|
If you thought your truck">
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
If you thought your truck,
minivan or sport utility vehicle (SUV) was safe from car theft, think
again. These vehicles are the up-and-coming stars in the game of theft
and yours could be next.
|
|
According to the National
Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), three out of the top 10 most commonly
stolen vehicles in 1997 were either pickups or SUV's. Additionally, two
out of the top 25 were minivans.
|
|
Although car thefts
declined by four (4%) percent in 1997, some vehicles are always
more popular targets than others.
|
|
If you have a popular
model, the NICB suggests precautionary measures including removing keys
from the ignition, locking doors, closing windows, hiding valuable items
and parking in well-lit areas.
|
|
If you have a popular
model, the NICB suggests precautionary measures including removing keys
from the ignition, locking doors, closing windows, hiding valuable items
and parking in well-lit areas.
|
|
Owners of the vehicles in
the top 10 list (listed below) should consider using a combination of
anti-theft devices such as steering wheel locks, alarms, starter,
ignition and fuel disablers and tracking devices.
|
|
Is Your Car A
Target For Theives?
|
|
Check out this list and
see if your vehicle was on the top 10 most commonly stolen vehicles for
1997 (according to the NICB).
|
|
Honda Accord
Toyota Camry
Oldsmobile Cutlass
Honda Civic/CRX
Ford Mustang
Toyota Corolla
Chevrolet Full Size Pickup
Nissan Maxima
Jeep Grand Cherokee (SUV)
Ford F150 Series Pickup
|
GET AN AUTO INSURANCE QUOTE...TODAY.
This worksheet is for small to medium size vehicles, pick-up trucks, vans, 4
wheel drives, station wagons used for personal use not related to a business
and registered to you or a family household family member. Insurance is
available in all 50 states. Please complete the Personal Auto Worksheet
below to receive an insurance proposal.
|
Instead of waiting for lower auto insurance rates, there are things you can
do right now to reduce the price of your auto insurance, says the Western
Insurance Information Service (WIIS).
You may not realize it, but your coverage can
vary dramatically depending on the company you choose. The price you
pay will most likely depend on the coverages you request, the kind of car
you drive, your driving experience behind the wheel, your driving habit
(tickets and accidents), the number of miles you drive to work and where you
live.
You should contact your insurance agent or broker
to review your coverages and limits to make sure you understand what you
have and that your agent-broker understands what you want.
Here's nine (9) ways to help lower your auto insurance
costs.
* 1 - Ask for higher deductibles. By
requesting higher deductibles on comprehensive (fire and theft) and
collision coverage, you agree to pay more money out of your pocket should a
claim occur, but you can lower your costs substantially. The number one
question to ask yourself is: "When was the last time I filed a claim?". If
you're like most of us, you haven't filed a claim in over 5 years.
Increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision
cost by 10-20%. Don't be fooled into thinking the change isn't worth it.
With the average new vehicle cost well above $20,000, you can strike it rich
just making the deductible change increase.
* 2 - Drop comprehensive and collision coverage on
your older vehicles. It may not be cost effective to have "physical
damage" on your car if their value is less than $1500-$2000. Especially if
you are driver that hasn't had a claim in the past five years. Most physical
damage claims that exceed 80% of the value of the car work against the
owner. Since that is the normal benchmark for most insurance companies as to
whether they will repair or "total-out" your car. Remember, the lower the
value of the car the less likely an insurance company may be willing to
repair the vehicle. They will most likely cash-out the claim. The end result
is you get current depreciated value (in price) but the real value (its'
usefulness) is lost. Therefore, we suggest you take the difference and bank
it for that rainy day.
* 3 - Eliminate duplicate medical coverage.
If you have adequate health insurance, you should consider dropping your
medical coverage on your auto policy. In those state that have uninsured
motorists, this is also a bodily injury coverage, drop it also. Just be sure
your medical policy doesn't have any policy limitations on injuries as a
result of an auto accident. We have seen some medical policies that limit
the amount of available coverage while injured on a two wheel motorcycle.
* 4 - Buy a "low profile" car.
Before you buy a car, you'd better do your homework! Cars that are
expensive to repair, are a favorite target for thieves, etc., are going to
cost you more insurance premiums. We had a young couple buy one of those
luxury 4wheel drives fully loaded all terrain vehicles. You should have seen
their face when they got the insurance premium bill, $390 a month plus their
$670 - 5 year lease, it was an eye opener.
* 5 - Consider area insurance costs if making a
move.
Costs tend to be lowest in rural communities and highest in center
cities. A simple phone call to your agent about your potential move and you
may discover there's a price break on the other side of the street. Don't
forget, zip code is still a primary rating factor in most states...
* 6 - Take advantage of low mileage discounts.
Most companies offer discounts to motorists who drive fewer than a
predetermined number of miles a year. We found some price breaks occur at
these annual miles: 5000, 7500 and 12000. It's worth the extra time to check
a months worth of driving and see how much you "really drive". You might be
pleasantly surprised and be able to save money too.
* 7 - Find out about safety discounts.
Discounts may apply if your car is equipped with an anti-theft device,
airbags, anti-lock brakes and/or automatic seat belts.
* 8 - Inquire about other discounts. Some
insurance companies offer discounts for more than one owned vehicle
(multi-car discount), no accident in the past three years, drivers over the
age of 50, completed drivers training courses, non-smokers and non-drinkers,
good-student discounts. Valid insurance in excess of 9 years, certain
professional occupations, college degree's, club memberships and homeowner
ownership.
* 9 - Comparison shop!!!! We've found
nearly 80% of all drivers are paying too much for insurance. The reason:
they have not taken the time to shop their insurance price and coverage.
When's the last time you called your insurance agent-broker and told them
you are paying too much for insurance and what can they do to help you lower
your rate? If you're like most of us, you haven't called them in well over a
year. Don't be afraid to check out other insurance companies, their
reputation, financial rating and then see if they can offer you a better
package.
We recommend you take the time to review your policy coverages with your
agent or broker. It's important to shop your insurance premium and coverages
to see if you have the best available.
|
Auto accidents are expensive, but car owners don't
always depend on their insurance company to pay for their damages according to a
new study by the Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA).
One in five car owners paid out of their
pocket for damage to their car or another's car or property due to an accident
rather than file an insurance claim.
The statistics show:
** Many drivers are afraid that their insurer will penalize them for
filing claims by dropping them or non-renewing their policy or raising their
insurance premiums.
** The number of claims files annually grossly under estimates the
actual extent and cost of damage to auto accidents.
However, IIAA said those fears may be largely
unfounded. While it is true that multiple claims are one of the main factors
contributing to high auto premiums, the survey reported that more than 93
percent of respondents have never been dropped or non-renewed by their insurer.
In better news, the survey showed that nearly 85 percent of those
surveyed take advantage of premium discounts offered by their insurance agent or
broker to save money. Also, three out of four car owners said they had reviewed
their insurance policy within the last year.
We recommend you take the time to review your policy coverages with
your agent or broker. It's also important to shop your insurance premium and
coverages to see if you have the best available...
COMPARE YOUR AUTO INSURANCE COVERAGE.
COMPLETE THE WORKSHEET BELOW FOR A NO OBLIGATION QUOTE.
This worksheet is for small to medium size vehicles, pick-up trucks,
vans, 4 wheel drives, station wagons used for personal use not related to a
business and registered to you or a family household family member.
Please complete the Personal Auto Worksheet below to receive an insurance
proposal. We have other insurance program worksheets you can select from
the |
|
According to the National
Insurance Crime Bureau, they estimate property and casualty insurance fraud is a
$20 billion dollar-per-year business.
Staged auto accident such as "swoop and squats",
are attempts to obtain money from insurance companies by falsifying information
on insurance claims and when they work cost taxpayers and insureds alot of
money. Approximately 10-20 percent of all auto claims
arise from fraud. In Southern California, experts cite 25-50 percent of auto
insurance claims are fraudulent as stated by the California Department of
Insurance. Auto fraud takes several forms, including staged auto accidents.
Here's a few examples:
Swoop and squat: Innocent victims are targeted
by organized auto-accident rings. A crime-ring member causes a collision by
stopping abruptly in front of a motorist. Ring members then file claims for neck
pain or other soft-tissue injuries, which are difficult to verify.
Paper Accident: Organized rings and "cappers"
actively solicit others in the community to participate in the creation of
accidents that only exist on paper.
Auto Property: Insureds and/or body shops
fraudulently report that parts of vehicles have been damaged or lost, when in
fact they have not. Insured have fraudulently reported their vehicle stolen or
vandalized in order to collect on insurance.
Who pays the tab for this crime? We all do, said the Western Insurance
Information Service (WIIS). The NICB estimates that fraud adds about 15-20
percent to the average insurance premium, translating into $200 extra per year
per household.
For more information on fraud, contact the WIIS
Pacific Northwest Regional Office at: 11855 SW Ridgecrest Drive, #107, Beaverton
OR 97008. Call them toll free at: 1-800-457-8713. Their e-mail address: wiisor@teleport.com
We recommend you take the time to review your policy
coverages with your agent or broker. It's also important to shop your insurance
premium and coverages to see if you have the best available...
GET AN AUTO INSURANCE QUOTE...TODAY.
This worksheet is for small to medium size vehicles, pick-up trucks,
vans, 4 wheel drives, station wagons used for personal use not related to a
business and registered to you or a family household family member. Insurance is
available in all 50 states. Please complete the Personal Auto Worksheet below to
receive an insurance proposal.
|
In 1996, 5,805 teenagers died in the United States
from motor vehicle crash injuries. An astounding 34 percent of all deaths of
16-19 year olds from all causes are related to motor vehicles.
Due to the statistics which show 16 year olds have
the highest percentage of crashes involving speeding and the highest percentage
of crashes due to driver error, California has a new law that will
restrict teens' driving rights, allowing them more practice time before driving
alone
Today, 15 1/2 year olds can get a learner's permit, and after 30 days and 30
hours of supervised driving, they can apply for a provisional driver's license.
When the teen turns 18, it automatically becomes a regular license.
Unfortunately, for your kids, the new California law will change all of
that. If your teens were born after January 1st, 1983,
they must adhere to the following provisions:
* Teen drivers with learner's permits must wait six months before receiving
their license, and parent will have to certify that the teen spent 50 hours of
supervised driving, 10 of those at night.
* For the first year, the new driver may not drive between midnight and 5
a.m., unless accompanied by a parent or a certified driving instructor who is at
least 25.
* For the six months, the new driver cannot have passengers under 20 unless
supervised. Exceptions include work, school related activities, medical and
family necessities.
Driving is a privilege not a right. Please teach your teens highway courtesy
and make sure they know the rules of the road. |
The holiday season is a time for cheer and
clinking of glasses. However, if you have one too many drinks, the only clinking
you may hear is the sound of a jail cell.
Last December, approximately 35 percent of all
fatally injured drivers had a blood alcohol content of 0.10 or higher, which is
above the legal limit in all states.
The Western Insurance Information Service compiled a few facts to make you
think twice about drinking and driving, or getting into a vehicle with a driver
who has been drinking:
* In the U.S., there is an alcohol related fatality
every 32 minutes, and an alcohol related injury every two minutes.
* Two out of every five Americans will be involved in an alcohol related
crash during their lifetime.
* Even with a blood alcohol content as low as 0.02
percent, alcohol affects driving ability and crash likelihood. The
probability of a crash begins to increase significantly at 0.05 percent and
climbs rapidly after 0.08 percent.
* Being at fault in an alcohol related crash will cause an increase in your
auto insurance premium, as well as a possible stay in jail.
Next time you plan to drink don't drive. Plan ahead so you don't end up
dead. |
Drivers should think twice before they install
on-off switches in their automobile's air bags.
While air bags are credited with saving more
than 2,600 lives through 1997, a new National Highway Safety
Administration ruling will allow the deactivation of air bags through
installation of cut-off-switches.
Though widespread air bag deactivation was considered a viable deterrent to
injuries and deaths caused by deploying air bags, now only those meeting certain
medical or other requirements will be eligible for the cut-off-switches.
Those consumers will be required, under penalty of perjury, to certify that
their condition or situation merits disabling their air bags.
While the switches are necessary for a limited number
of drivers, nearly every motorists can eliminate the risk of injury by buckling
up and positioning themselves at least 10 inches from the air bag.
Drivers should consider the following air bag facts:
* Every passenger should wear a seat belt at all
times. Belts and air bags work in coordination - not in place of one
another. Using the combination of the two reduces the risk of serious head
injury by 75 percent.
* Children belong in the back seat. Of the 49
children killed by air bags, all were sitting in the front seat and 28 were
not wearing a seat beat.
* Never place a rear-facing infant seat in the front
seat of a car.
The impact of an air bag can instantly kill or injure your child.
* Air bags reduce adult injuries and death. Air
bags have reduced death rates by 11 percent for passengers and 14 percent for
drivers in all kinds of accidents.
We recommend you take the time to review your policy coverages with your
agent or broker. It's also important to shop your insurance premium and
coverages to see if you have the best available... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
