5 Tips for Saving Money on Your Car Insurance

By Doug

Jun

4

In today’s economy, it’s good to know that there are car insurance companies that offer special incentives that help save you money. A simple Internet search will give you an idea of what to look for and where to find the best insurance packages.  Thanks to car insurance comparison engines you can get a pretty good idea of the different rates that different providers will give.  The last time I purchased car insurance there were very large spreads between providers, so much so that I was upset at my previous provider for charging me so much money.  Lesson is, do your due diligence before deciding on a car insurance provider.

The following 5 steps will help your search:

1. Pay in Full
While this may seem like a big expense upfront, in the long run it will help save you money. With installment payments there will be an added cost above the usual interest rate that accrues with monthly payments. Many companies also add to the incentive of paying in full by giving you a discount for upfront premium payments.  If you have the money, it’s worth paying it all upfront.

2. Good Credit Scores and Other Incentives
Whether you choose to pay your entire premium upfront or in installments, there are many insurance companies that provide incentive discounts for those with good credit. The theory behind this is that a good credit score policy holder is less likely to file a claim. Other discounts are generally provided for students and senior citizens as well. Make sure you ask what discounts are available for your different situations and compare each company on these merits.

3. Premiums May Be Affected By the Vehicle Model
Many insurance companies base their pricing on the year, make, and model of your vehicle. While they generally keep the specifics of their rating system a secret it’s always important to add the car description when comparing policy costs due to the type of car you are insuring.  Logic here is that certain cars will have more/less maintenance needs which could result in losses for the insurance companies.

4. Make Sure you Won’t Be a Victim of Diminished Value
One of the most overlooked examples of loss of insurance value in a new policy is the result of a previous accident. Make sure you ask about any diminished value clause that may bring down the value of your policy. Remember that there is no regulated system for evaluating your vehicle. If you settle on a company that does have a diminished value clause then ask about “Gap Coverage,” which will give you added value to your policy.

5. Ask About a First Accident Forgiveness Plan
This is offered to alleviate a raise in insurance costs should you be involved in an accident that isn’t your fault. It is for first time accidents only.
Make sure you do your research for the best deals and incentives possible and above all check the positive ratings of any auto insurance company before proceeding.

 

Matthew Howell is a contributing writer for Kanteix.ca.

 

How to Start Your Own Moving Business

By Doug

May

16

Whenever you decide to begin your own business, you are faced with a variety of emotions. It’s normal to feel excitement, fear, nervousness and apprehension. Making that first decision to break free into the world of entrepreneurship is invigorating and often times somewhat overwhelming. Once you can push through these emotions however, approaching your new business with a clear mind is extremely important.

Setting up the Accounting

For those who would rather produce rather than create a paper trail, the most mundane part is usually the bookkeeping. Tracking money in (accounts receivable) and tracking money out (accounts payable) will be a lifelong process of any business with the goal to acquire more money in than out and of course, this is the point of owning your business and one you likely want to monitor carefully.
Long before your company ever acquires its first customer, you will be putting entries into its ledger for accounts payable. Start up costs will likely be your first expense and in the case of starting a moving business these purchases can include supplies to track accounting whether you do it personally on a computer, in paper and pen with a ledger, or with the services of an accountant your company hired.

Spreading the Word About Your Business

Advertising and marketing will also be a vital necessity because the company will need to establish a customer base to market its services. You need to put money in to see the results since a business isn’t successful without a base of customers who will pay the company for its services or product – that’s profit. As the owner of a business, the company’s profit will be the source of your revenue as well. Fortunately with the widespread accessibility of the Internet, there are many ways you can advertise without spending money. BackPage.com and Craigslist.org are two of the most well know platforms.

Finding a Truck

Purchasing a truck that is right for the business requires some thought as to what you will be hauling. Load bearing capacity, ease of maneuvering, gas mileage, durability and efficiency are some of the most important qualities to consider. Of all the decisions made, the truck purchase will prove to be one of the most vital. So make sure when you purchase your truck or trucks, that you purchase the best your resources can sustain because it will provide your company the basis of its operations. One great place to begin your search is at a used truck dealer.

Don’t neglect the other important considerations in your dream of starting up your new business, but make sure you get the best truck for your buck. The moving company’s truck will take it far so purchase it wisely!

Janice Robertson is an entrepreneur and contributing freelance writer for truckertotrucker.com.

Prioritize Your Vehicle Transportation Needs

By Doug

Oct

4

There are a number of options for transporting cars, trucks and other large and/or awkward items. These options are available for business needs as well as those of the private individual. And for both categories, there are some standard considerations and decisions to make regarding the services you might choose. Generally speaking, the individual is going to opt for the least expensive option, and this is usually going to be performed by another individual. However, if you find a quality online bidding service, it is also possible to find great deals in fleet options. This is one of the reasons why an online auto transport site is an excellent resource. It will look into your options for you and frequently find companies that will bid for your order.

Once you have established your transportation priorities there are factors that will interact and determine the status of others. This means that if your budget is your greatest concern than you might have to make compromises on truck and trailer features and possibly time frames of pick up and delivery. This is due to the obvious reason that certain trailer outfits are going to offer different features and have different prices. In addition, various trucks and trailer models can travel better at different rates of speed . So, if your priority is full enclosure and no exposure to elements and maintaining a mandatory asap delivery time frame than you will likely have to compromise on budget restrictions. In transportation, everything is related you need to establish your priorities before anything else.

The Different Needs of First Time and Experience Tire Purchases

By Doug

Apr

23

Selecting the appropriate tire for your car or truck can be a confusing and somewhat complicated decision that is faced by most drivers at some point in their driving career. With a little bit of expert guidance, which should be provided by the best tire sales staff and stores, any driver can walk out with the best quality and affordably priced tire for their particular vehicle. This is an important assurance for new tire purchasers who often have no idea what the different descriptive terms mean, or what is considered important in buying a new tire. An experienced and attentive sales staff can make an important difference in this first time buying encounter and consequently can determine a one time sale or a life long committed consumer relationship.

After a person has had an introduction to tire purchases and has a bit of experience under their belt, the process of selecting new tires generally becomes somewhat exciting and something many people enjoy and even look forward to. Finding the perfect tire and wheel for your car or truck is an essential feature of its functioning and also its appearance and many vehicle owners are equally concerned with both. At this point in their buying careers, people are comfortable enough with their ability to choose the right tire for their vehicle and generally begin to seek out the best options for finding great tires on sale .

After finding the right price range and already being aware of the style, brand and size of tire a consumer is looking for, decisions might still need to be made. As in most things in life, tires are not created equal, and two seemingly similar and for all practical purposes equally functioning tires, might find themselves loved by one person and completely ignored by another, depending entirely on that person’s taste. And this is where the quality and price of the tire is left behind and the exact taste and preference of the consumer comes into its strongest priority.

Proper Maintenance of Tires

By Doug

Sep

1

How does one go about maintaining the integrity and the life of their discount tires? This is an important element of overall car maintenance which will not only lead to a safer time on the road but will serve to increase the life span of those tires. It is important especially in extreme temperatures such as a Chicago winter or a Phoenix summer, to check the pressure of the tires once a month.

At the same time one can look over the general tire for any evidence of wear such as punctures, cuts, or nails, as well as keep up on any unusual signs of irregular wear. Should one notice that the wear is not even, it is best to get the tires rotated or to have the front end alignment of the vehicle checked out. It is also important to have the tires properly balanced as this will also affect the wear on the treads. Even if one is not noticing the signs of wear it is a good idea to follow the suggested schedule in the owners manual as to when to regularly have the tires rotated.

It is good to wash the tires with soap, water and a brush with soft bristles and there are many products on the market that will serve to protect the tires from the elements and increase their life span. Other aspects that affect the tread of the tire aside from proper care, are geographic and atmospheric conditions of the region in which one lives, the drivers individual habits when on the road and the compound of the treads. Exact life of a Cooper tire in terms of just mileage is very hard to predict, as these factors make a large deference one each tire. If one’s driving habits include peeling out or speeding, the life of the tire will be severely diminished, that is why it is best to go over the tires each month so that there are no surprises.

Checking the Condition of Used Cars

By Doug

Aug

3

When looking for a used sports car for sale, one should take about thirty to forty minutes to look over the body of a car. One should look at the condition of the body and the interior of the vehicle. The way in which these aspects of the car have been cared for by the previous owner will give one an idea of how they may have taken car of the engine of the car as well. Rust is an element that will continue to reappear on a car once it has taken hold. Corrosion even when repaired will continue. And if there is rust along the body, on the doors or the fenders, most likely there is corrosion in the undercarriage of the car which would be extremely costly in the long run and could even make the car a hazard to drive. The lines of the body should be perfectly solid and straight. If there are ripples along the body, or if the paint looks to be different in any way, either in the color or in the shine, this can be and indication of repairs made following and accident. Also indicative of an accident is the width of the gaps between the panels of the body. All should be exactly the same, differences in the width of the gaps is an indicator of a car that has experienced body damage.

The interior of the car should also be given a close inspection. One should check the wear and tear on the seats, the upholstery, the dash board and the seat belts. If it is noticed that the seller uses an air freshener, that could mean that there is an odor in the car that may be difficult to be rid of. The trunk could also reveal previous water damage, based on the smell. If there is a mustiness to the trunk, it is not a good sign, and could mean that there is a leak. And although it sound simple, one should walk around the car, making sure that the key works in all the locks and that the doors open and close freely. Pay close attention to ensure that all of the gauges on the dashboard are in working order and that the odometer does not exhibit signs of tampering. It is wise to take the car to an Auto Zone, which will provide diagnostics on the car using their computer. These are simple visual details that will reveal a lot about how a car was cared for, and things that even those without knowledge of the mechanics or the engines of cars can look for. And if one does not know about car engines, just bring someone along when when considering the purchase of a used car.

Americans and their vehicles

By Doug

Jul

3

Everyone has a car that they wish they could have. And the one that you pick really does say a lot about you. Are you more in the classic vein? Say a 1965 Mustang, or do you dream of a car with big rims, and Escalade with televisions and an Xbox in the backseat?

Or perhaps you just dream of having a new car. Generally, Americans replace their cars more often then they replace their mattress. Doesn’t that say a lot about us as a society, ha!

These days with all of the focus on the environment and environmental issues, Americans are being told that they need to buy smaller cars. Not only because of the environment but after last summer’s record high gas prices, a glimpse into the future shows that cars with 20” rims may not be the soundest investment.

But, Americans have never skimped on their creature comforts. We are a culture that is obsessed with customization, from our cell phones to our cars. We want the custom wheels, we want a little bit of a chance to stand out.

The most apparent example of this the cars that are manufactured by Scion. The cars can be completely customized and start in varying price ranges. The price goes up based on the customizations that the purchaser requires or desires.

No matter what your dream car is, or the car that you drive now, it can say a lot about how you are feeling toward the environment and the issues with gasoline.

Americans drive bigger cars because the roads allow it. Roads were not built in Europe for SUVs and if you have ever seen a Smart Car driving in a busy intersection in the United States, one cannot help but wonder how that car would fare in an accident with a Ford Excursion.