Auto Insurance Agents - What to Expect From Your Auto Insurance Agent

The auto insurance agent is the person who sells you a policy. They answer your questions, handle your claims, and process your payment. We are used to dealing with these car insurance agents face to face and seeing them around the community, but that is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

Car insurance is less expensive when it is purchased online. Since many of the companies that do business online are not located near our homes that means that the auto insurance agent that we deal with may be based hundreds of miles away.

This new system is typically faster, more convenient, and less expensive, but it can have drawbacks as well. Some people simply do not feel comfortable doing business over the phone or online for instance. These people are not saving as much money as they can on their insurance premiums, but it may be worth the added expense for the peace of mind it brings them.

For most of us, however, the Internet is a part of our everyday lives so purchasing automobile insurance online is an easy step to take. It is no more difficult than buying something from your favorite online retailer.

The process is simple enough and most people are surprised at how easy it can be to get multiple online quotes. This can be done by answering some brief questions on a web site and usually only takes a few minutes.

After the quotes are returned the consumer can then see the what the premium will be from many different auto insurers and they can make an informed decision on which company to go with. There is no salesmanship involved in this method so it is a no pressure environment in which to purchase auto insurance.

After the consumer decides which company to use they will then speak to an agent from that company either on the telephone or through the web site. The whole process takes about fifteen minutes and it can save you hundreds of dollars on your vehicle insurance.

Car Insurance - Do Not Invalidate Your Car Insurance by Car Sharing

If you have ever been tempted to reduce your travel costs by entering into a car sharing scheme where you pick up friends or colleagues on a trip to work for example, you must ensure that your existing car insurance covers you and your passengers.

Car Sharing has become much more common in recent years as we all try to reduce our transportation and travel costs, particularly for our journey to work.

Certain large employers are now encouraging the use of car sharing in a bid to appear more 'green' and are even providing the facility in the workplace where you can meet and arrange car sharing with other like minded employees in your locality.

Before you enter into any such agreements with others it would be very prudent to check the policy wording of your car insurance to ensure that you are not breaking the law.There is usually a clause or endorsement or wording within your policy documents which excludes driving for hire or reward.

Check carefully the conditions of the policy wording and the exclusions. Make sure that the criterion of the policy offered is suitable for you.

If you are not sure about whether you are covered or might be breaking the law, always discuss this with your car insurance company or FSA regulated broker as they will be able to provide advice for your particular situation.

If they say that you are covered to drive your work colleague to your place of employment, ensure that they are aware of an exchange of money has or has not taken place for the service.

Always keep a note of the name of the person at the Car Insurer or Brokerage who provided the clarification of whether your car insurance policy covers you or not. Keep a note as well, of the time and date that the conversation took place.

If possible find out what position they hold within the car insurance company and their level of authority.

If they say that charging your work colleagues for journeys to work are acceptable under your current car insurance conditions, it would be prudent to ask them to provide in writing a clarification of the cover limits of your car insurance policy.

When you receive notification from your car insurance brokers or company that the driving for hire or reward exclusion is not in effect on your policy, you are able to provide documentary evidence to your employer or work colleague that you are indeed covered to carry them in your car.

Indeed you are in certain cases allowed to accept payment for driving them on a journey you would have had to make anyway to your workplace, with capital depreciation on your car being the same anyway no matter how many number of passengers, and payment for your traveling time. The money you collect can help towards the cost of next year's car insurance.

So if your Car Insurance company permits it, maybe car sharing can become green and economical.

AUTO INSURANCE INFORMATION

Do I need separate rental car insurance?

Properly insuring a rental car can be confusing, frustrating and downright daunting. Unfortunately, many consumers do not even think about car rental insurance until they get to the counter, which can result in costly mistakes—either wasting money by purchasing unnecessary coverage or having dangerous gaps in coverage. Before renting a car, the I.I.I. suggests that you make two phone calls—one to your insurance agent or company representative and another to the credit card company you will be using to pay for the rental car. Insurance Company Find out how much coverage you currently have on your own car. In most cases, whatever coverage and deductibles you have on your own car would apply when you rent a car, providing you are using the car for recreation and not for business. If you have dropped either comprehensive or collision on your own car as a way to reduce costs, you will not be covered if your rental car is stolen or damaged in an accident. Check to see whether your insurance company pays for administrative fees, loss of use or towing charges. Some companies may provide an insurance rider to cover some of these costs, which would make it less expensive than purchasing coverage through the rental car company. Keep in mind, however, that in most states diminished value is not covered by insurers. Credit Card Company Insurance benefits offered by credit card companies differ by both the company and/or the bank that issues the card, as well as by the level of credit card used. For instance, a platinum card may offer more insurance coverage than a gold card. Credit cards usually cover only damage to or loss of the rented vehicle, not for other cars, personal belongings or the property of others. There may be no personal liability coverage for bodily injury or death claims. Some credit card companies will provide coverage for towing, but many may not provide for diminished value or administrative fees. Some credit card companies have changed their policies, too, so you may not have as much coverage as you thought. To know exactly what type of insurance you have, call the toll-free number on the back of the card you will be using to rent the car. If you are depending on a credit card for insurance protection, ask the credit card company or bank to send you their coverage information in writing. In most cases, credit card benefits are secondary to either your personal insurance protection or the insurance offered by the rental car company. If you have more than one credit card, consider calling each one to see which offers the best insurance protection. At the Rental Car Counter Since insurance is state regulated, the cost and coverage will vary from state to state. Consumers, however, can generally choose from the following coverages: Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) Also referred to as a collision damage waiver outside the U.S., an LDW is not technically an insurance product. LDWs do, however, relieve or “waive” renters of financial responsibility if their rental car is damaged or stolen. In most cases, waivers also provide coverage for “loss of use,” in the event the rental car company charges the renter for the time a damaged car can not be used because it is being fixed. It may also cover towing and administrative fees. Waivers, however, may become void if the accident was caused by speeding, driving on unpaved roads or driving while intoxicated. If you already have comprehensive and collision coverage on your own car, check with your personal auto insurer to make sure you are not duplicating coverage you already have. Should you decide it is necessary, this coverage generally costs between $9 and $19 a day. Liability Insurance By law, rental companies must provide the state required amount of liability insurance. Generally, these amounts are low and do not provide much protection. If you have adequate amounts of liability protection on your own car, you may consider forgoing additional liability protection. If you want the supplemental insurance, it will cost between $7 and $14 a day. An umbrella liability policy, however, may be more cost-effective. Umbrella liability insurance is so named because it acts like an umbrella, sitting on top of your auto and homeowners (or renters) liability policies to provide extra protection including accidents while driving your own car or one that you rent. These policies, usually sold in increments of a million dollars, cost as little as $200 to $300 annually for a million dollars worth of coverage and another $50 to $100 for each additional million. Those who do not own their own car and are frequent car renters, can also consider purchasing a non-owner liability policy. This not only provides liability protection when you rent a car, but also when you borrow someone else’s car. Personal Accident Insurance Personal Accident Insurance offers coverage to you and your passengers for medical and ambulance bills for injuries caused in a car crash. If you have adequate health insurance or are covered by personal injury protection under your own car insurance, you may not need this additional insurance. It usually costs about $1 to $5 a day. Personal Effects Coverage Personal Effects Coverage provides insurance protection for the theft of items in your car. If you have a homeowners or renters insurance policy that includes off-premises theft coverage, you are generally covered for theft of your belongings away from home, minus the deductible. If you purchase this coverage through the rental car company, it generally costs between $1 and $4 a day. If you frequently travel with expensive items such as jewelry, cameras, musical equipment or sports equipment, it may be more cost-effective to purchase a personal articles floater under your homeowners or renters insurance policy. With such a floater, your valuable items are protected at home as well as while traveling anywhere in the world and the coverage is broader. Other Things to Consider States have minimum age requirements for renting a car and most major rental car companies refuse to rent a car to someone who is under 21 and in some cases under 25. In addition, some rental car companies now investigate your driving record and/or credit history so check with the rental car company before picking up the car. If you are planning to rent a car abroad, contact both your insurance agent and travel agent to find out what you need to do to be properly insured. Those driving a rental car from the U.S. into Mexico may find it progressively more difficult to rent a car as U.S. rental car companies are increasingly concerned about the rising crime rates in that country. The minimum required insurance coverage to drive in Mexico is civil liability insurance which covers you in case you cause injury or damage. Your American liability insurance is not valid in Mexico for bodily injury, though some American insurance policies will cover you for physical damage—check with your agent or insurance company representative. You can also buy Mexican car insurance in several American border towns; there are generally several storefronts selling Mexican car insurance near the border.

What Is A Real Time Auto Insurance Lead

There's an awful lot of confusion out there about what a real time auto insurance lead actually is. At InsuranceLeadZ.com the insurance agents that purchase a real time auto insurance lead will get their leads within minutes of the potential customer filling out the questionnaire. After all isn't that what real time means? However, you need to realize that many of the services out there do not actually provide real time auto insurance leads.

Individuals looking for the best auto insurance rates will go to the internet and start shopping. These potential customers fill out a questionnaire on our auto insurance site. Unlike driving around looking or phoning around looking for the best rates, there are no time restrictions. The internet is never closed so these questionnaires are filled out 24 hours a day as individual insurance shoppers seek rate quotes.

When a potential customer submits a questionnaire, our server receives it. Within just seconds it will undergo stringent quality control thanks to the very sophisticated state of the art system we have in place. We will get bogus leads with a phone number or email address that are not properly entered but are system is so sophisticated it instantly finds these leads and rejects them, which means you'll never see them.

Sometimes we get people that are just filling out the form because they have nothing better to do - those leads will be rejected too. We don't want to be forwarding these useless leads onto you, so that's why we are so diligent about checking the content of these questionnaires. But these checks take place in just seconds because of the speed of our servers and our system.

Simultaneously our system verifies telephone numbers and email addresses. Some companies take hours sometimes days to conduct their email verifications because they have very slow servers and limited systems. Not us - we use the fastest, most efficient equipment with the best technology and software that money can buy - which is why our "real time auto insurance leads" are just that - real time.

You've already set up your lead profile so once all the verifications are made the lead is instantly sent off to you which means you'll have your lead in minutes.

Some auto insurance lead provides tell you that there could be delays of hours, sometimes days because of the volumes they do and that they might sometimes be seen as junk mail because of those volumes. Our system is much more sophisticated so we don't have those delays. After all your potential customers want the convenience of a quick quote.

This is the process that goes into a real time auto insurance lead. So you see it's not really "real time" for many of the auto insurance lead companies but at InsuranceLeadZ.com "real time" means just that - right now - within minutes of the actual request for a quote being received.

Now you know just what a real time auto insurance lead is. It's a very helpful tool for building your business and one thing's for sure you should not be running your business without using real time auto insurance leads.

The Importance Of Qualified Auto Insurance Leads

As an insurance agent you wear many hats. But what's really the best part about being an auto insurance agent? Most would agree it's the idea that you know your customer needs insurance if they are going to have a car on the road. It's not a purchase that's optional so if you are treating your customers well and your policies offer great coverage at a good price you can almost guarantee that you're going to have a repeat customer and they'll be little need for you to close a sale. But for those that want to grow their business more, qualified auto insurance leads are very important.

Being an agent is a competitive business so you'll want to find your own niche so that you can take your business to the next level. The best way to do that is ensure that you have ongoing qualifiedauto insurance leads. The combination of an established cliental that almost sells itself with new leads that will bring in new blood gives you the recipe for success.

Here's the dilemma most agencies find themselves in. A client buys a policy and most times you don't see or hear from them until its time to renew their policy, or if they have an accident. That means your staff likely has ample time on their hands where they are twiddling their thumbs. They'll be bored and you'll be loosing money because time is money. So if you have a continuous inflow of qualified auto insurance everybody wins. The office remains busy, spirits are high, staff is happy, and so are you because you're making money.

The only question left is where do you find a continuous flow of qualified auto insurance leads? Actually it's not nearly as difficult as you might think.

One way to find leads is by referral. Get in touch with your current clients and ask them to refer friends. Perhaps you can offer a draw with an entry for each referral or some other method to entice them. When they come into renew make sure to remind them to tell friends and family about you.

There's another great way to find qualified leads. Look for companies that specialize in doing nothing else other than finding targeted qualified leads that you can turn into sale quickly. It's quick, easy, and affordable.

There are several companies offering this service. Be sure to do your research since all companies are not created equal. Take for example, InsuranceLeadZ.com, which spends more than $200,000 a month to market, their services on the search engines. That translates into plentiful, fresh leads that they distribute to clients like you, based on your criteria.

When you have quality auto insurance leads, you have the opportunity to make a lot of sales, and those new clients will become those easy repeat sales each year and so your business continues to grow and prosper. The only question is - what are you waiting for? Why not start generating qualified auto insurance leads today?

Learn How To Get Free Auto Insurance Leads

You're running a business and part of being successful is keeping the costs under control, so when something free comes along you should be getting pretty excited. After all that doesn't happen every day. Perhaps it's time you learn how to get free auto insurance leads.

Okay, now it's time to be a little honest. We all know that there's really never anything that's free. There's usually some time of catch or cost whether out in the open or hidden. So what's that catch? You can't really be getting free auto insurance leads. A dose of skepticism is healthy on the internet. In this case you can relax, because you are actually able to get something for free with no strings attached.

Each and every time you refer a new agent to us at InsuranceLeadZ.com you'll receive $75 in leads. That's right, just for a referral. And since you'll find our auto insurance lead system extremely beneficial, those free auto insurance leads are going to come in handy.

We offer the most detailed leads in the industry, and thanks to the highest technology available we have the least amount of bogus leads too. In fact, in the rare case that you receive a fake lead just tell us, you'll get your money back no problem.

At InsuranceLeadZ.com we offer flexibility with our pay as you go system. You don't have to sign up for the long haul - no contracts, change your leads on the fly, stop for awhile and pickup where you left off when you're ready.

We'll provide you with real time insurance leads, competitive lead pricing, and a free lead management system that makes it easy to keep track of your lead profiles. You even get your very own Agent Consultant to answer all your questions.

You already know that anything you do with your business takes time. So when you make your deposit for the insurance leads you'll be spending money before it makes you any money and this is when people tend to loose interest. It's actually the worst thing you could do. When you decide to use our lead program you need to make a commitment to see it come full cycle, because thanks to real time leads it doesn't take long at all before you see the return.

It's really quite simple. First you will sign up, you'll pay your money, then you will start receiving leads, and the object is for you to turn those leads into sales and close the deals. In no time you're making money off those leads. It's easy to convert because the leads we provide you with are fresh and on average they're only shared with 2.5 other agents.

So while you're busy making money through your new leads, you can also earn extra free leads just by referring another agent to us. Why wait a minute longer? Why let your competition have the edge? If you decide you're ready to make more money right now, then why not sign up today and get busy receiving your leads today.

How To Find Quality Auto Insurance Sales Leads

Building a customer base is an important part of your insurance businesses success. There are different ways to bring those customers to your business, some more successful than others.

We all know how difficult cold sales are and that the close rate for this technique is very poor. After all most of the people you are cold calling on aren't really interested in your services. That means you're wasting an awful lot of time, and since time is money it's not really a good option for generating new business. So how does one go about generating new auto insurance business?

You could do it the old fashion way. Pick up the telephone and start to call people but that's almost as bad as cold calls. Moreover, why would you want to do that when you can use the internet and have a much higher close rate, then using any other method?

Thanks to technology, you now have several options available that make it much easier for you to turn auto insurance sales leads into new business.

Your website is an excellent way to generate auto insurance sales leads, but you can do even better if you also hire a company that specializes in lead generations. An auto insurance lead company like InsuranceLeadZ.com spends as much as $200,000 a month to target and find those fresh customers, and then they hand those leads off to you ready to buy insurance from your agency.

Targeting potential customers that are looking for what you are offering is the first step in reducing the amount of wasted time and effort that goes into finding new customers and building your business. When you combine your website and the services of an auto insurance lead company, you will have optimum targeted auto insurance sales leads, which gives your business an edge over other similar businesses. Now remember not all auto insurance lead companies are created equal so make sure you do compare before you choose.

For example, InsuranceLeadZ.com used the most innovated technology on the market to provide you with more details than any other auto insurance sales lead company, and it also eliminates bogus leads thanks to it's abilities.

Of course, you can't turn every lead into a sale. That would be nice but it seldom happens. However, once you become comfortable with the system you have put into place you'll be impressed at just how many of those auto insurance sales leads you will quickly convert to a sale. And making sales is what it's all about because increasing sales means you have a healthy, viable business.

If using quality auto insurance sales leads sounds like a method, you'd like to use for your business why not start right now? Why waste another day? There are potential sales that could be yours.

How Can An Agent Find Auto Insurance Leads?

As an insurance agent you have many responsibilities but perhaps none as important as new auto insurance leads, because without new blood in your business it cannot grow and flourish. So how can an agent find auto insurance leads?

We've established that without a continuous flow of new leads your business will eventually stumble, perhaps not collapse, but certainly suffer. Thankfully finding auto insurance leads has never been easier, thanks to the internet.

You should consider using an auto insurance lead service. A company like this specializes in doing nothing but capturing leads and then sending them out to those that subscribe to their service. The company providing auto insurance leads does not sell anything of their own, instead simply collecting leads which are then distributed to agents based on their criteria. It's a win-win for both parties and it allows you to specialize in what you do best "provide auto insurance," and it let's them do what they do best "collect targeted auto insurance leads."

Another powerful tool that awaits you on the internet is networking. There are many different forums, you can exchange links with sites that are related to your services, and you can even join one of the social networks. You might consider starting a blog, perhaps even a question and answer service, and of course you should have your own website up and running. We used to hand out a business card to just about every contact we met. Today, you have to be innovative and use that same mentally to exchange names on the web. There are many different options on the internet so take some time to explore them all, or hire someone to do it for you.

Everyone that drives a car needs auto insurance, and they need it on an ongoing basis. It's common for people to shop around to try to get the best rates so they can save. As an agent it's critical to your business that you have a continuous flow of incoming leads. For this reason you shouldn't rely on just one method to collect those leads. Rather you should incorporate as many sources as you can.

With every project you have to start somewhere so why not start by finding a company like Insuranceleadz.com that can provide you with ongoing, fresh, auto insurance leads. These leads are cost effective, save you time, and begin to bring new customers in almost instantly. Why not start growing your business right now? That will give you time to explore all your other options and before you know you'll have a steady inflow of new auto insurance leads.

What Every Agent Should Know About Auto Insurance Leads

Auto insurance leads are the lifeline of growth and prosperity for the auto insurance agent. So we thought there were some things you should know about auto insurance leads, so that you can ensure you are getting the most out of them for your agency.

There are many different places where you can generate auto insurance leads from. Your own website is a good place to start. You can generate leads from existing clients, and basically from anyone you talk to. You can also generate leads from blogs and social network sites.

But by far the quickest and easiest way to generate targeted, quality auto insurance leads is to simply contract the services of a company that specializes in providing quality leads. There are many of them online and you should certainly consider this option.

Before you go to follow up on an auto insurance lead you need to make sure you have all the information you're going to need at your fingertips. It's also a good idea to be at your insurance quote software so that you can quickly and easily make changes to a quote and let the potential client know right away. People use the internet to shop around for the best auto insurance rates because it's convenient and they can get answers quickly, so don't make them wait!

If you have gotten the lead from an auto insurance lead provider you will be given all the information you need and even extra information that might be necessary is also provided. That's what's nice about IsuranceLeadZ.com because they provide the most comprehensive lead information of all the providers, thanks to their leading edge technology. That means you will have everything you need about the driver(s) and vehicle(s) all at your fingertips.

Your lead is the first step in creating a growing customer base, but you will still need to close the sale. And if you can't there's another agency waiting in the wings that will, because auto insurance isn't a luxury, and it's not something people can go without. They are going to be purchasing their auto insurance from someone so why not make it your agency. Learn to close a sale well.

The best piece of advice for an agent that wants to grow their business seamlessly is to employ a service like InsuranceLeadZ.com that will provide you with a steady stream of fresh auto insurance leads. When you shop around, be sure compare what different services have to offer.

You'll quickly discover that InsuranceLeadZ.com is a leader in the industry thanks to the technology it employs and the $200,000 a month they spend to market their service and generate new leads. They also offer some of the best lead rates out there, and you only pay for the leads you receive. You set up your lead profile and you pay as you go, giving you some of the best flexibility out there.

That's it - now you know what every agent should know about auto insurance leads. So what are you waiting for? Why not get busy growing your business right now?

How To Find A Quality Auto Insurance Lead Generation Program

There are many different auto insurance programs on the internet, but how do you choose the right one for your agency? How do you find a quality auto insurance program that can provide you with continuous volumes of targeted real time auto insurance leads that have a high probability of being converted to sales? Glad you asked.

You already know how important consistency is to your business. As an agent, you operate your business based on having a certain number of current customers and a certain number of projected growths in customers. You need to have a pretty good idea of the volume your agency is going to do so that you can hire agents, make sure you have adequate staffing levels, and even make plans for your financial commitments. If your auto insurance lead program is unpredictable and sporadic, you cannot successfully plan and thus you cannot successfully run your business.

At InsuranceLeadz.com we understand this because we too are running a business. When you become a customer of ours, you can relax knowing that we will provide you with the number of leads we promised on a regular basis. There's no contract to sign you can buy as many or as few leads as you like with our pay as you go service. You have full control of your lead activity; you can start or stop it on the fly.

We never share the same lead with more than 5 agents and on average it's actually 2.5. You see we know our business, so when we project a certain number of leads to you we know those numbers are accurate. We spend on average $200,000 a month to market our service. That means the leads your get are fresh every time. You decide how many leads you want a month we'll generate those for you, and that means you can go about planning your business.

We go to great lengths at InsuranceLeadz.com to ensure that the leads you get contain all the information you'll need so that you can quickly provide an auto insurance quote to that potential customer. Our leads are the most detailed in the industry.

We use the best technology in the industry to verify name, phone number, and email. We screen carefully to ensure the bogus requests never get through to you. Time is money and you don't need to be wasting your time when you've paid us to provide you with quality leads - so that's what you'll get. In the rare case that a lead is fake you are refunded - it's that simple.

You'll also be able to quickly and easily access your online profile. You can log in day or 24 hours a day, change your territory or your filters, adjust your lead volumes, and make any other changes or adjustments you see fit. In addition, you are paired with a dedicated Agent Consultant who can help you every step of the way. There are never any hidden costs and all your leads will be real time.

Your time is money and we know that so if you want a quality auto insurance program why not give us a try at InsuranceLeadsZ.com. You have nothing to loose but an awful lot to gain!

Find Superior Auto Insurance Leads

Auto insurance leads are the lifeline of your business. In fact, they are the difference between an agent that just survives and one that is highly successful. However, the key is to find superior auto insurance leads.

When you hire a service that specializes in auto insurance leads you can have leads delivered to you within minutes. Companies like InsuranceLeadZ.com offer auto insurance leads that are superior because they are not only extremely well targeted; they use the best technology available to get you quality leads quickly, and affordably.

The information on the request is very in-depth. Of course, you will be provided with their contact information, but you'll be provided with a great deal more information.

You will be given the information on their prior insurance including the coverage they carried, how long they've been dealing with that particular insurance company, and when their policy expires.

You will also be given the information on each individual that will be covered which will include the age they received their license, birthday, which state their license is issued, their education, and information on any suspensions or violations.

Next, you will receive all of the information on each of the vehicles they wish to ensure including who owns it, whether it's financed, who the primary driver will be, whether the vehicle will be used for work or pleasure, what type of coverage they are seeking, and what deductible they would like.

That means you will have all the information you need to provide the quote quickly. We service all 50 states, and we can provide you with real time leads for your area.

But there's more. When you sign up for our service you get to set up lead profiles. You define your criteria for the type of leads you wish to receive. You choose the type of customer you'd like to target and you eliminate those you don't wish to service just by using the filters that are provided. Now that's convenience!

You will also decide just how many targets leads you would like to receive either weekly or monthly. When you know what to expect in auto insurance leads and you know what your close rate you can very easily begin to plan your businesses growth, staffing levels, and everything else related to running your business.

You can quickly see how you could run a very efficient and streamlined business by using our service. Sure you can gather leads many other ways but the trouble is you can't really target your market. That means they'll be a great deal of time and energy wasted on leads that will never turn into sales, and since time is money, that means you're loosing money every time a lead doesn't close.

There are many services online that offer auto insurance leads, but our service an InsuranceLeadZ.com we use some of the most innovative technology available. The key is to do your research and shop around until you find the one that offers just what you want.

The Most Effective Sales Lead Strategy

If you've been considering using an auto insurance lead service, you've likely been busy doing your research, looking at all the auto insurance lead services on the internet, compiling information, and trying to decide just which service has the best plan of attack. You find the service that's right for you sign up and the leads begin arriving. But what is the most effective sales lead strategy? How do your turn these leads into sales? Glad you asked!

Snooze you loose - we've all heard the saying and nothing could be truer here. Those targeted potential leads are looking for insurance now, so the sooner you can respond to them the better your chances are of turning that lead into a sale.

If you leave that lead sitting in your email for just one day almost always you will loose that potential customer. People use the internet because it's convenient and they want to save time, so if you aren't responding to them someone else is and that's who is going to get the sale. So remember respond in less than 24 hours.

Always have the answer. When someone has asked for an auto insurance quote they expect you to have all the information they need on the specific auto insurance coverage they are looking for. It's important that you don't just have one option for them but rather present them with several different choices so they have options. And if you need to make a change to the coverage you must be ready to change that quote right away. That means when you contact that potential customer you need to be at your insurance software so that you can plug in the information and get the answer right away.

People want to know that they are dealing with an insurance agent that knows their business and is professional and quick. If you have to get back to them they'll loose interest, become unsure, and go somewhere else.

Be the best you can be. That means in order to be competitive you must have the best customer service, the best insurance, the best rates, and the best website. You already know that the auto insurance industry is highly competitive so you must be doing something that makes you stand out from the rest.

Choose The Right Insurance Lead Service. You already know from your research that all auto insurance lead companies aren't created equal. We've already discussed how important it is for you to reply to the lead quickly, but it's just as important for you to get the lead quickly, so you need to make sure the company you choose can deliver. For example, InsuranceLeadZ.com offers real time leads within minutes of receiving them and thanks to their state of the art technology they provide the most information of any company, and that information has been verified to be legitimate when you get it.

Convert Leads To Sales. The most effective sales strategy isn't that difficult. When you follow these simple steps you will be able to turn those leads into sales, and that means you have a healthy business. So what are you waiting for? If you haven't already signed up your auto insurance leads service it's time you did!

How We Generate Our Auto InsuranceLeads

Our auto insurance leads are generated through our high traffic network of premium auto insurance sites. An example site we use is Auto Insurance Rates.

Outside of our network, we have hand selected some of the top affiliates in the auto insurance industry to partner with. These partners are much more then affiliates and we have negotiated contracts dictating high quality standards. Many of our competitors allow nearly anyone into their affiliate programs and this leads to poor lead quality. Free for all affiliate programs have never and will never be allowed at InsuranceLeadz.com.

About InsuranceLeadz.com

InsuranceLeadz.com is a full service lead generation company based out of Columbus, Ohio. InsuranceLeadz.com was created by an Ohio insurance agent specifically to help agents grow their agencies. Follow these links to learn more about our company, tocontact us, or to Get Leads Now .

What Our Auto Insurance Leads Contain

All of our auto leads contain complete diver information, contact info, coverage info, and vehicle info. Our leads contain a comprehensive collection of everything you will need to quote a customer for a new auto policy. View a Sample Auto Lead.

Types of Lead Filters We Offer

Once you create an account at InsuranceLeadz.com you will be able to filter your leads in a number of ways. Currently you can filter our auto insurance leads by about two dozen different parameters. For example you will be able to filter them by location (state, city, country, zip), coverage, violations, credit, and many other filters. You may also specify a daily spending limit to insure you never go over budget.

Auto Insurance Leads

Auto insurance leads, with the quality and affordability you expect from an industry leader like InsuranceLeadz.com. Are you an auto insurance agent who is serious about building your business?

To get started with generating qualified leads that convert into sales, create your account and build your lead profiles.

NEED TO KNOW WHY YOU SHOULD SELECT OUR AUTO INSURANCE LEADS GENERATION COMPANY?

What makes our auto insurance leads so special is that unlike our competitors:

• We do NOT sell our leads to more then one captive agent. This means if you are an Allstate agent, you won't be competing with another Allstate agent down the street.
• There are NO long term commitments required.
• NO requirement to buy large blocks of leads.
• You ONLY pay for leads that you receive in a timely fashion.
• We have one of the most lenient refund policy in the entire industry.
• NO setup fees
• We control our network of lead generating sites which helps us guarantee absolute top quality and that our leads arenever incentivized.
• We specialize in insurance leads. So no confusion about consumer targets within our lead generation process.

How Do Car Insurance Agents Find New Auto Insurance Lead

Whether you're already an auto insurance agent or just thinking about becoming one, you need to know how to find new auto insurance leads that you can call on each day, and then you'll have the makings of a very successful business. If you don't have leads coming in you don't have new customers and you can't be making money. So how does an auto insurance agent go about finding leads? Glad you asked!

It may seem complicated at first glance but it really isn't. In fact, successful auto insurance agents already know about this, they just aren't going to share that secret with you, but we will! You don't have to be well connected in the auto insurance agency. Newcomers can be just as successful as those that have been around for a long time. You too can get quality auto insurance leads every day.

Don't overlook the clients you already have. They are an excellent source for new leads. They can recommend you to friends and family so stay in touch with them. Call them every couple of months as a customer service call and then look for referrals from them at the same time. It's a win-win. They'll feel great about your customer service and you might get a few new leads.

Of course if you're new, that's not going to be a viable option. It is also not going to be viable if you want to be receiving new leads on a daily basis, nevertheless it is certainly one you should use, and if you combine it with a service that provides auto insurance leads, you've the makings to be a very successful agency.

I know what you're thinking - but those companies charge for their services. Yes the do, but if you do the math, you'll quickly realize that you'll recoup the cost of the service in new profits very quickly because companies like InsuranceLeadZ.com they are the one source that can provide you with a continuous flow of new auto insurance leads. This means new business for your company, which translates to prosperity and growth.

Consider how many staff, and what type of technical investment you would have to make, in order to be able to generate these types of leads on your own. You'll quickly realize it wouldn't be feasible, but purchasing the service from a company like InsuranceLeadZ.com, which specializes in providing targeted leads really does make good business sense and it's exactly what successful agents do.

InsuranceLeadZ.com has no minimum lead purchase. You can just pay as you go. You get to control your lead activity, customizing it to how your business runs. You pay only for the leads you receive, and we don't mass market those leads sending them out at most 5 times and on average it's closer to 2.5 times. We provide you with all of the information you need in real time to quickly and efficiently put together a quote.

Why not have a look at what auto insurance leads can do for you, and see if it's the right solution for your agency. I think you'll be impressed!

Featured Insurance Articles

When you really need it, you will be glad you took the time to purchase good car insurance. The purpose of the articles in this section is to prepare drivers with the right auto insurance policy before it is too late. Then, if trouble strikes, you and your family — and your family's finances — will be protected.

Everyone knows that car insurance can be expensive. However, in the Internet era, getting an online car insurance quote is fast and easy. With the resources and information we present here, it is easier than ever to compare auto insurance quotes. We will also tell you what differences exist between one auto insurance company and another. Basic coverage is described and comparative shopping strategies are clearly outlined. What about teenage drivers? We take a special look at shopping for car insurance for them. What if you have auto insurance but can't keep up with the expensive premiums? We might be able to show you how to continue getting the coverage you need while reducing your payments. And, finally, what about the mysterious type of insurance called "gap insurance"? This is a form of auto insurance that usually applies to leased cars. In some cases, however, a car buyer might also need gap insurance. We'll tell you when and how much to buy.

If you are on the fast track, and need car insurance now, we've boiled down all our information into the easy-to-read "10 Steps to Buying Auto Insurance." This series of short articles is followed by a checklist that will ensure that you won't overlook any important details as you get the best coverage available.

Little-Known but Important Car Insurance Issues

Even though you've done your research and insured your vehicle, there's still more to know when it comes to the wonderful world of car insurance. Below, we look at some not so commonly discussed, but important, issues about insurance that can benefit you tremendously when managing your automotive coverage.

Switching Auto Insurance Companies Relatively Painlessly
Closing the Gap—With Gap Insurance
OEM vs. Aftermarket: Decisions, Decisions...
Deciphering Auto Insurance Lingo

Switching Auto Insurance Companies Relatively Painlessly

You may choose to terminate your auto insurance policy for any number of reasons. Maybe you're moving to another state, getting rid of your car altogether, or maybe you're just dissatisfied with your existing company's service. Beware, however, that if you don't give your insurer sufficient notice, it could end up costing you money, or negatively affecting your credit history.

Standard practice for most insurance companies is to allow you to cancel your policy at any time during the policy term by sending written notice stating the date of cancellation. Your car insurance policy does not necessarily terminate at the end of each policy term, so it isn't safe to assume that you can just cancel by failing to pay your next bill. If you don't send notice of cancellation, your insurance company will automatically bill you in advance for the next term's premium payment. If you don't pay it, they'll cancel your policy and it will go on your credit report.

Don't expect this information to be made explicit in your policy; while insurers are quick to inform you that your coverage will terminate at the end of the policy period if you don't pay your next premium, they don't always inform you of the repercussions you may face for not giving formal notice of your policy termination.

Another thing to keep in mind is that allowing your car insurance policy to be canceled may hurt your chances of obtaining auto coverage in the future. A cancellation in your insurance history may cause other companies to label you a high-risk applicant, thus giving them an excuse to charge you a higher premium. However, you can usually avoid this trap by officially terminating your policy in a timely manner.

Here's what to do: Call your insurer, let them know that you want to cancel your policy and give them an effective date. They will then send you a cancellation request form - review this form carefully before you sign and return it to your insurer.

If you're switching to another insurer, and you plan on driving your car throughout the process, you want to make sure there is no lapse in your car insurance coverage. Therefore, be sure to coordinate the effective starting date of your new policy with the termination date of your old policy. The last thing you want is to get in an accident during an uninsured interim - how stupid would you feel if that happened?

As long as you are considerate about giving your insurance company plenty of notice when you want to cancel your auto policy, and then go through the official termination process, you should avoid any negative repercussions.

Closing the Gap—With Gap Insurance

Just when you thought you knew everything about insurance — along comes gap insurance.

Though it may sound trivial, gap insurance is a must for leasing. And if you made a small down payment when buying a car, a gap policy can be lifesaver as well. But first, let's look at why it exists.

As the name implies, gap insurance covers what traditional auto insurance doesn't. In other words, it closes the gap between what your insurance company pays if your car is stolen or totaled and what you owe the finance company.

Let's take a test case. Say you bought your car two months ago for $25,000. You begin making payments at about $500 a month based on a 6 percent interest rate. Then, disaster strikes: a tree falls on your car and flattens it.

You call the insurance company and it looks into its crystal ball and decides at the time of the accident your car was worth only $20,000. The car may only be a couple of months old, but it has already lost 20 percent of its value. Unfortunately, the finance company still wants the full amount you owe them. With interest, tax and license fees, they figure that to be $27,000.

Yikes! There's a gap of $7,000 between the $20,000 that the insurance company is willing to pay you and the $27,000 the finance company is demanding. Most folks are going to be eating Spam dinners for the next two years, but if you have gap insurance you can safely order steak.

Apply the same scenario to someone who bought their car. If they left the dealer lot without putting several thousand dollars down, they likely owe more than the insurance company will pay if the vehicle gets totaled or stolen in the first few years. Once again, gap coverage can save the day.

And that's why gap insurance is a must for many drivers. In fact, gap insurance is usually mandated by lease contracts or included within them. If a gap policy is required but not included in your contract, you should shop around for this coverage (insurance companies sell it). If gap coverage is included in the lease, check to see how much is offered and how much you're going to be paying for it. (In some cases, lease contracts may include what is known as a gap waiver, which protects you from gap charges in the event that the leased vehicle is declared a total loss — eliminating the need for a gap policy.)

Is gap insurance necessary for people who finance their cars? Well, it depends on your coverage. If your regular insurance policy is written to pay off the fully financed amount, then you don't need gap insurance.

A few things to keep in mind when buying gap insurance:

* Although most people purchase it when a lease is initiated, some insurance companies will sell you a gap policy anytime during the lease term.
* You must be in compliance with all terms of the lease.
* Your gap insurance policy may not be honored if you don't have collision and comprehensive insurance coverage. Further, lease contracts generally require that you carry collision and comprehensive at all times.

If your car is totaled, or stolen, carefully follow all requirements made by your insurance company. For example, some companies require you to continue making loan payments on your totaled car until the money from the gap insurance is paid out.

So when initiating a car loan or lease, always remember to ask your insurance agent or loan officer about gap insurance. If you have an accident you'll be glad you planned ahead.

OEM vs. Aftermarket: Decisions, Decisions... You've been in an accident, you're dealing with the nuisance of getting your car repaired, finding someone to chauffeur you around (unless your insurance covers the cost of a rental, which is always nice), and you've probably had to take some time off from work to recover and take care of the whole mess. Life couldn't get much more complicated, right?

Um...well, wrong.

Oh, did you think you could just turn your car over to the body shop and trust them to do the best job possible to make your car like new again? 'Fraid not, dear friend. You must decide whether or not to mandate that the repair facility use OEM (original equipment manufacturer) replacement parts, as opposed to aftermarket parts. What difference does it make, you ask? The answer is debatable.

According to non-OEM manufacturers and many insurance companies, the difference between OEM and aftermarket parts is negligible. And it's not surprising that insurance companies are such strong advocates of using aftermarket parts, seeing as how they are considerably less expensive than OEM parts. For that reason, many insurance companies will not reimburse 100 percent of your repair costs if OEM parts are used. Most insurers discourage the use of OEM parts by making the policyholder pay for the difference in cost between the non-OEM parts specified in the estimate and the OEM parts used. This can turn into a large sum of money, as OEM parts may cost nearly twice as much as aftermarket parts. For example, an OEM replacement hood for a '96 Ford Contour can cost close to $600, whereas an aftermarket hood can be had for about 300 bones.

A few insurance companies, such as Chubb Insurance Group, actually encourage their policyholders to use OEM repair parts, while not charging them a penalty. It should be noted however, that Chubb is one of the more expensive auto insurers.

The use of aftermarket parts can be called into question for two reasons. First of all, they decrease a vehicle's resale value. This should certainly be taken into consideration if you plan on reselling or trading in your car. Many dealers check the repair history of vehicles to see what kinds of parts were used. The trade-in value of a BMW with non-BMW parts can certainly be adversely affected. By the same token, using non-OEM replacement parts to repair a leased car could cost you all or part of your security deposit, because technically you would not be returning the vehicle in the same condition as when it was leased.

The other concern with aftermarket parts has to do with safety. Advocates of OEM parts claim that non-OEM parts aren't subjected to the same crash-testing procedures as OEM and therefore are not as safe. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), however, contends that making cosmetic repairs with non-OEM replacement parts does not degrade the safety of a vehicle in a crash.

In the end, it's up to you to decide what type of replacement parts are used in your vehicle's repair. If you opt to save money and use non-OEM parts, you should make sure that they are approved by the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA), which sets the standards that must be met in the manufacturing of non-OEM parts for collision repairs.

Obviously, you want to know your options before you turn your car over to a repair facility. If you are concerned with the depreciation of your car, especially if it's a high-end vehicle, you'll probably be wise to go with OEM parts at repair time, even if you have to foot part of the bill. But if your car's resale value isn't of extreme importance to you, and you'd rather not dig too deeply into your own pocket, you should consider allowing the body shop to use non-OEM parts.

Just make sure that you specify one way or the other with your repair facility - the last thing you want is to end up paying for OEM parts that you weren't concerned with using, or to get aftermarket parts put on the super-rare ride that you intend to keep in tip-top shape for the rest of your life. As long as you play an active role in choosing your body shop and then communicate clearly with both the repair facility and your claims adjuster, you shouldn't be caught off guard.

Deciphering Auto Insurance Lingo Here's a glossary of commonly used auto policy terms.

Actual Cash Value The cost to replace property minus the amount it has depreciated since the original purchase date.

Benefit The amount an insurance company pays to you or your beneficiary when you file a claim.

Bodily Injury Liability This covers medical expenses for injuries the policyholder causes to someone else.

Claim The policyholder's request for the reimbursement of a loss covered by their insurance policy.

Collision This covers damage to the policyholder's car from any collision. The collision could be with another car, a light post, parking curb, garage wall, etc.

Comprehensive For damage to the policyholder's car that doesn't involve hitting another car. Covers damage resulting from fire, theft, falling objects, missiles, explosion, earthquake, flood, riot and civil commotion.

Deductible The portion of losses that you agree to pay in the event of an accident. Higher deductibles lower premiums significantly, but will come back to haunt you in the case of an accident, especially if you're at fault.

Endorsements These are changes to the original insurance contract, such as a different deductible or an additional car or driver.

Exclusions Situations that are not covered by a given insurance policy; specific exclusions are listed on your insurance policy.

Extraordinary Medical Coverage Sometimes included in Personal Injury Protection, this coverage protects you if you suffer accident-related injuries that require serious and/or long-term medical care and begins once you have exhausted the limit on your standard medical benefitscoverage.

Full Coverage This indicates that you have all the minimum coverage for your state of residence; it does not necessarily mean you will always be fully covered.

Income Loss Coverage Sometimes a part of Personal Injury Protection, income loss coverage takes care of you if you're unable to work due to accident-related injuries.

Indemnity A predetermined sum paid for a covered loss.

Limits The maximum amount of money your insurance company will pay out for your losses; many states have minimum required limits.

Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Covers the treatment of injuries to the driver and passengers of the policyholder's vehicle. At its most extensive, PIP can cover medical payments and the lost wages of those injured in an accident. It may also extend to covering the policyholder if he/she is injured while in another vehicle or is hit by a car while on foot.

No-Fault Insurance A no-fault policy usually will not require that someone be assigned the blame in order for the policyholder to receive his/her money. In no-fault states, insurance companies are required to have this type of policy.

Property Damage Liability Pays for damage the policyholder causes to someone else's property.

SR-22 A document that shows proof of financial responsibility in the case of a traffic violation.

Tort A legal term that describes circumstances when someone is deemed legally responsible for injuring another person or damaging his/her property. Some states encourage you to make a tort provision, thereby reducing the cost of your premium by limiting your right to sue for non-monetary damages.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage This is to pay for treatment and/or property damages of the policyholder in the event that he/she is injured in a collision with an uninsured driver. Underinsured motorist coverage is another policy option; it kicks in when an at-fault driver has auto liability insurance, but the limit of insurance is insufficient to pay for the victim's damages.

To delve even more deeply into the wonderful world of car insurance and find out your own minimum policy requirements, see the state-by-state table in our feature

Car Insurance for Teenage Drivers

The statistics about teenage drivers aren't good. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 16-year-olds get into accidents almost six times more often than drivers between the age of 30 and 59. No wonder car insurance premiums are so high for this age group.

However, not all car insurance companies take the same dim view of young drivers. And some discounts are available to help you cut costs. Remember, the higher the risk, the higher the cost of insurance premiums. Let this be your guiding principle as you shop for insurance.

Here are 10 suggestions to help lower premiums and keep your teenager's license free of violations:

1. Help your teen learn the laws and follow them to the letter. By far, the best way to lower car insurance costs for teens is for them to keep their driving record clean. Make safe driving a family project. In some states, restrictions apply to new drivers. Parents should know what the laws are and insist that their sons and daughters follow them.

2. Set a good example. Do you break the speed limit and tailgate? Do you yell at other drivers when you're behind the wheel? If you do these things, how can you expect your children to act differently? Start watching your own driving long before they get their license and you'll have a much easier time convincing them to be safe drivers. Remember, actions speak louder than words.

3. Put your teenager on your policy. Rather than setting up an independent policy for your teen driver, put them on your auto insurance policy as an additional driver. In this way, all the discounts applied to your policies will be passed on to them.

4. Pay your teenager to get good grades. Here's a creative tip — find out how much you save if your teenager gets a good grade point average and pass it on to them. Usually, having a 3.0 or higher GPA will reduce your car insurance premium by 10 percent. Figure out exactly how much this saves you and give that money to your teenager. This accomplishes two things. First, it provides a direct reward for academic performance. Secondly, it motivates them to continue getting good grades.

5. Enroll them in driver education courses. Discounts are available for teens who take recognized driving classes. But call your car insurance company to find out which schools are covered before paying big bucks.

6. Steer clear of sports cars. Don't try to live vicariously through your teenager by giving them the hot car you couldn't get in high school. Getting your teenager a safe car to drive, with the latest safety equipment, will lower your premiums. Not only will you save money on car insurance, but fast driving will be less of a temptation.

7. Get their support. Don't assume that your teenager wants to vacuum clean your wallet. Ask them for help cutting costs and point out that you will share in the savings (see rule #4). Tell them how much car insurance costs and show them how this fits into the family budget. If nothing else, you will score points for treating them as adults.

8. Talk to your kids about drugs and alcohol. This is a tough subject to broach with teenagers, who think they have everything under control. But the consequences of saying nothing can be catastrophic. Take the time to lay down some guidelines in this important area.

9. Take traffic school to beat tickets. Once a ticket is on your teen's license, it takes months to get the violation removed. Instead, encourage them to take traffic school if the judge allows it. A day spent thinking about the consequences of unsafe driving can bring rewards for years to come.

10. Ride with your teenager. Your teenager was a safe driver last year when he or she got a license. But what's happened since then? Let your son or daughter take the wheel while you sit back and relax in the passenger seat. If you see them doing something that breaks rules or seems unsafe, point this out in a diplomatic way. If they are doing a good job driving, praise them for their efforts.

If you follow the above suggestions, you will find that you can make it through the teenage years safely — and without paying an arm and a leg for car insurance. It just takes cooperation and understanding from both sides of the generation gap.

Top 10 Ways To Lower Your Car Insurance Bill

If you're shopping for car insurance, you know there are certain crucial factors influencing your rate that are out of your hands. Such factors include your age, gender and record of prior claims.

Despite this, there's a lot you can do to score a lower rate, and your choices bear more power than you might think. Here are 10 tips guaranteed to help you get the best rate possible on your auto insurance.

1. Get more than one rate quote before you commit."Company prices are very different, and it pays to shop around. You can easily wind up paying double from one company to the next," says J. Robert Hunter, director of insurance with the Consumer Federation of America, a national watchdog group.
   
   Want to get a sense of who the low-priced carriers are? TheNational Association of Insurance Carriers offers a map on its Web site that lists each state's regulators. Click on your state and you're taken to the state's Department of Insurance Web site. Its consumer buying guide compares insurance premiums across a range of companies. You'll also learn how many complaints each company has logged. Surprisingly, you don't have to sacrifice service quality to score a low premium. "A lot of the lower-priced companies have the best service rates," says Hunter.
   
   There are a host of independent Web sites, likeCarInsurance.com, that allow you to comparison-shop by offering online price quotes. These sites can be incredibly useful. However, Hunter warns that these services — which earn their keep by charging carriers a commission on each sale — occasionally fail to include the insurance companies with the lowest rates, since these low-cost carriers are unwilling to pay commissions.



2. Evaluate insurance costs before you buy your vehicle. The year, make and model of your vehicle can have a profound impact on your insurance rate. All else being equal, new, expensive or sporty cars will cost more to insure than older, cheaper and more utilitarian vehicles. But you could find a substantial discrepancy even when comparing the cost to insure similar cars. So if you've got a few models on your shortlist, contact your carrier to see what rate each vehicle commands. Doing so could ultimately net you a windfall in savings when the time comes to pay your premium.



3. Go high on deductibles. If you're willing to give a little with your deductible, you can wind up saving big on your rates. "If you go from a $250 to a $1,000 deductible, you can save between 25 and 40 percent on your policy," says Hunter. You can then set aside a portion of these funds to cover your costs in the event of a claim.



4. Nix collision and/or comprehensive coverage on older cars. If your older car has comp and collision coverage, you might find yourself paying more in insurance than the car is worth. "Take your comp and collision premium and add it up, then multiply it by 10. If your car is worth less than that, don't buy the coverage," says Hunter. If you're worried about being left overexposed, consider this: The typical policyholder makes a claim only once every 11 years, and reports a total loss only once every 50 years.



5. Mind your credit score. An increasing number of carriers are considering credit scores when making rate calculations. "Your credit score can be very important in determining your rate," says Hunter. "You can wind up paying up to 50 percent more if you have a bad credit score." Keep your credit score in tip-top shape by paying bills in a timely manner and by regularly checking that there are no items on your history that do not belong to you.



6. Ask about low-mileage discounts. Many carriers offer discounts to policyholders whose annual mileage is lower than the norm. Maybe you have a short commute. Or maybe your participation in the office vanpool results in fewer hours spent in your daily driver. Whatever the case, your low mileage can score you a reduced rate with some companies, so be sure to inquire about available discounts.



7. Ask about group insurance discounts. Oftentimes, insurance companies offer discounts to policyholders who are members of certain organizations or professions, such as veterans, engineers or teachers. Request a list of these groups from your carrier to see if you qualify — you might be pleasantly surprised.



8. Ask about all other discounts. Some carriers offer discounts to policyholders whose vehicles bear certain safety features, like anti-theft devices or motorized seatbelts. Others give reduced rates to senior citizens, and to students whose grades meet certain requirements. "Many carriers offer discounts. Ask for them when you're shopping," says Hunter.
   
   However, Hunter offers one caveat: "Some of the companies that offer the highest discounts have the highest rates, so don't get too focused on discounts. Some high-priced companies offer high discounts, but at the end of the day you're still paying more."



9. Avoid lapses in coverage. Even a brief lapse in coverage can disqualify you from receiving discounts. "They use lapses in coverage to increase your premium," says Hunter. Pay your insurance bills on time. And if you're switching carriers, make sure not to quit your previous carrier until the new coverage takes effect.



10. Think twice about paying in installments. Most carriers charge an administration fee to pay in installments. One carrier surveyed levied a $10 charge per installment to those who opted to break up their bill. The solution? Pay your premium up front, if at all possible.
    
    Of course, this charge is more significant for those with small premiums. If you've got a king-sized premium and feel you'd get a better rate of return by investing your funds elsewhere instead of paying up front, then the installment route will probably best suit your needs.

How Much Car Insurance Do You Really Need?

Ah, car insurance - you can't stand paying for it every month; you can't get away with not having it. And really, it would be unwise (read: incredibly stupid) not to have insurance. Okay, we don't mean to be belligerent here; perhaps you have a perfectly valid reason for not having auto insurance coverage, although we personally can't think of any. But who are we to get all self-righteous on you?

Let's focus instead on remedying the situation. If you're like many people, your first priority is to get the bare minimum requirements down. We'll start with that, and work from there. Most states require that you have liability insurance. This covers your arse when you're at fault in an accident. (Remember all those near misses in parking lots and while changing lanes on the freeway when you were blabbing on the cell phone, trying to change the CD, or pushing the slobbering dog/significant other out of your face? Well, your luck won't hold out forever, honey.) If you live in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Virginia or Wisconsin, you aren't required by law (yet) to have liability coverage. For the rest of us, the mandatory coverage varies according to state. In the chart below, minimum liability limits are read as follows (in thousands of dollars): bodily injury liability for one person in an accident/bodily injury liability for all people injured in an accident/property damage liability for one accident. So, for Alabama, the minimum requirements are $20,000 of bodily injury liability for one person, $40,000 bodily injury liability for all people and $10,000 property damage liability.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP), or Medical Payments (MedPay) in some states, pays for your own medical expenses, any lost wages and whatever other costs may arise when you're injured in an accident. It usually pays about 80 percent of your losses, and it also pays a death benefit. PIP is required in Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon and Utah.

Some states also require you to purchase car insurance that will cover your own medical expenses, pain and suffering losses and, in some states, car damage in the event that the other motorist is at fault and is either uninsured or underinsured. See the chart below to find out if this applies to you.

State	Liability limits (in thousands of dollars)	Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage required?
Alabama	20/40/10	No
Alaska	50/100/25	No
Arizona	15/30/10	No
Arkansas	25/50/25	No
California	15/30/5	No
Colorado	25/50/15	No
Connecticut	20/40/10	Yes
Delaware	15/30/5	No
D.C.	25/50/10	Yes
Florida	10/20/10	No
Georgia	25/50/25	No
Hawaii	20/40/10	No
Idaho	25/50/15	No
Illinois	20/40/15	Yes
Indiana	25/50/10	No
Iowa	20/40/15	No
Kansas	25/50/10	Yes
Kentucky	25/50/10	No
Louisiana	10/20/10	No
Maine	50/100/25	Yes
Maryland	20/40/15	Yes
Massachusetts	20/40/5	Yes
Michigan	20/40/10	No
Minnesota	30/60/10	Yes
Mississippi	25/50/25	No
Missouri	25/50/10	Yes
Montana	25/50/10	No
Nebraska	25/50/25	No
Nevada	15/30/10	No
New Hampshire	Not required 25/50/25	Yes
New Jersey	15/30/5	Yes
New Mexico	25/50/10	No
New York	25/50/10	Yes
North Carolina	30/60/25	No
North Dakota	25/50/25	Yes
Ohio	12.5/25/7.5	No
Oklahoma	25/50/25	No
Oregon	25/50/10	Yes
Pennsylvania	15/30/5	No
Rhode Island	25/50/25	Yes
South Carolina	Not required 15/30/10	Yes
South Dakota	25/50/25	Yes
Tennessee	25/50/10	No
Texas	20/40/15	No
Utah	25/50/15	No
Vermont	25/50/10	Yes
Virginia	Not required 25/50/20	Yes
Washington	25/50/10	No
West Virginia	20/40/10	Yes
Wisconsin	Not required 25/50/10	Yes
Wyoming	25/50/20	No

Even though each state has minimum (or no) requirements for bodily injury liability, it is probably in your best interest to purchase higher limits. If someone else is injured and you're at fault, the minimum liability coverage may not cover their medical expenses, in which case their attorney will most likely come after your assets. It is generally recommended (by insurance companies - who else?) that you purchase 100/300 limits of bodily injury liability. On the other hand, if your personal assets don't amount to much (you don't own a home, struggle from paycheck to paycheck, violins are wailing), you don't have a whole lot for them to bother about, so the minimum requirements might actually suit you, not to mention save you some much-needed cash.

Besides bodily injury liability, personal injury protection, property damage liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, you have collision and comprehensive auto insurance coverage to consider. Collision covers damage to the policyholder's car resulting from running into anything, be it another car, a fire hydrant, a light post, whatever. Comprehensive coverage takes care of your car in the case of theft, fire, falling objects, missiles, explosion, earthquake, flood, riot and civil commotion, among other things (like what? Alien invasion, we guess).

Comprehensive and collision coverage are required on most lease contracts, and are essential if you own an expensive car. If you're driving an old POS, on the other hand, and the cost of the sum of your premium and your deductible nearly or in fact exceed the worth of your vehicle, you might want to consider doing without this coverage.

Before you purchase any type of auto insurance coverage, be sure to study your other insurance policies so you don't end up paying for something you don't need. If you have a decent health insurance plan, you might get away with purchasing the bare minimum personal injury protection coverage, or none at all. However, you might end up paying a co-pay and deductible that wouldn't apply with PIP or MedPay. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage might also be a wise buy, even if you have full medical coverage, because they can pay for your pain and suffering damages. If you belong to an organization that offers roadside assistance, you don't need to purchase that through your insurer, natch. Same goes for mechanical breakdown insurance if you own a newly financed or leased vehicle which is still covered under warranty.

Hey, we're all resentful about having to shell out a bunch of cash every month for something we may never need, but what're ya gonna do? The fact is that car insurance will most likely come to your rescue at some point, so it's imperative to purchase a worthwhile policy. Know what you must have and know what you should have and just pay the man, alright?