by: David Chandler
MP3 is the latest and the most popular audio format that is used now. This acronym stands for MPEG Layer 3. It is a compressed audio format with a compression ratio of up to 12: 1. The sound quality of the audio in this format is very high. A normal audio file, which is 1200 KB in size, can be stored in just 100 KB if it is using the MP3 format. The size of the audio files is very small when compared to other formats of audio files. This makes it easily portable.

Where to get MP3 audio files?

MP3 audio files are widely available in CDs now. Almost any album that is released in the world is also sold in the MP3 audio format. These albums in the MP3 formats are also available in some websites that are dedicated for MP3 downloads. You can also purchase these MP3 CDs at any audio store meant for that purpose.

MP3 downloads

Free MP3 downloads are also available in some of the websites. You need to become a member of these sites for a fee to download unlimited number of songs in the MP3 format. Some of the sites charge you for each song that is downloaded. Free MP3 downloads for testing the quality of the audio is usually provided by most of these websites. Websites like www.napster.com allow free MP3 downloads if you have MP3 players from select manufacturers. You can download directly to the player by using the software provided by the website.

How to play a MP3 audio file?

To play a MP3 audio you need separate players whether it is software or a physical player that can be carried. MP3 software players are used in your PC to play MP3 audio. Physical players from many branded manufacturers are available in the market to play these MP3 audio files.

MP3 Ringtones

With the advent of the mobile phones, it has become a fashion to make your mobile call you with your favorite songs as Ringtones. Youngsters particularly teenagers are more interested in using Ringtones of the songs they like. This has picked up in such a manner that MP3 Ringtones are now being sold in websites. Many websites sell Ringtones in the MP3 format. The mobile you are using should be capable of playing the Ringtones in the MP3 format to use these MP3 Ringtones. These websites provide you with an interface to select the model of the mobile phone you have and then download MP3 Ringtones that suit your mobile phone model.


About The Author


For more information, visit the MP3 Info Center at .
http://www.mp3infocenter.com
David Chandler
For your FREE Stock Market Trading Mini Course:
"What The Wall Street Hot Shots Won't Tell You!" go to: http://www.stockmarketgenie.com

==================================================================


Another posting with various categories :

linux-freely-available-linux-free
linux-terminal-control-sequences
Mobile Content Download Failure, Mobile Scams, SMS Competition Costs – Customer or Network Responsibility?
PHILIPS 859
The History Of Cellphones; Telefonos Moviles Just Began With Simple Telephones
nokialand
money
The Growth Of Cellphones
Protect Your Mobile Phone Pictures and Videos

Labels: car insurance, gadget, home insurance, insurance, others

by: Andrew Moore

You are ready for your dream holiday, but there is that one practicality left - insurance.

While there is no doubt that travel insurance is necessary, and not something with which you should do without, finding a policy which is not only cheap, but also offers the correct levels of protection for the activities on your vacation can be both daunting and boring.

With countless pages of policy small print and get-out clauses for the insurer, it can seem almost impossible to find what you want for a good price.

The majority of insurance policies do have reasonably comprehensive cover, and can often be purchased including dangerous sports such as skiing. However, the complications arise when it comes to deductibles and health situations, such as pre-existing problems.

For example, what happens if you do need to go to hospital in a foriegn country? Will the insurance company pick up the bill, or will you have to claim and pay at the time. This will not be suitable for a lot of travellers on a lower budget, but is the way that most policies work. There are many gaps and get-outs in travel insurance policies, and you will need to spot them in advance, should a problem arise.

Most policies cover trip cancellation, robbery, lost baggage, medical, dental and accidental death coverage, but you may also find emergency evacuation, insurance against delays, lost documentation and 24 hour travel assistance.

The key to finding the best deal is to shop around yourself - Don't simply buy your travel insurance from your travel agent. Here are a few reasons why:

- The coverage will not be as good.
- The policy will be less flexible.
- It may duplicate areas that you are already insured for.

It may seem like a better deal at the time to buy your insurance from your travel agent, but remember that they are not specialised in this area, and will only be offering an out-of-the-box policy from some partner insurance company, which they will make money off.

As with most things, you are better off doing your research, and arranging it yourself.

When buying your policy from an insurance company:

- Get quotes from as many companies as you can.
- Read the small print. Does it cover your intended activities?
- Can you waive the pre existing condition exclusion.
- Find out what types of cancellation the insurer will not pay out for. Again, it comes to carefully reading the policy details (I know it's boring, but it is necessary)
- Finally, if there is anything you need to know - Ask! There is no point in having the policy if you end up unable to claim.

Wishing you a fantastic trip, and an unused travel insurance policy!

Go to http://www.destroy-your-debt.com/insurance for more information.

About The Author
Andrew Moore is the webmaster of http://www.destroy-your-debt.com/, A site dedicated to providing free impartial advice concerning financial matters, as well as insurance. Visit our Insurance pages at: http://www.destroy-your-debt.com/insurance

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More posting about home loan and student loan categories :

• student loans and price of education
• student loans simple guide
• pay off your student loans early
• student loan debt consolidation
• consolidate private student loans
• consolidate student loan
• now is right time to consolidate
• top ten reasons for consolidating your
• guide to paying back student loan
• consolidate student loan
  
  
  

Labels: car insurance, car loan, home insurance, insurance, loan

by: Tim Baker

Development of the Web for the past decade drastically changed car insurance business. The Internet makes it easy to find required information to get the best deals and insurance rates. You don’t have to call your insurance agent any more, or visit their office to sign documents. All you need is a computer with an Internet connection.

Buying car insurance online has many advantages. It’s a good way to reduce your insurance costs and save time. You can instantly get auto insurance quotes form different insurance companies, so that you are able to compare prices. Usually, many people pay too much for their car insurance policy only because they haven’t enough time to shop around for the best rate. Now, this is not the case when you’re buying insurance policy online. You can always find a good online discount broker. There are lots of them offering quotes from a wide range of companies.

Search the web and you will find many companies offering online car insurance. But it can be more of a challenge to find a reliable insurer, offering cheap auto insurance. Progressive, TESCO, GEICO, Insurance Finder and Direct are among of them. They offer various types of discounts, flexible payment options and much more. You can visit their websites for more detailed information.

However, it can be mentioned that, there are several types of coverage they offer. Typical auto insurance policy consists of three separate types of coverage: property, medical and liability coverage. And most car insurance policies last from six months to one year. But before making a decision in favor of a particular company, you should find out which one fits your needs best.

Car insurance market is a place of continuous evolution. And the Internet plays a decent role in its further development. New ways and methods are going to emerge in the nearest future.


About The Author
Tim Baker is a professional insurance agent and the founder of several online resources related to car insurance business.
For more information visit the site devoted to Tesco Car Insurance (tesco-car-insurance.info) where you will find interesting articles and news related to online car insurance.

Labels: car insurance, insurance

by: Barry Brenner


When buying car insurance, there are many important things to consider. In order to become a smart and savvy car insurance consumer, and get the best rates possible for your policy, you need to understand what insurance companies do, and how to best communicate with them.

Insurance companies are in the business of taking risk. The amount of risk they take to insure you and the rate they will charge you are based on a number of variables. Your driving experience and history, where you live, your age, how many drivers and vehicles are on your policy, what discounts are applicable to you, and numerous other variable are all used to determine the rate or cost for your policy.

There are numerous discounts available for the consumer on car insurance policies today.

A multi-car discount will lower the premium on each vehicle on the same policy. Some companies will sell you a separate policy for each vehicle and still give you the multi-car discount. Keep in mind there can be overhead or additional cost for each policy, so having all of your vehicles on the same policy could save you money.

Most insurance companies will give full time high school or college students with a 3.0 or higher grade point average a discount. This discount could be as high as fifteen percent on the primary vehicle that the student drives. If the premium for the student driver is one to two thousand dollars per year, a good student discount could be a savings of one hundred and fifty to three hundred dollars per year. Multiply that by the number of years in school, and that will add up to a huge savings.

Some insurance companies will give you an occupational discount depending on your educational background and job title. Teachers, Medical Professionals, Scientists, Engineers, Computer Professionals, and other jobs that require a college degree, license, or certification.

An anti-theft discount can lower the comprehensive (theft & vandalism) portion of the policy premium. This is generally considered to be a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) based system where your car can be located via a satellite if it is stolen.

Department of Motor Vehicle certified mature driving courses are available for senior citizens and can lower your premium as much as ten percent.

And of course, maintaining a good driving record will allow your insurance carrier to give you a good driver discount and keep your rates down.

All car insurance policy owners should check with their current carrier to see if they are getting all of the discounts that apply to their policy.

Copyright 2006 Barry Brenner

About The Author
Barry Brenner is a licensed auto insurance agent and the author of Money Saving Tips About Car Insurance. For the consumer edge on understanding car insurance, you can subscribe to his popular newsletter at: www.moneysavingtipsaboutcarinsurance.com

Labels: car insurance

n December 21'st my 7 month pregnant wife and I were rear ended by a man in a Trailblazer who worked for Oracle here in Reston, Va. At the time of the accident he was driving the company car that was insured with Zurich Insurance.It took them over 2 weeks for them to send an adjuster to come out and look at my car.. This was just the beginning...



read more | digg story

Labels: car insurance

I've researched this topic and found much evidence that it is indeed cheaper for women.



read more | digg story

Labels: car insurance

by: Michael Challiner


Thanks to the stiff competition in the car insurance industry, premiums have on average stayed at the same level in recent years. With over 100 car insurers vying for your custom, competition is hot and motorists can take advantage of some good bargains. If you shop around, you will almost certainly beat the renewal quote offered by your current insurer, but 23% of motorists ignore that fact, and happily renew their motor insurance with the same company year on year.

Until recently, getting a car insurance quote meant ringing up and going through the lengthy process of providing all your personal details, not to mention the many minutes spent trying to get through to them in the first place. Now, getting a quote has been made so much easier with the advent of the internet. Some websites allow you to input your details once, and can then give you quotes from 40 or more car insurers.

However, price is not the only consideration when choosing with whom to insure your car. Make sure that you’re not going to be faced with a large excess in case of an accident, and ensure that if your car needs to be repaired, you will be given a courtesy car. You also need to consider legal insurance cover and automatic windscreen replacement, and if you do have an accident, you may find an accident helpline extremely useful! To be sure of what is and isn’t included in your cover, it’s best to ring the insurer to go through the small print.

Our Top Tips to save you money on car insurance

1. Go through a car insurance broker’s website so you can get access to quotes from 40 or more car insurers, by simply inputting your details once. When you’ve received a quotation, call them to discuss the details of the policy, and maybe even request a further discount.

2. Keep your car in the garage overnight. You will pay more in insurance for keeping your car on the road because there is more chance of your car being broken into or damaged. As a second best option, put your car on a driveway.

3. Keep on top of how many miles you do each year, if you travel less then you will save on premiums.

4. Even your choice of occupation can affect your premiums – crazy as it sounds, if you’re a landlord, journalist or professional footballer (chance would be a fine thing) you will pay more. More run of the mill occupations like accountancy and government pay less.

5. If you’re married, male and under 30, you will probably pay less than your unmarried counterparts.

6. If you’re under 25, you’ll save money on your premiums by adding someone over 25 (and under 60) with a good driving record as a named driver.

7. If you want to save on the initial costs, you could choose to have a higher excess (usually about £100). It means you’ll pay more if you have an accident and need some repairs, but it’s a risk that you could take.

8. If your car isn’t worth much, why not just get third party cover. Compare quotes for third party and fully comprehensive insurance and see the difference.

9. If you’re aged between 18 and 21 then you’ve got the option of pay as you go insurance. Norwich Union has pioneered the idea especially for younger people who find it hard to afford car insurance. You’re charged for the miles you drive, and it gets more expensive per mile between 11pm and 6am. For a one off fee of £199, your car is fitted with a Global Positioning System which communicates details of your mileage direct to Norwich Union, they then send you a monthly bill.

10. If you’ve only just passed your test, you could save money by improving your driving. Take Pass Plus lessons and you could save up to 35% on your premiums. The lessons include driving in rush hour, on the motorway and driving at night, costing £15 - £30 an hour. Visit www.passplus.org.uk for more details. Taking a course with the Institute of Advanced Motorists (www.iam.org.uk) will also reduce your premiums.

11. If you’re buying a new car then find out what insurance group it falls into before you buy. There are twenty insurance groups with 1 being the lowest and 20 the highest, so if you’re caught between two cars and one is in a lower insurance group, you’ll save money by choosing it.
12. High spec and performance cars cost more to insure because statistically speaking, there’s more chance of them being stolen or being involved in an accident. Save money by choosing something a bit less ‘racy’.

13. A speeding offence could affect your premiums. Most insurance companies will turn a blind eye to one fixed penalty fine but above that you can expect higher premiums.

14. If you’ve made it to that all-important four years of no claims, pay a bit extra to protect the discount, then it’s safe.

15. Some insurance companies will give discounts for cars with satellite navigation as it has proved to help prevent accidents by enabling motorists to concentrate on the road.

16. Having an engine immobiliser or alarm fitted could lower your premiums by 5 - 8%.

17. If you’ve got more than one car registered at your address, you can get extra savings by insuring them all in one policy.


About The Author
Michael Challiner writes for Brokers Online http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk who offer Cheapest Life Insurance Cover and most UK financial services including cheap car insurance http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk/car-insurance/.
michael@andromedawebs.co.uk

Labels: car insurance

by: Michael Challiner


During the last few years, the average car insurance premium has virtually been at a stand still. The reason is price competition. There are now over 100 car insurance companies fighting for your business and competition is fierce. There are always bargains to be found as companies cut their premiums to attract motorists in the hope you'll remain loyal and stick with them in following years. Indeed, every year, 23% of us renew our motor insurance with our existing insurer.

But in recent years the Internet has created a revolution in the marketing of car insurance. It makes shopping around so easy without the need to make loads of phone calls and without spending time threading yourself through the automated phone systems beloved by so many call centres.

But you'd be wise to remember that the lowest premium is not always the best. For example, some insurers have recently pushed up the level of claims excess they want you to pay as this helps them provide you with a much lower quote. You should also check out whether a courtesy car is provided if your car is in for repair. You might also feel you want legal insurance cover and automatic windscreen replacement. An accident helpline can also very useful in the middle of an emergency! You'll need to phone the broker or insurance company you're thinking of dealing with in order to check out these points.

17 Top Tips

for cheaper car insurance
Get your online quotes through car insurance brokers. Their computer systems will search for the best quotes from 40 or more car insurers and save you lots of time. When you've got their cheapest quote, phone them to discuss the relative merits of the cheapest quotes they found.
Garage your car at night. Insurance companies know that a car left on the road at night is much more vulnerable to theft and damage. If you don't have a garage, if possible keep it on your drive.

Update the estimate of your mileage each year. If you've moved home or changed your job you may have shorter commuting journeys. If so, your premiums should be less.
Your premium can be influenced by your job. Landlords, journalists, and professional footballers to name but a few, all pay more! Go for a job that's a bit more boring! Accountants and civil servants pay less!

Getting married could save money on your car insurance, particularly if you're male and under 30.

If you're under 25, add an older experienced driver with a good riving record onto your policy as a named driver. But don't let him be too old! – premiums start rising again after age 60!
Consider paying a higher accident excess. The average excess is about £100. If you are prepared to increase you claims excess, your premium will fall significantly.
If you have cheap or old car, consider buying just 3 rd Party cover. Get quotes for 3 rd Party and comprehensive insurance and weigh up the savings.

Are you aged between 18 and 21? Then consider pay as you go insurance. Norwich Union has recently introduced the first pay as you go insurance policy, which charges you exactly for the miles you drive. It also charges more for the miles you drive between 11 and 6 at night. The system works through a Global Positioning System which is fitted to your car for a one off fee of £199. The GPS black box tells Norwich Union how many miles the car's been driven and they send you an monthly invoice.

A new driver? Spruce up your driving technique by taking some more driving lessons. New drivers can slash their insurance costs by as much as 35% by taking Pass Plus lessons. These give you extra training for driving in rush hour traffic, motorway driving and night driving. Lessons cost between £15 and £30 per hour. (www.passplus.org.uk). You can also reduce your premium if you've taken a course with the Institute of Advanced Motorists (www.iam.org.uk).
Buying a new car? Then check out the insurance group before you buy. Cars fall into one of 20 insurance groups with 1 being the cheapest and 20 the most expensive. If the proposed insurance premium is too high, chose a car that's in a lower group.

High spec and performance cars attract thieves and are more expensive to repair - so they always cost more to insure. Consider something with a little less voroom!
It's hard we know, but try hard not to speed! Most insurance companies will ignore one fixed penalty fine but get more and your premium will rise.

Got 4 or more years no claims discount? Pay the extra get the discount protected.
Fit a satellite navigation system. Some insurance companies have noticed that sat nav cuts the accident rate by letting drivers concentrate on the road. Insurers will soon be giving discounts if you have it fitted.

Get a engine immobiliser or alarm fitted. It could save you between 5-8%.
Got more than one car in the home? Some insurers will give a discount for insuring them all in one policy.

About The Author

Michael Challiner writes for Brokers Online - http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk who offer most UK financial services including car insurance - http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk/car-insurance/.

Labels: car insurance

by: Michael Challiner


Are you one of the one in twenty motorists who regularly drive without insurance? You'd better watch out - your car could be heading for the crusher and shipped off to the world's biggest scrap smelter in China!

New powers now allow the police to seize, impound and crush any car found on the road without insurance. A pilot scheme was introduced in Durham last spring. Since then, police have impounded more than 1,200 cars. Of those around half have been crushed into cubes and packed off for smelting.

Operation Takeaway as the pilot scheme was known, has been such a big success, that police forces throughout the UK are enthusiastically polishing up their tow trucks. The scheme is now supported by a new national police database that's supported by the insurance industry. It enables the police to check the insurance status of every car in the UK whilst they're sitting in their patrol car.

Now if you're caught red handed without car insurance you're forced to hand your keys to the police at the roadside. There are no exceptions - this applies to everyone; it doesn't matter if it's just a forgetful mistake or conscious driving without insurance.

Then you'll have to get your skates on! You've just 14 days to produce a valid insurance policy to the police and collect your car. And other costs mount up. Before you can collect your car, you have to pay the cost of kerbside recovery (around £105) and the cost of secure storage - and that could easily amount to £15 a day. So, if you leave collecting your car to the 14th day, you could be in for a bill for £315.

And if you don't reclaim your car, off to the crusher it goes!
During the pilot scheme, the cost of crushing the cars was partly funded by Direct Line. They have estimated that Operation Takeaway prevented up to 2,000 accidents. And many of the cars impounded by the police were found to be un-roadworthy.

A police spokesman said, “ Uninsured drivers are often guilty of many other offences. Such as having neither driving licence nor MOT certificate. We are doing everything in our power to get these dangerous and illegal drivers off our roads”.

Indeed, uninsured drivers are much greater problem than many of us would expect. The Department of Transport recently reported that 1 in 20 motorists regularly drive without insurance. Furthermore, research from the Association of British Insurers discovered that uninsured drivers are amongst the most dangerous on the roads. On average they cause one accident every six months and are three times more likely to be convicted of driving without due care and attention.

And who pays for those uninsured accidents? We do! The average car insurance premium is loaded by £30 to cover the cost of damage caused by uninsured motorists. Across the UK that adds up to an extra £500 million paid out each year by the law-abiding motorists!
But that's not the end of our financial pain. If an uninsured vehicle collides into your car, it's still recorded as a “fault claim” on your policy. This means you'll have to pay the excess when your car is repaired and unless you've got Claims Protection on your policy, your no-claims bonus will take a knocking. Over a two-year period, the reduction in your no claims bonus could easily cost £275 in higher premiums.

The move to take cars off the road and crush them has been warmly welcomed by the Association of British Insurers. The ABI has long criticised the leniency of punishment handed out by the courts to uninsured motorists but they still want tougher penalties. Offenders are typically fined just £150 to £200 - with time to pay - and this is much less than the average car insurance premium. Surely this cannot be true justice!


About The Author

Michael Challiner writes for Brokers Online - http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk who offer most UK financial services including car insurance - http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk/car-insurance/.

Labels: car insurance

by: Michael Challiner


Are you one of the one in twenty motorists who regularly drive without insurance? You'd better watch out - your car could be heading for the crusher and shipped off to the world's biggest scrap smelter in China!

New powers now allow the police to seize, impound and crush any car found on the road without insurance. A pilot scheme was introduced in Durham last spring. Since then, police have impounded more than 1,200 cars. Of those around half have been crushed into cubes and packed off for smelting.

Operation Takeaway as the pilot scheme was known, has been such a big success, that police forces throughout the UK are enthusiastically polishing up their tow trucks. The scheme is now supported by a new national police database that's supported by the insurance industry. It enables the police to check the insurance status of every car in the UK whilst they're sitting in their patrol car.

Now if you're caught red handed without car insurance you're forced to hand your keys to the police at the roadside. There are no exceptions - this applies to everyone; it doesn't matter if it's just a forgetful mistake or conscious driving without insurance.

Then you'll have to get your skates on! You've just 14 days to produce a valid insurance policy to the police and collect your car. And other costs mount up. Before you can collect your car, you have to pay the cost of kerbside recovery (around £105) and the cost of secure storage - and that could easily amount to £15 a day. So, if you leave collecting your car to the 14th day, you could be in for a bill for £315.

And if you don't reclaim your car, off to the crusher it goes!
During the pilot scheme, the cost of crushing the cars was partly funded by Direct Line. They have estimated that Operation Takeaway prevented up to 2,000 accidents. And many of the cars impounded by the police were found to be un-roadworthy.

A police spokesman said, “ Uninsured drivers are often guilty of many other offences. Such as having neither driving licence nor MOT certificate. We are doing everything in our power to get these dangerous and illegal drivers off our roads”.

Indeed, uninsured drivers are much greater problem than many of us would expect. The Department of Transport recently reported that 1 in 20 motorists regularly drive without insurance. Furthermore, research from the Association of British Insurers discovered that uninsured drivers are amongst the most dangerous on the roads. On average they cause one accident every six months and are three times more likely to be convicted of driving without due care and attention.

And who pays for those uninsured accidents? We do! The average car insurance premium is loaded by £30 to cover the cost of damage caused by uninsured motorists. Across the UK that adds up to an extra £500 million paid out each year by the law-abiding motorists!

But that's not the end of our financial pain. If an uninsured vehicle collides into your car, it's still recorded as a “fault claim” on your policy. This means you'll have to pay the excess when your car is repaired and unless you've got Claims Protection on your policy, your no-claims bonus will take a knocking. Over a two-year period, the reduction in your no claims bonus could easily cost £275 in higher premiums.

The move to take cars off the road and crush them has been warmly welcomed by the Association of British Insurers. The ABI has long criticised the leniency of punishment handed out by the courts to uninsured motorists but they still want tougher penalties. Offenders are typically fined just £150 to £200 - with time to pay - and this is much less than the average car insurance premium. Surely this cannot be true justice!

About The Author

Michael Challiner writes for Brokers Online - http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk who offer most UK financial services including car insurance - http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk/car-insurance/.

Labels: car insurance

by: Michael Challiner


Car insurance is a legal requirement in the UK, but one in twenty drivers persist in driving uninsured. The police are cracking down, and it’s not just an idle threat – if you’re not insured, your car could be in a crusher near you very shortly!

The police now have the power to remove, impound and crush any car found to be uninsured on the road. Last Spring, in Durham, the scheme coined ‘Operation Takeaway’ was piloted to great success. Over 1,200 cars have now been impounded – 50% of those have already made it to the crusher.

Operation Takeaway was such a big success that it’s being rolled out nationwide. A new national police database that’s supported by the insurance industry has given the police the ability to verify the insurance status of every car in the UK. They don’t even need to get out of the car to do it.

If you are caught on the road with a car that is not insured, you will have to give up your car keys there and then. It doesn’t matter if it’s an accidental mistake or you have been driving uninsured for years, the penalty is the same – your car gets impounded.

What happens next? Well they give you two weeks to produce an insurance policy certificate and take your car away. There’s a few costs involved too – you’ll have to pay around £105 to cover the cost of the tow truck, and charges for keeping your car impounded often reach £15 a day. Leave collecting your car to the last minute and you could be facing an overall bill of £315.
If you can’t produce the insurance certificate and pay the charges, you can say goodbye to your car.

The pilot scheme in Durham was funded in part by Direct Line, who helped cover the costs of crushing the cars. According to them, up to 2,000 accidents were avoided thanks to Operation Takeaway. Since a large proportion of the cars found to be uninsured were in fact un-roadworthy, the roads were a considerably safer place without them.

As the police said, “Uninsured drivers are often guilty of many other offences such as not having a driving licence or an MOT certificate. We are doing everything in our power to get these dangerous and illegal drivers off our roads.”

It is a shocking fact that 5% of all drivers are uninsured, a criminal offence because it is a legal requirement. Extra research carried out by the Association of British Insurers has found that uninsured drivers are a dangerous presence on the roads, each uninsured driver causing an average of one accident every six months. They are also three times more likely to receive a conviction for driving without due care and attention.

Those of us who do have car insurance cover the costs of these uninsured accidents. On average, £30 is added to every car insurance policy to cover the costs to the industry due to uninsured motorists. That means law-abiding motorists pay a whopping total of £500 million each year for those who can’t be bothered to pay up.

There’s another bitter pill to swallow. If you have an accident that’s not your fault with an uninsured vehicle, it will still go down as a “fault claim” on your insurance. So you’ll have to pay the excess on your car repairs and you’ll lose your no-claims bonus unless you’ve got claims protection. Over a two-year period, you could pay an extra £275 in premiums thanks to a reduction in your no-claims entitlement.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is in full support of this new scheme to rid the roads of uninsured cars. The ABI has been a critic of the way the British courts deal with uninsured drivers for many years now, but they still don’t think this scheme is enough. Offenders usually only get a fine of £150-£200 and they don’t have to pay immediately – which really doesn’t compare to the extra costs incurred by motorists who do have car insurance. We agree – something needs to be done!

About The Author

Michael Challiner writes for Brokers Online http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk who offer Life Assurance and most UK financial services including car insurance http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk/car-insurance/. Visit our family finance blog for useful tips on uk finance
michael@andromedawebs.co.uk

Labels: car insurance

by: Robert Rogers


Are You Still Paying Too Much for Car Insurance?

Everyone who owns a car needs auto insurance. This article will give you some tips on lowering your auto insurance costs. You will find a checklist of items to ask your insurance agent that may qualify for discounts. Keep in mind that not all discounts can be applied with all insurance companies in all states.

1. Shop Around

Go to your favorite search engine and type in "free car insurance quotes online". You'll see a long list of insurance companies that you may even be familiar with. Visit at least five car insurance websites and look for a link to free quotes. You will then be asked basic information about yourself, your driving history, and your car's make, model, and year. It just takes a couple of minutes, and shortly thereafter, they will email you a no obligation quote. Write down their website address, their toll free number, and customer service email address.

Each insurance company will ask you generally the same questions, and will give you options about how much coverage you will want. Find your current policy, if you have one, and take note of the coverage you currently have. Always provide the same information and ask for the same coverage at each company so you will be comparing apples to apples. Read the fine print and make sure nothing is excluded from the quote like Rental car coverage, towing, medical, etc...
For the purposes of the quote, the insurance company will not ask you your social security number, but keep in mind your actual cost maybe higher or lower depending on your credit history. If you're not sure about some of the terminology or coverage, take notes so that you can ask the insurance company about them directly.

Once you have at least five quotes emailed to you, take the lowest two or three quotes and see if they are less than what you are paying now. Most likely at least one of them is much lower. At this point you will want to call them directly to get the most accurate quote by providing additional personal information. For additional discounts, here is a checklist of things you should ask about.

[ ] $500 deductible
[ ] $1,000 deductible
[ ] Paying monthly, semi-annually, or annually
[ ] More than 1 car
[ ] No Accidents in 3 Years
[ ] No Moving Violations in 3 Years
[ ] Driver Training Courses
[ ] Defensive Driving Courses
[ ] Anti-Theft Devices
[ ] Low Annual Mileage
[ ] Air Bags
[ ] Anti-Lock Brakes
[ ] Daytime Running Lights
[ ] Student Drivers with Good Grades
[ ] Auto and Homeowners Coverage with the Same Company
[ ] College Students away from Home
[ ] Long-Time Customer
[ ] Other Discounts

2. Saving Insurance Premium on cars you own outright.

If you own a clear title to your car, meaning there is no bank loan on it, then you may want to consider dropping the collision/comprehensive coverage. As a rule of thumb, if the cars value is less than $3000, it may not make sense for you to pay for this additional coverage. Over time, the cost of the additional insurance premium will exceed the value of the car. It's pretty simple math.

Check the fair market value of your car either through Edmunds.com or even your local newspaper. See what other people are trying to get for the same car. Keep in mind your cars mileage, condition, and age. Has it been in an accident before? Does it have unusually high mileage in excess of 15,000 miles per year? Does it need new tires? You get the idea. Be realistic, because in the event that this car is in an accident and is damaged beyond repair, it is unlikely you will get the full value of the car.

3. Ask About Insurance Rates in Different Areas

Rates can vary widely even in the same state. Different locals have different accident rates, population, and crime. These all factor in to the final cost. If you are moving to a different area, ask about what the rates are for that town.

4. Ask About Getting Other Insurance Policies Together With Your Auto Insurance

Combining insurance policies with the same company can often give you additional discounts. If you own a home, ask about combining your homeowners insurance with your auto insurance. Also ask about other polices, such as life, health, and business insurance. Most insurance companies cover a wide range of policies and will give substantial discounts when you do business exclusively with them.

5. A Clean Credit History Can Reduce Car Premiums:

Having good credit can also lower your insurance costs. Many insurance companies will use credit information to price auto insurance policies. Drivers with good credit and a clean driving record may qualify as a "preferred" customer with lower risk and will be rewarded with lower premiums.

6. Low Mileage Discounts

Some companies offer discounts to drivers who drive a lower than average number of miles per year. If you car pool, take public transportation like the subway, or work from home, you will most likely drive few miles per year than the average driver.

7. Group Insurance

Some insurers offer discounts to drivers who work for certain companies or belong to professional associations, and alumni groups. Ask your employer, group or clubs that you belong to if they have any special arrangements with different insurance companies.
Using all of these tips can save you hundreds of dollars per year, especially when you have multiple cars and multiple drivers in the same household.

About The Author

Robert Rogers is a writer in the Washington DC area and specializes in money saving techniques. For free online quotes on all types of insurance, visit http://valuesweb.com.

Labels: car insurance

by: Robert Lawrence


Most young people ignore the fact that they will grow old one day. It is the wise ones who not only think about it but also provide for their future. Statistics show us that almost one out of two Americans require long term care when they grow old. Due to immobility and illness people become dependant on families and institutions to carry out normal daily activities such as dressing and bathing.

Long-term care refers to a system where this can be taken care of in your own home, a hospital, a home center or an assisted living facility. It could be a reality to many who have led a strong and active life earlier. This is why its importance is growing each day. Most Medicare programs and State Medicaid programs do not provide the necessary facilities for payment. Some only cater to those who fall below the poverty line. Therefore, it is prudent to consider applying for a Long Term Care Insurance policy early in life.

If you have worked all your life and have made a substantial saving, then perhaps you can fund your own long-term care. Unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky and therefore long-term care insurance is very vital to secure a safe future especially for those who have a history of health problem in the family.

Like for any other policy, it is best that you know all the details prior to buying one. Often times, people forget that premiums for life insurance policies increase over time. This makes it difficult to pay especially when there is no enhancement of the financial situation. Thus, policies are cancelled when they are needed most because policyholders cannot continue to pay high premiums. It is easy to get drawn into buying a policy because market savvy sales executives make it sound so easy. But, it is up to the individual and insurance advisors to properly instruct prospective customers.

One sure way of protecting yourself is to be sure of all the terms and conditions given in the long term care insurance policy document. If the insurance sector is not your cup of tea; you could hire an agent or a broker who will act on your behalf. They will be experts on quotes, claims, processes and other issues. You need to also be careful on selecting the right broker at the right cost. Long-term care insurance not only provides security for you, but for the entire family. So you can take their advice before buying a policy. Remember, to choose an insurance company that is reputable and trustworthy. You can take it for granted that sales people will only state the benefits of a policy. They will not tell you the flip side of the story. Do not rely on brochures and other sales oriented literature to make your decision.

To summarize, a long-term care insurance policy can be used for different types of long term care such as skilled nursing, intermediate nursing and custodial care. The kind of care you choose largely depends on your physical health and situation. This kind of insurance is definitely worthwhile and affordable when you think of life beyond 65 years of age.


About The Author

Robert Lawrence co-founded Insurance4USA.com, an insurance quote shopping service - http://www.insurance4usa.com, in 1999. He has been a licensed insurance agent in New York State since 1990.

Labels: car insurance

by: Maria Cuttini

Is this a pipe dream? Getting cheap no-fault auto insurance is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. You know it’s there somewhere, but how in the world are you going to find it?

Well, thank goodness for the Internet. Because on the web you can find anything you want (and a lot of things you don’t want). You just need to know how to look.

To find anything, you have to first really know what you’re looking for. And if you’re clear about no-fault auto insurance (NFAI), you’re one in a million. But, if you’re not, you’ll want to do some homework, because it’s incredibly confusing.

Some states don’t offer NFAI. Each individual state has their own regulations for auto insurance companies and policies. Some require NFAI, while others don’t. And some offer something similar instead called “tort” coverage. So, the first step is to get clear how it works in your state.


You can google “your state’s auto insurance regulations” on the Internet and look for the types and amounts of coverage minimally required. But be prepared that some state requirements are very low and others don’t even require basic liability and/or bodily injury protection.

Once you know the minimum coverage required, you then have to decide how much coverage you want and need for your particular circumstances. The insurance salesman’s usual advice is to buy high – as much as you can afford. But, since he’s earning a commission on the sale, that’s what you should expect him to say. Of course erring on the side of caution is still your best bet, especially if you own your own home or other valuable assets. In case of an accident, you don’t want your personal finances on the hook.

When you know how much car insurance you need and want, then it’s time to shop around. And that’s pretty easy to do on the net. If you’ve never compared rates before, you’re going to be shocked at how much difference there is between different companies - hundreds of dollars in some cases. There are also a lot of ways to save money on no-fault auto insurance. Check into possible discounts for a good credit report, multifamily and multipolicy discounts, driver safety classes, installation of safety/anti-theft devices, etc.

One of the easiest ways to cut car insurance costs is to increase your deductible. For example, raising your deductible from $250 to $500 can lower your annual premium by as much as 10%. Just be sure you always have enough cash available to cover the higher deductible if you should ever need to.

One last point to consider. Cheap isn’t necessarily what’s best for you. You can get cheaper rates by skimping on your coverage or even possibly dealing with a shady, fly by night insurance company. Michigan state regulators recently caught several scam artists selling bogus no-fault auto insurance policies. So always be certain you’re dealing with a legitimate reputable insurance company, especially if they’re promising outrageously cheap rates. You could end up getting nothing for your money and it would not be considered “no-fault” of your own.


About The Author

Maria Cuttini shares tips and resources for saving money on auto insurance on her blog at http://www.AutoInsuranceUnlimited.com. Stop by and save some money!

Labels: car insurance

by: Tommy Gordon

Are you wondering how you can purchase cheap car insurance? Worry no more! Here you'll get the seven easy steps to getting the cheapest quotes and the best deals available. Use one or use all, each of them is sure to lower your rates. The cheapest car insurance is not necessarily the best auto insurance. But, as car insurance is mandatory for registering and driving your car, it is necessary to purchase insurance for your car. The next seven tips will help you choose, if not the cheapest, then the best deal:

1) Compare auto insurance quotes online – insurance companies save money on man power with online quotes and purchase, some of that money goes back to the client and makes your insurance cheaper. There are many companies providing instant quotes. Depending on your auto (and make sure you provide honest answers) or the number of cars you want to insure, you'll get a preliminary estimation. Don't take this sum as the final quote and don't choose the cheapest quote without analyzing the coverage offered in the insurance policy.

2) A clean credit history ensures significant discounts. To put it simple: car insurance gets cheaper if the owner (that's you) is a reliable payer. However, most insurance companies will have an option of "bad credit quotes". If you have a bad credit history, don't waste your time (your time is also valuable) on the companies that don't give you this option.

3) To get an advantageous insurance it is recommendable that you put al the cars you own under a single policy. Some insurance companies offer very good discounts for multiple cars insurance policy.

4) There are many underinsured or uninsured drivers. You'll need coverage in case of an accident caused by an uninsured driver. Make sure your insurance covers such mishaps.

5) Choose the insurance that fits your financial possibilities and the condition of the car. Once your financial status improves or the vehicle deteriorates, you should update the status of your policy.

6) If you plan on moving soon, choose a short-term car insurance plan – we recommend a one year car insurance. Insurance plans vary from country to country and even from state to state.

7) Make your vehicle as safe as possible both in terms of driver and passenger safety (seat belts, air cushions etc.) and is terms of theft (a car alarm an immobilizer etc.) – this will lower the premiums, thus providing for a cheap insurance plan.


About The Author

Tommy Gordon manages sites on various subjects. Find out more about car insurance at http://insurance-land.com/car-insurance.asp and get free insurance quotes at http://insurance-land.com/free-quote.asp.

Labels: car insurance

by: Michael Challiner


Everyone has to agree to an excess of some kind when getting a car insurance policy – it's the way the system works. Basically it means that if you have an accident and your car needs to be repaired, you will have to pay a set amount towards the bill. If the accident is your fault, you lose the money. If the accident is not your fault, the third party insurer reimburses you for the excess payment. If your car is written off, then your insurance company will deduct your excess from the settlement payment.

Things aren't always that simple however, unfortunately there are a number of drivers on British roads that don't have any insurance, so the question is, what happens with your claim if you have an accident with an uninsured driver?

The 1988 Road Traffic Act, section 143 clearly states that all drivers on the UK roads must have insurance for the vehicle that they are driving. The point of the insurance is that if you have an accident and it is your fault, you have the means to cover the cost of the damage incurred by way of your insurance policy. It's a sad fact that a significant minority of drivers choose not to bother with insurance, disregarding UK law and saving themselves hundreds of pounds a year as a consequence. Someone has to pay for these drivers though, and it's the people that do have insurance that foot the bill!

The Department of Transport estimates that as many as 5% of drivers are not insured on the vehicle which they are driving. Statistics also show that uninsured drivers are more likely to be involved in an accident. It's a growing trend and is proving very difficult to eradicate.
If you have an accident, you are not at fault, and the third party is not insured, then you will be reimbursed by the Motor Insurers' Bureau. Who funds them? The car insurance industry! That's where some of your inflated premiums end up. You will also find that you'll have to pay the agreed excess yourself, there will be no-one able to refund that for you.

Here's the low-down on the basics about ‘excess':

Compulsory Excess – this is the amount that the insurance company regards as the minimum amount that you must pay towards the cost of damages . This is agreed at the outset and depends on a few details you're your age and your driving record. For example, if you are older and have a clean driving record, you could only have to pay a minimum of £50. Those with a more chequered driving history, or those that have not been driving for very long, could feasibly have to agree to pay £500. The average for most drivers is £100 .

Voluntary Excess – this is the amount over and above the minimum ‘compulsory' amount set by the insurer that you are prepared to pay. This is an opportunity to lower your premiums, because if you can agree to a high excess, then the insurance company knows it won't have to pay out as much if you need to make a claim. It's one of the few sure fire ways of saving a few pounds on a car insurance policy, but you may not be offered the choice, it depends on individual insurers.

The garage won't give my repaired car back until I give them a cheque for the excess – is this what usually happens?

This is completely normal, and you will have to pay and then get the money back from the third party insurer. Always give the car a good once over to ensure that the repairs have been satisfactorily completed. You also need to keep the receipt to get the excess back from the insurer, and just in case they dispute the charges, get a copy of the repair schedule so the insurer can see exactly what work was completed on your vehicle.

About The Author
Michael Challiner writes for Brokers Online a large UK based financial website. Brokers Online offer most UK financial services including Secured Loans - http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk/loans/ and life insurance - http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk/life-insurance/.

Labels: car insurance

by: Rob Sliver


When it comes to auto insurance rates, who you are determines what you pay.
Automobile insurance premiums are based on a large number of factors, some of which you can control, and some of which, alas, are incontrovertible facts of life. Statistically, a sixteen-year old boy with a 300 horsepower sports car in a big city is far more likely to hit something than a 35 year-old married guy driving a minivan around the suburbs.

While you can’t change your age and some other factors, there are things that you can do to keep insurance premiums as low as possible.

Factors you CAN’T change that impact your auto insurance rates:

Your age

Dick Clark and Sophia Loren notwithstanding, aging is unavoidable. And while you may be a mature-looking teen or a youthful octogenarian, the oldest and the youngest drivers are far more likely to have accidents.

Gender

Whether it’s the mothering instinct or fewer NASCAR fantasies, women statistically make safer drivers.

Marital Status

Ok, you can change this, but there have been no reports of people marrying simply to lower their insurance rates.

Factors you CAN change that impact your auto insurance rates:

Geography

Where you live matters.For instance, those living in rural America are far less likely to have a collision or a stolen car than those living in a city. But, sometimes even just moving across the street can change your rate.

Driving violations

Speeding tickets, running red lights, failure to yield, etc. all count toward your auto insurance rate.

Your vehicle

If you must have that cherry red Corvette or the Ferrari Testarossa, be prepared to pay for it. Your insurance premiums will be higher.

Accident claims

While you can’t change the past, keeping your slate clean and free of accidents will hold you in better stead than lots of fender benders.

Credit rating

That’s right — many insurance companies view having a poor, or even no credit history as suggestive of higher risk.

Occupation

A little easier said than done. Believe it or not, insurers have found correlation between your occupation and risk. Makes sense that the pizza delivery guy could be a higher risk!

Other factors that go into determining premiums:

• Miles driven per year
• Distance to work
• Occupation
• Years of driving experience
• Business use of the vehicle
• Whether or not you currently have auto insurance
• Theft protection devices (often results in discounts)
• Multiple cars and drivers (another opportunity for discounts)

Overwhelmed?

It can be more than a bit confusing when trying to decide the best and most affordable coverage for your vehicle. Like anything else, get good advice and comparison shop. With the Web at your fingers, you have all the information and power to get the best deal.

Please note that this description/explanation is intended only as a guideline.
For more information about auto insurance please go to: Insurance.com

About The Author
Rob Sliver
Insurance.com
feedback@insurance.com

Labels: car insurance

by: Mady Joseph


When you are searching for auto insurance quote you should do some analysis. It will help you to find out what kind of car insurance quote will be require for your vehicle. The coverage and the policies may vary from different states. Not all states need the same levels of insurance. So do your research accordingly your vehicle need and your budget and the state you are in.

When you search for the best possible car insurance quote, take in to account some factors. There are certain things which you should keep in mind like registration number and state where you registered your car, condition of your vehicle. If you want to do complete analysis, take help of online information. There are many sites which are providing through information about quote, policies and coverage.

While searching you should take consideration of various companies in the market and their policies. These companies decide your premiums only on risk factor. Insurance companies do search about your car and mark the risk factor associated with your car. They have various records with them. These companies keeps record of every insurance paid. They keep record of many thing such as car model, coverage amount, gender and age of driver, license number etc.

Many insurance companies give Comprehensive coverage. You search about this kind of coverage. Comprehensive coverage is compensation paid by company for loss of vehicle other than an accident. There are many things bound to happen so you should be ready for any natural disaster. So always ask insurance company about this comprehensive coverage. It will also cover your cost if your car stolen or your car got damage due to some disaster.

So whenever you choose a car insurance policy, ask for comprehensive coverage if it’s not included selects it as an extra. If you want more information about car insurance you can log on to 1-auto-insurance.info.
Visit our website http://www.1-auto-insurance.info for further information


About The Author
Mady Joseph is an expert in auto insurance domain and also the webmaster for car insurance quote uk website. Visit our website for more knowledge and information.

Labels: car insurance

by: Matt Garimentis



Do you want to learn more about buying classic car insurance? After reading this article you will have the bare essential facts involved in classic car insurance. You can find many types of information about classic car insurance on the Internet today, but when you boil it all down, here is what you'll find:

Specialty car insurance providers often have lower rates. Although many people will just add their antique or classic rod to their existing family policy, you can often receive discounts by getting classic car insurance tailored to your needs. Classic auto owners have widely varying needs than the typical car owner. Although it might be easier to add your car onto an existing policy, if you desire the best rates, you will research specialty coverage. There exist quite a few classic car insurance companies providing this special service.

You will often be imposed a mile restriction. If you intend to drive your classic car for more than simply events in the public interest, be sure to get classic car insurance that allows for this. The point is to get car insurance which will fit your individual needs.


If you get a discounted rate, don't expect a larger discount during months your vehicle is in storage. Your reduced classic car insurance rate is already taking into account the decreased usage. As such, your policy will remain in effect during all seasons.

When you sum it all up, it makes most sense to do what is best for you. If finances are most important to you, then buy a specialty policy. If you instead want to do what is simplest, your family insurance company will be more than happy to insure your car.

You now have enough information to begin. Now that you have read these classic car insurance facts, you are prepared to begin taking action. You can always learn more as you need the information, but just keep in mind that more information won't benefit you unless you use it.


About The Author
Matt Garimentis
Many more unique articles are made available by Matt Garimentis at his classic car insurance web site. Publishers: get a unique version of this article from free classic car insurance web content.
doclassiccarinsurance.com
website@doclassiccarinsurance.com

Labels: car insurance

by: Michael Challiner


They are tiny bikes that reach great speeds and make a lot of noise. But police have had enough of youths creating havoc on mini-motorbikes and now have powers to seize the annoying and sometimes dangerous toys.

What’s more, if children are riding these miniature vehicles on the pavement or road, they face prosecution just like adults. Any penalty points handed out by the court will be kept on file and activated as soon as they are old enough to apply for a driver’s licence.

For those who have penalty points, it becomes increasingly expensive to gain car insurance. And with respect to mini-motorbikes, you could have a situation where children have been prosecuted for dangerous driving on these vehicles and then struggle to find an insurance company willing to offer them a policy to insure their car once they are at the age of 17 and have passed their driver’s licence. The best case scenario is probably going to be that their premiums are sky high.

A spokeswoman for Direct Line Insurance says mini-motorbikes are now being treated as road vehicles and drivers of them have to abide by all the same traffic rules as anyone else. But while police can now prosecute youths on mini-motorbikes, they are not entirely sure yet what the nuisance makers will be prosecuted with. “You could get prosecuted for uninsured driving, paying no road tax or driving without a licence,” she says.

She also points out that just how high insurance premiums will be for those with mini-motorbike offences will depend on what police prosecute the offenders with. “It depends on what the points are for…For a speeding offence it is not going to make a big difference, but for a drink driving offence it is going to make a massive difference.”

She says for example of how prosecutions can drive up premiums, take an 18-year-old boy living in Hove, East Essex. The youth drives a 2001 Ford Fiesta car. He has been prosecuted for dangerous driving and has only had his driver’s licence for a short time. To obtain fully comprehensive cover under a Direct Line insurance policy he would pay annual premiums of £2473.80. Without the conviction the price would be £1908.90.

What is interesting about this is that if you take a female of the same age, driving the same car and from the same area, she would pay just £1218 without a conviction and £1576.05 if she had a driving conviction. So she would in fact pay less for insurance even with a conviction than a male her age without one. Why the difference in price between young men and women? The spokeswoman says that it is because statistics show that one in three young men have a serious accident within their first year of driving.

A spokeswoman at the Association of British Insurers says the chances are if you have been caught speeding on a motor bike you are going to be more at risk behind the wheel of a car than others. It’s a known fact that young men are the most at risk of having a car accident, which is why they pay so much more for their car insurance.

“I think they make up 3% of the driving population but account for over 30% of all of the driving convictions. It depends on the insurance company, but we (the insurance industry) insure on risk and therefore we calculate our premiums accordingly.”


About The Author
Michael Challiner has worked in financial srrvices for over 15 years at Director level. He also writes articles for a number of UK based financial web sites. Car Insurance Route is a huge car insurance articles website http://www.car-insurance-route.co.uk

Labels: car insurance