Parents: It's time for a back-to-school insurance review

It's back-to-school time, and while you're probably thinking more about homework than homeowners coverage, the new school year is a great time to review your insurance needs. A child's new grade level, driver's license, or move to a college dorm could mean new insurance needs for your family. Keep your children safe in the new school year- review your car, home and health insurance coverage this fall.

1. Car Insurance

Will your teen be getting their driver's license this year? Teen drivers can be costly to insure, but there are ways you can save on teen car insurance. See if your car insurance provider offers a good student discount. Your teen will likely have to maintain a grade-point average of B or higher to get the discount, so make them hit the books. Many car insurance providers also have driver safety discounts. If your teen takes a safety course they may qualify for reduced car insurance rates.

2. Home Insurance

If your teen is heading away to college, they are most likely bringing quite a bit of stuff with them-laptop, stereo, TV, bike, other electronics, etc. If your child will be staying in the college dorms their belongings are most likely covered by your home insurance policy. There are usually limits on how much is covered away from the home, so talk to your home insurance provider about exactly what and how much is covered by your home insurance policy.

3. Health Insurance

As children head back into classrooms, so will their germs. Colds, flu, ear infections-kids catch all sorts of things once the school year starts. The best thing for parents to do is keep their kids as healthy as possible, and make sure they are covered with a good health insurance policy. Health insurance can be affordable for you and your kids. You could raise your deductable to save on monthly premiums, or consider adding your children to your employer-sponsored health care.

If you have a college-bound child, you have a couple of health insurance options. Older children are usually allowed to stay on parents' health insurance policies if they are full-time students, but check with your provider to make sure. There is also the option of college health insurance. Many colleges and universities have their own on-campus health care, and it may be more affordable for your child to take advantage of campus health care.

Back-to-school is more than a jump back into learning, it is the perfect time to review your car, home, and health insurance needs. Many things have changed since the last time your children headed off to school, so take a few minutes to compare car, home, and health care insurance quotes online and see how much you could save.


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AIG's stunning fall has global ripple effects

AIG's roots go deep here, all the way back to 1919 when a young and restless Californian arrived in a booming semi-colonial city that was teeming with bankers, industrialists and opium merchants.

Cornelius Vander Starr had sold auto insurance in San Francisco before serving as an infantry sergeant during the Great War. But the Fort Bragg native wasn't commissioned overseas, so when the war ended, he ventured off by himself to Asia's commercial hub at age 26.

Before long, he opened an office on Nanking Road with two Chinese clerks, underwriting ordinary life insurance policies as well as coverage for cargo ships carrying refugees from Russia's Vladivostok to Europe.

And so was born the company that would become American International Group Inc., the biggest insurance firm in the world.

Since then, AIG has had a special place in the hearts of many Chinese, who regarded the company as among the best of international brands. But after the U.S. government's $85-billion rescue of the troubled conglomerate last week, its stellar reputation has been tarnished, and at least a few customers are canceling their policies.

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High Gas Prices Put Car Shoppers In The Driver's Seat

There is some good news about high gas prices and a slow economy: They are putting the brakes on vehicle sales, which makes it a good time for shoppers to find great deals on cars.

Among car shoppers, hybrids and subcompacts remain popular because of great gas mileage, but there are many factors beyond fuel efficiency that affect the cost of driving. RoadandTravel.com and State Farm Insurance suggest three simple tips for those shopping for vehicles:

Homework is key - Because sales have been so slow, dealers are competing aggressively for shoppers' business, making it easier to bargain.
Budget blind spots - Car buyers often don't research expenses that can impact the cost of car ownership, including maintenance, financing and insurance.
Insurance options - There are a number of factors that influence insurance rates, beyond car models. Car buyers should ask about discounts for good driving records and good grades for teen drivers.

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How to find the cheapest cars to insure

With the credit crunch placing a great deal of pressure on many households' finances, people seeking to reduce the costs of motoring need to take a number of issues into consideration when buying a new car.

One key factor is the cost of insurance - something which can vary depending on the type of vehicle and who will be behind the wheel.

How premiums are calculated
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), car insurance premiums are calculated based on a number of criteria, such as where the car is going to be kept, what it is used for and the type of cover that is required.

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Eco-friendly car cover isn't often pocket-friendly

With new measures introduced by the Government to help motorists save fuel and cut their emissions, eco-friendly drivers might see hybrid cars as another step to make a difference for the environment. Research from price comparison site moneysupermarket.com reveals motorists could pay more for going green with their car insurance.

The findings showed premiums can be over 105 per cent more expensive than standard policies. Several insurers such as CIS, ibuyeco and Green Insurance offer green motor insurance and the latter two providers offset 100 per cent of a car's carbon emissions. However, motorists should be aware that clearing their carbon conscience will cost extra. For example, swiftcover quotes £342 for the environmentally-friendly Honda Civic hybrid car, but for the same cover CIS charges £389 while Green Insurance charges £701 - or 105 per cent more.

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An Automobile Insurance Myth

Gasoline is not the only necessity that is costing you more these days.. auto insurance rates are going up. But before you panic.. you need to know the reasons for any change in your rate.. Our investigation of auto insurance rates, shows one of the factors you think might influence the price you pay, may not have as much to do with it, as you think..

Walter Few is a truck driver.. today, he's getting insurance coverage for his daughter. He says, he's always thought that if the number of traffic fatalities and accidents went down, auto insurance rates ought to do the same. "if accidents and deaths are down, they should cut you a break," Mr. Few says. "Everything else is so high."


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Kayak to relaunch Travelpost review site by end of 2008

Kayak is working on a project to relaunch review site Travelpost at the beginning of December.

Travelpost was acquired as part of Kayak’s purchase of rival Sidestep at the beginning of this year.

Over the past three months the review site has been changed over to a Java-based system so that it has the same user interface as Kayak.

The next step is to make Travelpost more personal and relevant for users so that they only get review information from like-minded people.

Kayak has just enhanced its UK service with several new functions aimed at helping travellers get the best value.

The comparison site has unveiled a Fuel Cost Calculator estimating the total cost of petrol per trip and adding it to the daily rate of each car option so that consumers can compare car-hire companies and car classes.

The technology also enables consumers to search for cars based on fuel efficiency and including hybrid vehicles.

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