Friday, February 9, 2007

The UK Consumer's Guide to Shopping for Car Insurance Online

by Mary Simone

To be truly successful at shopping for car insurance online, the
consumer must find the best deal available on the Internet, not
merely the first offer for cover that appears on the screen. The
good news is that the World Wide Web alleviates the need to
travel from one insurance office to the next, as a click of the
mouse has replaced the need for an afternoon off, a telephone
call, and even a tank full of petro for the car.

It may or may not come as a surprise, but there are quite a few
factors that influence the price and coverage of your car
insurance policy, including the vehicle you drive. If you're
insuring a car you already own, be sure to check with a variety
of insurers for the best deal. If you're out shopping for a new
auto and looking for the best prices, such things as the car's
age, engine size, power, and theft rate each have a different
effect on the overall premium cost.

Another important factor when shopping for car insurance is one
that a driver has absolutely no control over, and that's their
age. For the newer drivers, the lack of experience usually leads
to more moving violation and accidents, which translate into
more claims and loss of funds for the insurer. Generally
speaking of course, the premiums for your auto insurance will
drop as you gain more experience. The average 50 year old
searching for the best insurance deal will be much more
successful, more quickly than someone who has just graduated
from school.

If your auto has a loan on it from a bank or other financial
institution, it's a wise idea to carry "gap cover" on your
insurance policy. This type of coverage will protect both you
and the bank from an accident in which your car is completely
destroyed and the worth of your car falls short of the loan
balance due. If you don't have the proper gap cover, you will be
ultimately responsible for paying the remaining balance of the
auto loan. This is also considered to be "paying for a car you
don't have", so be sure to talk to your insurer about having the
adequate cover to protect both your car and your personal
finances.

Finally, the last bit of guiding involves shopping around and
getting a variety of quotes for an assortment of coverage
options from several different insurers. But just when you
thought the Internet couldn't have made life any easier,
websites devoted to the auto insurance industry pop up to make
comparison-shopping easier than anyone ever thought possible.

About the author:
Mary Simone recommends that you visit
http://www.onlyinsurance.co.uk/ for more information on car insurance.

No comments: