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Finance Travel

Should You Switch to Pay Per Mile or Usage Based Car Insurance?

 

Car insurance –

is something that you are going to need to make the most of while you have the opportunity to make some savings. It is a legal requirement for drivers, and this is why you need to ensure you get the right car insurance sorted out as well as you possibly can. There is plenty you need to consider when it comes to making the most of this, and that is something that you need to think about.

Try to do as much as possible to understand the different types of insurance that exist for drivers, and what you can do to save money on these premiums. Now, one of the important things you need to determine is what types of car insurance would work best for you, and one of the less common but potentially more rewarding options would be to go with pay per mile, or usage-based, car insurance. It’s important to understand what this is, how it works, and what exactly makes it the perfect option for you.

What is pay per mile?

Generally speaking, regular car insurance premiums are based on estimations from the insurance companies about how you’re going to use your car, as well as plenty of other factors. However, this can often result in people having to pay premiums that are way off in their estimations. Yes, there are plenty of factors that apply to all forms of car insurance, and things like your age, location, the type of car you have, how much you earn, and even your relationship status can be determining factors in how much car insurance you can expect to pay.

Now, the way in which pay per mile car insurance works is that the premium amount is based on how often you use the car. Essentially, your insurance is calculated based on the actual usage of your car, and this seems like a much more structured and logical way of doing it. So let’s look a little closer at how this type of insurance works.

How does it work?

Usage-based car insurance is becoming highly popular because of the fact that it has a lot of benefits for people. This is a much more modern form of insurance, and it embraces modern technologies in order to basically offer a pay as you go approach to car insurance. Companies can use a device plugged into your car, or even an app on your phone, to try to figure out how much insurance you are due to pay. Information will be collected and used to work out and determine your bill.

This is quite fun because it means that you have a customized rate just for you that is based on your vehicle usage. Knowing and understanding the implications of this is really important for allowing you to decide if this is the right approach for you. There are a lot of things that play a factor here, and the fact that you get a premium specific to you is very appealing to a lot of drivers.

 What are the benefits?

There are a lot of benefits when it comes to pay-per-mile, and one of the main ones is that it can potentially save you a lot of money. However, you need to be careful here, because this is something that can backfire. You see, due to the manner in which insurance companies collect your data and come up with a premium specifically for you, it means that the less you drive, and the safer you drive, the better it will be for your wallet.

This does of course mean that the opposite is true, and the more you use the car, or the more reckless you are, the more your premium goes up. Sometimes you can’t avoid using the car a lot or getting into an accident on the roads, so it is something you need to make sure you think carefully about. People often prefer to have this sort of insurance because they find that it works better for them, and it’s fairer.

 Is it right for you?

Well, one of the key things you need to figure out is whether switching to pay per mile car insurance is the right approach for you and whether you will benefit from doing this. To be honest, this largely depends upon the type of driver you are. If you are someone who drives less than the national average of 12,000 miles per year, you would be the ideal choice for this sort of usage-based car insurance.

If you are an infrequent and sensible driver you can wind up saving a good deal of money from switching to a pay per mile format. However, it is important to make sure you are following the parameters, because if you wind up driving too much, or you get into an accident, then you could wind up spending more on your insurance than you regularly would. 

If you want to switch to pay per mile car insurance and reap the benefits of this, then you need to make sure you take the right steps. First of all, make sure you are absolutely positive that this is the right step for you to take. You also need to make sure you look at the different companies that are offering usage-based car insurance. Make the most of this, and try to come up with different ways of helping get the best possible insurance premium you can.

 

 

Categories
Finance

Top Tips for Finding the Right Auto Lender

 

 

Whether you’re buying a new car or a used car, you will need to choose the right auto lender for your automobile loan. While these lenders offer competitive financing options, there are so many auto loans available that it’s worth comparing the different options out there. These vary according to APRs, loan term lengths, and early-payment penalties, among other things. There are only two legal ways to purchase a vehicle: pay upfront or take out an auto loan. The majority of folks opt for the latter option. Lenders typically fall into several broad categories, including bad credit lenders, online lenders, and traditional auto lenders. Let’s find out what best auto loans experts have to say at bestautoloans.com

 

Rule #1 for Choosing Your Auto Lender – Evaluating Auto Loan Providers

 

Top Tips for Finding the Right Auto Lender
Pixabay

 

Compare offers. There is no benefit to accepting the first offer that you are given, because it may not be the best offer available to you. A comparative analysis is the best way to understand the pros and cons of automobile lenders. Your analysis begins with a complete background check of the lender in question. Is the auto lender fully licensed and certified to offer auto loans? The credibility of the company is extremely important when assessing its viability. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a powerful tool for evaluating these companies. Along the way, you will invariably come across online reviews of these lenders. Provided they are objective, they serve as an important yardstick in the decision-making process.

 

Rule #2 for Choosing Your Auto Lender – Understand Industry Lingo

 

Top Tips for Finding the Right Auto Lender
Pixabay

Understand the lingo associated with auto loans. Car financing and auto loans are synonymous terms. Naturally, you will want to assess your ability to get the best possible interest rate on the loan. This is where your credit score comes into play. Auto loans are contracts between lenders and borrowers where a fixed sum of money changes hands to purchase a used car or a new car. There are different types of interest rates and fees associated with auto lenders, including zero-interest loans, late fees, and early repayment fees. Other important terms to understand include the principal amount of the loan – that’s the amount of money you’re borrowing to pay for the vehicle. Sometimes people place a down payment on an automobile and finance the rest. The monthly payment is a combination of the principal and interest rate over a fixed term. When comparing automobile loans, always look at the total cost of the loan, including the principal and the interest.

 

Rule #3 For Choosing Your Auto Lender – Refinance or Purchase the Vehicle 

 

Top Tips for Finding the Right Auto Lender
Pixabay

 

As soon as your auto loan has been approved, it’s time to decide what you’re going to do with the money. You can choose to refinance your auto loan by opting for a new loan to repay the debt.  This can offer lower monthly payments. Another option available to you is known as a lease buyout. If you currently lease a vehicle, there’s a good chance you may want to buy it out at the conclusion of your lease. Lease buyout loans are available for precisely this purpose. The interest rates for these loans are typically higher than other loans, though. A final category of auto loan financing offers worth considering is private party loans. These are available to individuals buying auto loans from private sellers. The interest rates on these loans are somewhat elevated.

Categories
Events Featured

Start your engines Formula-E NYC 2019

In many instances, when the intent is noble the result is assured.  

This weekend’s Formula-E auto race in Red Hook, Brooklyn is just such an instance. Racing is the platform.  As such, the checkered flag is the obvious sought after goal – for the drivers.


However, for the race organizers at FIA, environmental impact (or lack thereof),  scientific innovation and advancement is the ultimate goal. The internal combustion engine may have run its course. Getting from point A to point B through a series of violent explosions may not be ideal.  

Formula-E is the world’s first electric street racing series, defined by real street rivalries, raw electric performance, and renewable energy within reach of the consumer.  

In a world plagued with deadly levels of air pollution, the ABB FIA Formula-E Championship is more than just an inner-city street racing series. It’s a laboratory for developing and demonstrating the latest and greatest technology in the battle for clean air: the electric car.  This noble approach does not start and end with the car.  Minimal impact is sought in details throughout race day.

 
Working together with global branding supplier CSM Live, the all-electric championship uses non-PVC material for its trackside signage to reduce plastic production and waste. Even the utensils used by the food vendors are biodegradable! D’Onofrio General Contractors Corp., the firm that actually built the race circuit upon the streets of Red Hook were held to the highest standards of building specifications to assure the environmental impact was minimal.  According to Mr. Jerry D’Onofrio, III, Director of Operations, “no stone was left unturned when it came to meeting the highest moral mandate concerning construction protocols in building the course.  Even our fences and barriers are reusable. Collaborating with the FIA again this year is an immense honor for our organization.”

Formula E
Felipe Massa


Anyone that has ever attended a concert, event or fair has witnessed the Genghis Khan-like pillaging and ransacking that is created during such events. Perhaps local officials may be well served by taking notes this weekend as proof that we can be entertained responsibly. 

Just to be clear: these cars are not just clean. They are fast. Extremely so. Race fans may be able to have their cake and eat it as well.  


Then there is also the astuteness of selecting such a site. This former dilated shipping dock is now part of a lovely shoreline adding to the majesty of New York Harbor. According to Maximilian Gunther, a race-car driver from Team GEOX Dragon: “This circuit located at NY Harbor is simply spectacular.  I always stay a few extra days to enjoy the City and sights.  The course itself is very competitive with a nice variety of both high-speed corners and tight turns which bodes well for overtaking.  It’s one of the driver’s favorites on the race schedule.”

Formula E
Luca diGrassi, Jean-Eric Vergne, Mitch Evans, Sam Bird


Moreover, Porsche and Mercedes have committed to joining the series in 2020 bringing with them years of racing legacy and know-how.

We will soon discover if that old racing adage still holds true: win on Sunday and sell on Monday.


Start your engines!

Categories
Featured Lifestyle Living News NYC Travel

Owning a car in New York City

If you own a car in New York City and choose to pay for a car park then your life is much easier than those who get up to move their car from one side of the street to the other. If you do not live in a city you may think this is crazy. When I first moved to this great city, I could not understand why as I was on my way to work, every car on the street had people sitting in them, but then not moving for hours. I thought that instead of an office, it was less expensive to use your car as an office. You see them talking on the phone, eating, reading the paper, or taking a nap. This was completely foreign to me, but after my own investigation and the help from my pseudo-reporter doorman, I was quickly educated on this ever popular ritual

Alternate side parking rules, ASP rules, and street cleaning rules all mean the same thing. These rules allow the New York City to clean the streets with street sweepers. When the rules are in effect, you can’t park on that side of the street. The City suspends alternate side parking in advance for certain holidays and as needed for severe weather or other emergencies. New to New York, be sure to add this link to your mobile device to stay on top of Alternate Side Parking.

City cars, when living in a city, many plan ahead for their mode of transportation around parking.

Now after over 20 years of living in New York, this morning ritual is as normal to me as witnessing the sun rise over our glorious city.

In the case of these brave city dwellers, car owners is it really a matter of convenience, or is it?

Mini BMW Manhattan

Keeping a car in this city is anything but. Newbies who come to our city with beautiful, expensive cars think that they will go for a quick grocery run, drive to work, take the children to school, or choose to drive to the Met or our for a lovely dinner in another area of the city. Quickly, they realize fighting for a parking space is not what they thought it would be, you end up paying a car park to house your car so that you may enjoy your jaunt.

The best way to get around our great city is a car service, Via, Uber, Juno or Lyft, public transportation subway or bus or can choose to pay the exorbitant rates for a New York City Taxi.

Housing your car is pretty easy, there are daily, weekly, monthly and yearly options for car parks and there is usually one close to your home or for that matter on almost every block. Be sure to shop around when looking for your car’s yearly home, it’s like going to the market its all about negotiating. It may be best for you to invest in a yearly pass this can protect you from the ever-changing rate hikes.

Purchasing a city car is always an option. Many automobile companies have designed small compact cars, which work extremely well when living in a city the size of New York. Europeans just may have had something when they decided years ago to forgo large gas guzzlers for small compact mini’s. For those who want something less permanent rentals are the perfect answer. All the luxury with none of the hassle.

New York City car insurance is one of the five most expensive counties, all five boroughs just happen to be in the New York City demographic. Your borough along with age and your driving record will play a significant role in your car insurance rate. For a car insurance quote. 

Stay safe out there, whether you buy, rent, or take public transportation!

 

 

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Categories
Featured Lifestyle News

The New Lamborghini Urus SUV

When you think of Lamborghini, a sport utility vehicle probably isn’t the first image to pop into your head. After the appearance of the 2018 Lamborghini Urus, it will most likely still not be the first image to pop into your head, but it is a preliminary step in that direction. With off-road features, an interior full of the latest tech and some distinct characteristics that are uniquely Lamborghini, the Urus makes an attempt to carve out its own space in the luxury SUV market.

Lamborghini Urus Sliding Through Dirt

Sporting a 650hp V8 bi-turbo engine, the Urus has plenty of get-up-and-go, and it also has all of the racing specs you need to have a good time on the track and put up consistently quick lap times. However, if you find yourself cruising down 10th Avenue more often than on the Nurburgring, its high-performance output may be a bit of opportunity loss.  The interior is distinctly a product of the manufacturer, with those stylish Italian touches, sharp edges and beautiful materials glistening at every corner. The infotainment system sports two touchscreens, three HD displays and 3D surround sound so you can blast Pavarotti to your heart’s content while tackling traffic jams.

If you’re heading out of town for some adventure, the Urus will be able to keep up. This new addition to the luxury SUV category has three off-road modes: NEVE, TERRA and SABBIA. These modes are for a range of surfaces and traction conditions to keep your ride comfortable, even in some pretty harsh conditions. While not as rough-and-tumble as some of the other vehicles in this category (i.e. Range Rovers, etc.), it can plow through sand dunes and keep its legs underneath it on a slippery corner at high speed, certainly making the Urus worth its salt and deserving of the sport utility title.

Lamborghini Urus in Black Driving Down Street

While the interior absolutely screams Lamborghini, the exterior is a bit more cryptic in its representation of this legendary automobile manufacturer. It has sharp lines, aggressive styling and a modern,honeycomb-style grill, but it doesn’t particularly look like a Lamborghini. It’s round, and it looks – well – a bit too regular to sit beside the Aventador and Huracan as a family member.

The Urus is a step in a new direction. While the exterior does fall a bit flat, the folks at Lamborghini have manufactured a fun, functional and admittedly luxurious SUV that does everything it advertises as advertised. What more can you ask for?

Learn more about the Urus on the Lamborghini website, and for more auto and tech news, head over to our tech spot.

Images courtesy of the manufacturer.

Categories
Featured Living

Lincoln Chases Innovation with the New Aviator

The automobile industry is feeling the pressure. As consumers, we’re no longer satisfied with the four-cylinder engine, flimsy cupholder, glovebox and barely-functional seatbelt combination wrapped in whatever horrible, geometric, die-cast and stamped sheet metal design that happens to be popular. Consumers want more – and Lincoln’s new Aviator represents a valiant effort to provide exactly that: more.

Lincoln Aviator Steering Wheel

Lincoln’s Aviator, formerly an afterthought to the bigger, bolder Navigator, has basically every innovation and piece of tech you could hope for in a mid-sized luxury SUV. From automatic emergency braking and predictive Suspension Preview Technology to the meaty Twin Turbo/Plug-In Hybrid drivetrain engine, the Aviator is breaking some serious ground and acting as the first installment of Lincoln’s movement “toward a broader portfolio of utilities and electrification in conjunction with effortless services,” according to the manufacturer.

This movement towards a more tech-savvy vehicle lineup has granted the new Aviator more injected tech than you can shake a stylus at – even an integrated app. You can start, lock, unlock and open the trunk of the new Aviator with a simple swipe of your smartphone. This new addition to the Lincoln line also features an absurd amount of driving modes, from the more modest “normal,” “conserve” and “excite” modes to the adventurous “slow climb” and “deep sand,” just in case you’re planning on crossing the Gobi Desert.

Lincoln Aviator Rear View

Styling is another big change for the new Aviator. Forget the boxy, encumbered body of the past, Lincoln has opted to implement an aircraft-inspired, aerofoil design on the newest member of their SUV family. “You have the stature and presence of the grille at the front, then the body and tail taper off,” explains Lincoln Design Director David Woodhouse, “from the headlight to the taillight, there’s a beautiful undercut feature varying in depth that connotes poise and grace.”

Lincoln Aviator Side Panel

Learn more about the brand new Lincoln Aviator on their website, and stay up-to-date on the latest tech by visiting our Tech Spot.

All photos courtesy of the manufacturer.