5 Common Car Insurance Mistakes To Avoid

Buying car insurance sucks. You hate it. We hate it. Everyone hates it. Unfortunately, however, it's a fact of life, so we wrote this quick guide about how to avoid 5 common car insurance mistakes so you'll be a little less bummed next time you have to go shopping for car insurance.

Buying insurance from the first (and only) insurance company you talk to. This is a great way to get hosed. Go this route and you'll never know if you could have gotten a better deal from another company. Fortunately, gone are the days when you had to call each company to get a quote. There are plenty of services and websites that allow you to type in your information once, and then have a wide variety of insurers get in touch with you. Before you know it, you'll have a plethora of quotes to choose from, and you'll know you're getting the best deal.
Buying the cheapest policy you can find. I know, I know, the last mistake dealt with getting the best deal possible. However, the best deal doesn't always mean the cheapest. You see, there are a lot of unscrupulous, careless, or just plain clueless insurers out there, and while they may offer the cheapest rates (because that's what it takes to keep adding new customers when you're a crappy company) you'll get what you paid for: poor customer service, slow/nonexistent payment on claims, and an overall unpleasant experience. How do you avoid this? Check out car insurance reviews on the internet to see what industry experts and real customers have to say about the companies you're looking at.
Buying/not buying comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage means you'll be covered in case of theft, natural disaster, or personal carelessness or negligence. Basically, almost everything but accidents that aren't your fault. Now, it makes sense to get this coverage if you can't afford to fix your car in the event of some relatively minor damage. However, you can save more in the long run if you opt out of this coverage and just keep some money in a rainy day savings account in the event that something happens to your ride.
Not getting all your available discounts. Car insurance companies offer a ton of discounts for all sorts of things, including safe driving, good grades, belonging to an alumni organization, getting a car alarm installed, and many others. Not taking advantage of these discounts is like leaving free money sitting on the table. It's FREE MONEY! Of course it's worth your time!
Making your premium too high. So here's the thing: while your deductible (what you pay out-of-pocket to get your car fixed after an accident) might look uncomfortably high, your premium (what you pay every month to keep your car insured) will go down accordingly. And believe us, you'll pay your insurance premium a lot more frequently than you'll pay for an accident. Take our advice: look at how much you'd save by having a low deductible, choose the high deductible, and put the difference between the two in a savings account until you can afford the high deductible.

Now you're saving money, and you still get the peace of mind knowing that you can afford to fix your car in the event of an accident. So there you have it. 5 common car insurance mistakes and how to avoid them. Just follow these simple tips, and maybe next time you have to buy car insurance, it'll feel a little less like a root canal.

Jeff is a jack of all trades with consulting and contracting experience in fields like high-tech SaaS, insurance, search, Internet search, education, and online retail. He is dedicated to helping people get the best auto insurance quotes available from auto insurance reviews sites.

Learning to Drive in the UK

When can I start?
In the UK you will need to be 17 years of age and hold a UK provisional driving licence before you can legally drive a vehicle on public roads. However, if you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, you can qualify to drive from 16 years of age.

How many lessons will I need?
On average, it is thought that up to 40 hours of lessons alongside 20 hours of practice on your own (with a relative or a friend holding a full and current driving licence) will get you to the stage where you can book to sit your practical driving test. You will not be able to book the practical test unless you have passed the driving theory test.

How much will it cost?
The total cost of passing your test will depend on a number of factors:

• The number of lessons it takes before you are ready to sit your practical driving test.

• The cost of booking a driving theory test (starting at £31.00).

• The cost of booking a practical driving test (NB the cost will depend on whether you sit your driving test on a weekday/evening, weekend or bank holiday).

• Buying, borrowing or hiring a car to get 'on the road' practice.

• Car insurance.

• Learning aids such as books, CDs and DVDs

Unfortunately, no matter what pass rate your particular driving school says it has, there are no guarantees that you will pass your driving test first time. So also factor in the cost of further lessons and the booking fees for sitting any retests. Phew, it's starting to look expensive! You can help minimise the cost of passing your driving test by carrying out a bit of research; speaking with friends and family and using the internet to carry out a couple of quick online reviews. There will be number of driving instructors and driving schools in your local area and it's always a good idea to shop around before you commit yourself to any one driving school or instructor. Also, bear in mind, there are a number of unofficial booking websites giving you the option to book theory and practical tests through their own websites. These websites are perfectly legal. But always check the small print as some may add extra administrative fees on top of the actual booking fee. It is recommended that you book your test directly through the official Direct Gov driving test booking website, so you only ever pay the real cost of booking both driving theory and practical tests.

What to Do and Not Do If You're in a Car Accident

Auto collisions are very trying and stressful situations for everyone involved. However, if you are an adult over the age of 53, there's a 30% likelihood that you will be involved in a collision, so it pays to know the basics of what to do if you're involved in one.

Make Sure You're Off the Road - If it's possible to move your car following a crash, it's vital to be off the road and avoid other cars aggravating the situation or hitting a disabled vehicle. Before calling 911 be sure any vehicle that can get off the road has done so, and that no one is in risk of more immediate harm while the situation is sorted out.

Remember to have your hazard lights on, some people have road flares to make sure they're visible even in dreary conditions.

Call the Police - Whether someone is injured or not, the police need to survey the situation and the damage, and assess citations and fines where necessary. This step is crucial if you hope to report this situation to your auto insurance provider. Without an official police report, you might not be able to use your insurance, which makes you liable for any damages and injuries that might occur.

Do Not Engage the Other Party - While it's vital to talk to the other party in a car crash and see if anyone needs medical attention, you should never argue or discuss the accident with the other motorists until the police arrive to take a statement. Obviously this is a stressful situation, but angry words and frustration will only make it more difficult to sort out the situation.

Contact Your Insurance - Your insurance policy usually includes a towing service or some way to get your disabled vehicle from the crash site to a place where it can receive the attention it needs to get it back in working order as soon as possible.

Find A Good Body Shop - Find a reputable repair shop close to your home. Get your car towed if you have to. The repair shop can usually work directly with your insurance company.

It also never hurts to have modern devices like OnStar or a first aid kit in your vehicle, just in case someone needs emergency medical attention following a collision. To make sure your vehicle keeps you safe, check your breaks, your alignment, and always drive according to the weather conditions.

Getting into a car accident puts a lot of stress on an individual. Your car is damaged, people get hurt and insurance rates go up. Bodywerks of Streamwood is a car collision center that understands what your going through and we are here to help. Getting your car repaired should be the last thing you need to focus on after an accident.

Car Buying and Car Shipping for Single Moms

A single mother is faced with so many challenges. You have so many priorities that it's difficult to pinpoint which one is top priority. It is easy to say your children are top priority, but you cannot take care of them well without maintaining a good job and taking care of yourself. Then there's the family car.

Typically, it is the father that takes care of the family car, which is why anything about cars is quite a stretch for a single mother. You wouldn't normally see a mother tinkering with broken engines and under-casings or changing a tire. Well, it is still best to look for a mechanic when these things happen to anyone. But when buying a car or having it shipped, single moms need to help themselves. Here are some tips for you to help you make both ends meet as you buy a new car or ship your old one to a new address.

Before buying a new car, ask these things to yourself: Do I really need to buy a new one? How much money can I spend? How can I save money?

Buying a car is not a one-time spending responsibility. It involves many other things such as car insurance, gas, maintenance, and paying off your car loan. If you're living in the city where public transportation is easy, you might not need to buy a car at all. Sure it's cool and convenient having one, but can you imagine how much money you can save?

But if ultimately you decide to buy one for the sake of your kids, make sure to make a budget. Don't go out looking for a car with no clear idea how much money you have and can spend. You could end up buying the flashiest new model on in-house loan.

Do some research beforehand and make a list of models that make your budget. Check out review websites on how these models perform on the road or how fuel efficient they are. Prepare cash for down payment. Keep in mind also that you are most unlikely to get bank loan approval if you were living on alimony or child support. If you are really low on cash, why not consider buying a used car? There are good used cars out there, but you might need the help of a mechanic to check them out.

Another task for the single mom is car shipping. Single-parent families typically move from home to home and job to job. Before shipping your car, ask these things to yourself: Can I not drive there myself? How much money can I spend? How can I save money?

If you think you can drive to your new home while hushing your baby to sleep in the backseat then go ahead. Usually, however, this is easier said than done. Car shipping companies are easy to hire and not at all that expensive. For about $800 to $1000, you can completely rely on professional shippers to get the job done while you and your kids take the bus or plane to your new home. Get in touch with a nearby car shipper, inquire about their services, request for a quotation and ask for discounts and freebies.

To find more information about car shipping industry, feel free to read my daily-updated car shipping blog, which provides free information about military car shipping services.

Shipping A Car From US To Europe

Europe and the USA are separated by the Atlantic Ocean, so if you intend on moving to Europe you'll definitely are interested in car shipping in the US to Europe. You will also think it is necessary to know a few things about the rules and the legislation that you'll want to follow to be able to legally be able to drive your car in any European country.

The first issue you need to look after when you choose to ship a car from the US to Europe is choosing the best car shipping company. To become able to perform so, you need to locate a company that handles the majority of the problems involved with a car shipment: offers door-to-door delivery, protects all the applying taxes, includes in the package offered insurance and also the port duty and offers reasonable pricing because of its reliable services.

Another entire chapter involved by shipping an automobile in the US to Europe is represented by the duty and taxes you'll be required to pay. Usually, you will have to pay 17.5% VAT (Useful Tax) along with a duty with a minimum of 10%. These percentages rely on the car's age and considering that the most costly one is the VAT, most people try to look for a way to deal with it. There's a simple way of preventing paying this tax: the vehicle you ship to Europe should be in your possession for at least 6 months before the actual shipping takes place.

To legally ship a car to Europe, you will need to make your car the topic of a Single Vehicle Approval Test. This is a test performed through the Department of Transport which is designed to check if the car you want to ship in the US to Europe meets the required standards. These standards refer to the amount of noise and emissions, towards the kind of seats used to manufacture the vehicle, to its brakes as well as speedometer. These rules are strict and are established by the Eu. The subject of a SVA test are new cars and also the vehicles with under 3 year of usage that an owner wants to ship to Europe. You might wonder what happens should you ship a mature car. Well, the problem gets a bit complicated, because to be able to ship one of these simple cars to Europe you will have to perform some alterations regarding the speedometer (which will have to express the speed in meters each hour), the running lights that some American cars have in their indicators (those shouldn't exist). The entire list should be provided by the vehicle shipping company.

You are also permitted to ship from the US to Europe an automobile which is a right hand drive model. This is actually the case of numerous Japanese domestic models that many American buyers find attractive. Once the car reaches a European country you will have to result in the necessary changes and transform the vehicle right into a left-hand drive version.

I'm sure the cost involved can also be an element that worries you. I will tell you that the car shipping in the US to Europe usually costs between $750 and $2,000. The total amount depends upon the car's size and weight. You will also have to decide which international port works for you and make sure to buy insurance because when it comes to international car shipping is mandatory. The insurance price is usually of around 2% from the car's value.

That's pretty much whatever you ought to know about Europe car shipping.

Tips for Selling Your Used Car for Top Dollar

Over the next six months, gas prices in the United States are expected to rise to over five dollars per gallon, setting a new record for the cost of gas and making it more difficult for the average commuter to even afford to get to work. Because of these anticipated rises in gas prices, older used vehicles are now increasing in demand, because people want cars that can get more miles to the gallon.

Used cars are selling for rates that are well over blue book value, and not just in private sales. Even dealers are getting in on the action and paying out more for trade in value of used cars than they have in years.

If you are sitting on a used vehicle that you want to sell, you could be sitting on a gold mine!

Before you jump up and list your car for sale on craigslist, follow some of these tips to make sure that you get the very top dollar for your used vehicle.

Check out the blue book value of your vehicle. This can easily be done online. Simply have the information about the make, model, and year of your vehicle and find an online blue book estimator. Be honest about the condition of your vehicle when you plug the stats into the estimator to get the most accurate value of your vehicle.
Once you know how much your vehicle is valued at by the blue book standard, look online for vehicles that are similar to yours and see what they are selling for in your area. Consider contacting dealerships and see what they are selling your year, make, and model of vehicle for, and also what they are paying out for your year, make, and model.
Keep your maintenance current. The better you take care of your vehicle, the more likely that you will get a good amount of money for it on trade in. A routine oil change can potentially add thousands of dollars to the value of your car over time.
Fix the little things before you put it on the market. If your AC doesn't work, fix it! If your windshield is cracked, replace it! If the tires are bad, change them! If you have body damage, find a Utah auto body shop and spruce it up! If the interior is dirty, clean it! If the cassette player doesn't work.....well, upgrade to a CD player!

Starting an Auto Mechanic Career

Despite what you may have heard, the automotive industry continues to be one of the largest and most important industries in the world. It's true that the industry (and the car itself) is undergoing many rapid changes, which are creating numerous challenges, but these changes are also providing great opportunities for anyone who has an interest in an auto mechanic career.

Numerous new employment opportunities are being created today by auto trends based on advances in technology, large production overcapacity, heavy fuel consumption, environmental concerns, and a steady retirement of skilled or trained personnel. This means that an already large employee base is set to expand, and well-trained candidates will be highly sought after. Consider recent statistics from Canada, which show that there are 162,000 people employed in auto technical trades in that country. 96% of those employees work full time and more than one-third of those jobs require a skilled trade designation or a college diploma. These numbers reflect similar situations in countries across the western world. What this means is that there are great opportunities for trained, highly skilled auto mechanics. Now is a great time to enroll in an automotive trades training program.

The best auto mechanics training programs mix theoretical class time with hands-on training. Some, in fact, offer an apprenticeship in an auto repair facility, where you can earn practical on-the-job experience while studying. This is highly recommended as it can develop confidence and knowledge, helping you step right into the workforce upon graduation.

Auto Mechanics are usually paid hourly, but some highly skilled mechanics are guaranteed a minimum weekly salary. Some repair shops also offer commission incentives and performance bonuses to make this basic auto mechanic salary even more attractive. On average, Automotive Service Technicians earn between $45,000 and 70,000 per year plus benefits. If you're passionate about cars, this can be a dream come true. Imagine earning a good living while doing something you love - working on cars!

A certification or diploma in automotive trades can help you land a career in numerous car-related outlets, including:
New and used car dealersRetail automotive repair facilitiesCustom and specialty shopsHeavy duty truck repair facilitiesOrganizations with fleet vehiclesAnd more

A comprehensive auto trades training program can also give you all the skills needed to develop your entrepreneurial spirit and skills. Many auto mechanic graduates go on to own and mange their own automotive repair or specialty shop.

Contact The Automotive Training Centre today for more information on automotive training programs.

Philippe Taza is the founder and CEO of Higher Education Marketing, a leading Web marketing firm. Taza has worked in the Canadian Education market for nearly a decade, specializing in Google Analytics, Education Lead Generation, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Mobile SMS Alerts, Social Media Marketing and Pay Per Click Marketing, among other Web marketing services and tools.