Cheaper Auto Insurance in Canada

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Looking for the best insurance rates and living in Ontario, Canada?

Auto insurance rates will be getting much cheaper for many residents this year if you live in Ontario. You just need to know where to look to choose the best car insurance.

Costs are to drop an average of 1 percent starting in September the local regulator announced Thursday.

“Government changes to auto insurance are stabilizing the market and driving down rates”, says Andrew Chornenky ministry of finance spokesman. A win/win situation for drivers, as competition always drives down rates, so consumers end up getting the best deal.

The drivers affected by the change will at this stage be motorists renewing current insurance policies and those taking out new ones. The exact rise in rates depends on where each consumer lives, their car model that they drive and several other industry standard risk factors. The benefits for drivers will result in reductions to policy costs from 0.5 per cent to over 25 per cent, a substantial decrease. The exact savings you can make will depend on the auto insurance company. You may see no change at all in this new deal, so we advise you use an insurance rate comparison website to get the best deal.

How will Canadians get cheaper auto insurance? The new changes which began taking hold towards the end of 2010, allow you as the customer to choose the exact desired necessary coverage you need. This results in paying less for car insurance because it allows drivers to opt out of things they don’t want or need. Drivers come in many forms, and their cars are used for many different purposes, work, leisure, commuting etc.

The average driver was paying $1,473.22 a year for insurance this time last year in Ontario, an increase of 4.7 per cent from the year before that, according to data and statistics published by the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

It is about time we saw some action and cheaper ongoing costs for our insurance, cars are already expensive to maintain with many ongoing costs. In recent months the local state government has been under pressure and criticism because of high auto insurance rates, and now we are benefiting from these results.

The Financial Services Commission of Ontario even very recently, as recent as several months ago actually allowed several insurance companies to raise rates by over 10 per cent!

It is not unheard up for the costs of a policy to go up with inflation, but 10 percentage points is way beyond such figures. We look forward to these new cheaper rates and more competition from insurance companies rates in the future, to continue passing on the savings to drivers.

Dog Accessories – Choosing The Proper Essentials

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Having the proper pet accessories is an essential part in caring for your dog. Even though your dog might be fun to play with, he is not a toy. Having a pet means a lot of attention and care. Accessories for your pet are not just fashion type items, but are also items that keep your pet from being harmed in harsh elements. If you never had a pet, then you may get easily overwhelmed, but buying accessories for your pet is fun and can be really satisfying. Here are some tips on how to choose accessories for your pet:

Dog Collars

Dog collars come in a variety of styles, so whichever one you like is up to your choosing depending on your dog’s size. The majority of dogs use a traditional nylon or leather dog collar. The collar should sit high on your pet’s neck, but not too loose where it can slide down near the top of his shoulder blades. You also want to make sure that it is not loose enough for your pet to slip it over his head. It is recommended that you should be able to get at least 2 fingers wide in between the dog’s neck and the collar itself. It is also important to make sure you have a name tag attached to the collar.

Dog Leash

Choosing a leash is pretty easy, but you do want to keep in mind that you choose a leash that is sturdy enough to support your dog. After all, the leash is also a training tool for your dog. It allows you to communicate to your dog what you’d like for him to do. The standard dog leash is usually 6 feet and consists of leather or nylon, which is great for walks or basic obedience exercises. Nylon can be rough on the hands after extended use whereas the leather is more skin-friendly.

However, if your dog will be around water a lot, then the leather won’t last as long as the nylon one will. A retractable leash that can extend from 25 to 30 feet is useful for training a puppy or teaching the stay command. This type of leash isn’t suitable for keeping your dog under control. Whichever leash you choose, you’ll want to make sure you have a backup in case something unexpectedly happens. Leashes can break or get lost.

Food and Water Bowls

Choose a material that is right for you and your dog. A bowl made of stainless steel is versatile and durable, as well as toxin free. Plastic bowls are usually pretty durable as well, but might contain toxins. You especially want to be cautious if you have a puppy as they like to chew on the plastic edges. Ceramic bowls are nice, but keep in mind that it may break if dropped. Take into consideration the size and depth of the bowl in relation to the type of dog that you have. If your dog has a long snout, then you’ll want a deeper bowl as opposed to a shallow bowl, which would be more suited for a dog with a short snout. You want to choose a bowl that will not tip over easily.

Grooming Tools

All dogs will need grooming, but depending on what type of dog you have will determine what grooming accessories you’ll need. If your dog does not need that much grooming, so it probably has little hair, then a basic toolkit should be fine. This will consist of dog shampoo, dog clippers, dog toothbrush, dog toothpaste, dog brush or comb. If you have a dog that requires more maintenance, then you will need these tools along with a wider variety of brushes or combs.

Bristle brushes work well with most hair types. The bristles can vary from long to short and from soft to firm. Slicker brushes are used to break up tangles and mats in dogs with medium to long hair. Wire pin brushes are best for dogs with medium to long hair. Rakes and mat-breakers work best on dogs that have severe tangles and matting. You may have to use a combination of brushes in order for your dog to have the best benefit.

Dog Houses or Dog Beds

If your dog will be staying outdoors, then it is important for him to have suitable shelter from the elements. There are some things to keep in mind when you’re choosing a dog house. If you live in an area where your dog will need to be sheltered during periods of snow and cold temperatures, then you may want to consider a heated dog house. If you live in area where the climate is really hot, you may want to consider a dog house that is air-conditioned. Another option is to make sure the dog house is well ventilated and position it in the coolest part of your yard.

You want to make sure that the house is an appropriate size for the dog, so your pet will have enough room to comfortably move around in. You may want to consider a dog house that is made out of metal or plastic as it is easier to clean than one made out of wood. If your dog will be indoors, then it might be a nice idea to have a bed for him. This will be a place the dog can go when he gets sleepy or just wants to hang out. You want to make sure it is the appropriate size. Most of the time when you purchase a dog bed it will have what type of breed the bed is good for, so this shouldn’t be a problem. You want to make sure the bed is comfortable, easy to clean (washable), and durable.

Dog Toys and Treats

Last, but not least, toys and treats. Who doesn’t love getting toys and treats? Dogs are no different. There are a variety of toys that can be purchased and having a variety will be a good thing. This way it’ll keep your dog away from choosing a variety of his own within your house, like your shoes and slippers. You want to make sure that the toys and the treats are the correct size for your dog. Your dog will not be able to enjoy a toy if it is too small or too big.

These are most of the essential pet accessories you will need for your dog. There are plenty other items that you can purchase for your pet that can be tailored to your needs. If you want to make sure you have a happy and healthy pet, then you’ll want to have these items at the least.

How Can You Lower Your Auto Insurance Rates?

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How much can you save by switching auto insurance companies? Compare Car Insurance Quotes online

Auto insurance comparison is the quickest way to find the cheapest insurance rates but before shopping around it’s important to understand some options you have to lower the cost of auto insurance every month.

Car Insurance Discounts
You often hear how switching insurance companies can save you money and one of the biggest reasons the numbers can seem attractive is that many drivers do not take advantage of all the car insurance discounts they are eligible for. In a perfect world an auto insurance company would automatically apply any eligible discounts but we live in a world of commerce so never assume anything. Sometimes an agent may intentionally avoid asking you a question which may lead to lower premiums while others may simply forget. At the end of the day the responsibility is yours to learn and ask about eligibility for any discounts offered. Some of the most common car insurance discounts include:

• Good Driver discount
• Multi-Vehicle discount
• Multi-Policy discount
• Vehicle Safety equipment discount

Learn about car insurance discounts here and make sure to look into policies with accident waivers. Many auto insurers offer single accident waivers which can save you a lot of money from your first accident. These waivers work by not penalizing you for a single accident within a certain period of time. Accidents are prone to happen and it’s a nice piece of mind not to get penalized if somebody else hits your car.

Reduce your Coverage
Many people are over insured or paying for insurance they no longer need. GAP insurance is a good example of this. New car owners often take GAP insurance out when they buy a car but a few years later when the replacement value of the vehicle is greater than the car loan balance it doesn’t make any sense to keep paying GAP insurance premiums. Always review the details of your existing car insurance and see if there is any room to reduce your coverage without increasing your risk.

Of course you can also forego all additional and supplemental insurance and simply purchase a policy to conform with state minimum requirements however this is never a good idea. A single car accident can quickly cost you thousands of dollars and this will not help any situation when your main priority is to save money.

Raise your Car Insurance Deductible
Auto insurance deductibles are the amount you agree to pay before your auto insurance coverage kicks in. For example if you file a claim for $5,000 in damages and have a policy deductible of $250 then you are obligated to pay the $250 before the car insurance company cuts a check for the $4,750. In terms of risk the higher the deductible the lower the risk of a policyholder filing a future claim so auto insurance companies give big discounts when you opt for a higher deductible. The downfall is you will need the cash to pay this deductible in the event of a car accident but sometimes the premium savings can be well worth it.

Getting Assistance From Auto Insurance Brokers

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Finding an auto insurance broker is a necessity. It is sensible to make use of a broker from a well known insurance company. There are companies within the industry that are more established than others. It is always more of a risk to make use of a newer company. If a company has been established over many years and has a good reputation of service to customers there is more chance they are reliable when it comes to payouts. You have every right to ask the broker for information regarding the insurance company you intend using.

Not everybody wants to approach an auto insurance broker without doing some of their own research. It is always to your benefit to approach any situation with some forethought. A good way to get information on the insurance industry is to visit an appropriate website. Rather than visiting each website of every insurance company that interests you use a website that has access to the information of many insurance companies. Such a website will also have the ability to provide you with a list of quotes. This enables you to compare premium costs and to note those that fit in with your particular budget. Your aim should be to match the cost of the premium with your requirements. Not everybody has the same needs when it comes to auto insurance.

You can approach an auto insurance broker with the quotes that interest you. He or she can then explain in depth what each policy entails and you can fine tune a policy to suit your needs. Not only should a broker provide you with information but he or she should also point out issues that you may have overlooked. In other words, a broker is an individual who must be equally loyal to the insurance company and you.