Posts Tagged ‘money’

Car Insurance Reviewed

Posted on January 21st, 2010 by by Tom Martens

The car insurers in South Africa are always designing insurance coverages to meet the needs of the different types of drivers, from the urban ones to the off-road ones.

Most South Africans should have Comprehensive Cover. In reality, 65 percent of auto owners in South Africa do not have any coverage. This is a shocking number especially in light of the rising rates of fatalities and injuries on South Africa’s roads. If you don’t have insurance, take stock of your situation. Can you afford to repair or replace your car in the event of an accident? Can you afford to repair or replace someone else’s car or property in the event of an accident that is your fault? What if your car is stolen, hijacked or vandalized? Owning and driving a car is risky business – that’s why you need car insurance.

Third Party Fire and Theft Cover are other options available, which will pay to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged or destroyed by fire or attempts to steal it. Third Party Only will cover you if an accident that is your fault damages other people’s property.

South Africa is home to a large motorcycle community, so it follows that insurers offer products designed especially for these drivers. Motorcycle cover provides the peace of mind that your motorcycle will be covered if it is stolen or damaged or if you damage someone else’s property in a motorcycle accident.

Because the great outdoors is such a large part of South African living, several products have been developed for the risks associated with outdoor travel. For off-road enthusiasts, there is Off-Road Comprehensive cover designed to cover the risks in this unique and unpredictable driving environment.

If you’re considering car insurance for the fist time, you may be surprised by how expensive premiums can be . Several factors drive these rates, and you have a certain amount of control on how they affect your premium.

Your age and driving record are important factors even if you cannot do anything much about them. Time is an important factor; you will pay more if you’re very young or have no history of driving. You will also pay more if you’ve had many accidents. On the other hand, if you’ve driven safely for a while, you will pay lower premiums.

If you are purchasing a new vehicle, the vehicle you are purchasing will effect your car insurance and the premiums. If you buy or own a vehicle that is expensive you will find that insurance will be more, sometimes this is due to the simple risk of theft.

Some companies have minimum safety requirements, but will discount your premiums if you exceed these minimums. Also consider where you keep your vehicle. If your car is parked in a high-crime area or even on the street overnight, you’ll pay for that risk.Another way to reduce your premiums is to increase your safety measures.

Take the time to research the different types of insurance and how they apply to your situation. As you shop, remember that the cheapest insurance is not always the best. Make sure the policy you choose meets your needs at a price you can afford.

Your First Car And The Insurance That Will Follow

Posted on January 8th, 2010 by by Graham McKenzie

The vehicle you have or will purchase is one of your largest purchases you will ever make, next to buying a house. You never really thought of it as that big of an investment did you? Statistics prove that an average homeowner will switch homes two to three times throughout a lifetime, while an average car owner will switch at least ten times, making your car and its insurance extraordinarily important.

The law requires that every car on the road fall under basic or compulsory insurance. The law requires this insurance in the event of an accident where you are at fault with other vehicles. Your insurance will cover the damages done to other vehicles in the accident. The insurance will not cover your vehicle because you were responsible.

Most people who have owned a car at one time or another are well aware of the minor details surrounding car insurance, which doesn’t hold true for first time car owners.

When accidents do occur, they are often deadly and tragic. The vehicles are usually demolished and totaled, and if fixable, they will cost a lot of money!

Not only will you be paying a lot of car payments and such, but also expenses for repairs and the small chance it might be involved in an accident.

However if you are covered by comprehensive car insurance, the damages are covered by the insurance agency.

That is why car insurance providers heavily recommend comprehensive coverage.

If you are buying your first car, this is especially important. Chances are you are young and somewhat inexperienced as a driver. Comprehensive coverage will protect your vehicle from one minor mistake you might make or from theft, especially if your vehicle contains a lot of desirable goods for thieves.

These desirable goods might include radios, disc players, GPS systems, mobile computers, and other expensive items inside or outside the car. Comprehensive car insurance will protect all of that with the right policy.

Not taking out comprehensive insurance is a disaster waiting to happen. If you really have any wits, you will understand the small annual insurance premium is well worth the expense.

Calculating Car Insurance Premiums: The Dirt

Posted on January 2nd, 2010 by by Tom Martens

Insurance is a tedious subject that means a lot of different things to different people. What does insurance mean to you? Insurance is very tough to calculate, so tough in fact, that insurance agencies hire large staffs whose only responsibility is to calculate insurance premiums.

Car insurance premiums are one of the more simple and straightforward types of insurance to calculate. The majority of the premium is decided by the person’s driving experience and history or lack thereof. If you are young and inexperienced, you will pay a lot more than an elderly gentleman or woman.

Car insurance providers also take into account your past driving record. If you do not have one or it’s very minimal, insurance agencies cannot accurately gauge how could of a driver you are. But if you are much older, with a lot of experience, and a clean driving record ? it’s a safe bet to say you are a smart and courteous driver.

When you first earn you driver’s license the insurance agency hands out so many points. Generally this number is small because you are very inexperienced and unproven as a driver. As time progresses you earn more points. Points are taken away for speeding or driving offenses.

Understandably, drivers who are busted for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are immediately arrested and their license revoked. This could range from one to five years. It often depends on the driver’s past record and if he or she is a repeat drug user. When and if the driver is allowed to drive again he or she will find outrageous premiums, and rightly so.

Most drivers understand the rules and laws of the road and they do their best to respect them. Car insurance rewards people that do their best to not speed or get in an accident. In fact, every year a driver goes without an accident or major traffic violation, the insurance company awards the driver with a discount on his or her premium for the following year.

Keep your vehicle running smooth and communicate with your insurance provider about any accidents. Usually they will cover most if not all the repair costs, assuming you have strong coverage. If the vehicle is totaled, a pre-defined amount is awarded based on the worth of the totaled vehicle.

Wouldn’t you like to save money? Of course you would, who could turn that offer down? So stop driving with reckless abandon, shape up, and earn a cheaper premium as the years progress.