Both consumers and manufacturers are becoming more aware of the fact that millions of people around the world drive cars and these can have a massive impact on the environment. Consequently it’s a myth that eco-friendly cars are more expensive to purchase – both petrol and diesel green cars are available and they are not necessarily extortionate to buy. Once you have your car, price comparison sites such as  MoneySupermarket.com can help you to find the best deal on insurance.

For a greener car, some companies will offer up to 5% discount, a marked difference at a time when the price of car insurance just seems to keep going up. Hybrid engines are becoming more popular since they offer an electric engine running alongside the petrol or diesel motor. The conventional engine is not used at all times so this is more fuel efficient, saving you money in other ways as well. From Ford to Lexus, Volvo and Honda, you can find a range of hybrid models on the market to choose from today.

Electric motors are on the increase in general, with more manufacturers thinking about using them. Several car insurance companies are opting to plant trees or offering to help other environmental charities so that you can rest easy in the knowledge that you are doing your bit to help. This may mean that your insurance price remains the same but if you are serious about your green concerns this is a great way to prove it.

Remember to shop around for the insurance policy which suits you and think about ways in which you can reduce your impact for example car sharing with people in your office.

Used cars are notorious for needing repairs at some point quicker than new ones. Consequently, taking a little time before slapping down money on a used car to start a cheap insurance quotes comparison worksheet will be well worth it in the end. A decision will need to be made whether to get one or both types of car repair insurance. The Breakdown plans apply to vehicle parts that are prone to breakage and only these parts will the insurance company cover. Whereas the Wear and Tear plans focus on parts that can wear out over time. Many companies also offer add-ons and specialty plans such as Engine and/or Transition coverage, but these can get costly and confusing. For example, an Engine Plan may not cover the repair/replacement of the radiator because it is not actually part of the engine block. Therefore, depending on the age and projected usage of the used vehicle, it is best to evaluate the plans being offered vs. the cost from the quotes comparison worksheet.

Extended warranties and car repair insurance may essentially be somewhat the same in principal, but there are some huge differences between the two. Extended warranties are exactly what they say they are, in that they extend the coverage period of the manufacturer’s warranty that was included with the cost of a new car. During the time a vehicle is covered by the warranty and extended warranty, the manufacturer will cover the cost of repairs and replacements. Under a car repair insurance policy, the insurance company pays for this, not the manufacturer. Also, this insurance is for pre-owned vehicles which are known to usually have mechanical issues. So, getting cheap auto insurance quotes to get the best deal can save thousands of dollars in the long run by not having to pay for expensive auto repairs.

For anyone buying a pre-owned vehicle, especially one without a transferable manufacturer’s or extended warranty, this additional insurance is just as important as regular auto insurance. Be sure to create a cheap insurance quotes comparison worksheet so an informed decision on a car repair insurance policy can be made as to the specific needs of the used vehicle to be purchased. Also, a good place to start is to inquire with the dealer for an insurance company they recommend and possibly work with if they have an in-house shop.

1) Women tend to go cheap on automobiles

Women’s priorities tend to differ largely with those of men. As a result, women tend to buy cheaper and more manageable cars, because having a fancy car to them is not as important as having the latest designer hair do, dress or that shoe that every sophisticated woman has. Therefore, in case an accident, the cost incurred for insurance claims for such cars is much less. This is the main reason for insurance companies to have cheaper insurance rates for women.

2) Women tend to be better drivers than men

It is a proven fact that women are better and safer drivers than men. Most women will always make it during their very first test drive, as compared to the men, in as much as they are slow learners. This is a clear sign of their attentiveness, which is later transferred practically when driving their own cars. This can be proved by the fact that most women drive at the expected speed limit, as required of them by law. This will of course reduce their rate of accidents and if they take place, the accidents are not as serious as those caused by male drivers.

3) The type of road accidents

The road accidents that women drivers tend to get involved in are in most cases less damaging than the ones that involve men. This is because most women tend to follow traffic laws and are more careful drivers on the roads. These laws include driving within the required speed limits, avoiding careless overtaking, and not using cell phones while driving, among others. They also tend to avoid driving in bad weather conditions as compared to the male drivers.

4) Insurance companies favor women drivers

Most insurance companies have policies stipulated for women drivers being cheaper than that of men, which lead to lower insurance premiums. This is done to attract women drivers who happen to be more of assets to insurance companies as compared to their male counterparts.

5) Traffic Offenses

Looking at the statistics of the persons charged with traffic offenses, it is true that men are more compared to their women counterparts. Traffic rules and regulations were put in place to ensure safety on the roads while driving. Women will rarely be found committing traffic offenses, hence leaving them on the safe side. This will of course minimize the accidents that they would have been involved in, hence fewer or no claims. Some of these statistics are what has caused the car insurance companies to come up with stiffer insurance policies for men in terms of premiums than that of women.

6) Long Distance Driving

Another factor that contributes to cheaper insurance premiums for women is that most women tend to shy from long distance drives. This is very important since most accidents occur in the course of long journeys. As a result, this will reduce the rate of expected accidents involving women drivers. The number of accidents caused will mostly involve men who might be driving very expensive cars. The rate of premiums paid for expensive cars is more compared to that paid in for cheaper automobile.

5) Masculinity vs. Femininity

Science has proved that men are led to drive at very high speeds and are in most cases found to be on the wrong due to their high levels of testosterone. It is a true and proven fact that over-speeding and having traffic faults will lead to accidents, in most cases. Since men are very good at competition, you would realize that male drivers they will in most cases want to challenge each other. This is opposite with the female drivers.

Yes it is true that car insurance for women is way cheaper because of the above reasons. But not all car insurance companies have the cheaper insurance policy for women in place. It is therefore, advisable to carry out a thorough research on the different insurance companies, to see what they have to offer.

Miles Walker is a freelance writer and blogger who usually looks at car insurance deals over at CarinsuranceComparison.Org. His most recent review looked at the best car insurance quotes.

Just because a car isn’t new doesn’t mean a car isn’t expensive. And this extends to insurance policies. An antique or vintage vehicle may have even more value than many brand new models, and the insurance costs and options are often quite reflective of this fact.

Finding and selecting the best antique, classic or vintage car insurance to satisfy your needs is vital to safeguarding and providing protection for a very important investment. These vehicles, being special by nature, have an array of unique accommodations and areas to consider.

So whether or not you’re familiar with insurance or not, there is no harm in reading up on the specifics of vintage car insurance. Below we’ll list just a few helpful instructions to assure you make the wisest possible decision pertaining to your vintage vehicle insurance policy.

1. Make Use of some Insurance Policy Restrictions

One important thing to consider is how your vintage car insurance policy covers you, and how it compares it your actual use of the vintage vehicle in question. The more you do with your ride, the more coverage you’re going to need. The inverse is true as well.

If the use is minimal, primarily to and from local community events and vintage car showcases, employ a policy that restricts to those particular uses. This will prove satisfactory for your limited usage and plenty more affordable.

On the other hand, if you are tad more willing to take the car out on the town, run errands, or even drive rather long distances, you’ll need to choose a policy that accommodates for this xxtensive use. Needless to say, a vintage car policy will not need to cover everyday use through all four seasons, but with more frequent use, a less restricted policy will definitely need to be selected. Consult an insurance agent for more information on specific policy restrictions.

2. Know the difference between a Stated and Agreed Value

One important thing to understand with high price vehicular insurance like a vintage car is the distinction between a value that is “Stated,” and one that is “Agreed.” Inquire from your agent how the insurance company you are using classifies these two terms, and which one remains better suited for your car and individual circumstances.

It’s much better to be safe than sorry, and know your value heading in—especially having assurance that value was properly calculated.

3. Rules that affect where you park and how you store

When looking through insurance policies, keep an eye out for restrictions on where you store your car and its parking location. Some of these requirements may necessitate you keep your vintage vehicle incredibly secure, stored in a locked up garage or otherwise kept secure from outsidethreats. You may be forbidden, for instance, from leaving your car in the middle of a parking area as you leave it alone for extended periods of time.

4. Is your “Vintage” car a “Vintage Car”, and is it even eligible for vintage car insurance?

While it may seem simple, this question could save you a lot of time and energy when answered.

While your cool, old vehicle may strike you as hip and “vintage,” whether or not it officially qualifies as a vintage car (for insurance purposes) may be another story. This is an area very important to check up on, and it can be researched rather easily. Simply consult the insurance agent and ask whether your model is defined officially as eligible for antique car insurance. Some require a car be older than 25 years old, or ask that a vehicle was produced between two years or specific dates. Most of the time, these numbers vary from company to company and many classic car insurance specialty companies offer their own definitions.

5. Discover your objectives

A helpful tip for ensuring the coverage you want and need is to head in with some objectives for a prospective policy. For instance, you may wish to keep your old mechanic if a repair is necessary. This is something to make sure is included within your policy parameters if you have a trusted professional you’d prefer to remain with. Like discussed during our “Stated Value” tip, do what you can to assure your vehicle is insured for what you truly feel the car is worth. Is coverage provided for damage at special interest car-shows? Are premiums in some ways malleable to how much and often the car is driven? If so, it should be appropriate and applicable to your level of use.

So in close, just keep in mind that there are varying types different plans, rules, rates, and sorts for your potential coverage. If you’re ready to get serious about vintage car insurance, make sure to do some serious homework, doing research into individual companies and their policies. Costs are of course a factor, and probably a big factor, but it should be kept  relative to good service.

Make sure first and foremost you are getting a good value, and that high prices are justified by quality service. It’s like anything else, you’re looking for a good product here, and maybe it’s more expensive than inferior ones—but you’ve got an investment to secure. If you the call service for customer support is good, claims are handled professionally and well, and the staff seems well-versed in specialty vehicles such as your own, you may have found a great company with which to do business.

If you’re interested in getting the best insurance for your car, iron out the details and head in ready to purchase the best product at the best value!

In the press release below you can see that middle aged WOMEN driving Mercedes Benz SL-Class were the biggest violators… by over 400%!

Also, interestingly enough, you don’t see BMW on the list anywhere. Which is odd, because I almost always see a BMW driver going way over the limit when I’m out and about… does this mean they just never get caught?

Also, the fact that all of the top three “Spirited” driven vehicles were mostly driven by women. I guess the movies were wrong when I learned that mostly men are the speeders on the roads.

The stats on the slowest drivers are pretty obvious. Buick SUVs and minivans round out the bottom 10 with safety ratings going through the roof. After all it only makes sense that the drivers who buy super safe vehicles would drive the same way.

What can we learn from this study?

Well, mainly it would seem that the drivers with “Baby on board” in their back window actually do drive more cautiously… and that annoying driver in that annoyingly bright yellow hummer is probably going to be paying through the nose with higher insurance, higher gas bills, and of course a regular ticket to pay off every 6 months.

What do you think about this study? Let us know in the comments below.

Auto Insurance Analysis: Does What We Drive Affect How We Drive?

In its second annual study of vehicle types, their driver profiles, and the frequency of traffic violations, auto insurance analytics firm Quality Planning debunks conventional wisdom that high-performance cars attract the most tickets.

SAN FRANCISCO, October 12, 2010: Quality Planning (QPC), a Verisk Analytics company that validates policyholder information for auto insurers, has released updated findings from its original study, published in 2009, that explored the relationship between the cars people drive and how people drive them. Newly expanded to include available statistics, the study examines various vehicle makes and models and quantifies the propensity of each to be ticketed by law enforcement based on the number of moving violations per 100,000 miles driven.

Quality Planning found that the origins of vehicles in the “Spirited Vehicles” category were predominantly those of foreign manufacturers but not necessarily of German or Italian heritage. Drivers of the Mercedes- Benz SL-Class roadster topped the list, with four times the number of violations compared with the average.

But, not surprisingly, the car Toyota designed expressly for Gen ‘Y’ers, the Scion, had not one but two entries in the top ten. The big Hummers and the Pontiac Grand Prix rounded out this category. Consistent with the findings of last year’s study, SUVs and hatchbacks showed lower violations on average than traditional two- and four-door vehicles.

Table 1: “Spirited Vehicles” (vehicles with highest percentage of violations)

Make Model, Body Style, Violations*, Average Age, % Male
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, Convertible, 404%, 53, 41%
Toyota Camry-Solara, Coupe, 349%, 50, 39%
Scion TC, Coupe, 343%, 30, 39%,
Hummer H2/H3, SUV, 292%, 46, 73%
Scion XB, Hatchback, 270%, 37, 40%
Mercedes-Benz CLS-63 AMG, Sedan, 264%, 46, 58%
Acura Integra, Coupe, 185%, 33, 60%
Pontiac Grand Prix, Sedan, 182%, 40, 41%
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG, Sedan, 179%, 47, 44%
Volkswagen GTI, Hatchback, 178%, 40, 44%

Violations/100,000 miles driven, expressed as percentage of average.

For a complete list, see below.

Looking at the gender breakdown, 73 percent of Hummers tended to be driven by men, generally between 30 and 60 years old. Also of interest, only the Mercedes CLS sedan and the Acura Integra coupe were more likely to be driven by men than women. Conversely, Camry-Solara drivers were 61 percent female, with only 26 percent younger than 30.

Those vehicles that Quality Planning classified as “Cautious Vehicles” offered an interesting contrast. With respect to body type, eight of the top ten were either an SUV or minivan. This suggests that carrying passengers, and possibly younger passengers in car seats, makes a noticeable difference in how one drives.

Interestingly, 60 percent of SUV drivers in this category were women, whereas for minivans, 51 percent of these drivers were women. In two instances – the Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan and the Buick LaCrosse SUV – the drivers were split 50/50 across gender but differed dramatically in age, with Buick showing 81 percent of ticketed drivers over 60 years old compared with just 8 percent of Silhouette drivers.

Table 2: “Cautious Vehicles” (vehicles with lowest percentage of violations)
Make Model, Body Style, Violations*, Average Age, % Male
Buick Rainier, SUV, 23%, 61, 71%
Mazda Tribute, SUV, 26%, 36, 29%
Chevrolet C/K- 3500/2500, Pickup, 26%, 40, 86%
Kia Spectra, Sedan, 27%, 40, 44%
Buick Lacrosse, SUV, 32%, 65, 50%
Saturn Aura Hybrid, Sedan, 37%, 59, 14%
Oldsmobile Silhouette, Minivan, 37%, 41, 50%
Chevrolet Uplander, Minivan, 38%, 40, 54%
Hyundai Tucson, SUV, 38%, 47, 40%
Pontiac Vibe, SUV, 39%, 41, 32%

*Violations/100,000 miles driven, expressed as percentage of average.

For a complete list, see below.

“These findings and the corresponding trends they reveal are very interesting,” said Bob U’Ren, senior vice president of Quality Planning. “Besides the sociological aspect of ‘who drives what,’ the manner in which private passenger cars and trucks are driven has a meaningful bearing on how much individuals and families pay for auto insurance.”

Study Methodology

Traffic code violations data for a one-year period from February 2009 through February 2010 were used for the study. Vehicles that were discontinued for more than ten years were not included in the analysis.

Violations were then standardized based on the number of violations per 100,000 miles driven for each model. That standardization accounts for the differences in average annual miles driven by different models. Then, each vehicle model’s violation count per 100,000 miles was compared with the average across all the models to identify the 25 models with the highest and lowest violations.

What is overlooked however, is how much the car insurance will cost on the new or used car that you are buying.

Sometimes, the cost of insurance can make or break your ability to purchase a car.

Factors the effect insurance price:

The type of car – Your insurance premium will be higher if you are buying a luxury car, a sports car, or a car that is high on the theft list.

Anti-Theft devices – If there is an alarm or other anti-theft device on the car you can usually get a discount.

Where your car is parked - The location that your car will be parked can make a difference in how much insurance you pay.

What the car will be used for – If you use the car for driving to work or only on weekends, this will effect how much insurance you pay for the car.

Your driving history - If you are a safe driver that has not been in many accidents, you can get insurance discounts and save yourself a ton of cash.

What insurance provider you use – The insurance company that you go with can save you a boat load. Getting insurance quotes online is a great way of finding the lowest prices on car insurance because you can get instant quotes from many providers.

Because insurance prices can vary greatly, it’s a good idea to be prepared for the price of insurance before you go looking to buy a car. You can get online car insurance quotes before heading to the dealer so you know exactly what that perfect car will cost you when it’s all said and done.

You can get an online quote right now in the USA by clicking here.

Be sure to check out our article on car insurance coverage so that you know what car insurance you’re getting too.

I am not a lawyer, nor am I a car insurance broker. This article is merely meant as an outline, so be sure to discuss your options with your insurance specialist before making any purchasing decisions.

Here’s what I’ve found about saving money on your car insurance:

Automatic Seat Belts: As annoying as these things are, you can actually get a discount if your car has them. Why? Because the insurance company knows you’re going to be wearing your seat belt… and therefore you can grab a discount on your medical coverage.

Airbags: Same as above, and when paired together you can get a hefty discount (sometimes upwards of 30% on medical coverage).

Comprehensive Insurance Discount: Most times you can get a discount on your comprehensive insurance by having an anti-theft alarm or even another anti-theft device such as a steering wheel club. This discount is usually pretty small, but every little bit helps!

Have you been to driving school? This can get you a discount too. Most people haven’t taken any type of driver training and it can help out a lot when it comes to sticky situations on the road. Because of this, the insurance companies will sometimes reward your good driving skill with a discount.

Have Good track record? This is the most obvious discount. If you’ve been a driver for a long time without any accidents or blemishes on your license you’ll get a discount.

Combine Your Insurance: A good insurance broker will offer more than one type of insurance. If you combine your home, life and auto insurance you usually can get a pretty decent discount. Car insurance companies know that you have a lot of options, so they want to make it as appealing as possible for you to choose them. What’s even better, is if you have multiple cars and you combine all of your insurance into one bundle.

Type of car: This one is a bit trickier. If you’re like me, you like to choose your car based on how it makes you feel instead of what type of insurance premiums you’re going to have to endure. But in either case, the type of car you drive will effect how much you are going to spend on insurance. If you have what’s known as a “safe car” then you will see a discount. But it goes the other way, and if you have any type of sports car you can expect to pay more.

There you have it, the 7 most common car insurance discounts that are available. Always be sure to ask your car insurance specialist about these discounts to see if you qualify. Let us know in the comments about any other car insurance discounts you’ve come across.

Until next time, drive safe.

P.S. If you’d like to like to find local car insurance deals, check out this site: Car Insurance Reduction you can grab an online quote pretty quick and see if you can save yourself a bundle of money.

I wanted to outline the most common terms and options that you can buy when purchasing car insurance.

I am not a lawyer, nor am I a car insurance broker. This article is merely meant as an outline, so be sure to discuss your options with your insurance specialist before making any purchasing decisions.

Car Insurance Terms:

Bodily Injury Liability Insurance: This is what protects you if you cause bodily harm to someone in an accident. You can buy only the basic coverage of this type of insurance, but I usually lean towards beefing it up a bit. Nowadays medical bills can get very expensive and you don’t want to be left holding the bill.

Liability Insurance: Similar to above, but this one covers any damage you do to someone’s property. This can include their car, their house, garage etc.

Collision Coverage: This coverage comes into play when the accident is your fault. For example, if you were to slide off the road and into a tree or a ditch, the damage to your car would only be covered if you had collision insurance.

Comprehensive Insurance: Also known as fire and theft, this insurance will cover you for anything like weather, vandalism, theft etc.

Car Rental Option: Many insurance companies will cover your car rental expenses if you should find yourself in an accident and your car needs repair. This is completely optional and does not effect your liability in an accident.

Full Glass Coverage: This insurance option will negate your deductible on all of your car’s windows instead of just your windshield. It’s a good idea to shop around if you’re interested in full glass insurance coverage because some insurance companies will offer this type of deal for free.

Medical Coverage: This coverage will cover any medical expenses you may incur if you are in an accident.

Personal Injury Protection: Personal injury protection (PIP) will cover you for work loss or rehab at the result of an accident. This insurance will cover you no matter who is at fault, but is not available in all states.

Roadside Assistance: Most insurance brokers will offer some type of roadside assistance coverage. This coverage gets you a tow truck or a jump start if you need it.

Under-insured Motorist Protection: There are a ton of people out there who simply do not insure their cars… and it really sucks to get in an accident with them. This insurance will cover you if you get into an accident and the other driver’s insurance can’t pay for your expenses, or they don’t have any insurance at all.

Those are the basic auto insurance terms and options. Feel free to add any in the comments below, or let us know any stories you’ve had about car insurance.

Looking to shop around? You can get a free online quote now at Car Insurance Reduction.