car-insurance-driving-in-snow.

Driving in ice and snow can be very hazardous. Each year, thousands of insurance claims are filed for drivers who have skidded into other cars or stationary objects while driving in icy conditions.

Here are a few tips to help you navigate the roads safely when winter weather comes to town.

1) Don’t go out. It seems simple enough to say, but many people do not realize just how important it is to stay in when the roads are hazardous.

If you simply have to get to the store for that quart of milk, you might want to think about better planning—lay in supplies of food and do your errands in batches while the weather is good.

If you are going to be driving no matter what, get snow tires. Check your state’s laws about studded tires or chains; some states do not allow them between certain periods. Have your snow tires put on early in the season; make sure they are well-maintained and checked periodically.

2) Decrease your speed. Most accidents on icy roads can be contributed to driving too fast for conditions. This does not mean the posted speed limit; it means driving at a speed which allows you time to correct for possible hazards. You will need at least three times the stopping distance on ice as on dry pavement, so slow down and give yourself plenty of time to negotiate corners and intersections.

When you are driving in ice, you should also brake gently. You should not ever slam on brakes while on ice; this is a recipe for disaster. Instead, slowly brake in increments, giving yourself time to stop safely. Stop well before a stop sign or traffic light; better to be a few feet back than in the middle of an intersection.

3) Use your lights. Even in broad daylight, your lights will help you stay visible to other motorists. Use your windshield wipers to keep your screen free of snow and debris. De-ice your windshield before you begin driving by starting the car, letting it run for a few minutes, and scraping the ice from your windshield.

You should also use lower gears. Many cars and trucks come equipped with four-wheel drive. This has actually increased the problem with driving in snow, because many four-wheel drive owners mistakenly believe they can navigate roads with four wheels they would not tackle with two. Instead of relying on four-wheel drive, engage your low gear to keep traction.

4) Be careful on bridges. Bridges often form icy patches well before the regular roadbed, so use extreme caution when crossing them, even if the temperature is above freezing.

5) Know how to handle a skid. If you begin to skid, take your foot off the accelerator, and steer “into” the skid. What this means is that you turn your front wheels in the direction you want to go, opposite what the rear wheels are doing. If you have front-wheel drive, do not steer but put the vehicle in neutral while you regain traction.

6) Keep sand or litter in your trunk. Not only will this help weight your vehicle down, giving you more traction, but it is very useful if you get stuck. Do not spin your wheels if you are stuck—this only makes the problem worse. Instead, “rock” the vehicle gently by shifting from forward to reverse and back again.

Besides sand, you should also keep an emergency kit in your car. Road flares and a jack can be lifesavers in dangerous conditions. If you are stranded, do not leave your car unless help is within sight.

Instead, turn on your flashers, put out flares if needed, and call for help. Keep blankets and hard candy, as well as water, in your car at all times in case you are stuck for some time.

Enjoy driving- be safe and get cheap teen auto insurance quotes now.

brandon roy : What happens if a car gets totaled in a test drive? Have you heard of any incident like this ?

Car insurance : Totaled on the test drive: Who pays?

Response : A very interesting question. Car insurance for that matter insurance is always interesting though most people think it is a very dry subject. Since it touches most aspect of human life, you hear of all sorts of interesting incidents of accidents and claims. Car insurance and car accidents are no different.

Yes, I know of such an incident. It was 2008 when three students — or maybe four — walked onto the lot at GRT Motors, a used-car dealership in the Atlanta area. Steve Lang, the owner, was there to greet them.

The kids liked a 1992 Mazda Protégé and wanted to take it for a spin. As he usually does, Lang copied their driver’s license information before handing them the keys so they could take it for a test drive. He didn’t ask for proof of their car insurance .

Not every dealer will let you take a test drive without accompanying you in the vehicle. But Lang does. “People can always take a vehicle nearby for an inspection if they wish. That’s how it works,” he says.

The kids drove it for nearly an hour — into the next county, says Lang. They liked the Protégé. They phoned from the road to say they wanted to buy it. But it turned out they’d been driving with the emergency brake engaged all that time.

When they returned to Lang’s lot, the brakes were gone. Right in front of his eyes, “they took a corner and they literally slid across the street into a bush.”

He pulled the car out of the weeds and got it back to the lot. Two of the quarter panels were scratched. The kids, undaunted, wanted to haggle over the price of the car. Since it was damaged, they reasoned, he should bring the price down some. Lang chased them away and chalked it up to the life of a car dealer.

He paid $150 to fix the scratches and replace the brake line, fluid and a caliper rather thansee his car insurance rates go up for filing an insurance claim.

Who pays?

Not every test-drive misadventure ends so well. But here’s the question: If Lang had made the claim, would his insurance have paid? If you’re out on a dealer test drive and you wreck the car — or even total it — who pays for the damage?

It sounds like a complicated problem, but it’s not. Here’s a rule of thumb on car insurance: The coverage usually goes with the vehicle..

Generally, the insurance belonging to the auto’s owner — car dealers keep what’s known as a “garage policy” — is ultimately responsible for the claim, says Bob Passmore, spokesman for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.

That doesn’t mean you or your insurer won’t get stuck with the cost. It’s not unusual for a dealer to require you to sign a waiver before letting you drive one of his or her cars.

That’s because, while it’s not exactly common for someone to wreck a vehicle on a test drive, it’s hardly unheard of. An unfamiliar car, an implicit mission to test its limits: What could go wrong?

Waivers for test-drivers

Laws differ from state to state. In the states that allow it, the waiver asks you to agree that your insurance will be “primary.” If an accident happens, your insurance pays first.

Fred Buchi, a sales associate at Liberty Bay Auto, a used-car dealership in Poulsbo, Wash., says his company asks every customer to sign a waiver before test-driving a vehicle. “They sign a document showing that they have car insurance and that it would cover them on the test drive. If we didn’t do that, our insurance would be so expensive,” Buchi says.

Should you sign a waiver and wreck a test-driven car, “your liability coverage would pay for whatever you ran into with the dealer’s car,” up to your coverage limits, says CarInsurance.com consumer analyst Penny Gusner.

Suppose you have an old car and, in your quest for the cheapest car insurance , have just $10,000 of liability coverage and you crash into a Jaguar and total it, says Passmore. Your insurance would pay for the first $10,000 in repairs (or replacement cost.) After that, the dealer’s insurance pays.

Damage to the shiny car you wrecked would be covered by your insurer only if you carry collision coverage, and then probably only up to the actual cash value of the car you have insured, Gusner says. If you have a Civic and are test-driving a Lamborghini, you might have a problem.

The Craigslist scenario

What if the car you’re driving belongs to a private party — say, someone who advertised a car for sale on Craigslist? Suppose you’re out for a test drive and run the car into a tree. Now what?

Generally, the seller’s insurance is responsible if that happens, says Passmore.

That’s why, when you sell a car, you’d be smart to keep it insured. It’s tempting, if you’re not driving it, to let the coverage lapse and save money. But not only could someone hit it while it’s parked on the street, you also might need that insurance if a potential buyer bangs it up on the test drive.

Also, cautions Passmore, “Don’t cancel the liability coverage if you’re going to be operating it at all or letting someone test-drive it.”

That’s because, basically, “when you give somebody your keys, you give them your insurance,” Passmore says.

Yes. the key is always have your car insurance or insurance coverage on especially a car at all times- infact it would not hurt even when you are borrowing or renting a vehicle to find out about the car insurance on the vehicle.

Stay informed and get your cheap teen auto insurance quote here- now.

Jermone Harrison: Mommar Gahadfi is dead and so may be the petrol prices will go down but am looking for altenative fuel automobiles and savings on car insurance and pertol both. Any insights?

Response :  Mommar Gadhafi is no more, however, I do not know if this is going to affect the petrol prices immediately. However, I really appreciate your idea and am sure others will take a hint. The best is like Warren Buffet to keep your expense limited, however saving when you can is also best.

Yes, get your cheap teen auto insurance or cheap car insurance quote here- and read on my articles on saving on car insurance. I am not repeating the same and shall now go to altenrative fuel and details on cars.

Check out the list of the 10 most popular cars of all time – you might be surprised! The top 10 most popular cars list may have a few surprises on it but you don’t need to be in for a surprise when you buy your auto insurance. Enter your zip in now to compare auto insurance quotes online!

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Source: AutoInsurance.org

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Source: AutoInsurance.org

There’s got to be a logic to car buying. Some lots you walk into have hundreds of cars, or at least, seemingly hundreds of cars. Add in pushy salespeople, hot sun, cold snow, overzealous air conditioning, driving rain, burnt coffee, and any other disasters that could occur, and you’ve got a mess.

Which one do you test drive?

Do you joy-ride in the sweetest ride there is?

Do you go 13 miles per hour in a school zone and test the brakes for response time?

Do you take a lunch break and think about it, or go with your instincts?

Do you keep asking questions?

(Questions stop here.)

Whether you’re looking for the most attractive car, the best deal, the highest safety rating, or the yummiest new-car smell, everyone has some criteria dictating what they’re looking for. Everyone feels comfortable in a different environment, too. See what you can deduce about the trends making these ten cars the best-selling models of all time.

This car has sold an estimated 32 million units as of 2009.The Corolla is manufactured in sixteen different countries.One Corolla is sold every 40 seconds around the world.The Corolla is a product of Japan.It’s been produced from 1966 to present day.MSRP then: $1,816MSRP now: $15,900This truck series has sold an estimated 30 million units as of 2009.The F-Series was the best selling automobile for 23 years.It was also the best selling truck for 31 years.The F-Series is a product of the United States of America.It’s been produced from 1948 to present day.MSRP then: $1,239MSRP now: $22,790This car has sold an estimated 25 million units as of 2009.The Golf was the first successful replacement for the VW Beetle.It’s a product of Germany.Golfs have been produced from 1974 to present day.MSRP then: $3,330MSRP now: $17,995The Beetle has an estimated 21 million units sold as of 2009.The initial funding for development of the Beetle came largely from Hitler’s Third Reich.This car is a product of Germany.The Original Beetle was produced from 1938 to 1979. (Modern versions are vastly different from the original model.)MSRP then: $1,290MSRP now: $19,795The UK version of this car has an estimated 20 million units sold as of 2009.The Escort is the best-selling car of all time in the United Kingdom.The Escort was a product of the United Kingdom.It was produced from 1967 to 2003.MSRP then: $1,316MSRP now: $12,815The Civic has an estimated 17 million units sold as of 2009.Civics were the second most stolen vehicle in the United States of America in 2010.This car is a product of Japan.Civics have been produced from 1972 to present day.MSRP then: $2,150MSRP now: $15,805The now obsolete car had an estimated 16.5 million units sold as of 2009.The Model T reached a total assembly time of 93 minutes by 1914.Ford Model Ts were a product of the United States of America.They were produced from 1908 to 1927.MSRP then: $366MSRP now: $28,000This car has an estimated 15.8 million units sold as of 2009.The Accord was the top selling Japanese car in the United States for 15 years.The Accord is a product of Japan.It’s been produced from 1976 to present day.MSRP then: $3,999MSRP now: $21,380The VW Passat has an estimated 14.1 million units sold as of 2009.Previous names for the Passat include Dasher, Santana, and Quantum.The Passat is a product of Germany.It’s been produced from 1973 to present day.MSRP then: $4,110MSRP now: $19,995The Chevy Impala has an estimated 14 million units sold as of 2009.The original model was known for its distinctive pairs of three tail lights.The stylish car sold 1,074,925 units in the year 1964 alone.The Impala is a product of the United States of America.The Impala has been produced from 1958 to present day.MSRP then: $2,586MSRP now: $25,645

Now that you’ve seen the list, maybe you feel better about your next car purchase. Maybe you picked up some ideas from this graphic and most popular cars statistics. (Unfortunately, if you’ve got your heart set on a Model T, you’re going to have a bit of a tough time locating one, or getting it repaired by your average mechanic). Lucky for you, there’s plenty of other information out there about car features, car buying, sales, and all of that.

Take a couple days for research before you brave the car lots. You’ll probably be in better spirits when you’re better informed, and you’ll have a level head with which to challenge the “friendly suggestions” of your salesman. Of course, you could also seek out a no-pressure, non-commission car dealership. But whatever you do, make sure you drive safe out there.

Buckle up when you drive off the lot in your new… car/truck/Bug.

Keep your eyes on the road.

Drive defensively.

And remember, it’s illegal to honk in New York City unless there is an urgent need to alert someone. (That’s not a lie. Look it up. Some laws are meant to be broken.)

While you are at it, why not see how much you might be able to save on your auto insurance rates? Enter your zip in to compare quotes from many competing insurance providers right now!

save car insurance premium telematics

Young drivers have always faced the wrath when it comes to car insurance. The soaring car insurance premiums of 30% higher across the board in UK, had most young drivers making the choice of new technology as a means to cut down their car insurance cost. This technology is none other than ‘ Telematics”

What is Telematics and how does it help save car insurance for young drivers?

Telematics uses an in-car box that records and analyses your driving style and provides information that can be used to personalize premiums. In the UK Several insurers are introducing telematics to encourage younger drivers in particular to drive less aggressively and earn reduced premiums as a result. The logic is simple: careful drivers make better insurance risks. But the technology has come down in price so much that a mass-market rollout is getting closer, with devotees claiming it can reduce insurance premiums, lower driving costs and improve driver safety.
For example, Insurethebox, an online telematics-based insurer which launched last year, says two-thirds of its policyholders who received renewal notices in July and August were offered reductions in their premiums as a result of using the technology. Some of the savings topped £800, it says, with average reductions of 22 per cent (see case study). This is huge.

Allstate insurance and Progressive have launched this in USA.

The Allstate program is known as Drive Wise. Allstate uses a small device that plugs directly into an electronic port on the vehicle. This collects certain information about the way the policyholder drives.
According to Allstate, the device only collects information that could be used in calculating a policyholder’s rating. These pieces of information include when and how far a policyholder drives and whether he or she exceeds an 80 mph speed or slams on the brakes at any point. This data will then be made accessible to users through the Allstate website. The person opting in for this is offered a 10% discount upfront, which can be hiked up to 30% based on the mileage driven and record generated at the end of the year. Presently this is applicable only in the Province of Illinois

Young drivers in the province of Illinois can really take advantage of this offer from Allstate.

Stay tuned with us, since we are going to inform young drivers on saving car insurance with other options and programs- the one from Progressive. Besides this there is going to be held a Telematics conference in USA and we will be informing you about the interesting aspects of interest to you. Great ways how you can save car insurances soon.

Pat Manocchia : As a parent what would be the best advice for winter driving and you need Ten Deadly Mistakes of Winter Driving. I want my son to avoid auto accidents so that he can get cheap car insurance and have safety also.

Good driving habits is the key to cheap teen auto insurance quotes.

Good driving habits are the key to cheap teen auto inusrance quotes or cheap car insurance and this is something most of us know. The most difficult part is making the teenager or young driver understand it. I do not blame the teens or the young drivers, most of us who are much much older also do not seem to be realizing the advantages of good driving skills and the fact that it is giving us cheap car insurance. Its like prevention of diseases or the addiction to smoking- we cannot seem to stop it. Let me assure you that you can have good driving skills and can cultivate them.

Check out your cheap teen auto insurance quote here.

10 deadly mistakes to avoid in the winter, to ensure that you get cheap teen auto insurance quotes.

The truth is that winter is the worst season for driving a car. You need not have the false sense of security when you are in a four wheeler that your car would skid less and you are safer than riding a four wheeler. Remember that your car can skid and will skid if you are not careful and that car accidents also can be worst. Here are 10 things you should not do when driving in the winter :
1) Driving too fast. This is the biggest mistake and the penalty is highest for this mistake since speed on slippery or icy roads is a license to disaster. I do not want to even talk about teen auto insurance rates or car insurance rates here. I shudder… at the very thought of the escalation of teen auto insurance rates. Do not speed during the winter, but give your self some margin of time.
2) Tailgating or driving very close to another car : This is another thing to avoid since due to the wet conditions the brakes might fail, secondly the road conditions are slippery and hence the distance of stopping your car can easily be misjudged. Follow the rule of safe distance of atleast 2 cars in between the cars.
3) Overcorrecting on ice: Remember that you need not keep on overcorrecting at all times and remember that the rear wheels allow you to steer into the direction of the skid and regain your control.
4) Avoid driving when you are tired especially during th winter since the winter is the time when the road and the ligth conditions are not the best. It is almost like night driving and this can be psychologically also more taxing and tiring.
5) Do not drive when there is poor visibility : When visibility is low, its best to avoid driving since you are more likely to hit something or go off the road.
6) Avoid driving on backroads: When you try backroads this might prove more dangerous since the chances of removing the snow or cleaning the back roads would be slim. Besides if you are stuck on these roads, help would also be difficult to come by easily, since backroads would not be frequented.
7) Not getting your car ready for winter: This is another thing most teens avoid doing due to shortage of money or having spent the money elsewhere or they just putting it off. It is important to get your car ready for the winter as much as it is necessary to get your winter clothes.
Failure to carry warm clothing, blanket or other car equipment in the winter. When you fail to carry warm things for yourself in the winter in your car, it can be a great mistake since you are not well-equipped in case you cannot reach your destination. You need the snow cleaning equipment, something to keep you warm and food to eat.
9) Leaving your car when you are strangled. It is best to stay in your car during winter rather than out in the cold. Yes, normally this is not something you are advised to do, however winter is a different proposition.
10) Check the weather conditions before you start in the winter.

Precaution and prevention is the key safety factor which will get you cheap teen auto insurance quotes or cheap car insurance

Just taking a small step or action before you begin the journey, being alert and being aware would surely reward you and pay you handsomely in terms of your own safety and that of your friends who are driving with you. The rewards of saving on car insurance and getting cheap car insurance may seem small but when you save over $500/- per year, it becomes huge. Your safety is even more important.
Drive safe in winter and enjoy with your cheap car insurance quotes from us. Did you get your quote?