Smart Auto Insurance Blog

More and more auto insurance companies are using social networking sites to promote their product and sell lower rates.  Facebook and Twitter are two of the most popular social sites and they are being used by many, which is a great tool for consumers shopping for lower auto insurance quotes.

The press release “Social Networking With Free Tools Help Shoppers Learn and Save on Auto Insurance” found on prweb.com points out that shoppers can quickly find auto insurance savings by using sites such as Twitter and Facebook to their advantage.

Auto insurance companies such as Infinity Auto Insurance have set up accounts on Facebook and Twitter with company information, job opportunities and valuable information for those looking for lower auto insurance quotes.  Infinity has what’s called a “fan page” where customers and employees can show their support for a company and share good experiences with the public.  It is still to be determined the impact these powerful social sites will have on companies’ bottom line, but it’s promising to be lucrative and worthwhile.

According to the article “AG Finds Herself on 2 Sides of a Dispute” by Bruce Mohl on boston.com, the Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is defending something she criticized not too long ago.  She is the state’s top lawyer and is defending Governor Patrick’s Administration against a lawsuit that’s saying some of the state’s auto insurance rules unfairly favor national companies coming to the MA market, such as Progressive Auto Insurance. There has also been some criticism of the way Massachusetts auto insurance quotes are determined.

The interesting thing is that this same attorney general has been known to criticize the same regulations.  She has been a representative of consumers on auto insurance debates and released a report just before the holidays that stated her belief that the managed competition auto insurance system is not saving MA drivers money.  She also accused Governor Patrick of playing favorites when determining auto insurance rules.

She basically argued in court that state officials are acting reasonably in making the auto insurance rules, but just weeks ago accuses them of playing favorites. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and if her two-sided judgement affects her defense.

As online auto insurance quotes are getting more popular so are the concerns over giving personal information over the internet in order to shop around.  According to the article “No Personal Information Needed For Online Auto Insurance Quotes” by John Pirro found on emailwire.com, auto insurance companies are recognizing these concerns and are making the process easier.

Many insurers allow online quotes without sensitive personal information such as a social security number or driver’s license number.  It’s important for consumers to understand though that the less information they share, the more of an “estimate” the quote really is.  A quote is no guarantee since most insurers use driving records and credit information in calculating auto insurance rates.

It can be beneficial to use certain websites where you only have to enter in your information once and the site will generate numerous quotes for you.  Limiting the amount of times you enter in your personal information can be helpful in keeping it safe.  Visit www.smartautoinsurance.com to learn more about obtaining online auto insurance quotes.

According to the article “North Dakota Has 3rd Lowest Auto Insurance Rates, Commissioner Says” found on Insurance Journal’s website, North Dakota has some of the most competitive auto insurance quotes in the country.

The Auto Insurance Database Report from 06-07 was released recently by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners which showed that North Dakota auto insurance has the third lowest rates in the nation.  North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm says this has been a continuing trend in the state.  North Dakota’s 07 auto insurance rate average was $657.63 which is 28% lower than the average of $911.84.

The same report shows Iowa and Wisconsin and the only two other states with lower auto insurance rates.  Washington DC, Louisiana and New Jersey ranked as the 3 most expensive states to buy auto insurance.

According to the article “Auto Insurance Customers Urged to get Breakdown Coverage” found on PrudentMinds.com, it’s extra important to have breakdown coverage through your auto insurance policy during the cold weather.

The article says that claim filings increase in the cold weather as road conditions are often hazardous.  In addition, cars are more likely to experience mechanical problems in the colder air.  The article also recommends making minor car checks before hitting the road such as oil level, anti freeze, hazard lights, tire tread and pressure, as well as ensuring you have a spare.  It’s also important to make sure your window wipers are working properly and you have sufficient wiper fluid.

In bad weather, there is a chance of being left in the cold for an extended period of time so it’s important to be protected.  It’s a good idea to keep safety items in your car such as a torch, warning sign, first aid kit, jumper cables, and a blanket.  Before you take a road trip in the wintry conditions, contact your auto insurance company to understand what type of breakdown coverage you have.

According to the article “New Year May Provide Opportunities to Save on Auto Insurance” found on the Sun Herald’s website, consumers should be aware of some personal changes that will come with the new year to obtain lower auto insurance quotes.

The first change discussed is an increase in your age.  Many companies offer lower rates with the more driving experience you have.  Also, if you have a driving violation on your record, your rates may get better with each passing year.  Eventually those violations will fall off your record and affect your quotes.  If you have gotten married it’s worth reevaluating your auto insurance rate since many companies view married couples less risky.

Another benefit to passing time is the depreciation of your automobile.  The less your car is worth the less your auto insurance rates usually are.  Once your car has reached a certain value it may be worth considering to drop your collision insurance and just keeping your liability insurance to save money.  Companies such as Eastwood Insurance incorporate all of these variables into determining your quotes, so shopping around in the new year may be well worth your time.

According to the press release “Federal Government Cracking Down on Texting While Driving” an Executive order put forth this year has banned all US government employees from texting on their cell phones while driving in government autos that are owned, leased or rented by the government.

Another part of this ban says these government employees cannot text in their own cars either if they are conducting company business or using company phones.  As of 2010, penalties are being placed on those breaking the rule.  This trend continues as over 21 states have laws banning texting while driving.  Most auto insurance companies, such as Dairyland Insurance, urge their policyholders not to text while driving.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles reports that about 30,000 car accidents per year are because of distracted drivers.  About 100 people have been killed in these types of crashes and approximately 15,000 injured.  These staggering numbers are the reasons texting laws are being passed in many states and being encouraged by many auto insurance companies.

According to the article “How Does Cell Phone Use Affect A Cheap Car Insurance Quote?” by Sharon Gibson on youronlineinsurance.com, cell phone safety is a major concern for law enforcement.  More and more traffic incidents are caused by people talking and texting on their cell phones.  Cell phone usage is a huge distraction and directly affects your driving.

More and more auto insurance companies are offering discounts to drivers who are willing to drive safer.  You may get a discount for having a cell phone disabling system which is a device which blocks calls as well as text messages while you are operating the car.  Some companies will flat out ask you what your driving habits are in regards to cell phones.  Your answer may directly affect your car insurance quotes.

In today’s busy world it is becoming increasingly harder to put down the cell phone or personal digital assistant.  It’s important to realize the impact driving while using your phone can have.  Not only are you more likely to be an unsafe driver but it could end up costing you hundreds of dollars in insurance premiums over the years.