To get the most accurate quote, you’ll need to have all the information available to give to the insurance company. Of course, every insurer may offer a different quote, and so a car insurance comparison will yield a range of results. Here is a checklist so you can be prepared to provide the prospective insurers with the right information.

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Car Insurance Comparison Checklist

• Who’s going to be driving the car? This is an important piece of information, as car insurance quotes are typically partly based on the age of the driver. Generally, new or young drivers have much higher premiums than those with more driving experience.
• All of your contact information – full, legal name, address, phone number and mobile, as well as personal information such as age, citizenship and date of birth.
• Your driving history, including any car insurance claims you’ve made in the last five years. Unfortunately for drivers who’ve had accidents, this may negatively impact upon car insurance rates, but if the claims were minimal they may affect your premiums only minimally.
• If you don’t have any claims within the past five years, when is the last time you made a car insurance claim? The cleaner your driving bill, the lower your premium, in general.
• How much do you currently drive? How many kilometres do you typically drive on a daily, weekly etc. basis? How many kilometres are left on the car?
• All of the details about your car – make and model, how old it is, is it first hand or second hand, and so on. A brand new car may mean a higher or lower premium than an old car that already has on it many kilometres, depending on the type of car insurance cover you choose.
• Where do you normally park your car? Where do you leave it while you’re at work, and so on? Premium calculations may take into account the safety of the location where your car is kept.
• Where do you keep your car overnight? In a driveway or garage is a more secure option than on the street.
• Does your car have modifications or extra options fitted? The snazzier you have outfitted your car, the higher your premium may be.
• Have you invested in any safety features for the vehicle? If so, some insurers may quote a lower car insurance premium.
• Is the car owned or leased? Where and when did you obtain the vehicle?
• How much is the car worth in today’s market?
• Do you use the car for personal use, business or both?

It Pays to be Honest

You might find that you could, in theory, answer whatever you want to some of these questions, as the insurance company would have a hard time confirming some of the answers. For example, they’re not likely to send a private investigator out to your house at 3:00 in the morning to check where you keep the car overnight.

That said, if you are less than honest in your car insurance application and you do end up making a claim, which then doesn’t match the details you originally supplied, you may find that your claim is denied. It pays, literally, to give the correct information so that you have coverage for what you need when you need it.

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If you are a driver, it is best to be prepared and always think of the what-ifs to ensure that you know how to react when faced with a collision. Below are 8 things you should do in case you are involved in an accident:

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1. Stay calm

It is normal to feel tense, angry and nervous when involved in an accident, even if you are not at fault. Even if you happen to be at fault and feel like fleeing away from the scene, you should remain where you are and stay calm.

2. Warn other motorists

If you are involved in an accident, your vehicle may be an obstruction to other road users. To help prevent another accident from happening, you should warn other motorists to stay clear of your vehicle by turning on your car’s hazard lights and, if you can safely do so, open the boot of your car to make it more visible to other drivers.

3. Check out your passengers

If you have passengers with you, it is crucial that you check to see if they need medical attention. Call 000 if they do, and explain the location and nature of the accident and injuries as accurately as you can. If you are trained in first aid, you should apply the correct medical procedures to those injured while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

4. Don’t admit fault

One thing you should not do is to admit you are at fault in the collision to anyone other than your insurance agent or your lawyer.  You also should not apologise, not get into an emotional conversation with other drivers or witnesses, and not agree at this stage to pay for any damages to the other party involved in the accident.

5. Obtain vital driver information

Ensure that you obtain the name, address, phone number, date of birth, driver’s license number and insurance company of the party involved. In additional, it is wise to write down the details of the involved party’s car such as year, model, make and license plate number.

6. Take photos of the accident

Bringing a camera wherever you go may prove to be useful in this instance. Taking photos of the accident, including any marks or other damage on your car as a result of the collision, means they may be used as evidence when you file your police report and make insurance claims.

7.  Report the accident

Follow the correct procedures for filing a detailed police report about the accident using the information you have gathered. If need be, draw a diagram of the accident which includes a picture of both cars before, during and after the collision. Include the photos you have taken together with your report. File the report as soon as you are able to.

8. Inform your insurance company

You should contact your car insurance company to lodge your claim immediately after filing a police report. Delaying this for too long may result in your claim being denied. Provide your insurance company with a detailed verbal and written report of the accident, including any photos you have taken.

The most important thing to remember is to remain calm when involved in an accident. Having a calm composure and a clear mind will help you react accordingly when placed in an unexpected and vulnerable situation.

Knowing what to do and following the procedures in case of a car accident will not only avert traffic inconvenience and ensure the safety of people involved, but it will also expedite your insurance claim process. Just remember that you have to think quickly on your feet in a challenging situation, and be prepared to follow the correct procedures in a timely manner.

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Compare motorcycle insurance

As with car insurance, comprehensive motorcycle insurance covers you against both damage to your own motorcycle and damage to property and vehicles if you’re involved in a collision, as well as injuries to road users. If your motorcycle is damaged in an accident, comprehensive coverage may cover repair costs or if it cannot be repaired, an agreed value or replacement may be covered instead so it’s worth taking the time to compare motorcycle insurance to get the best value for money.

If your motorcycle is registered in New South Wales (NSW), you’ll also need to look at motorcycle insurance for Compulsory Third Party insurance (CTP Greenslip) and if it is registered in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), you’ll need to look at Compulsory Third Party insurance.

Things to consider when you compare motorcycle insurance include whether you want basic cover such as third party, fire and theft or the extended cover offered by some comprehensive policies. Don’t forget to think about risk factors that may affect your premiums when you compare motorcycle insurance, such as:

• the type of motorcycle that you own (an older motorcycle may need different insurance compared to a much newer counterpart)
• your experience (even if you’re not particularly young, you can expect your premiums to be higher if you’re not an experienced rider as you’re deemed higher risk of having an accident)
• where you live and ride (if motorcycle accidents or thefts are a problem in your area, premiums may be higher accordingly).

If you already have car insurance, you may be able to get a good deal by bundling motorcycle insurance with the same insurance provider, but this won’t always provide the best value for money, so you’ll still want to compare motorcycle insurance to see what else is out there.

Compare campervan insurance

It may be possible and convenient to arrange campervan insurance through your car insurance provider, but this doesn’t necessarily offer the best protection. You’ll get more understanding of the comprehensive cover options available if you specifically look to compare campervan insurance that focus solely on covering your campervan rather than all your vehicles.

Campervan insurance may protect against the costs of accidental loss or damage, theft, and damage caused by incidents such as fire, floods and storm damage. When you compare campervan insurance, you may decide to choose a policy which also provides some cover for legal liability in case you do any harm to property or people. You may also want to compare campervan insurance options for things such as emergency repairs, legal costs, new vehicle replacement and substitute vehicle cover.

Taking the time to compare vehicle insurance is a must, just as you would with car insurance. Even if it is possible to arrange motorcycle insurance and campervan insurance through your car insurer, don’t automatically assume that this will be the cheapest or most suitable vehicle insurance option. It may well be more convenient, especially if you pick up discounts for arranging multiple insurance policies through the same insurer, but don’t forget to compare vehicle insurance first to make sure that you’re getting the right level of coverage for your needs.

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Victoria may be the smallest mainland state, but it is the most densely populated, and the majority of its residents live in the capital city of Melbourne. In such types of regions, transport and road safety can be a particularly significant issue. That means resident motorists, besides being mindful of Victoria road rules, should also pay more attention to finding the best car insurance coverage they can to help save their finances when accidents or undesirable incidents involving their vehicles occur.

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Compulsory third party (CTP) insurance

As in any other state in Australia, no vehicle can be registered in Victoria without having compulsory third party insurance.

As you may know, CTP is the basic level of cover for car insurance. It pays for the necessary treatments of people injured in a transport accident. This type of insurance is built into the vehicle registration process and is actually part of the registration costs. In this state, CTP is more commonly known as the “transport accident charge” or TAC premium.

While VicRoads is the general transportation and motor vehicle authority, the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) is the state government-owned organisation that facilitates this specific aspect of car insurance. What benefits can be paid, and the terms and conditions that apply, are mandated by legislation. These are all stated in the Transport Accident Act 1986.

One of the notable features of this particular mandatory car insurance is that it is based on a no-fault principle. TAC will pay the benefits to the injured party regardless of who actually caused the accident. Like most kinds of CTP car insurance, the benefits may apply to drivers, passengers, or pedestrians.

The TAC premium is calculated based on the type of vehicle and where the vehicle is garaged or its risk zone. So an owner of a modified sports car living in an area with a high crime rate, for example, will tend to pay a higher vehicle registration fee due to their higher insurance risk.

Eligible pensioners or health care cardholders have a six-month registration option. This is a concession for such types of registered owners which enables payment of the registration costs in two instalments without extra charge. The amount of the TAC premium may be changed every 1^st of July, because according to the aforementioned state law, the transport accident charge can also be affected by the consumer price index.

Other types of car insurance

For covering anything beyond medical treatment of injuries caused by road accidents, you will need to seek the optional types of car insurance. There are many options; such as third party property cover for damage to other people’s cars, or third party property, fire and theft cover which also offers cover if your car is lost or damaged due to fire or theft. There are also comprehensive car insurance options which may cover a range of other things beyond compulsory third party insurance.

As in other states, Victoria has several insurers that offer various products with differing levels of cover. It is at this stage that you’ll need to compare car insurance policies in order to find the one that offers a large enough safety net that doesn’t unduly stress your finances.

Don’t be surprised if you sometimes find significant variations in price in your car insurance quotes comparison. Premiums are risk-rated and that means vehicle type and usage, area of residence, and the registered owner’s age, among other factors, can noticeably increase or decrease the rate.

Excess and exclusions are among the other policy features to bear in mind as they also affect the premium. Some insurers may subject young drivers (those aged 25 years or below) to what is sometimes called an “age excess” when they make claims. This out-of-pocket expense that comes with a policy can be based on the kind of incident that actually occurred. Be sure to understand such provisions, so that you may predict roughly what your potential costs would be in a variety of situations.

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How Do Financial Habits Affect Car Insurance?

Most people assume that driving history, make and model of vehicle, and age are the only factors that are taken into consideration when calculating your car insurance premium. These are important parts of the equation, but there are other criteria that also influence premiums.

Once you are a policyholder, your personal finance habits may affect your premiums on renewal, or the insurer may decide to decline to renew the policy at all if you miss a lot of payments. If your approach to your car insurance payments is less than responsible, you may end up with a poor financial history with that insurer.  As a result, you could face fees, higher renewal premiums, or the cancellation of your car insurance if you still owe premiums for times past.

Your Payment Habits Are A Risk

While of course, driving history, age and type of car are vital in determining your car insurance premium, most companies also take other factors into account. This is not a new practice. Throughout history, providers of goods and services have kept an eye on whether their customers keep up with payments, and used that information to help decide what prices and credit options to set.

The reason your insurer may use your personal finance history to help determine your car insurance renewal premium is that they feel there is a correlation between someone’s financial history with the insurance company and the potential cost to the company of insuring someone who may default on payments.

Those who make payments on time every month are seen as “safer” customers; being financially responsible makes them look less risky to insure, and thus they may able to get a lower premium. Those who regularly miss payments may be offered higher renewal premiums, or even a polite refusal to renew their insurance, as the insurer may view them as a greater fiscal risk.

What You Can Do

Always make your payments on time if you possibly can. If you’re going to be late to pay, call your insurer and explain why, letting them know when they can expect payment. A solid budget will help you make your payments on time, so that you can avoid any late payment related fees or premium increases.

Also, given that the car insurance market is very competitive, you may decide to compare car insurance quotes all over again and try your luck with a different insurer.

So, while it might seem counter-intuitive at first, your personal finance history may play a part in your experiences of car insurance, and poor habits may lead to financial penalties.  Insurers are entitled to find ways to limit their risk and save costs.  As a result, a late or missed payment, especially if you have a history of these, may lead your insurer to decide you’re a risky customer and charge you fees or higher renewal premiums in order to balance the risk of insuring you.

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What Were They Thinking?

In a recent study, volunteers checked Hinkler Central and the Bundaberg CBD to see what parked cars looked like. On two occasions, 400 cars were checked.

The CBD parking contained 3 unlocked cars, 6 vehicles with windows down, 28 cars with valuables (wallets and cell phones) in view, and 12 with paperwork with personal information in view.  At Hinkler Central, 14 cars had their windows down, 18 contained valuable items on show, 7 had personal papers in view, and one car even had the doors unlocked and the keys on the seat!

Often, car thieves aren’t looking for a particular type of vehicle – they’re simply looking for an opportunity.  Thus, if you leave a wallet and a laptop bag in your back seat, or a shopping bag from an electronics store, you may raise your chances of having the car broken into or stolen – just like you would if you left your doors unlocked.

Assessing Car Theft Risks

Of course, there are general criteria that may be associated with differing risks of car theft, such as where you park your car.  Cars parked together in large numbers are typically at greater risk, such as at airports, shopping centers, movie theatres, or sporting events.  Subterranean and high-rise parking structures, along with paid parking, tend to have a lower risk of break-ins and stolen cars (due to there being fewer ways out that are better secured).

Valet parking is typically relatively secure.  This is especially reassuring for lone travellers, as well as those travelling at night.  Just make sure to give only the ignition key –not your whole keyring– to the valet, and to secure personal documents and possessions.

Help Prevent Car Theft

Take note of some of the following tips to lessen the risk of theft:

• Never leave your car running, the keys in the car/ignition, or valuables in plain view.
• Always leave your windows rolled up and your car locked; and try to park in high-traffic areas that are well lit.
• Consider steering wheel locks, alarm systems, etc.
• Take the pay ticket with you if you use a fee garage; after all, it is the means for either you or a thief to use the exit.
• Don’t leave identification documents or credit cards in your car.  Always carry your license, registration, and insurance card with you.
• Write down your license plate and vehicle identification (VIN) numbers on a card and keep them with you, along with your driver’s license.  If your car is stolen, this information will be needed right away.

Of course, there are further ways of preventing car theft and hence helping to keep your car insurance premiums lower – for example if your car has a security system, or if you drive a simple, sensible car .  Compare car insurance quotes with different security features and options in mind to see how they may affect your premium.

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Is it merely past its prime? Does it still have an outstanding debt? Was it involved in a road accident? These are questions that naturally and immediately come to mind. What if the car was classified as a “repairable write-off”? This may have implications for your expenses, including your car insurance costs.

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What is a repairable write-off?

When a vehicle incurs significant damage, the car insurer has it evaluated and determines whether it’s a total loss, also called a statutory write-off. This means the car is so damaged that it’s only good for perhaps a few salvageable spare parts or scrap metal. In the instance of a repairable write-off, on the other hand, repairs can actually put the car back into serviceable condition. However, the car insurer may decide that such extensive repairs would be uneconomical.

There are two typical outcomes to this. Either:

1. The car insurer takes the damaged vehicle and pays the car’s value to the owner, who may also be given the option of purchasing back the car at an auction, or,
2. The owner keeps the vehicle, damages and all, and is paid the car’s value minus its salvage value.

Putting a repairable write-off back on the road

It is required by law that a written-off vehicle (whether statutory or repairable) be listed on the Written-Off Vehicle Register (WOVR). The car should not be older than fifteen years, and one of the more important pieces of information that needs to be entered is its Vehicle Identification Number. When a damaged vehicle gets put on this list, its registration is actually cancelled. However a car assessed as a repairable write-off still has re-registration as an open option.

The re-registration process can be a little complicated and generally involves two types of inspections, plus the usual procedure for vehicle registration with all the paperwork that entails.

One important document to obtain is an inspection report from an Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection Station (AUVIS) or what is more commonly known as the blue slip. You need to show the AUVIS examiner proof of repairs such as receipts for parts and repair services. The other required inspection pertains to validating the vehicle’s identity. In some areas, this may be under the jurisdiction of the Vehicle Identification Inspection Unit (VIIU). Then of course you’ll have to complete an Application for Registration and submit it personally to a motor registry office.

You have to be aware that some specific regulations regarding write-offs may differ for each state. In New South Wales for example, new legislation has been enacted where cars written-off after January 31, 2011 are automatically classified as statutory write-offs. It’s still possible to get such a vehicle re-registered in NSW, but you’ll need authorization to get repairs, and that’s an additional stage in the process that has very strict requirements.

Effects on car insurance

The natural assumption with a re-registered repairable write-off is that it would be difficult to find a provider willing to offer comprehensive insurance for it. However, if you have re-registered it, which means that the vehicle has passed both inspections, there shouldn’t be any problems getting it insured.

As to car insurance quotes comparison, the fact that it used to be a repairable write-off is just one of the many possible factors that car insurance companies consider. There are still other criteria, such as your age or the kind of neighbourhood you drive through, that need to be weighed in. Also there is the important choice of either going for an agreed value or a market value.

It may happen that you have to carry out the rego yourself, which means incurring additional expenses in fees. You’ll have to balance all these out with the essential benefits of comprehensive car insurance and decide for yourself if it will be worth it.

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How could I save money on car insurance by driving less?

Some insurers may offer a reduced premium on a car that is rarely driven.  This is simply because if a vehicle spends little time on the road, there is less probability of it being involved in a traffic accident, and the driver is are less likely to make a claim on the car insurance policy.

If you or your family have two or three cars, perhaps one is not used that much; it might be a “spare” or being saved for a teenager who will be behind the wheel soon.  There are other examples of infrequent driving lifestyles or infrequently driven vehicles: perhaps you work from home and only drive to the supermarket every so often, or perhaps you have a car that’s used only at weekends.

What Counts as Infrequent Driving?

It will of course be necessary to check what your own car insurer says about infrequent drivers.  A brief look online shows that many insurers draw the defining line at around 10,000 km per year driven, but your insurer may treat it differently. Call your insurance company or check their website to find out whether they offer lower premiums for cars that are little driven.

Comparing Car Insurance Policies

It is also possible that your car insurer doesn’t offer treat infrequent drivers any differently.  If you think you could save money with this type of approach, compare car insurance quotes and policies to see if you are with the best company for your needs.  As you look around, you may find some insurers offer a lower premium than you expected once you factor in your low annual kilometres.

Don’t be afraid to compare car insurance quotes and search for other car insurance policies  that may fit your needs.  Be sure to consider the coverage provided as well as the premiums – even if you only drive a few times a year, you’ll want to know what your car insurance cover is adequate when you do choose to get behind the wheel. Be sure, before you sign up for an infrequent driver’s premium, that you won’t be likely to increase your yearly driving kilometers in the near future.

Overview

Cars that are infrequently driven may sometimes be insured at a lower premium (for the same level of coverage) than often-used cars. Many insurers consider cars driven for less than 10,000 kilometers per year to be lower-risk, and hence the car insurance quotes may be lower for a car whose annual kilometers usually stay low.

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Why Are Car Insurance Documents Important?

Well, for many reasons.  Your insurance documentation, for car insurance as for any other insurance, should be stored in a safe and appropriate place. If you do have an unfortunate incident while driving, you may need to demonstrate proof of insurance, and you might find it useful to have your insurer’s name and contact information to hand.

If, by some unlikely accident, the records your car insurance provider holds about your insurance were lost or corrupted, you might be very glad to have your own copy of the original policy documents. For similar reasons, it may be worth keeping more than one copy of your documents and storing them in different places as a back-up.

Where Are Your Car Insurance Documents?

Are you aware of where your car insurance documents are, right at this moment?  Are you sure? There are a variety of situations in which you may need to lay your hands on a copy of your policy: perhaps you want to check a point of coverage, find out how much your excess would be on a repair, or you might need to know the expiry date on your current policy when you compare car insurance.

It always helps if you know exactly where to find these important documents.  Keeping a copy of your car insurance and home insurance policy, together with any other vital insurance and financial documents, in a safe place is a sensible thing to do.

Insurance Documents for Safe Keeping

It’s worth keeping any important documentation that arrives from your car insurance company. Most important is the packet of documents, including a copy of your full insurance policy with all terms and conditions, that you  receive shortly after purchasing the insurance policy.  It will include your coverage areas, excesses, car information, and policy dates, among other details. Whether this is provided on paper or as a digital copy, ensure that you store it somewhere sensible.

You will also need to keep other important documents, such as notifications of any changes in your policy, your premiums or your payment plan.  The documentation that you need to keep with you (on you and in your car) is very important as well; make sure you have the most recent version of your documents with you when driving.

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Where Do You Store Important Information?

Consider your present setup with regard to how you store and organise your paperwork and digital documents.  After all, it is easier to build upon and improve your existing filing system than it is to create another.

Take a look at your current setup, as it relates to documentation.  We’re talking about where you keep items such as the deed to your home, insurance documentation, and other personal documentation such as medical information, birth or marriage registration documents, and so on.  Where and how do you store items such as your credit card or personal loan terms?

As an aside, it may be that you don’t have any system for organising your documents.  If that’s so, don’t worry! So you haven’t organised a system before for storing your important documentation; now is as good a time as any to start.  Consider safe places to store your information, and whether you want the added peace of mind of a securable storage place such as a home safe or lockbox.

At any rate, examine your current ways of storing these important items.  It is hard to imagine an instance where adding your car insurance information to your filing system would be much of a problem.  Consider placing it alongside your other driving related documents for easy reference.

Organisation Matters

How you will arrange your documents to keep them separate and organised? One easy solution is to use folders of some kind.  Maybe you already have other items in a folder: a “home insurance” folder, a “life insurance” folder, and so forth.  Perhaps you’ll decide a “car insurance and driver documents” folder is the next logical step fo you.

Before you put your folder away and forget about it, make sure you have all of your documents placed inside!  This includes your car insurance policy itself, where you can check details such as coverage areas and amounts.  It also includes any updates, to your policy or the terms and conditions, of which you may receive notification.

Once you have taken the decision to get organised with your car insurance documents and decided where to keep it, go ahead and store your important information.  Staying up-to-date with your filing will be important if you want to keep your records accurate and complete, as you will receive car insurance renewal documents and policy updates from time to time.  If you aren’t sure where your car insurance documentation is, and suspect that you may have lost it, simply talk to your car insurer and request a new copy of your important information.

Alternative Storage Options

You don’t have to put your documentation in a folder and file it away in a drawer.  There are other ways that you can keep your car insurance documents safe and secure.  The important point is finding a method that works for you – and then implementing it.

For those who are technologically inclined, digital storage is a space-saving possibility for all your important documents. However, it may be wise to keep a hard copy of your most vital personal documents, including insurance papers, as you never know what might prevent you from accessing digital copies when you need them.

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