Top 10 Stolen Cars in the U.S.

May 18, 2012 1:53 pm

Looking for car insurance quotes? Having a number of car insurance quotes in your possession will give you an insight on what type of insurance you should get and where to get it from but aside from your insurance policy, another thing to consider when you are buying a new car is to ensure that it has all the features you want. Your premium is based on a number of factors – the type and model of car you have, your records at the DMV, and your profile. If you want lower premiums, getting a car that is not in car thieves’ hot wheels list is a good idea. Sure you’d be insured with it and you can easily replace your car but filing a claim is a very long process so if you do not want to be inconvenienced by your insurer’s processes or protocols, better not get any of these top 10 hot wheels. Here is the list of top 10 stolen cars in the United States in 2011 alone:

  • No 10. 2002 Ford Explorer 11, 783 stolen
  • No. 9 1999 Ford Taurus 12, 000 stolen
  • No. 8 1994 Acura Integra Over 12, 000 stolen
  • No. 7 1996 Jeep Cherokee 14, 350 stolen
  • No. 6 2000 Dodge Caravan Over 15, 000
  • No. 5 2004 Dodge Ram 17, 405 stolen
  • No. 4 1997 Ford F-1 About 17, 500 stolen
  • No. 3 1989 Toyota Camry Almost 27, 000 stolen
  • No. 2 1995 Honda Civic Almost 50, 000 stolen
  • No. 1 1994 Honda Accord 55, 170 stolen

As found in Forbes magazine, thieves have been stealing American-made cars since 2002 – preferring these cars over European ones. According to a report by CNBC, supporting what Forbes magazine has published, thieves steal cars that do not draw much attention that is why you didn’t see BMWs on this list.

The good news is, if you get a car that is technologically more advanced than the ones in this list, thieves won’t try to steal them. This is because of the security these cars provide. Now that you know which models are the favorites of thieves, you can concentrate on getting a car that is not on this list and then look at car insurance quotes afterwards. If you do not have an idea where to get your coverage yet, go to a car insurance quotes comparison site asap.

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Car insurance and winter driving

May 17, 2012 1:35 pm

For example, did you prepare your vehicle for facing bad weather conditions? After all, it’s predictable there will be snow and ice in winter. So did you fit new tires so you would have the maximum possible traction in slippery conditions? Or did you remember to put chains in the trunk so that, when the snow gets deeper, you can still drive reasonably safely? We all know the risk of sliding or skidding out of control. Why then do we fail to take action to protect ourselves and other road users? There are probably several reasons, not the least of which are that this means spending money on buying the chains, some think it inconvenient to fit them, and you cannot drive fast when you have them fitted. The fact local governments may require chains to be fitted as a condition to using the roads in some areas is not considered a reason for action (curiously, there are no chain laws in Florida and Missouri – strange oversight).

Then we come to all those routine maintenance tasks like adding antifreeze and retuning the engine so it’s more likely to start when the temperature drops. Did you fit new blades on the windshield to give you better visibility when there’s snow fall or a blizzard? And then we come to all the steps to protect you should your vehicle break down or be involved in an accident. Do you have an emergency bag packed with warm clothing and blankets should you need to keep warm while rescue comes? You did remember to charge your cell so you could call for help? If you are making a trip cross-country where signal strength may be low, did you tell people when you were expected so they could send out search and rescue teams?

All these things are basic common sense yet, when the first snows hit, we seem to have forgotten to prepare. If accidents are more likely because of this failure and it’s shown to be a regular failure, your car insurance rates will rise. If you have been making claims, the car insurance quotes coming in from other insurers will not be welcoming. No insurer wants to take on someone who fails to prepare in the face of obvious dangers. That’s why insurers in the states where the weather is worst offer discounts for drivers who go on defensive driving courses and learn how to drive more safely. Your choice!

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Looking at auto insurance quotes for a new car

May 17, 2012 1:34 pm

So you’ve bought yourself a new car? Congratulations! That’s certainly a purchase that matters a lot to most car owners. Whether it’s your very first car or just another vehicle to add to your garage, buying a new car is always exciting. Each car certainly feels different on the road and you will always try to find the model that will make you feel comfortable both as a driver and as a passenger. But with a new car comes new responsibility, which always takes the form of insurance. And it’s this small bit of responsibility that can sometimes spoil all the fun about buying a new car since it can be really expensive. So let’s try to learn how to optimize insurance costs and not spoil the excitement of owning a new vehicle.

One of the things that really matters is the way you financed your car and this is the first thing to look at. The most common option in our country is using auto loans since you can always get good rates and buy a car that you otherwise would have to save a lot of money for. But there’s a downside to using auto loans from the insurance perspective since you will be obliged to purchase additional types of coverage with your policy in order to get the loan. Most lending companies require collision and comprehensive coverage to be purchased with the insurance policy and that can considerably increase auto insurance quotes for your car. So make sure to consider this effect when financing your car through a loan. If this is the only way you can get your car the best thing to do is to look at the mistakes most commonly made by people buying a car like this and try to avoid them.

First of all, don’t get the policy offer at the dealer’s office or by the lending company. They usually have exclusive contracts with specific companies and offer higher rates than you would get from a third party provider. You’re obliged to purchase additional coverage but they can’t make you buy it from a particular insurer. So when you get your loan take the time to get auto insurance quotes from as many companies as possible in order to get the most competitive offer possible. You will be surprised to see that you can actually find affordable policies even with collision and comprehensive coverage included. That’s the whole purpose of comparison shopping.

When using your own money to finance a car you should consider two main options. First, you can get the most stripped down policy carrying only third party liability that will automatically offer cheap auto insurance quotes right from the start. Of course, this means that the situations when your policy will apply will be quite limited. But instead you can save a lot of money on auto insurance. Yet, assuming that you can afford to buy a car without using credits, loans or any other forms of financing it’s logic that you actually have enough money to buy decent coverage for your auto as well. And you would certainly like to buy more coverage options in order to protect your car adequately. After all, things like comprehensive coverage or uninsured motorist coverage really come in handy in a range of situations where a basic policy would simply make you pay out of own pocket. You should seriously think about this after you have celebrated you new car purchase.

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Car rental companies can give good service

May 17, 2012 1:34 pm

Everyone knows the potential advantages of renting a vehicle. You get the freedom of the road and, in those parts of the world where the public transport system is not so hot, it’s the only way to get where you want to go in a timely fashion. Yet we all have friends with horror stories about the poor service they received when collecting and returning their vehicles. Allowing for cultural differences and language problems, the first and best step to getting the best service is to write to the renter explaining your needs. Sadly, mental telepathy is still very limited and, unless you tell people what you need, they can only guess. When they guess wrong, you get upset and that’s where the problems grow bigger. So a simple list of your needs – trying not to make them sound like a list of demands – will smooth the way. If you arrive and find things still not ready, show the email. This usually produces apologies and more urgent attention to those needs.

Let’s start by thinking about your choice of vehicle. If you have children or a lot of stuff to carry around, remember some countries prefer smaller cars. Telling the renter what size of vehicle you need is essential. Put the other way round, if you want to make the biggest savings, you’re going to want the smallest, most fuel-efficient vehicle on the lot. Now come to the driving itself. In the US, we’re used to automatic transmissions. In other countries, stick shift is the norm. If you can’t drive a stick shift or you’re worried about a stick shift using the “wrong” hand (yes, some of these pesky foreigners drive on the other side of the road), tell the renter you want an automatic transmission. Now start thinking about all that stuff. How big is it? For example, if you’re off to a ski resort, do you want a rack on the roof to carry your skis and poles? Is one of your children young enough to need a special seat? Better still, if you don’t know exactly where you’re going, do you want a GPS system?

Now think about where you’re proposing to drive. This is not something that needs to be cared in stone, but if you think you may go into different countries, remember to ensure you are carrying all the equipment required under local laws. For example, as of July 1, 2012, the French Government has decided you must carry a breathalyzer. If you fail to produce one when asked by the nice police officer with a gun strapped to his waist, there’s an instant fine. It’s about $15 a time and these police officers have radios so can ensure you get stopped every mile if you don’t smile when asked to pay up. So ask your friendly car rental company to stock up your vehicle with all the mandatory equipment for the countries in which you propose to drive. Ask for a list and know exactly where it is. The man with the gun does not like to be kept waiting as you search through all your stuff to find “it”, whatever it is. Car rental companies can give really good service but only if you tell them what you need.

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