Cut Your Car Costs

WITH A GALLON OF unleaded gas selling for an average of $2.97 this week according to AAA, driving has become a truly expensive proposition.
A few weeks ago, we offered tips on how to save at the pump. But there's more you can do to cut your driving bills significantly.
1. Save on Auto InsuranceRe-evaluate your insurance annually, says Phil Reed, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com. If you're happy with your current service, use competitors' quotes to bargain for a lower rate. That'll be especially important in the coming year, when post-Hurricane-Katrina premium hikes could squeeze drivers even more.
Check for discounts, which are often offered to safe drivers, good students, retirees and members of certain professional organizations. You should also ask about discounts for safety features in your car, like antilock brakes, automatic seatbelts and airbags.
Another way some drivers save is by raising their deductibles to $1,000 or higher. The higher the deductible — the money the owner pays out of pocket on each claim — the lower the premium. Some people even decide to drop collision insurance altogether. If your car is worth less than $2,000 and you have collision insurance, "you're paying to insure something that doesn't have a lot of value," says Reed. Be warned: If you go this route, you'll be self-insuring your car's exterior. Even a swift smack in a parking lot could produce a nasty repair bill.
2. Don't Fix What Isn't BrokenIf you're taking your car in to the dealership for routine maintenance, or even stopping in for a simple oil change at the local chain, be skeptical of any additional service recommendations. These places are notorious for trying to up-sell you. Women tend to get the hard sell more than men.
How can you tell what's necessary or not for routine maintenance? Read your manual. Manufacturers know best what your car needs, and when. Don't change that $50 cabin-climate-control filter unless the manual says you should.
3. Find the Right Garage"You can shop around for a garage just as you'd shop around for where to buy the car," says Reed. Get a detailed description of the problem from the first mechanic you visit, as well as an estimate for the repairs. Then call around to other area mechanics and ask what they'd charge for the same service.
If you have a car still covered by warranty, you might benefit from a little price comparing. That's because even under warranty, maintenance on some parts — such as brake pads — often aren't covered.
4. Check Your Tire Pressure RegularlyMany people understand that the drag caused by underinflated tires lowers a vehicle's fuel efficiency. But proper inflation also prevents uneven tire wear and prolongs the life of your tires.
How long your tires last depends on many factors — including the tire brand, your car, your driving habits and the road surface, reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. You might need new tires every 10,000 miles or every 70,000 miles. It's time to replace those tires when the tread wears down to 2/32 of an inch, or when you can see your tires' built-in "wear bars."
5. Break Out the BubblyEveryone likes a clean car, but those trips to the car wash can really add up — especially given the aggressive up-selling that often takes place, warns Reed. Washing and waxing the car on your own obviously costs much less, and during the fall, when the weather is nice, it isn't such an arduous task. Even better: Coerce the kids to do it for you.
A bottle of Zymol Auto Wash will set you back about $6, and holds enough concentrate to get you through 16 washes. By comparison, 16 trips to a car wash would set you back $100 or more.

www.AutoInsurancePlanners.com Advises Two Key Steps to Choosing Best Auto Insurance

www.AutoInsurancePlanners.com Advises Two Key Steps to Choosing Best Auto Insurance Company
ANNAPOLIS, Md. --(Business Wire)-- Sept. 12, 2005 -- Shopping for auto insurance can be overwhelming because there are so many companies. Which one provides the best auto insurance rates and service? Choosing an auto insurance company, say the experts at www.AutoInsurancePlanners.com, can be aided by taking two key steps: 1. Review the carrier's stability 2. Consider its customer service Company stability can be discovered by visiting a few key Web sites. First stop is your state's Department of Insurance, easily found through a search engine. The DOI can tell you whether the company is licensed in your state and how it compares regarding consumer complaints. Some DOI sites even offer consumer price guides to help you compare value.

e-RVInsurance.com Provides a Breakdown of RV Insurance Costs

e-RVInsurance.com Provides a Breakdown of RV Insurance Costs
Added: (Sun Sep 11 2005)
According to e-RVInsurance.com, how much a recreational vehicle (RV) insurance policy will cost depends on several factors. These factors include many of the same factors that affect car and homeowner insurance rates. Some issues that affect RV insurance rates are; the number of previous accidents the principal driver has, the make and model of RV, the state the RV is located in, and how many additional drivers who will need coverage drive the RV. Other factors include the value of the vehicle, the total cost of the RV, the value of items included in the RV (such as appliances), and the value of personal items in the RV. Many RV insurance companies give quotes online or over the phone, to give RV owners an idea of how much it will cost them to insure their vehicle. A free RV insurance quote can be a useful tool for helping RV users find the best and most economical coverage for their RV. As e-RVInsurance.com explains, RV insurance quotes are estimates of policy costs. They are not necessarily what the RV owner will pay, but they are a fairly accurate guess. Many factors affect RV insurance quotes. One obvious aspect is the driving history of the principal driver. Drivers with more tickets and accidents on their records will have to pay more for RV insurance. Different states have different requirements for RV coverage, so the location of the RV will affect the quote also. This can be tricky if the RV is the primary residence and is used to frequently travel from state to state. Most RV insurance companies factor this into their quote, so that the RV owner will have a good idea of how much insurance will cost. The number and driving records of any additional drivers needing coverage also affects RV insurance quotes. Having many young drivers covered will probably raise the rate. Aside from traditional car insurance factors, free RV insurance quotes also consider aspects of the RV that are more related to property. Value estimates of items in the RV can affect the quote. Appliances, furniture, and any other personal items must be appraised for the quote to be accurate. Free RV insurance quotes are a good way for RV owners to get a general idea about how much it will cost to insure their vehicle. The quotes from some insurance companies provide their rates as well as the rates other companies charge, providing consumers with even more information. RV Insurance provides detailed information about RV insurance quotes, policies, and companies, RV rental insurance, and more. RV Insurance is the sister site of RV Rentals Web.

High gas? Save on insurance

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - It's a double whammy for consumers: surging oil prices and high auto insurance rates.
But there is good news. Consumers can't do much about gas prices at the pump but annual car insurance premium increases are slowing down. In some states, insurers are actually cutting rates. As consumers reconsider their policies in this changing rate environment, keep a few helpful tips in mind. It may help save hundreds in premium.
You Better Shop Around
It's the most basic piece of advice you're going to get: compare auto rates with a number of insurers before making a decision. But too often consumers trust their policies – and their money -- to the first carrier they run across or, worse yet, stick with an insurer that they've used for years. Bad move, experts say.
"Every single insurance company's claims experience is vastly different and that drives rates," said Leslie Kolleda, spokeswoman for auto insurer Progressive. "Rates can vary widely from one company to another."
Kolleda said that in studies conducted by Progressive, rates varied as much as $500 between insurers every six months.
Some companies, like Progressive, provide consumers with an online comparison of rates with its competitors. Consumers can also do their own research on insurers Web sites or by contacting individual agents. And there are also online-shopping sites, such as Insure.com and InsWeb.com, which get price quotes and can arrange for you to purchase a policy from dozens of insurers.
Scope Out The Discounts
Many insurance providers provide discounts to policy seekers that are based on everything from a safe driving record to discounts based on good grades for student drivers.
While it varies from company to company, taking advantage of every special discount you're eligible for, could actually bring premiums down from between $1,200 to $1,300 to $800 or $900, said Carolyn Gorman, vice president at the Insurance Information Institute.
Some popular discounts include special rates for drivers over 50 to 55 years of age, those with anti-theft devices installed in their cars, vehicles with anti-lock brakes and airbags, and those that have low annual mileage on their cars. College students more than 100 miles away from home are often provided with discounts as are those with good grades.
And there are also special rates available for drivers that haven't had any accidents or moving violations in 3 years or those that have taken a defensive driving course.
Insurers are also more likely to provide a discount to policy holders that have multiple lines of coverage with the company. Doubling up on auto and home insurance from the same provider could bring premiums lower.
Select A Higher Deductible
While you're asking for discounts, it might be a good time to consider raising your deductible. Deductibles represent the amount of money you pay before your insurance company pays a dime. Most policy holders select a deductible of about $500 but experts said if that deductible was raised to $1,000 that could save hundreds in premiums.
The important thing to remember before taking this step is that deductibles come out of your pocket. If there's any concern that you won't be able to afford to pay $1,000 to repair your car in the case of an accident, then you should really stick to a lower deductible.
Maintain Good Credit
You knew that paying those bills on time was important. What you may not have known is that over 90 percent of all auto insurance companies use credit information to determine what kind of rates to charge.
Progressive's Kolleda said insurers have found that there is a high correlation between credit history and the likelihood that a person will be involved in an accident. While it varies by state and some ban insurers from basing rates on factors such as late payment on medical bills, insurers mainly look to see how long you've managed credit, how you've used the credit available to you and what kind of loans or leases you have.
It's a good idea to keep on top of your credit report to correct any possible mistakes that could put you at risk. Many online companies allow consumers to check their credit ratings and can provide tips to improve the score.
Review and Adapt Your Policy
Insurance experts suggest that consumers re-evaluate their auto insurance policy every year. Look to make sure that you're still getting the best rate and, if not, switch your policy to a more suitable carrier. There's no penalty for switching carriers repeatedly and it could save big bucks.
Also consider reducing coverage on older cars. At the most, insurance companies will reimburse a car at its current cash value. As cars depreciate in value as soon as they leave the lot, you may be spending more for collision and comprehensive coverage on a car than it's actually worth. Consumers can find the value of their cars through dealers or online sites, such as Kelley Blue Book