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5 Ways Carpooling Can Help Your Bottom Line

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Most people drive at least twenty minutes to and from work each day. Many spend much more, sometimes ten to twenty hours a week in their car. If you’re looking to save some money, consider starting or joining a carpool. Carpooling reduces your costs for driving to and from work, especially if you’re driving a long distance. This alone can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars a year.

Here are a few of the advantages of carpooling.

1) Save on gas

  • Carpoolers usually split the cost of gas, either by having one person drive and be reimbursed, or by using alternating drivers. Either way, you’re going to cut your weekly costs for fuel and have some extra money.

2) Save on maintenance

  • Commuting to and from work takes its toll on automobiles. Bad roads, weather, and sitting parked in the sun all day can lead to breakdowns, the need for new tires, and all sorts of costly repair work. Carpooling gives your car a break and should lead to lower maintenance costs.

3) Save time

  • Most cities now have carpool lanes on major roads into the downtown or into areas where there are lots of businesses. If you carpool, you can fly by everyone else stuck in traffic jams by using the carpool lane. You’ll also be relieved of the worry that traffic might make you late for work.

4) Save on car insurance

  • When car insurance companies calculate your rate, one of the things they look at is how much you drive. The more you drive the greater risk you have for being in an accident or incident. By carpooling, you can report less driving miles and may see a decrease in your car insurance premiums.

5) Increase your performance

  • Carpooling can reduce the stress of your daily commute. By being the passenger some of the time, you might be able to catch some sleep, catch up on reading, or get some work done while you’re on the road. These can all lead to better performance on the job, which hopefully leads to more money!

There are other advantages to carpooling too. For instance, some two-car households find they don’t need to own and maintain two cars if they are able to carpool. And, in places that have good public transport, you may not need a car at all.

In addition, although it may not seem like it helps your bottom line, carpooling is good for the environment. It may not save you money, but you can feel good that you are doing something good for the world by reducing emissions in your own corner of the world.

When you’re ready to shop around and find reduced rates for carpooling, InsuranceWins can help. Just use our fast and easy form to compare rates and start saving!

Had an Accident? Here’s How to Keep Your Rate Down

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If you’ve had an accident, you’re probably already stressed about injury or damage. And if you’ve caused the accident, you’ll probably get hit with a rise in your car insurance rates when it comes time to renew your policy. Ouch!

But you may be able to recover some of that extra cost with the right insurance company and with a little bit of research after your accident. There are a few ways to lower your car insurance premiums. Each company will have its own variety of options you might be able to take advantage of, so shopping around is the best way to get the best rates.


Here are some things you can do.

Ask

It never hurts to ask, right? Start with your current carrier. They don’t want to lose you as a customer, so they may be motivated to work with you to balance out your rate increase after an accident. Many companies now offer an accident forgiveness clause that protects your rates after your fist accident. Be sure you are taking advantage of it if your company offers this.

Discounts

Even if you haven’t had a recent accident, it’s a good idea to review your policy every year to make sure you are taking advantage of all the discounts available to you. Your life situation is always changing, whether you get a new job, get married, buy a house, or start going to school, and your insurance rate can be reduced by all sorts of situations. Here are a few discounts you should check into.

  • Safe Driver
  • Good Student
  • Bundling Home and Auto
  • Corporate Discounts
  • Multiple Car/Driver

Increase Your Deductible

Increasing your deductible decreases your premium. This may seem like a good idea, and it can be, but be careful. Make sure you have enough in savings to cover the deductible should you have an accident. You don’t want to be stuck with out a vehicle because you can’t afford your deductible.

Take a class

If you’ve had an accident or if you were cited for an incident you may be able to avoid a steep rate increase by taking a class. In some states, taking a defensive driving class may lower your rate. The class may cost you some money but less than a car insurance rate increase will cost you.

Shop Around

If all else fails, shop around. Comparing carriers is the best you to know if you are truly getting the best rate you can get, given your personal circumstances and driving history.

InsuranceWins can help you shop around. When you use our fast and easy form to compare rates, you can rest assured that you are getting the best rates to be found. InsuranceWins helps you narrow down your list of the best insurance companies for you.

Tips for Setting Your Car Insurance Deductible

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One of the most confusing decisions when it comes to buying a car insurance policy is how much of a deductible you want to carry. The deductible is the amount of money you will have to pay out-of-pocket for injuries or property damage if you cause an accident and have to file a claim.

As an example, if you have an accident that causes $2000 in damage to your car and you have a $1000 deductible, you will have to pay $1000 and your insurance policy will pay for the second $1000 to have your car repaired.

Unlike health insurance, there is no reaching a deductible limit by the end of the year. If you have two accidents in the year, you will have to pay your deductible twice. In our example, this would mean $2000 out-of-pocket.

It’s important to understand the relationship between your deductible and your monthly premiums.

Essentially:

  • A higher deductible allows lower monthly premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs
  • A lower deductible means higher monthly premiums but lower out-of-pocket costs

One thing to note is that if your damages are less than your deductible, you will end up paying for the total costs of repairs. In our example of a $1000 deductible, if your damage costs are $500, you will have to pay the whole $500 out-of-pocket. Oppositely, if you total your car your insurance company will pay you for the current value of your car, but they will subtract the deductible amount.

When You Have to Pay Your Deductible

Collision and comprehensive coverage are usually the two types of coverage that require a deductible. If you cause an accident, your deductible is required to be paid to repair your own car, not the cars of any others involved in the accident.  

When You Don’t Have to Pay Your Deductible

If someone else causes an accident that results in damage to your car, you will not have to pay your deductible. If you are not at fault, you do not have to pay.

Also, many policies offer a waiver of your deductible for certain types of damage such as glass damage. If your windshield or window is chipped or damaged, by road debris for instance, you won’t have to pay your deductible for the repairs.

If the cost of the repairs to your vehicle are less than the amount of your deductible you won’t want to pay your deductible. Depending on your financial situation and the nature of the damage, you may even skip the repairs altogether.

If you want to see how much your monthly payments will change with different deductible amounts, you can use the fast and easy InsuranceWins form. Simply fill out the form and you can see how a higher or lower deductible will affect your payments.

Cheaper is Not Always Better When it Comes to Car Insurance

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When you are looking at your budget and trying to find ways to cut your costs, it can be very tempting to decrease your payments for car insurance. After all, you might think you never use it and that paying hundreds of dollars every month is just not worth it. When you add it up, you may find that you are paying thousands of dollars a year for car insurance.

But, spending money on car insurance is not like spending money going out to eat. Car insurance is required in most states and can lead to even worse personal financial outcomes if you don’t have enough coverage in the case of an accident. So, it’s important to find your own personal balance between cost and risk.

How much you want to pay for car insurance is really a personal choice and requires a little thought, and maybe even a little math, to end up with a number that is right for you. Think about it. If you cause an accident, you could end up having to pay much more than your total yearly premiums in deductibles and costs above your coverage limits.

So how do you find the balance between monthly premiums and the amount you will have to pay if you cause an accident? There are several ways to lower your costs. Let’s take a look at the benefits and risks of each.

Go for a higher deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage

Benefit: You can lower your monthly payment amount by choosing a higher deductible.

Risk: If you cause an accident, you will have to come up with the full amount of the deductible before the insurance company will repair your vehicle

Lower your coverage limits on all types of coverage

Benefit: Monthly premium payments will be lowered

Risk: If you cause an accident, you may not be covered for the full amount of repairs, damages, or injuries. You will have to foot the bill for the rest.

Skipping some coverages

Benefit: Lower monthly payments can be achieved by not carrying some coverage. For instance, not carrying collision on low value vehicle.

Risk: If you don’t have the cash to replace your car should it be totaled, and you aren’t carrying collision coverage, you may be without a car for a while

Alternatives that keep you covered, while lowering your monthly payment

Most people don’t take full advantage of the many discounts that car insurance companies offer to help alleviate the cost of your monthly payment. Some of these include:

  • Bundling home and auto with the same company
  • Safe driver discounts
  • Corporate discounts
  • Association discounts (like AAA)
  • Good student discounts

Before you start lowering the amount of coverage you carry, which can put you at financial risk should you cause an accident, shop around for the right insurance company, one that has the discounts that fit your situation.

You can use the InsuranceWins form to get quotes from many carriers and find the best price for the coverage you are most likely to use and with the discounts that will help you lower your costs.

Got Speeding Ticket? Your Rates Might Not Go Up

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Middle aged policeman monitoring speed through radar while sitting on bike

There are lots of factors that insurance companies use to determine how much you will have to pay for car insurance.  These include where you live, your age, sex, and marital status, as well as the make and model of your car.

By far the most crucial factor is your driving record. If your record is littered with accidents, incidents, and tickets, you can bet you will be seeing some pretty high car insurance rates. But what if you have a fairly clean driving record – no recent accidents that were your fault and no recent traffic violations – and you find yourself with a brand new speeding ticket? Can you expect a steep rise in your rates?

Many factors determine if your rates will rise

Insurance companies vary on how they react to a driver who receives a speeding ticket. Some are more lenient than others, especially if your record is clean. Generally, you won’t see a significant rise in your rates until you’ve had three speeding tickets in three years.

Of course, there are many other factors that go into this determination. For instance, if you received a speeding ticket for going 30 miles per hour over the posted limit, you could see a ten to twenty percent rise in your rates when your insurance company factors in your previous record. For going just a little over the limit, one to ten miles over, they may give you a pass.

Some ways to balance out a rate increase after a speeding ticket

If your monthly premium goes up after a speeding ticket, you can try to counteract the rise with some other strategies. Try raising your deductible, if you are comfortable with having to pay more out-of-pocket should you have an accident. Or, you could adjust your coverage limits a little lower. Just make sure you are meeting any state minimum car insurance coverage requirements. If you are willing to take on a little more risk, you could make up for the increase.

The bottom line is that your rates are not guaranteed to go up after you get a speeding ticket if your record is otherwise good, but it depends on your insurance company.

If you’ve had a speeding ticket and your rates have now gone up, you may want to shop around for a company that’s willing to give you a better rate. You can use the InsuranceWins form to compare quotes from many carriers and find the one that is most forgiving!

Make Sure You’re Not Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance

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If you are focused on your finances and saving money, you know how important it is to make sure you are getting a fair deal. It often seems like costs can creep up if you are not paying attention. So, it’s a good practice to do your own insurance audit at least once a year to make sure you are not overpaying. In fact, shopping around for policy quotes is a great way to save a little money.

When you are ready to review your car insurance coverage, here are a few things to look out for and questions to ask so that you can feel confident you are getting the best rate.

Have Your Rates Gone Up?

If you haven’t had any recent accidents or incidents, or if you haven’t had any big life changes, such as moving to a riskier area, you might want to investigate why your rates are going up instead of going down. Insurance is all about risk, and if you have not increased your risk, or in fact have become less of a risk, you should expect a better rate than you had previously. If this is the case for you, it may be time to talk to your insurance company about a new rate, or it may be time to shop around.

Are You Paying More Than Average?

According to the Insurance Information Institute, U.S. drivers pay an average of about $817 per year for auto insurance. That comes out to about $68 per month. If you have a clean record and you are paying much more than the national average, it may be time to take a look at your policy. Check to make sure you have entered all your data correctly and that you are taking advantage of all the discounts you have available to help bring down your monthly costs.

Have you Compared Rates Lately?

If you haven’t gone online to gather quotes and compare auto insurance rates from many companies, you might be surprised at how much you are paying. Insurance companies are competitive, and they want to win your business. If you’ve been with same company for many years, you may enjoy the feeling of security that comes with knowing your carrier, but this loyalty may not be doing anything for your wallet or your budget.

These days, shopping for auto insurance quotes is a no-brainer way to try and save some money. You probably already compare prices when you are shopping for other items, and car insurance should be no exception

InsuranceWins makes it easy for you with a simple to use online quote form that can help you feel good that you are getting the right coverage at the right price.

Myth Buster: Do Red Cars Cost More to Insure?

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According to the Axalta Global Automotive 2017 Color Popularity Report, for the seventh year in a row white leads the world as the most popular car color. Thirty-nine percent of the world’s cars are white, followed far behind by second place black at sixteen percent.

However, bolder colors are on the rise. Blue is gaining popularity, as well as gold and green. And then there is the infamous red car. Red cars account for about six percent of the total but hold one of the most widespread car myths of all time: that red cars cost more to insure.

So, is it true?

Red Cars Cost More to Insure: Myth or Fact?

While there is data to support the fact that red cars can be more expensive to buy, the data around insurance costs for red cars is a little less definitive.

Drivers seem to love red cars. Red can evoke a dynamic and exciting feeling that can simply make people feel good. This love affair with red, especially for fast cars, keeps the sticker price a bit higher than the more popular white and black cars.

But, this higher pricing does not seem to extend to insurance policies for red cars. There are many factors that go into determining your car insurance premiums, and color is not one of them. Even though color doesn’t affect your rate, these factors do:

Your driving record – A history of accidents or incidents, such as tickets, will have you paying higher rates. A clean record is one of the best ways to keep your rate low.

Your age – Younger, inexperienced drivers will pay more. More experienced drivers who keep a clean record can get the best rates.

Your credit score – Many people do not realize that in most states their credit score affects their insurance rates. Insurers want to make sure you will be able to pay your premiums

Your car – While color is not one of the factors that auto insurance companies consider when determining your rates, the year, make and model of your car are.

Where Does this Myth Come From?

The myth that red cars cost more to insure may come from that feeling mentioned earlier, that red cars are exciting. This excitement can lead to a heavy foot on the accelerator, especially in a faster than normal sports car, and this of course can lead to speeding tickets.

It is a fact that speeding tickets will definitely lead to an increase in insurance rates, regardless of the color of your car. If you have a fast, new red sports car and get yourself a couple of speeding tickets, it may take a rise in your rates to slow you down.

If you want to compare rates for your new red car, to be sure you are getting the best deal, use the InsuranceWins form. We’ll shop around using your location and match you with the best agents and carriers for your needs.

Which Type of Car Insurance Covers Theft and Vandalism?

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Broken side window glass on the damaged car door

Car insurance is one of those things that most people hate paying for. It can feel like you are paying a lot of money and getting nothing in return. Then one day you go out to your car and you see it’s been broken into and your stuff has been stolen. Or even worse, your car is gone, stolen by thieves.

Since most states require drivers to have auto insurance, it’s something you have to pay for no matter what. But to protect yourself and your finances, you should make sure you have the right type of coverage. The right coverage will protect you and your property and takes into account your unique situation.

If you live in an area that is known for vandalism or car theft, you will definitely want to be sure you are covered should it happen to you.  Auto Insurance can be confusing, so let’s take a look at the coverage that protects you in case of theft or vandalism: comprehensive insurance coverage.

What Does Comprehensive Insurance Cover?

Comprehensive car insurance is known as supplementary or optional insurance. This means that it is not required but can be added to your insurance policy for extra protection against loss.

You use your comprehensive coverage when something happens to your vehicle that is not a collision with another vehicle. So, if your car is vandalized or stolen this is the coverage that you must have to recover any money.

Vandalism can take many forms, such as:

  • Broken windows
  • Broken locks
  • Stolen equipment

In order to avoid paying for these types of damage out-of-pocket, you will need to be carrying comprehensive insurance coverage.

If your car is stolen, comprehensive coverage can help you recover money for the value of your vehicle. Be aware, that there can be a long wait for any kind of compensation. You should report the theft right away to the police, and you will have to work your way through the legal and insurance claim processes before you see any money.

The auto insurance company determines the market value of your car, so it’s important that you let them know of any special equipment you had on the vehicle and be able to back it up with receipts, or even better, pictures.

Once a market value is determined for your vehicle, your insurance company will then take out the amount of your deductible before they pay you.

What Is the Deductible?

When you purchase comprehensive coverage, you will choose a deductible amount. This is the amount of money you will have to pay if you have to use this coverage before the insurance company will take on costs. So, if you have a $1000 deductible, you will need to deduct $1000 from the amount you may be owed due to theft or vandalism of your vehicle.

If you want to know how much comprehensive will cost and determine the right deductible for your situation, InsuranceWins can help. Use our simple form to get matched with the perfect solution for your insurance needs.

Why You Don’t Want to Let Your Car Insurance Lapse

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Paying for car insurance is just a fact of life. Many states have mandatory requirements for insurance and most people, though they may not like it, know that it would be foolish to drive without the protection of car insurance.

But, there may be a period in your life when you suddenly find yourself without a car. Maybe you’ve moved to a city with great public transportation. Or, maybe you are carpooling to work and live in an area where most of your daily needs are in a walkable area.

While it may feel like you are saving money by not having to pay a monthly insurance bill, you may end up hurting yourself in the long run.

The reason is because insurance companies deal in risk. And if you have a spotty history of having car insurance, they will begin to view you as a risk instead of a steady thing. This can lead to higher rates, especially if you have a less then perfect driving record.

The risks of letting your car insurance coverage lapse

Remember, if you let your coverage lapse, you do not have insurance to cover any injuries you sustain in any accident. It’s possible that the insurance of the driver who is at fault will cover your costs, but what if they don’t have insurance?

Also, as stated earlier, a spotty car insurance record looks like risk to an insurance company. So, the next time you are shopping around for car insurance you may just see higher rates than you have in the past.

What you can do

If you are now thinking that it’s not a good idea to let your car insurance lapse, you can fix it by getting reinstated. If you’ve lapsed because of non-payment, just give your previous insurance company a call and work with them to get your policy up and running again. There are usually options for restarting the policy you had previously, as long as it hasn’t been too long.

Another option is to get listed as a driver on someone else’s policy. This should cover you, depending on the policy, and you can keep from showing a gap in your auto insurance coverage. So, if you are a one-car family, make sure all eligible drivers are listed, not only for protection, but to keep a strong car insurance history for everyone.

Exceptions

There are some instances in which a car insurance company will not frown upon a lapse in coverage. These two situations include those who are on military duty, and thus may be deployed and unable to use their vehicle, and for young drivers who are just getting started and may not own their own car right away.

If you have had a lapse in coverage, use the InsuranceWins form to get quotes from major auto insurers and find a policy that keeps you covered.

Car Insurance and Car Accident Lawsuits: What You Need to Know

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Being in a car accident comes with all kinds of problems even if you or anyone else hasn’t been injured. And, injuries and property damage often lead to lawsuits as insurance companies try to recover money for claims.

Any kind of lawsuit can be intimidating, but you should know that one of the advantages of having car insurance is that you will have some legal protection as part of your coverage should your insurance company be sued.

There are a few things you should know if you are involved in a car accident lawsuit.

No Fault Auto Insurance States

According to the Insurance Information Institute, there are 12 states that have no-fault laws. These laws limit the right to sue and protect drivers by allowing recovery of damages regardless of fault. In addition, these laws restrict when a lawsuit can be brought, usually to only the most serious cases.

You Will Have a Lawyer

The first think to remember is that most car insurance companies are already geared up to represent you in a car insurance lawsuit. This means they will hire and pay for a lawyer, and they will often cover certain approved expenses related to the case.

Work with Your Lawyer

The insurance company’s lawyers are there to help you through the process of a lawsuit after an auto accident. It’s important that you work with your appointed lawyer. You should be prepared to work with them to resolve the case and not try to do it on your own. However, these appointed lawyers actually work for the insurance company, not you personally. So, if you are at all unhappy with your legal situation during a claim, you can also hire your own car accident attorney.

Check Your Policy

If you want to be sure about the type of legal protection you have, you can review your policy documents. Generally, legal coverage is automatically included but in some cases,  you may be able to buy supplemental coverage for extra protection.

You should also check your policy to understand your liability limits. This is the maximum amount of money your car insurance company will pay if you are found liable for the accident and the damages it caused. In addition, the court may find you are liable for damages above your policy limits. So, make sure you know your limits and are comfortable with the amount of coverage you have.

InsuranceWins is here to help you find the best price for the type of policy you want. Higher liability limits mean higher premiums. If you prefer higher limits, InsuranceWins can help you find the best price for this higher level of protection.

Just fill out the InsuranceWins easy form and we’ll match you with the perfect solution for your car insurance needs.

Insurance Wins connects consumers, looking for an insurance, with companies and agents in the US that can provide them quotes. As a leading insurance marketplace, we are not directly affiliated with any insurance company and we are not an insurance company. If you are actively searching for a specific insurance company and do not receive a quote from them in our marketplace, please contact that company directly. All trademarks and copyrights are property of their respective owners.

The rates shown in our marketplace for California are per month unless otherwise stated.Advertised rate is based on a liability policy for a 55-year-old male driving a 1983 Ford Mustang with good credit, a clean driving record and 100/3000/50 limits. Good Driver and other discounts may have been applied which may not be available to the average consumer.

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