When the Sun Set on the British Auto Industry

As in the U.S., the U.K. car industry was once a robust industry that inspired national pride, dominating its home market and setting the bar for prestige and sophistication with brands like Bentley, Rolls Royce, and Jaguar.

At the industry’s peak in the 1960s, a million people made cars in the U.K. — five percent of the country’s total workforce — with suppliers and salesrooms swelling that number. British Leyland alone, which made the iconic Mini, employed nearly 200,000.

But in a scenario that should sound eerily familiar to watchers of the decline of the U.S. auto industry, the management of Great Britain’s largest carmakers proved slow to adapt to changing markets and were handcuffed by their workers as well. Output at overmanned plants was hit by constant labor disputes from the 1950s, making them unproductive and unprofitable. British firms lacked the flexibility to compete abroad even as European manufacturers began targeting the U.K. market with exports of right-hand drive models. And British vehicles often failed the technical standards set by export markets.

Article Source: http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/article/the-decline-of-the-uk-auto-industry/301224/

Benefits of Rental Car Insurance

There are thousands of people who have the passion to drive their car. But having a passion is not just enough; in addition it is also important to have the purchasing power to it as well. In order to fulfill their desire people opt for having car on rental. By this way they make their dream come true.

However, there are several things that one should keep in mind. Like if going for a rental option, is there any insurance protection available or not and many other related factors. For all such things, it is important to know all about rental car insurance. Usually on name of protection, the insurance companies provide the platinum or golden credit card but the question that often comes in the mind of their customers is that is such protection sufficient? Most of the people even treat the rental car insurance option as mere useless. So, here we are going to discuss all about such things only.

Generally the level of protection by the credit card is governed by the company providing it. There are several companies that provide the assurance that the car would be secured until it is in the hands of person driving it on rental. Such facility is generally considered as appropriate for most of the people but they get into the trouble when they come to know about their hidden terms and conditions afterwards.

There are credit card companies offering insurance benefits but their benefits vary from each another. This makes it very important for people to act cautiously when having rental car insurance. For having the best insurance option for rented vehicle, the first and the foremost thing is to read the offer document carefully before actually going for it. By this way you would be able to get away from several surprises afterwards.

video: get low premium auto insurance

Keeping Insurance Premiums Down

Insurance is a large portion of the cost of running a vehicle today. Many of us will pay monthly as we simply can’t afford to shell out a lump sum for the whole year, which means we could end up paying more overall.

Choose your vehicle wisely
When buying a new car, take into consideration the insurance group. Some cars are much more expensive to insure than others. Each model of car is given a grouping, from one to twenty. Cars in the higher groups are typically high performance models and more likely to cost insurers more in claims. Factors that determine which group a car falls into are as follows:
- Damage likelihood and parts cost
- Repair costs and times
- Value of the car new
- Body shell availability
- Car performance
- Car security

Consider where you park

If possible park your car in a garage or on the driveway. If you park in the street your insurance will cost more, as there is more risk of damage.

Keep an accurate record of mileage
When getting a quote for insurance you will always be asked to provide an estimated mileage for the year. Calculate accurately how many miles you travel each day. If you overestimate you could end up paying an unnecessarily high premium. Underestimate, and it could cost you more if you claim.

Limit additional drivers
The more drivers you add, the higher the risk for the insurer. Quite often drivers will want to be added to your policy as they can’t afford their own insurance, but this could be at your expense!!

Limit modifications
Some changes will have little effect, but others will boost the price considerably. Many insurers do not insure vehicles that have had certain types of modification, and this could also limit your choice when choosing a policy.

Protect your No Claims
It can put a little extra on your premium to protect your no claims, but if you have full no claims entitlement you could receive around 60% discount.

Increase your excess
In the event of a claim, regardless of whose fault it is, you will have to pay an excess amount towards the damage, the amount however is usually variable. If you increase the excess it will bring the cost of the policy down, you will need to weigh this up against the possibility of making a claim, but the higher the excess the more you can save.

Compare quotes
Most people only get around 3 quotes when searching for their insurance . There are hundreds of insurance brokers out there, and therefore hundreds of policies to choose from. To get the best deal contact as many different insurers as possible for a quote. Comparison sites are great for comparing quotes as they provide prices on behalf of lots of different insurers. www.motorinsurance.co.uk is one of these sites.

Pick the appropriate Cover
Remember that while some insurers appear to be giving you a good deal on price, you will need to consider what’s included – it’s all about the best cover you can get for your money.
Before getting a quote make a list of all the items you want covered, i.e.:
- Legal expenses
- Breakdown assistance
- Possessions cover
- Personal injury cover
- Windscreen cover
- Courtesy car
These may be extra to the core policy, but by doing this you can ensure you get quotes on a like for like basis, and that you only pay for the items you need. You will also need to decide whether to go for fully comprehensive cover, or 3rd party fire and theft.

Improve Security
Working immobilisers and alarms will reduce the risk of your vehicle being stolen / damaged and therefore reduce your premium. You will have to pay to have these fitted, but it could be worth it in the long run. Even a steering wheel lock would be a deterrent for thieves. Security should be a primary requirement if you are buying a new car.

source: motorinsurance.co.uk

Filing an Auto Insurance Claim in the UK

An accident can happen at any given moment, regardless if you're a defensive driver or quite an adventurous one. With a car crash looming just around the corner, having your car insured is certainly an advantage. You may not have to pay for anything, especially if you're not at fault for the accident. Just file your insurance claim properly and you can enjoy its benefits.

Know the Coverage

In the event of an accident, before you start demanding stuff from the insurance company, better know the areas covered by your insurance. A Road Traffic Act Only insurance does not cover hospitalization fees, plus its coverage is limited to about a quarter million pounds. A Third Party Only insurance, on the other hand, is quite comprehensive, covering treatment fees, repairs, and damages. If you opted for extra coverage, nearly every aspect of the accident is covered.

Inform the Authorities about the Accident

In accidents, the police not only deliver justice, they also have perhaps the most important document for gathering insurance claims – the police report. Officers will do a little fact finding to check the damage and who's at fault for the accident. Provide the information asked from you by the officer then secure the name, contact number, and the license plate of the other party. After gathering all the necessary information, a police report will be created.

Call the Insurance Company

Give your insurance company a call once the police report has been filed, or even sooner. Inform them about the accident, so they'll have enough time to process the incident and prepare the corresponding funds. If the other party is proven to be at fault, as stated on the police's findings, you should contact his or her insurance company. Tell them that you're filing for damages and other inconveniences that led you to lose income. Provide them all the necessary information, including some of the details of the police report.

Reap Your Insurance Benefits

With all the reports and information exchanged, the insurance companies will release funds, which correspond to your insurance coverage and the damages you filed. You may need to bring your car to a repair shop, depending on the stipulations of your insurance. But that's okay, since everything will be paid for. Just sit back and relax until the collectibles arrive.

source: articlemonkeys.com

Commercial Auto Insurance - Commercial Vehicle Insurance Quote - Commercial Truck Insurance

We specialize in car insurance! We offer personal auto insurance quotes throughout our site. You can get quality commercial insurance services here. We have partnered with industry leaders to help you find the best rate for commercial auto insurance. We insure all kinds of vehicles; commercial truck insurance, commercial car insurance & tow truck insurance. We aren't just limited there, we cover pickup trucks, cars, vans, and SUVs, some of our available online commercial carriers also insure a variety of heavy trucks and trailers. Semi trucks, tractor trailers, box trucks, and dump trucks can be covered too with multiple vehicle and trailer combinations for insurance coverage.

Through our partners we offer a variety of commercial insurance coverage packages designed to meet your needs, with liability limits up to $1 million CSL, you can get the right amount of protection for your business. Commercial auto insurance and commercial truck insurance, including tow truck insurance are offered in 49 states.

Requesting a quote online will get you the fastest commercial auto insurance quotes directly through our commercial insurance carriers.

Get your free car insurance quotes in minutes.

Get multiple quotes from trusted car insurance companies. With CarInsurance.com, it is easy to compare multiple auto insurance company rates, purchase online, and save $500 a year or more on car insurance!

Because we offer multiple company insurance rates and the ability to purchase each insurance company's auto insurance quote from one place, we are ahead of other online insurance companies. Start your quote to see how companies compete for your business.

Our online car insurance quote takes a few minutes and then we provide rates directly from multiple insurance companies in 60 seconds or less. You can purchase insurance online through CarInsurance.com or licensed agents in our professional sales center are available to help you purchase your car insurance policy immediately.

Our goal is to give consumers all the information and resources they need to make informed auto insurance decisions.

source: carinsurance.com/state/Georgia-car-insurance.aspx

My son just moved to Georgia. He does not have a car, however he is going to get his GA license. Does he have to carry any type of insurance

Georgia does not require a person obtaining a driver's license to show proof of insurance. When moving to Georgia you must apply for a Georgia driver’s license or permit within 30 days of becoming a Georgia resident if you wish to drive upon the highways of this state. If your son is already licensed in his previous state than he should be able to surrender that license to obtain a GA driver's license.

As the Georgia Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) states, your vehicle must be covered with Georgia Liability insurance before it can be legally operated in this state and before a tag can be issued, renewed, replaced or transferred. So you need to insure your car to get it registered in Georgia.

Motor vehicle owners and lessees in this state are required to maintain continuousmandatory liability insurance coverage on their vehicle(s) to:

• Legally drive the vehicle(s);
• Register and obtain Georgia license plates (tags); and,
• Renew, replace, or transfer their existing Georgia license plates (tags).

There is no mention by the GA MVD or the Division of Driver Services (DDS) that auto insurance is required just to have a driver's license. So your son should be able to exchange his out of state license for a Georgia license when he moves there and not obtain insurance since he does not own a car and does not live in a household that has an insurance policy he could be put on.

If he does get a car he then of course will need to get Georgia auto insurance on it. Or if he borrows a friend's car he will need to make sure there is insurance on it to cover him.

Georgia has in place a Safety Responsibility Law. The purpose of this law is to remove irresponsible drivers from Georgia highways and to protect insured motorists from uninsured motorists. In the event your son should fail to satisfy a claim for damage resulting from a motor vehicle accident, and a claim is filed against him under the Safety Responsibility Law, he would receive from the DDS an order suspending his license for one year.

To avoid such a suspension, one may:

• If they were covered by liability insurance, have their carrier file Form SR-21with the DDS, or
• File with the DDS a release, either general or conditional, signed by the claimant, or
• Post security, which may be a cashier’s check, certified check, money order, real property bond or surety bond, in addition to posting of financial responsibility, Form SR-22.

So if he does drive someone else's vehicle he needs to be covered by insurance to make sure he covered and when he gets his own vehicle will need to get insurance so he does not break any Georgia auto insurance laws. If he wants to have coverage without owning a car he could obtain a non-owner's policy.

Non-owners insurance is coverage to give a motorist liability protection for when they are at fault in an accident but do not own a vehicle. Non-owners policies can typically include liability, medical payments, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages.

At CarInsurance.com when we can offer this type of policy in your state then on the vehicle screen it will have the option of choosing "Check this box if you do not own a vehicle and would like to purchase a non-owners policy." Our sales center may be able to assist your son in getting a non-owner's policy if he is interested in it, please call 1-800-964-4849.

If your son wants this type of policy he can see if a non-owners policy is available through our car insurance company affiliates in his area also by clicking here for aquick quote.

source: carinsurance.com/kb/content51815.aspx

First rate increase since 2000

The Saskatchewan Auto Fund is applying to the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel (SRRP) for a rate increase and rate rebalancing which will result in an average increase for customers of 4.2 per cent, effective November 1, 2009.

The SRRP will receive this request on May 1 once they have completed their work on the SaskPower rate application.

If approved, this proposal would result in 553,000 Saskatchewan vehicle owners (55 per cent) seeing their rates increase less than $5 per month, on average $55 annually. It would also result in 321,000 vehicle owners (32 per cent) seeing no change to their rates, and 126,000 vehicle owners (13 per cent) receiving an average rate decrease of $21 annually.

The last Auto Fund rate increase was 2000. SGI offers the lowest average insurance rates for private vehicles in Canada, based on a comparison of the 34 most frequently registered vehicles in Saskatchewan.

"With more new vehicles on the road, the cost to repair vehicles is increasing, and the cost of auto injury claims is growing due to increased income replacement benefits as Saskatchewan’s wages are increasing," Crown Corporations Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said.

"In addition, the Auto Fund’s finances are impacted by changes to its investment income. Investments form a significant portion of an insurance company’s asset base and helps keep auto premiums low," Cheveldayoff said. "The significant downturn in global investment markets in the last half of 2008 resulted in a significant decrease in investment earnings for the entire insurance industry."

Rates are determined based on the actual risk each vehicle make, model and year represents for being involved in a claim and the actual costs of paying that claim. Some examples of vehicle rates, before safe driving discounts, include:

The future's electric for auto industry but barriers may short circuit the sparks, says PricewaterhouseCoopers

The growing potential of electric vehicles is clear from the introductions to the market by both new and established manufacturers, as well as the heavy investment in battery technology. The depth and speed at which electric vehicles will be able to penetrate the market will rely on several factors, but there remains little doubt that this technology will have a significant impact on the automotive industry moving forward. PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates that by 2020, pure electric vehicles (PEVs) could represent between two and five percent of the total output of light vehicles.

Climate change is an inescapable challenge for world leaders and while the issue of global warming remains highly debated, there is evidence to support the environmental impact of carbon emissions. The auto industry is responsible for 15 percent of global carbon emissions, amounting to roughly 8 billion tons annually. Although environmental protection has been the primary driver for change, other factors such as the price volatility of fossil fuels and energy independence have also helped perpetuate a change to alternative and renewable energy sources.

Steve D'Arcy, global auto leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers says:

"The European Union, widely seen as a leader in reducing automotive carbon emissions, has taken additional steps in setting a limit of 120g/km of carbon emissions by 2015, with 65 percent of new vehicles required to meet the standard by 2012. While other developed markets such as Japan are also enforcing tough emission standards, developing markets that have long lagged other regions in terms of enforcement are beginning to catch up and are adopting increasingly stringent emission regulations."

"Electric vehicles are seen as one possible solution automakers can focus on to meet increasingly stringent emission regulations around the world, since electric vehicles release no carbon emissions while running on electric power."

Whole Life Insurance

A Steady Plan for the Future

How Does Whole Life Differ From Term Life?

Unlike term insurance, whole life offers coverage for your entire life. And it accumulates cash value, which is accessible in the form of loans or withdrawals. So whole life can represent a future source of money as well as protection. The premiums are guaranteed to remain the same throughout your lifetime.

Coverage to Benefit Varying Ages and Family Situations

Whole life coverage can be a beneficial option for an array of ages and family situations:

• Customers of all ages may be eligible to apply (depending on the product offered).
• Children and grandchildren benefit because the policy provides for a low premium at a young age, and the premium remains level.
• Young families with limited premium dollars benefit because it provides a simple insurance plan offering financial security and cash values.
• More mature customers benefit because of tax-favored accumulation of cash value and life insurance coverage.
• Premiums are paid over your lifetime, or a shorter period, depending on the product offered.

Accumulation of Cash Values

Cash values accumulate at a fixed rate. The cash value can be used to purchase extended term insurance, or to purchase paid-up insurance, or the policy can be surrendered for its cash value.

source: members.cunamutual.com

Life insurance plans : Endowment Assurance

This type of policy plays two distinct roles.

It provides Life Assurance protection should you die during the term of the policy, which is normally longer than 10 years.

Should you survive to the end of the policy term then you receive a lump sum. This lump sum is known as the maturity value.

As there is an investment element within endowments, normally higher premiums are required to provide for similar levels of Life Assurance protection than an equivalent Term Assurance or Whole of Life policy.

An endowment assurance life policy should not be used as an investment, as there are better alternatives. If you have money to invest, you are likely to be better off choosing other investments and sticking to a term policy to provide your life assurance.

Term life Insurance

Term life insurance or term assurance is life insurance which provides coverage at a fixed rate of payments for a limited period of time, the relevant term. After that period expires coverage at the previous rate of premiums is no longer guaranteed and the client must either forgo coverage or potentially obtain further coverage with different payments and/or conditions. If the insured dies during the term, the death benefit will be paid to the beneficiary. Term insurance is often the most inexpensive way to purchase a substantial death benefit on a coverage amount per premium dollar basis.

Term life insurance is the original form of life insurance and can be contrasted to permanent life insurance such as whole life, universal life, and variable universal life. Unlike permanent life insurance policies guarantee coverage at fixed premiums for the lifetime of the covered individual. Additionally many permanent life insurance products build a predetermined cash value over the life of the contract available for later withdrawal by the client under specific conditions.

Term insurance functions in a manner similar to most other types of insurance in that it satisfies claims against what is insured if the premiums are up to date and the contract has not expired, and does not expect a return of Premium dollars if no claims are filed. As an example, auto insurance will satisfy claims against the insured in the event of an accident and a home owner policy will satisfy claims against the home if it is damaged or destroyed by, for example, an earthquake or fire. Whether or not these events will occur is uncertain, and if the policy holder discontinues coverage because he has sold the insured car or home the insurance company will not refund the premium. This is purely risk protection.

Learn How to Get a Discount from Insurance Companies

Our learning center is dedicated to helping insurance consumers become educated on their insurance needs. Our library of educational material, insurance guides and coverage calculating tools will help you in a variety of insurance situations. The next time you have an accident or need to file an insurance claim you can be prepared. We'll also tell you about what to do when a claim is denied and your rights as a policyholder. You'll also learn how to understand your insurance policy and of course, there are many tips on how to save money on insurance.

Don't pay more for insurance than you have to. Take time to compare your current insurance rates with comparable coverage from other insurance competitors. It only takes a few minutes to select the type of coverage you are interested in, and you'll be on your way to comparing insurance quotes and saving money!

Use Technology to Find an Affordable Coverage

In the past, obtaining insurance quotes was a time consuming affair that involved hours on the phone or lengthy meetings with individual insurance agents. With the technology advancements of today, you can request insurance quotes quickly and efficiently. It only takes about two minutes to fill out the online insurance questionnaire provided on 2insure4less.com. Our cutting edge technology allows you to instantly compare insurance coverage and premium quotes from multiple competing companies. The best part is you only have to enter your information once instead of traveling from website to website. We are not an insurance company, but we offer tips on how to determine the amount of insurance coverage you need.

So, whether you are looking for a cheaper auto insurance rate for an expiring car insurance policy, or you simply want to make sure you are getting the best deal on house, renters, disability, long term care, cancer, burial (final expense), life insurance, and annuity, 2insure4less is here to help both men and women find affordable insurance coverage. Why not see if you can save a little extra money on your health insurance premiums? You have the option of comparing cheap insurance coverage quotes online or speaking with a qualified insurance agent licensed in your state.

source: www.2insure4less.com/