Most people have no idea what the price tag will be when they begin to shop around for car insurance. Sometimes you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the amount asked by insurers, but then there are other premiums you’ll find shocking.

Because there is no set price for every driver, what a person will pay to cover themselves and their car will vary from person to person because insurers have a formula that they use  based on the drivers driving record and the vehicles to be insured; since everybody’s situation is unique, the cost of a policy can vary substantially with each company.

When looking to see how much car insurance does cost it is important to understand what an insurer is analyzing to determine premiums. Probably the biggest factor used to calculate a premium is your driving record; this is a big indication of your driving habits and your likelihood to be involved in a loss and ultimately cost the company money . Therefore, if you have a history of tickets and accidents you will probably  pay more in premiums than those that do not because you are viewed as a higher risk to insure due to your previous incidents.

Other Factors that Affect the Cost of Insurance

Aside from your record there are many additional factors that will reflect what you will pay for your car insurance. For instance, age plays a big part because the ages of people are broken down into groups and each group has a certain level of risk associated with them. If you are under the age 25 you are considered to be a  “younger motorist” and will likely pay more for coverage than mature driver This is especially true for teenagers; statistics show that motorists between the ages of 16 and 19 are four times more likely to be involved in a traffic accident than older drivers and 16 year olds are three times more at risk than 18 and 19 year olds.

In addition, another factor that may play a part in the cost of a premium is gender which statistically show males more involved in collisions than females; mainly because they can be aggressive behind the wheel.

Where you live can also affect rates due to the fact that if you live in an area where there are a lot of vehicles occupying the roadways, the chances of an accident increases; place of residence can also raise premiums if there are high crime rates. The automobile to be insured will also determine a rate; the main reason is because if a vehicle is more expensive to repair or replace it will cost more to insure.

Another factor that many states allow insurers to use to calculate your prices and in some cases even deny you coverage is a your credit score. Companies believe that a person’s habits when it comes to paying bills on time have a direct correlation with the chances of them being involved in an accident and have even gone so far as to have done research to support this belief. Not all states allow for this, but if you live in a state that does you should ask how it is allowed to be used. I’ll explain this when we get together or possibly in another blog posting.

You can reach me at www.SteveBedgoodAgency.com or if you need help in Michigan you can call me at 1-888-365-7553.

Recently I had to deal with something I hope none of you have to ever experience.

My grandson, Dane Grant, was found dead on his friends floor. He was 24 years old.

Dane had lived with his grandmother and I for about three years when he was between the ages of 11 to 14 so he had a special place in our hearts as you can imagine.

I’ve been selling insurance for over 20 years. Unfortunately, Dane had started his family before he got serious about protecting them.

Dane had two boys. The oldest son is 4 and the youngest is just two years old.

If you’ve ever had a benefit, you know they don’t bring in much. This is especially true if you don’t have much money and you hang around other people who don’t have much. They’ll do what  they can.

The people at Bridgeton Baptist Church really stepped up to the plate for his memorial.

I could go on and on about the number of people who loved him and who he loved. They aren’t going to be able to support his family financially though.

If you’ve been reading this blog for any time, you know where this is going.

As an insurance agent, I can’t make someone buy Life Insurance, not even my grandson.

What a shame.

If you love your family, protect them. Put a little money where your mouth is. With life, it’s not a matter of if something happens, it’s when. We all will die.

My grandson could have a $250,000 policy for as little as $24.00 per month. It would have been a bit more if he’d he’d smoked but still.. Compare it to what those boys will have now.

This article may be a bit stronger than some. I realize that I’ve just experienced something traumatic but that doesn’t change the fact that we need to protect our own families. Before we buy our next car and start making payments on it and then say “I can’t afford it.” Realize that is normally our own selfish nature that makes us make bad choices.

Buy a used car and a Life Insurance policy. Be a hero. Be a true champion of your family. You don’t really want to leave their future up to the government, do you?

If you live in my area, I’d be glad to help you. If you live far away, or nearby with an agent you trust, go see him or her and get this done.

You can contact me at 1-888-365-7553 or at steve.bedgood@fbinsmi.com.

“Apples to Apples” comparisons are what most people believe they want when they are shopping for Home  Insurance.  The idea is good.  People want to make sure they are getting at least the same coverage they had when comparing policies.

At the Steve Bedgood Agency we start by making sure they have good apples to start with.

More important than just comparing one policy to another,  we need to compare what coverage they have to what they actually need should they experience a loss.

For example, with the housing market being the way it is, people are bragging about the “good deals” they are getting on homes.  It is a definitely a great time to buy a home. However, a person insures the home for just what he bought it for, he won’t be able to rebuild his home for that low price.

Liability is another area where people could be underinsured. So rather than just trading your policy for another, cheaper one, let’s make sure you really have everything covered that you feel is important to cover and cover them for the proper amount.

As an agent, there is a concern I have that other agents may not worry about. That is, if the home or car isn’t insured properly, it’s me the client will be calling, personally. It’s in my best interest to do the job right for my clients the first time and every time.

If you would like to make sure that you have your home insured properly, feel free to give me a call at (231) 744-9099 or start by a visit to www.muskegonhomeinsurance.com.

Just as it has been said that “Necessity Breeds Invention”, it can also be said that in hard times people who are looking for them can find great opportunities.

I’m not speaking of those with money who swoop down and buy some poor peoples homes at auction, I’m talking about people who create new opportunity for themselves.

I’m talking about the man or woman who gets let go from a job and begins to figure out they may be able to stand on their own two feet. They start to take stock of themselves, their network of friends and their resources. They make some decisions about how they want their life to turn out and then start to make it so.

What’s the difference between this person and the person who gets laid off, takes the maximum unemployment and then complains about the last company, the government, their lack of money etc.?

It’s attitude.

I’m not saying it’s easy to look at a bleak future and think only of the possibilities. I’m saying it is essential. No one who ever achieved anything great did it without setbacks. Blaming others or your circumstance will not help. The beginnings of fortunes are being made right now. Look for opportunities. Be willing to do something new. Read some self-help books. Ask people you trust and respect what they think you may be good at. Be careful who you get your advice from. Find people who are already successful to get advice from.

If I can help you “not participate” in this recession, I’d be glad to communicate with you. You can visit www.muskegoninsuranceagent.com or e-mail me at steve.bedgood@gmail.com