Safety Tips & Car Insurance for Teens

Teen drivers have the highest death rate of any age group. More than 5,000 teens ages 16 to 20 die annually in car accidents, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

While getting their driver’s license is essentially a rite of passage into adulthood, it can be enough to make any parent frantic with worry…and make getting affordable car insurance for teens difficult.

But according to the Insurance Information Institute (III) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), there is something fretful parents can do to help protect their teens: choose a safe vehicle.

Along those lines, the III and the IIHS recommend the following tips to ensure new drivers stay safe and get the car insurance they need before hitting the road:

1. Avoid vehicles that encourage reckless driving. Teen drivers not only lack experience, but also the maturity needed to opt out of dangerous activities such as speeding and other reckless driving behaviors.
2. Avoid unstable vehicles. This includes SUVs and pickup trucks, which are less stable than cars because of their higher centers of gravity and the increased likelihood of rollover.
3. Pick a vehicle offering good crash protection. A knowledgeable agent can offer advice, or you can check out vehicle crash test ratings online.
4. Avoid small vehicles. Choose a mid- or full-size car offering more adequate crash protection for your teen. Once again, it is wise to check safety ratings online to compare one vehicle to another.
5. Avoid older vehicles. Today’s cars are much better designed than those of even six to 10 years ago. Choose a newer, mid-sized car with airbags over an older, larger car with no airbag protection.

Driving is a privilege teenagers should respect, so lay down some ground rules before allowing them into the driver’s seat—no matter what kind of car they drive. Then require them to keep a clean driving record, earn good grades in school, involve themselves in the community, and wear their seat belts to earn insurance discounts, stay safe and get the lowest possible rate on car insurance.

Don’t put your teens’ lives at risk by letting them drive an unsafe car. Do your research, involve your kids in car comparisons, and put them behind the wheel of the safest vehicle you can afford. Then require them to approach driving with a mature attitude—and contact InsureMe for the best car insurance available locally.

Credit to: http://www.insureme.com/auto-insurance/car-insurance-for-teens

Factors That Affect Your Car Insurance Quotes

As a driver, you know that having car insurance is both critical and costly. Many insurance shoppers are suprised by how high their automobile insurance costs are when they get a car insurance quote.

But your car insurance quote reflects the cost of several expected automobile-related expenses. Continuous rate increases for auto insurance can be attributed to numerous factors, including medical and legal costs, accidents, theft, fraud, drunken driving, auto repairs and even insurance company expenses.

• Medical Expenses - Each year, there are more than two million car accidents involving personal injury. Typical costs for treating an auto accident victim range from $6,000 to $9,000, but can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars. This, paired with the fact that the cost of auto injury claims is rising by as much as 30 percent in some states, translates into higher auto insurance premiums for everyone.
• Legal Expenses - The average jury award for vehicular liability cases continues to rise, putting additional upward pressure on auto insurance rates. The average jury award in auto liability cases recently rose 44%, from $187,000 in 1994 to $269,000 in 2000. Many experts feel these costs will continue to rise in the future and drive automobile insurance quotes up even further. 
• Accidents - Car accidents remain the leading cause of death among Americans 1-34 years of age. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, these deaths cost our society more than $150 billion each year. Some behaviors leading to accidents and adding to this total cost are alcohol abuse, high-speed driving, and driving without wearing a seat belt. 
• Theft - More than 1.2 million estimated motor vehicle thefts occurred in 2001, a 5.7 percent increase over the number of cars stolen in the year 2000. Motor vehicles were stolen at a rate of nearly 370 per 100,000 inhabitants during 2001; trucks and buses were stolen at a rate of 86.5 per 100,000 persons, according to the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation. Based on that estimated number of motor vehicles stolen in 2001, the estimated dollar value of vehicles stolen nationwide was almost $8.2 billion. 
• Fraud – As the number two crime in America, fraud costs consumers an estimated $30 billion annually, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The most common fraud schemes involve insurance, and include bodily injury fraud, auto repair fraud, homeowners claim fraud, and workers compensation fraud. When looking for a quick insurance quote, make sure you talk to a licensed insurance agent. This will reduce your chances of being a victim of fraud. 
• Drunken Driving - Impaired driving will affect one in three Americans during their lifetime, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Alcohol-related car crashes kill someone in the United States every 32 minutes, and non-fatally injure someone every two minutes. 16,653 people in the U.S. died in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes, during 2001. This represents 40 percent of all traffic-related deaths. 
• Auto Repairs - Auto-damage liability has increased with advances in technology, construction and design. Through the years, we have seen automotive innovations such as lighter, smaller vehicles, thinner glass and unibody construction. Consequently, automobile repair costs have risen, since the cost of parts and labor associated with repairs have increased. Depending on the type of car you purchase, you may notice higher repair costs because of this. 
• Insurance Company Expenses - Inflation continues to affect the insurance industry. The increasing costs of industry tasks such insurance delivery, policy service and claims settlement are all factors that further increase the cost of automobile insurance—and therefore your insurance rate quotes.

Understanding the factors that contribute to rising car insurance rates will make you a more savvy consumer—helping you find the most affordable car insurance available.

Credit to: http://www.insureme.com/auto-insurance/car-rate-increase

The Easy Way to Buy Auto Insurance

Fashionable clothing, electronic gadgets, beach vacations—of all that you buy, auto insurance is not the most glamorous. But it is one of your more important purchases.

The average American spends 100 hours per year commuting to and from work, not to mention all the other trips around town. Therefore the right insurance is a protection you just can't live without.

What We Can Do For You

At InsureMe, we realize the task of shopping around for the right insurance is not how you'd like to spend a sunny afternoon. That's why we make it simple and convenient by sending you up to five, free quotes—right to your inbox!

How it Works

When you're ready to buy insurance, just let us know. We have relationships with agents in all 50 states, so your options are nearly limitless. Use your discretion, comparing policies and spending only what your budget allows.

Because we are a non-biased third-party, working with InsureMe is like working with a trusted friend—albeit one with access to the best insurance deals around!

Customer Service Pledge

In today's competitive marketplace, you can buy auto insurance in any number of ways. But when you choose InsureMe, you choose a company that will treat you with respect and demonstrate a real, innovative difference.

Not only do we want to help you buy the right insurance, we want to educate you about the types of policies, the degrees of coverage and ways to save money. That way, you can make a well-informed decision.

No Time Like the Present

There's no reason to hesitate. Now that you have a confidant in the insurance business, you can buy auto insurance with ease.

Credit to: http://www.insureme.com/search/buy-auto-insurance