Budgetcarinsurance

Car Insurance Policy: Insure Your Cars!

2007-07-12T17:43:00.000-07:00

Whether you are an experienced driver or inexperienced, whether you are a male or a female, as per the law in UK, you should definitely have a car insurance policy, if you own a car. Apart from being a legal liability, owning a car insurance policy is also a personal responsibility. It will insure you against any instance of loss or damage that may happen to your car.

Almost everybody has a car of his own in this age. With the increase in the number of vehicles, there is also rapid increase of cars in the streets of UK. This has led to a rise in the number of car accidents in UK. To overcome these problems, it is highly imperative for you to own a car insurance policy.

There are different types of car insurance policies in UK and you can choose from any of these according to your needs and requirements. Third Party Only policy covers all the damages and medical expenses that you injure in an accident. Third Party Fire and Theft policy enables you to cover the loss of your vehicle because of fire or theft. Comprehensive policy is an overall blanket type of car insurance policy, that covers everythingfrom public liability to personal damages, fire and theft and the loss of contents of your car.

You should choose carefully from any of these car insurance policies and buy the policy that suits you. Say for instance, if you own an inexpensive car, you must never go for the Comprehensive Policy; you must then procure Third Party Only or Third Party Fire or Theft.

You can even add some additional services such as breakdown cover, legal protection etc by paying a little extra. Apart from that all insurance companies provide for windscreen protection cover, a 24 hour helpline etc.

To avail a perfect car insurance policy, you need to do a little groundwork. You must meticulously study the quotes available in the market. With online facilities that are available nowadays, you can easily search for a car insurance policy. With the click of the mouse, you can search and even buy a car insurance policy for yourself. Thus, without any further delay, you must buy a car insurance policy today.

Gas Scooters

2007-07-11T19:38:00.000-07:00

Gas scooters have been around in European and Asian countries for quite some time; the Americans didnt find them attractive, until recently. The American market opened its doors to gas scooters because of their many new styles and because they are being seen in many films. The rising price of gasoline is another reason for Americans acceptance of gas scooters.

Gas scooters are more advantageous over cars and motorcycles in terms of efficiency and convenience. The gas tank of most gas scooters use only a fraction of the expense needed to keep a car tank full. Some gas scooters even have an extra storage compartment, thus making it suitable for running local errands. Gas scooters are not only fuel efficient, but also quite cheap. The most expensive gas scooter costs much less than motorcycles and economy cars. Not only that, the insurance requirement for gas scooters is less restrictive than the equivalent liability coverage for cars and motorcycles. The reason for this is that the gas scooter cannot go at high speeds, thus lowering the probability of an accident occurring.

Compared to a gas scooter, motorcycles prove to be difficult to operate for day-to-day activities like shopping and commuting to work. Cars have many monthly payments, in addition to licensing fees and mandatory insurance. Due to its size, a gas scooter makes parking easy. Car owners have to go in loops looking for a suitable parking space, while a gas scooter can be legally parked in city-sponsored bicycle racks or even be secured to chains to sturdy objects on the sidewalk.

Although gas scooters are found readily in the retail market, not all retailers carry all the available styles. They keep only the popular models that most people ask for. However, those who want a unique scooter model just have to search online. All that one has to do is to surf the Internet for the numerous online scooter stores and choose the model and style of gas scooter required.

Roof Maintenance and Insurance

2007-07-11T18:40:00.000-07:00

I got up on my mother's roof recently to check it out for her. She's in her 70's and can't get up there herself. What did I find? Scary maintenance issues, that's what. I got down off of the roof and arranged for someone to come out and take care of the issues I found straightaway.

Now, I'd like to help you understand why roof maintenance is essential, and what sort of areas will likely need your attention.

Wear and tear is all part of the game. Your roof is exposed to the elements 24/7 so over time the beatings it takes can really add up to some substantial damage.

It's a good idea to have a look at your roof (or have someone do it for you) AT LEAST once a year. Check all the vents and flashings. The caulk that's used to seal around their edges dries out and pulls away from them over time. These need to be recaulked when this happens.

Also, check any valleys and gutters for leaves and debris buildup. If such buildup is left there, it can cause water to pool and could cause surrounding wood to rot.

You should check for missing shingles, scraped shingles, or overhanging tree limbs that could potentially damage the roof.

The best way to prevent big damage and losses in your house from storms, is to upkeep any potential problem areas. And from an insurance standpoint, this is very important, because most losses that are a result of maintenance issues will not be covered.

Integrating Microsoft Great Plains Accounting/ERP: RMS, CRM, eCommerce, Lotus Domino - overview

2007-07-10T21:23:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains has substantial market share among horizontal and vertical clientele in the USA, Canada (including French version for Quebec/Montreal), UK, Australia, New Zealand, Spanish speaking Latin and Central America, South Africa and Middle East. Nowadays ERP can not stay as it is off-the-shelf product it requires integration with Legacy or newly implemented systems, such as CRM, Retail Management applications, custom in-house made business systems (transportation/cargo tracking, etc). The tendency is that if company uses Microsoft-driven computer park (Windows domain, SQL Servers, MS Exchange) the rest of the ERP/CRM applications are Windows-oriented. However you can have successful bridge between non-Microsoft ERP and Great Plains: Oracle, IBM Lotus Notes/Domino, DB2 or others), usually it involves Java/CORBA/EJB/JSP type of expertise.

Microsoft RMS-Great Plains integration. There are few options first one is to use standard integration, coming with MS RMS. It has Dexterity interface in Great Plains, does integration to single company at the time. Doesnt integration on SOP/AR level, however. Second option is to use integration, maintained by Alba Spectrum Technologies it integrates unlimited number of stores, SOP/AR/POP, posts through Bank Reconciliation module and so allows to track Check Books/Credit Card balances. This integration also has Dexterity interface for Stores-GP Companies mapping and could work as nightly or real time SQL Server routine

Microsoft CRM-Great Plains integration. This integration is maintained by Microsoft Business Solutions and allows you to synchronize SOP and Customers in Great Plains with Microsoft CRM Quotes and Orders. Microsoft CRM has open Microsoft CRM SDK and so you can customize and integrate Microsoft CRM at will, having C# or VB.Net in-house expertise. The above mentioned integration could be altered and tuned by programming MS BizTalk server (it can use either BizTalk runtime or regular license)

Microsoft Great Plains as Back office for eCommerce web-site. Here we need to mention interesting thing, The product, created and dedicated to eCommerce developers Great Plains eConnect is often considered as a bit expensive and licensing-restricting solution. If your company is ISV and implements eCommerce product, integrating to Great Plains you would rather prefer set of open and simple stored procedures, moving data to and retrieving from Microsoft Great Plains Sales Order Processing (SOP) module

Microsoft Great Plains integration with Oracle. Well you can do it either from Oracle or from MS SQL Server side in both cases you have linking tools and heterogeneous queries mechanisms

Microsoft Great Plains integration with Lotus Notes/Domino. If you want Great Plains documents lookup from Lotus you typically use ODBC connection to MS SQL Server. You need to know Great Plains tables structure (Tools->Resource Description->Tables in Great Plains) Good luck in upgrading and if you have issues or concerns we are here to help! If you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918! help@albaspectrum.com

The Most and Least Reliable Cars - How Reliable is Your Car

2007-07-10T20:35:00.000-07:00

Over the last decade cars have become increasingly reliable. However, large variations in reliability performance do still exist, and reliability is certainly something that should be considered when purchasing a car and deciding whether a warranty is required. A warranty is a type of insurance policy, meaning that if a covered part suffers a mechanical or electrical failure resulting in a breakdown, the warranty will cover the cost of replacement parts and labour. Therefore there is full peace of mind as you know that you will never be left with a huge repair bill to pay.

Warranty Direct and Motoreasy are the two main providers of warranties in the UK. As a price guideline, a 4 year old Peugeot that has traveled 40,000 miles will cost 230 to cover for one year. However, most cars come with a 3 year warranty and if it doesnt come as standard then many retailers offer a warranty separately. When deciding whether to purchase a warranty separately you need to consider the reliability of your car.

Warranty Direct have gathered data from millions of pounds worth of claims every year to compile the Reliability Index, a complete guide to the reliability of cars on the road today. One interesting finding is that 25% of cars suffer mechanical failure at some point between its 4th and 5th year on the road, just as the manufacturers standard warranty expires. However, huge variations in reliability do exist, as illustrated by our five best and worst performers below.

Ford come in at number 5, with Suzuki and Honda at positions 4 and 3 respectively. Honda with its The Power of Dreams slogan appears to live up to its word with a highly reliable range of cars. Mazda comes in second place, with Skoda, perhaps surprisingly, the most reliable car make on the road today. It wasnt long ago that Skoda was ridiculed for being extremely unreliable and hard on the eye, but theyve worked intensively on the reliability of their cars. If youre concerned about being able to drive from one place to another at any time then consider purchasing a Skoda. Practical and exciting. Dont see that very often its certainly practical and is unlikely to let you down.

Moving on to the top 5 list car manufacturers dont want to be in, Jaguar comes in at number 5. Known more for its looks and performance rather than reliability, many people would see this as a fair trade-off. Land Rover comes in as the 4th most unreliable car. Derided as a car that is unpractical and unnecessary for city roads it also appears that it is unreliable. With the huge increase in taxes in the UK planned for high polluting vehicles a hard time could be in store for the Land Rover. Next up is Subaru, followed by the Jeep in second position. The jeep was really designed for off-road pursuits so perhaps it isnt surprising to see it struggling in the reliability stakes as they werent originally designed for the roads. Finally, the most unreliable car on the road today is Porsche. If a Porsche is your only mode of transport you may want to consider purchasing another more reliable car or certainly a warranty. Whilst it is a high-performance car Lexus have shown that you can be fast and reliable, as they came in as the 6th most reliable car make on the road.

Therefore if youre looking for a car purely to get you from one place to another consider purchasing a Skoda. If youre concerned about performance, speed, and looks then Lexus are certainly worth considering.

Paintless Dent Repair: Myths and Facts About Car Dent Repair and Insurance

2007-07-09T23:19:00.000-07:00

The long arm of car repair insurance doesnt stop at extended warranties or tire road hazard insurance. Marketing gurus have found all sorts of knick knacks to insure. Among the top are ding and dent protection plans. Ding and dent insurance is growing steadily, and addresses those unsightly shopping cart and parking lot dings.

Dings and dents are fairly synonymous terms, although a ding is smaller than a dent. Youll notice a dent. Youll need to squint, or catch the vehicle in the right angle or sunlight to see a ding. Some dings are smaller than eraser heads.

Like extended warranties or tire insurance, dent and ding protection plans promise to pay for damages in part or in full for a specific period of time. These plans are primarily sold by new car dealerships and cost a few hundred dollars.

Ding and Dent Repair: Paintless Dent Repair
Ding and dent repair is called PDR, short for Paintless Dent Repair. There are many companies that perform this service: Ding Doctor, Ding King, No Dents, Dent Wizardthe list goes on. Some are better then others, although ultimately its up to the skill of the PDR technician. Prices are similar.

How is it done?
Most PDR techniques are non-intrusive. The PDR technicians use specially designed tools and gadgets to slip behind the damaged panels and manipulate and massage the damaged metal back to its original form.

Does it work?
Actually, its incredible! It works so well that in the majority of cases the dings and dents are completely removed. Theyre invisible, gone, cant-believe-your-eyes fixed.

I saw a soccer-ball-sized dent removed from the rear fender of a $120,000 car. The dent also had a large crease, which makes repairs even harder. After thirty minutes there was no visible detection that a dent was ever there. The repair cost the client $400. Traditional body shop estimates were hovering at $2700.

PDR positives

Very low cost compared to traditional body shops
Same day repairseven while-you-wait service
No paint work, sanding, or traditional bodywork required
Original paint remainshelps retain vehicles looks and value
Body panels remain intactmaintaining structural integrity

PDR negatives

PDR does not address scratches or paint chips that are often associated with dings (Many PDR companies will address chips and scratches, but its not PDR technology)
Many areas of body panels are not accessible, so PDR is not an option
Plastic bumpers or any plastic components cant be fixed with PDR techniques. Since the bumper is the most common area to get damaged, this is a significant downside of PDR technology.
Some damage can occur to door panels, paint, interiors, window glass and hardware, although damage of any kind is rare.

Do you need PDR insurance?
God, no!

Should you get your dings fixed using PDR techniques?
Hell, yes!

Let me explain
Insuring against dings and dents does not make economic sense. Ding repairs average around $50 per ding. Some dings cost $99 to $149 to repair. Two to four dings can run $100 to $450, depending on the size of the dent. Insurance at this level is just not necessary. Moreover, its a gamble you will lose.

To benefit from a $300, two-year plan, your vehicle would need to sustain multiple PDR repairable dings or dents. Despite your coverage, you may not even notice the dings, making a claim impossible. Also, despite the amazing PDR techniques, they cant fix everything, especially the chips and scratches that so frequently accompany a dingshould dings even occur.

Yes, get your dings fixed with PDR (if theyre bothering you), but dont buy an insurance plan.

Protection plan economics 101
An article by Terence OHara in the Washington Post is a wonderful piece on the insanity of protection plans, and is applicable here. He writes:

The decision to buy an extended warrantydefies the recommendations of economists, consumer advocates and product quality experts, who all warn that the plans rarely benefit consumers and are nearly always a waste of money.

[Extended warranties and protection plans] make no rational sense, Harvard economist David Cutler said. The implied probability [of an issue] has to be substantially greater than the risk that you cant afford to fix it or replace it. If youre buying a $400 item, for the overwhelming number of consumers that level of spending is not a risk you need to insure under any circumstances.

extended warranties play upon a basic human trait to avoid loss, even if it means sacrificing a possible future gain. In this case, the gain is all the other things of value that a consumer could buy with the money that was spent on a warranty

Fix your dings
Fix your dings and dents (if you want) as they comemaybe every spring. Fixing dings keeps your car looking pristine, and increases its value. But dont bother with a protection plan. Save your money.

Hold off on that paint job
Quality paintless dent repair is often a great substitute for those considering full paint jobs. Whenever possible, it's best to keep the original paint. Good PDR combined with a professional detail can restore vehicles to show room condition for less than $500.

Go with the best
Since 1983 Dent Wizard has been pioneering PDR technology. Their PDR technicians undergo extensive and ongoing training. The rates are reasonable and the quality is excellent. Always request a master PDR technician, as there are various levels of abilities.

Check with local dealers
Dealerships in your area may offer Dent Wizard. Your vehicle does not have to be of the same make as the dealership. In other words, you can bring your Chevy to a Ford dealer for PDR work.

Myths
Do it yourself paintless dent repair is easy.
No it s not. It requires training, skill, and experience. There are many who practice PDR techniques who crack or flake the paint, or who create ripples in the metal.

The PDR products sold on TV do the same thing.
No! Not even close. There's no good substitute for the art of PDR.

Scratch and dent repair are the same thing.
No. A ding is a small dent, which can often be repaired via paintless dent repair procedures. A scratch is an actual break in the surface of the clear coat or paint, requiring traditional body shop techniques, or touch up paint.

Its easy to learn how to repair dents on cars.
Maybe for some, but its a skill that few master. Dent Wizard offers a great training program. The management and staff are top notch.

Whats the best car dent removing protection plan?
Money in your bank account!

Great Tips on Lowering Auto Insurance Costs

2007-07-09T22:21:00.000-07:00

With car sales prices continuously increasing, recent hikes in gas prices, and ever present sales and state taxes on our cars it has become vitally important to find ways to save money and keep costs down. One way to save money is to monitor your auto insurance and make sure you are getting the best deal possible. This may sound trivial, but can easily add up to savings of hundreds and possibly even thousands of dollars over the next few years.

First make sure you are taking advantage of all discounts available to you through your insurance provider. Many insurance companies have good driver history discounts. If you havent been in an accident or made a claim in several years make sure your agent adds this deduction typical savings are 5-15% (easily $100-$400+ in savings per year).

For an additional discount some insurance companies like Progressive and Geico offer discounts for sponsored driving classes. Make sure you check with your insurance company to see which ones it accepts. Many of these classes are free or offered at minimal cost by your local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) or DOT (Department of Transportation). For a listing, contact your insurance company and then your state departments (DMV and DOT). These classes also work great for reducing points on your license from minor infractions (speeding, running a red light, etc). Definitely get as many points taken off as possible. These points can increase your insurance rates 50-100% or more in some cases. Some insurance companies like Geico, Allstate, and Progressive have recently come out with good student discounts. The requirements can vary so be sure to check with your insurance company. This could amount to an additional savings of 5-10% on your annual premium. Keep in mind traffic offenses can and will nullify this and most other discounts, so drive safely.

Shop around for the best rate. I cant stress this enough. Every few years just check and see what other insurers are offering. You could see huge savings here and it may have nothing to do with your driving record. Some insurers just have lower claims for a particular model car and therefore will have a lower rate for that car. Just to see the difference call several insurance companies for quotes. You will see a huge range. When I had a 2000 Ford Mustang GT convertible I was paying over $4000 per year in insurance with Allstate then I checked and found Progressive offered the same coverage for only $1400 (a 75% difference in my premium). Now, thats not to say that Allstate is a bad insurer, they just have higher claim costs associated with that vehicle and a driver of my age. So, make sure you shop around and definitely check the online insurers like Progressive and Geico as they tend to have lower premiums. Also see what impact raising your deductible will have on lowering your premium.

These items might also seem trivial, but will save you money. Pick a car with lower theft rates and lower premiums. A 4 door 4 cylinder car (Toyota Corolla) will almost always have a much lower premium than the latest 8 cylinder 2 seater sports car (Mustang GT (2+ 2 seating)). It will also get you better gas mileage which in a year could amount to a savings of hundreds of dollars in it self. Stay away from convertibles as they always have higher insurance premiums. Drop unnecessary coverage like collision on an older car. Also stay away from cars with high theft rates (Honda Civics and Accords tend to have some of the highest theft rates and unfortunately you will pay for that with higher premiums and dont think you wont.) One more thing, dont speed, dont drive drunk (I dont need to tell you what that will cost you (it could even cost you your life), stop for all school buses, wear your seat belt and obey the rules of the road. You will be glad you did.

Recreation Vehicle Insurance - The Basics.

2007-07-08T16:18:00.001-07:00

What is a recreation vehicle? Do I need to insure it?

The first questions to answer would be, what is a recreation vehicle and why would you choose to insure it.

A recreation vehicle is one that you would normally use to fun/relaxation. For example if you normally use your car to commute but on week-end drive a motorcycle then the motorcycle is considered to be a recreation vehicle. But on the other hand you use your motorcycle to go to work on hot days then the bike is no longer considered to be a recreation vehicle.

Some of the more common recreation vehicles are:

* Motorcycles

* Boats

* Snowmobiles

* Moto-cross bikes/trail bikes/Quad bikes

* ATV's (All Terrain Vehicles) sometimes used for trail rides or hunting

* Travel Trailers

* Motorhomes

* Caravans

* Personal Watercraft (jet-skis, Inflatable and so on)

Do you need to get a recreation vehicle insurance?

In almost every case the answer is yes, the most common reason is because most good insurance company will not charge you a premium for using a vehicle from time to time. You are usually not penalised for having a recreation vehicle. In most cases a recreation vehicles is well looked after, and because, by definition, it is only used once in a while, most insurance company will offer some very low quotes.

But the other important reason is because most recreation vehicles are not used as often so the likelihood of something happening increases.
You must accept that you are not as familiar with that vehicle as you are with your everyday one. So the likelihood off an accident increases.

You should always check with your insurance company that your insurance is up to date; it is often easy to assume that a vehicle is covered for, say, 12 months when in fact it is only covered for 6 months.
You must also ensure that you are carefully following the policy, if your recreational vehicle is an RV, (Motor home or Caravan), does your license allow you to drive it?
Is the vehicle itself 'legal', (can it legally be used for the purpose you are insuring it for?)
Remember that is almost all cases, breaking the local laws will null and void the insurance policy.

Disability Insurance to Protect Your Way of Life

2007-07-08T14:12:00.000-07:00

The idea of being sick, out of work, and inmobile real stinks, but hey, stuff happens. And that's precisely why you may want to consider purchasing disability insurance. What if an ordinary spin down the strip on a sunny day leaves you twisted up like a pretezel and being cut from the wreckage of a mangled VW Beetle? How will you support yourself and family? Do you have enough money saved to cover three or four months worth of rent, ultilities, and credit card bills? What if you are unable to work for a whole nine months, or even a year? Would you still be able to foot the bill of your monthly cost of living then?

Disability insurance is designed to replace a portion of your income should you become unable to work do to sickness or injury. Disability insurance benefits have historcially covered approximately 45% to 65% of your gross income. Although this varies depending upon the insurance carrier and the benefits that you are entitled to, as stipulated by your policy. Disability insurance companies and the policies that they draw up in representation of the clients can be as different as night and day.

There are several options and terms to evaluate in an effort to settle on the most important factor of determining the insurance carrier to purchase the disability insurance coverage from. Take this seriously-you'll want to select a disability insurance company that will be there when/if you need them. And be sure that each company give you a fresh earful on just what they define as "disabled."

Upon researching and finally settling on a disability insurance carrier, ask for disability insurance quotes of the various options available. Disability insurance generally falls into one of two categories: short term disability and long tern disability. Short term disability is generally defined as an illness or injury that keeps you from work for up to six months. Long term disability is coverage for injury or illness related income loss that commences at one year of disability.

Here are a few questions to ask your disability insurance carrier:

Is the insurance short term or long term?

When does the disability insurance coverage begin?

What is the amount of the benefits?

How long does the insurance coverage lasts?

How are claims paid?

and Can the disability insurance coverage been renewed once it has been used once already?

Disability insurance protection will remove the inability of being ill and put the ability back into paying the bills. Look at it as insurance to protect your way of life; the way of life you are accustom to.

Pay-Per-Mile Auto Insurance

2007-07-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

With gas prices heading higher each year, many people are looking for resourceful ways to save on fuel, such as taking the bus, the train, riding a bike or car-pooling to work. Yet even with these money-saving tactics, drivers are still paying for full auto insurance coverage on their vehicles.

As we all know, there are some corners that just can't be cut. Or so we think! Many auto insurance companies are starting to consider a new insurance program that would offer consumers a discounted rate for reduced car usage. In fact, some insurance providers are already offering trial programs.

One big supporter of this new program is the Environmental Defense, anorganization currently promoting a Pay-As-You-Drive Insurance (PAYD) program to auto insurance companies throughout the United States. This innovative concept would link insurance policies to an odometer rather than just a renewal date on the calendar.

According to the Environmental Defense, PAYD would not only help save consumers money; it would also help reduce pollution. "PAYD provides financial incentive for driving less and is expected to reduce driving and congestion by 10 to12%", states an Environmental Defense official. "Driving less reduces air pollution, toxic runoff from roads, and impacts on climate."

PAYD would also make auto insurance more affordable for drivers by giving them more control of their auto insurance premiums - a change the National Organization of Women's Cents Per Mile group would be happy to see happen. According to NOW's website, low-income drivers often have to bear a higher insurance burden, unjustified by their lower mileage. This burden results in drivers dropping or not renewing their auto insurance policies. The new program will help to alleviate this problem, decreasing the number of non-insured drivers on the road while helping to reduce the financial strain on low-income and part-time drivers.

Exactly how does the PAYD program work? Currently, there are two proposed techniques that could be used to detect car mileage usage. The first method involves installing a proprietary odometer that has an embedded cell phone that occasionally calls in your mileage to your insurance company. The other technique would entail installing a GPS device into an embedded phone, such as OnStar, to detail your actual routes.

Many groups object to this method because of the possible privacy infringement. However, the GPS device does have its advantages. Not only would it track your mileage, it would also detail where and when you drove. For instance, if you were traveling in a congested area during rush hour it might cost you more, as opposed to the savings you could potentially receive for driving during off-peak hours.

How much would it cost?
Auto insurance companies would convert a portion of your current annual rate into a per mile fee. Your auto insurance company would assign your car to one of its rate groups according to your zip code, type, and usage. Once your per mile rate is determined you will more than likely be asked to pay an upfront, set fee for your predetermined number of miles. Depending on how much you drive, you could either receive a rebate or pay more.

Testing the waters.
Currently there are two pilot programs underway in the United States. One program is through OnStar, who has joined with a national insurance company to offer a mileage discount program. Offered exclusively to motorists who own GM vehicles equipped with OnStar, this program will provide owners with the opportunity to earn an extra discount based on the miles they've driven. GM motorists have the potential to receive up to a 40% discount and save hundreds of dollars annually. Discounts are given to motorists who have driven less than 15,000 miles per year - the lower the vehicle mileage, the more significant the discount. Presently the program is only available in Arizona, Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

The other program, being offered in Minnesota, is designed for drivers that own a 1996 model year or older. This test study uses a matchbox-sized electronic device that is plugged into the owner's onboard diagnostics (ODBII) port. Once set up, the sensor detects how much, how fast and when the vehicle is in use. From there, the information is used to calculate the customers discount. This free, voluntary program can potentially save participants up to 25% on their car insurancea considerable discount when you are trying to conserve funds.

Looking for ways to save on auto insurance, but don't have a PAYD pilot program in your state? Logon to Insurance.com's auto quote comparison tool. There, you'll be able to compare car insurance rates from up to 12 insurance providers, helping you save time and money on your auto insurance.

Please note that this description/explanation is intended only as a guideline.

For more information about auto insurance please go to: Insurance.com

Motorcycle Insurance

2007-07-07T16:08:00.000-07:00

Trying to find motorcycle insurance with the right level of cover and at a price you can afford can become frustrating and time consuming.

There are so many motorcycle insurance companies out there with quite a significant range of prices for what can prove to be essentially a similar package.

The first thing you need to decide is what type of motorcycle insurance policy you are interested in and obviously your final decision will most probably be based on cost.

The most basic motorcycle insurance you can get is Bodily Injury & Property Damage Liability. This level of motorcycle insurance is a legal requirement and covers your legal liability for third party damage and bodily injury in the event of an accident. It will not cover the cost of repair of your own motorcycle.

If you want motorcycle insurance that will cover the cost of repair to your motorcycle if in an accident and pay you for the cost of replacing your motorcycle in the event of fire or theft then you need to take out a Comprehensive Motorcycle Insurance Policy.

You can take out Uninsured Motorcycle Insurance which will cover you for the cost of medical care and loss of earnings in the event of being hit by an uninsured driver. Uninsured insurance will also cover the repair costs for your motorcycle up to your insured limit in the event of being hit by someone who is not insured.

Its advisable to make sure that you include medical payments in your motorcycle insurance policy which will usually cover you in the event of a motorcycle accident regardless of who is at fault. Medical payments insurance only tend to kick in at the point when you have no other medical cover.

Comprehensive motorcycle insurance will normally cover some of the cost of custom parts but not necessarily all the cost. It is advisable to check this before taking out motorcycle insurance and if your level of customisation is not covered take out further Custom Parts Motorcycle Insurance.

The cost of your motorcycle insurance will vary from company to company and depend on such things as your age, the length of time you have been riding a motorcycle and whether or not you have had any previous accidents or claims. You will generally be able to influence the cost of your motorcycle insurance to some degree according to the level of deductibles you choose. The higher the deductibles the lower the cost of your motorcycle insurance.

It is definitely a good idea to shop around with quite significant savings being obtained if you select the right insurance company. Save yourself some time by doing a lot of the work on the internet, it will be quicker and easier to compare polices and most motorcycle insurance companies tend to offer online discounts.

Three Things That Can Affect Your Home Insurance Quote

2007-07-07T15:10:00.000-07:00

Whether you're buying a new home or just thinking about switching insurance companies, there are several things you can do which can help in lowering your homeowner insurance costs.

While shopping for a home insurance quote, the company you choose to go with is important ... but the discounts offered are where the rubber meets the road. You need to qualify for as many discounts as you can and they may or may not be the same with each insurer. Here are 3 specific discounts that anybody can qualify for.

Install Home Safety Devices

If your home is adequately protected from fire, theft and natural disasters, you are less likely to file a claim. In order to help you better protect your property, insurance companies offer discounts for home security devices such as burglar alarms, smoke detectors, and deadbolt locks. While these may seem like simple, mundane things, they can greatly affect the cost of your insurance premium.

Although your insurance company can give you a discount in your home insurance quote for having smoke alarms, YOU will have to be the one to monitor the smoke alarms and make sure they have working batteries. Many local TV stations, in conjunction with the fire department, will remind viewers to change the batteries in their smoke alarms when they set their clocks forward or backward due to Daylight Savings Time. So don't think about it ... just do it!

Insure Your Autos With the Same Company

Most insurance companies will give you reduced rates if you have several policies with them. The most common combination is having your auto and home owner insurance together. Take a few extra minutes and get an auto insurance quote at the same time you get your home insurance quote. The savings can be as much as 15% or more. Some insurers will give discounts if you have your life insurance policy with them too.

Avoid Filing Smaller Claims

Many people think that since they have to pay for insurance, they should be able to use it as much as they want. Unfortunately, insurance companies don't look at things that way. If they feel you have filed too many claims, they may offer you a renewal with an increased deductible, an increase in your rate, or they may not even renew your policy.

Since you should only submit claims for the larger unavoidable losses anyway, you might want to go ahead and increase your deductible and save some on your home insurance quote. Just be sure to bank the saved premiums to use towards those small losses or to cover your deductible should you need to file a claim.

Great Parts For The Racing Enthusiast!

2007-07-06T18:05:00.000-07:00

You are on your final lap of what has been an adventurous race filled with mayhem, mishaps, and a near misstep that could have cost you dearly. The two top drivers are within reach as you navigate the tracks final turn. Do you risk it? Will you swing over to the left lane and pass them both or settle for a strong third place finish instead? Certainly, this close, but no cigar finish would be a moral victory for some drivers, but not for you. Suddenly, you swing your wheels to the left, press the pedal to the metal and pass driver #2 and edge just ahead of driver #1 as the checkered flag waves down before you. You win the race by mere inches because of the confidence you have in your car.

Oh, were we all so confident in our rides! You may not be a race car driver, but if you value performance then you know that keeping your car well maintained is essential toward ensuring a safe and fun ride every time. Importantly, upgrading your car to include premium performance parts is a necessity, so lets take a look at what racing enthusiasts the world over are doing to achieve maximum control.

What good is a performance car if it doesnt speak performance? Specifically, the tone of your vehicles exhaust system should tell everyone that your car has the power to go along with its performance. That is why choosy drivers are selecting performance Remus exhaust systems for their rides. A Remus exhaust system is imported from Germany and can be found on many Mercedes, Mini, Volkswagen, and BMW cars. In America, Jeep and Ford owners have learned that the stainless steel and aluminum components that go into every Remus exhaust system can ensure a long life, better performance, and a great tone. Remus backs up their product with an unlimited 3 year warranty.

A great set of shocks on every vehicle is necessary and all the more so if you put your car through the paces. Every single turn and every single lift in the road can be navigated with confidence if your car has the right shocks or struts to ensure maximum control. KYB has been the original equipment shock for more manufacturers worldwide then any other brand for many years now. Enthusiasts select KYB performance shocks for maximum damping and greater tolerances every time. No brand can possibly match KYB in popularity and for offering the best bang for the buck.

A Turbonetics intercooler can give your ride more power and torque without an adverse impact on engine endurance. As a bolt on turbo system, Turbonetics can quickly provide more power, use less fuel, and is available on a variety of gasoline and diesel applications. Drivers of the Toyota Supra, select full size Chevy pick ups, and owners of the Subaru Impreza have all learned that a Turbonetics turbocooler can maximize power and performance quickly without a big time loss in downtime.

Yes, you may never compete in a NASCAR race or qualify for the Indy 500, however that doesnt mean you cant maximize your rides performance. Install high quality and cost effective car parts from the Race Pages wholesale store today to achieve that race car edge.

Classic Car Insurance In California

2007-07-06T17:07:00.000-07:00

Car insurance is a cover provided to automobiles on the payment of a premium, against any kind of loss. It means that in case of an accident, the insurance company will compensate any financial loss. A person is required to pay a fixed amount, which is known as premium, to the company on a regular basis. Classic car insurance is different from regular car insurance on the basis of, the type of coverage offered and the terms of claims. Classic car insurance in California has insurance laws and coverage options designed according to the state laws.

In California, classic car insurance can be applied for, only if the car is more than fifteen years old. The owner of the car must have held a driving license for more than ten years, and must also have at least one other car, for regular use. Further, it is mandatory for a classic car owner in California, to provide a garage to house the car, when not in use.

Regular car policies that are available are Actual Cash Value and Stated Value policies. Actual Cash value policies pay the insured the adjusted value of their cars in case of irreparable damage to the car. This adjusted cost is calculated by subtracting the depreciated value from the original value of the car. Stated Value policy is where the insurer pays ?up to? a certain amount in case of a claim for total loss. Both these policies are unsuitable for classic cars, as their value does not depreciate but rather, appreciates.

Therefore, the type of insurance policy preferred by the California classic car owners is the 'Agreed Value' policy. Under this type of policy, in case of total loss, the insurer is liable to pay a sum that, the insurer and the insured agreed upon while drawing a contract.

There are also many driving restrictions, while purchasing classic car insurance. There are limits on mileage, as well as speed. The owner of the car is also not allowed to use it for daily errands or commuting as a regular car might be used.

Pilot Error or Mechanical Failure? Brazil Midair Collision

2007-07-05T19:59:00.000-07:00

Somewhere over the Amazon jungle in Brazil two modern, brand new aircraft crossed paths and one of them never landed. It is assumed that, at 37,000 feet, these two aircraft collided and the larger of the two, a Boeing 737-800, entered a descending spiral which culminated on the floor of the jungle. The jungle was so thick that rescuers had to parachute in and clear landing spaces for rescue helicopters. Of the 154 crew and passengers on the Boeing none survived.

Meanwhile, an Embraer Legacy 600 business jet experienced a slight jolt, described by a Times writer as a car hitting a pothole, landed at a nearby military base where they discovered damage to the left winglet and some damage to its tail. The wing had started to peel back, causing the Legacy passengers to fear they were going to crash, but the pilots were able to land safely.

What happened?

As with most aviation accidents the cause is not readily apparent. Each aircraft was under air traffic control (ATC), and each aircraft was equipped with TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) which should have warned them they were too close. To further complicate things, these aircraft were operating in a gray area of radar coverage where two different ATC facilities responsibilities overlap. It appears that the Legacy jet was following one airway at 37,000 feet and was supposed to descend to 36,000 feet upon reaching yet another airway. The Boeing was traversing the area at 37,000 feet.

The interesting part.

Brazilian authorities have detained the crew of the Legacy jet by taking their passports and not allowing them to leave the country. Further, officials have claimed that this crew purposely turned off their transponder (a device in the aircraft in which the crew sets a unique 4 digit code) in order to perform some pilot tricks in their aircraft. If the transponder was, indeed, turned off, or simply did not work, then the TCAS systems in both the Boeing and the Legacy jet would not work properly. As a pilot I can tell you that when the TCAS is working the warnings would be difficult, if not impossible, to ignore!

However, in another development it turns out that the manufacturer of the transponder, Honeywell, had problems with earlier versions of this model when the crew took longer than five (5) seconds to set a new code upon request of ATC. If it took longer than five (5) seconds the transponder would go into the standby mode, and would not be transmitting its proper signal.

Honeywell denies this particular transponder would have that problem, and insists that it had long ago advised operators of the problem and had issued a software upgrade to fix the problem. The pilots deny that they turned the transponder off, and it is hard to imagine anyone would do such a thing.

So while we are left to ponder the cause, the crew is left in limbo, trapped in Brazil, amongst a hostile population who want revenge for the deaths of 154 people.

Pilot error or mechanical failure?

We can only hope that the Brazilian authorities get this one right and that the proper, definitive cause of this accident is determined. As a fellow pilot I hope and believe the cause was not some cowboy activities, and that the pilots are returned home safely and soon.

Keep your wings level and fly straight.

Crusty Captain

Why You Need House Insurance

2007-07-05T19:03:00.000-07:00

House insurance is among the most important insurances you can get and in the case of buildings insurance, most mortgage lenders make it compulsory. This is because your home is your biggest asset and if you lose it because of fire, flood or another disaster and you have a mortgage outstanding on it, there may be nothing tangible to repay back your mortgage with.

There are two types of household insurance buildings and contents. These can also be purchased as individual plans or combined. If you buy the insurance combined (ie from one insurer) they you tend to get an overall discount.

Buildings insurance gives your property (and its fixtures and fittings which are permanent fixtures such as fitted kitchen or built in wardrobes) financial protection in the event of damage. Unless your mortgage provider insists you have cover, this insurance is still strongly recommended as it protects probably your most major asset.

Contents insurance while not compulsory is just as important as buildings cover. Again, it offers protection against fire, damage, loss etc. and will cover most of your possessions in the home from baby clothes to DVDs to audio equipment to valuables (up to a set limit which your insurer will define).

If you have something particularly valuable (such as an expensive watch) or something you take outside the home and that is more liable to damage or theft (eg a bicycle or a laptop) contact your insurer to see if you need to upgrade your policy. This should only mean a small increase in your house insurance premium and will give you the peace of mind that the item is covered.

As with all insurance products, when looking for house insurance, do shop around for the most competitive premium. Online insurance brokers, where you enter your details and requirements just once and the search engines goes off and finds the best deals for you, are free and easy to use and give you a good idea as to how much you should be paying.

As with all product comparisons, when it comes to house insurance, do compare premiums on a like for like basis to ensure you get the level of over you need.

Caring for Your Jeep: Getting the Right Jeep Parts

2007-07-04T20:57:00.000-07:00

For over six decades now, Jeep has been one of the most popular car makes in the history of the automotive industry. Jeep has successfully established its niche as an excellent sport utility vehicle, with excellent Jeep Auto Parts, even before SUV's became commonplace. When people think of Jeeps, they picture rugged vehicles traveling through rough terrains. Jeep has created an image of fun, spontaneity and ruggedness. Yet, through the years, innovations and add-ons have made Jeep more than just a vehicle for rugged terrains. Today's Jeep models not only retain the aspect of fun, and functionality that earlier Jeeps have been known for, but have added technological advancement, convenience and enhanced performance to its long list of winning characteristics.

A tough, hardworking, and reliable vehicle like a Jeep deserves special care and attention. Because Jeeps are most often used in off-road conditions, it requires extra care so that its functionality will be maintained. A little care will go a long way to make your Jeep work excellently all the time. Frequent off-road driving can take its toll on your Jeep's auto parts. Frequent oil and oil filter changes are necessary because of the muddy or dusty conditions. You should check those auto parts that are prone to wear and tear such as air filters, brake linings, PCV valves and other Jeep parts. Jeep parts such, as Jeep Wrangler Parts and Jeep Cherokee Parts require the utmost in car care and protection. Check for signs of damage on the chassis and undercarriage. You should also inspect your Jeep's parts for loose bolts and connections. Look over your Jeep Exhaust, Jeep Radiator, Jeep Bumper, Jeep Tail Lights, Jeep Mirrors, Jeep Catalytic Converters and Jeep Fenders for signs of damage. It is wise to repair or replace damaged Jeep parts as soon as possible to prevent further damage or accidents.

Replacement Jeep Parts are easy to find nowadays. If ever you need a replacement Jeep bumper or a new Jeep headlight for instance, you do not have to pay a visit to a good auto parts dealer across town. All you need is a computer, an Internet connection and you can now access some of the most reliable, and excellent auto parts wholesalers and suppliers online.

German Vehicles Comparison: BMW Vs. Mercedes

2007-07-03T23:51:00.000-07:00

German cars have long been recognized as some of the best engineered and most luxurious cars in the world. Two manufacturers, BMW and Mercedes, rule the roost with offerings from Audi, Porsche, and even Volkswagen getting some attention. Lets take a look at some current offerings from these Bavarian giants and see how they are impacting the auto industry.

BMW Give BMW credit for moving outside of the box by building a plant in South Carolina. Opened in 1994, the Spartanburg, SC plant has produced the Z3 now Z4 roadster as well as the X5 SAV. Seeking to become more of a world player, BMW has also purchased controlling interest in other automakers including Rolls-Royce and Rover during the 1990s. Later, BMW sold off the Rover and MG portions of Rover, but has kept the Mini brand.

BMW vehicles are well represented in the US. Coupes, sedans, convertibles, roadsters, and SUVs make up the American fleet with new cars at various stages of development being prepared for release.

Mercedes Benz As part of the Daimler Chrysler fold, Mercedes Benz has been producing high quality automobiles for over a century. In 1998, seeking to expand its reach, Daimler Chrysler [DCX] bought out the Chrysler Corporation. Names such as Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, Jeep, and Mopar became part of the DCX fold, although Plymouth was discontinued a few years later.

The Mercedes Benz name is synonymous with luxury vehicles and in the US the company is well represented by a host of sedans, coupes, convertibles, tall wagons, SUVs, roadsters, and other fine vehicles.

Owners of BMWs and Mercedes Benz do have some things in common: vehicle maintenance. As high end vehicles, the automakers are noted for equipping their cars with only the finest OEM parts. Well represented manufacturers used by both companies include: Bosch, Hella, Mahle, Textar, Brembo, Bilstein, Febi, SKF, and others. Most are German born and bred and are recognized the world over for producing the highest quality parts for auto manufacturers.

Replacement auto parts purchased through dealer parts departments are priced at a premium. When you take into consideration any tariffs, import fees, and third party mark ups, consumers can expect to pay a mint for each part. The growing internet wholesale market has been changing the paradigm lately as companies such as Car Parts Stuff are selling direct to consumers. The better online wholesalers have lowered costs significantly as overhead is low and they buy direct from leading manufacturers. This translates into real savings for you, the consumer.

When purchasing any parts for your luxury car, always determine that the parts you order meet or exceed OEM specifications. There are a lot of counterfeit parts on the market; shop wisely and you will get premium parts at low prices.

Driving New Cars For Free: Is There A Catch?

2007-07-03T22:53:00.000-07:00

Advertisers have seized upon a new way to get the word out about their products: slap their ads on your vehicle. Actually, this isnt an entirely new way to promote products as it has been in the experimental stages for years in limited markets. Now, however, the practice has become so widespread that companies around the globe are doing it. Soon, many cars in Mexico and France along with vehicles on the streets of California, Florida, and elsewhere will be sporting ads pitching a variety of products. In some cases the advertisers will pay you a monthly rental fee to place ads on the car you already own, while in other cases you could find yourself behind the wheel of a brand new car.

When I first heard about this concept, I thought: whats the catch? While every program is different and there are probably scammers mixed in with the legit companies, for the most part these ads on wheels or rolling billboard programs are on the up and up. Youll have to check with the individual program for contractual details, but this is what I have found out about what some of them are offering:

Drivers must be of legal age, generally age 18 or above.

Drivers must reside in targeted countries with the U.S., Canada, France, the Philippines, Mexico, Japan, and Britain as being popular locations.

Drivers must do what they do best: drive, a lot! Yes, no letting your wheels stay put; youll be expected to put some serious miles on your car, especially around town where everyone can see and look at your ride.

In some cases, you can use your own car and get a monthly check. In other cases, you will be given a car for a certain period of time. In the latter situation, you may be responsible for gas, maintenance, and insurance, so make certain that what you get from the rolling ads is worth it to you.

So, who are some of the advertisers? Without specifying names, I have seen vehicles for a certain gecko insurance company, another for a big box retailer of consumer electronics equipment, while still another one for a local restaurant with its cant miss repainted PT Cruiser. In addition, there are many other advertisers who see the value and uniqueness of the program and are joining in.

Yes, there are exaggerated claims of how much you could make each month or what type of car you might be getting. Sure, a Viper with ads would be cool, but can you afford the gas and the $3000 car insurance bill? Probably not. Therefore, do some due diligence to find out the plan that is right for you.

Rolling billboards are a novelty, one that many drivers will want in order to gain access to a new set of wheels or a repaint of their current ride. Still, for a lucky few, these types of programs will certainly help their cars get noticed. When the bill is being picked up by someone else, it could be a fun if not lucrative way to get around town.

Lost Your Job? How To Keep Your Insurance Coverage

2007-07-02T16:50:00.001-07:00

In this day when companies are facing layoffs, buyouts, and other financial difficulties, it may be difficult to hold on to a good health insurance policy. Thanks to the government, however, there has been a couple of programs that will allow you to keep the same coverage you had before your situation changed - if you act soon enough. Here are some things you need to know about the COBRA program that could enable you to enjoy the same health insurance coverage you had.

COBRA, which stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, enables you to keep the same coverage for up to 18 months. In some cases, this time period may be extended for an even longer period of time for dependents.

Qualifying Events

In order to qualify for this program, participants have to meet certain qualifications. The good news is that the conditions for COBRA are rather lenient. If you were an employee, and are now out of work, you may qualify - even if you were fired, or laid off. The exception is if you were extremely negligent in your duties, or performed some act of misconduct that got you fired.

Other qualifying situations may occur in the event of a divorce or the death of the employee. Sometimes there may also be a separation involved, or the employee may retire, or go on Medicare. In cases like this the coverage may be extended for periods up to 36 months. One situation, however, where coverage will not be given, is in the event that the company goes out of business. In that event, though, you may still be able to get your health insurance coverage through HIPAA.

Application Time Is Limited

After a qualifying event occurs, you need to act rather fast because there is not a lot of time given in which you need to apply for the COBRA program. You must act within 30 days of the event by informing the insurance plan administrator (the employer) of your intent to continue the coverage. It is best that you do it in writing - for your own records. After you notify them, they will send you a letter within 14 days, and then you have up to 60 days to decide if you will accept the COBRA coverage.

The Premiums

While you are able to continue the coverage that you had prior to the event, there is a major difference that also takes place. Whereas the employer paid a part of the premiums previously - now it becomes entirely up to you to meet the full price. So, there may be a little sticker shock, because it will not be cheap. Since group insurance is usually much less expensive, you may be surprised at just how much the employer was paying.

The Coverage

One of the great benefits of using the COBRA health insurance coverage is that there most likely will not be any preexisting conditions given since you were already covered before. This means that your coverage continues without any hitches hopefully, and you can then continue to enjoy what you had before.

Auto Repair Insurance: Extended WarrantiesMyths and Facts

2007-07-02T14:46:00.000-07:00

How much insurance does one need? You have the big four: home, health, life, and car insurance. Then theres a second category, which starts getting a little hazy with credit card insurance, purchase protection plans, fraud insurance and more. Extended warranties, also called extended service contracts, or extended service policies fall into the mist of this second category.

Extended warranties are supposed to pay (in full or in part) for specified repairs for a specific period of time after the expiration of the factory warranty. They can be a great value. They can also be a significant waste of money. It gets quite foggy in the details. What exactly is covered? How long? How much? Are there hidden charges?

There are numerous extended warranty companies and an even wider variety of warranty packages available: silver, gold, platinum, platinum-plus, and a host of other confidence-building words. Whats the best plan, and are extended service contracts worth the money?

Extended warranties, like life insurance policies, are a numbers game. Theyre a gamble. You pay $2500-$4500 for a 2 year, 100,000-mile protection plan and hope that you get at least that back in warranty repairs. The provider on the other hand, hopes to pay out less than it insured.

There are three major types of plan providers: The manufacturer, the dealership/third party, and third party providers. Each one has its assets and liabilities (discussed ahead).

What exactly is covered in an extended service plan? As mentioned above, whats covered depends on the package purchased. Some plans only cover the power train: the mechanical components of the engine, transmission, and rear-end. Others cover the power train plus some electrical components. Still others cover electrical, advanced electrical, and computer components. Some only cover whats listed in the contract. This is called a Stated or Named contract. This means that if its not stated, its not covered. Some cover bumper-to-bumper, similar to a manufacturer warranty, except trim pieces, upholstery, exterior components, cosmetic items, and a number of other exclusions.

Never before has the adage, The devils in the details, been so applicable.

Manufacturer Extended Plans: Extended service plans from the manufacturer are the best in terms of coverage, convenience, and quality. Coverage is similar to the warranty while the vehicle was under its original factory warrantywith similar exclusions stated above. The billing is direct, meaning you dont have to pay out-of-pocket, except for a deductible, if applicable. Quality is great too, as an extended warranty from the manufacturer will only use factory parts. They also have money, so theres less risk of bankruptcy.

The down side of manufacturer extended service plans is that they are not cheap. These plans are generally the most expensive, require low mileage standards, and necessitate servicing your vehicle at a dealer for coverage.

Dealership/Third Party Plans: Extended warranties from a dealership are actually from a third party insurer. These providers are generally reputable, but not always. However, if there is an issue (such as the warranty provider filing chapter 11, which is quite frequent in the extended service contract business), the dealer may step in to cover any repairs that would have been covered under the defunct plan. Also, claims are easier: billing is direct because the dealership has a working relationship with the provider, and there is usually agreement on price.

Some dealers set up their own internal extended warranty, which is honored by the selling dealer. This is rare, and should not be confused with a manufacturer warranty.

Important: extended warranties are often passed off as manufacturer warranties. Theyre not. This is a sales trick. Also be aware that there is a significant mark up, as the dealership is merely acting as the middle man. Lastly, extended warranty companies often go bankrupt without warning.

Third Party Plans: These plans are called third party plans because they are outside the responsibility of the manufacturer and the service center performing the repairs (unless theres a working relationship with a repair shop as stated above).

There are hundreds of extended service contract companies. Some have good reputations, some dont. Third party plans are frequently sold by used car dealers. You may also receive an official looking notification in the mail stating that your warranty is expiring, and directing you to call an 800 number ASAP. This is a marketing tactic by an independent warranty provider. Despite the official appearance of the postcard or envelope, its not from the manufacturer. Manufacturers do not send out reminders about warranty expiration.

Given the wide-variety of third party plans there are numerous red flags.

1) Claims: Extended warranty companies will be quick to tell you that filing claims is easy, and that the service center gets paid immediately via a credit card. Thus, theres no out-of-pocket expense for you. However, the warranty company cant dictate a service centers policies. Some service centers will only accept payment from the repair customer. Thus the burden is on the repair customer to fill out the forms, contact their warranty company, and await reimbursement via check, which can take 2-8 weeks.

It is the service centers responsibility to contact the extended warranty company to let them know whats wrong with the vehicle and to check coverage. This process can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 20 days, sometimes more, depending on the degree of repairs and especially the amount. (See $1000 and Adjusters ahead)

Service centers and extended warranty companies frequently battle over the fair price of repairs. Many repair shops no longer negotiate, and just state the price, leaving the contract holder (i.e., the service customer) responsible for the difference.

2) Rentals: Rental coverage is a great benefit. However, there are fixed rates and time limits. In other words, the warranty company is not going to pay to have you drive a Mercedes-Benz, even if you drive a Benz. Rental allowances range from $25 to $35 per day. Also, rental coverage is based on the number of hours it takes to repair the vehicle, NOT the number of days your car has been at the shop.

3) $1000 and Adjusters: Repairs that approach $1000, or that require a significant amount of work, will be cause for the warranty company to call in an adjuster to confirm the diagnosis. This will delay the repairs by a minimum of 24-48 hours. It may cost you additional money when an adjuster is involved. You may be charged to have your vehicle pulled back into the shop for inspection, as well as for the time spent with the adjuster.

4) Tear-down Charges: In many cases, an extended warranty company will require that a particular component be taken apart for inspection to determine if the repair is indeed needed and covered. This puts the service customer in a very awkward position. The customer will have to authorize potentially hundreds of dollars of tear-down expense in the hopes that the repair is covered. If its not, the customer is out the hundreds in tear-down PLUS the actual repair. This does happen!

Common Myths About Extended Service Plans:

Extended warranties cover maintenance services and brake work.
No. Extended warranty plans do not cover maintenance or wearable items. Brake pads and rotors are wearable parts. Maintenance such as coolant, brake and transmission flushes, tune-ups, services, oil changes, bulbs, wipers, and more are not covered.

They told me its bumper-to-bumper, so it covers everything, right?
Wrong. Not even a factory warranty covers everything. When pitching the sale for the extended warranty, one is very often lead to believe that he or she will have nothing to worry about. This is just not true on so many levels. For example, if your bumper falls off its not covered.

I dont have to pay anything, right?
Wrong. Despite the claims of 100% coverage, there are many factors involved. The labor rates, labor hours, diagnostic times, parts prices, and machine work are just a few items that often conflict with a service centers policies. Some extended contracts only pay a maximum of $55 per hour, and only allow one half hour for diagnostic time. This is generally unacceptable to the service center, as labor rates have skyrocketed to over $100 per hour at many dealerships, and average $75 at local shops. Moreover, with the complexity of todays vehicles, diagnostic time is at a premium. The customer pays the difference.

If I have an expensive problem, I can just purchase an extended service contract.
Its unethical, but its an option many attempt. However, most service contracts have a minimum time requirement before the first claim can be filed: usually three months. Also, many contracts require that your vehicle be inspected by a service center to check for pre-existing conditionsjust like life insurance.

My contract lasts up to 100,000 miles.
Only if the time limit doesnt run out first. All extended warranty plans have a time limit. For example, a typical contract will state that the vehicle is covered for two years or 100,000 miles, which ever comes first. During the sales pitch, however, the emphasis will be on the 100,000 miles, not the time.

If my car breaks, it gets fixed like new.
Actually, depending on the contract, an extended warranty company can insist on installing remanufactured or even used parts.

Items commonly not covered by extended warranties:

Any component with a pre-existing condition
Any component related to a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB)
Many components that has been updated by the manufacturer
Extra components necessary due to manufacturer updates to complete the repair
Trim pieces: molding, cup holders, dashboard, console, body parts, glass
Many accessories: radios, DVD players, TVs
Many expensive electronics: climate control units, navigation assemblies

Extended service contract positives: Some service contracts are transferable, and may thus increase the resale value of a vehicle. Many come with trip interruption reimbursement, towing and 24-hour road side. Some plans can also be financed, or have E-Z Pay Plans. Others offer a money-back guarantee.

What should you do? Youll get lots of advice about doing the research, comparing plans, and reading the fine print. This is all sound advice. But what about doing the math?

Lets say a plan costs $2500 for 2 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. To break even youll need a minimum of $1250 per year in covered repairs, excluding regular maintenance. Remember covered is the vital word here.

Another way to break it down is to anticipate having to pay $104.17 per month over the next two years in covered repairs. Do you want to take that bet?

What could happen? You could double your money or more in repair work. You could conceivably get a new engine and transmission (or used ones anyway). You could also easily spend $2500 for a service contract, and still have to pay another $2500 for repairs, which for a variety of reasons, were not covered under your plan. Now youre out $5000.

Alternatively, you could keep the initial $2500. In many ways all an extended warranty does is prepay for repairs. You could stick the money in the bank and collect interest. Then you could withdraw the money for repairs as needed.

Another consideration thats rarely discussed is the cause of the problems. Many car repairs problems are the result of wear and tear, neglected maintenance, physical damage, or acts of Godsuch as flood damage. None of this is covered. The gamble only covers failed components.

If the vehicle youre driving does cost $2500 to $4500 in repairs due to outright failed components, is it a vehicle you even want to consider keeping? A vehicle that needs this kind of repair work due to mechanical, electrical, or computer failures may not be worth it. The $2500-$4500 would be better spent on an upgrade to a quality vehicle rather than insuring a lemon.

Theres no question that auto repair is expensive, and even quality cars break from time to time. But do they breakdown to the tune of $2500-$4500? Thats a hefty bet on a possibility.

Terence OHara from the Washington Post makes an excellent assessment about extended warranties in general. He writes:

extended warranties play upon a basic human trait to avoid loss, even if it means sacrificing a possible future gainthe gain is all the other things of value that a consumer could buy with the money that was spent on a warranty

Whats the best plan? Money in your bank account!

Cheap Auto Insurance and Cheap Car Insurance

2007-07-02T13:47:00.000-07:00

Cheap auto insurance is available. The only way to find cheap car insurance is to show determination and a willingness to research it. Have you had car insurance in the past but wasn't cheap auto insurance? Were your rates high and a strain on your wallet? If so, why not look into cheap auto insurance? Cheap car insurance is just the thing to help you save some money each month. There are ways you can find cheap auto insurance and still get the coverage you need most. Do you want only liability from cheap auto insurance? Did your last insurance provider tell you that you could only get liability because of how high the rates were? There is no reason for why you have to settle. You need to get the kind of coverage that benefits you most-others too in case of an accident. Why not find cheap car insurance and find the quality and affordability you deserve?

Be on the lookout for advertisements on the radio or television concerning cheap auto insurance. Often times there are two or three commercials between your favorite shows talking about cheap car insurance. Have you ever thought to call the number on the bottom of the screen to see if they really do offer cheap auto insurance? It isn't a bad idea. You will want to listen for the offers they make on the television commercials regarding cheap car insurance and then make sure they are sticking to what they are promoting. Call them up and ask them questions about their advertisements on cheap auto insurance. A representative of that particular company can tell you about the cheap car insurance they provide and why you should become a client.

You can also look in the newspaper and see what companies are advertising cheap auto insurance. Even mailers come once or twice a week advertisement companies who guarantee cheap auto insurance. You might feel leery at first because some of the cheap auto insurance seems too good to be true, right? If you are feeling this way, you should call up the company and ask about their cheap car insurance rates and policies. When you take the initiative to talk to a company that deals with cheap car insurance, you fears can subside because you will have been able to get all the answers concerning cheap auto insurance. Begin your search for cheap car insurance today!

How to Get Pet Insurance for Your Dog

2007-07-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

Have you taken your dog to the vet recently? Did you balk at the cost of a regular check up or the price tag of your dogs medicine? In a more extreme example, your dog may have eaten something that didnt agree with them and they are convulsing and coughing up blood. This frightens you and you rush them to the emergency vet hospital. The vet has trouble ascertaining the cause of their distress and runs several tests and pumps a plethora of medicines in your dogs body.

Of course you love your dog and will do anything to save him. However, after the fright of the situation wears off you realize that your dog has racked up quite a vet bill. In fact, the bill may be over $1,000. Wow! There is no question that you should save your dogs life by any means possible, but if this type of situation happens more than once your bank account might dwindle to nothing. Therefore, you need to purchase pet insurance for your dog.

Pet insurance for your dog you ask? Yes, you can purchase pet insurance for your canine companion. It is a great idea to purchase pet insurance for many reasons. Was your dog born with birth defects and other chronic problems? For example, some dogs are born with misplaced knee caps, trick knees, and will need costly surgery in the future. Another reason to buy pet insurance for your pet is that if they are getting on in years. Many times dogs will hit a certain age and it seems as if they are struck with several health problems at once.

Pet insurance is also a good option if you have an overly active or working dog. Does your dog tend to run around the country side and come home with scrapes and bruises? Do they bring home disease infested rodents for your viewing pleasure? Do they feel compelled to eat trash that is filled with bacteria even when they know they arent supposed to? Do you have more than one dog and fear the spread of a dog illnesses or infections? Pet insurance is something to consider in any of these cases.

How does pet insurance work? Pet insurance is very similar to your own health insurance plan. There are several different pet insurance plans to choose from that range in the amount of services and cost. Many pet insurance plans offer coverage regarding annual checkups, lab tests, vaccinations, drugs/medications, spaying/neutering and emergency visits. Often you will visit the vet, pay for the service and then submit your claim to the pet insurance company.

The range of coverage varies as does the deductible and reimbursement percentage. Some pet insurance plans will pay up to 80% of your vet bill after you have reached the $100 deductible. Pet insurance is an especially thankful gift when your dog has an emergency and racks up the medical costs.

In addition, pet insurance plans also allow you to choose the veterinarian you would like your dog to see. You do not have to worry about veterinarians in your network like you commonly do with your own health insurance plan.

When choosing a pet insurance plan you have a host of pet insurane companies available. Many of these companies have websites that can provide you an instant pet insurance quote. You type your contact information, the breed of your dog, and your dogs age. You can find the costs for pet insurance plans that are basic to comprehensive and whether you want to pay the pet insurance premium monthly or once a year.

It depends on the age and breed of your dog, but you can find pet insurance premiums as low as $10-$15 per month. As your dog gets older, the cost will increase slightly due to the fact that older canines are prone to more illnesses and veterinarian visits. This rise in cost can be offset greatly by the amount of money you will save by purchasing a pet insurance plan.

Think pet insurance is too high or unnecessary? Consider the fact that if you dont purchase pet insurance, you will have to pay the full amount for every vet service out of your pocket. This can soon add up to over thousands of dollars during your dogs lifetime.

If your dog is susceptible to illness or you find yourself at the vets office often then check out pet insurance plans. You can peruse the Internet for instant quotes or contact your vet for possible pet insurance options. Finding pet insurance is as easy as signing up on the Internet. If you dont feel comfortable with the Internet, then seek out the guidance of your vet. They may know well respected pet insurance companies that offer affordable pet insurance plans. Your pooch and your pocket book will thank you.

Don't Forget Dog Insurance

2007-07-01T15:44:00.000-07:00

Dog insurance is the last thing you want to think about when in the joyful process of adding a furry new member to the family; but it is something you may want to strongly consider. It is a good idea when you consider the costs that can incur in caring for a dog during his/her lifetime. Unfortunately dogs do get sick and into accidents where injury may occur and Vet costs can be expensive; particularly where surgery might be necessary. If it is an after hour emergency, drop-in clinics can charge up to $100.00 just to walk in the door, this tells you what kind of prices they charge.

This information is not to scare you but to impart realistic advise. Even with the best care and intentions, emergencies can and will occur and getting dog insurance for your dog can be a saving grace in times that will already be fraught with stress. In old age, trips to the Vet will become more frequent. As with people, dogs are living longer due to better quality of life. Ailments due to the aging process increase and therefore so does expense.

Many pet insurance companies have a very reasonable rate and it is worth the expense. Some companies also include added benefits like expenses for locating a lost pet. Different companies have different age requirements and usually have restrictions as to the number of visits to the vet prior to qualifying for insurance. Therefore it is a good idea to give dog insurance consideration before you get your puppy or very soon afterwards. In regards to getting an older dog you will have to check the companies for age restrictions. Quite often veterinarians provide information on various pet insurance companies that offer a variety of dog insurance policies; the Internet is also a good source.

Diabetes - Natural Treatment

2007-06-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

Jose M. Flores, a Medicare beneficiary who lives outside McAllen, used the new drug benefit four times from January to April to purchase Byetta, an injectable medicine for diabetes. Each time he paid $40.

So when he went to the pharmacy on May 25, he was dismayed to be told that he owed $167.56 for the next month's supply. Mr. Flores had reached the notorious gap in Medicare's drug coverage. He had to pay the full price of Byetta. His Medicare drug plan paid nothing.

"It's almost useless," said Mr. Flores, a 66-year-old school bus mechanic who was interviewed at his home in La Joya, Tex. "I'm paying the premium, but not getting protection."

Millions of beneficiaries will have similar experiences, as the cost of their drugs reaches the initial coverage limit of $2,250. Like Mr. Flores, they will have to pay the full cost of each medicine until their out-of-pocket costs reach $3,600. At that point, Medicare coverage resumes, paying 95 percent of the cost of each prescription.

On May 2, Mr. Flores paid $20 for Plavix, a blood thinner used to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, and Medicare paid $109.62. But when he refilled the prescription at the end of May, he was in the coverage gap, so he had to pay the full amount, $129.62.

Mr. Flores is angry with Medicare, with his drug plan and even with the pharmacists who try to help him. He says no one told him about the coverage gap when he signed up.

Vanessa M. Recio, a pharmacist at Saenz Medical Pharmacy in Mission, Tex., said: "All I do all day is talk to angry patients. I process insurance claims and try to solve problems with Medicare."

[...] http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/us/11medicare.htm

Mr. Flores experience is played out hundreds of times every day. Fortunately, there is help for diabetics and other life treatening illnesses.

A combination of herbs researched at a Canadian University for over 20 years was hailed by the Asian Diabetic Association as "The Final Cure for Diabetes." Research shows that a natural diabetes remedy can regulate blood sugar and eliminate the need for painful injections. The herbs Banaba, Guggle, Bitter Melon, Licorice extract, Cinnamon herb powder, Gymnema Sylvestre, Yarrow, Cayenne, Juniper Berries, Huckleberry, and Vanadyl Sulfate each have an important role to play in a scientifically engineered formulation that is proven to successfully go to the cellular level to lower your blood sugar level, lower your insulin resistance, and increase insulin production. This scientifically proven formulation is available under the brand name Diamaxol.

The diagnosing, treatment, and testing of Diabetes brings in over $10 Million Dollars every hour of the day to Doctors, Pharmaceutical companies, and testing supply businesses. With that much money on the line the medical, pharmaceutical and testing supply companies will go to extreme lengths to silence information about natural treatment of diabetes. It was widely reported that one company, which had successful results with an herbal treatment, was offered $30,000,000 to take the product off the market. Fortunately the recent education thrust on the benefits of natural health treatment has made it possible for companies with natural products to resist such pressure.

Cost Of Life Insurance Shown To Have Decreased In Real Terms

2007-06-30T17:40:00.000-07:00

Whichever way you look at life, life insurance is inevitably something we all need to think about purchasing. Whether you're young or old, life insurance is important because while you might not be expecting to die anytime soon, life is unpredictable; and if you have dependents, you need to make sure they will be provided for in some way in the event of your death.

Hitherto, many people attribute their lack of life insurance to high cost. However, new research appears to suggest that the cost of life insurance premiums has decreased substantially over the past ten years. According to a study done by Barclays Life Insurance, living costs in the UK in the past decade have risen by 16%, but the price of average life insurance premiums has halved during the same period.

Mark Till, managing director of Barclays Insurance observed: "we all seem to remember our money going a lot further in the past than it does these days". The main contributors to the higher cost of living in the UK include rising property prices, as well as increases in the price of petrol and tobacco; higher taxes and rising energy costs have also played a large part in pushing prices up.

This evidence of the steadily decreasing price of life insurance surely indicates that, if you're planning to buy life insurance but haven't yet been able to do so, now is the time. In fact, more and more people seem to be taking advantage of the decreasing price of life insurance; in early November, insurance company AXA SA stated that its nine-month revenue had risen by 11.6% from a year ago, due to the strong sales performance of its life insurance and savings business.

If you are thinking of buying life insurance, it's always best to study the market and compare the different life insurance policies available so you can find the best policy to suit your own personal requirements. For instance, many people buy term or "protection-only" insurance, which pays out if you die within a specified amount of time; this is much cheaper in the short term, particularly if you have received news of a sudden illness. However, in the long term, it is always better to choose investment-type life insurance; this builds up in investment value throughout your life, which you can even cash in on before you die. This way, the earlier you buy investment-type life insurance, the greater the accumulation of value during your lifetime, and the better the provision for your dependents!

Car Insurance: Tread Carefully!

2007-06-29T20:34:00.000-07:00

In todays age almost everyone owns a car of their own. Riding a car can be a joyful experience; but you cannot predict accidents or mishaps that might happen to you while experiencing that joyful ride. Apart from that you car may catch fire or might be stolen. Here, comes the benefit of buying a car insurance policy for your cars.

The primary use of car insurance policy is to provide protection against losses incurred as a result of traffic accidents. Car insurance is an agreement between the insurance company and the insured to provide for the costs of the repairment, replacement, theft and so on and so forth.

There are more vehicles on the road than 10 years ago and there are increased risks of car accidents and causalities than it has ever been. This is where you will surely need the help of car insurance. Some companies offer insurance to those riders who are even unpopular with the insurers. So get your car insurance as soon as possible.

Car insurance policy covers:

Third party only

Third party fire and theft

Comprehensive insurance policy

1) Third party only: This is a basic insurance cover and it covers ones liability for death or bodily injury to a third party including other passengers; and even ones liability for damage to third party property.

2) Third party Fire and Theft: This insurance includes risks as described in the first category and also encompasses theft of ones car. Some insurers will provide cover for the contents of the car; the details of which will be provided with ones online quote. Audio equipment cover is provided with a number of insurers and again, details will be provided in the quotation.

3) Comprehensive Insurance Policy: This includes Third party and Third Party Fire and Theft along with risks caused by accidents and malicious damages. Theft cover for the contents of your car is provided by most insurers but only to a specified amount and subject to policy terms; details will be shown with ones quotation.

Before plunging into the insurance market to buy a car insurance policy, you should carefully do a detailed study of all the insurance companies that will provide you with car insurance. You should also think carefully about the covers that you want to purchase. Though comprehensive policy comes at a little higher price than the other two, it will give you extensive and all-embracing benefits.

Now, almost all the companies have internet facilities. Data and information are fed in their particular website. All you need to do is to sit in front of you computer and browse through all the pages and websites of these insurance companies; and instantaneously you will get all the desired information. So without delay, buy car insurance today.

Microsoft CRM Messaging through Lotus Domino eMail Server - Balanced Solution

2007-06-29T19:36:00.000-07:00

Microsoft CRM and IBM Lotus Notes Domino seem to be taking completely different paths and if company is Microsoft oriented - we see MS CRM, MS Exchange, MS SQL Server, SharePoint, etc. In the case of Lotus Domino - it is opposite - Lotus is corporate Information Media and could technically play CRM role with internal messaging coming through Lotus Domino server. However realities of modern corporation give us multiple examples when Microsoft CRM and Lotus Domino should coexist in compromise. There are several reasons why corporation doesn't like to stick to one platform:

1.Balancing several platforms not to be trapped to the one-vendor solution. Imagine, that you placed all the eggs into one basket and then this basket went into the trouble (lawsuit, bankruptcy, mismanagement, hostile takeover - to name a few in the life of the modern American corporation)

2.Legacy-dependence. If your corporation uses such product as Lotus Notes/Domino for 10 plus years - you can expect that majority of documents are stored in the Lotus databases. Just conversion of this legacy database is multi-million dollars project. And again - we could not predict the future accurately - who will win or lose - IBM or Microsoft - or maybe they will merge

3.Procedures and flowcharts. Nowadays corporation works and builds its business model around computer business system, consider things like users training, functional flowcharts/diagrams, reporting to investors, IDE with company vendors and customer. And we'd dare to say that these things are computer application platform dependent (even being designed in the heads of corporation founding leaders as abstract business processes - then they were placed into the computer platform and had to fit to its pluses and minuses)

Considering these arguments and having multiple requests from Microsoft Business Solutions and directly from our prospects and customer, we have realized the connector, which allows Microsoft CRM use Lotus Domino email server with similar messaging functionality as Microsoft Exchange 2003/2000 Microsoft CRM Exchange connector needs to be installed and its DLL based functionality is superceded by our own DLL, which communicates with Lotus Domino server via Java Agents

You can always have us help you with the integration and customization. Call us: 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918.

Arrive in Style: Types of Limousines You Can Rent

2007-06-28T22:30:00.000-07:00

The limousine, also called the limo, has come to be associated with luxury, glamour and style. It is used by the government to transport the highest officials of the country. It is used by celebrities riding to red carpet events. It is used by millionaires, business tycoons, rock stars. If youre important, you arrive in a limousineand before youve even stepped out of the car, youve already made a grand entrance.

Even if youre not a politician, celebrity, or important CEO, limousine hire enables you to borrow that high luxury life even for a few hours. It is often used in weddings, important gala nights, or as an upmarket competitor to taxicabs. And for every occasion, there are a number of limousine models that can be used.

The Lincoln Limousine

The Lincoln Limousine is like a large, long sedan, which gives the person riding in the backseat a great deal of comfortable legroom. Sometimes, additional seats are attached directly behind the driver, facing rearward. About five people can be seated in the back of the Lincoln Limousine, and two more with the driver.

However, most of the newer models do not have the additional seats, replacing them instead with video equipment like televisions and video players, as well as a fully-stocked bar.

The Stretch Limo

When youve got a chauffeur, parking is never a problemand good thing, too. The stretch limo, a popular model for partygoers who want to make a grand, Hollywood style entrance, is extremely long. The seats are arranged alongside the length of the car, perpendicular to the driver. This allows groups of people to sit facing each other, making it easier to talk and perhaps even make a toast with the complimentary champagne. There is only one door, unlike other models which have multiple doors for the multiple rows of seats

Winton Six Limousine

This classic car isnt actually a true limousine, but a circa 1915 luxury vehicle thats a cross between a sedan and a bus. It has multiple doors, with an area for carrying passengers baggage. Because of its vintage feel and Old World charm, it still has a sense of glamour and luxury, further heightened by its rarity. It is sometimes called a Jammer and was once used to transport railroad passangers; today, it is the vehicle of choice of royalty in traditional processions. Ride it, and feel like a king.

Exotic custom limousines

You can actually hire the ultimate stretch limo, customized with luxury features. Some of these customizations employ cars like the Audi, BMW, Hummer, Jaguar, Mercedes Benz and Rollys Royce, although the more popular vehicles that are converted are the Lincoln Town Car, Cadillac DTS, Hummer H2, and the Lincoln Navigator. The typical additions are security features like armoring and bullet proof glass, as well as entertainment systems and even the occasional Jacuzzi.

Party bus

When its a large partytoo large for a standard limousineyou can hire a party bus. This can comfortably seat 20 or more people, and can let you hold an event right in the vehicle (as opposed to just using it to drive to one). Features often include surround sound systems, a DVD player, plasma televisions, disco and strobe lights, and even smoke machines. Party buses are very popular for bachelor and bachelorette parties, proms, and tourist excursions. Some rent it for a special and unique birthday celebration.

Understanding COBRA Health Insurance

2007-06-28T21:32:00.000-07:00

COBRA is the acronym for 'The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act' set up in 1985 and this law states that the health insurance cover of an employee will continue for at least 18 months after termination of employment. There are some cases where the limit extends to as much as 29 to 36 months and most companies who have the group insurance scheme are subject to COBRA.

The beneficiaries of COBRA are those people who lose their jobs and because of this law will not simultaneously lose their health insurance cover also. It basically aims at helping them though a rough patch. A terminated employee can buy health insurance for his family if it was done so while he was employed and for himself and this will be at the group rate which is payable by the employer 100% every month with a 2% surcharge. All companies are aware of the rules that apply to their respective employees.

If an eligible employee gets the sack, is laid off or encounters any change in his employment status like reduction in working hours, death or divorce of the eligible employee then the COBRA comes into play. It continues as per schedule or until the employee has got another individual or group health plan.

By law, employers must inform former eligible employees that they have an option to buy health insurance through COBRA specifying the cost of the cover and the employee in turn has up to 2 months to accept this cover. COBRA extends the health insurance for 18 months so a terminated employee as well as other participants of COBRA dont have to worry about the benefits changing as the only change is that the person paying the monthly premium changes and family members who were covered remain so. The coverage changes only if the former employer changes its policies regarding health insurance plans that it offers to its employees.

COBRA is a temporary measure and it is designed as such. On expiry of the time limit one finds that if measures have not been taken to get employment or another health cover you may find yourself without cover at all. It is unpredictable and one should protect against a situation where a serious condition is found like cancer while under the cover of COBRA and this makes you an uninsurable person for other health plans as now you have a pre-existing condition.

Camry, Motor Trend's 2007 Car of the Year

2007-06-27T23:28:00.000-07:00

2007 Toyota Camry, the redesigned version, won Motor Trend Magazines 2007 Car of the Year award. Said award went to all variations of the car including the hybrid. According to Angus MacKenzie, editor-in-chief of the magazine, Camry is innovative yet has a broad appeal. This is the first year said vehicle has won the award.

The Camry is the one car rival automakers all wish they could build. It offers something for nearly everyone performance, efficiency and roominess at a price point most Americans can afford, MacKenzie said.

According to the magazine, the version of Toyota Camry outshone 26 cars that are either totally new or redesigned before the year 2007. Japanese automakers had 10 cars, the US automakers has 6, 5 from Korea, 4 from Germany, 1 from Sweden, and also 1 from United Kingdom. MacKenzie said the redesigned Camry won in a very strong field. There have never been more choices available to American car buyers. That is a fact of life in the 21st century, MacKenzie added.

Motor Trend's staffers evaluated the entries according to their innovation in engineering, design, safety and technology; their performance and quality; and whether the vehicle delivers value to the consumer. In Motor Trend's search, Camry's competitors were Chrysler Sebring, Saturn Aura, Nissan Altima, Kia Rondo, Honda Fit, Mercedes-Benz S Class, Volvo C70 T5 and the Volkswagen Rabbit.

Through October this year, Toyota Motor Company reported 350,481 sales of Camry. So far, Camry is the hottest-selling car in the United States. Next to Camry is Toyota Corolla. The information was released by Autodata Corp.

Sixth generation of the vehicle uses redesigned auto parts for Toyota Camry. These parts are assembled at the Toyota plant in Georgetown, Kentucky; Aichi, Japan; and Melbourne, Australia. Camry is competing against Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, Mitsubishi Galant, Mazda6, Ford Fusion and the Chevrolet Malibu.

Corolla, on the other hand, is known for its low fuel consumption, reliability and distinct Toyota engineering. Corolla is manufactured in Japan, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Malaysia, Taiwan, Pakistan, South Africa, Brazil, Venezuela, China, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey and India.

The tenth generation Corolla was introduced in Japan this year. In this generation, the automaker incorporated advanced equipment to Toyota Corolla car parts. Advanced equipment include rearview monitor display, one-touch double folding rear seats, and Pre-crash Safety System. Toyota Corolla will be offered in Australia and United States next year.

Which Car Should You Own To Keep Insurance Rates Affordable?

2007-06-27T13:24:00.000-07:00

Do you consider the cost of car insurance before you buy your dream car? You should. The Highway Loss Data Institute analyzes the cost to insurance companies from theft, collision, and injury claims as they relate to cars. They look at the color of the cars, how many doors they have, and even break them down type.

The Highway Loss Data Institute is a nonprofit public service organization. It is closely associated with and funded through the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which is wholly supported by auto insurers. HLDI gathers, processes, and publishes data on the ways losses vary among different kinds of vehicles.

4- Door cars have a 93% less chance of having a claim related to theft than their sibling 2-Door cars. Buy a Buick LeSabre and have relatively no chance of a theft loss. Compare that to the convertible Chevrolet Corvette that has over 5 times the average theft rate. You may have known that. However, did you know that the Toyota Celica has a 67% higher chance of theft than the Toyota Camry?

In addition, even though the 2002 Lexus IS 300 gets a "best pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for its performance on crash tests, previous years' models of the same car are some of the most costly in terms of collision claims. "One of the factors that come into play there is the cost of repairing an expensive vehicle," says Russ Rader, with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

What about safety? You may be surprised at some of the results. For example, the Porsche 911 has a 67% less chance for injury claims than the norm. Go figure. The Mitsubishi Lancer has almost double the injury claim rate over the norm.

Where does you car fit for injury theft and collision? What about your dream car? Take a look at this run down based on 2000-2002 HLDI data:

Models that are among the most expensive for theft claims include:

Cadillac Escalade four-wheel drive
Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
Lincoln Navigator four-wheel drive
Jeep Cherokee four-door
BMW 3 series Convertible

Models that are among the least expensive for theft claims include:

Buick LeSabre
Buick Park Avenue
Volvo V70 Station Wagon
Mercury Grand Marquis four-door

Models that are among the most expensive for injury claims include:

Suzuki Esteem four-door
Kia Rio four-door
Mitsubishi Mirage two-door
Kia Sepectra four-door

Models that are among the least expensive for injury claims include:

GMC Sierra 2500 two-wheel drive
Chevrolet Silverado 2500
GMC Yukon XL 1500 four-wheel drive
GMC Sierra 2500 four-wheel drive
Chevrolet Tahoe two-wheel drive

Models that are among the most expensive for collision claims include:

Subaru Impreza WRX four-wheel drive four-door
Lexus IS 300 4 door
Hyundai Tiburon two-door
Porsche 911 Coupe
Acura RSX

Models that are among the least expensive for collision claims include:

Ford Excursion two-wheel drive
GMC Safari four-wheel drive
GMC Sierra 2500
GMC Yukon XL 1500 four-wheel drive

Source: The Highway Loss Data Institute

Vehicle Design Award Given to Chevrolet Silverado Classic Hybrid

2007-06-27T00:26:00.000-07:00

Chevrolet Hybrid Silverado gets top honors from Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) as best hybrid. The best hybrid is the newest award at the SEMA show.

"The collaboration between Chevrolet, General Motors and SEMA is very valuable. We gain a lot of accessory ideas and product ideas to give the consumers what they really want. We look closely at what is offered at SEMA, we are encouraged with what's offered and we look at new ideas. That's where the collaboration comes in strong for us," said Dale Sullivan, Regional Sales Marketing Manager, Western Region, General Motors.

Silverado Classic Hybrid, the first full-size production pickup that uses hybrid technology, is the first hybrid in the industry to be recognized as the most accessory friendly vehicle in this year's SEMA show, which was held at Las Vegas. The hybrid version of Silverado was launched last year. It is the first hybrid vehicle of General Motors.

Chevrolet Silverado replacement parts are designed to boost the performance of the hybrid. The vehicle's electric motor serves power accessories only. In addition, the system of vehicle automatically shuts down when the truck brakes below 13 mph. Silverado hybrid uses electric power to restart it.

Parts Chevrolet integrated in the Silverado hybrid are enhanced to achieve the full potential of the pickup. It is equipped with 3 additional 14 V batteries mounted under the rear seats to accumulate auto power. The extra reserves of power for the accessories make the pickup truck well-matched to the building or construction contractor market, since they almost always require AC power when on the job. The vehicle also uses a 5.3 L Vortec 5300 V8 for primary power.

At its inception, Silverado's production was extremely limited. However, in the later part of 2005, the pickup was offered at retail in Alaska, California, Florida, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Eventually, starting this year, it was made available in all US states.

"Our participating manufacturing members had early access to the Chevrolet Silverado Classic Hybrid and discovered that its proven lineage of design and engineering provides several opportunities for customer personalization," said Carl Sheffer, SEMA vice president, OEM Relations. "Based on feedback from the automakers, we are having a positive impact on the design and marketing of future vehicles."

SEMA, founded in 1963, represents the $34 billion specialty automotive industry of 6,817 member-companies. It provides quality information about the automotive industry including new car technologies, models, and more.

Wreck Your New Chrysler

2007-06-26T15:18:00.000-07:00

If your Chrysler has been in an accident, depending on the year of your vehicle, you have the right to demand from your insurance company your vehicle be fixed with genuine Chrysler parts by Mopar. These are the same parts your Chrysler was built with.

You may not realize the difference between Chrysler original parts and non-OEM aftermarket parts. But body shop professionals will agree that aftermarket sheet metal has to be altered to fit your vehicle. The holes don't line up, the bracket is missing, color doesn't exactly match or whatever the case. The aftermarket body panels do not have an exact fit and are not made of the same quality metals. Unlike original replacement parts that are designed for your vehicle - so the parts operate seamlessly with your vehicle lines.

If you elect to have your car repaired at a independent body shop other than your local Chrysler dealer, it's a good idea to discuss this with your body shop as well. Let them know you will not accept aftermarket replacement parts. It's not a bad idea to visit your vehicle while it's being repaired. Just to assure their is no confusion between the body shop and insurance company.

In addition, Chrysler collision parts must meet or exceed the same specifications as your vehicle did when it rolled off the assembly line. Plus, their backed by a limited lifetime warranty backed by Daimler/Chrysler. Coverage lasts as long as you own the vehicle on which the part is installed.

Which Car Should You Own To Keep Insurance Rates Affordable?

2007-06-26T14:21:00.000-07:00