Howie Schultz : How much would a speeding ticket really cost in terms of car insurance and other costs?

Speeding tickets- can cost you your cheap car insurance.

Response : Howie, yes speeding tickets can prove very costly in terms of other cost and can also deprive you off cheap car insurance rates, since insurance is dependent on your driving history. Well do not be dispappointed and dejected since for every thing there are solutions and I will show you the solution.

When a driver is pulled over by a police officer and issued a citation, the first thing they look at is how much the ticket is going to cost them. They flip it over and read the number and think that is all it will cost. However, receiving a ticket carries several hidden costs. :
1) The first hidden cost is time. Often people are caught for speeding and say they were running late, they were trying to make up time.
2) They have to pay the fine, appear in court.
3) They need to find out details of a safe drivers course, pay for it and take it.
4) The biggest cost though is usually felt in insurance rates. A ticket’s cost in insurance premiums is often many times more than the fine associated with the violation. Some violations can even result in a company dropping a driver’s coverage or refusing to renew coverage. Your auto insurance premium will be higher and the driving violation will on your record for a period of 3-5 years depending upon the state you are living in. Let me tell you a truth, which is that the auto insurance company will charge you a higher premium not for one year, but for three years. You loose your cheap auto insurance rates.

Yes, the solution is there and it is to compare your auto insurance quotes online, to improve your driving record since just one ticket is not going to crucify you. It would be worth-while to seek an appeal for the speeding ticket, since if it is the first offence the court will also let you off. Another very important thing for young drivers, fresh drivers or college students is too take up the graduated driving lessons which will give you discounts and so your increase ratings would not affect you – you would still be on the scale of a cheap car insurance quote which you were enkoying previously.

I am sure that you have done the research and compared the policies and you know that you have found the cheapest auto insurance rates. The real key, however, is keeping that cheap auto insurance rate. The best way to keep auto insurance rates low is to keep a clean driving record. If keeping a clean driving record means an improvement in your driving record it may be time to compare auto insurance rates with other carriers and discounts for good driving records can vary from company to company.However, the best thing to do is to be careful, not to speed as far as possible.
Thanks.
Kamlesh

Kristen Bell: My son has received his driving license and I am really worried about his getting involved in an accident. I have both concerns getting cheap auto insurances and also the safety of my teen. Please let me know what to do.

Cheap auto insurance is less important than teen safety:
Response : Kristen, I agree with you that cheap auto insurance can esaiy be obtained, but teen safety or the young drivers safety is more important than getting a cheap auto insurance quote. It is true that receiving a driver’s license is one of the most exciting rites of passage in a teen’s life. However, it can also be an extremely nerve-racking experience for both the new driver and his or her parents.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for 15-to-20-year-olds.In order to ensure the teen safety here are some tips which are recommonded even by the NHTSA.

Alwyas follow the speed limit. Driving too fast is certainly dangerous. The other thing is sometimes driving too slow can also be dangerous. Not only will driving the speed limit help you stay in control of your vehicle, it can also help you save fuel. You need to teach the teen the right limits and skills of maintaining speed, which is very important. It is indeed good that the auto makers do recall vehicles in case of any problems with the vehicles. The recent recall by Toyatta is a good example of maintaining the standards by the auto makers.

Avoid distractions. With cell phones, iPods and GPS, teens might seem like pros at multitasking, but driving is not the time for distractions. Taking your eyes off the road for just one second to send a text or change songs can make a huge difference in your response time for avoiding a collision.With the recent laws trying to crub distractions by most of the states are very attractive.

Pay attention to your surroundings.It is very important to pay attention to the road directly in front of you, but make sure to check your rearview and side mirrors regularly. If you’re on a residential street, watch for children playing in the road and other pedestrians.

Most importantly,Speak Up! Your teen should be able to speak up if he is in a vehicle with a friend who is driving too fast, constantly switching lanes, tailgating or not paying attention to the road, tell him or herof discomfortable. They may be trying to impress you, and a simple request will encourage them to stop driving dangerously. If they refuse, ask them to drop you off at a safe location so that you can call someone to pick you up.

Buckle Up. According to NHTSA, “Increasing seat belt use is the simplest and least expensive way to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads.” In fact, NHTSA found that more than 75,000 lives were saved between 2003 and 2007 by wearing a seat belt. Taking two seconds to buckle up is the simplest action you can take to stay safer on the road. Plus, it’s the law in many states.

There are many resources to ensure your teens safety, but the most important are the parents. Parents would be able to give the right guidance and driving tips to their teens, since no matter how much they dispute and argue, ultimatley the teens know the truth.

Amish Shah: Will you please tell me how cheap car insurance rates are there in different states of USA for teens or young drivers or college students ?

Finding Cheap Car Insurance
Resonse : Amish finding cheap car insurance has become very easier now with the advent of internet and online car insurance offers. If is no longer like finding a needle in a haystack. You can bid goodbye to frustratuons that can lead to fits of uncontrollable swearing and temper tantrums. However, unlike the endless quest for that needle, finding the least expensive car insurance has a point. The more coverage you can get at the lowest price means more money in your wallet and a lot less stress about paying your other bills.

Who are the competitors for cheap car insurance? Which companies offer the cheapest insurance? That really depends on what you’re looking for. The amount of coverage you want will determine the price, along with your age, driving record and where you live.

Take for example, Geico. Everyone knows the little green gecko ads. They are extremely effective. But how much would they charge a 21-year-old male living in the suburbs outside of Boston, MA? Let’s say that 21-year-old is looking only for liability coverage, forgoing comprehensive, collision and medical coverage for a 1995 Chevy Cavalier. Let’s assume he has a clean driving record with no accidents or speeding tickets reported. If he selects all the minimum liability amounts for bodily injury, property damage and personal injury, his premium will be $83.30 a month, or $999.60 per year. That same 21-year-old living in Carmel-By-The-Sea in California would pay $56.32 a month or $675.84 a year for insurance, under the same conditions, searching for the same amount of coverage.
It would be smart for you to compare the auto insurance rates online where you As any smart shopper would find out that this list is constantly changing. It would pay to check out Geico’s competition. A quick visit to Amica Mutual’s web site, using the same criteria with the same 21-year-old male, shows he would be paying an annual rate of $799 in suburban Massachusetts and $695.54 in sunny California. So the 21-year-old in Massachusetts would be smart to choose Amica Mutual for his car insurance, while the 21-year-old in California would more than likely choose Geico.

Why the discrepancy? Different states demand different minimums for liability coverage. Massachusetts sets minimum bodily injury liability coverage at $20,000 with a maximum payout of $40,000 per accident, along with a $5,000 limit for property damage. There is also a mandatory minimum for any uninsured drivers who might get behind the wheel of your car, also set at $20,000 with a max payout of $40,000. In California, the minimums are lower, with bodily injury set at $15,000 with a max payout of $30,000 and a minimum $5,000 property damage liability coverage. California does not require drivers to carry coverage for any uninsured or casual drivers who might get behind the wheel.

Each insurance company would base their auto insurance rates on their own experience and this detail is broken down to the area and even the specific vehicle-wise claims experience of the insurance company, hence any young driver or teen should compare the auto insurance rates online to get cheap car insurance.

One good indicator of where to start looking for cost-effective car insurance is consumer surveys. Survey giant J.D. Power & Associates rank customer satisfaction with insurance companies annually. In their latest ranking, Amica Mutual topped the list, with State Farm and Shelter taking the second and third spots. Some other big names, like Geico and Progressive ranked further down the list, coming in at nine and 14, respectively.

One thing cannot be stressed enough: where you live plays a large role in determining how much you pay. Keep in mind, our 21-year-old in Massachusetts was living within 25 miles of a major urban centre, with a higher population density than picturesque Carmel-By-The-Sea. In fact, Massachusetts is one of the more expensive states where one can obtain insurance. In a nationwide survey done in 2005 (the latest figures available), five Northeastern states (New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Delaware) ranked in the top 10 most expensive states for car insurance. Connecticut comes in at number 11. Drivers in New Jersey drivers pay an average of $1336.20 in premiums a year. Only Maine, with its sparse population, ranked in the top ten for lowest car insurance rates. The Midwest makes up the rest of the list with Iowa being ranked the cheapest place to obtain car insurance. Drivers in Iowa drive easy knowing they’re paying an average of $664.20 in premiums every year.

When you do start looking for insurance, be sure to prepare. Remember that no one company offers across-the-board cheap rates, and be sure to compare quotes. Take advantage of any discounts you might be eligible for, including multiple car options and group rates. The best thing to do is find a rate that you can afford that covers everything you want. Don’t let a cheap quote that cuts corners entice you, because in the end, you get what you pay for.

As per the latest news of 27th January 2009, Toyota has recalled 8 models in the USA and Canada. Do you think the auto insurers are going to give you cheap auto insurance rates for cars which have a defect in their accreetion pad?

Tim Schmidt : Why are auto insurances expensive for young drivers? I am looking for cheap auto insurancesfor teens or youg drivers, please let me know how I can get this?

Cheap auto insurance for young drivers :
Response : . Most young drivers, or teens will soon realize that there is a good chance they will have to pay a high auto insurance premium. This is due to the fact that they are considered a high risk because they are inexperienced and young. Studies have revealed that young males are more careless drivers than young females. Statistical research affects auto premium costs. Fortunately, there are number of measures a young driver can implement in an effort to obtain really cheap auto insurance or cheap teen auto insurance quotes. It is not just a responsible act, but the law mandates that all drivers have auto insurance

I have already touched on this in a nimber of my articles, however, here are some of the ways in which you can obtain cheap auto insurance quotes for young drivers.
•Young drivers can be added to their parents’ auto insurance policy. A teen can pay for the extra costs associated with the new addition to the policy. Parents can play an important role in obtaining cheap auto insurance for thier teens. Parents be are the biggest influnece and the best teachers, who can teach their teens all the does and don’ts driving, volation and teach them the good driving habits which would win them cheap auto insurances.
•Premiums are affected by the type of car driven. Expensive cars will have higher premiums. Young drivers should start out on older used cars.
•Maintaining a low mileage will help lower auto insurance premiums. Parents can implement a limit on how long their teen can drive the car.
•Schools and community organizations offer young driver training programs. Many insurance companies will reduce their rates if a young driver has completed a certified driver training program
•Never purchase the first insurance policy offer. Comparing insurance quotes will help one find a cheaper auto insurance plan. There are web sites that provide online quote comparisons from several different insurance companies.
•Theft is a major factor insurance companies consider when calculating premiums. Installing security devices such as a theft alarm, steering wheel immobilizer, and strong locks, will help reduce insurance premiums.
•If a young driver is still in school, insurance companies will often offer discounts for students who can maintain a grade A average.
There are many reasons why auto insurance is expensive for young drivers. Research shows young drivers are more prone to receive a traffic violation such as a speeding ticket and get into a vehicle accident. The best step a young driver can take is to maintain a clean driving record. Once one has proven that he or she is not a high risk, the premiums will decrease. Most auto insurance companies will reduce the insurance premium of a new or young driver after three years of driving experience that does not contain any traffic violations.

Acquiring cheap auto insurance for young drivers is possible. Researching insurance companies, implementing methods that will help reduce premium costs, and maintaining a clean driving record, will all play a big role in securing cheap auto insurance.

Rayan Desis : How Can I get the cheapest auto insurance quotes with auto insurance discounts?

Getting cheapest car insurance rates for young drivers

Response : The teen auto insurance accidents are being lesser and less fatal as per the Insurance Information Institute. This has resulted in cheaper auto insurnace rates in 2009. Yes, cheaper auto insurance can be obtained Recently, insurance rates have been dropping nationwide. Just like mortgage rates, insurance rates are cyclical, moving higher or lower every couple of years on average.

Unfortunately, your insurance company likely won’t lower your rate just because they improve, despite the fact that new clients may be offered lower rates. That’s why it may be in your best interest to seek cheapest auto insurance rates online and you are at the right place. There can be a number of auto insurance discounts or credits if you qualify. Not all insurance companies offer every one of the following, but it would be best to get mu;ltiple auto insurance quotes and see if any of them apply.
Good Student Discount – Students who maintain a certain grade point average often qualify for a discount on their insurance.

Student Discount – If you have a child on your policy, who is away at school, be sure to let your insurer know. If the student does not have access to the car, your rate may be lowered.

Multiple Vehicle Discount – Insurance companies assume if you own more than one vehicle, you will not be able to drive either as often; therefore you are less at risk for getting into an accident.

Credit Discount – Many states are using Financial Responsibility or credit scores as a determining factor in your premium. The higher your score, the lower your rate. So make sure you use credit wisely.

Car Alarms – If you have a car alarm, be sure to let your insurance company know about it. Car alarms deter thieves from stealing your car, and thus will reduce your risk.

Package or Multi Policy Discounts – If you have a homeowners policy and an automobile policy with separate companies, you may want to contact both to determine if you can place both policies with the same company.

Airbags – If your car has airbags, be certain to let your insurance company know. If you get into an accident in a car with airbags, the bodily injury you suffer is typically less, which in turn costs insurance companies less for claims.

Renewal or Loyalty Discount – If you remain with the same company for a certain number of years, with a clean driving record, you should be receiving a discount.

Good Driver Discount – If you have a clean driving record for at least three years, you may qualify for this discount.

Non Smoking Discount – If you are a non smoker, your insurance company may offer you a discount.

Defensive Driving Discount – Some companies offer a discount for individuals who take these courses. Many of these courses can be found online.

Low mileage discounts– Typically, senior citizens do not drive as many miles as younger drivers, which may qualify them for a discount.

Increased Deductible – By doing this, you agree to pay a larger portion of the physical damage to your vehicle in the event of a claim. This means the insurance company pays less, which typically lowers your rate.

Lower Limits – While I can’t recommend you lower your coverage, if for any reason you simply cannot afford your current insurance rate, you have the option to lower your limits. This will result in some savings as the the insurance company won’t have to pay as much if you are found at fault for an accident.

Group Member Discounts – Insurance companies often offer discounts to members of certain groups who typically exhibit similar characteristics to one another. Some examples include AARP, AAA, or USAA members.

Credit Unions – While credit unions may differ, some offer their own insurance programs, which will provide discounts simply for being a member.

Military Discount – Many insurance companies offer this discount because service men and women often do not drive their vehicles year round, or typically only drive them within a limited area; on base for example.

Renters Insurance Discount – If you rent an apartment or a home, you may qualify for this discount. It is sometimes referred to as the “renters,” or “responsible citizen” discount.

Proof of Prior – Typically associated with Non Standard auto insurance policies, the “Proof of prior” discount shows an insurance company you have had at least liability insurance for a period of six months or more. This proof of insurance would demonstrate your ability to pay your insurance premiums monthly without a lapse in coverage (missing payments or not having insurance for any period of time), which ensures you will not force the insurer to incur the extra expense of reinstating your policy each month.

Once you know what auto insurance discounts you qualify for and select the right options, cheapest auto insurance quotes for young drivers or teenagers is just a click away.

Thanks.
Happy driving.
Kamlesh.