Sunday 12 February 2012

How to Save Money on Car Insurance?


If you have a car, you certainly have car insurance. For many people, car insurance is one of the more costly aspects of their budget, and so it makes sense that you would be looking into ways to save money on your car insurance today. Car insurance is generally a fixed item on your budget, and it is a pretty large expense for most budgets, too. There may be some small adjustments you can make on your existing policy that can save you a small bundle of cash, or you may find that switching to a new policy is the better move.

A Word About Coverage
Many people today do not know what coverage they have on their auto policy, and they don't know what their state requirements for coverage are either. First, you will want to take a few minutes to research what your state's minimum coverage requirements are. Then you will want to look at what type of coverage is in place on your current policy. If your current policy shows coverage in excess of the state minimum requirement, you can consider reducing your coverage to the minimum required coverage. Keep in mind, however, that any amount not covered by your insurance in the event of an accident or damage to your car will fall on your shoulders to pay out-of-pocket. Many people do carry additional coverage for this reason, but there may still be room to trim down your coverage a bit to save money.

Adjust Your Deductible
Another option to consider is adjusting your deductible. The higher the amount you are willing to pay out of pocket for accidents and other damages to your vehicle, the lower your premium will be. It is common for many people to have a $250 or $500 deductible, but you can adjust this upward to save money on your premium. Be sure to have the full amount of the deductible stashed away in a savings account so you have access to it if you do need to file a claim.

Pay Up-Front
Most insurers today will provide you with the option to either pay your premium monthly, semi-annually or annually. It is most convenient and affordable for individuals to pay the premium monthly, and often this payment is made with a monthly auto-draft from your bank account. However, you may not be aware that insurers tack on a service charge each and every month for this convenience. You may be able to save about $3-5 per month by paying semi-annually or annually. This may not seem like a lot of cash, but over the course of the year, this amount does add up.

Shop Around
Many people today fall into a comfortable routine with their insurance company, and they often don't even consider their car insurance policy and its costs until they actually have to file a claim. The fact is, however, that many insurance companies adjust their rates regularly, and some experts’ advice shopping for rates every six to twelve months to ensure you don't overpay on your premium. There are some great price comparison sites online that allow you to compare rates with ease. Be sure, however, that you are comparing similar coverage’s against each other if you want to find the best deal.

Look For Discounts
Most insurance companies today offer a wide range of discounts on auto insurance policies. A common discount is for those people who also have a life insurance policy, renter's policy, homeowner's insurance policy with the same company. Consider asking about these discounts as a way to save money. Other discounts are available for students, for married couples, for individuals over the age of 25, and more. Some will also offer you a discount for taking a driver's safety course, too. Some insurance agents will talk to you about the discounts when you get a quote, but if not, you do want to be proactive and ask about them yourself.

Trade Your Car In
The premium you pay on auto insurance is calculated by analysing a variety of factors such as your age, your driving history, the type of coverage you want, and your deductible. It also is dependent on vehicle-related factors such as the make, model, and year of your car as well as safety equipment installed in the car, too. Some vehicles simply cost more to insure than others. If you have been considering trading your car in, spend some time researching which models are most affordable to ensure. Narrow down your options to your top three or four cars, and get specific quotes from your insurance company on the coverage amounts for these vehicles. You may be surprised how much money you can save on insurance by choosing one specific car over another one.

As you can see, there are many different steps you can take today to save money on your car insurance. Consider putting some of these tips to use today for great savings.

Saving Money at the Fuel Pump

Gas prices are high, and just recently they have begun to climb again. High gas prices are just a fact of life, and if people are on a strict budget, then they will need to find other ways to save money on car fuel. Saving money on fuel is easier than you think, and it doesn't mean you have to drive all over town either to find the best deals at the pump. Follow these very simple tips and you will soon be saving money on your fuel budget.

Fuel Efficient Cars
The most obvious way to save money on car fuel is to drive a fuel efficient car. If you drive an older model car, you could be spending more in fuel than a newer model. Keep this idea in mind if you are ever budgeting to see if you can afford to get a newer car or not. Some people really like to drive bigger trucks and SUV's just to show off their image, With gas prices climbing again past $3.50 a gallon, maybe you should consider only driving what you need instead of what you want.

Don't Drive Around For The Best Price
Don't spend your time and your gas driving around town looking for the best deal at the pump. Many people will drive several miles out of their way just to save a few cents per gallon. What they don't realize is that they spent more money in gas getting to the gas station than they are saving. Think about this: the average sized gas tank on a car is about 14 gallons and 20 gallons on an SUV. Saving three cents per gallon means that you are saving 42-60 cents on the overall sale. This savings could easily be eaten up by driving only a few miles out of the way.

Avoid the Drive-In
Waiting in long lines at fast food restaurants will consume fuel fast. Consider turning off the engine if you anticipate a long wait before moving up, or go into the restaurant to place your order. The same concept applies when you are waiting in the driveway to pick up your friends.

Proper Maintenance Counts

Youhave probably heard that properly maintaining your car helps save on gas mileage, but you may not know about all of the things that can be done. Below is a list of just a few of these things.

-Tires
Inflating your tires to the proper recommended air pressure will increase fuel mileage.

-Air Filter
A dirty air filter will affect the fuel and air ratio and thus decrease fuel efficiency.

-Oil Change
Changing your oil will help lubricate your engine and reduce strain, which will increase fuel efficiency as well.

Losing the Junk in Your Trunk
A loaded down car will weigh more and cause the engine to work harder to make the car move. This will cause more fuel consumption when compared to a car that is empty and weighs less. Avoid weighing down your car with heavy equipment that you aren't using all of the time. I try to tell this to the wife but she never listens.

Take It off Cruise Control
Using the cruise control in your car will consume more fuel when you are driving and constantly changing elevation. When you are going uphill and downhill, the cruise control in your car will accelerate or decelerate to maintain a constant speed. This replicates the same actions you would take if you were manually accelerating to speed up or slow down. Setting the cruise control on smooth, flat surfaces is ideal.

Driving Habits
Stop and go traffic will also consume a lot of fuel, but driving habits play an even more important role. If you like to speed up as fast as you can from one red light to the next, then you are spending extra fuel and you are wearing out your brakes. The same goes for freeway traffic when you are speeding up to pass cars instead of just keeping pace.

Pay careful attention to the times you’re speeding up and racing around traffic and you really will see that you aren't going much further or saving time than if you just drive at a normal pace with the flow of traffic.

For similar money saving articles we have written a guide on how to save money on your car insurance quotes and saving tips.

TOP 10 Fastest Cars in the World


In this fast-paced world where everyone is time poor, it seems that car manufacturers are obsessed with producing the fastest car on the road. There is certainly demand for it. The faster the better, or the faster you better have good car insurance. There are definitely some cars out there that can satisfy your need for speed but you need deep pockets. Here is a list of the top 10 fastest cars in the world.

#1 BUGATTI VEYRON SUPER SPORT
With a base price of $2.5 million, this super-charged car can go from 0-60 in 2.4 seconds. It is the current record holder for the fastest car in the world with a top speed of 267 mph. This car is equipped with a 1200 hp engine.

#2 (TIE) HENNESSEY VENOM GT
This car is also equipped with a 1200 hp engine, and can go from 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. Its maximum speed is 260 mph. This vehicle can be purchased for $950,000. Though it has yet to be proven, it has been said that this car is capable of reaching a speed of up to 275 mph.

#2 (TIE) KOENIGSEGG AGERA R
This vehicle can go from 0-60 in 2.9 seconds. Although this car doesn't pick up speed as quickly as its top competitors, it does tie for the #2 spot with a top speed of 260 mph. It is equipped with a 1099 hp engine with twin turbos and has a massive price tag of $1.6 million.

#3 SSC ULTIMATE AERO
This car claimed the title of world's fastest car in 2007, but was bumped all the way to #3 in 2010. It has a maximum speed of 257 mph and goes from 0-60 in 2.7 seconds. It is equipped with a twin turbo V-8 engine with 1183 hp. The list price of this car is $654,400.

#4 SALEEN S7 TWIN-TURBO
With a top speed of 248 mph, this car has an all aluminum twin turbo V-8 engine with 750 hp. It goes from 0-60 in 2.8 seconds. The purchase price for this vehicle is $550,000.

#5 KOENIGSEGG CCX
This Sweden made car is the "older brother" of the Agera R. It boasts an impressive maximum speed of 245 mph, and goes from 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. It has a 90 degree V-8 engine with 806 hp. This car's list price is $545,568.

#6 MCLAREN F1
This car's power comes from a BMW S70/2 60 degree V-12 engine with 627 hp. It goes from 0-60 in 3.2 seconds and has a top speed of 240 mph. Its base price is $970,000.

#7 GUMPERT APOLLO
The makers of this car claim that it was designed in such a way that it could drive up-side-down in a tunnel with speeds at 190 mph and above. Of course, this theory has never been tested. This car does, however, go from 0-60 in 3 seconds and has a maximum speed of 224 mph. It also has a $450,000 price tag.

#8 NOBLE M600
This $330,000 car has a top speed of 223 mph and goes from 0-60 in 3.7 seconds. It has what is probably the most inconspicuous design of all of the cars on the list.

#9 (TIE) LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR
Equipped with a V-12 engine with 700 hp, this supercar can go from 0-60 in 2.9 seconds. It has a top speed of 217 mph and a $379,700 price tag.

#9 (TIE) PAGANI ZONDA CLINQUE ROADSTER
Although this car also has a top speed of 217 mph, it takes this car 3.4 seconds to go from 0-60. With only five of these cars ever produced, it has a massive price tag of $1,850,000.

#9 (TIE) FERRARI ENZO
Tied with three other vehicles, this car also has a 217 mph top speed. It goes from 0-60 in 3.4 seconds and costs $670,000. There were only 399 of these cars ever produced.

#9 (TIE) JAGUAR XJ220
This car goes from 0-60 in 3.8 seconds and also goes 217 mpg. It is priced at $650,000.

#10 (TIE) ASCARI A10
This English car has a base price of $650,000. Its top speed is 215 mph and it goes from 0-60 in 2.8 seconds.

#10 (TIE) PAGANI ZONDA F
This car also has a top speed of 215 mph, but takes 3.5 seconds to go from 0-60. Its base price is $667,321.