional them without one problem for years)http://www.budgettravel.com/

(a lot of great information, destination tips, etc. Super to use when thinking of where and when)http://cruise411.com

(The handy quick search bar lets you find cruises by date, destination and cruise line. Exhaust the advanced search to choose by price and trip length. Cruise411 include ship itineraries, deck plans, cabin photos and other advice.)http://www.zagat.com/

(procure the details on a restaurant as well as other diner’s reviews. The most trusted name in dining)http://opentable.com/

(don’t have one or two hours to wait in line for a restaurant table? Make a reservation online at you’ll find hundreds of choices for top destinations nationwide. Enter party size, date and time, and the site searches for a table. If one’s not available, OpenTable will suggest an alternate time. Use at home or away on your journey—worldwide!)http://www.ricksteves.com/

(this guy is my Euro-hero! My move style is much like his…down to earth, get to know the locals, the history, budget, family, and go lightly. He has a PBS show as well as books)http://us.lastminute.com/

(score great deals if you suddenly feel like taking a quick trip)http://www.hostels.com/

(hostelling is for ALL ages, backgrounds, families, etc. and can be a orderly budget contrivance to go. Many hostels are located in the heart of attractions or very close by)http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/

(the U.S. government website for travel, disease, immunizations required, etc. A great resource for information to keep you healthy before and during your journey)http://xe.com

(this is my favorite money conversion website. I’ve used it for years. It’s updated every minute and it’s very easy to use—I LOVE the Snappily Conversion Converter–all free)https://tripprep.com/

(A comprehensive resource with recommended vaccinations, embassy listings and crime advisories for 204 countries. (Information is culled from the state departments of the U.S., Canada, Australia and the U.K.) Also included: tips on local customs and transportation. Free registration required.)http://dontforgetyourtoothbrush.com/

(Create your own handy before-you-leave checklists—FREE and fun!)http://thebathroomdiaries.com/

(A seemingly silly, surprisingly useful resource reviewing 12,000 public bathrooms in 120 countries….trust me, with children or an urgent need, it will be nice to know where to go…and when it’s better to spend a bush!)

Progressive has claimed to be a cheap car insurance company. They offer services such as 24/7 claim service, pet accident insurance, and someone to assist you with buying a car if yours gets totaled, and discounts for a safe driving represent and having more than one car insured with them. In completing a quote, individuals are asked to provide the car that they drive, personal identifying information, and whether they have any driving violations. Individuals are then offered a choice of what kind of car insurance they would like, and the amount of money they could pay for each of those insurances, which may or may not be cheaper than what they are already paying.

Geico also has claimed itself to be a cheap car insurance company. Their claim is that 15 minutes could save you up to 15 percent on your insurance. One bonus with Geico is that they do provide all the different coverages that are available and that you the consumer should deem having on your policy. I started a quote from them but became frustrated at the amount of information that they required. Some personal information I was allowed to opt out of giving like my phone number and social security number, but others I was not like my occupation and how much I am paying for my insurance currently. Geico does not provide coverage in Massachusetts.

Allstate is going a different route in being a cheap car insurance company. Their claim is a safe driving bonus for every 6 months an individual goes without an accident they can earn up to 5% of their premium. They can also earn money off of their deductible. Individuals can also receive a quote online.

State Farm can also be considered a cheap car insurance company. They offer to their individuals information such as how much insurance do they need, what affects the price of their insurance, what are coverage and deductible options, and auto insurance discounts. They offer discounts for Multiple Vehicle, Multiple Line, New Vehicle Safety, Accident Free, Anti-Theft Device, Defensive Driving, Good Driving, Good Student and, Driver Training. Individuals can get a quote online in about 15 minutes.

Nationwide is also a cheap car insurance company, because they claim that you can save up to $500. They offer 100% guarantee on repairs for as long as you own the vehicle. They offer 24/7 claim service. They also offer free On Your Side Reviews to assist you with choosing discounts and coverage that are right for you.

Amica also claims to be a cheap car insurance company. They do not offer grand information about their auto insurance online. However, you can complete a quote online.

Esurance offers the most information about cheap car insurance companies. Esurance allows individuals to obtain a quote that compares auto insurance rates. This allows the individual to pick the best insurance information for them. Individuals can then buy the policy right online. Esurance claims that if another company offers a cheaper rate you can purchase the policy.