Being ignorant about your insurance will make you this year’s biggest April Fool.

Calling all April Fool’s out there!

We promise not to play any April Fool’s Day pranks on you here at Car Insurance Guidebook – this year. Instead, we are going to help you not be a fool when it comes to your insurance coverages. So many people go around just purchasing the first insurance policy they find and they have no idea what they are purchasing, let alone anything about the company they are buying from.

Then when they have a claim, they end up looking like a fool when the insurance company tells them they don’t have enough coverage or any coverage at all.

Don’t Be an April Fool Choosing an Insurance Company

When making an important purchase, people first research the company they are going to make a purchase from. When shopping from a site like EBay, the seller is checked out to see what kind of reputation they have. So why don’t people do the same thing when they buy insurance?

Many times people just go from one website to the next, or call one insurance agent after another to get quotes when they need insurance coverage. They don’t research the company they end up purchasing coverage from, they just blindly give over their money because they found the best price for something they have to purchase.

Instead of finding out later that your new insurance company is not a joy to work with when you need them the most, do your research. Take the best quotes you received and find out more about those companies. Go to their websites and see what awards they have received. Have they received any customer service awards?

Then check out reviews from other current customers or former customers to find out how other people have been treated by these insurance companies. You may find that the cheapest premium may not necessarily be worth the trouble you may face later down the road with the company.

Only April Fools Pay For Something They Have No Idea About

Insurance coverage costs some people thousands of dollars a year, but they have no idea what they are purchasing. They don’t know a deductible from a premium, they have no idea what comprehensive coverage is, and medical payment coverage is a complete mystery. All they know is that they have to have the coverage to legally drive, or because the terms of their car loan says so.

With the availability of the internet and how many car insurance websites are out there, there is no reason for the ignorance any longer. Look up terms you don’t know, ask questions, and read articles about car insurance. Know what you are buying and what it does so you can figure out if you even need it.

Stop just blindly handing over money to insurance companies that are making money off you not knowing what you are buying. Stop being their April Fool and become educated.

This Easter watch out for hopping bunnies, children and other distractions while you are driving.

Happy Easter from all of us at Car Insurance Guidebook!

Oh my, what a dangerous holiday Easter is! There are just so many scary things to watch out for, like your chocolate bunny taking revenge on you for biting off its ears.

Each holiday, Easter included, has its own dangers when it comes to driving. Some holidays have fireworks to watch out for and other holidays are a DUI nightmare. Easter, brings the danger of beautiful landscapes, energetic children, and new pets.

The Easter Drive

With the trees budding, the tulips and daffodils in their spring best, animals coming out of winter hibernation, and the return of the green grasses taking a drive on Easter day is a tradition for a lot of people. It is a chance to enjoy the beauty that spring has started to offer and to shake off the cold dreariness of winter from our minds.

While taking these drives, it is easy to get distracted at looking at everything around you, and distracted driving leads to accidents. If you find something that you want to enjoy, find a place to pull over safely so you can see it and not risk the chance of creating an accident. Also switch drivers from time to time so that everyone can get a chance to look around.

Easter Egg Hunts

After being stuck inside for most of the winter, the children are now loose and searching for Easter eggs. Take a minute and think back to when you were a child. Do you remember going on Easter egg hunts? Was there anything else on your mind other than finding those Easter eggs when you were on a hunt?

Well, the kids today are very much the same, and one-track minds don’t watch out for cars. This is why you as a driver need to be cautious when driving around on Easter day especially where children are present; you never know when a child is going to run out in front of you during the excitement of a hunt.

Also be cautious around parks that are holding Easter egg hunts that whole weekend. Parents have less control of their kids in large settings like that and in most cases would not be able to stop them before they ran out in front of you.

Easter Pets

Against all warnings parents still continue to give their children pet bunnies and chicks as Easter presents each year. Yes, they are cute and cuddly now but later that summer when that cute chick is now a full grown rooster waking you up as soon as the sun comes up it won’t look so cute anymore. In fact, I am pretty sure that it will start looking like dinner soon after you begin receiving your crack of dawn wake up calls and visits from the police after the neighbors complain.

But, I digress.

On Easter day, you need to look out for these little critters getting loose and running out in the street. Not only do you have to worry about them, more than likely there will be a child following close behind trying to catch it. And again, since they are not paying attention to you, you need to pay attention to them.

Now that you have been warned about the dangers of driving of Easter and you are going to be an especially attentive driver that day, so your insurance doesn’t go up, you can now relax. In fact, why don’t you go and enjoy the rest of your chocolate Easter bunny before it takes its revenge for its missing ears.

Bringing out a car in storage requires a little planning to do it safely.

Take your time bring out a car in storage.

The weather is warming up and it is time to bring that car in storage out to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air once again. Before you do though, there are a couple of things that need your attention to make sure that this is all done safely, with little mess, and legally.

Check for Critters in the Car in Storage

All kinds of critters like to make their way into a car in storage and make themselves convenient little homes. You just never know what you are going to find.

To save yourself the trouble of having to clean up a mess later, it would be a good idea to check the engine and under the car. Just take a flashlight and check these areas for uninvited guests before you turn on the vehicle.

Make Sure The Car in Storage’s Parts Still Work

Anything can happen while a car is in storage. Tires can go flat, brittle hoses may finally break when you turn the car on again, or any number of different things could have rusted if the car was not stored properly. Before you plan on taking a drive give the car a once over to make sure everything looks okay.

Check the exterior of the car for anything that looks damaged, and take a look under the hood. Even take the car for a spin around the block to make sure everything is working well before you take it too far from home. Moving the vehicle will also give you a chance to take a look at where the vehicle has been parked when it was being stored, so that you can check if there are any signs of fluids leaking.

Adding Back Insurance Coverage for a Car in Storage

Before you go anywhere, you need to call your insurance company or agent and check the insurance coverage you have on the car in storage. Most people remove everything but comprehensive coverage from vehicles that are put in storage to save money.

After all, if you aren’t driving the vehicle, you don’t have to legally carry liability coverage. There is not a very high chance that you are going to hit something with a car that you aren’t driving, so you don’t need collision coverage. And medical coverages, as well as rental car coverage just don’t make much sense to have either.

But now that you taking out this car in storage to drive it again you need to start adding coverage back so that you are driving legally and have enough protection.

The 2013 Volvo XC60 is one vehicle where you definitely get what you paid for.

The 2013 Volvo XC60

The 2013 Volvo XC60 is a higher priced vehicle that starts at over $34,000 for the base model and runs up to almost $49,000. But, it is worth the price for the sleek, good looking vehicle you get, as well as the astounding safety ratings it has earned.

Recalls for the 2013 Volvo XC60

Safety Recall information:

“VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 S60 AND XC60 VEHICLES. A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITHIN THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) CONTROL UNIT MAY LEAD TO AN INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER AND/OR INFLATABLE CURTAIN.

Consequence: IF THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER AND/OR INFLATABLE SIDE CURTAIN DEPLOY WITHOUT CAUSE, THE DRIVER COULD BE DISTRACTED AND THE DRIVER’S VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Corrective Action: THESE VEHICLES HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD AND THE SRS CONTROL UNIT WILL BE REPLACED PRIOR TO THE CARS BEING SOLD. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.”

Safety Ratings for the 2013 Volvo XC60

The 2013 Volvo XC60 is a “Top Safety Pick +” with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This means that it qualified to be named as one of the safest of the safe vehicles after testing.

To qualify for this high safety honor with the IIHS a vehicle has to be tested in all 5 of their accident tests frontal crash test, small front corner crash test, rollover crash test, rear crash test and side impact crash test. It also has to get at least a “good” rating in 4 of the 5 crash tests, and an acceptable rating in the 5th (small front corner crash test).

Insurance Thoughts on the 2013 Volvo XC60

The insurance rates are going to be rather nice for the drivers that purchase this vehicle. Being a “Top Safety Pick +” will keep the PIP and medical payments premiums down. The fact that it is not exactly a vehicle that is associated with reckless drivers, and would not have a disturbing accident statistics behind it will keep the premiums for liability down also.

The only coverages that you may see a little higher are the comprehensive and collision coverages. Because the price of the vehicle runs from $34,350 to $48,950 the cost to repair any damages or pay out for a total loss will be higher than other similar model vehicles. However, the lower medical coverage premiums and liability coverage premiums may just balance out the premiums for the comprehensive and collision coverage.

For creative marketing gimmicks Arbella Insurance created an interesting one.

Commercial

Commercial opens with a couple walking down the sidewalk laughing and enjoying their cups of coffee. From behind them a guy driving a very interesting car pulls up and calls out to get their attention. The seats in the back of the car are not normal car seats, but a love seat like the one you would have in your house or apartment.

Driver: Pssst, hey! Yeah, you two. You guys heard about this car-partment thing?

The guy and girl look at each other confused.

Girl: Excuse me?

Driver: Yeah, it’s only like the most amazing insurance coverage ever. You get your car insurance from Arbella, right, and then they throw in renter’s insurance for like $3.00 a week. Is that crazy or what? Hahaha.

Guy: Sounds pretty great actually.

Driver: What will they think of next?

Driver drives off.

Driver: (as he is driving off he waves and yells) Tell your friends.

Announcer: Yep, it’s a big deal.

Girl: (waving at the guy driving away) Thank you.

Announcer: Introducing carpartment insurance from Arbella. Sign up for car insurance and get renter’s for as little as 3 bucks a week. Arbella. Here for good.

What Arbella Insurance Is Trying to Do

Arbella Insurance is introducing a new product for those drivers that live in apartments. The commercial seems to be targeting the 20-somethings with the language that is used, the coffees in hand, and the actions of the actors. This specific group of drivers is the age group that is traditionally most likely to be living in an apartment, compared to older drivers that have purchased homes, so targeting this market is a good idea.

My Thoughts on This Arbella Insurance Commercial

Arbella Insurance may want to consider that with the recent recession we went through, there were a lot of people that lost their homes and are now living in apartments. So they may want to think about adding to this carpartment advertising introduction to appeal to a wider audience base that includes older drivers and drivers with families.

Arbella did do a good job in creating a memorable marketing prop with the car that was half an apartment and a car. Something memorable like that will make Arbella stick out when young people are calling around for insurance coverage.

Overall, I give this Arbella Insurance commercial one thumb up for good advertising methods, but also one thumb down because when the commercial ended I felt “meh” about the commercial as a whole.