Posts Tagged ‘Personal Finance’

Donating a car? How much money does the charity get?

May 9th, 2012

They’re everywhere – ads asking you to donate your old car or truck to a charitable organization. When you see this much advertising on any subject, you can be certain that it is generating revenue. Organizations don’t pay for advertising if it doesn’t bring in money. In 2008 alone the IRS reports that US taxpayers donated over 443 million dollars worth of old vehicles.

People who donate cars are looking for a tax break or looking to get rid of a junker. But people also donate cars to charity because they want their donation to do some good. Which begs the question: What percentage of the money earned from donating a car actually goes into programs that help people?

The answer to that question can be difficult to pin down – and the more difficult it is to pin down, the more wary you should be about the ‘charity’ you’re thinking of donating to. The first thing you need to check out – are you donating directly to the charity, or to one of the countless charity car donation middlemen out there?

You would think you’d be in the clear if the organization is classified as a 501(c)(3). But it’s not that easy. If the organization you want to donate your car to uses language like ‘Your donated car can benefit any charity, school or church that you choose’, or ‘choose from a list of charities’, or if they talk about donating the money from your car to a charity for kids, pets, veterans or anything else – you are dealing with a charity car donation middleman, not the organization that runs programs that help people. Some some of these middlemen are even more noncommittal about what they do with the money from your donation.

So what’s so bad about donating your car to a middleman car donation organization? The problem is you think you are donating your car to a charity, but you are really donating a large percentage of the money to the people who run the middleman organization. Before the middleman donates any funds from your donated car, they pocket money to pay for marketing, operating costs, and their salary. Some middleman car donation programs keep more than 70% of the money they earn.

The worst of them never disclose how much money they take for operating costs and their paychecks. Probably because they know people might not be so eager to donate cars if they understood that less than 30% of the money went into programs that help people. When you consider that any charity will subtract their own operating costs from any donation they get, the amount going to help people gets even smaller.

There are some easy steps you can make to be certain your car donation does the good you want it to. Most important: avoid middlemen. Donate your truck or car to the charity directly if possible. Second, do a little digging. There are a couple of effective online resources you can use to make certain the charity you’re thinking of donating a vehicle to is legitimate. Go to charitynavigator.org or the Better Business Bureau online at bbb.org and search for the organization’s name. If they have a questionable report, don’t give. If they don’t have any report at all, don’t give.

Most respectable charities will reveal the percentage of donations that go to programs that help people. You can usually find that information on their website or in their annual report. If that percentage is hard to find, or you can’t find it at all, that should raise a red flag and warn you that your donation could be going into someone’s pocket instead of charitable programs.

Done right, donating a car to charity is a win-win situation. You get a nice tax deduction and the charity gets the money they need to help people. It pays to take a little extra time to make certain you’re doing the most good with your car donation.

Donating a Car? CarsHelpingPeople.org is the online car donation site for Volunteers of America, Created in 1986 we are one of the nations oldest and most respected charities. Rest easy when donating cars, 100% of the funds stay with Volunteers of America, and 88% is used for services for veterans, the homeless, children at risk and seniors. CarsHelpingPeople.org.

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Car Insurance – How To Calculate It

February 3rd, 2012

Insurance premiums are calculated according to several risk factors. These are the factors identified by the insurance company as most likely to have an impact on the insured against risk occurring. Insurance is a significant cost associated with the item insured and should not be rushed into. Always considered as a good idea is to shop around to find the best price available. Varying considerably from insurer to insurer are insurance premiums so you need to do your homework.

Just Shop Around

Look up the various insurance companies you are interested in and ask them for a quote. If you provide more details and wait, then even more exact notes should be possible and they can usually give you a rough estimate fairly quickly. You should also look up insurers online and get instant quotes from their website. A very fast and effective way of shopping around is this technique. You will get a good idea of what prices to expect. Also, if you choose different options, then you can experiment with the quotation websites to see what effect it makes to your premium price. You will have a number of options that affect the price of the policy with all the insurance policies.

Therefore you should think about these options and if there are risks that you do not wish to cover then let the insurer know as your premium should become cheaper.

You should also try to make sure you do not double insure. There is a principle in insurance and it states that you cannot benefit from the insured event’s occurrence. You still cannot get paid even if you have two insurance policies. So if a risk is already covered by one policy, again let your insurer know so they can remove it from their calculation.

What are the Factors?

In car insurance premiums, factors they would usually depend on include what kind of car you are driving, how old it is, how big the engine is, what make and model it is. There are factors that play a part and these are what type of insurance you require and if you only need liability or also comprehensive. Also, you should consider what use you make of the car, will you be commuting to work, and how many miles you plan on driving.

A strong factor in determining your risk is your driving history and the age of the driver with younger drivers being significantly more at risk of being involved in an accident will also be linked to this. If you are older, then sex usually becomes less significant but if you are young, then sex will also be an important risk factor.

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Saving Money and Paying Less on Rental Cars

April 16th, 2011

Planning a long journey can be fun but it can also get expensive. However, you can cut down on the costs of renting a vehicle a number of ways. Here you will find a few smart strategies that will help you learn how to save money on rental cars, as well as teach you what hidden expenses to look out for.

Hidden fees can raise the cost of renting exponentially. For example, simple oversights like not filling up the car with gas before you return it can lead to a very expensive full tank of gas. You’ll be charged much more than what you would have normally paid if you would have just filled it up beforehand. Ask for a full tank of gas before you leave the company and return it full.

Advertisements will usually announce low rental costs. However, these ads often leave out hidden fees. Fees such as sales taxes and other charges definitely add to the cost of rentals.

Make sure to read about all the fees that will be charged on the reservation page on the company’s website. If you are not quite sure about something, call the customer service department and ask. Simply clarifying something can save you on unexpected charges.

Whenever possible, avoid renting cars at airports. Even though this may seem like the most convenient option, you are very likely to pay for this privilege. Instead, ask your accommodating hotel if there are shuttle services from airport to hotel.

If so, once you are in the hotel, especially in a large metro area you can easily rent a car from the hotel. This will end in savings, if you are willing to put in the energy. Weigh your options and plan ahead of time.

Check your primary car insurance coverage. Inquire whether rentals are part of the coverage you receive. If it is, you will not have to purchase the extra insurance many of these companies want you too. Knowing where you stand with insurance coverage can help you decide whether to pay extra for rental insurance or not.

One of the best ways to learn how to save money on rental cars is by planning ahead. You may not think that shopping around will save you money, but it will. Sometimes reserving a car for a week is cheaper than reserving it for a daily rate. If possible, plan your trip when it is not peak season, like summer. During peak seasons the demand for rentals is high which will push their prices up as well.

There has got to be a way to save money on car rentals, but you first have to go online. If you don’t have access, consider looking at the Verizon triple play promotion code here to see if you can find a good deal.

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Getting Married For Lower Auto Insurance?

February 5th, 2011

Obtaining assurance auto used to be a simple process that consisted of stopping in to see your local insurance agent, and obtaining the insurance you needed. Not many people had the time to compare quotes, and the few that did only compared among the 3 closest insurance companies. It’s much easier to shop online right now for car insurance. In order to find insurance quotes, the Internet is a great resource that offers plenty of options and choices only a few clicks away. If you don’t already, make sure you compare rates when you shop for car insurance. Comparing the rates offered by different insurers can help you save money.

A person that is married is thought to be a safer driver just as important as the years of experience you have. Married couples are less likely to be involved in accidents since they’re part of a family that depends on them and as a result have much less risky behaviours. If you are not already married, and don’t plan to get married in the near future, there are other ways that you can save money on your car insurance premiums.

Be aware of insurance firms that try to convince you to buy their most expensive package at all time. There’s more than just choosing between cheapest package and the most expensive package when it comes to this decision. Glass coverage and roadside assistance can quickly increase your insurance rate without you realizing it. If you cannot remove these options while purchasing an insurance policy online, be sure to contact the customer service number provided by your insurance carrier and let them know that you would like to remove the additional coverage options from your policy.

Your devis assurances auto price can be heavily impacted by the amount of money you have put aside as a deductible. Insurance companies usually set up your policy with a moderate $500 deductible. The lower you make your deductible, the more your insurance rate will go up. So the more you’re willing to pay in the event of an accident, the more you can save at the end of the month on your insurance. Be careful when you adjust your deductible, because the deductible will have to be paid before the insurance company will pay for your claim, should you get into an accident.

Do not sign up to the first insurance offer you are given, because you may get a much lower rate.The easiest way to get cheaper car insurance is to use a quote comparison website that gives you many rates with one click. Despite your marital status, comparing many insurance quotes will result in getting cheaper insurance rates.

Getting assurances auto rates isn’t hard to do. It only takes a few minutes to get assurance auto Montreal.

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The Five Basic Types Of Auto Insurance Policies

September 6th, 2010

When you choose a car insurance policy you should fix the time terms and decide whether you need insurance for business or for private needs. The insurance price depends on such factors like age, driving history and the vehicle type. Auto insurance demands can vary in different states. In this article I will describe you some coverage types such as auto insurance for business, “gap” coverage, “no-fault”, short term and temporary auto insurance.

You will need business automobile insurance in a case you are a user of a vehicle for business. This policy makes you feel confident about the vehicles you have. Full business car insurance is also useful for professional trailer drivers. The way you use the car determines business coverage rates. Commercial auto policy compensates the damage caused by fire, flood, vandalism, windstorms, theft and disasters. Besides business policy provides all the common options such as liability and collision/comprehensive coverage.

In case if you lease or loan a vehicle and your car is stolen or destroyed by accident, theft, fire, flood, hurricane or act of vandalism then a gap may appear between the sum of your debt for the lease/loan of the vehicle and the market price your insurance company covers. Gap insurance policy ensures you compensation of this difference in case of total loss. So when you lease a car or made the first payment buying it, this insurance type is indispensable. This service is often included in the loan or lease contract.

No fault auto policy is made for dealing with drivers who have no insurance and unable to recover the loss in case such a driver is at fault of the accident. The first party benefit payment is named personal injury protection. You can also bring an action against the driver guilty for the accident in order to get full refund if your medical costs are significantly higher than the policy compensation. But “no fault” rules have also some specific requirements For example a driver can advance a claim for suffering and serious injuries. The threshold is determined by the type of the injury. There are such types of the requirements expression like a verbal threshold (verbal description of injury demands), and a monetary threshold (total sum of medical charges).

Short term policy is a very helpful insurance option. You can buy it for events when you want a policy for a vehicle like a moving truck. Short term auto insurance guarantees you compensation for a required period of time. Short term auto policy secures the same options as the full-length policy like full collision repair, medical services and reflect liability compensation. The short term insurance defends you and your car from different risks when you travel by car or borrow a car for short time. Short-time auto insurance policies can be different concerning the time period but they secure the same compensation sum.

When you don’t need to use a vehicle permanently, e. g. if you wish to take your friend’s auto for a trip, this policy would be suitable. Another case is when you’ve purchased a car but you haven’t decided which full insurance policy you want, you may use temporary car insurance. The usual auto insurance coverage lasts for one year. And this policy is valid for 1 – 28 days and includes such options as “Third Party” and “Fully Comprehensive”. But full-length cover shouldn’t be replaced with temporary policy for long, as this type of insurance is offered particularly for emergencies.

For greater insight into business car insurance quote along with other aspects on short-term vehicle insurance rates, check out Auto Insurance Guide.

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Different Types Of Accident Insurance

August 20th, 2010

Obtaining insurance for your vehicle is an important part to protecting yourself. It is even a law in some states that you must have insurance before you can drive on the road. Your insurance will cover the costs of major accidents that may otherwise cause you to go into tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Make sure you consider your options carefully before choosing a 4×4 insurance plan so you find one that covers all of your needs.

Liability is the minimum type of insurance offered to drivers and is also the lowest costing. It will cover damages done to other vehicles if you get into an accident. It also covers injuries to other people if they are in the hospital or can’t work. When you have liability insurance you are not covered for any damages or injuries incurred upon yourself you’re your vehicle. This insurance is best for people who don’t drive much or have a car not worth insuring.

Many drivers worry about their vehicle being vandalized or stolen. In highly populated areas this is common if you have an expensive vehicle. If you have full coverage you can add a type of insurance to your plan that will add a minimal amount to your rate while protecting your vehicle. You should be careful as some damage when done by weather is not covered.

To get your vehicle completely insured you will need collision insurance. This covers anything that happens to you or your vehicle in an accident. When you add this to comprehensive and liability insurance you will find that your 4×4 is protected from just about everything. Since it is very expensive to get this type of insurance, it’s best to have it only on a newer 4×4 that is worth a lot. In any case, collision insurance will leave you without any worries.

Drivers looking for some off road fun have to get further insurance if they want to be covered. Many plans will become void while you are driving off of the pavement since you are at a higher risk for damages. Off road 4×4 insurance works the same as a regular policy in protecting your vehicle from damages sustained just from driving. Drivers who participate in competitions may seek out insurance that covers them for a single day, instead of extended periods.

Before you decide what company you will deal through be sure to get plenty of online quotes. These quotes will give you an idea of what different insurers cost so you don’t have to spend a week driving around to the different insurance companies. While comparing you will have take into consideration what each policy offers. Every policy will be slightly different and have different amounts of coverage.

Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African Insurance Provider who specialises in Car Insurance Options.

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Why 4×4 Insurance Varies From Car Insurance

July 9th, 2010

4×4 owners may wonder why their insurance rates are higher than they are with cars. The fact is that 4×4 vehicles are much different than normal cars and vehicles. They have extra capabilities and features that the insurance company sees as more hazardous. You should know what to expect before you buy a 4×4 vehicle.

The type of policy you have will affect what type of coverage you’re getting. All types of policies will cover other drivers and their vehicles in an accident. You can also get policies that cover your vehicle and your passengers along with theft and weather damage. 4×4 insurance has similar properties as regular car insurance however there are some slight differences. The main problem is that you’re going to do more damage to another vehicle if you hit them than you would in a car. Since the estimated repair costs will be higher they increase the insurance premium you have to pay.

4×4′s will also be subject to higher rates because of their popularity. If you live near the city rates will be higher than normal for vandalism, theft, and other damages. Drivers of 4×4′s in rural areas often do not need this type of coverage, but it will be less expensive if they do get it.

Also if you do get into an accident your insurance company may not cover some of the parts that you have. Many 4×4 enthusiasts add extra parts to increase the performance of their vehicles. If you have these parts attached they will most likely not be covered by your insurance company and may even cause your vehicle to be classified as a higher risk vehicle for having aftermarket parts. If the company offers insurance to cover aftermarket parts then you will be paying quite a bit more in insurance.

The biggest difference between 4×4 vehicles and normal vehicles is the fact that many 4×4 owners take their vehicles off road. If you have your vehicle insured for off road driving then you will also be paying higher premiums. If you decide not to pay the additional cost then your vehicle won’t be covered while you’re off the road. Many 4×4 drivers also take their vehicles to various competitions. In some cases it’s best to have your vehicle covered for the special event rather than paying an additional price on your monthly premium.

It’s important to know that as with sports cars 4×4 vehicles will be more expensive naturally when it comes to insurance. The best thing you can do is to compare quotes from various companies and find the lowest rate. You can also greatly reduce the rate of your vehicle by having it just for a recreational vehicle. You will also want to read through the policies that each company offers. This is because some companies will cover some situations while others won’t. If you plan on doing something besides driving your 4×4 vehicle you should ask your insurance agent what they can cover.

Susan Reynolds is the content coordinator for a leading South African Insurance Provider who specialises in Car Insurance.

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The Many Services Provided By Your Local Memphis Lock Tech.

April 6th, 2010

If you still think that a lock tech is a guy that you phone if you lock your key in the car or lose the key for your front door and not much else, you have a lot to learn. Let’s briefly discuss what else a Memphis locksmith can do for you.

For sure he can still come to your rescue if you lock the keys in the car at your local supermarket or you lose the keys to your front door while on a holiday somewhere. With these guys around you should certainly never feel the need to break into your own house and perhaps even be arrested by the police mistaking you for a burglar.

The first time you see one of them open a door, no matter if it’s your car door or somewhere at your house, you will be totally stunned at how easy they make it look. And you will be very thankful that the average burglar does not have the know-how of they have.

Many lock techs offer a round-the-clock service, 7 days a week. This is only logical taking into account the severe inconvenience and even danger it can cause to be locked out of your car or house at night.

One of the other services provided by many Memphis lock techs is installation and maintenance of electronic access systems. This can vary from an electric garage door to a remotely operated front gate. It can also include electronic systems to control access to different parts of your business.

In our modern crime infested world, security lights have become something of a necessity for the average household or business. A large number of lock techs are now able to provide this service as well. They can install everything from a single security light in the corner of your garden to a highly complex system of security lighting at your factory or storage facilities.

Another service that is also often available from lock techs nowadays is the installation of security cameras and closed circuit televisions. If your house or business is in a high-crime location, this should form a vital part of your total security measures.

We have to cope with burglaries and theft on a daily basis in our 21st century society. This is why we perpetually have to keep things behind locked doors and keep track of them with security cameras and closed circuit televisions. And this is also why your local Memphis lock tech will always be needed; keeping his number stored in your cellphone is therefore a very good idea.

Want to find out more about car locksmith services, then visit Matt Hines’s site on how to choose the best 24 hour emergency locksmith for your needs.

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Auto Insurance Advice for Senior Citizens

March 12th, 2010

Who is a senior citizen is a question that gets different answers from different people. But no matter how you define “senior,” it is still necessary to maintain adequate insurance coverage, especially if you drive. While car insurance is a heavy expense for many seniors, there are many ways to lower costs while maintaining the right amount of coverage for your individual financial situation. Auto insurance is required for every one who drives, of course, regardless of age.

Sit down with an insurance agent, in person, and get a thorough review of your policy. Make very sure that your coverage still fits your needs. If you drive more, as in taking a long vacation to take advantage of falling gas prices, you might need more coverage. If you are driving less, it might be possible to get the coverage you need for a lower premium and save money while staying properly protected.

If you also maintain home and life insurance, consider getting all your policies from the same company. This practice is called bundling, and it is a good way to lower your premiums on all your policies. Bundling also makes paying easier, since you only have to keep track of bills from a single insurance provider. If you bundle all your policies, it is also possible to arrange a single due date, or staggered due dates, making it easier to pay premiums on a fixed income.

Don’t forget to ask your agent if your company offers senior citizen discounts. Many insurance companies offer to members of groups like AARP, as well as other organizations and clubs. If you have more than one driver in your household, or if you operate more than one vehicle, ask about discounts for multiple drivers and/or multiple vehicles.

Never buy coverage you don’t want, don’t understand, or don?t’ need. Many agents will try to sell you riders, that is, coverage for additional events that are often not necessary and always cost you more money. Never feel pressured into buying something you don’t need. If you inform your agent that you are not interested in the rider and they insist you take it anyway, then it’s time to find a new company.

Also, don?t purchase anything you don?t understand. Keep asking questions and have the insurance provider explain it until you do understand. Don?t be embarrassed or afraid if it takes several explanations for you to understand something. Make sure you get everything in writing. Review all contracts thoroughly, and don?t sign anything you don?t understand or like.

Finally, if you are not satisfied with your insurance provider, shop around and get new insurance quotes. Make sure your needs are met and that you have the insurance coverage you need without breaking your budget. Even if you are satisfied, it never hurts to shop around to see if you can get a better deal elsewhere.

No matter what your insurance requirements, be sure you always deal with a licensed insurance agent. He or she can examine your situation and offer you coverage that meets your individual insurance needs, as well as answer any questions.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for Carinsurancesa.co.za. South Arica?s leading car insurance portal.

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Tips on Getting Cheap Car Insurance for Young Women Drivers

January 23rd, 2010

One of the most frequently asked questions in the car insurance business today is how to get cheaper car insurance for young women drivers? As you can imagine, the price of car insurance is not very cheap for this demographic. Therefore, we will seek to answer that question in this section.

As we have all heard, women drivers do tend to get lower rates than men. In the case of young drivers, this is extremely true. This is based on the fact that young men tend to drive a little more aggressively as compared to young women.

With that said, lets discuss a few strategies to lower insurance premiums. First, a young driver should choose a practical car that isn’t flashy (such as a Toyota Yaris). If the young driver disregards this advice and procures a Dodge Challenger, they are going to be stuck with higher insurance premiums.

The second thing a young driver can do is take a defensive driver course or a drivers safety course. These courses focus on the two items the concern insurance companies the most: lack of experience and lack of attention while driving.

The third thing that you can do to get cheaper car insurance is explore the options the insurance company offers. Do you get a discount for garaging the vehicle or adding a car alarm? Can you have lower premiums if you adhere to mileage restrictions?

Yet another way to save money on your insurance is to increase your GPA in high school or college. Insurance companies have been using your GPA as a metric for years to determine the probability of you getting into an accident. There is generally a direct correlation between your GPA and your insurance premiums.

The last option that you should consider is to get multiple insurance quotes from numerous companies. It will simply amaze you when you see the range of price quotes that come in. Additionally, you may be able to negotiate your rates down lower if you can skillfully play the insurance companies off of each other.

As we have demonstrated, there really are ways for a young driver to pay less in the form of insurance premiums. We recommend you implement a few of these strategies, as we know that they will help keep your hard earned cash in your pocket, where it belongs.

The Cheap Car Insurance for Women Guide was established to help people learn about car insurance.

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