Auto Insurance Secrets

Archive for the ‘Insurance companies’ Category

Rates on your auto insurance quotes for your motorcycle have many determining factors.  Some of these include the type of motorcycle you drive, your experience with driving a motorcycle and your driving history. Another thing insurance companies consider when calculating your quote is what type of training you have had in driving a motorcycle.  DMV’s and other safety classes offer classes that educate you on the particulars of driving a motorcycle.  Having this type of course under your belt may lower your auto insurance quotes.  It’s important to keep any certificates you may receive to prove your class registration. Many auto insurance companies offer motorcycle insurance, including Dairyland Insurance, which is a subsidiary of Sentry Insurance, a parent company.  They specialize in motorcycle insurance as well as other forms of non-standard auto insurance protection.  They have been rated very strong by Standard and Poors for the last 5 years for their excellent business.  About 20% of their customers live in Florida but they are licensed in many states.

The agricultural risk management company, Acceptance Insurance, offers insurance products and provides property and casualty insurance as well. Acceptance Insurance provides insurance under two insurance company subsidiaries called American Growers Insurance Company and Acceptance Insurance Company.  AGIC provided insurance products before stopping operations back in 2002.  The District Court of Lancaster County, Nebraska placed AGIC into rehabilitation December, 2002. Acceptance’s only operation remaining is AIC which is under administrative supervision.  They continue to control the run off of discontinued and sold companies.  Because of drought and inadequate growing conditions, AI also divested American Agrisurance which is its crop insurance business.  AIC sold its property and casualty operations to Hannover Re and McM.

According to the article “Credit Scoring Is Hurting Customers” found on sacbee.com from The Dallas Morning News, even if you are a responsible driver you may end up paying higher car insurance rates if you have blemishes on your credit file.  Whether or not this is fair is currently a huge debate.

The Dallas Morning News analyzed the insurance industry and found that people with poor credit paid 35% more on home and car insurance.  In certain cases, the insurance rates were more than double people with good credit, even if they had similar claim history.  This just goes to show how crucial it is to stay on top of your credit score.

Auto insurance companies believe that using credit as a risk factor helps to identify higher risk customers.  They cite The University of Texas research that shows drivers with lower credit ratings file more claims with their insurers.  They say that if it weren’t for the credit rating factor everyone would pay higher rates.  Credit scoring is no where near an exact science and can often hurt good customers.

As you are shopping around for car insurance quotes try to identify if your credit may be affecting your premiums.

Auto insurance rates are expected to rise up to 19% for Ontario drivers.  The average Toronto area driver may see rates increase by up to 14% according to the article “Auto insurance rates to rise as much as 19% in Ontario” on GlobalToronto.com.

Ten auto insurance companies, which serve more than a fourth of Ontario drivers, have been approved to raise their auto insurance rates once again.  One of the reasons for the increased rates is the cost pressures being placed on insurers.

It’s important to keep prices in perspective though because auto insurance rates are still relatively low when compared to previous years.  When compared to the cost of living, rates are reasonable.  Finance Minister Dwight Duncan plans to announce changes to auto insurance rates during the government’s 5 year review.