Auto Insurance Quotes - Why Do They Vary So Much From Driver To Driver?

You've probably noticed that some drivers pay more than other drivers even if they drive the same model and year car. Most likely, you've noticed that the young pay higher premiums than the older, men then women.

Insurance companies look at a lot of statistics, then they look at which statistics apply to which driver. Basically, they're looking to see which group, statistically, has the highest chance of making a claim, which has the second, the third, and so on.

They've noticed that men tend to have more driving accidents then women. That younger people, especially the under 25-year olds, tend to have accidents more often than older people. Single drivers tend to be more reckless than married ones. People who've bent or broken the law once might do it again more often than those who've never done so, and end up in an accident. People who drive more tend to have more accidents than those who drive less.

Then they look at the type of car you drive. Here's a combination of statistics and other factors. Statistically, smaller cars tend to cost insurers more than bigger cars (they're just not as safe, partially because there are bigger cars out there). Some cars tend to cost them more because the parts are expensive, older cars cost less. Some cars are stolen more often than others. Cars in some neighborhoods have greater chances of being stolen or vandalized.

When they're done looking at all that stuff, they have a basis to judge how much to charge you for. Basically, they guess how much they're going to have to pay in the coming year for the whole group you belong to, add their other costs, the profits they want to make, and then figure out how much they need to charge each individual in your group so they get all their pay outs, costs, and profit.

Some things you don't control (you can't just become a middle-aged woman just to get a lower premium and you can't stop people all the vandalism and auto theft). However, a lot of the things they use to figure out how much premium to charge you are under your control. You do control:

A� the car you're going to buy
A� whether you have anti-theft devices installed
A� whether you drive drunk or not
A� whether you make small claims or not
A� and, to a certain degree at least, the neighborhood you live in
A� and the deductible you are going to pay.

So, the next time you're looking for auto insurance quotes, do your research. Until then don't do any of the things that make you be perceived as high risk. And, of course, accept that you don't control the things you do not control.

6 Top Road Trip Destinations In Victoria

Victoria is a little state, but in terms of road trips, there are heaps of possibilities! It only takes a couple of hours driving before you hit the beautiful eucalypt-dominated Victorian bush, and from there the scenic inspiration will just about carry you to your destination. Many road trips in Victoria are close enough to the city that you and several friends could go without the added expense of putting an extra person on your car insurance - just drive for a few hours a day, and you'll be somewhere fascinating before you know it. Here are the top 6 Victorian road trip destinations.

Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is mostly famous as home to the 12 Apostles (now more like the 7 or 8 Apostles, due to erosion and collapse). However the region has so much more to offer than a single viewing site. The Great Ocean Road itself stretches for hundreds of kilometres, with Portland and Port Fairy some of the most distant towns. There is plenty of fine dining, golf, surfing, ocean sports and wildlife to see along the entire length, though.

Phillip Island

Philip Island is not far from Melbourne, and has beautiful beaches, a surprising number of world-class restaurants... and fairy penguins! Road trips to Philip Island can be comfortably made in just a weekend.

Mildura

Mildura is a farming oasis in the middle of some of Victoria's most arid country. If you are really looking to get away from Melbourne, Mildura is about as far as you can possibly go! The area has hiking and camping opportunities, wine tasting and plenty of river activities, as it is located n the banks of the Murray River.

Gippsland Lakes

The Gippsland Lakes are actually Australia's largest expanse of inland waterways. Gippsland, the area, stretches across the entire south-eastern stretch of Victoria, from Melbourne to Mallacoota. Watersports is the main activity throughout the Gippsland Lakes... if the Yarra just doesn't inspire you, Lakes Entrance or Metung certainly will!

Mallacoota Mallacoota has Victoria's warmest winter temperatures, despite being located on some of the most gorgeous Victorian coastline. Fishing, canoeing and hiking are all popular around Mallacoota.

You Yangs

The You Yangs ranges are an extinct volcanic range in Werribee, in the south-west of Melbourne. There are plenty of picnicking and BBQ options, but you will need to arrange your own accommodation - camping is not permitted within the You Yangs park. If you walk to Flinders Peak, the highest point of the You Yangs, you'll be able to see Melbourne city as well as Corio Bay on a clear day.

Victoria may be one of Australia's smallest states, but it is certainly packed with plenty of road trip opportunities! You don't have to go far from Melbourne to find total refreshment and relaxation... but make sure you update your car insurance so that the dream trip you plan leaves only happy memories.

Car Insurance - Replacement Taxis

Your car insurance policy will usually provide you with a courtesy car if your vehicle needs to be taken in for repairs as the result of a claim. A courtesy car is a great perk, as it means you can drive around as you would usually, whilst your own car is being repaired. A replacement car takes away some of the stress of not having your own vehicle, as it means your life can carry on apace, even though your car isn't up to speed.

But what happens if you have an important meeting or appointment before the replacement car can get to you? Thankfully, John Lewis Insurance has already thought of that, which is why they may offer to refund your taxi fare for an important journey if necessary.

It can be extremely helpful to have this service as part of your car insurance, as it means that you can still make your appointments. It can be such a disheartening experience to be stuck somewhere, with your car refusing to work, and you can feel the minutes ticking away towards an important deadline. Whilst you might usually try to avoid taking a taxi, with quality car insurance a taxi fare need not be prohibitive to you getting where you need to be.

If you do need to take a taxi when you're stuck without your car, make sure you keep the receipt. Your claim will only be refunded if you can provide your insurance company with a valid receipt that relates to that journey. John Lewis Insurance will cover taxi fares up to a maximum of A�50 per insured incident and you'll usually only be allowed to make two claims during your insurance policy term. You will also find that you cannot claim for any taxi fares after the replacement car has been delivered.

As you're searching for car insurance, be sure to keep an eye out for details such as covering taxi costs and replacement car service. Whilst it might be your priority to get cheap car insurance, it's also vital that your insurance covers the services that you need. If you're stranded without a car and without a replacement vehicle either, you will suddenly understand why quality car insurance is so important.

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