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The auto insurance industry in the United States has an ever growing fraud problem, and recently, with the new economic downturn, the number of fraudulent claims filed to insurance providers is at an all time high. Auto insurance fraud has quickly climbed to be the second most costly form of crime in the United States, just behind tax fraud.

How Auto Insurance Fraud Works
Auto insurance fraud is often hard to detect, and the extremely creative scammers aren’t making the auto insurance companies’ jobs any easier. There is a wide array of popular scams that auto insurance providers spend millions of dollars on each year to prevent and prosecute.

Of course, there are also many scams that go completely undetected, and with new scam tactics being uncovered all the time, it makes you wonder what other elaborate scams are out there. Most fraudulent activity involves multiple driver who set up traffic scenarios that forces a third, unknowing driver to slam into the back of one of the other vehicles. The key is to make it look like the victim is actually at fault in the accident so they can get paid by the insurance provider.

Most fraudulent claims aren’t usually this elaborate. In fact, most fraudulent claims are actually quite simple. Every year thousands of claims are reported to insurance companies, and though they may look innocent on the surface, it isn’t unusual for insurance companies to discover upon inspection that one of their customers has intentionally inflicted damage upon their vehicle.

How Does Auto Insurance Fraud Affect You?

You don’t have to be a victim of a planned collision to be affected by car insurance fraud. If you have an auto insurance policy then you are already paying for the crimes of others. It costs millions upon millions of dollars to fight fraud, and the ones that don’t get caught will cost you even more. To make up for these immense costs, insurance companies must charge their customers more.

What Can You Do About Car Insurance Fraud?

Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about insurance fraud. The only way to protect yourself is to keep an eye out for suspicious activity, and to report it to your insurance company, should you fall victim to one of their scams.

There is, however, something you can do about the soaring costs of auto insurance. Some auto insurance providers are better at detecting fraud than others, and as a result can charge you less for coverage.

If you’ve noticed a spike in your auto insurance premium, it may be due to insurance fraud. It’s good practice to check competing rates before you renew your current policy. You may be paying more than you need to. Enter your zip code above to see how much you could save.

The day has finally come. You’re old car finally bit the dust, and your excited to get behind the wheel of a brand new car. Unfortunately, you didn’t get as low of an interest rate as you had expected, and with tags, title and licensing, costs are soaring.

You never though it would ever cost this much, but what other choice do you have? There’s no way your paying for a used car, not after all the repairs you had to deal with when you were driving your last car.

The good new is that you can save in other areas in order to cover the costs of your new car. The bad news is that if you were planning on cruising around in a flashy 2010 Chevy Camaro, Dodge Charger, or any other sports car for that matter, it’s probably not going to happen for you.

When auto insurance providers calculate a quote for you, the car you drive will have an immense impact on how much you end up paying on your premium. Fast cars, small cars, and cars likely to be driven by daredevils are going to cost you a fortune to ensure, but the following 10 cars are the cheapest cars to ensure on the market.

10:2009 Ford Ranger
This small truck received five out of five stars in it’s highway safety testing, partially due to the addition of stability control and side airbags in this years model.

9:2009 Buick Lucerne
This sedan continues to score well on its driver safety ratings since it was introduced. It’s also likely to be driven by older, safer drivers.

8:2009 Subaru Tribeca
Another high scorer in safety and crash test is the Subarua Tribeca, with top of the line safety features, the insures providers see this car as low-risk.

7:2009 Kia Optima
Again, the Optima performs well in crash tests, and at only around $15,000 insurance companies aren’t risking all that much.

6:2009 Ford Escape

This is the first SUV on our lists of cheapest to insure cars of 2010, but it certainly won’t be the last. The size of SUVs alone make them very cheap to ensure, and since this model is Ford’s cheapest SUV, there is little risk.

5:2009 Chevrolet Equinox
This year’s Equinox includes new accident avoidance features that haven’t made it to most makes yet. Safety pioneers like the Equinox almost always get rewarded with lower rates.

4:2009 Kia Sportage

Kia’s second vehicle to make our top 10 list is their mid-sized SUV, the Sportage. With perfect frontal and side impact ratings, and a $15,000 price tag makes this a clear winner.

3:2009 Toyota Avalon

Avalon drivers are likely to be mature and safe, and like many Toyota’s it scores very well in crash test, even with the recent brake fiasco.

2:2009 Buick LaCrosse

Though more expensive than in previous years, you’re really just paying for more advanced safety features. Like the Buick Lucerne, the LaCrosse attracts mature drivers.

1:2009 Mercury Grand Marquis

This car is heavily based on the Ford Crown Victoria, the safe cars most of the countries police officers still use, so you know it’s safe. Grand Marquis drivers are also statistically safer than the average driver.

Finding the Best Auto Insurance Companies

Choosing an auto insurance company is a huge financial decision we all have to make at some time or another. If you’re fortunate enough to sign on with a reputable, helping company then you’re in luck.

Unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky. Far too often people will get car insurance without doing research on the company they choose to work with.

Working with some auto insurance companies can turn out to be a real life nightmare. After an accident, when you need your auto insurance the most, they aren’t there for you. They make it a hassle to do something as simple as file a claim, and their customer service is absolutely terrible.

You’re paying a lot of money for your auto insurance, and you deserve nothing short of the best. Finding a great auto insurance company isn’t always easy, but it is possible.

Get Quotes from a Reputable Source. The Internet has made it easy to get dozens of auto insurance quotes in just a few minutes, but not all companies let you choose from the best of the best in auto insurance.

4insure is different. We don’t just recommend any auto insurance company to you, we recommend the best auto insurance companies in the industry.

Top 3 Best Auto Insurance Companies

The following three auto insurance companies have been chosen for a number of different reasons, but they do have a few things in common. The customer services is top-notch, the rates are low, and they have insanely high customer satisfaction rates.

1. Geico – This company is much more than geckos with funny accents and disgruntled cavemen. Their customer service is second to none, and their large customer base makes it possible for them to charge low premiums.

2. Allstate – As there slogan says, with Allstate “you’re in good hands”, and that is the honest truth. Their customers love them, so there’s a pretty good chance you will too. Allstate was one of the first to offer accident forgiveness, and they continue to add new features that change the way we’re used to paying for auto insurance.

3. State Farm – State Farm is another auto insurance provider that is sure to please. Claims agents are always super-friendly, and they provide you with a lot of coverage for not much money.

Although these may be our favorites, there are too many providers that are deserving of the recognition to list in a single article. You can get a quote from all of the best auto insurance companies by entering your zip code above. After customizing your policy we’ll connect you with the best auto insurance companies for you.

American Veterans who have been honorably discharged are eligible for special auto coverage benefits that other can’t take advantage of. Many companies offer run-of-the-mill veteran discount packages, while others, like USAA offer highly specialized programs that are comparable to those offered by VFW through 21^st Century Insurance.

Like the discount offered to those currently serving in the U.S. Military, Veterans can save about 15% on their auto insurance premiums.

The reasoning behind this discount is twofold. After serving your country day in and day out, let’s face it, you deserve it, and the insurance companies agree wholeheartedly. You’ll be hard pressed to find an insurance provider of any kind that doesn’t offer a Military and Veteran discount. Offering a Military discount is a little way for businesses to say “thank you for your service.”

Members of the Armed Forces also have a particular set of common characteristics that are desirable to insurance providers. After years of service, members of the Military develop a strong sense of discipline and responsibility. This makes Veterans and those on Active Duty less likely to drink and drive, break the law, or be involved in other risky behavior. Veterans are also more likely to hold a job, make auto insurance payments on time, and generally earn enough to take care of their vehicles to a certain degree.

The elaborate formula used by insurance providers to determine one’s risk is likely only fully understood by a select number of people, but Veterans score well for these reasons, and many more. Enough to warrant a Veterans a 15% car insurance discount.

Now just because you served doesn’t mean you’ll always necessarily be paying less than your non-Military friends. Not even a Medal Honor will save you from a bad driving record or a drunk driving infraction. If you get labeled as “high risk” you’re going to have to pay more. Although you’ll still get your Veteran discount on top of that, so not all is lost.

You will, of course, want to include your family on your policy to maximize savings. To get all the drivers in your family insured at once, simply enter your zip code above. Don’t forget to include your Military information when asked for it to qualify for the Veteran or Military discount.

When you’re pregnant, you don’t necessarily have to be driving to be carrying precious cargo. To protect your own safety, as well as the safety of your unborn baby, some extra precautions need to be taken. Many of the following tips are things you should be doing anyway, but while pregnant, it’s particularly important that stay safe on the road.

1.Wear a seat belt. This is, perhaps, the most obvious safety tip. Not only is it likely required by law, but it’s often times the only things that will save you and your baby in the case of a collision.

How you wear your seatbelt is equally important. Make sure the waist strap is resting below your baby bump, rather than across it, with the shoulder strap comfortably across your chest.

2.Be aware of your position in the car. Air bags are often times blamed for causing bodily harm to the driver. While there’s always a chance, you’re far less likely to be injured if you’ve taken the proper air bag precautions.

AAA recommends you position yourself at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel, so that you’re at a safe distance if the air bag were to deploy. If you’re carrying a child, you may want to go even further back from the steering column. Assuming you can still drive safely and comfortably when doing so.

You’re also probably well aware of the need to keep healthy circulation, particularly in your legs. Driving is no exception, and its important to pull over when you have the opportunity, even if it’s just for a couple of minutes, so you can stretch your legs.

3.Don’t drive at night. Driving at night is far more dangerous than day driving, and while pregnant, you can’t afford to take any chances.

Night driving is exponentially more dangerous, and not just for pregnant women. Night driving reduces visibility, increases the chance of encountering a drunk driver, and can straight up stress you out.

4.Fill up before hitting the road. No, I’m not talking about gas here. If you’re pregnant, it’s imperative that keep your blood sugar at a healthy level, and that you avoid eating unhealthy food. By eating before you leave the house, or packing some healthy snacks for the road, you can keep your blood sugar in check, and avoid greasy drive-thrus at the same time.

5.Ensure your safety. There’s very few other times in life when you can guarantee your safety, and on the road is actually no different, but you can come very close with the appropriate auto coverage.

When you’re pregnant, your regular car insurance simply won’t due. Collision and bodily injury coverage in particular should be at the top of your priorities list. To ensure your safety and the safety of your little one, enter your zip code above and find an auto insurance policy that can put your mind at ease.

Car Insurance Calculators: How To Use Them and Why They’re Important

Shopping for auto insurance, as little as 10 years ago, used to be quite a fiasco. Finding appropriate coverage at a price you could afford certainly wasn’t as easy as it is today. Not only do we now have access to a seemingly endless library of information on the subject, but there’s also a variety online tools that make it easy to pinpoint the best deals on car insurance. Car Insurance Calculators are one such tool.

What is a Car Insurance Calculator?

The best way to explain Car Insurance Calculators is to show you firsthand. Right at the top of this page is the first step to using the Car Insurance Calculator. You can try it out right now if you’d like, and it only takes a few minutes. However if you aren’t that adventurous, let me explain further, before you give it a test run.

Auto Insurance Calculators are used to help consumers, like you, determine how much auto coverage you need, and what features are most appropriate for you. Better yet, you’ll be connected with multiple car insurance providers, offering their most competitive rates.

How Do Car Insurance Calculators Work?

Car Insurance Calculators were designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind so that everyone could use them. Within moments you’ll end up a handful of highly qualified insurance providers to choose from, but first you need to tell the calculator what to look for.

Using an Online Car Insurance Calculator in 3 Easy Steps:

1.Fill Out Our Short Form - You’ll then be asked to provide some very basic details about yourself, and it starts by entering your zip code above. This information will be used to determine State insurance requirements, and to match you with auto insurance companies.

2.Compare Quotes – The auto insurance calculator begin creating an auto coverage package that fits your uniques style. With the best of the best to choose from, making a decision on auto insurance is stress-free.

3.Start Saving – You’ll be presented with a handful of quotes, with special discounts, special features, and other savings automatically figured into the price. With our car insurance calculator, it isn’t unusual for drivers to save 30% or more on their auto insurance premiums.

As you can see, car insurance calculators are much faster than the traditional way of buying auto coverage. Calling multiple insurance companies, just to wait on hold, or visiting many local insurance offices, which could take days, are things of the past. You also stand to save a lot of money when car insurance companies, have no choice but to offer you their best rates.

Even with all the innovations in the auto insurance industry over the last decade, people are still somehow paying way too much for their auto insurance. Are you paying too much for your auto coverage? See if these 3 signs sound familiar, and find out.

You Haven’t Updated Your Policy in 6+ Months

If you haven’t checked out the most recent coverage rates and features, there’s a good chance you’re overpaying for your auto insurance. Before ever renewing a policy, you should always check and see if there are any companies offering more competitive rates.

What is the best way to do this? A great place to start is right here. There’s a place to enter your zip code above. After clicking the “get quotes” button, you’ll get back quotes from dozens of auto insurance providers. You can then compare these quotes with your current rates, to see how well your current policy stacks up in terms of coverage and price.

You don’t necessarily need to switch insurers every 6 months, but at the very least, you should be looking for other offers and deals.

Hidden Fees and Conditions

All relationships, whether professional or personal, rely heavily on trust between the two parties involved. When signing on to a new policy it is important that you fully understand the conditions of your coverage.

If you keep seeing additional charges on your bill, things like convenience charges, claim fees, etc you’re probably paying more than you need to. These fees are excessive and can build up fast. If even after call and complaining, your insurer still refuses to drop these fees, it may be time that you take your business elsewhere.

Poor Customer Service and Unhelpful Claims Officers

No matter how great of a deal you think you got on your auto insurance, if the service isn’t absolutely phenomenal, you’re paying too much for your coverage. We rely on our auto insurance companies and their employees at some of our most desperate times.

I can tell you from personal experience that when insurers and claims officers make you jump through hoops to get a claim settled, it can be quite infuriating.

Although auto coverage is almost always required by state law, the real reason we get insurance is for peace of mind and convenience. When you have the misfortune of working with a company that doesn’t offer either, you’ll agree that any rate is too high to pay for such low quality service.

What Can You Do?

If any of these 3 signs sound familiar to your specific situation, you should absolutely see what other insurers have to offer. You may be surprised by just how much money you can save, and all you have to do to get started is enter your zip code at the top of this screen.

There is a lot of data and factors that go into determining your auto insurance premiums. But what it all comes down to is ones liability and risk to an insurer, should you qualify for a policy with them.

The most telling sign of a risky driver is one’s driving record. Issued and maintained by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), your driving record lists all moving violations, and includes any accidents and/or collisions on file with police departments. Your driving record is essentially tied to your license, so anything connected is likely to show up on your driving record.

Just because you may have a less than perfect driving history, it doesn’t mean that you can’t still find great deals on car insurance. Although some driving infractions could make getting auto insurance a very costly ordeal. Things like a DUI/DWI showing up on your record, will wind up being there for at least half a decade, and will cause some auto insurance companies to label you as a high risk driver,  resulting in additional fees and higher rates.

Most driving records are based on the popular points system. The more serious the infraction, the more point that will be added to your record. And the more points, the more you’re going to end up paying for your auto coverage.

However, some infractions can be erased from your record all together, although it relies heavily on local law, and your sentencing should you have to go to court. Some jurisdictions and departments of motor vehicles will let you wipe negative marks off your record if you agree to take driver improvement classes, or something similar, but again, it all depends on your current situation and local law.

Of course, the best defense against high rates caused by risky driving, it to drive safely and responsibly from the very beginning. Everyone has the opportunity to get low rates on auto insurance. You just need to be responsible and know where to look for the best auto insurance rates.

You won’t qualify for as many discounts with a bad record, but its even more important that you seek  as many out as possible to make up for the higher rates you’ll be paying for coverage. On the same note, those that have taken driving seriously, and kept their driving records clean have a lot to gain from special good driver discounts, including benefits like accident forgiveness.

After entering your zip code above, and a brief summary of your driving history, you’ll get quotes for different levels of coverage, from a variety of auto insurers. The rates will vary greatly depending on your driving record, as well as many other factors. But shopping for auto insurance online guarantees you’re getting the best rates and discounts on your coverage.

Accident forgiveness is not a new concept by any means, but it has become a key selling feature of many auto insurance providers in recent years.

A single accident, no matter how minor, can have devastating effects on your auto insurance premiums, potentially costing you thousands of dollars over the years. In these tough economic times, some families can’t afford to take chances, making the idea of accident forgiveness incredibly attractive.

So what exactly is accident forgiveness?
Accident forgiveness is a feature offered by some auto insurance providers, that “forgives” a driver for some sort of infraction, and does not negatively effect you rates as a result. Accidents aren’t the only things that count as infractions either. On most policies, this also includes some forms of tickets, particularly speeding tickets. Some companies include this feature in their policies as an extra selling point, while others may tack on an additional fee. Either way its most definitely going to be reflected on your premium in one form or another.

In the tradition of auto insurance, accident forgiveness is not this simple. The terms and conditions surrounding accident forgiveness policies vary greatly from company to company. The state you live in may also effect the availability and cost of accident forgiveness benefits. And don’t forget that not everyone will qualify for accident forgiveness, even if the particular auto insurance provider offers it to some customers.

In fact, most insurers, such as Allstate, don’t offer accident forgiveness benefits until you’ve had a clean record of 5 years, in addition to a slew of other various requirements a particular insurer may have. Most policies protect your current rates and discounts for a single accident.

Accident forgiveness is growing in popularity, and many more insurers are offering them as add-ons to policies, and some companies are even adding them to all policies for those that meet their standards. Don’t neglect reading the fine print on your accident forgiveness policy.

If you’d like to see if you qualify for accident forgiveness with all of the most reputable insurance providers, all you have to do is enter your zip code in the box above. If you think you may qualify for accident forgiveness, there’s a pretty good chance that you may apply for other safe driver discounts.

If you haven’t seen what rates are available lately, you’re probably missing out on lots of savings. With all the money you can save, you can invest in accident forgiveness benefits, and protect your low rates for one more ticket or accident.

Accident forgiveness may not be for everybody, but there’s no doubt that it does have its benefits. Again, the cost of accident forgiveness benefits from company to company, and some companies may not charge you at all. To see what accident forgiveness policies you qualify for, start by entering your zip code above.

After you’ve provided an insurance company with your basic information for a quote, they have a complex program that takes thousands of different factors into consideration. It then calculates a quote based on your needs and specifications. You can then filter through the options for a auto insurance policy that matches all your needs.

The car you drive, how long you’ve been driving, your accident history, and many other factors are all weighed to determine what kind of driver you are. While your job may not be a direct indicator, there are a few things that can be gathered about a person based on their job alone. A pizza or flower delivery person, for example, spends many hours in the car, often times under pressure to make a delivery on time. They may even be getting orders from their boss via cell phone for the next orders. While CEOs and lawyers are under constant stress, making them more prone to on-road aggression, distraction by cell phones, and strict deadlines.

While some people may get penalized as an effect of their job, there is also money to be saved. There have always been discounts granted to drivers that belong to certain groups, organizations, associations, and industries and the availability of these discounts is only growing. AARP and AAA are perfect examples of groups that are granted discounts for belonging to a particular group. In most cases, these organizations pay insurance providers to extend discounts to their members.

Scientists, the retired, pilots, unemployed, the disabled, and librarians are some of the industries that have the lowest average insurance rates.

To see how your job and many other factors effect your insurance rates, start by entering your zip code above. After providing some very basic information about yourself and your driving habits, you will be presented with dozens of available auto insurance options.

This handy tool will also help you determine which discounts you qualify for. Not only can you get auto insurance discounts based on your job, but also in hundreds of other areas. The more info you can provide the more discounts you can check out.

Although some auto insurance providers won’t take your job into direct consideration, your driving history will usually do the job on its one. If you are more prone to accidents as a result of your job, they will happen, and it will end up costing you more to get insured in the long run. If your job is effecting your driving, it may be best if you look into driver improvement or defensive driving classes. Do it for your own safety, and the safety of others.