Estrella Insurance Quote Won’t Be Helped By These

August 18th, 2010

Car salesmen are trained to sell.  They want to sell you not only a car, but an unlimited number of extra options as well.  According to Bankrate, Inc.’s article “5 costly car dealer options to skip,” Kamil Skawinski recommends avoiding certain options.  Not only will they not help get a lower Estrella Insurance quote or other car insurance, you will pretty much be wasting your money.

Rust-proofing your car is the first unnecessary option.  Most new cars today have excellent rust-proofing already and you can actually void the factory’s corrosion-perforation warranty by having your car rust-proofed by an outside source.  Skipping this service can save you anywhere from $200-$1,200.  The article recommends avoiding fabric protection services as well.  You can be charged $100 or more for this service that costs the dealership next to nothing and your vehicle really doesn’t need it.

The purchase of paint protection can cost $200, but actually shouldn’t be done on most new vehicles.  Your best bet for protecting your paint is performing regular washing and waxing duties on your vehicle.  While insurance companies like Dairyland Insurance do recommend etching your VIN number on a car window, it doesn’t seem wise to do it at the dealership.  At home kits are less than $50, but you could pay up to $300 getting it done at the dealership.

The thousands of dollars for extended warranties charged by dealerships can be avoided by purchasing a highly rated vehicle and performing its recommended maintenance.  Many experts agree that extended dealer warranties are not worth the cost if you simply take care of your vehicle.  By avoiding unnecessary options car salesmen try to offer you, you’ll save money to put towards car insurance, maintenance, or parking costs.

Car Gap Insurance

August 17th, 2010

Different options are available when one set out to buy car insurance cover for the vehicle. GAP (Guaranteed Auto Protection) insurance is one such option that protects your finances. It is an extra layer of protection for your vehicle’s basic policy. Let us find out whether it is right for your car or not? Find its application in your case in the following points:

First, check your current car insurance policy with your insurer. Some companies may provide Gap insurance as an additional advantage to your current policy. Find out if you are already covered with GAP insurance or not. It is advantageous to get a Gap insurance from your primary insurance company so that you do not have to file more than one claim. Y

Read more…

Do disclaimer boards and warning signs exclude liability for damage from road works?

August 16th, 2010

This is a very important question we would like to discuss as part of the series on Car Insurance, road damage, potholes and the law. After an earlier blog post a visitor to the car insurance blog emailed a reply received from a road construction company. The wording is as follows:

“We refer to the above incident and advise that as our client, …Construction ….Pty, complied with the Contract Conditions with regard to the display of Disclaimer Boards and warning signage at the site of the incident, no liability or negligence can be attributed to them in this matter.
We suggest that you approach your own Insurers.”

We would however like to argue in this blog post that this answer is not the full truth – and that attention needs to be given to more aspects than the mere presence of disclaimer boards and warning signs.

Display of Disclaimer boards and Warning Signs

The display of disclaimer boards and warning signs can be regarded as standard practise at construction zones where road work is being performed. The displ

Read more…

Eastwood Insurance for “Green” Cars

August 14th, 2010

Kelley Blue Book put together their list for the best “green” cars in 2008 and they are still some of the most fuel efficient vehicles today.  There has been an increasing interest in environmentally friendly cars because gas prices are high, the economy has been weak, and people are more environmentally conscious than ever before.  While “green” cars have unique challenges for insurers like Eastwood Insurance, it doesn’t mean that they will cost you more to insure.  They might actually cost you less.

While coming up with their top ten list, Kelley Blue Book looked at fuel efficiency, price of the car, performance, comfort, the utility, and its updated technology.  They compiled their list for new car buyers looking for the total package, not just the fuel economy.  There are “green” cars in just about all categories of vehicles now, even large SUVs.  Compare car insurance offers and you can find great deals for the purchase of a new environmentally friendly car as well as available government incentives.

The Toyota Prius with its 46 mpg is not only the best selling “green” car, it is the most fuel efficient and Kelley’s number one choice.  Honda’s Civic Hybrid is the second most fuel efficient at 42 mpg and is popular with many consumers because it looks like a more traditional sedan.  The third, fourth and fifth vehicles are the smart fortwo at 36 mpg, the Nissan Altima Hybid at 34 mpg, and the Mini Cooper at 32 mpg.  The Ford Escape Hybrid is the first SUV on the top ten list and boasts a respectable 32 mpg.  Honda’s Fit with 31 mpg, the Mercedes Benz E320 BlueTEC at 26 mpg, Toyota’s Highlander Hybrid at 26 mpg, and Chevrolet’s Tahoe Hybrid with 21 mpg round out the rest of the top ten.