Selasa, 27 Desember 2011

Commercial Auto Insurance Coverage for Fleets Can Save You Money


When you own a business consisting of fleet vehicles, you have a huge responsibility when it comes to keeping them mobile. These vehicles are a big part of your company and they can contribute to your success or hinder it. Regular maintenance to keep your vehicles in top-notch shape is vital but it's just as important for you to have commercial auto insurance coverage.
The first thing that usually comes to mind when you think of auto insurance is the type you need to legally drive your vehicle but there is another type. Commercial auto insurance can also refer to the insurance designed to help drivers out when they have a roadside emergency. It's not required by law to have it but it's a great asset for any company. The purpose of this type of service is to help your drivers when they have a roadside emergency.
Depending on the nature of the emergency, this service will get the vehicle back up and running again. If that is not an option, it will be towed to a location where it can receive repairs or whatever type of service you need to get your drivers back on the road as soon as possible.
What Commercial Auto Insurance Covers
If your vehicle breaks down due to a small mechanical problem or when you have some other emergency that leaves you stranded, it's not covered by a regular insurance policy. This is where a good roadside assistance plan can help. If you have any type of mechanical failure such overheating, a belt breaking or the engine not firing, you can use the towing service for these types of emergencies.
If your battery goes dead, you'll receive a jumpstart. If you lose your keys, a locksmith will be sent to your location. They will even send someone out to provide you with two or three gallons of gas if you run out of fuel. If you have a flat tire and can't change it, someone will be sent to your location to fix the flat (provided you have a spare) and you'll be on your way again.
All your driver needs to do is call the number on the card, explain the situation to the representative and they will dispatch someone to their location immediately. The average response time is 30 minutes. Of course, this time may be longer if you're in a secluded area a long ways from any businesses.
How It Saves You Money
Now that you know what it covers, you need to know how it can save you money. Let's say that you have 50 vehicles in your fleet. Three of those vehicles have engine trouble during the month that left the drivers sitting on the side of the road. Another driver accidentally ran out of gas and another one was in a hurry to get to a meeting and locked the keys in the car.
When you add up how much it would cost to tow three vehicles, have a locksmith go to the vehicle to retrieve the keys and factor in the aggravation and time it will take for you to get fuel to the driver who ran out, you can see how this service can save you money.
For one annual fee, all of these problems would be taken care of fast and efficiently with just a simple phone call. If your business consists of fleet vehicles, commercial auto insurance can save your company money but more importantly, it can keep your drivers safe. It's an investment that you can depend on.

Rabu, 07 Desember 2011

Car Insurance Quotes: Cutting Costs for More Affordable Coverage


The quest for low insurance coverage is something each one of us is happy to embark on. The fact is car insurance quotes, and the cost of protecting a car, should not be very high. There are more pressing expenses to worry about, like paying other household bills and repaying loans.

But thankfully there are insurance options available that help to cut these costs. Getting quotes online is the secret, with the variety of insurance companies operating over the Internet more than ever before. The swell of austerity measures that ordinary consumers are setting themselves, means low cost insurance coverage is a priority for everyone.

Still, it is essential that the right car insurance policy is secured from the right insurance company. After all, affordable policies should not simply be cheap policies, the quality of coverage still needs to be good. But how is this balanced achieved?

Getting The Right Coverage

The quality of coverage does not have to be reflected in the size of an insurance premium. When seeking car insurance quotes it is very important to read the details of the coverage rather than simply the price to be paid. Only then can the right policy be identified and the extent of the good deal be known.

Motorists are required by law to be fully insured, and without it, the driver may have to pay any damages following a collision out of their own pocket. In the case of a serious incident, this can translate to thousands of dollars. The good news is that getting quotes online is a fast and simple chore thanks to online companies.

There are two basic types of coverage that should be sought in a car insurance policy. First is coverage for collisions, which involves payment of the costs of repairing damage or replacing the vehicle. The second is comprehensive coverage where replacing the vehicle itself, if it is stolen or written off in an accident, is covered.

How To Save Money

Of course, the size of the premium is telling when assessing car insurance quotes and their relative affordability. But there are ways to save considerably, depending on the vehicle that is to be insured. For example, older cars do not have to be covered for collision or comprehensive insurance to the same extent as newer ones.

The reality with older cars is that their value is much less so it is not considered cost effective to pay for detailed coverage. The amount of premium that is paid over the course of the year can actually be more than the payout should the car finally need to be replaced. In fact, between 10% and 40% on the premium can be saved.

Getting quotes online is certainly easier now than ever before, and raising the deductibles is a simple step towards lowering costs too. It may be worth doubling them from $250 to $500, and in that way save as much as 15% on the car insurance premium.

Other Savings To Be Made

Drivers with experience have many ways to lower premiums. For example, having a proven record as a safe driver positively affects car insurance quotes, while taking full advantage of policy discounts can make a big difference to the overall cost.

But do not forget to take your time in selecting a policy from the array offered by both online insurers and traditional insurers. Getting quotes online is generally the most cost-effective choice, but traditional insurers have some good deals too.

There is no escaping the fact that car insurance is essential, but there is no reason to pay the maximum when so many discounts are available. Knowing where the savings are to be made is the first step towards lower insurance premiums with lowering the level of coverage.