HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-04-19, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012. PAGE 13.
Know what to look for when buying insurance
MS –Auto insurance is necessary
for anyone who drives. Though some
places allow motorists to drive
without insurance, doing so is an
unnecessary risk, one that could
prove costly should an accident
occur.
When purchasing auto insurance,
many drivers hope to save as much
money as possible. That’s
understandable, as many drivers go
years without ever filing a claim,
giving some the feeling that they’re
paying for something they will never
use. However, when an accident
does occur, paying for those
premiums proves well worth it.
While it’s important to get the best
rates and not overpay for auto
insurance, there’s more to shopping
for auto insurance than simply
finding the cheapest policy. The
following are a few things drivers
should consider when shopping for a
new auto insurance policy.
• Determine the amount of
coverage you need. How much auto
insurance coverage a driver needs
depends on what the local law
requires. Some areas, including
densely populated cities with more
drivers on the road, tend to require
more coverage than others because
the risk of accident is greater.
For drivers leasing or financing a
vehicle, the leasing or financing
agreement will typically spell out the
minimum coverage required, and
drivers can choose to increase that
coverage if they feel it’s necessary.
• Explore payment options.
Drivers who want to reduce their
insurance costs without reducing
coverage should explore their
payment options. In many instances,
drivers who choose to make annual
or bi-annual payments instead of
monthly installments can save some
money is so doing. If your current
insurance provider does not offer
such an alternative, then shop around
for a company that does.
• Re-examine your driving history.
Speeding and traffic tickets might
sting initially, but they will disappear
from your record over time. When
shopping for auto insurance, re-
examine your driving record. In the
United States and Canada, accessing
these records can typically be done
by contacting the local branch of the
Department of Motor Vehicles. If an
old speeding or traffic ticket is close
to being removed from your record,
wait until those disappear before
purchasing a new policy.
• Shop around. Drivers often
lament paying so much for auto
insurance, a safety net few drivers
use but all must pay for. Despite that,
many motorists continue to overpay
for their insurance because the
popular misconception is that
shopping for a better policy is
inconvenient and tedious. But the
internet has made it much easier for
consumers to shop for a better auto
insurance policy. When shopping for
quotes online, have your vehicle
registration and identification
number as well as your driver history
on hand so the quote is as accurate as
possible. Print out each quote and
then compare them to find the best
deal. If another company is offering
a deal significantly better than your
existing policy, discuss that with
your current provider, who might
match the rate to keep you as a
policy holder.
• Shop for discounts. Another
thing to consider when shopping for
an auto insurance policy is the
availability of discounts. Many
companies reward policy holders for
good behavior, such as driving
without an accident and earning
good grades in school. Other
companies even offer a one-time
accident amnesty, forgiving drivers
for their first accident by not raising
their rates when an accident occurs.
These discounts can add up to
substantial savings over the course
of the policy, so do your homework.
2003 Chev Malibu -green, 3100, V6, 4 dr., loaded, 198,810 kms.. . . . . . . . . . . . $3,995.
2003 Ford Taurus LX -red, 3L, V6, loaded, 4 dr., 201,714 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,995.
2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser -blue, 4 cyl., auto, 4 dr., loaded, 241,724 kms. . . . . . $3,995.
2003 Ford F150 XLT -burgundy, 5.4L, V8, auto, loaded, super crew, 4x4
187,976 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,995.
2003 Chev Silverado 1500 -green, 4.8 L, V8, 4x4, air, cruise, tilt,
power door locks, ext. cab, short cab, 198,716 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,995.
2002 GMC 1500 Sierra SLE -green, 4.8L, V8, auto, quad cab, long box,
cloth int., loaded, 2 WD, 231,906 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,995.
2002 GMC Sonoma SLS -taupe, 4.3L, V6, 4 dr., loaded, 4WD, cloth int.,
278,557 kms.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,995.
2002 Ford F150 XLT -burgundy, 4.6 L, V8, ext. cab, short box, XTR pkg.,
loaded, 4x4, 254,907 kms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,795.
2002 Chev Impala -blue, 3400, V6, 4 dr., loaded, 242,977 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,295.
2000 Saturn SL2 -silver, 4 cyl, auto, 4 dr., loaded, 237,841 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,695.
2000 GMC Jimmy SLS -taupe, 4.3L, V6, auto, loaded, 4x4, 215,620 kms.. . . . . $3,995.
1999 VW Jetta GL -green, 2L, 5 speed standard, 4 dr., air, 262,282 kms .. . . . . $3,495.
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee -burgundy, 4L, Inline 6, loaded, 4WD,
232,297 kms.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,495.
1998 Ford F150 XLT STX -silver, 4.6L, V8, loaded, ext. cab, short box, 2WD,
208,910 kms.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,995.
1997 Ford Taurus GL -green, 3L, V6, loaded, 4 dr., 165,665 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . $2,995.
1997 Chrysler Sebring -black, 2.5L, V6, leather int., 2 dr. loaded,
convertible, 287,233 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,995.
1984 Rampage -neon green, 4 cyl, auto, 169,950 kms.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,295.
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37117 Blyth Road, Goderich, ON
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& Detailing
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NC –Owning a car is a big
investment. It requires regular
maintenance to keep its value and to
ensure your safety. To make sure you
have a winning hand when it comes
to caring for your vehicle, here are
21 of the best – and easiest – tips:
• Examine your paint for new
scratches frequently.
• Repair scratches as soon as
possible. Taking care of them
quickly prevents rust and prevents
more costly removal later.
• Never use dish soap to wash your
car. It will aggravate existing
scratches or cause new ones.
• Rinse your car before washing to
remove grit particles, which could
scratch paintwork as you wash.
• Use two buckets – one for soap
and one for clean water for rinsing –
when washing your vehicle.
• Use a water blade not a towel, to
remove most of the water, followed
by a synthetic chamois to remove the
excess.
• Wax your car twice a year to
protect its paint and help maintain its
value. Polish the car in between
waxes to clean, protect and maintain
shine.
• Check for UV damage on your
headlights. If yellowed or cloudy,
they should be cleaned to gain up to
four seconds of reaction time.
• Remove bird droppings as soon
as possible. Soak a cloth in hot water
and put it over the area for five
minutes, then wipe away with a
microfibre cloth.
• Lighten your load. If you have
more than a dozen keys and other
knick-knacks hanging from your
keychain, it’s time to lighten up. The
weight can wear down the tumblers
in your ignition and eventually lead
to ignition switch failure.
• “E” does not mean “Enough.”
Don’t let your car’s gas tank get to
empty. Not only is it dangerous to
drive with low fuel levels, it is also
damaging to your car. Sediment
from gasoline settles at the bottom of
every gas tank. When your gas level
is low, you force your car to use the
dirtiest gas in its tank for fuel and
risk this dirt getting into your car’s
fuel line and engine.
• Park indoors or in the shade as
much as possible to protect your
car’s paint from damaging UV rays,
bird droppings, falling branches and
other environmental elements.
• Replace wiper blades every six
to 12 months, as they become
cracked, brittle and worn due to
ozone, contaminants, exposure to
sunlight and temperature changes.
This action could save your
windshield, and your life.
• Get more mileage out of your
tires. Use the PSI (pounds per square
inch) recommendation on the door
jam of your car, instead of the one on
your tires to keep them properly
inflated.
• Check the battery. Once per year,
a car care professional should make
sure it is working properly and
holding its charge.
• Check tire tread for wear.
• Never, ever text and drive.
• Vacuum the car’s interior
regularly, especially in areas where
road salt is used. Salt can go through
carpets and rust the car from the
inside out.
• Wipe away spills immediately,
Soft drinks in particular can be
corrosive.
• Keep up with oil changes. The
frequency depends on the make and
model of your car, so check with
your manufacturer.
• Always wear a seatbelt.
21 tips for car maintenance
Motorcycle
practice
makes
perfect
Continued from page 12
maintenance, put it in for a service
early in the spring to avoid the rush.
• Review your insurance: Your
bike has been in storage for a
season and things may have
changed: perhaps you’ve decided to
use your bike to commute to work
every day or maybe you’ve made
some modifications to the bike
during your winter hiatus. Now is
the time to check in with your
insurance provider to ensure your
policy still provides adequate
coverage.
• Practice makes perfect:
Riding in the rain can be
challenging for even the most
experienced motorcyclist. Although
you’re eager to ride, keep in mind
it’s been a while since your last
ride, so practise maneouvering on
quiet roads first. A few easy
techniques such as using both front
and back brakes with a little less
pressure than on dry roads,
reacquainting yourself with the
clutch and shifting, or staying out
of the middle of a lane where cars
tend to kick debris and leave
drippings, can help you stay safe on
wet roads.
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