Exposing the Car Insurance Quote Mystery Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Congratulations, you have just purchased the car of your dreams; you worked a great deal, now it is time to insure it. Car insurance is mandatory in all states, and must be maintained throughout ownership. Insurance quotes can vary from company to company, and there are a few factors that you can control, and other factors you cannot. A full understanding of how insurance quotes are arrived at, will give you the best rate, and maximum coverage. Factors that cannot be controlled include the age of the driver. Common sense tells us that a new driver would be more of a risk to an insurance company, than an established driver. Therefore a driver in their early 20's would pay a higher premium than a driver in their 40's. Further, elderly drivers have poor reaction time, and similarly would pay more of a premium.

The ideal driving age would be between 35 to 55 years; anyone younger, or older would pay more. Gender is another uncontrolled factor that insurance quotes are based on. Statistically, insurance companies see females as safer drivers than males. As a result, female drivers pay less than their male counterparts. There are factors, which we can control, namely the amount of traffic tickets and accidents. A ticket is a violation of law that could potentially result in an accident. Insurance companies frown on this, and will penalize the driver with higher rates. Similarly, accidents could indicate a pattern of behavior; as such the driver is penalized with higher rates. Where you live is another controlling factor that effects insurance quotes. Living in a rural area, puts the driver at much less risk of accident or theft as compared to living in a city. As a result, city drivers will pay a larger premium than rural drivers with very few exceptions. Want to drive a Porsche 911 Carrera? It will cost you.

The more your car is worth, the higher your insurance quote will be. The logic should be obvious. Car insurance companies are now looking at your credit worthiness. Do you have excessive, outstanding credit, or no credit at all? If so, you are a risk in the eyes of the insurance companies, and will get socked with higher insurance quotes. Keeping your credit in check will show the insurance companies you are responsible, both financially, and on the road. As a result, you will pay lower premiums. Your occupation can put you at a higher risk. Jobs that require many hours of driving, or driving in hazardous conditions, or places will put your quote at a higher rate. Less driving, and exposure to high-risk opportunities, will result in lower premiums. Additionally you want to keep your annual mileage down to a minimum.

The more miles you drive, the greater the risk of accident. Vehicle theft is a risk factor that can easily be minimized. Most companies will give you a discount for having better security for your vehicle. An alarm, or another approved anti-theft device will usually result in some discount. Some companies may insist on having such devices installed on more expensive and desirable cars before they even consider offering you a price. Some companies look favorably on drivers who have taken a defensive driver's course. They see this as a commitment to safer driving, thereby lowering the risk of accident, resulting in lower premiums. Keep in mind these are just general guidelines, and the difference in price between various companies can be significant. What one company may consider a high-risk factor another company may not view as so important. The bottom line, keep your credit in check, be careful on the road and choose a car that fits your budgets.

What Should I Look For In My Ideal Used Japanese Cars?

The very first and most obvious thing you should look for when attempting to choose used Japanese cars to buy is its ability to still function. If the car runs, then the first hurdle is overcome. But then you have to check whether it still runs well, or whether it will run for awhile then die on you halfway down the block. To check about the functionality of your Japanese used cars, you either have to have an engineering or automotive background, or find a friend or acquaintance that does. Barring those possibilities, you may have to hire someone who is really knowledgeable about the inner workings of any Japanese used car for sale that you are eyeing to buy.

The second factor that will influence your decision to buy your ideal used Japanese cars is its appearance. Obviously, a rusty and dented external housing on your choice of Japanese used cars means they will command a lower price than Japanese used cars of the same model and manufacturer which are in pristine condition. Even if you are buying used Japanese cars to cannibalize, you would still prefer used Japanese cars which are in relatively good condition than those which have a lot of damage to them – relatively being used loosely here because equally obviously all used Japanese cars are second-hand goods which been discarded by their previous owners for one reason or another.

That leads us to a third factor behind buying used Japanese cars – safety. You should think about why you are buying used Japanese cars in the first place: are you buying them to collect for your family, hoping someone will appreciate their potential value and will spend on their upgrade and renovation? Are you buying the used Japanese cars as potential sources of parts for Japanese cars that are already in your collection at home? Will you be using your used Japanese cars as viable transportation to and from work or will they be housed somewhere (maybe in your personal warehouse) to meet some future need? Are you hoping that if you upgrade and renovate your used Japanese cars that you can eventually find financial profit from selling them to other car aficionados? Safety is a big concern if you want to use your used Japanese cars to drive in yourself. In the world of machines and manufacturers, there is such a concept as planned obsolescence which is regularly practiced. This simply means manufacturers do not create their machines (in this case cars) to last forever. They are meant to be used for an estimated amount of time then to be discarded in favor of future models from the same manufacturer. This not only helps resolve safety issues but guarantees future business for the car company and its employees. It is a good policy if it means that the used cars will not be used anymore by anyone – but in the case of used Japanese cars, we know that there are people who do intend to keep using them. And that is where risks come in.

So if you have a pretty good life insurance policy, it may seem wise to use your used Japanese cars for regular transportation. Otherwise, it may be better to simply keep them in a garage or warehouse – to fiddle around with or just simply admire.

Motorcycles More Dangerous Than Cars

These figures are courtesy of yesinsurance.co.uk, who said that over the past 25 years the fatality rates of all other types of transport have dropped considerably, the risk of riding a motorcycle has maintained its dangerous fatality rate.

In 2006 6,484 motorcycle users were killed or seriously injured according to the Department for Transport, this is in comparison to 14,254 car users. Motorcyclists are 51 times more likely to be killed than car drivers, this figure is considered per mile travelled, they are also twice as likely as pedal cyclists, the next most vulnerable group.

Paul Purdy of yesinsurance.co.uk said: "The rising cost of fuel and the exemption of motorcycles from the London congestion charge have been two of the factors encouraging car drivers to switch to motorcycles.

"This has implications for other cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham, where the introduction of a congestion charging system could lead to a rise in road casualties. Deaths and serious injuries of motorcyclists in their forties have almost doubled over the past ten years, whilst figures for those in their twenties and early thirties have declined."

He added: "Whilst we support the move to encourage car drivers to use other forms of transport in city areas, as an insurer we are acutely aware that the risk factor for motorcycles is over 50 times higher than it is for cars, as far as deaths and serious injuries are concerned."

There is a prevalent trend for relatively inexperienced middle aged men to switch from cars to powerful motorbikes, this is something that is contributing to the rising number of accidents. The sheer number of accidents are pushing up bike insurance prices for all motorcyclists.

Motorcycle traffic has increased by 37% over the 10 years leading to 2006, this is according to Department of Transport figures. Paul Purdy recommended: "Wherever possible, we encourage drivers to turn to public transport rather than motorcycles when avoiding the congestion charge."

Motorbikes are often seen as a dangerous form of transport, and it seems from these figures that the assumptions are correct.

Although it could be the sheer vulnerability of the motorcyclist if an accident should occur, the injury and fatality levels are higher, but unlike a car passenger there is no metal shell protecting you on a motorbike. With a car you have a metal frame work that will take the brunt of the impact in an accident, you are also surrounded by safety features such as seatbelts and airbags which minimise injuries. On a motorcycle the only protection you have is a helmet and leathers.

Motorcycles are also harder than cars to see on the road, a car can clearly see another car approaching but it can often be hard to see motorcycles approaching, especially if they are driving to one side of a car.

It is said that two thirds of motorcycle accidents are attributed to speeding, braking or manoeuvres on the UK’s roads. The two main reasons behind motorcycle accidents are collisions with fixed objects and negotiating around corners and sharp bends. Corners and sharp bends can be fatal to motorcycle users if not taken safely, bad weather conditions can also contribute to accidents, as can deteriorating road surfaces.

Florida Luxury Housing Market: A Slow Market Offers Opportunities For Bargain Hunters

While the luxury residential markets in Florida continue to sell briskly because of the influx of overseas buyers, mainly Europeans and Canadians, who are buoyed by their strong currencies, housing analysts say that the market here may finally be showing signs of cracking.

News reports have made headlines of billionaire Donald Trump dropping the price on his Palm Beach property by 20 percent, which has led to market watchers saying that the U.S. housing crunch has finally made its way to the wealthy.While the oceanfront mansions and upscale condos here are surprisingly holding fort, one of the most toxic states in the nation's housing meltdown may finally be showing some signs of wear and tear.

Waning Enthusiasm Or Activity Is Noted On The Luxury Market

In a recent luxury property auction in the city of Fort Lauderdale, the auctioneer took home after home off the block within moments after opening the bidding, since no one made an offer. In one high-rise condo development in the Miami enclave of Williams Island, a 3,100 square foot penthouse which before was listed at $5.6 million, the bidder opened bidding at $5 million, then lowered the price to $3.5 million, then $3 million and $2.5 million until he closed the the auction.

Some housing market observers noted that there's just not that much enthusiasm or activity in the luxury market,and after the local real estate market peaked two years ago, local brokers noted that high-end real estate was the only aspect propping up the condo market in areas like Miami, which many consider to be one of the most overbuilt and overpriced in the country.

The Slow Market Is Providing An Opportunity For Bargain Hunters

Based on recent statistics, the median price of condos in areas like Miami gained 6 percent last year, while price drops of around 25 percent or more were seen elsewhere in the state amid the U.S. mortgage crisis, rising property taxes and hurricane insurance problems. The shoreline in Miami offers thousands of waterfront developments that have held their value better than cheaper houses and condos inland, where the foreclosure crisis has battered homeowners. In December, the condo markets in Miami had a bad month, when the median price fell 10 percent.

Auctioneers were also reported to have sold "north of 20" of the 50-plus properties on sale at the Fort Lauderdale auction, where the event offered an estimated $300 million worth of that ranged from a $2.45 million, one-bedroom unit located in Fisher Island, to mansions that soared past $15 million. Housing analysts note that the high end residential market is resilient, and certainly the residential market has corrected since the peak of 2005.

However, a lot of properties were quickly pulled from the auction when no one made an offer, and bargain hunters had an open field. One bargain hunter quickly snapped up two bayfront houses located in Miami Beach's upscale Venetian Islands, getting one for $500,000 and the other for $1 million. These homes previously had prices of $2.75 million and $2 million respectively in mid-2005, based on county records.