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It's curious how quickly an idea either takes off or dies the death. What was casually called pay-as-you-go has now become a highly competitive market. If you ever wanted proof of just how competitive, you only have to look at the court roster where you find Progressive suing State Farm and The Hartford for alleged infringement of patents. You may well throw up your hands in despair. We are used to seeing technology companies accuse each other of copying the other's patent for an on/off switch, but patents also cover any business ideas that no one has registered using those words before. So Progressive claims it registered the idea of using technology to monitor how far and how well people drive and to offer discounts to all the safest drivers. Now we have to wait for a judge to say how obvious this business plan is and that it should never have been registered as a patent. Until then, attorneys are collecting their usual high fees to fight it out to the death.

So what exactly is Progressive offering that it feels must be defended so aggressively? In most states, this insurer was the first to offer a black box for monitoring driving behaviour. The most recent version is called Snapshot. What makes this so interesting is you can run it for a one month's trial while holding your existing policy. This gives you a direct comparison and tells you exactly how much you will save if you make the switch. If you decide not to switch, there's no comeback. Progressive simply recovers the hardware link and looks for business elsewhere.

Why is usage-based insurance the best chance for inexpensive car insurance? The answer comes in two different ways. The first relates to the number of miles you drive and the time of day you drive them. The statistics show low milage drivers have the smallest numbers of accidents, particularly if you drive at off-peak times. Second we come to the way you drive. Gentle acceleration, modest braking, no violent swerving all indicate a safe driver. That earns you cheap car insurance. All the insurer has ever wanted is proof you are safe. Now technology supplies that information you can earn maximum discounts.

Getting auto insurance in general can be a difficult task if you are looking for premium rates you can afford. However, industry experts say that it is more difficult to get auto insurance for top stolen cars in the country because they are likely targets for car theft compared to other cars. What should you do if your car is on the list of the top stolen cars? Before enumerating what you can do to either get an insurance policy for your vehicle or to get a lower premium to insure it, here is a rundown of the top stolen cars in the country today.

The 1995 Honda Civic is one of the most popular cars among car thieves according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Another report from the NICB listed the 1997 Ford F-150, the Nissan Sentra (1994), the 1991 Honda Accord, the Acura Integra (1994), the 1989 Toyota Camry, the 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 and Dodge's 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup.

If you have any of these cars, insurance experts say that you should install anti-theft devices on them. This includes warning devices, immobilizing devices, and tracking devices. An immobilizing device is very important for cars or vehicles like the ones in the list because for one, if car thieves try to drive away with your vehicle, the vehicle's fuel will be cut off. Most immobilizing devices also have smart keys that prevent the car from starting or being driven. Tracking devices are also a great addition to such vehicles because it will allow law enforcement to track it down and recover it when it is stolen. If these devices are installed, your insurer will be more willing to provide you with a good rate for your premium or in some cases will be more willing to have you purchase a car insurance plan from their company because your car or vehicle is now protected from car theft.

It is important to note that even if car theft occurrences in the country has gone down according to the NICB, insurers want to protect their profit and as much as possible lower all expenses hence those who drive cars that are susceptible to theft are usually turned down or are charged very high auto insurance rates . It is also a good idea for you to check out auto insurance packages from a comparison website to get a good price.

Cheap auto insurance is easy to find if your car is a car equipped with safety features and the newest technology. However, getting cheap auto insurance for very fast cars can be rather difficult because for one, the speed that such cars could reach will make your insurer hold on to his seat as if he is watching your car in a racing track. Here are the fastest cars of 2012 and why so many drivers just cannot help but buy them even if they are usually expensive to insure.

However, there are those fast cars that have relatively low car insurance rates. This includes the Chevrolet Corvette GS. This two-door convertible has a mean annual insurance premium f approximately $2, 000 according to our research and when you factor in how fast the acceleration is i.e. zero to 60 mph at a 4 second rate, then the average premium you would be paying is $500 per second or a little less.

The Mercedes SL65 AMG is another powerful car with almost the same acceleration rate as that of the two-door convertible from Chevy and according to industry experts, the yearly premium costs usually go from $750 to $800 which is relatively inexpensive compared to insuring other fast cars.

Let's admit however that insurers do not really like insuring people who choose fast cars because insurance companies factor in premium rates on perceived risks i.e. paying out damage claims and injury claims, etc and when one comes to think of it, driving a fast car entails one getting into an accident quite frequently especially if the driver is too adventurous. However, since there are now so many fast cars available in the market, there is no more need for you to pay top dollar to get insurance unless of course you choose fast cars that also fall under the luxury car category such as a corvette, or a Porsche.

For those planning to get a fast car, another good choice is the Camaro SS. Yep, this car sure looks great but it's not as fast as the first two mentioned in this article. However, getting one is a good choice because it would be easier for you to get cheap auto insurance for it. If you are driving a fast car and want cheap auto insurance, it is advised that you get more information from a reputable insurer.

Insurance companies use many risk factors to establish insurance premiums. These are used to determine the level of risk you pose to the company. As the risk increases, so too will your costs. Each insurance provider has its own set of factors used to calculate car insurance rates. However, there are several common factors that most providers take into consideration.

Driver Age

Younger drivers are more likely to be in accidents than those who are at least 25 years old. More experienced drivers, typically between 50 and 65 years, tend to be the safest drivers. So, all other factors begin equal, younger drivers will pay higher premiums.

Driver Gender

Female drivers tend to get lower rates because they are statistically less likely to cause an accident. Industry-wide, females are viewed to be the safer gender behind the wheel of car and pose less risk to insurance companies.

Geography

Location is a major factor when it comes to auto insurance rates. Where you live and work is important if you are looking to save money. If you live or work in a dangerous neighborhood, you will probably pay higher rates. Typical weather for your community is also taken into consideration. Living in an area that sees frequent snowfalls which adversely impact driving conditions can increase your rates.

Type of Vehicle

Certain vehicles are safer than others. And specific cars have high theft rates. Both of these realities are factored into your rate calculation. Some insurance providers may give drivers of domestic vehicles lower premiums. This is simply because domestic cars cost less to repair than imports. If you have to file a claim, your insurance company wants to pay out as little as possible.

Credit Score

Drivers may not be aware that insurance companies use credit scores when setting premiums. The underlying belief is that if you have a high credit score, you are responsible. You will be more likely to be a safe driver and less likely to submit a claim.

Driving Record

A history of safe driving can significantly reduce your rates. Driving records are the major factor that car insurance companies look at when calculating your premiums. Any type of ticket or accident can cause your rates to be higher.

There are many more factors that go into your car insurance rate. These are some of the more common ones that have significant influence on your premiums.

Of all the things people consider when comparing car insurance quotes, one factor always seems to escape their attention. Surprisingly, since this factor is really important when calculating insurance costs, and it's actually the first thing your insurer will ask about when getting quotes. Yes, we're talking about cars. Most drivers don't even consider their car as a flexible option for optimizing insurance costs. However, if you really want to get affordable car insurance quotes, you'll have to take a closer look at your car, since it may be not the best one to search for affordable insurance with.

First of all, let's understand why insurers are so picky when it comes to different makes and models, and don't offer the same quotes for all cars depending solely on the amount of coverage you buy. However, if you have owned more than one or two cars, you know the difference, and insurers know it too. Each car features a unique mix of different factors involved, which insurers are very sensitive about, such as car safety, road performance, security measures, theft rates, repair costs, and others. Even the same car make can have two slightly different models that will have completely different car insurance quotes because the safety or theft rates are higher with one of them.

So what should a driver look for in a car if he wants to get a ride that won't cost him a fortune to insure? As mentioned in the previous passage, you'll need to locate car models that have the optimal balance of all the factors that matter to insurers. First of all, it has to be really safe, so that the passengers and the driver won't get seriously injured during an accident. It has to be secure and with low theft rates, otherwise the insurers will charge you just for the risk that your car can be easily stolen. It has to be easily repaired without the need to purchase expensive spare parts, or your repair bills will require you to get more coverage in the first place.

Naturally, each car model has its strengths and weaknesses when analyzing these factors. So you'll have to shop around really good in order to find a suitable car. You can start with the medium segment, as it usually features the optimal models in terms of insurance. Yet, as said, it all strongly depends on the particular model, and the difference in car insurance quotes can be rather drastic even in the same segment.

It may seem challenging to get insurance for your teenager, but it is not impossible. You should expect to pay more for your teen's insurance since that age group has the highest rates in general. However, there are ways to get cheap car insurance for young drivers when you consider the factors you and your teen have control over.

Type of Vehicle

Teenagers typically want a brand new, not to mention cool, car. But the type of car they drive plays a big part in the amount of money they will be required to pay for coverage. You can get your teen driver a vehicle with a high safety rating to score lower insurance rates. The more safety features the vehicle has, the lower your rates will be. If you are adding your teen to your current policy for the family vehicle, you can expect an increase of about $800.

Driver Education Classes

Rate reductions are given to teen drivers who successfully complete driver training programs. Not all states require driver education for teens to get their driver's license. However, insurance companies are willing to reward teens who finish such classes because they are more likely to drive safely as a result. These classes can help teens learn to drive defensively and safely for different road conditions.

Academic Excellence

Teens that excel in school may be eligible to receive "good student" discounts. Most major insurance companies offer this particular discount, making the assumption that teens with good grades are more responsible and will be involved in fewer accidents and other moving violations. The exact grade point average (GPA) needed as well as the discount amount varies by insurance provider.

Driving Record

Maintaining a clean driving history may result in cheap auto insurance after a year or two. This is something teen drivers should strive for. Insurance companies begin with the assumption that your teen driver is a high-risk driver. Fortunately, it is possible to prove them wrong by driving safely, avoiding speeding tickets, and not getting involved in accidents. This is a surefire way to get cheap car insurance.

People file auto insurance claims everyday. These claims can range from a minor windshield repair to a vehicle being totaled. Understanding the most common claims can save you money when shopping for auto insurance, as you will want to make sure you are covered for these types of incidents. Below you will find the top 5 reasons people file auto insurance claims.

Fender Benders

Fender benders are definitely the most common reason a person would file an auto insurance claim. These types of wrecks sometimes happen in parking lots and other times when we are distracted and cannot react quickly enough. These types of incidents are unlikely to cause serious injury, however the damage can quickly get expensive due to crumple zones. A crumple zone on a car absorbs some of the force of an accident, but afterwards can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars to fix.

Windshield Repair

Windshield repairs are quite common but are usually optional on your policy, meaning they will cost you extra. Windshields are easy to crack by no fault of your own. Rocks flung by other cars or ice build up can crack your windshield. These can cost a couple of hundred dollars to replace.

Brakes or Mechanical Repairs

A brake system failing cannot only be extremely dangerous, but also pricy. If you are on the highway when your brakes go out, it could result in a major accident. In this case, you are stuck with not only the brake repairs, but also the damages to yourself or others and involved vehicles. It is important to get mechanical repair coverage if your policy offers it.

Rear-end Damage

Rear end collisions are very common. While these types of incidents are usually the fault of the rear ender, they can still serious injure you and leave you with high medical bills. Choosing a high bodily injury policy can save you hundreds of dollars in these situations.

Vandalism

Even in the "nice parts" of town there is vandalism, so nobody is safe. Many things can be stolen from a vehicle such as emblems, GPS systems, headlights, and any other valuables in your car. Not only would you have to replace these items, but you might have to replace windows that were knocked out, or for other damages your car incurred. For this reason, you should always choose to be covered for theft and vandalism when you pick your auto insurance policy.