Changing Driving Habits Can Lead to Car Insurance Savings
Changing Driving Habits Can Lead to Car Insurance Savings
Most Americans are driving less in order to save money on gas. However, decreasing the time you spend in your car can actually make you eligible for another savings opportunity, paying less for your car insurance. If you’ve cut back on your driving, it’s a good idea to contact your agent.
Consumers who are making greater use of public transportation or participating in car pools should contact their insurance company, because significantly reducing the number of miles driven each week could lower the cost of their auto insurance premiums.
Many companies offer low mileage discounts to motorists who drive fewer than 7,000 miles a year. Even though each insurance company calculates rates differently, they all consider how many miles a motorist drives because the risk of an accident increases the more time you spend behind the wheel. (
http://www.loudoun-insurance.com/)
However, decreasing the risk of accidents isn’t the only benefit to driving less. The money you can potentially save on premiums is significant. A motorist who drops from the average of 15,000 miles driven per year to 8,000 miles could qualify for a 5 percent premium discount. A driver who goes from 15,000 miles per year down to 5,000 could possibly receive a 15 percent discount. Keep in mind that your insurance carrier may ask for an annual odometer reading to calculate annual mileage. (
http://www.south-riding-insurance.com/)
The Insurance Information Institute noted some other ways drivers could save on auto insurance rates. SUV and truck owners who exchange their vehicles for a more fuel-efficient car might also reduce their auto insurance costs. Premiums are generally lower for a $30,000 mid-size sedan than for a large $60,000 SUV. Besides sticker price, an insurance company will determine the coverage rate for an individual vehicle based on factors such as the cost to repair it, its overall safety record and the likelihood that it will be stolen.
Drivers can also lower their auto insurance premiums by taking a higher deductible, maintaining good credit, and dropping unnecessary coverages. If you insure your boat, RV, or motorcycle with the same company, you may qualify for an extra discount on your auto coverage. Feel free to call Khalid Umerani, Agent (NOVA Insurance Group) to discuss further.
Labels: Aldie 20105 Auto Insurance, Brambleton Car Insurance, Chantilly Auto Insurance, fairfax-car-insurance, Leesburg Auto Insurance, loudoun-auto-insurance, South Riding auto insurance
Wise Up When It Comes to Auto Theft
Wise Up When It Comes to Auto TheftIn 2006, almost 1.2 million vehicles were reported stolen in the United States, according to the annual Hot Wheels study from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). The 1995 Honda Civic topped the most-stolen-vehicle list, followed by the 1991 Honda Accord. Car thieves continue to prefer imports to domestic brands, and vehicles that are 10 or more model years old over newer models. That’s because these cars have been consistent top sellers for many years and some of their parts are interchangeable. Thieves steal these cars for their parts.
www.south-riding-insurance.comAnyone can be a potential car theft victim, even here in Fairfax & Loudoun Counties (South Riding, Ashburn, Sterling, Stone Ridge, Leesburg, Brambleton, Aldie, Arcola & Chantilly). Since just 59% of stolen vehicles were recovered, according to the study, all car owners have a strong motivation to do what they can to protect their vehicles. To help consumers lessen their risk of auto theft, the Council of Better Business Bureaus and the Insurance Information Institute have joined forces to create the “Wiser Drivers Wise Up” program. Here are some of the tips from this program:
· Don’t rely solely on manufacturer-installed vehicle theft protection. Experienced thieves can disable these devices, as well as unlock a Club and other such anti-theft deterrents. Aftermarket vehicle anti-theft systems are usually more sophisticated and are worth paying a professional to install.
· Don’t think your old clunker is safer than a new model. It is also a myth that a luxury sedan is more attractive to thieves than a less expensive model. Older vehicles are usually stolen for their parts, which are no longer being manufactured; newer cars are stolen for their popularity.
· If your car is stolen, contact the police immediately, preferably while still at the scene of the crime. Speed is essential to recovering stolen cars, since any delay means your car is more likely to be in a chop shop or driven out of town. In addition to knowing the make, color and model of your car, you should also know the license plate number and vehicle identification number (VIN). Keep a copy of these identifying numbers and your insurance card in your wallet, and keep a photocopy of your registration and insurance card at home, so you can provide information quickly to both law enforcement and insurance claims agents.
· Don’t assume your insurance covers you for all the costs associated with having a vehicle stolen. Review your policy to see if you are covered for a replacement rental car after a theft, and if there’s a waiting period before you’re allowed to rent a car. Many people waive the rental car coverage, even though it costs only a few dollars a month.
· Make sure you have roadside assistance. Your insurance company will likely offer this for a few dollars per term, or you can go through an outside company such as AAA or even your automaker. Be sure you understand the terms of the coverage.
· Don’t overlook simple theft deterrents. Park in well-lit areas. If you park in a lot, resist the temptation to park near the exit, because it makes your vehicle a more likely target for thieves. According to the FBI, more than one-third of all vehicle thefts occur at a home or residence. Always lock your car, even in your own driveway.
Following these simple tips can help you avoid being an auto-theft victim, and minimize your damages and inconvenience in the event that you are one.
www.loudoun-insurance.comLabels: Aldie 20105 Auto Insurance, Aldie Car Insurance, Brambleton 20148 Auto Insurance, Brambleton Car Insurance, loudoun auto insurance, loudoun car insurance
Excessive Holiday Drinking and Driving Don't Mix
Excessive Holiday Drinking and Driving Don't MixThe weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day include the most important entertaining season on many people's social calendars. While these festivities are a wonderful part of the holiday season, they do bring with them a very serious problem-partygoers who drink too much and then get behind the wheel of a car. Here in Virginia, the consequences can be serious; the drivers in South Riding (
www.south-riding-insurance.com), Chantilly, Brambleton, Arcola, Aldie, Ashburn, Sterling, Leesburg, Stone Ridge, Kirk Patrick Farms, and adjoining Loudoun (
www.loudoun-insurance.com) and Fairfax County areas can suffer heavy fines and long-term DMV licensing issues!
Many people downplay the issue, but statistics prove how serious it is. According to the Community Alcohol Information Program (CAIP), a non-profit agency that provides alcohol education, assessment and evaluation services to persons convicted of alcohol-related offenses in New Hampshire, two million alcohol-impaired driving collisions occur each year in this country. Accidents caused by alcohol-impaired drivers are the most frequently committed violent crimes in America today.
CAIP offers these other sobering statistics about drinking and driving:
The average alcohol-impaired driver arrested on the highway has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .20%, more than double the level for presumed intoxication in most states. This level represents 14 drinks of 86-proof liquor (or 14 beers) in a four-hour period for a man weighing 180 lbs.
Between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. on weekends, in some parts of the country, 10% of all drivers are legally impaired. Most Americans drink alcohol, and more than 80% admit to driving after drinking.
When drinkers are at the presumed level of intoxication, the risk of their causing an accident is six times greater than for non-drinking drivers.
Some people persist in drinking and driving based on myths about how the body reacts to alcohol and its ability to overcome alcohol's effects. Scientific studies supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) provide important information that belies two commonly held beliefs about drinking and driving:
Myth: You can drive as long as you aren't slurring words or acting erratically. Fact: The skills and coordination needed for driving are compromised long before the obvious signs of intoxication are visible. In addition, the sedative effects of alcohol, combined with late night hours, place you at much greater risk of nodding off or losing attention behind the wheel.
Myth: Drink coffee because caffeine will sober you up. Fact: Caffeine may help with drowsiness, but it doesn't counteract the effects of alcohol on decision-making or coordination. The body needs time to metabolize (break down) alcohol and even more time to return to normal. There are no quick cures.
Alcohol affects the brain and body long after you stop drinking. Any alcohol that remains in the stomach and intestine continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate through the body. That means judgment and coordination can be affected for hours after you've taken that last drink. Also keep in mind that alcohol heightens feelings of stress or anxiety, which can lead to violent behavior.
Does this mean you can't have a few drinks at a holiday party? No, but what it does mean is that you need to be responsible if you do drink. Here are a few tips to remember:
Know your limits and never drink more than you can safely handle.
Don't get behind the wheel if you drink. Ask a sober driver to escort you home.
Don't drink if there is someone at the gathering with whom you have a grievance.
Offer to be a designated driver for a friend.
Call law enforcement if you see someone driving erratically.
Keeping these tips in mind can help avoid tragedy during the holiday season.
Labels: Aldie 20105 Auto Insurance, Aldie Car Insurance, Brambleton 20148 Auto Insurance, Brambleton Car Insurance, South Riding auto insurance, South Riding car insurance
