Antique Car Insurance Online Quote : Get Better Fuel Economy

February 8th, 2007

In the United States transportation accounts for about two-thirds of all the oil used. Fortunately, for most drivers, there are a lot of ways that gas mileage can be improved.

Driving safely can save money, lives and natural resources. Aggressive driving wastes fuel. Rapid acceleration and breaking can lower your gas mileage by as much as 30 percent. Different vehicles achieve the best fuel economy at difference speeds. But on average, most vehicles produce the greatest fuel efficiency that speeds between 35 and 60 miles per hour. At 70 mph most cars get five miles per gallon less fuel economy than they do at 60 miles per hour.

You can maintain a more constant speed on the highway using cruise control, and this will usually save on gas. If your car has an overdrive gear you save gas when you use it because it keeps your car’s engine speed down.

Keeping your car tuned up and in good shape will bring gasoline mileage up. If the ‘check engine’ light comes on, have it checked out without delay. It could mean there is a faulty sensor or other serious problem. Putting off maintenance lowers your mileage and can increase harmful emissions. Always use the right grade of motor oil, and keep it clean. If your tires are not properly inflated, or out of alignment, your mileage can drop as much as three percent. Dragging brakes and worn spark plug wires greatly reduce engine efficiency which lowers fuel economy as well.

Many short trips use more gas than one long trip, so it is cheaper to run all of your errands at one time. Also, even on winter days, there is no need to let your car idle to warm up before you drive it. The car warms up as you drive it, and idling gets zero miles per gallon.

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    Antique Car Insurance Online Quote : Drive Defensively

    February 8th, 2007

    Most people know, or find out, that when they are charged with a traffic offense, they may be eligible to take a driving safety course to lessen the consequences of the charge. Usually, you may ask the judge for permission to take a driving safety course on or before your initial appearance in traffic court. State and local traffic courts have different requirements for what is allowed as acceptable driving courses. Many states even allow drivers to take these courses online. These online courses are delivered in an interactive format that doesn’t put time restraints on the student. Overall, they are the most convenient and affordable way to reduce the points from traffic citations.

    Defensive driving classes aren’t just for traffic offenders, however. Anyone can take a driving safety course. It has often been shown that even small changes in driving behavior can help prevent car crashes. And this, of course, will help keep your car insurance rates low.

    Being a defensive driver is one of the most important driving safety steps you can take as a responsible driver. In many cities employees must complete a defensive driving and safety training class within one month of operating the city vehicle. Many private companies also require traffic safety courses for their fleet drivers.

    Defensive driving courses all cover the same general topics such as vehicle pre-inspection, driving safety and how to avoid collisions. Some driving schools have begun to use state-of-the-art formats that involve students in active learning. Others utilize new twists to help keep their students interested while teaching them to be more aware of driving safety.

    Driving safety is a drivers first responsibility. Defensive driving is all about being prepared for the unexpected. It is something that helps and protects everyone. The more defensive driving skills you have, the more likely your trip will be safe from start to finish.

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    Antique Car Insurance Online Quote : How to Prepare for Claims

    February 8th, 2007

    Traffic accidents can be devastating, and the frustration of the claims process can make things even worse. Involvement in an automobile accident is a frightening experience. It is something that none of us can anticipate and most of us don’t even want to think about. Car insurance is supposed to cover you if an accident happens, but sometimes accident victims encounter roadblocks when trying to prove their losses for a claim. Although it is unpleasant to imagine being in accident, being prepared beforehand helps to create the best outcome if the worst happens.

    Understand your insurance policy. Know what it covers and what it excludes, and make sure your liability limits and deductibles are reasonable.

    If you drive an older car, there is a good chance that the insurance company will declare it totaled after an accident. This means they will pay you what they determine is the average value for your car before the accident. If you keep your car in excellent condition, you need to keep carefully documented maintenance records and pictures of your car and order to prove it was in above average condition in event of claim.

    At the time of an accident, it is important to stay calm in write down as much information as you can. Keeping a disposable camera in your glove box is a good idea. Pictures can help you remember details after the event. Also, look around for anyone who may have witnessed the accident. Be sure to get their names and contact information.

    When talking to insurance companies after the accident, always take good notes on the conversations you have regarding your claim, including the names of the representatives you speak to. Keep track of any expenses you incur because of the accident. All car rentals, baby sitting, phone bills, etc. You may be able to get reimbursed for some of these costs.

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    Antique Car Insurance Online Quote : Rollover Safety

    February 8th, 2007

    The United States Department of Transportation is considering requiring auto manufacturers to install a new technology called electronic stability control on all new passenger vehicles by the 2009 model year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this technology could save around 10,000 lives each year.

    Electronic stability control (ESC) is a computer controlled braking system that monitors the driver’s steering wheel input and applies braking to the individual wheels of the car to keep the vehicle headed in the driver’s intended direction. This allows the driver to maintain control in situations where the car would normally ’spin out’ and slide off the road. ESC responds faster than the drivers reflexes during extreme steering maneuvers, keeping the car on road.

    ESC is especially effective in avoiding rollover type crashes which are common to sport utility vehicles. These situations when a vehicle loses traction and begins to leave the roadway generally put average drivers in a state of panic, which leads to disaster. Excessive steering and highway speeds can force the car to slide sideways and rollover. The ESC system’s uneven braking corrections happen quickly in these situations, usually before the driver perceives the need for steering corrections.

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates the cost to include electronic stability control on new automobiles will be approximately $111 per vehicle. The agency also believes that ESC is the greatest life saving improvement for vehicles since the seat belt. Studies have shown that ESC systems could reduce single vehicle crash fatalities by up to 60 percent.

    Electronic stability control is available on a variety of models of automobiles from over 37 manufacturers for 2007. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hopes to have ESC included as standard equipment on all vehicles with a 2012 model year.

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    Antique Car Insurance Online Quote : Estimating Car Insurance Settlements

    February 8th, 2007

    Accident settlements are negotiated on a case by case basis, so even claims that seem exactly identical can have vastly different settlements. Although the settlement process can be extremely complicated, you can determine a ballpark range for the settlement fairly easily.

    There are two elements to the money to receive from an accident claim. The first part is for car damages, legal fees, medical bills and other costs associated with the accident. The other part is for intangible damages to your ability to earn a living and your lifestyle. This is often referred to as ‘pain and suffering’, and is an attempt by the insurance carrier to make you whole again. This second amount can be estimated from the total of all your medical bills times a multiplier. In the 1990s the multiplier was around 5 or 6 times the medical bills, but lately it has dropped to about half of that.

    Insurance adjusters are given a maximum dollar amount that they can settle for claim for without any additional approval from the car insurance company. The adjuster’s initial offering will usually be fairly low so that he has some room to bargain before hitting his limit. Some adjusters can be difficult to deal with, and depending on the amount of money at stake in the case, hiring an attorney may be useful. An attorney can advise you of your rights, and sometimes present important information that the car insurance company may not tell you.

    Don’t be in too big a hurry to accept a settlement offer. If you feel like your being pressured by the car insurance company or the adjuster, is a sign to slow down and possibly seek advice before signing any agreements. There are time limits that you should be aware of, imposed by the state’s statute of limitations, ranging between 1 and 6 years, but you must always take time to make sure you have considered all medical aspects and understand everything. When you sign the settlement, the claim is released and finished forever.

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    Antique Car Insurance Online Quote : Buying Car Insurance

    February 7th, 2007

    As I’ve written before, shopping around is the only way to save on car insurance. One of the best places to start shopping for car insurance is on the Internet. Car insurance is one of the most dynamic markets in the world. It has a large number of competitors and a wide range of prices. So, with the number of companies offering car insurance increasing daily, how do you choose between them?

    Buying Auto Insurance is not all that complicated, but one needs to do some study and research just the same. A little checking around helps you better understand auto insurance and is the first step towards ensuring that you have the right coverage at the best price. Almost every state in America requires all drivers to carry liability insurance. Unless you live in a ‘no-fault’ state, the biggest part of your car insurance is this liability insurance to cover the injuries or damage you cause to someone else or someone else’s property. Fortunately, liability auto insurance is the least expensive kind of policy.

    All car insurance is not created equal. The best way to get a great deal on auto insurance is to shop around and know what you are looking for. It is all about making sure you are comparing the same coverages from many companies and choosing the lowest rate. After all, low cost auto insurance is wonderful when paying the premiums, but the mistake of choosing the wrong coverage could land you in a terrible nightmare if you have an accident.

    No matter how skilled a driver you may be, an accident can happen to you. The more you drive, the higher the chances you will be an accident. Your car insurance is what mitigates your potential financial risk in case of an accident. Auto insurance deductible amounts is simply about how much you are willing to pay out of your own pocket versus how much you want the insurance company to cover.

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    Antique Car Insurance Online Quote : The Importance of Motor Oil

    February 7th, 2007

    An important element in keeping your car in good shape is your engine’s motor oil. In the beginning, motor oil was basically just a type of refined crude oil. Things have changed over the years, and nowadays motor oil is a pretty complex compound. Although it is has been improved significantly, the most common oil in use today is still based upon refined crude oil. Modern oils are engineered and chemically designed to have a variety of specific traits necessary for different uses. And some oils developed over the last thirty years are completely synthetic.

    Regardless of how they are manufactured, any motor oil must perform the same basic functions. Motor oils come in several varieties to allow and enhance these functions in various environments. One important factor of engine oil is viscosity. This is a measure of how easy the oil and flow. Viscosity can be affected a great deal by temperature. Some oil is designed to maintain one particular viscosity rating across a significant temperature range, while others are formulated to change viscosity as temperature rises.

    Maintaining oil viscosity, or flow, is important to keep the engine lubricated and prevent wear. If the oil doesn’t flow when it is cold, parts of the engine will have no protection especially right after the engine started. If the oil flows too easily at high temperatures, it will runoff of the hot parts of the engine leaving them unprotected. The goal is for the oil to maintain a film of lubrication on all the engines components at all times.

    The engine also depends on the oil to keep it clean. Motor oil must prevent rust and remove sludge that is formed when gas is burned. Otherwise, sludge builds up, dogs passages and causes engine components to stick and malfunction.

    Using the proper motor oil and changing it at appropriate intervals is vital to extending engine life and increasing fuel economy.

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    Antique Car Insurance Online Quote : Tips For Saving on Car Insurance

    February 7th, 2007

    Some lesser known tips for saving on car insurance.

    Your credit rating has a large impact on the cost of your insurance. What many people don’t realize is that they must officially cancel their old policy when they switch to a new insurance company. Most assume if they switch at the end of a coverage period, they can just ignore the old company’s bill for the next premium payment, and that will be the end of it. Often, however, this causes the insurance company to terminate the old policy because of nonpayment, which goes against you on your credit score. When you decide to switch insurance companies, always contact your current insurance provider and them know the specific date you wish to cancel. They will send you a cancellation form to sign. This will protect you from any unpleasant surprises under credit report down the road.

    If you pay your premium installments, you usually have to pay more. Be sure to check how much the installment charge or administrative fee is before deciding not to pay the full premium all at once.

    Making claims increases insurance rates. The industry standard is a 40 percent increase of the base rate if the accident is your fault. Some insurance companies offer options where they ignore your first accident. Several requirements must be met in order to qualify for this option.

    In 19 states, if you have more than one vehicle that you are insuring, you may be able to combine the insurance coverage from all the vehicles if you have an accident. Check with your insurance agent to find out if it is allowed.

    A car that has been in an accident is worth less than an identical car that has never been accident. In 14 states, if you have had your car repaired after the accident you can file an additional claim for your car’s loss of value because it has been damaged and repaired.

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    Antique Car Insurance Online Quote : License Restrictions for Young Drivers

    February 7th, 2007

    Teen drivers have the highest car insurance rates because of accidents. A graduated licensing system for young drivers has been shown to reduce teenage accidents and fatalities. The system was introduced in Florida in 1996 and has been adopted in some form by most states across the U.S.

    Generally the system requires passing through three stages in order to receive a full drivers license. The first stage, beginning at age 16, is supervised learning period, which lasts around six months. The second stage is an intermediate license, which requires supervision for driving in high-risk situations. These high-risk situations include, driving at night in carrying more than one passenger during the day. This intermediate period requires passing a driving tests to start, and usually lasts for 6 to 12 months. The final stage is a regular drivers license with full driving privileges.

    Positive effects and safety benefits have been evident everywhere this system has been introduced. Research studies routinely show reductions of 10 to 30 percent in teenage traffic accidents. The system is reducing accidents overall, and not just shifting the crash problem to an older age bracket.

    Night driving is restricted under the system because statistics show that 40 percent of teenage fatalities occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. and over 60 percent of these fatal crashes occur before midnight. The system achieves its best results the nighttime driving restriction is set to 9 or 10 p.m.

    Passengers are restricted because the distraction they provide increases a new driver’s crash risk substantially. In 50 percent of the accident fatalities involving 16 year old drivers there were teen passengers in the cars. A beginning driver’s fatal crash risk is three times higher with three or more passengers than if he were driving alone.

    Parents strongly favor the graduated licensing system. Even though many parents want their children to get drivers licenses as soon as possible so they can drive themselves to school, work or social activities, they are more concerned about the risks their children face while behind the wheel.

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    Antique Car Insurance Online Quote : Which Cars Cost More to Insure?

    February 7th, 2007

    Some cars cost more to insure and others. Authorities in the insurance industry say that the cost of repairing collision damage is one of the largest factors that influence car insurance rates. Higher horsepower cars are also more expensive to insure. The extra horsepower gives drivers the ability to faster and makes it more likely they will be involved in accidents.

    Sports car models that are owned by many younger drivers get higher insurance rates. Young drivers tend to be risky drivers, who end up crashing a lot, and this makes car insurance rates higher for anyone who owns a similar model car, because of accident statistics. Some drivers think that these smaller sports cars would be in fewer wrecks because they are more maneuverable. They should be able to out run danger and avoid crashes. But the facts show otherwise. Fast and reckless driving seems to be too much of temptation to sports car owners.

    The safest cars tend to be family type full size sedan cars. Insurance experts note that vehicles most often associated with family transportation tend to be in fewer accidents. But safe cars aren’t always the cheapest cars to insure. Insurance for luxury cars is going to be high even if the car is very safe. This comes back to how much the car will cost if it crashes. Sport utility vehicles can have high liability premiums simply because they are large and have the potential of causing a lot of damage in an accident.

    The cheapest vehicles to insure are going to be station wagons, minivans and family type cars. These tend to be relatively inexpensive automobiles that are usually driven non-aggressively by soccer moms.

    Since car insurance is one of the major ongoing costs of driving, it makes sense to check with your insurance agent before making a car buying decision.

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