In the last two years, America’s housing industry has objective been booming. New home sales, existing home sales, all of the statistics were on the up tick. The only thing the real estate community had to danger about was how long the ride might last. Part of the reason that the housing market boomed so much was because of all of the new creative financing options which would allow people who normally would not be able to afford a home be able to afford to. These people are often strapped for cash, and as a result these homeowners don’t win nearly enough insurance, which will rep them in trouble.
A recent study which is going to be released by Marshall & Swift/Boeckh LLC, states that 58% of houses are actually undervalued for insurance purposes, and that the average homeowner has enough insurance to rebuild 80% of their home. This means that the values on insurance policies for homes are less than what the actual home would take to rebuild, so if a disaster were to happen, the family would be in quite a bit of trouble.
How is this happening? Part of it is because insurance companies are cutting the types of disasters that they cover. Farmers Insurance is reducing the wind damage cover they have in costal regions and Allstate is cutting earthquake damage in many states. Perhaps the biggest part of the trend comes from the virtual elimination of “replacement cost insurance”, which essentially meant that even if the policy was for less than the amount of money it would take to replace the home, the insurance company would still pay the full sum of money that it cost rebuild the home. Since these policies proved to be too costly with booming home prices, companies eliminated them largely and instead pay the face value.
So what can you do to make clear you have enough insurance? Scrutinize for a policy which has an option to have “Extra value insurance” which will usually pay a fixed percentage higher than the value of your home on the insurance agreement if it is worth that. This might cost you a few extra dollars but will save you tens of thousands of dollars if something should ever happen to your home. Read your policy each and every year to see if something has changed significantly that you need to know about. Finally, make sure you have enough insurance to rebuild your home as it is and replace your personal possessions. You can have a simple appraisal done on your home to get its value, and then add up the amount of your assets to calculate this number.
Filed under Mercury Auto Insurance by on Mar 13th, 2011. Comment. 
Many senior citizens have been loyal to their auto insurance companies for years, often decades. Having the same reliable insurance agent and company is comforting. But the auto insurance industry has become more competitive, actively vying for the senior citizen market. It makes sense for senior citizens to secure information to compare their current rates, especially at the time of auto insurance renewal.
Getting quotes for auto insurance is an easy process. With just a few clicks on the computer or toll-free telephone calls, anyone can bag a list that compares auto insurance by services and rates. For senior citizens, who often are on fixed incomes, this can be a very cost-effective use, possibly saving them hundreds of dollars during an insured period.
Finding Comparable Rates
Buying auto insurance is like any other important, long-term purchase. The key is to take time to research and shop for the best deal with excellent auto insurance companies.
The following is a sample of insurance companies and insurance brokers offering auto insurance quotes on the Internet. Many have specific marketing programs targeting senior citizens.
AARP: www.aarp.thehartford.com.
AARP is an advocacy organization for seniors that promotes the interests of people over 50 years former. They offer auto insurance to members through The Hartford.
Allstate: www.allstate.com.
Allstate is a well known insurance company. Quotes can be gathered at the above website or local agents can be found in the telephone book and are available to assist in preparing a free quote.
Farmers Insurance Group: http://www.farmersinsurance.com.
Online or in person, a Farmers insurance agent can review auto insurance coverage, help identify potential gaps, and include any qualifying Farmers Auto insurance discounts.
Progressive Insurance: www.progressive.com.
Progressive will provide a quote for their company along with comparables of other auto insurance companies for easy comparisons.
Geico Insurance: www.geico.com.
This company can be accessed online or at one of their many offices. It is easy to get a quote; they offer flexible payment options and competitive rates.
Costco: www.costco.com.
Costco offers membership insurance through Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance.
Autoinsure: www.autoinsure.org.
Autoinsure has a page with wonderful insurance information for senior citizens. They can provide quotes from all the major auto insurance companies.
Esurance: www.esurance.com.
A rising star among insurance companies that take pride in stating: “Esurance doesn’t just offer suited insurance coverage, we also acquire in educating consumers.” Their online quote process is easy to navigate.
US Insurance: www.usinsuranceonline.com
They will provide multiple auto insurance quotes tailored to specific needs within minutes of filling out their simple short form. It’s easy then to compare them side by side to find the best prices and coverage.
Car Insurance Rates: www.carinsurancerates.com
Their network of companies and brokers offer a variety of car insurances: Farmers, Allstate, AIG, Nationwide, AARP, Safeco Insurance, Liberty Mutual, MetLife and Mercury.
Every insurance rate: www.everyinsurancerate.com
EveryInsuranceCompany.com is a handy Internet directory to collect local insurance companies, insurance quotes and discount insurance rates.
Quote Scout: www.quotescout.com.
This website will provide quotes from a long list of auto insurance companies – literally from “A” to “Z”.
Insurance.com: http://www.insurance.com.
Insurance.com works directly with 15 highly rated car insurance companies in 46 states: 21st Century, Electric Insurance, Esurance Auto Insurance, The Hartford, Infinity, Liberty Mutual, Meritplan Insurance, MetLife Auto Insurance, Newport Insurance, Permanent General Assurance Corporation (The General), Progressive, QBE Insurance, Safeco, Travelers Insurance, and Unitrin Assure.
Keeping Auto Insurance Rates Down
There are ways that senior citizens can take responsibility to control their auto insurance rates. Here are a few suggestions.
According to seniorjournal.com, most of the major auto insurance agencies provide a 5% – 10% discount to drivers beginning at the ages of 50 or 55. However, as a group, drivers 75 and older have one of the highest rates of fatal daytime accidents. Because of this, it’s important that senior drivers stay proactive and involved in keeping their driving skills sharp.
Many states offer an auto insurance discount for mature drivers if a person meets a given age criteria and has taken an popular mature driver safety course. Local colleges and senior centers are trustworthy resources to learn about the classes. AARP has local and on-line access to the course. Costco offers its members an online drivers’ safety training course through FirstNet: www.firstnetlearning.com.
Another plan to keep auto insurance rates down is to drive a low-profile car, one that as part of a group has a lower rate due to minimum repair costs, considered safer and less likely to be stolen. Check the Highway Loss Data Institute, www.iihs.org, for the latest related data.
Examine fresh auto insurance needs and requirements. Changing to higher deductibles or dropping collision or comprehensive coverage for older cars may make sense.
Always ask about discounts when purchasing or renewing auto insurance.
And finally, the best long-term advice: Always drive defensively, stay alert and follow the driving laws. Maintaining a safe driving record is the best way to keep auto insurance rates down.
Filed under State Farm Auto Insurance by on Feb 26th, 2011. Comment.
In Louisiana, as in many other states, automobile owners are required to have at least liability auto insurance on each automobile currently registered and driven on any public road or highway. Auto insurance is a type of insurance that is specifically designed to financially hide most any damage or injury caused by a covered accident. Insurance companies offer different types of auto insurance from liability to full coverage. In Lake Charles, Louisiana the following companies are available to help automobile owners purchase the automobile insurance that best fits their needs and budget.
ABC Insurance Agencies, located at 3429 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-478-4995.
Dale Bernard Insurance Agency, Inc., located at 4344 Lake Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-477-7354.
Chris Duncan Agency, Inc., located at 501 East College Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-474-7040.
Clarke Insurance, located at 4840 Lake Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-474-1636.
Curtis Insurance, located at 509 7th Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-433-1683.
Direct General Insurance Agency, Inc., located at 1413 East Prien Lake Road, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-474-2014.
Don Shaw Insurance Agency, located at 1700 East Prien Lake Road, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-474-0006.
Farm Bureau Insurance, located at 2904 Warren Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-478-6714.
Raymond M. Fondel, Jr. Insurance Agency, located at 900 Ryan Street, Suite 101, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-433-6363.
GMA Agency, Inc., located at 1634 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-436-3100.
Handley-Traske & Associates, located at 1808 Kirkman Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-439-8200.
Pat Hight Insurance Agency, located at 3405 Lake Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-474-2020.
Hunter Perrin Insurance Agency, Inc., located at 4412 Nelson Road, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-477-3830.
Insurance World, located at 5640 South Highway 14, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-478-6767 or visit www.insuranceworld.com.
Lyons Insurance, Inc., located at 3100 Lake Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-478-4466.
Scotty Mathews Insurance Agency, Inc., located at 1105 West Prien Lake Road, Suite A, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-474-0865.
Dave McCarty Insurance, located at 2108 Oak Park Boulevard, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-478-7052.
McFatter Insurance Agency, Inc., located at 1325 Oak Park Boulevard, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-433-1695.
Melisa McMillian Nelson Insurance, located at 4309 Common Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-474-4939.
Jim Mitchell Insurance Agency, Inc., located at 830 University Drive, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-474-4272.
Susan R. Morris Insurance Agency, located at 1936 Southwood Drive, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-480-0099.
Scott Raley Insurance Agency, located at 4415 Lake Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-474-3500.
John Riche Insurance, located at 313 Alamo Street, Suite B, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-477-7380.
Shelter Insurance Companies, located at 3028 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-433-9720.
Terrell & Associates, Inc., located at 625 West College Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-474-4025.
US Agencies Direct Insurance Company, located at 3303 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. For more information, call 337-480-1000.
Filed under Eastwood Auto Insurance by on Feb 24th, 2011. Comment.
We have all received those offers in the mail from AAA for their Roadside Assistance program, which advertises peace of mind for traveling the open road. While it is easy to scrutinize the need for such services, it can seem tempting to choose a similar opinion through your auto insurance carrier in order to attach money. After all, this only adds about $3-10 to your insurance bill on a six month policy. Similar coverage will cost you $50-100 per year through a company like AAA. Surely insurance is a better deal, right? Think again!
What you may not know is that insurers keep track of your roadside assistance claims and in some cases, you may find yourself paying a higher premium if your car blows a tire one too many times. While it is unlikely that a one-time jump start will raise your rates, many insurers consider roadside assistance claims as one predictor of risk, which can impact premiums. Remember the money you belief you were saving by using your auto insurance instead of AAA? You can kiss that money good-bye.
In addition, automobile towing claims are reported to a national database speed by Atlanta-based ChoicePoint, which provides insurers with claims information on consumers to help insurers process insurance applications. This database is checked each time you apply for a new policy in order to settle whether or not you have been truthful in regards to your application. However, it can be nearly impossible to distinguish a towing claim made for roadside assistance from one made after a motor vehicle accident. This means that flat tire you had that required a tow could make future inquirers assume that you were in an accident you did not fully direct. Interestingly, Choicepoint does not keep a record of towing claims made through companies like AAA.
These reasons alone are reasons to choose AAA over your auto insurance provider, but also keep in mind that AAA offers discounts on hotels, car rentals, and other depart expenses which can rapid add up. Plus, you can be guaranteed that your insurance premiums will not increase, and your records will be kept private. That kind of peace of mind is worth a little extra money to me. Is it worth it to you?
Filed under Mercury Auto Insurance by on Feb 22nd, 2011. Comment.
Car insurance when you get older can be rather tricky. Now that you may be living on a limited income you may have to do some comparison shopping to find the best auto insurance policies available. Here are some marvelous tips on how to save money while getting the best auto insurance rates for seniors.
As a person ages they drive less so it stands to reason if you haven’t had any accidents your rates tend to lower. However, for income reasons it is still best to comparison shop for the best insurance quotes when it comes to any type of insurance, especially auto. The first thing to remember is nobody can be turned away for car insurance because of their age. However, if they let their license lapse, they may be required to steal an exam before they are able to get their license renewed.
It is important to get insurance quotes from several different companies before deciding on your auto insurance choice.
Taking a driving course or purchasing a car with additional safety features can save money on your insurance rates.
There are several auto insurance companies that specialize in insurance for seniors such as AARP and AAA.
Sometimes employers or church groups may offer a group insurance rate that will save money on auto insurance policies.
Sometimes local insurance agents can offer lower rates than other auto insurance companies, it is always good to look at several different avenues to find the best policy quotes.
Many seniors are driving automobiles that they have had for many years and sometimes the deductible on a certain car many cost more than the car is worth. To get the best senior rate you may need to choose a higher deductible for your automobile.
Your insurance rates are adjusted according to your zip code. If you own two homes and exhaust the same amount of time in each home, you will need to settle to list the car insurance in the zip code that will give you the best rate.
Most seniors never want to give up driving, however sometimes due to health reasons it may become necessary to give up driving. People sometimes continue paying for car insurance policies even after they never drive anymore due to health reasons for fear they may need to drive someday. The cost far outweighs the benefit and if you do have to drive one day, you probably wouldn’t be able to due to medical reasons, so let the insurance and car go. Use senior taxicabs, family members or friends. The money you attach by no longer having a car will easily pay for your trips here and there to the store and doctor appointments.
Some good insurance companies that offer good rates to seniors are AARP, Progressive, Allstate, Farm Bureau, Geico and State Farm.
Make sure you gain all the quotes you can and tell them what you can pay, sometimes as with Progressive they can work around your priceline. Geico has a senior discount program and many other insurances do as well.
References for this article include: www.nscddconline.com/geicosenior/
www.insurancefinder.com/autoinsurance/seniorauto.html
seniorautoinsurance.org/
seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Discounts/2007/7-06-28-SenCitCanFind.htm
Filed under Aaa Auto Insurance by on Feb 19th, 2011. Comment.
