Maybe you’ve heard the saying, “There’s too much month at the end of the paycheck.” I know I’ve felt that way. Let’s face it, the economy has been tough on all of us. After paying for rent, health care, cable, cell phone and groceries it seems as if there’s nothing left. I know my wife and I struggle to stretch the budget each month.
Well, there is a bit of good news; the cost you pay for auto insurance is actually taking less of a bite out of your paycheck than it did 20 years ago. That’s what the Insurance Research Council found in their latest study on the Trends in Auto Insurance Affordability. Boiled down, the IRC concluded that about 1.6 percent of our income is now spent to pay for auto insurance in the U.S., down from 1.9 percent in the 1990s. Depending on where you live, the ratio of what you make versus what you spend for auto insurance varies. Louisiana and Florida residents pay the most while those who live in North Dakota and Iowa pay the least.
The study found that no matter where you live, your auto insurance is taking a smaller percentage of your money than a lot of other services.
For comparison, during the same 20 year period we’ve seen a 100 percent jump in the cost of health care and the chunk we pay for rent or mortgages increased about 12 percent.
And then there are our cell phones; almost a quarter of us admit we now spend more each month for our service than we spend on food. You can’t eat data but I guess it’s more important than a good steak. Every time the cell phone bill comes to our house we hold our breath hoping our daughter didn’t put us over the gigabyte limit on our data plan.
Back to auto insurance, these are ways you can reduce the cost even more:
Install security devices
Park in a secure area or garage
Take a defensive driving course
Ask about good driver/good student discounts
Clean up your credit
Take a higher deductible
Get a policy review to make sure you are getting the best value that matches your lifestyle and needs
California Casualty can help you explore other ways to save on your auto insurance. Call one of our advisors today for a policy review or quote; they can also explain special benefits you might qualify for at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.
As Americans hit the roads for driving season, your vacation trip can be less expensive if you maintain your vehicle for the best gas mileage. Here are six tips from Carcare.org on increasing the miles you get from each gallon of fuel:
Tune up – properly tuned vehicles can improve gas mileage by an average of 4 percent
Tire Pressure – proper inflation can net a 3 percent gas mileage improvement
Motor Oil – get a 1 or 2 percent increase in mileage by using the grade of motor oil recommended by the manufacturer
Air Filters – replacing clogged filters adds mileage and improves auto performance
Gas Cap – damaged or missing caps allow fuel to vaporize
Fix It – getting a serious maintenance problem like a faulty oxygen sensor fixed can improve mileage by as much as 40 percent
The U.S. Department of Energy also has an entire webpage filled with tips on driving more economically:
Cutting aggressive driving and fast starts can increase mileage by up to 33 percent
Hauling cargo in the trunk or in rear-mount cargo boxes instead of on a roof rack can increase mileage by up to 17 percent
Removing excess weight increases gas mileage
Avoiding excessive idling can save a quarter to a half gallon of gas per hour
Use cruise control
Going over 50 mph decreases your gas mileage
The Energy Department website also has a feature that can help you find the most fuel efficient vehicles to buy.
To get the most mileage from your auto insurance, call a California Casualty advisor for a free policy review, 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.
The dog days of summer don’t just leave you overheated and exhausted, they take a toll on your vehicle.
Did you know?
Summer heat drains your battery faster than the cold of winter. Excessive heat and overcharging are the two primary causes of premature battery failure
Exposure to prolonged sunshine can fade your car’s paint
Extremely hot days tax the air conditioning and cooling system of your vehicle
Lubricating oil can break down under extreme heat conditions
The Car Care Council recommends these routine maintenance practices to keep your vehicle operating under hot summer conditions:
Periodically check and test batteries for proper charging
Make sure your cooling system has the proper anti-freeze/coolant and all belts, hoses and the water pump are properly working (never open a hot radiator cap; the liquid inside is a scalding 200 degrees or hotter)
Check the air conditioning system for leaks and proper coolant
Make sure the viscosity of your motor oil will stand up to hot weather days (10W-30 or 10W-40)
If you are planning to hit the road for a long trip you should also:
Check the tires for tread and proper inflation
Make sure the spare tire is inflated and there is a jack and tire changing tools
Test your windshield wipers and change them if they are streaking
Consumer Reports advises that you should also have a basic safety kit that consists of:
Cell phone and spare battery
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Warning light or reflective triangles
Tire gauge
Jumper cables
Foam sealant for flat tires
Things you should know how to do in case you have a roadside emergency:
You also need the proper insurance to protect your vehicle and those riding with you. Call a California Casualty advisor today for a policy review and comparison, 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.
Odds are you know someone who is getting married this summer. Now through September is when the majority of weddings take place each year in the U.S. While it’s a time of joy and dreams of the future, there are many important decisions: how many people to invite, is there a need for a wedding planner, who will cater the meal and what about entertainment. Once the rings are exchanged and the honeymoon is over, there’s another important step – getting your auto and home insurance in order. Here’s a checklist for newlyweds.
Combine Your Insurance
If you both have separate cars with different insurance companies, now that you are married you can find discounts by putting both vehicles on the same policy. It will also ensure that both drivers are covered no matter which car they use. Get extra savings by bundling your autos with your home or renters insurance.
Marriage Discount
Make sure to inform your insurance company that you got married – most auto and home insurance companies offer important discounts for newlyweds. Men under the age of 25 are usually considered high risk drivers. However, once they marry they often see a big drop in insurance premiums. The lower rates can also apply to those in domestic partnerships.
Increase Homeowner or Renters Coverage
Wedding presents are wonderful. You now have a new set of china, expensive new appliances and other things for your home. These assets need to be covered. Talk to an insurance advisor to make sure you have enough coverage to protect all the things you own and to increase your liability protection. It’s also a great time to create an inventory of all the things you own to help you purchase the right insurance protection and make filing a claim much easier.
Get Extra Protection for High Value Items
That beautiful new wedding ring and special gifts like fine art or silverware may need scheduled personal property protection, often called a “floater,” to make sure they are covered for their full value. Most homeowners and renters policies will provide limited coverage for those items. Scheduled personal property coverage will also pay to replace a ring, without a deductible, even if it was misplaced or damaged in the disposal.
Just like marriage, California Casualty is a committed partner in helping with your auto and home insurance needs. Don’t go it alone, contact a California Casualty advisor today for a free quote or no hassle policy review at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.
As summer weather heats up, it’s time to think about child safety and cars. While many think it could never happen to their family, since 1998 more than 630 children have died from being left in a hot vehicle, 30 of those in 2014.
How could someone leave a child in a car in when the weather turns warm? Often, it’s a parent out of their normal routine tasked with taking a child to daycare or someone in a rush who forgot a sleeping infant in the back seat.
A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study concluded that nearly half of the infants and children who died from being left in a vehicle were forgotten by their parent or caretaker. In another study, 25 percent of mothers interviewed admitted to leaving infants and toddlers in motor vehicles, and only one-third of those would leave windows half or fully opened. In other instances, young children have climbed into unlocked cars and were unable to get out as the sun turned them into ovens.
Here’s the danger – research shows that cars parked in direct sunlight, even when outside temperatures are in the 60s, can heat up to over 110 degrees. On an 80 degree day the heat can surpass 130 degrees. That would mean a child left inside could reach life-threatening levels in just ten minutes. This video dramatization shows how a simple shopping trip might turn into a disaster on a sunny day.
The peril of overheated vehicles also applies to our pets. Animal experts say 15 minutes in a car on a summer day can be deadly, even if the windows are rolled down. It’s feared that hundreds of pets die or suffer permanent damage each year from overheating in a vehicle.
The NHTSA has a checklist for parents and caregivers to prevent heatstroke tragedies:
Never leave a child or pet unattended in a vehicle – even if the windows are partially open
Always check back seats before locking or walking away
Use reminders that a child is in a vehicle: place a purse or briefcase in the back seat, write a note or put a stuffed toy in the passenger seat or in the drivers view to indicate a child is in the car seatHot
Ask the childcare provider to call if the child doesn’t show up as expected
Teach children that vehicles are not places to play and store keys out of their reach
If you see children or pets left in a vehicle:
Call 9-1-1 immediately
Don’t wait more than a few minutes for the driver to return
If the child is unresponsive or listless get them out of the car and spray them with cool water
Stay with the child until the driver returns or medical help arrives
It’s time to purchase a vehicle. You’ve saved money, researched the safest ones, and now you’re ready. New would be great, but many of us are choosing to save money and buy a previously owned vehicle. You know you need to be careful and have the car checked out, but did you do an inspection for flood damage?
Attorneys general in numerous states are warning consumers to be aware of the “flood” of water damaged cars after large storms and hurricanes. In fact, a used car dealer in New Jersey was recently sentenced to prison for selling vehicles damaged in Superstorm Sandy. The scheme involved a Motor Vehicles Commission employee who doctored titles for eight flood affected vehicles. To complicate the crime, consumer-watch groups warn that flood damaged cars are often sold in states far from where the damage occurred.
Buying a car that was submerged means real problems that can haunt you for years. Water is the enemy to just about everything in an automobile – destroying electronics, fouling fuel lines, rusting engines, brakes and transmissions, not to mention promoting dangerous mold and mildew.
So how can you protect yourself against buying a water logged vehicle? Some obvious ways are to use your nose to detect musty odors or the heavy lingering aroma of cleaners and disinfectants used to mask mold odors. You should also order a vehicle history report from a government data base like the National Motor Vehicle Title Information Service, or one of the reputable private company like CarFax or Autocheck, and look for signs of water damage or dirt in the dashboard, carpets or trunk.
Other signs of water damage are:
Rusty door hinges and trunk latches
Silt or mud under seats, in glove compartments or windows
Brittle and bent wiring under the dashboard
Electronics that flicker or don’t work
Fog or moisture beads in interior lights
If you suspect you unknowingly bought a water damaged vehicle, contact your state attorney general’s office for help. The Federal Trade Commission also has a wealth of resources for used car buyers who fear they are victims of fraud.
