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The Best Tips for Saving on Car Insurance

April 2, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

Car insurance is a necessity that people certainly love to hate. It definitely eats up a good chunk of everyone’s pocket change and the premiums, depending on which state you live in, can be quite high. With that in mind we went looking for tips on how to save money on car insurance for you, our dear readers. What we found were quite a few that will give you the opportunity to save in various ways. Keep in mind that car insurance laws, rates and rules vary from state to state and make sure that you check with your state on anything that you plan to do. Aside from that, sit back and take a look as we present the best tips for saving on car insurance. Enjoy.

One of the quickest and easiest ways to save on car insurance is to get a higher deductible. This is especially true if your car is less than 10 years old.
If your car is newer, well-maintained and a brand that isn’t prone to breaking down you can usually drop towing from your insurance policy without too much risk. Of course maintaining your car is vital for this to work so make sure that you do that. Also do your best to make sure that you never lock your keys in your car or run out of gas.
Many automobile insurance policies have a car-rental rider that will pay if you need to rent a car. Unless you’re a frequent traveler or you spend hours on the road every day you can probably drop this also.
If you’re in the market to purchase a new car make sure that you do the research to find out if insurance rates for your particular model are within reason. There is no real formula for determining what it will cost to insure a particular car so, before you make a final purchase, inquire with your insurance company what the costs will be. Many times the automobile that you thought would cost less will cost more and vice versa.
Unless you have money to burn don’t waste any of it on aftermarket extras for your vehicle. While wheels, spoilers, an awesome stereo or a new exhaust may give you a small amount of pleasure, the fact is that if your automobile is totaled or stolen you’ll get back much less from your insurance company than you actually paid for the extras. In our opinion it’s just not worth it.
If you are insuring more than one vehicle or a combination of different types of vehicles such as cars, boats and motorcycles, it would be best for you to ensure them all at the same place. In most cases doing this will allow you to take advantage of volume discounting.
If possible don’t pay your insurance premiums on a monthly basis. The average insurance company will charge anywhere from 2 to 4% extra when you pay monthly rather than paying every six months. If you have no choice but to pay monthly you should set up an auto-pay service with your insurance company as they will usually charge less when you do this.
A factor that is becoming more important in the decisions that you will make determining your automobile insurance is your credit rating. As such, it would behoove you to keep your credit rating high. (Duh.) That being said, it is illegal for an automobile insurance company to change the rates on you mid-policy so don’t worry if you have a sudden drop in credit for some reason. Also keep in mind that you are allowed to request that your insurance company check your score once a year. If your policy was written when your credit wasn’t so wonderful and it has improved since then this would be a great idea. (Just remember that it works the other way too.)

While we realize that paying for automobile insurance is a fact of life that doesn’t mean that we have to overpay for it. Automobile insurance companies, like any business, cater to the needs of their customers. If you have proven yourself to be a good customer, have good credit and have few or no accidents you should be able to negotiate automobile insurance terms that are more to your benefit.

We hope you enjoyed this blog and that the advice and tips that we gave were helpful. Make sure to come back and join us soon for more excellent money-saving information and tips that you can use in your daily financial life.

Filed Under: Planning Ahead

Money Saving Gas Tips

March 27, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

If there’s anything that all of us can’t get enough of it’s tips on where to find cheap gas. With gas prices hovering around four dollars a gallon anything that can be done to lower the price or lower your consumption is a great idea. With that in mind we’ve put together a blog about where to find and how to find cheap gas. We hope it takes the sting out of your next trip to the pump. Enjoy.

No matter where you live in the United States the cheapest gas always seems to be in the same general area. For example, the outlying suburbs seems to be the place to find it if you live in a major metro area. Also, as you might well imagine, unless you live in an area that is very wealthy because you are wealthy it’s best to avoid affluent areas if you’re keen on filling up the tank. The reason is simple; people who live in affluent areas can afford affluent gas prices. Also, the price reflects the fact that the gas station is located in an affluent area as well and has to make up the cost of being there in I it’s prices.

Another gas station to stay away from no matter where you are is the one that sits right near a major highway or freeway. In many cases it can be well worth the extra time and effort to drive a few blocks or a couple of miles away.

Finding a gas station that always has lower prices is a good idea, obviously. These types of stations normally are associated with wholesale clubs, department stores or grocery stores. These retail outlets sell gas as a loss leader because it brings in customers for their main products. Many of these retail stores have membership programs and so you need to factor in the cost of that when determining if it’s a good enough deal per gallon for you to make the extra effort. In many cases it is and so if you have the opportunity you might want to check into it at your local wholesale club or grocery store. As a side note, when you have a gas station that is also an auto repair shop oftentimes the gas per gallon there is much more expensive.

A number of gas station chains have started giving coupons for discounts on your gas. You can find these on the back of grocery store receipts, on the Internet, in the mail and other locations. There are number of stations that will give you a lower price on gas when you purchase a car wash at the same time. Also a number of the major credit cards have cards that are connected with major gas station chains and will get you one to 2% back for every gallon that you buy.

Lastly of course if you want to use less gas then you should look into buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle and try to drive your car as little as possible. This isn’t always possible of course, but in many cases it is. With gas prices as high as they are, if you’re eager to save as much money as possible you have to be willing to do as much as possible to accomplish that task.

Filed Under: Gas Saving Innovations

How to Avoid Buying a Dodgy Used Car

March 25, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

In 2012, the number one most complained about consumer issue to the Citizens Advice Bureau between April and June were consumers buying used cars from independent dealers which were rife with problems and not fit for sale. They registered more than 12,000 complaints, of which 8% were dealt with by the Citizens Advice Bureau. The majority of complaints were consumers that bought from private sellers and franchise dealerships. 1 in 10 complaints involved misleading information about the vehicle given by a salesperson. This and other issues amounted to the Citizen Advice Bureau callers spending a shocking £55 million on used cars through bad dealers and shoddy cars. So how can this big problem in the motoring industry be avoided?

Be cautious

When buying a used car from an independent dealer, always stand your ground and don’t be easily swayed into a deal as many dealers are also great salespeople. If the dealer wishes to meet in a remote location rather than at their home or business then it is likely that they have something to hide. Before you get too deep into a deal, ask to see some recommendations from past clients and don’t be afraid to walk away from a deal if you feel that something is not right. Do a vehicle history check such as an AA Car Date Check and also check that the VIN numbers match. This will ensure that the car isn’t stolen or cloned, written off from a past incident and simply stuck back together or if there are any outstanding finances. If there is any money owing on the car from another party, the car will belong to a finance company and not to you. Lastly, always take the car for a test drive to see how it handles and if the car is unlikely to break down after it has been purchased!

Problems to look for

If you feel that you aren’t car savvy enough to make a clean cut deal by yourself, bring a qualified automotive person or mechanic to check the overall condition, focusing on expensive items such as the engine, emissions system, braking system and transmission. Because an extensive check on the whole of the car is timely and expensive, having someone to just verify the overall quality of the car will be sufficient.

Check for strange noises when taking the car for a test drive. Noises can occur when breaking, steering or going along a bumpy road. For example, hearing an unexplained rattling whilst simply cruising along a pedestrian road is not a good sign. Ask yourself if these problems (if they do arise) are deal breakers or bargaining aids when negotiating the asking price.

It is also best to check for signs of general wear and tear such as fluid leaks and rust build up, especially if it is an older car. Get right into the small nooks of the car where rust is likely to build up. Fluid leaks could be a sign that the car has experienced a critically damaging incident and should be treated as a concern.

Another area to look at is the cars drivability. Check for over and under steer and if the tyres are all aligned correctly. If the car doesn’t handle well on the road, the problems which cause this are difficult to repair as well as costly.

Common mistakes

The most common mistake that people make when buying a car is rushing into a deal. Used car finance issues can stack up so take time to consider factors past the initial purchase such as insurance costs and maintenance and repairs, especially when buying a problem prone classic car which are more difficult to repair due to outdated parts. Another big factor is how much gas your new car is going to guzzle. You are probably planning to run and use your car for quite a while so gas consumption can be a large factor when using your car on a daily basis. Finally, I know it is boring but it is important to think about practicality when buying a car. A shiny sports car may be want you want but it could disrupt your finances and you may end up having to sell it at a lower price a few months down the line.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous

Do those money saving Gas Tips really work?

March 23, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

As we all watch gas prices once again raise many of us are looking for ways to lower our gasoline bills. There are plenty of ways to do that but the question is do all of them actually work? With that in mind we put together a list of some of the tips that, while they sound good, aren’t exactly going to save you very much gas or money if at all. Now this won’t particularlyhelp you but they might save you time and / or energy if you’re currently doing some of them. Enjoy!

I common misconception is that if you fill your tank in the morning you will get more gas because the fuel is cold. Consumer Reports found that this idea, while it might make some sort of small scientific sense, really doesn’t do much of anything for the amount of gas you get, so stay in bed 15 minutes longer.

The increase in performance and gas consumption is also negligible when you change your air filter, mostly because today’s modern car has all sorts of sensors that will adjust the airflow if it becomes clogged. Sure you should probably change them once a year but no more.

This one is a doozy. Premium gas, while yes it may be slightly better for your car, provides such a small advantage that it in no way makes up for the extra cost. Save your money and use regular unless you have a serious sports car that the manufacturer says needs the good stuff.

Some people have taken to overinflating their tires, the theory being that if there’s less rubber touching the road the car will use less gas. While this is slightly true the fact is that, if your tires are over or under-inflated, this can cause your car to drive poorly and cause an accident. That’s definitely not worth the extra minimal gas savings in our opinion.

Another commonly held ‘belief’ is that using the AC uses a lot more gas. Today’s cars however have modern AC systems that just don’t use that much extra fuel. In fact, driving around town with your AC on decreases your car’s mileage by about a mile per gallon which, on a blazing hot day, just isn’t worth the savings unless you’re really a big fan of sweat.

Before you drop big bucks at the local auto parts store on bottled additives for your car that say they will increase your mileage ask yourself this question; do you think the oil companies aren’t doing everything that they can already to increase the miles you get out of every gallon? They do and the fact is that, if there was something that you could add to your tank to really get more mileage, it would already be in your gas.

Hopefully we didn’t burst anybody’s bubble with these revelations. Yes, there are a lot of things you can and should be doing to save gas like maintaining your car and driving no faster than 65 mph but the ‘solutions’ above aren’t on that list. Cheers!

Filed Under: Gas Saving Innovations

Which States have the Lowest Prices on Gasoline?

March 19, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

If you’ve been to a gas station recently you might have noticed that the price has gone up a little it. I’m being facetious of course as, in fact, gas prices have increased a whopping .49 cents since the beginning of the year, the biggest jump ever in the first 2 months of any year. In fact many experts are predicting that gas will be at a $4.00 per gallon average by this coming summer, a grim reality for many who use their cars on a regular and constant basis. There are already 4 states where gas is over $4.00 per gallon and about another half dozen that are close.

There are, however, a few where for whatever reason the prices have remained closer to $3.00 than to 4. With that in mind we thought we’d put together a list of the top 10 cheapest states for gas. Will this help you save gas? Well, no, but it may help you to make future plans or make you happy that, even as prices rise, your state is still cheaper than some others. So take a look and cross your fingers that yours is on the list. Enjoy!

10) Tennessee. If Tenneseein is believin’ you’re going to like what you see at the pump as prices there, tied for 9^th with Oklahoma, are at $3.62 per gallon

9) Oklahoma. One of the largest oil producers in the nation helps Oklahoma to share 9^th place with Tennessee at the same price per gallon, $3.62

8) Missouri. Even though they don’t have any refineries of their own Missouri comes in at 8^th because they are neighbors with Oklahoma and Illinois.

7) South Carolina. Having the 4^th lowest gas taxes in the county has helped South Carolina to come in at 7^th even though they don’t have any refineries producing it.

6) Colorado. Being near to Canada and their cheap crude oil helps Colorado to come in at 6^th place and also, at least up until a month ago at least, keep their gas prices under $3.00 a gallon.

5) New Mexico. One of only 5 states where gas was less than $3.50 per gallon New Mexico is also a state where the median income is much lower and the recent increase have caused very real problems for the people living there.

4) Idaho. Being Montana’s neighbor has helped Idaho to not only come in 4^th but also to have one of the lowest price increases in the country at $3.45 per gallon.

3) Utah. Even though less than 6 months ago they were one of the highest Utah is now one of the lowest states at $3.43 per gallon, thanks in part to their 5 refineries.

2) Montana. They have higher taxes than most but the fact that Montana has their own oil resources and are close to Canada and theirs the gas prices there are the 2^nd lowest at $3.28.

1) Wyoming. The top spot goes to Wyoming where, at $3.27 a gallon, the lowest price on regular gas can be found. One of the main reasons is that they have the 2^nd lowest gas taxes, only losing to Alaska.

Filed Under: Gas Prices

Saving on Fuel

March 15, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

As summer approaches and gas prices climb you may be considering ditching your car for your bicycle but we all know that there are some things that the bike just can’t do like getting you to your early morning meeting in the rain and still looking like the professional you are. It can’t store your groceries two car seats and pick your mom up at the airport. So even if you choose to drive less there are still times when driving really is the only option. In those cases you want to do all you can to make sure you are using your gas as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Make sure you are giving your care the love and attention it needs. A car with a well turned engine burns less fuel. Take it to get its regular scheduled turn ups and not only your car will think you but your wallet as well. Tire care is also important in protecting your gas mileage. Keeping your tire pressure at the correct level and also getting your tires rotated and aligned will help increase the fuel efficiency of your vehicle. Check your gas cap each time you fill up. If the cap doesn’t fit tightly you may be losing gas to evaporation.

Does your trunk still contain the ice chest you dragged to the beach last summer and the workout weights you bought at that garage sale last month? Well it’s time to clean it out. Extra weight in your vehicle can have a significant effect on the cars fuel performance. If you have extra items just laying around in your car or in the trunk that aren’t needed then make sure you get them out as soon as possible this will help you to stretch that tank of gas just a little further.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous

Saving on Gas Money with a Hybrid

March 11, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

Everyone now a days is feeling the pain at the pump. It seems that even when consumers get a little relief from the high prices just weeks later the prices are back where they started and sometimes even higher. As consumers look for ways to fight back the appeal of electric and hybrid cars are gaining. If you have been considering purchasing a hybrid car to save your wallet at the gas pump here are a few things to consider.

Hybrid cars do get better gas mileage than traditional combustion gas engine cars. This is good news when it can cost almost $100 to full up a large vehicle. However, the monthly car payment on a hybrid can eat up your monthly gas savings. The technology used to create and design hybrid cars is still new and as a result the price tag of many hybrid cars is steeper than their traditional counterparts. But don’t let this discourage you. If you shop wisely you can still come out a winner.

When you go looking for your hybrid vehicle make sure you take into account the price of the vehicle and any tax credits you may qualify for when purchasing the car. This can help to offset the higher monthly payment you may need to pay. Also estimate how much your monthly fuel savings will be with the vehicle you are considering purchasing. This will help you to pick the best hybrid vehicle for you.

Once you have an idea of the costs and savings you can better estimate how long it will take you to actually start saving money with your new vehicle. The other benefit of a hybrid vehicle is that you get to save the planet as well as your wallet and the truth is you can’t really put price on that.

Filed Under: Hybrid Cars

Some More Easy Ways to Save on Gas

March 7, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

As we all look for better ways to save money at the gas pump we may be overlooking the little changes we can make that will turn into big savings. You may think that you are already doing all you can to conserve your fuel and keep a reign on your gas budget but there might be a few changes you can make to squeeze out a little more savings.

Ditch the drive thru.

We all know that fast food is bad for our health but it can be bad for your gas budget as well. When you sit in your car idling in the drive thru you are wasting gas. The longer the line and the longer you sit the more gas money you’re pouring into that double shot espresso that you’re waiting so patiently for. Instead take the time to go inside it’s better for your wallet and the extra exercise is better for your waste.

Multi task

It’s true that while you’re driving your attention should only be on the road but you can make sure that while you’re out driving you get as much done as possible. Instead of making separate trips to the store or the cleaners on your day off try to do these on your way home from work or stop at the store when you’re coming home from the gym. If you make an intentional effort to drive less and plan your route so you can run as many errands at once you’ll be surprised at how much extra driving you can cut out of your schedule.

Share tasks

Perhaps you and a friend can team up to take turns driving to the grocery store on the weekend. Maybe you work right next door to the cleaners and can pick both yours and your neighbors cleaning in exchange for them stopping picking up the gallon of milk at the grocery store that is right next to their work. Think of not only the gas you can save but the time as well.

Thinking of ways to drive less will always be the best way to beat the high prices at the pump and you just might find yourself with more friends and better health as an added benefit.

Filed Under: Gas Saving Innovations

The Top Tips for Better Gas Mileage

March 3, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

Gas prices are not just inching upwards they’re sprinting. With that in mind we thought it was a great time to give you our best gas saving tips to help you out at the pump. We’ve given them before but frankly they deserve repeating and prices skyrocket.

Purchase a fuel efficient car. If you’re driving a gas guzzling behemoth of a car you’re going to really hate filling up these days. Trade that money-eater in for something that sips gas rather than chugs it like a drunken frat boy chugs beer.
Of course a well-maintained car will always use less gas so make sure to keep it tuned up and keep the tires inflated to the correct pressure. You’ll save at the pump and in repair costs.
Gas ‘saving’ products generally don’t work so don’t waste your money on them.
Gasoline conditioning products however may just save your engine, especially with the mix of ethanol in gasoline going up to 15%. Ethanol is highly corrosive and a conditioner is important to save your car’s engine and other vital parts.
Download the Gas Buddy App and go to the station that has the best prices. Don’t, however, drive very far out of your way to save as this may make the savings moot.
Costco and Sam’s Club, the mega wholesale clubs, sell gasoline and you can usually get it cheaper there than at many regular stations.
Change the time that you commute to a time that is less crowded and wasteful. If you can go in earlier or later and leave in a similar fashion you’ll save gas money lost due to sitting in traffic and stop-and-go traffic conditions.
Make 1 large trip instead of multiple little trips. Instead of a trip to the grocery store, to the bank and to the laundromat make all of those stops during 1 trip.
Get rid of anything and everything heavy in your car to lighten the load. As for roof racks take them off unless you truly need them to increase your car’s aerodynamics.
Purchase your gas on Wednesday. This is usually the cheapest day of the week.
Buy gas in the morning when it’s cooler and the gas hasn’t expanded from the heat. You’ll get more for your money.
Unless your car specifically needs another grade buy regular.
Don’t top off your tank. Gas will spill out and that’s just a shame.
Don’t idle, ever. If you’re stopped for more than 15 seconds turn off your car completely.
Drive between 60 and 65 on the highway, no faster. This is the optimum for most cars and any higher can waste up to 25% more gas per mile.
Anticipate lights and stop signs and try your hardest not to use your brakes.

The last Tip is simply this; drive less. Take a walk, a bike or carpool. The less you drive the more you save, it’s as simple as that.

Filed Under: Gas Saving Innovations

In the Market for a New Car?

February 28, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

If you’re in the market for a new car and you want something that gets great gas mileage but you’re not really keen on getting a hybrid vehicle there are still a lot of cars on the road that get great mileage but aren’t hybrids. Some offer 40+ miles per gallon stats on the highway and close to that city, which isn’t bad at all if you think about it. They may not match hybrids in city driving but they won’t suck down the gas like many other models. Here are four of the best.

The Volkswagen Passat TDI is at the top of the heap when it comes to traditional cars that still get great mpg. It comes with a 2.0 liter turbocharges engine, just as the Jetta, Golf and Audi A3 do and uses less diesel that most of its counterparts. If you do a lot of highway miles the strong low down torque, excellent fuel economy and super quiet engine will make you very happy. It’s also not unusual for a diesel to get better mileage than the EPA estimate so cross your fingers.

The Chevrolet Cruze Eco is the highest rated of the non-diesel cars and gets 42 mpg. Many owners report that they’re averaging 41 mpg in total (highway and city) while the actual EPA number says only 33 mpg. The fact is, with its downsized engine and aerodynamic body the Cruze proves that the Volt isn’t the only car in Chevy’s fleet that is highly fuel efficient.

The Honda Civic HF barely missed beating the Chevy Cruze by only 1 mpg and matches the Cruze as far as combined ratings are concerned. Just like the Cruze the Civic is beating the EPA numbers. The HF is a little bit less refined than the Civic Hybrid but has had tweaks to its 1.8 liter engine and some aerodynamic alterations as well that let it slip cleanly through the air. It also has low rolling resistance tires and is a great alterative to Honda’s Civic Hybrid.

The new kid on the block Dodge Dart Aero just inched its way into the 40 mpg club on the highway with a 1.4 liter turbocharged engine. This model has the engine that is used in Chrysler partner Fiat’s Alpha Romeo and uses Fiat’s MultiAir Technology as well to get the best air to fuel mixture and the best economy and performance.

As far as miles per gallon is concerned you can’t do much better than these 4 excellent choices. They may not be hybrids but, for the money, they are possibly a better deal in the long run as they will cost much less than their hybrid counterparts (if they have them) and will use the least amount of gas to get the job done.

Filed Under: Planning Ahead

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