1 November

Why I Wish Apple Computers Sold Car Insurance

Apple Computer has become such a phenomenon that the “computer” part of the name is no longer necessary. Everyone knows who you are talking about when you say “Apple is awesome.” In fact, for many people the first thing that comes to mind when they hear the word “apple” is a sleek technological product. The noble apple fruit has been pushed into the background. There is no question Apple makes incredible, game-changing products. The real game changer would be if Apple sold car insurance. It might seem strange at first glance, but below are the reasons why I wish Apple sold car insurance.

Apple car insurance anyone?The worst car insurance companies have poor customer service. If Apple sold car insurance, the customer service would never be poor. It would be the height of politeness and friendliness. I called Apple when my laptop computer broke, and the representatives who helped me were the most courteous and professional representatives I had ever spoken with. They took the extra time to make sure I really understood what they were talking about. They also told me about great price deals that I was unaware of. Apple representatives are also experts in every aspect of Apple products, and if they offered car insurance I am sure it would be no different. Customers also rarely have to wait on hold when they call Apple. In the event they do, they usually do not have to wait for very long.

Apple’s insurance assistance by phone would be great, but I would probably never have a need to call it. The Apple car insurance app would be out of this world. I can only imagine how easy and intuitive it would be to report an accident or make a claim on my iPhone. The app would undoubtedly make the experience a breeze. Such an app would go a long way in reducing the stress of car trouble. I wouldn’t have to fill out long forms and mail them by snail mail. The app would make my life easier, just like every other thing that Apple does.

I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet. The best part is that if Apple sold car insurance it would probably mean that Apple was selling cars too. A car designed by Apple would be a sleek technological feat. I am sure the limits of my imagination do not even come close to what Apple would create. Apple’s cars would be ingenious inventions of epic proportions. I wonder if Apple cars would fly. Maybe they would transform into boats. One thing that is certain is that they would look good. They would have clean lines and a minimalistic beauty. They would also probably be quiet, clean, and good for the environment. Of course they would also have ports for every available Apple product. Owners would be able to plug in their iPhones, iPads, and iPods while driving. Apple might also build in a TV system that would blow the competition out of the water. I cannot wait for an Apple car. I just hope that Apple offers more color options than just white, gray, and black.

Apple isn’t limited by traditional barriers. Its products smash barriers and reach for the sky. Perhaps Apple would revolutionize car insurance into something unexpected and better for everyone.

20 October

Importance of Buying an Auto Insurance Policy in Canada

It is of essential need to have your own auto since you need to go to work everyday. As such, auto is said to be a necessity rather than a luxury. It is also important that you buy proper auto insurance coverage in order to secure your auto from any unusual mishaps that may occur in future. In order to buy the most suitable auto insurance policy in Canada, you should make a comparison between different quotes. You may take the help of insurance quotes online in order to purchase the required coverage for your own auto.

Importance of buying auto insurance in Canada

It is quiet common that you have your own auto and use it when you want to go out somewhere. As such, it is very important that you buy an auto insurance policy in Canada in order to protect your auto in case any accident or theft occurs. The auto insurance policy will provide you the required coverage in such a situation. You need to pay a fixed amount of premium to the auto insurance company so as to avail the benefits of the policy. However, when you’re planning to buy an auto insurance policy, you should make it a point to shop around thoroughly and make a comparison between insurance quotes online so as to avail the required coverage that you’re actually looking for in your auto insurance policy. You also buy auto insurance policy in Canada in order to enjoy the several benefits of the policy. Have a look at some such benefits of the policy.

• Enjoy the required coverage – This is one of the most important advantages of buying an auto insurance policy in Canada. You get the opportunity to enjoy the required coverage that you’re actually looking for in your auto insurance policy. You will find that there are several auto insurance companies in the market who sell you the same policy with the same benefits but at different rate. It is your responsibility to look for the most suitable policy for your auto and get the required coverage at the most affordable rate.

• Avail several discounts – The auto insurance policy also provides an added advantage of several discounts that are available for you. Such discounts may include driver discounts, safety discounts, etc. These discounts allow you to buy your auto insurance policy at a much lower rate. With the help of insurance quotes online, it has become much easier for you to buy the most suitable policy and avail these discounts.

• Save your dollars – This is another great advantage of buying an auto insurance policy in Canada. When you buy an auto insurance policy from before hand, it helps you save your hard earned dollars that you would, otherwise, have to bear from your pockets in case you meet any accident and do not have an auto insurance policy. Thus, you should try to purchase an auto insurance policy so as to satisfy your needs in case of emergency.

Thus, it can be said that buying an auto insurance policy in Canada is of wide importance since it offers you with various benefits that you would like to have for your own auto.

27 July

Car Insurance Prices In Canada

How sure are you about the prices you pay on car insurance? Are they too high? Or are you paying what is considered a typical rate? While British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, and Saskatchewan currently provide a public automotive insurance program, the rest of Canada provides this through private organizations.

Everybody is required by Canadian law to have a minimum car insurance policy. The minimum, however, is varied among all provinces, as they dictate what is a mandatory insurance requirement, and what is optional to the consumers that want an increased level of coverage on their car. Besides Newfoundland and Labrador, accident benefits coverage is required by law.

The cost of insurance can vary from province to province due to each one having certain requirements, however it is possible, and likely, that you can end up paying approximately $1,000 or more annually to pay for this insurance. If you’re thinking about selling a car in order to purchase a new one, take into account the impact this decision can potentially have on your insurance rates. Obviously a newer car is going to bring a higher rate of insurance for the client.

Some people are preferential to purchasing an increased level of coverage, while others would rather stick to the bare minimum. There is at least some form of a no fault insurance policy available to all residents of Canada, regardless of which province you currently reside in.

Along with purchasing optional policies having an impact on how much you currently spend on your insurance, several car insurance companies provide different discounts and deductions you can get through a variety of means and methods. Some of such discounts are included for safe driving habits, where you will get a lowering of your rates by driving an extended period of time without any accidents. Other agencies may provide discounts or deductions if your kid passes a driver education course. Oftentimes you can purchase a bundled insurance package for a reduced rate, which can include insurance on your home along with your automobile’s policy. There are several other discounts you may or may not be eligible for, but there is almost certainly at least a few of these methods you can apply in your own situation.

Insurance rates are moderately high in Canada due to certain requirements and regulations, but there are many ways to bring those rates down for yourself. Shopping around is a vital method in order to find the best overall rates and coverage.

30 June

Co-operators General Insurance First Quarter 2011

The Co-operators General Insurance Company has just released its first quarter financial reports for 2011. The financial reports are on the calendar year first quarter ending March 31. All monetary units are Canadian dollars. Consolidated net income for the quarter is at $25.8 million, down from the same quarter last year when net income was at $31.8 million.

The net income for Co-operators General Insurance translated into earnings of $1.11 per common share. In comparison, the common share earnings for the first quarter 2010 were $1.39.

Other highlights from the Q1 2011 Co-operators Insurance financial reports include the following, with Q1 2010 figures listed afterward for comparison. All figures are in millions of CAD:

• Gross written premium (GWP) – $479.9 / $462.2
• Net earned premium (NEP) – $529.1 / $510.5
• Total assets – $5,029 / $4,798
• Shareholder equity – $1,405 / $1,309

Some of the economic indicators in the report are as follows, with 2010 indicators for comparison:

• GWP growth – 3.8% / (1.9%)
• NEP growth – 3.6% / 2.6%
• Annual return on average equity – 8.1% / 10.3%
• Combined ratio, excluding MYA – 103.4% / 100.2%
• Minimum capital test – 241% / 242%

Review of Q1 Financial Report
The total increase of first quarter GWP over the previous year was 3.8%. Such an increase is calculated by taking the sum of the average premium growth and rate increases. That sum is then offset by the decline in policy growth and falling pressure in pricing within the company’s commercial portfolio. The number is then adjusted for the impact of co-insurance arrangement cancellations for a net increase of in GWP of $1 million, or 0.2% growth.

The net investment income (NII) is the company’s interest and dividends minus their investment expenses. NII increased by $1.3 million due to bond portfolio yields and improvement in debt obligations held by collateral.

Analysis of Q1 Financial Report
Co-operators General Insurance made a strong showing in their home insurance portfolio in Q1, and claims experience in the Ontario auto insurance market helped deliver the first quarter earnings. A decline in Ontario claims was experienced six months after the auto reforms took place, but a potential for an increase in bodily injury claims persists. Although the recognition of the problems in Ontario is to be applauded, Co-operators Insurance has yet to see if there will be any long-term impact due to the reforms. The commercial portfolio of the company in the Western regions of Canada took large losses, most notably in the Quebec farming sector.

20 April

New Brunswick Drivers Overcharged For Auto Insurance

Recently released reports revealed that drivers in New Brunswick were swindled out of hundreds of millions in overages charged for insurance premiums from 2003 to 2008.

Paula Elliot made an appearance before the New Brunswick Insurance Board presenting documentation that suggests drivers overpaid almost $500 million for car insurance during the five-year span. Without coincidence, the Insurance Board had prepared a similar report confirming the overpayment that was already scheduled to be released the day following Elliot’s presentation.

Documentation illustrated a higher pre-tax profit for insurance companies from 2003 to 2007. Profits from New Brunswick during that time period should have hovered around $165 million, instead insurance companies had a pre-tax profit calculated at about $610 million. The excessive payments broken down over a five-year period, means that for each car insured payments were more than a thousand dollars over.

The overages charged to consumers for car insurance could have been a result of partisan appointments according to Liberals, New Brunswick’s opposition. Liberals are placing blame on the Conservative appointee who heads up the New Brunswick Insurance Board.

The board was established in 2005 as a watchdog for consumers over automotive insurance companies. The leader of the opposition, Victor Boudreau, demanded to know in a statement, “When is this government going to stand up in the best interests of those rate payers?” Additional demands by the opposition included the government making much needed changes to the Board, which could include the ousting of the Board’s Chair Paul d’Astous.

No mention has been made of whether a refund will be issued to consumers who owned insurance policies during that period. Most likely, refunds will find their way into the hands of consumers in a lump sum, but they may see a huge reduction in insurance rates in the months and years to come. Rate applications by insurance companies are now being reviewed and at least one, Dominion of Canada General Insurance, made an appearance in the Court of Appeal over rates.

1 March

Cheapest Cars To Insure

Insurers have always found ways to put insurances into categories. I’m surprised that each baby isn’t born with an automatic “birth-certificate-insurance-confirmation.” Through out our lives anything can happen, and it does. We will have to concur that automobile insurance is a must and no one should “leave home without it.” The internet is crammed with insurance agencies handing out their sage advice of what types of automobiles cost the most and least to insure. It’s not just the make of the car that is part of the equation, but how often an individual drives the car, the age of the person, how old the car is etcetera. However, there are some vehicles that show up on everyone’s cheapest automobiles to insure list. Thrown into the heap of being “not worthy” of a paltry few dollars per month of insurance, they may be the smartest move any licensed driver will make. If an automobile is purchased to just sit in someone’s garage like a forgotten pre-Madonna and you’re paying an astronomical amount of insurance “not to drive it” then you better analyze your auto insurance policy.

Anyways, here are a few of the winners – the cheapsters:

Sienna 4 Cylinder
Average National Yearly Premium: [$1,101.00]
Style: Five door wagon
Cylinders: 4

Nissan Murano SL
Average National Yearly Premium: [$1,128.00]
Style: Four door utility, Two wheel drive
Cylinders: 6

Chrysler Town and Country
Average National Yearly Premium: [$1,092.00]
Style: Four door wagon
Cylinders: 6

Honda Odyssey LX
Average National Yearly Premium: [$1,115.00]
Style: Five door hybrid, two wheel drive, single overhead Camshaft engine
Cylinders: 6

Toyota Sienna LE
Average National Yearly Premium: [$1,108.00]
Style: Five door wagon
Cylinders: 4

26 January

Ten Tips for Cheaper Car Insurance

Everyone could use cheaper car insurance. These are some ways I have read that are supposed to keep your costs down. The first method is to shop around for low prices. The second is to avoid cars with large engines such as sports cars because they have higher insurance costs.

The third is to look into different types of coverage. If it is only a little bit more for a full comprehensive plan it might save you money when an accident occurs. The fourth is to take a driver’s safety course. The fifth is to put another more experienced driver on your plan.

Six, don’t risk driving without insurance. It may save you money in the short term but once you get caught, your insurance costs will be insane not to mention all the fines from the police. The first offense for driving without insurance in Ontario is a fine of $5,000 to $25,000 and subsequent conviction means a fine of $10,000 to $50,000 with a possible license suspension up to one year.

Seven, make sure you sign up on an annual plan. The eighth is to avoid expensive modifications. The ninth is to keep track of your mileage so you do not have to estimate. The tenth is to raise the amount you are willing to pay in event of an accident.

I think these are all good suggestions but so many of them are unavoidable. If you’re lucky enough to inherit a sports car you can not do much with the second suggestion. But then again, if you get a free sports car, I guess you can afford to spend a little extra on insurance.

20 January

Ontario Car Insurance Fraud

Sometimes we want to make a few extra bucks, but insurance fraud is taking things a bit too far. In the long run we all end up paying for it. It’s amazing how ingenious human beings can be when the going gets tough. Take for instance the “wave in” method. When the perpetrator waits for someone coming out of a parking lot and waves them ahead into the street. Then bingo, the perpetrator slams into the other vehicle making the victim look guilty. I mean, is it really worth it? A few extra dollars in your pocket to buy what? A new flat screen TV?

The “swoop and squat” is when the perpetrators sandwich the innocent driver. One hits from the rear, the other in front slams on the brakes causing the middle man to run into the front driver. I think this type of insurance fraud should be called something else like “three-car-Monte”.

You would think if organized crime is involved in these insurance scams they would have something better to do. But then of course, business is business. It’s a field day on us innocent drivers, out for a day of shopping, visiting or on holiday listening to your favorite tune on the radio. Then wham, you’re the target of the well, “target and bullet scam”. That’s when the insurance scammers run right into you. It’s astounding no one has come up with the invention of rubber cars. But who knows “necessity is the mother of invention”.

13 January

Future Of Green Cars

For several years, car companies have been promoting “green cars” which prove to be anything but, and have caused consumers to become skeptical of anything that claims to be good for the environment. Not only that, but being environmentally conscious appears to be costly as well. Some estimates have shown that signing up for “green” car insurance costs 146 percent more than conventional car insurance.

For this reason, the costs and effectiveness of environmental products has caused them to become very slowly adopted. This may change in the near future when Nissan releases the first mass produced electric vehicle.

The vehicle will be called the “Leaf,” and 20,000 reservations have already been made for it. The car consumes no direct fossil fuels and can reach a top speed of 148 kilometers per hour. The car will also be priced well at 32,780 US dollars. In Ontario, a $10,000 electric car rebate will be in effect as well. The average Ontario driver can expect to stop paying for $1,600 of gas and start paying for $360 more a year on electricity.

The car will not be without it’s issues, considering that 100 miles of driving range is not very much when there is nowhere to charge it but home, and it takes 30 minutes to charge the batteries up to 80 percent. There is also the fact that some electrical power comes from fossil fuels, but that is another matter entirely. All in all, the Leaf appears to be a big step in the right direction.

6 January

Car Insurance Companies & Insurance For Your Needs

Car insurance is not one size fits all. Instead, it is important to consider one’s needs before they invest in any one plan. Companies offer a variety of plans and options to customers. After all, the insurance world is a business. This is why it is important to shop around and see what different insurance products are available. This means you should spend time thinking about the type of car you own, how much you can afford to pay each month, and what types of coverage you would really like to have. The following includes some information about what companies can afford to pay.

Extra car insurance is sometimes a smart investment. You could have full coverage auto insurance but extra insurance will provide a better safety net. For example, some states have minimums for liability claims. Thus, one could have a plan that has $50,000 for bodily injury for a passenger in the car and $100,000 for medical expenses for the driver and passenger, and $25,000 for any property or vehicle damage.

However, the medical amount may not really cover everything, especially if the driver lacks health insurance or if the medical issues are intense. Thus, to protect yourself, some people choose to invest in higher or extra insurance so that they are completely covered. This means checking what one’s car is worth, what one’s health insurance plan includes, etc.

Sometimes, issues pop up when the other driver in a collision does not have insurance. This could mean that you’re pretty much out of luck when it comes to filing a claim. This is where uninsured motorist coverage comes into play. Having this means that one will have the funds he or she needs to repair the car and cover medical expenses, too.