Ross : I am based in California and I would like to know of pay- as- drive regulation for auto insurance.

Response : Good news for California auto insurance clients. The California department of Insurance has revised the draft pay as you drive regulations California’s insurance commissioner, Steven Poizner, has issued final pay-as-you-drive regulations, which will enable insurers to offer consumers rates that are based on actual miles driven as opposed to estimated miles driven.
“Pay as you drive is an innovative way to create financial incentives for California motorists to drive less, leading to lower-cost auto insurance, less air pollution and a reduced dependence on foreign oil,” said Poizner.
This allows the insurance companies to offer discounts to drivers who would prefer to have a auto insurance policy which is based on the mileage. The insurance company must get the auto insurance program approved from the California department of Insurance before they launch this program including the pay- as- you-drive-program.
The mileage have to be verified from a variety of methods like the odometer readings which can be seen by the insurer or its agents or vendors, auto repair dealers, smog check stations, self-reporting by the policyholder or a technological device placed in the consumer’s vehicle. As per the final regulations explicitly prohibit insurers from gathering location data from consumers for automobile rating purposes through the addition of a technological device.
The regulations would not affect existing multipurpose devices such as GM’s Onstar system or the use of a technological device as part of an emergency roadside assistance program.
“The primary changes from the initially proposed regulations to the final, submitted regulations include:

• Language that encourages insurers to offer a price per mile, or prepaid mile option for drivers.
• An allowance for insurers to apply to sell mileage verification policies in addition to mileage estimation policies; or they may apply to sell mileage verification policies only.
• Language that requires an insurer that offers a pay-as-you-drive plan to specify when filing with the department the exact types of mileage verification the insurer will accept.
• The final regulations explicitly require insurers to offer and make available all mileage verification methods equally, to all applicants and insured drivers with a mileage verification policy.
• The use of location data is still prohibited for most purposes. However, the final regulations make it clear that they do not prohibit insurers and motor clubs from offering optional devices to drivers to identify the location of the vehicle for the purpose of an emergency road service, theft service, map service or travel assistance service.” (extract from the publication by California Insurance regulation)

This measure is also for the saving of the environment and the green house effect. As per the data available Last August, the Environmental Defense Fund estimated that if 30 percent of Californians participate in pay-as-you-drive coverage, California could avoid 55 million tons of CO2 emissions between 2009 and 2020, which is the equivalent of taking 10 million cars off the road. This would save 5.5 billion gallons of gasoline and save Californians $40 billion in car-related expenses. Additionally, the California Air Resources Board has recommended the adoption of pay-as-you-drive as one of the means to meet future climate change gas reduction targets.
Starting October 2009 the, consumers will be able to purchase a pay-as-you-drive policy.
Stay informed and compare auto insurance quote 411.

Dan Cowther : Can one really save on auto insurance premiums?

Response : Dan, we understand that most people never make an effort to check their auto insurance policy, compare auto insurance quote nor reveiw car insurance  and always assume that it is a big deal to deal with the insurance companies. Here are 10 tips on how to save on auto insurance premiums :

10 Ways to Save Big on auto Insurance

Auto insurance can make a big hole in your pocket—if you let it. Insurance premiums vary hugely between companies and agencies, but if you’re willing to take some time and shop around, it’s easy to find something affordable.

To get the best rates on vehicle insurance, we recommend these 10 money-saving tips:

• Always maintain a good driving record. If you’re one of those people who consistently breaks the law or drives too fast, your vehicle insurance rates will show it.
• Get competitive quotes from different insurance providers. The more you have to compare against, the better informed you’ll be-and the more likely you’ll get the best rates.
• Check insurance costs before you buy a new vehicle. Find out which features increase insurance premiums and which ones lower them. Keep these things in mind and choose your new vehicle carefully!
• Choose higher deductibles. This could reduce your vehicle insurance costs by at least fifteen to twenty percent.
• Consider buying vehicle insurance from the same company you have your home, accident or life insurance with. Many companies offer discounts to clients who buy more than one kind of policy.
• Keep your credit record clean. Did you know some insurers take a look at your credit score before setting your rates? They do! So pay bills on time, keep loans to a minimum and keep credit balances low for the most stellar reports.
• Don’t duplicate coverage. Consider dropping medical payments coverage if you have a good health insurance policy. Because medical costs are so high, this could save you up to 40 percent on vehicle insurance premiums!
• Choose where you live carefully. Due to risk of theft, sometimes living and parking your auto in a rural community or suburb costs less than in the city.
• Take advantage of discounts like low-risk career, low mileage, car pooling, no violations or accidents, taking defensive driving courses or senior citizen price cuts.
• Insure all your family’s vehicles together, and check group rates through corporate organizations, community clubs, and professional or alumni bodies.

We are sure that this will be very helpful.

Tony: Is it possible to get cheap car insurance quote?

Response : Tony getting a cheap car insurance quote is something which is very possible. If you have made up your mind to find the cheapest car insurance quote it is very easy in this day and age with the internet. You need to compare auto insurance quote online to find out what suits you and these are free quotes. Getting the cheapest car insurance is a time-consuming process including research and cost comparison. You can just get quotes within matter of minutes.

However, let me tell you another secret which will ensure that you get cheap car insurance quote. Your own drving record, history or habit is the key to cheap auto insurance quote. Getting the cheapest car insurance is possible if you drive safely, take care of your car and keep your driving skills up-to-date.

Driving With Care

If you want to get and maintain the cheapest car insurance available, you must cooperate with the rules of the road for everyone’s protection.

Perhaps the most important rules concern driving while impaired—one of the deadliest behaviors on the road.Getting the cheapest car insurance means never drinking and driving! Only one DUI can raise your rates hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Likewise, driving when you are angry or tired detracts your attention from the road, endangering yourself and everyone around you and causing your insurance rates to go up.

If you begin taking new medication, make sure you understand any possible side effects beforehand. Some may impair your driving ability—with dangerous consequences.

Finally, never eat, drink or talk on a cell phone while driving if you want to obtain and keep the cheapest car insurance. These activities also divert your attention, slow your response time and, in some states, may mean a traffic ticket!

Tips

Follow these tips to ensure safest driving and cheapest car insurance rates:

•Plan trips ahead of time, avoiding heavy traffic areas and poor weather conditions whenever possible. Plan the route you will take and your departure time, and allow extra time to arrive safely at your destination.
•Always wear your seat belt—and wear it correctly (over your shoulder and across your lap).
•Stay alert, keeping your eyes on the road at all times.
•Drive at or near the speed limit. Too fast or too slow can be dangerous!
•Keep sufficient distance between yourself and the car in front of you so you can stop quickly without endangering yourself or others.
•Use your turn signals, check your blind spots and be extra careful when approaching intersections.

To find a driver safety class near you, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends calling one of the following programs:

National Safety Council Defensive Driving Course — 800-621-7619

Driving School Association of the Americas, Inc. — 800-270-3722

AARP 55 ALIVE Driver Safety Program — 888-227-7669

AAA Safe Driving for Mature Operators Program — Call your local AAA motor club to find a class near you.

Improving your driving skills and compare auto insurance quote 411 to ensure that you get cheap car insurance quote.

Robert : Who is a prefered driver? Will a preferred driver be entitled to discount?

Response : A “preferred risk driver” is a good driver and by the insurance industry standards generally a preferred driver is :
1.In your mid-twenties or older, offering enough time to establish an exemplary record
2.Free of moving violations or tickets in the past three or more years, depending on where you live and which insurer you choose
3.Superior when it comes to credit scores, with higher ratings than most of your peers
4.Lawful citizens, with no vehicle-related crime convictions
Taking a defensive driving course also improves your chances of obtaining a good driver discount, as it shows your insurance company a willingness to improve your overall driving skills.

If, you’re a good and careful driver who obeys the law, seldom gets ticketed and hasn’t had an accident in years, your cautious nature may just earn you some brownie points when it comes to lowering your insurance rates.

In fact, for good drivers like you, cheap car insurance is the ultimate reward for careful driving. Car insurance companies base premiums partially on past driving experience, a good driving record automatically entitles you to a discount on car insurance rates. The logic is once a careful driver, always a careful driver—at least in your insurer’s eyes. If you have a good driving record when you’re younger, you’ll usually continue that trend as you grow older. That makes you less risk to your insurance company; and they’ll most likely reward you with reduced premiums.

In fact, the better your record when it comes to things like accidents, claims and tickets, the lower your premiums are likely to be—saving you a considerable amount on car insurance.Good drivers ride safely, avoid costly repairs and medical bills, and help protect themselves and others on the road. But one of the greatest benefits comes with preferred driver discounts, an easy route to cheaper car insurance.

If you’re shopping for lower rates on car insurance, let us help. We’ll get you all the discounts you deserve—including those for good drivers—and start you on your way toward great coverage today. Compare auto insurance coverage and check out how much you can save.

Penny : How can I get a discount auto insurance quote? Is it a myth?

Response : Penny, let me reassure you that discount auto insurance quote is not a myth but a reality.
Finding the cheapest auto policy used to take some time. But these days, on-line internet marketing has made insurance shopping is faster than ever before.

Gone are the days of looking through the phone book for the right agent. Though some insurance professionals advertise offline, many now choose to offer discount auto insurance through services like Compare auto insurance quote.

I will reveal an inside secret of how to get unique discounts by comparing polices and obtaining these discounts. One of them is the diver discount-no claims for 5 years, no licence suspension for 3 years. The second one is double deductible discount applicable on comprehensive and collision coverage, or increasing the discounts. The third is payment plan Discount which is offered by paying your premium up-front in full. Fourth is the transfer Discount for those who’ve previously held discount liability insurance through a different auto insurance company during the past six months. Fifth is affinity car insurance discount given to members of certain qualifying organizations, an extra discount up to three percent may be available on auto policies. Sixth is the passive occupant restraint auto insurance discount given for safety features like an automobile with full front-seat airbags or restraint devices that work automatically when your door closes may qualify for an additional discount. Seventh is carpool and public transportation discount given to reduce a car’s annual mileage.

Remember these discounts differs from insurance company to compnay and hence you need to compare auto insurance quotes.