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The search for life insurance can be frustrating and confusing, so it’s important to get the best policy for your own unique needs and circumstances. So many web sites offer discount life insurance, and as a result people often end up with a policy not suited to their needs.

One of the questions that arise time and again is whether a term life policy or a whole of life policy is best, and what’s the difference between them.

Term Life Insurance & it’s Benefits:

With term life insurance you pay for a predefined term, and are covered for that term (normally the same term as your mortgage).

Term life insurance only offers protection for the duration of the mortgage, and is normally of no value when your mortgage is paid off.

However, term insurance is cheap, and the cost can even reduce over time. There are five main forms of term life insurance, and these are as follows:

* The first type is known as level term insurance, and it is a very popular policy. Here, the premium costs are locked in for the entire term of the policy. This means you pay the same amount every month/year for the term of the policy.

* The second type of term life cover is known as escalating term insurance. This type of scheme means that you pay an increasing amount each year, so the payout at death also increases. They are generally low cost policies, and are more suited to first time buyers and the young. However, they can become more expensive as you get older.

* The third type of term cover is known as decreasing term insurance. With this type of policy the monthly/annual payments stay exactly the same. However, the amount of protection reduces each year.

* The forth type of term life cover is increasing term insurance, where the pay out on death increases. However, to make up for this increase it will be necessary to increase the premiums from time to time, in line with changing circumstances.

* The fifth and final type of term life insurance is known as convertible term insurance. This type of term life policy provides a way for you to convert your policy into an investment/insurance policy in the future. With this type of policy the price of your future investment policy is based on your health when you bought the cheaper term insurance.

Whole of Life Insurance Policies:

Whole of life insurance covers you right up until the time of your death, providing that you keep paying your premiums. It can give a considerable lump sum to your family when you die, and it normally accumulates in value over the years.

The amount generally increases in value over the years. Also, the contributions you make to your policy normally earn interest each year. When this happens, your premiums may reduce over time, to the point where you no longer have any more premiums to pay.

However, it’s important to understand that it is possible the cash-in-value of a whole of life policy may actually be less than the amount put into the policy over it’s full term.

Summary:

When it comes to the decision of whether to choose a term life policy, or whole of life insurance cover, the ultimate decision must be guided by your individual needs.

The simplest form is a level term policy with a renewable option. This will allow you to get life insurance for as long as you may need it.

On the other hand, you might like to consider a policy that grows in value over time, giving you a very nice nest egg which you can benefit from, while you are still alive.

Both types of policy have advantages and disadvantages, and that’s why it’s always a good idea to get advice from a competent insurance adviser.

Michael Pettigrew writes articles for insurance website Best Insurance Quotes, who provide quality cheap life insurance cover. Visit Best Insurance Quotes for great life insurance cover

Drywall/ Plaster Repair In the city where I do most of my rehabilitation work, all the houses are 90 to 100 years old. Cracks and holes in the plaster are common. Often, holes in ceiling plaster are the result of water infiltrating either from the roof, or from a split plumbing line. Holes in walls are often the result of vandalism, but could be the sign of more serious foundation issues. Once the root cause is fixed I normally patch the area with inch drywall. Perform this task by placing a piece of inch drywall over the hole (lathe must be present behind the drywall). Secure the drywall to the hole with at least 2 drywall screws. Insert your roto-zip near the edge of your hole and cut the drywall by pressing the rotozip blade against the remaining plaster. Once your piece is cut, secure it with multiple drywall screws, mud the gaps, tape, re-mud then sand to a smooth finish. When dealing with floors bellow ground level if Basment Waterproofing is needed call a professional like before you Repair the walls.

Basic Water Pipe Repair Many of the foreclosed homes that I encounter have sat over the winter and the cold weather has burst water pipes in the basement and walls. Usually the hardest part of the repair is finding all the leaks. You do this by turning on the water, listening for falling water, then visually inspecting where the water is coming from. Once you find the leak, cut out the old section of pipe and cut a section of new pipe to replace it. Rough up the end of the old and new sections of pipe with your sandpaper. Apply flux to each section of pipe and to a coupler that will be used to join the pieces. Put the new section in place. Heat the coupler with your butane torch and apply solder around the edges of the coupler. The flux will melt creating a vacuum inside the coupler and drawing the solder inside. Once it is sealed all the way around, allow the solder to dry and move on to the next leak. If you are worried about using a butane torch on this project, ask your hardware professional about Shark-Bite fixtures.

Drain Repair Drains work by using the force of gravity to expel waste water down and out of the house. Improperly working drains can be the result of improper pitch in the drain line or a clog. Clogged drains are a very common problem. When a working drain gets clogged, Draino or a quick snake will often do the trick. If that doesn’t work, unscrew the drainpipe and inspected for clogs. If a clog is found in there, simply remove the clog, replace the drain and test the drain. In a vacant house, a clog can become impenetrable. If you encounter such a clog, you need to cut it out and replace that section of drain. Using a saw or grinder cut out the clogged section of pipe. Once the clog is cut out, cut a similar length of PVC pipe to replace it. Either connect the new pipe to the old with PVC connectors or with a fernco connector. If you use the PVC connectors make sure that you clean the old pipe thoroughly and apply PVC cement to ensure a proper seal.

Replacing Light Fixtures When I am working on electrical fixtures, I like to turn off all power to the house. If this is not feasible or if other people need power to perform other work, I just turn off the circuits one by one as needed. Be sure to check the wires with a voltage meter to insure the power is off. Remove the old fixture by unscrewing the wire nuts or by cutting the wires. Strip off a section of the wire casing and attach you new fixture with wire nuts. Be sure to tape off any exposed wire with electrical tape. Since each fixture will come with its own set of instructions, be sure to read those instructions thoroughly to insure proper installation. Electricity can cause severe injury if you do not follow instruction implicitly.

Window Installation To measure your window, open it all the way and measure from inside of the window casing. Buy your new window as close as possible. Remember, you can make up for a window that is too small, but it is much harder to expand an opening for a window that is too big.. Next, remove the old window, making sure not to damage the wood frame. Once the window is removed place wood shims on the sill and level the shims. Once the shims are level secure them in place with screws (drilling pilot holes will keep the shims from splitting). Put the new window in place. At the sash, place more wood shims between the wood frame and the window to fill that gap, and then secure the shims in place by screwing through the window frame and into the wood frame. Repeat this step about six inches from the top and six inches from the bottom of the sides. Once the sides are secure, make sure you can easily open and close the window. Fill the gaps around the window with expanding foam insulation.

Refinishing Wood Floors Almost every house I buy has stained, smelly tattered carpet covering stained hardwood floors. Rather than re-carpet the floors, I like to refinish the hardwood. First remove the old carpet. Then remove all of the tack strips, staples, nails and quarter round molding. Once the floor is clean, run your drum sander with the grain of the wood. Make sure that you get a thorough explanation from the rental yard on the operation of the drum sander and that you understand it completely before you begin this project. Working a drum sander is a lot like working a self-propelled lawn mower. It is very important that you keep the drum sander moving at all times though. If you leave it sit it will quickly eat into the floor. I start with 36-grit sandpaper, then 80-grit, and then 100-grit. Once the main body of the floor is sanded, do the edges with an edge sander using the same grits of sandpaper that you used on the main floor. When all the sanding is complete, sweep the floor, and then vacuum the floor. After vacuuming, I suggest a damp mopping. Once the floor is dry apply your choice of stain, Allow to dry then coat with 2 – 3 layers of polyurethane. Replace the molding.

Laying Tile The key to a good tile project is a good foundation. Whether you are tiling a wall or floor, the foundation must be plumb or level and the surface must be flat. Once the old covering has been removed lay a product like Hardi-Backer, an extremely durable cement-based product. Begin tile installation by troweling on a thin application of mastic over a three to four foot area. Set the tile in place and push gently to secure the position. Place a spacer next to the tile and position the next piece. Continue in this fashion until the tiles are all in place. Allow the mastic to dry for 24-hours before grouting. If you are laying a natural stone tile (travertine, slate, marble) be sure to seal the tile prior to grouting. If you don’t, the tile will appear hazy. Remove all tile spacers. Mix a grout color of your choice, push the grout between the tiles with a rubber float and clean up all excess grout.

Texturing a Ceiling Texturing a ceiling is one of the simplest jobs you will do on a home, yet it gives the room a finished look. Dip a texturing brush with a long (4 foot) handle into a bucket of top-coating mud. Push the brush into the ceiling in a random pattern. After it dries finish by painting with a white ceiling paint. (Note: This project can be messy. Either do it before you put your floors in or cover them completely. )

Painting a Room Two tools that will make painting a room faster, easier and produce a better result are an orbital sander and a power sprayer. Use the orbital sander to smooth out any surface imperfections. Once the walls are smooth, start spraying. First, spray the walls, and ceilings with a coat of latex based primer. Next spray your ceiling with a white ceiling paint. Then spray your walls with a flat paint. Flat paint is the best choice for hiding small imperfection in your walls surface. Be sure to follow the sprayer with a roller to produce the best results. For a great finished look, be sure to apply a fresh coat of white semi-gloss paint to all trim.

Landscaping The exterior is the first impression people will get of your house. Take time to remove all the overgrown 1950’s era plants and replace them with smaller more modern looking plants. After removing the old shrubs, cultivate the bed and mix in organic materials like manure, compost or peat moss. The exterior is the first impression people will get of your house. Most of the time, I remove all the overgrown 1950’s era plants and replace them. If there are any good plants in the landscape, I try to remove them in a way that they can be re-used in the landscape. If they are too large to remove, prune them to improve their appearance. After removing the old shrubs, cultivate the bed and mix in organic materials like manure, compost or peat moss. Arrange your new plants on top of the beds. Once you are happy with the arrangement, remove any burlap or plastic and plant them. Be sure not to bury the root balls of shrubs. You want to plant the shrub with just a little of the ball showing above the ground

Erin Cureton is the lead partner of Cureton Property Alliance. Erin is also a leading fundraiser for the Medina County St. Vincent DePaul Society. He highly recommends advertising agencies

Because it is the law to have car insurance, it is important to purchase a policy that fits your need. Some policies can be expensive as it may include coverage that you do not need. There are various types of insurance policies that you should be aware of before you make your selection. It may seem a time consuming task to figure out what the various policies include. To make your insurance policy selection easier, below are a few tips on how to find car insurance policies that meets your needs.

1. It is important to understand the different types of insurance coverage available. Liability insurance will cover you in the event that you cause a vehicle accident and cause an accident. It provides coverage if another person sustains property damage and physical injury. Most states and provinces mandate set minimum liability insurance. Collision coverage is insurance that will cover you if your own vehicle is damaged and needs repair as the result of a vehicle accident. It is recommended for those who have valuable cars. Comprehensive coverage is insurance coverage that covers non-collision damage such as vandalism, theft, or damage from a storm. There is also Uninsured Motorist Coverage. This is coverage that covers you for damage an uninsured driver has when driving your car.

2. To find an insurance policy that fits your needs, you should first determine how much you can afford to pay for a plan. You have to have minimum liability coverage so it is important that the coverage you buy is enough to protect you. If you only have minimum liability coverage and you injure someone, your personal assets may be at risk. You have to determine how much you can pay out-of-pocket in the event of an accident. Comparing auto insurance online is a great way to find a deal. Most people will buy high liability coverage to ensure full protection. As well, if you have a car that is not worth very much and plan to replace it soon, you may want to forgo buying collision and comprehensive insurance. Remember, you are compensated for the Kelly Blue Book value of the car.

3. If you are looking to lower your insurance premium, make sure you take advantage of cost cutting incentives. For instance, increasing your deductible will lower your monthly insurance payments. It is important to make sure you can afford the deductible in the event of an accident. For example, if you have a car accident that results in $3000.00 damage, and you have a $500.00 deductible, you will be required to pay the $500.00 before the insurance kicks in. Increasing your deductible means you are taking on more risk, therefore your payments will be lower. Most insurers will provide you with car insurance quotes directly on the Internet after inputting certain factors. Other discounts that may be offered to include low mileage discounts, anti-theft device discounts, multiple vehicle discounts, ‘green’ car discounts, safety feature discounts, and driving program discounts.

When you know all of the car insurance options available, the greater chance you have of purchasing a policy that fits your needs and ensures that you have the appropriate amount of coverage. When searching for car insurance, it is essential to compare at least three different policies from different insurance providers to ensure you are getting the best policy at the best price.

Comparing auto insurance online is a great way to find a deal. Most insurers will provide you with car insurance quotes directly on the Internet after inputting certain factors.

Some people enjoy traveling around the world and seeing other cultures different than our own. Some who travel a lot may even choose to stay in a certain country for an extended period of time to live there and truly experience the culture.

But what about transport? Do these people simply rely on others and public transport? This may work for some but a more permanent solution would be to buy or indeed rent a car and sign up for international auto insurance.

Most Americans with auto insurance will find that they are not insured outside of the US, for this reason it is essential that one contact their insurer in order to verify whether their actual policy does or does not cover them abroad.

One company that offers international auto insurance is Geico. Geico started out as an insurance company that insured government employees including the people in the military. Since 1954 Geico has also insured people from America in over two hundred countries around the world.

Basically what they do is locate a local insurance company in the country where the person in question will be staying. Obviously you could do this yourself however you wouldn’t have the contacts they have and so you could end up getting ripped off, not to mention it could be a whole load of hassle especially if you don’t speak the language.

International auto insurance is made easier when people deal with Geico. Geico now sells insurance to everyone in the US and not only government employees. They are very customer friendly and competitively priced.

Other international auto insurance companies available

AIG is one more big name in the international auto insurance game. Like Geico AIG also runs all of their international auto insurance through a subsidiary, in this case by the name of American International underwriters.

They do this in order to get the most protection available in any other country. For those people who now live full time in the country they have visited, AIG now has a service for them too. People can call AIG to find out more information.

Both of these companies are heavily used by Americans in need of international auto insurance, nevertheless there are of course other smaller companies out there that may or may not do a good job.

While both of the international auto insurance companies are close in service and cost, people might just want to call each company to directly compare prices and services.

When dealing with international auto insurance, the main goal is to make sure that a person is genuinely covered from the country they will be in. Both of these companies have a long history of helping Americans overseas.

After looking at American International Auto Insurance why not also see our latest write up about Washington Auto Insurance Quotes.

Insurance is not required by law in South Africa. Given this fact, most South Africans choose to save a little bit of money and go without the insurance. In the long run, however, this has proven to be a very costly mistake.

We can learn a lot from financial institutions in regard to the importance of insurance.. Banks will very often require car insurance before approving your auto loan. Banks also require homeowners insurance and sometimes life insurance before approving a home loan. Doing so protects the bank from financial losses in the event your property is lost, stolen or damaged or in the event of your death. You are also protected since insurance cover will provide you the means to pay the bank under these circumstances.

Armed with this knowledge, wouldn’t it then make sens to protect your assets, even if the bank doesn’t require you to? The decision to not obtain insurance coverage for your assets is a big one. Take a look at these common types of insurance and see if any of them would be of interest to you.

Life insurance is the most underutilized insurance options for many South Africans. Most of us are familiar with decreasing term life insurance that is linked to specific debt such as our home loans. But life insurance can do more than pay off debt. Life insurance payouts can ensure that your family will be able to maintain its lifestyle in the event of your death. The right whole life insurance policy will provide you and your family this peace of mind.

As a leader in providing excellent life and medical insurance for people suffering from HIV/AIDS, South Africa is now one of only 2 countries in the world where HIV/AIDS patience can purchase medical coverage through there insurance company, thanks to the escalating success rate of the treatment of this particular disease.

In South Africa it is legal to drive an auto without car insurance. In fact, about 35% of drivers do not have any insurance. However, to own an uninsured car in South Africa is lunacy, as thefts, accidents, and hijackings are a daily occurrence. For anyone who cannot pay for repairs, thefts, or doctors’ bills for injuries, auto insurance is a must. All of these scenarios are accounted for in a Comprehensive Cover policy.

If you own your home you most likely have homeowners insurance. But, if you rent, you should consider renters insurance to protect your belongings in the event of fire, theft or other property damage. To lower your premiums for these policies, you can add voluntary excess amounts and add security devices. For homeowners, do not include the value of the land your home is built on when you estimate your homes value. No matter what happens to your house, the land will still be there.

You might think that insurance is an unnecessary expense. It may seem so, but what would you do if you had to pay to have your or another person’s car replaced following an accident? Just think about how hard it would be for your family to get by if you were to die suddenly. This type of thing happens to people every day, but you and your family don’t have to be among them. Don’t wait any longer, start looking for the insurance you and your family need to be safe.

Knowing this, doesnt it make sense to protect yourself without the bank requiring you to do it? If youve made the choice not to insure your property, or yourself, take a moment to review the most common types of insurance and their benefits.

Tom Martens is the syndication coordinator Insurance-south-africa.co.za. South Aricas leading Insurance information portal.

Short-term car insurance will be expensive due to high risks, especially in places such as South Africa. Knowing how to lessen the fees will help lead you down the correct path.

First, let’s examine what is driving the costs. Car insurance risk is the major culprit behind higher short-term insurance premiums. Industry experts cannot ignore that South African roads are increasingly dangerous. The country is often a leader in traffic injuries and fatalities. The privilege of driving is constantly being extended, even to those who are not qualified drivers.

As carmakers continue to upgrade their offerings, prices reflect those gadgets, leather seats, on-board computers and more. As car prices go up, so must the cost to insure them. Younger drivers have always been viewed as a higher risk. Drivers aged’-30 historically pay the highest rates.

Insurers should consider that car theft and hijackings when they calculate their premiums. Statistics show a decline in thefts while hijackings continue to rise. In the homeowners insurance market the main factor is fraud. Some estimate that 6%-10% of short term insurance claims are fraudulent, that amounts to more than $2 billion yearly.

Now, how can you overcome these factors for your own personal situation? Even though you have no control over the number of fraudulent claims, you can keep their effects from impacting your premiums. Try making the offer to your insurer to submit to a polygraph test each time you submit a claim. Many will offer a substantial savings on your premium in return for your honesty.

For car insurance, start by increasing you excess as this can lower your premium. Take this into consideration as you gather quotes. Also, be sure you can afford to pay the excess amount you choose in the event of a claim.

Maintaining a clean driving record not only keeps you safe, but can also save you money. If your driving record isn’t as clear as it could be, you can attend a driving course offered by car manufacturers or the Automobile Association. This can help clear negative history. Driving courses aren’t just for bad drivers, however. A driver with a clean record can attend to possibly lower their insurance premiums.

And, if you live in a high-crime area, consider moving. This can reduce both your car and homeowners insurance rates. Adding security devices can help as well. Anti-hijack devices and global tracking systems are good investments for this purpose.

You should look around for the best rates, but don’t just go for the cheapest. Make sure the policy you choose is adequate as well as affordable.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for Carinsurancesa.co.za. South Arica’s leading car insurance portal.

There are so many risks and liabilities associated with driving and owning a car. This is why car owners are required by law to have auto insurance.

What is an auto insurance?

Auto insurance is an agreement between an insured person or group and an insurance company. Its main purpose is to provide you and your car protection against losses and liabilities incurred as a result of accident. Also known as vehicle insurance, car insurance and motor insurance, it is an insurance purchased for vehicles like trucks and cars.

How does an auto insurance work?

The insurance company charges the insured person or group an amount of money, called premiums, as payment for insurance coverage. In return, the person or group insured receives compensation from the company in the event of loss or accident as defined in the policy.

The insurance company issues the insured person or group a proof of insurance, which will be presented if the insured person or group gets involved in an accident or is stopped by law enforcement officials while driving. The proof of insurance serves as evidence that the vehicle is insured for a particular period of time.

Auto insurance comes in several types. Some are required by law while others are optional for all car owners. Expensive cars and sports cars have higher premiums.

The insurance coverage has a very specific insurance policy. Usually, auto insurance gives medical coverage, liability coverage and property coverage. Medical coverage provides payment for medical treatment and rehabilitation as well as lost wages and funeral expenses. Liability coverage pays for the legal responsibility of the car owner to others for property damage or bodily injury. Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of the insured car.

Different auto insurance law, coverage requirements and costs apply in each and every one of the 50 states in the USA. Understanding the laws, coverage regulations and requirements in your state is highly beneficial to you. For one, it can keep you legally protected in an auto accident event. It can also save you significant amount of money on your auto insurance policy.

Here are some tips:

1. Shop for insurance before buying a vehicle to get the best deal possible. Compare insurance quotes first. Do this at least twice a year as rates are always changing. This will increase your chances of finding lower rates as rates vary from company to company.

2. Know the different discounts or premium reductions, or special insurance rates that auto insurances offer and take advantage of them. There are Low Mileage Discount, Good Student Discount, Multi-Car Discount, Safe Vehicle Discount and Good Driver Discount that you can avail of. You can also earn discounts with your Age (being at least 25 years old), your Good Credit Score and by using Car Pooling and Public Transportation. You can also purchase other policies from the same company and/or avoid installment fees to get more discounts.

3. Know the different coverages. Avoid duplicate and unnecessary coverage. When adding physical coverage to a vehicle, consider higher deductibles.

About the Author: Fred Gagnon specializes in providing tips and information on auto insurance. To learn more about auto insurances, visit Auto Insurance Qoutes and Auto Insurance Qoutes Online.

This coverage will pay for the cost to correct or replace custom parts or equipment on your auto up to a certain limit set by the insurance company. Additional custom parts or equipment coverage are also available for further cost that may cover costs for custom parts that are worth a bit more than the lower limit. This is more of a luxury than an insurance need . Custom parts can occasionally be quite expensive, however this option should only be selected if the custom parts would cost noticeably more than the insurance deductible, which must be paid out-of-pocket anyway.

In the case where you are in an accident and your car is completely totaled, this coverage will insure that your insurance firm will pay off the remaining balance for the loan, or up to 25% of the cash value of the auto, whichever is less. This coverage provides help in the case of a breakdown due to battery failure, flat tire, or any other event that causes it.

Understanding each coverage will enable you to chat with an insurance broker when asking for a quote and to ask for the precise options that you would like, and to request the removal of the ones that you do not want. As an example, if you are an affiliate of AAA already, you don’t have any need for the Roadside help option. If you have excellent healthcare insurance already and live in a state where MedPay or PIP isn’t needed, you are able to save noticeably by removing that coverage too. Once you have streamlined your desired policy to only the options that you know you need and nothing additional, you will be able to contact the highly rated insurance corporations on your list, receive quotes, and obtain the absolute lowest auto insurance rates possible.

Whether you’ve already purchased car insurance, or you are making preparations to start looking, one of the best things you can do to get the lowest possible rates is to improve those things that vehicle insurance companies look at when they figure out your insurance premium. There are many things you can do in the short term to enhance your standing, and there are also things you can do over the long run to improve it as well . This section will describe 4 major components of this method to save money on your auto insurance.

Most auto insurance companies now consider your credit score when determining your premium. Insurers have decided that there’s a correlation between your credit history and potential insurance claim behavior. While age, vehicle, driving history, and location all still have a repercussion on your premium, credit history can also have an effect. Depending on your personal credit score, this can be a great thing, or it can be a bad thing.

Auto Insurance Quotes New Orleans

It is hard not to view insurance payments as money down the drain, so many of us use price quotes as the deciding factor when we select car, home or household insurance. No one wants to be “taken” on their insurance premiums.

Many consumers come to regret the policies they purchased when it comes time to file a claim with their insurance companies. This is usually when we find out what we’ve been paying for with our premiums, and more often than not, we find out that we get what we pay for.

Therefore, a variety of companies can be found that offer excellent service and comparable pricing. In order to differentiate between them, you will need to do your homework. Research individual companies to determine their rates and benefits.

It is important to research insurance when you are starting to look for insurance. There are many terms, and practices that you need to be familiar with. There are many sights online that can help you learn about car insurance and the terms, some will even offer online quotes. It is important that you not feel pressured to make a decision on the spot. You may end up calling specific companies for details on options, but before you make the call make sure you know what they are going to be saying to you.

When you start negotiating with the insurance company, you’ll hear novel terms and listen to consultants who try to pull fast ones on you. You need to know what will happen when you submit a claim, and what the terms of your policy include. Ask any questions that you need to ask to clarify the policy. Any company that wants your business should be willing and able to explain its policy to your satisfaction.

Foregoing all the jargon that can accompany this explanation, it essentially boils down to your risk profile. If you’re a high risk, you’ll pay a higher premium. If you’re a low risk, you’ll pay a lower premium.One thing it is important to understand about insurance is how the companies determine your premium.

These factors can influence the various types of insurance in different ways, but some have the same effect on each insurance type.The value of the item(s) to be insured, your history of claims, the type and amount of cover you want to buy and the risk the item(s) being insured are exposed to,several factors influence your risk profile, including, age, gender, place of residence.

Home, household, and car insurance will cost you more if you live in a high-crime area, because of the increased risk of burglary and hijacking. You can lower your car, household, and home insurance premiums if you add security measures beyond those required by the insurance company.

One way to decrease your premium is by increasing the excess amount, this is the amount that you pay when you have a claim.

It takes a while to establish your driving record and history with an insurance company. If you are just starting out with insurance you will find that you will not be eligible for discounts. Some insurance companies do offer breaks and rewards to new drivers, I have seen some companies offer incentives to those who have good grades and show signs of responsibility.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator Insurance-south-africa.co.za. South Arica’s leading Insurance portal

The South African car insurance market has some unique challenges. For the most part, South Africans have the choice of buying car insurance or not, so that translates into a majority of the country’s drivers operating uninsured vehicles. South Africa is also a very risky place to drive. It often leads the world in the number of traffic injuries and deaths each year.

Risky drivers and uninsured motorists are causing the cost of insurance to rise for everyone.

Comprehensive Cover provides the highest level of protection, and, so, is the most expensive. Its cover includes protection provided by the two lesser types of cover, Third Party and Third Party Fire and Theft. These cover you if you damage other peoples property in an accident or if someone is injured in an accident that is your fault (Third Party) and in the event your car is damaged by fire, theft or attempted theft (Third Party Fire and Theft). Comprehensive cover adds to this by covering damage to your vehicle, limited medical expenses and replacement of broken glass.

This may not mean much to you right now. But when you realize that each time you get behind the wheel, you take the risk of damage to your car, to yourself, and to other people and property into your own hands, driving without insurance is really a frightening idea. Can you afford to repair or replace your car if you are in an accident? If you cause an accident, can you afford to repair or replace someone else car or property? What if your car is stolen, hijacked or vandalized? If you cant afford to pay for these things out of your pocket, you need insurance.

Now that you’re aware of your need for insurance, take some time to learn about the options you have to lower your premiums.

Your driving record is a major factor. Any violations that appear on your record will be a red flag to the insurance company, suggesting that you are a higher risk; therefore your premiums will be higher. In subsequent years, your premiums may decline if your driving record improves. Drivers with clean driving records may receive a discount for each year in which they do not file a claim.

The kind of car you drive also makes a difference. Expensive sports cars cost more to insure because accidents or thefts are more likely and repairs cost more.

Some insurances allow for lesser rates if you make your car more safe. Consider putting in a GPX or extra locks to hold down insurance costs.

As you begin to research your insurance options, you’ll find comparing quotes and policies easiest online. You can even get a discount for buying your policy online. Keep in mind as you’re shopping that the cheapest insurance is not always the best choice. Your goal is to find the insurance that meets your needs at a price you can afford.

Graham McKenzie is the content syndication coordinator for Carinsurancesa.co.za. South Arica’s leading car and vechile portal.