Posts Tagged ‘p’
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
by Kyle Chatman
When you have had the unfortunate event of being in a automotive collision, the last thing you need is to have a bad experience with an auto body shop not doing their job. A good auto body shop will fix your car back to pre-loss condition, both in appearance and in structural and mechanical integrity. A great auto body shop will almost make you feel like the accident never happened. They should start with customer service better then you get at a good restaurant.
When you buy a car, it may be the right type of car but you might not like the color. The color can mean a lot and even determine how you like the car. Perhaps you buy a car that has the perfect body but is pink. Therefore you will probably want to get the car painted.
I have been in this industry for over 25 years in the same area, I have worked in high quality auto body shops large and small, and have owned my own collision and custom shop in Portland Oregon for the last 8 years. In my area there are hundreds of auto body repair shops in a very small area, yet I only know a few I would trust with my vehicles. So for the most part you have to be as informed as you can, and ask a lot of questions.
I am going to give you some information about the industry that will hopefully help to make that informed decision a little easier. First, do not let your insurance company tell you where to have your vehicle repaired, in most cases they have contracts with the shop to save them money in exchange for sending them your vehicle. in this case the insurance company saves money, the shop gets the work but has to cut corners to keep the cost down for the insurance company. And you, the one that pays the insurance company all those inflated premiums, and pays the body shop your deductible gets a substandard repair. The insurance company may say “if you don’t take the job to our repair shop we can’t guaranty the work”, the fact is any and all good auto body shops guaranty their work for as long as you own your car, if they don’t, go somewhere else.
Next thing to do is be sure to question the person who is estimating your damage, smaller shop owners will usually take care of you personally, and in most cases, actually be involved in the repair process. In most of the larger or chain shops the person writing the estimate on how to fix your vehicle is a salesperson, usually having absolutely no experience repairing cars, not to say that the techs working at that shop wont fix your car correctly, but they may just not feel like rewriting the estimate the way it should of been written to begin with.
Step 2: Find out if there is anyone at a post higher than the manager. If yes, get an appointment fixed with the higher authorities of that auto body shop. Speak to them directly if possible; otherwise just send them an e-mail explaining your problems. If this solution also does not work, try the next step.
Ask if the body shop is on any insurance programs or direct repair programs, if they are ask why? the only reason I know why a auto body shop would agree to be on a program would be to get work that they could not get on their own. Again this does not mean just because they have a direct repair program they are not a great shop, but if they have 20 then I would be a little concerned? Ask them to explain.
Many car owners will buy an old car that runs great but has a bad paint job and structural damage. Within a few weeks of getting that car, they could be driving it down the road and no one would suspect it was rusted and severely dented thanks to the hard work of companies that do body work and paint jobs for cars in the Los Angeles area. There really is no better way to make your car look new again.
Tags: a, accidents, advertising, auto, auto insurance, B, body, business, c, cars, collision, e, f, family, h, hobbies, I, insurance, m, maintenance, o, p, parts, r, repair, shopping, t, tools, travel, trucks, u, vehicle
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
by John Barton
One of the very first things you should think about when choosing a Collision shop is, “How much experience does the shop have?” It’s not enough to know how many years a shop has been in business, but it’s a good place to start. You should also take into account the extreme climate here in Monroe County, and the extra experience required to deal with the damage road salt can cause.
Make sure you ask the manager, and then follow up with “How much experience do your technicians have?” That’s the really important question, because you want to know that the folks who will actually be working on your car or truck, repairing the sheet metal, straightening the frame, and painting the body panels really know what they are doing. Experience, as they say, truly is the best teacher.
Even today though, work done by technicians has changed by technology. If you look above, there will be vacuum lines connected to sanders and grinders; these are to pull any dirt and dust away from this area of the shop. It is amazing how clean these areas are kept.
Once the metal work has been completed, the next stage is the paint prep area, normally in this area dust extraction systems are used to remove any dust that occurs during sanding and paint primer spraying. Body shops use infrared light systems in this area to cure paint primer quickly. These lights usually speed up the drying time, allowing the primer to cure in 20 minutes rather than 24 hours; therefore, your car is ready to go a lot quicker.
You could also ask to speak with one or two of the technicians, and ask them straight out what kind of a facility they work for. Either way, ask questions to determine technician satisfaction.
The most important thing at this later stage is that the vehicle gets finished in a paint booth that is clean and dust free. This outweighs a dirty booth of a fantastic design.
This is when maybe you should ask to see any finished vehicles in the body shop to check the painters work before leaving your vehicle and any money is spent. The things to look for are, smooth finishes that have very few dust specs and ensure the colors match from one panel to another. These are evidence of a quality paint spray done by a professional.
How long has the shop been open? How much experience do the technicians have? How satisfied are the techs? Hopefully, asking these three questions will help you feel more confident and comfortable the next time the unavoidable happens, and you are faced with the need to choose the very best collision repair facility
Tags: a, accidents, advertising, auto, auto insurance, B, body, business, c, cars, collision, e, f, family, h, hobbies, I, insurance, m, maintenance, o, p, parts, r, repair, shopping, t, tools, travel, trucks, u, vehicle
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
by Susan Reynolds
Everyone is looking for ways to lower their bills especially in this economy. Owning a vehicle can be as expensive as owning a home with the high car payments, high cost of fuel, and the high premiums paid for car insurance. Refinancing the vehicle to a lower rate can save on payment costs, buying a car that is better on gas will reduce fuel costs and there are many things that can be done to lower the car insurance cost.
The best way to start on saving on your vehicle insurance is to shop around with other companies. Brokers are available to offer their services but you may be subject to fees. Calling for quotes can be tiresome but it is worth the hundreds of dollars saved on your policy.
The deductible is the mount you are expected t pay out of pocket in the event that there is a claim on your policy. By having a very low deductible your rate is higher and if you increase your deductible you will see the premiums go down.
What you drive could cost you. There are vehicles that are a higher risk for accidents as well as theft. If you drive a car that is in the high risk category you will be paying more for your premium. You can also expect that the more valuable your car is the higher it will be to insure it. Sports cars are often more to insure than a family sedan.
We all want to have a clean driving record and be safe on the road, this goes without saying. Insurance premiums are reflected by your driving record so the safer you are the better your rates. Running a stop sign or speeding can increase your policy just as a major violation or an accident will.
Any safety or security features your vehicle may be equipped with will lower your insurance premiums due to the great discounts you will receive from the companies. Features such as ant theft devices, dual airbags, or safety locks can create large discounts on your policy. Speak to your insurance agent to find out what discounts are offered for certain features and then have them installed to receive the discounts.
Do not renew your policy just because they sent you the bill. Take the time to look over the policy for any changes that can be made and shop around with other companies for better rates.
Combining multiple policies with one company can usually save you money, at times this savings could be hundreds of dollars. If you have mortgage insurance or boat insurance you can use the same company to insure all of your needs and receive hefty discounts.
Insurance premiums have various ways to offer discounts and reductions. You can speak to your agent to find out why they are charging you more and discuss the options you have to rectify the situation to lower the premium cost. If your insurance company cannot assist in lowering the cost for you, try other companies, it never hurts to compare prices.
About the Author:
Susan Reynolds is the content coordinator for a leading South African Insurance Provider who specialises in Car Insurance.
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile;truck, automobiles, c, car insurance, cars, e, f, finance, I, insurance, n, p, personal finance, u, v, vehicle insurance
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Saturday, July 18th, 2009
by Amy Nutt
Are you thinking of getting car insurance? Are you looking for cheaper ones with the same terms as other more expensive ones? Do you know that it is possible to find cheap car insurance quotes? Have you ever thought of the fact that it is possible your neighbour is getting more ‘bang for his insurance buck’ than you are for a far lesser rate than you are currently paying? If you answered in the affirmative to one of the questions asked above, then you need to read the following tips as they will put you on the path to getting cheaper or inexpensive auto insurance quote.
1. Look Around Before making your Choice Rushing to get a car insurance is not the best idea particularly when you have not done your homework. To get the best bargain, take a look around. Call up as many car insurance companies as possible. The norm is to call three. But in your best interest, call at least 5. This will give you a wide array of choices to pick from. To do this effectively, you can check the business directory or visit the state’s insurance department. All insurance companies often have to register with them before they can become operational. The department can provide you with a list of the many companies. If you live in states like California or New Jersey, car insurance is often more expensive. When investigating the company, look for details such as popularity and capital base. This will give you an idea of their financial health.
2. Make a comparison on different quotes before buying a vehicle The kinds of cars you drive can often be responsible for higher insurance quotes. For example, new car editions, sports cars, and model cars are often easily stolen and therefore often attract higher insurance quotes. So, visit any insurance company and get their different quotes on different cars and then go buy your car. This will at least help you know what you will get when you eventually go looking for the quotes later on.
3. Accessories and Anti-theft devices If your car has more accessories that make it safer such as air bags, anti-theft devices and car alarms, gprs tracking system and other accessories, this can positively affect the insurance quotes as insurance companies are ;likely to look more favourable on any of these.
4. The Age of the car It is more expensive insuring newer cars than the older ones. If you do not really need a new car, why bother buying one. Just a thought anyways. But if you insist on buying one, know that new cars will cost you more. You could easily look up the highest value your car will attract if it is wrecked in the Kelley’s Blue Book. This will ensure you know how much your car’s worth by the insurer’s valuation.
5. Be sure to consider discounts Most insurance companies often offer discounts. Ask for it from them. Some companies offer discounts for good driving records, low mileage etc.
Tags: a, auto, auto insurance, B, business, business;finance, c, car, car insurance, e, f, family, finance, h, home, I, insurance, l, legal, life, n, o, p, params, personal, r, roadside assistance, s, society, v, variables
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
by Amy Nutt
The first car a person has is probably one of the most exciting events of their life that far, as the world seems to just open up and everything seems to be possible, as long as the car is running. One of the most important things about owning a car is car insurance, which is a subject that can be quite the headache to get to know, especially considering all of the terminology and little rules associated to the insurance industry. Something to know specifically is the waiver of depreciation, which is calculated into a prospective car insurance policy.
What is it? The waiver of depreciation basically states that the insurer will not depreciate the car if something happens, whether it gets totaled or it gets stolen. Normally, this waiver only stands for 2 years (24 months), but after that, the value of the car is on a depreciated basis. There are a total of eight different methods conducted for calculating depreciation, such as the straight line method or accelerated depreciation method, which are the two processes used in the calculation of depreciation. This waiver of depreciation can really aid people, and acts as a savior for those who happen to have something bad happen to their vehicle within this short period of time, allowing them to be reimbursed for the original price of their vehicle.
Calculations, Calculations The waiver of depreciation is one calculated on the actual purchase price of the car and the equipment in the car, the suggested list price the car was sold for, and the total cost of replacing the car with of the same model and make with the same equipment that the initial car was loaded with. This really helps the consumer, especially noting the fact that it comes at a rate that is less than $50 a year, it’s a steal! Unfortunately, this is something that many do not know until they are in what could be a traumatic experience.
The waiver of depreciation is calculated into the car insurance policy with other factors, such as driving history and age, and this and other things make up the total car insurance quote. Obviously, the value of the vehicle will make this higher, and with the younger and reckless of a driver, this number can be quite large.
Decisions and Necessity As we know, having a car is something that is essential for getting things done. Unfortunately, this is a world that is full of human error, and accidents do happen, which brings the need for adequate car insurance. With car insurance, people are protected from their errors and others, and the companies can really help a lot of the time with dealing with these experiences. Although sometimes it may be a headache getting adequate help from them, it is important for the car owner to know that it is widely a law to have car insurance, so understanding what they are really up to are something that everyone should get to know intimately.
Tags: a, auto, auto insurance, automobile;truck, business, c, car, car insurance, e, f, family, finance, h, home, I, insurance, l, legal, life, n, o, p, params, personal, r, roadside assistance, s, society, v, variables
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
by Susan Reynolds
There is no one who would not like to lower their car insurance costs. The expense of owning a car is bad enough with the high cost of fuel and the large payments being made to the dealership, having an expensive car insurance policy is just not an option for most people. There are some easy techniques listed below that will show you how to lower your insurance costs with making very few changes.
Shopping around is the most important thing for finding lower car insurance. Several insurance companies offer car insurance and they all state to have the lowest rates. The fact is that the differences from one place to the other could possibly be hundreds of dollars on your policy. Many insurance companies now offer forgiveness for tickets or violations much earlier than other companies and with anything on your driving record that forgiveness time period could save you a bundle.
The deductible you choose can have a huge impact on your policy premium. The upfront fee you are expected to pay in the event of a claim being filed can intimidate many people. The allure of a lower deductible is enough to please many people until they realize they pay for the difference in their premium costs. If you want a lower rate you have to have a larger deductible. Determine what the chances would be that you would need to come up with the money, and determine how much you could afford.
If you are driving a sports car then you should expect to be paying higher rates than someone driving a sedan. You can be surprised however to find out that sedan is giving you higher rates than the sports car due to it being on the high risk category for theft or accidents. Talk to your dealership or search the internet to see what risk level your vehicle is placed in.
If your car is not installed with safety or security features your rates will be higher than those who have cars that are. You can equip your car with an anti theft device for very little and save quite a lot on your policy. Talk to your agent about the available discounts that are offered for specific features being installed on the vehicle. You may learn that a vehicle with safety locks or dual airbags will be much less expensive to insure than one without.
Most of us have other insurance policies such as mortgage insurance, boat insurance, or motorcycle insurance, by combining these policies with one company you can normally save large amounts of money. Having multiple policies with one company will generally bring discounts for all the policies, not just the car insurance.
Just because you have been with your insurance company for years do not expect that they are giving you the best rates. You should still shop around and compare quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal. Always ask about their forgiveness policies and ask about all discounts that you might qualify for.
About the Author:
Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African Insurance provider who specialises in Car Insurance.
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile;truck, automobiles, c, car insurance, cars, e, f, finance, I, insurance, n, p, personal finance, u, v, vehicle insurance
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
by Mel Alison
One way to save money these days is to find really cheap auto insurance. We all need to save money, and few people realize there are plenty of ways to save on their car premiums.
Auto insurance companies may offer low premiums for various reasons. One of the most common ideas to save money is raise their deductibles. Your deductible is the amount you’ll have to pay in case of damages. If your deductible is $1000, that means you’ll pay the first $1000 on repairs before the insurance company kicks in.
If you can live with a higher deductible, you will have the benefit of paying a lower monthly premium. You can reduce it further still with an anti-theft device, such as a lo-jack. Even a passive alarm can get you a benefit reduction.
If your family has more than one car, you are probably eligible for a multi-car discount. Of course, there’s the obvious idea of purchasing the minimum coverage on a second or third vehicle, especially if one car is the “primary” vehicle.
Insurance companies often offer discounts to members of certain organizations or professions. Certain medical professionals, members of law enforcement, and other groups are usually eligible for this discount. You should ask your insurance agent what is available and have them explain the discounts offered by your particular firm.
You may also be able to receive a discounted rate if you attend a defensive driving course. Teenage drivers can receive sizable discounts by participating in driver education classes; if they maintain an excellent academic record, they will likely also qualify for a good student discount.
Cheap auto insurance is definitely a possibility! By using these tips and taking thorough advantage of the many resources available to you on the internet, you’ve got a great start towards lowering your premiums and putting extra money in your pocket!
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile, automobile;truck, c, car insurance, cheap auto insurance, cheap car insurance, f, finance, h, I, insurance, low cost auto insurance, low cost car insurance, n, p, personal finance, u
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009
by Susan Reynolds
We all would like more affordable car insurance. You will find several budget car insurance companies attracting customers with promises of low monthly rates and ridiculously low deductibles. You should know that the type of coverage they are offering you for these low rates is insufficient coverage and will mean more out of pocket cost to you when filing a claim.
Most of the insurance companies that are offering budget car insurance will only supply you with the legal amount required by your state. This coverage amount usually involved the insured being the one who foots the bill for repairs in the event of an accident.
The state minimum is liability insurance and what that means is anytime you are involved in an accident that is determined to be your fault any repairs that are needed to your vehicle or injuries you sustain will be your financial responsibility. If you hurt others in the accident your insurance may not be enough to cover their medical costs and you are at risk of losing everything you own in order to pay for them.
You will be left holding the bill for any damages that occur to your vehicle that are not your fault such as hail, wind storms, or vandalism. The liability insurance will not pay for any portion of damage to your vehicle for any reason. This means that traveling down that icy road in the winter could be very costly to you if you swerve and hit a tree or guard rail.
One of the real fears is being hit by someone who has not enough insurance or no insurance at all. You will not be protected by these motorists and if you are involved in an accident even if it is their fault you could still be liable for most or all of the repairs to your vehicle as well as the injuries you or your passengers might have suffered.
If you vehicle is stolen you will receive no coverage for your loss. In most cases you will never recover the vehicle and replacing it will be your responsibility. If you are able to recover the vehicle you will be responsible for the repairs from any damage it may have suffered.
The low deductibles that are offered to you are useless since you would never even have a claim that would require you to pay a deductible. The entire amount of repair is yours and therefore there is no need to pay a deductible at all. This is a tactic used by the car insurance companies offering budget policies to make you think you are getting a great deal when in actuality you are getting nothing.
You have to have insurance to drive legally in any state and this is what the budget insurance companies are using to their advantage. They offer the minimum requirement to keep you legal but they do not offer anything to keep you safe.
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile;truck, automobiles, c, car insurance, cars, e, f, finance, I, insurance, n, p, personal finance, u, v, vehicle insurance
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009
by Graham McKenzie
The truck driver liability insurance plan is similar a regular liability plan, except for the fact that they cover only your truck. This sort of insurance plan is most suited for the businessmen who wish to guard their trucks that make delivery. If you are a business owner and have a truck then you must get this insurance or you may be punishable by the law.
This insurance plans covers the truck in case of any damage inflicted upon by a road accident. What if your delivery truck got involved in a road accident and you have no other means of transporting the delivery materials. If you do not have enough funds to substitute your truck then you may have to postpone the delivery, make extra payments for the materials damaged, and probably even face loss in business by loosing good customers. If you are new into business, then this blow would be enough to scatter your dreams.
Find out what type of coverage is offered by your insurance plan. The plan may well cover your delivery truck, truck driver, and also other vehicles damaged in the accident. You may also wish to find out whether your truck has coverage only when you are the driver or also when you are not present at the time of accident. It is possible that a car hits your truck when you had parked it on the roadside. Your insurance plan should cover this too. A good aspect of the truck insurance is that, as it travels from one state to another, you and your truck is insured no matter which state of US you are in.
Keep in mind that if you are making cross-state trips you will have to have a DOT number. All commercial vehicles crossing state lines, even from other countries, must have this number. Passenger, private, and exempt commercial vehicles are all included.
It may also be a good idea for you to get insurance on your cargo loads. A large truck can car tens of thousands of dollars worth of product, and much of it will be destroyed if that truck gets in accident. Insurance usually only covers certain types of loads, so be sure to check with your insurance company before loading anything on the truck.
Sometimes business owners only need a truck for a few days, or else just need to drive their company vehicle home from the dealer. If this is the case you can buy short term insurance. Most companies offer you coverage for up to four days, with you being charged per day. This will give you plenty of time to make a quick delivery if you need to.
Most often, you will have to replace your drivers who are covered under your truck driver insurance plan. You must ensure that each driver has a valid license and has undergone the training required to drive a commercial truck. Before getting a driver covered under the insurance plan, you will have to get them approved by the insurers. You must take care to not employ any driver with an unclean driving history else they may not be approved and your premiums may shoot up.
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile;truck, automotive, c, car insurance, e, f, finance, I, insurance, insurance cars, m, money, n, o, p, personal finance, u, v, vehicle insurance, Vehicles
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
Friday, July 3rd, 2009
by Amy Nutt
Owning a car is something that everyone dreams of when they first learn of what one is, and it is important for a person to know as much as they can about them, as it is only a matter of time before they are behind the wheel themselves. This is not to say that we will all be mechanics someday, but basic knowledge is something that should be a requirement when owning a motor vehicle, even more so when it comes to adequate car insurance. There are many different things to be aware of in the world of auto insurance, especially when it comes to calculating comprehensive insurance policies.
What is Comprehensive Insurance? Comprehensive car insurance coverage basically covers your car and others (in certain situations) from damages incurred to you vehicle or theirs. This is not applicable to any accidents, but for instance, a potential policy holder would be protected in the event of car damage due to a flood or theft. This is important because it is best to be covered in every possible angle, whether or not these things are rare, it is still important to be prepared in the event that they do happen.
The Variables There are a many different factors when it comes to calculating comprehensive coverage in a car insurance policy. The most common variables would be the age of the policy holder, the driving history, the distance that one usually travels by car, as well as the age and model of the vehicle. Obviously, the older or the better driver can expect to have some things in their favor, as there is the direct correlation of that and money. These things are taken into account in the production of a comprehensive coverage policy, which basically sets the rates the person can expect to pay.
The Actuary There is also the probability of loss to think of, something that is important to insurance companies in comprehensive car insurance policies and others alike. This person, the actuary, is one that determines how likely that something detrimental to the vehicle will happen. This is done by factoring in all of the variables, which affects the premium that the driver will have to pay in the event of loss. Although there are other factors that the actuary determines, these are the most essential variables that they consider when preparing the policy.
The importance of car insurance is something that just about everyone will have to deal with in their lives, and there is extreme importance in one being as well-versed in the way that these policies work as they possibly can. If not, they can expect to pay more than what they are expecting to, and since they can be quite expensive at times, this is something that not many people can afford. When choosing the right insurance, it is always best to compare rates with as many different insurance companies as a person can, as they will generally differ greatly on a company by company basis.
Tags: a, auto, auto insurance, automobile;truck, business, c, car, car insurance, e, f, family, finance, h, home, I, insurance, l, legal, life, n, o, p, params, personal, r, roadside assistance, s, society, v, variables
Posted in auto insurance | No Comments »
|