Car Insurance Comparison – 3 Steps to Multiple Quotes

By: Barb Dearing

Are you part of the 75% of consumers who don’t shop for an annual car insurance comparison? If so, don’t feel guilty — shopping for car insurance takes time and multiple quotes can get mighty confusing. At least, that was true of the old-fashioned way where you had to pick up the phone and power dial half-a-dozen different agents to get quotes.

But the times they are a changin’ and now it’s possible to complete a car insurance comparison in less time than it takes to drink a cup of coffee. How, you ask? Online, of course! Your car insurance comparison can all be accomplished quickly and painlessly if you fire up your computer and follow the three steps outlined below.

Step 1. Gather some basic personal information before you start. You will want to have: a copy of your current car insurance policy (so you can refer to current coverage amounts); the make and models of all cars being insured; a history of accidents or other car insurance claims over the past five years (for each driver being insured). It’s also helpful to know the approximate length of time you’ve been insured with your current company — you’ll get a better quote if you haven’t been switching around between companies.

Step 2. Now it’s time sit down at your computer and choose an online insurance quote provider. These are companies who have relationships with dozens, perhaps hundreds, of major car insurance companies. By using an online quote provider, you aren’t limited to getting quotes from just one company. And we all know that competition results in lower prices, so it’s in your best interest to get quotes from as many different companies as is feasible. But limit the number of quotes you get to seven, or you’ll burn a few brain cells trying to compare them.

Most online quote provides will match you with at least five different insurance companies. These companies can range from small independent agents who are located near you, to the very largest insurance companies who do business in all fifty states. Depending on the state where you live, you may also receive a quote from one of the strictly online companies like Esurance (but these companies are not licensed to provide insurance in all fifty states).

If you aren’t sure which online quote provider to use, there is one recommended at the end of this article.

3. Now it’s time to actually complete the online application. The good news — you only have to fill out one application in order to receive multiple quotes. Complete the application as completely and honestly as possible. The insurance companies will use the information you submit to provide their initial quotes, but they will verify all of your personal information before agreeing to a final policy. It’s important to remember that an online insurance quote will save you time, and probably money, but it’s not an opportunity to defraud the insurer.

Once your application has been submitted, all you have to do is sit back and wait for the quotes to start coming in. You’ll probably have the first one in your email box within the hour. Once you receive at least five quotes, you should have a pretty good idea of your best car insurance rate. If it’s been a few years since your last car insurance comparison, chances are, you’re looking at savings of about 15% on your car insurance. Now wasn’t that worth an hour of your time?

If you need to find a reliable online quote provider, please visit the website recommended below.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/auto_and_trucks/article_2501.shtml

How To Find The Best Car Dealers In Your Area – Top 5 Tips

By: Alex Baumm

Buying a car would be made easier, more reasonable and more convenient if you would just prefer to buy from the best car dealers. However, because of the numerous car dealers currently operating in the market, it can be inevitable for consumers to feel a little pressure and confusion when finding and choosing one.

If you are planning to purchase a used car in the near future, you should start looking for the best and most reliable used car dealers in your area. As much as possible, make sure the dealer is operating within your area or community. Otherwise, the deal, no matter how good and attractive it is, would be rendered futile.

How could you possibly find and select the best dealer as you prepare to acquire the car of your choice? Here are some useful guidelines and suggestions.

1. To find a complete list of used car dealers in an area, it would be better if you would employ the use of yellow pages or a Craigslist, which is an online version of the yellow page. Contact details as well as office addresses are provided for your reference. Thus, you could easily contact the dealers if you are aiming to start negotiations for possible price adjustments.

2. Get quotes from four or more dealers. This is the process of comparison shopping. If you think it is a hassle, you can get quotes through the telephone or through online means. On their Websites, dealers usually disclose their terms and tenors for car financing and selling transactions. When doing such a comparison, you are instantly and more clearly determining which quotes from which dealers would be practical and reasonable for you.

3. It would also help if you would heed the advice and recommendations of experts, peers and colleagues. It is a common that people look at actual experiences of others. In this case, you can ask other people over practicality and effectiveness of a dealer. In so doing, you are instantly gaining information on whether a dealer you are eyeing is likely to be the best or not. Actual dealership experiences from real people you know would somehow give you further enlightenment regarding the planned transaction.

4. Check on the securities and exchange commission or the city/municipality registrar over the legality of the used car dealer. Of course, it is logical and wiser to conduct business with legal and duly recognized car dealers. Need it be emphasized? Unregistered car dealers might offer more attractive and irresistible packages, but in the end you should ask yourself, is the risk all worth it? Of course, it is not.

5. Check on the showroom and the car list of the car dealer. The best car dealers always have interesting and updated lineup of product offerings. If you are targeting to purchase a car model that is not displayed or available in the showroom, ask the dealer if ordering the car from the manufacturer would cost additional charges. If the used car dealer asks for further fees, drop it. The best car dealers would always conduct themselves appropriately and offer no additional charge for such a service.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/auto_and_trucks/article_2386.shtml

Save Your Money – Import Your New Car Into Canada Yourself Without The Need For A Broker

By: Robert C.C. Lamb

It is not difficult to import a new car into Canada by yourself. In the process you should save yourself a fair chunk of money. The steps are fairly simple and straightforward. It simply comes down to following the rules as laid down by the Canadian government agency – the Riv, which is the (Canadian Registrar of Foreign Motor Vehicles). The Riv publishes a list of “Motor Vehicles Admissible from the United States”. Follow this list, and in addition ensure that you have completed any additional requirements from your local Canadian province or territory (For example Northwest Territories, the Yukon and Nunavut). It’s no more complex than this procedure. It should be noted that to import a new car without the use of a professional auto import broker is relatively easy and straightforward. If you have a more exotic or challenging case then you may wish the services of an established, professional automotive broker and / or importer. If you are importing a used car, then it may not be as simple a matter of importing a new car, where everything is relatively new and standards and procedure have all been set and established by the government agencies. In such a case as well you should consider the services of a broker. In the end it may be an easier and less expensive route.

The main webpage of the Registrar can be found at the website: http://www.riv.ca/english/html/how_to_import.html

The specific list of vehicles admissible to Canada can be found at: http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/impusae.htm

The list is available in simpler html format at: http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/VAFUS/list/menu.htm

And a more elaborate html format at: http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/VAFUS/list/menu.htm

Basically the list is composed of a few columns. Admissible vehicles, inadmissible vehicles and a column for “notes”. Simply put ensure that your vehicle that you wish to purchase and import is listed in the “admissible” section , not listed ( pay special and specific attention to year of manufacture) in the “inadmissible section” and lastly that there are no special notes referring to your vehicle of choice, in the area marked “notes”. If you are unsure or need clarification, it is always better in these situations to be safe rather than sorry. Call or email the registrar to confirm and clarify. A car stranded on the “other side” of the border is of no use to you. You will be left with no car to drive in Canada and a car that must be sold to a person residing in the United States. In such a case you will to go through the trouble and expense of having to sell the car to a willing American buyer – perhaps for ease of sale sold on eBay. Again the key is to do your homework as well as taking the time to check and verify. By doing so you should be able to easily import your new car, at less cost than you would pay otherwise, with little trouble and fuss.

If your vehicle that you plan to import into Canada is less than 15 years of age you will have to find out if it qualifies for importation under Transport Canada’s Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) program. The RIV’s program is set up to ensure that qualifying models imported into Canada are modified , inspected and certified to meet Canadian standards, You can most easily visit the Riv site online at http://www.riv.ca/. Alternatively you can phone the toll free number, email or snail mail.

The key question to have answered on the Riv site or in direct communication with the Registrar of Imported Vehicles that your car, truck or S.U.V. is admissible for importation into Canada according to the gold standard – “Transport Canada’s List of Vehicles Admissible from the United States. Next it is essential totally that your vehicle is NOT on the Inadmissible List. This Transport Canada list is your bible for importation of your vehicle into Canada without a broker. Lastly ensure in the third column marked “notes” that there are no overriding further restriction in regards to your vehicle and that any modifications noted and insisted on in the column can be completed as well as accomplished within a cost factor within your choice and budget.

Assuming that you have accomplished all the above. Before your vehicle can leave the United Sates it must be cleared for export by U.S. Customs. Fax the bill of sale, title and relevant documents to the appropriate U.S. Customs office at least 72 hours prior to your arrival at U.S. / Canadian Border.

Your next process will be to clear Canadian authorities. Again if you have prepared the proper documentation – Bill of Sale , title , clearance letter from the U.S. Customs office and a recall clearance letter on official letterhead from the dealer or manufacturer of the vehicle stating that all recalls have been performed on the vehicle. You will be asked to pay approx $ 300 Riv fees at that time, GST (General Sales Tax) on the price of the vehicle. If your vehicle was manufactured in the NAFTA (North America Free Trade) areas of the United States, Canada or Mexico you will not pay additional import duties and taxes on the vehicle, which are generally about 6 %. Depending on your geography and jurisdiction you may or may not have to pay provincial sales tax at the time point or later when the car is registered and licensed. Lastly if your car has air conditioning installed you will be asked to pay an excise fee of $ 100.

You can now cross the border. You are almost home free. Riv has appointed the national automotive chain Canadian Tire to conduct the final inspection of your vehicle and perform any modifications required. The fee of inspection is included in the Riv fee at the border. Any modifications or work necessary is at your expense. In the case of some luxury brands inspection, modification and certification can only be done at factory authorized retailer. You can only be given the essential recall clearance letter until this authorized dealership route is completed.

The Riv has appointed the national automotive chain Canadian Tire to conduct the final inspection of your vehicle and perform any modifications required. The fee of inspection is included in the Riv fee at the border. Any modifications or work necessary is at your expense. In the case of some luxury brands inspection, modification and certification can only be done at factory authorized retailer. You can only be given the essential recall clearance letter until this authorized dealership route is completed.

You are now cleared, almost at the successful completion of importing your new car into Canada, without a broker. The final step is to register and license your new vehicle in your local provincial or territorial area. You have imported your new vehicle – all without a professional import car broker. It is all a process, which is carefully outlined. Follow the steps. If you are unsure – call or email. In the process you will have your new vehicle and saved a lot of your hard earned money.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/auto_and_trucks/article_2363.shtml