Smart Auto Insurance Blog

Auto insurance premiums for high risk drivers through the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association (TIAPA) will drop by about 7.6% starting January 1, 2011.  This is according to the article “Rates for High Risk Drivers in Texas Falling; Coverage Minimums to Rise” posted on InsuranceJournal.com.

Texas Insurance Commissioner, Mike Geeslin, has ordered overall auto insurance rates to drop for TIAPA personal auto insurance policies in the state.  In addition to this, the minimum amounts of motor vehicle liability insurance required by law to establish financial responsibility in Texas will increase starting January 1st.

This is important news for Texas auto insurance carriers as they shop around for coverage.  Knowing what coverage is required is important to ensure protection is adequate in case of an accident.  According to OnlineAutoInsurance.com, TIAPA saw a 2.2% increase from 2009 to 2010 in auto insurance rates and with many consumers struggling financially, Texans want to see this trend stop.

According to the article “Auto Claims Customer Satisfaction Still High, But Dips From ‘09″ by NU Online News Service on Property-Casualty.com, overall auto insurance claims satisfaction dropped in 2010 because of a decrease in settlement satisfaction based on a study from JD Power & Associates.

JD Power & Associates released its 2010 US Auto Claims Satisfaction Study recently and it shows the number of consumers who filed claims considered their fair dropped in 2010 when compared with the 2009 results.  Satisfaction with claims service is still higher than it was in 2008 which is a good sign.  For the study, auto insurance companies were ranked based on consumer responses, on first notice of loss, service interaction, repair process, appraisal, settlement, rental experience and overall satisfaction.

The senior director of insurance practice at JD Power & Associates, Jeremy Bowler, says the industry experienced huge improvements in 2009 partly because of a 2 day reduction in overall repair time year over year which is a major feat.  In 2010 repair times increased slightly but overall satisfaction is still good.

The recent earthquake in Ontario, Canada was felt throughout many states in the US, including Vermont, New York, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.  It was a reminder of the vulnerability of the US to this type of the disaster according to the article found on insurancenewsnet.com from a news release by The Insurance Institute.

Earthquakes are not covered under standard US homeowners insurance policies nor auto insurance policies.  Cars and other vehicles may be covered under an optional comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy.  Ohio auto insurance and companies such as Eastwood Insurance may have various options for you to look into.

Earthquake insurance policies usually carry a deductible in the form of a percent rather than a dollar amount.  The deductible range can vary anywhere from 2% to 20% of the building’s replacement value.  Earthquake insurance rates differ greatly from state to state and company to company.  Several factors are considered such as location, construction materials, and how close a structure is to a fault line.  If you think you may be at risk look into what options are available with your insurance provider.

According to the press release “The Hartford Tops Ranking of Auto Insurance Web Sites” found on Business Wire, Hartford Auto Insurance has one of the most user-friendly websites.

The Hartford Financial Services Group, INC, announced recent research put forth by Change Sciences Group, which gives their website top marks for consumer use.  The study looked at ease-of-use, content quality, the use of social media, and persuasiveness compared with the top 17 auto insurance companies.  Based on this information, this would be an easy site to use to get quotes on auto insurance as well as purchase a policy. 

Pam Pavliscak, a partner at Change Sciences Group says The Hartford scored the best in the research because the site requires lower user effort and simultaneously providing valuable information.  They practice hyper usability, which is working to ease the burden of entering data and navigating the site.  They provide the appropriate information at the right time, making it easier for consumers to get through the site with ease.  Hartford Auto Insurance prioritizes the improvement of their online presence because they realize how important it is to an overall successful insurer.

According to the article “Auto Insurance Industry Improving…Will Rates Decrease?” by Brad Ricahrds posted on WorldBreakingNews.com, the auto insurance industry has reported slight growth over their 2009 results.  They are hopeful this means the industry is making an upward turn for the long haul and will result in lower auto insurance rates over time.

During tough times many drivers cut back to the most basic auto insurance coverage possible to save money.  Some carry no coverage at all.  As the economy picks up again, consumers start upgrading their insurance protection which is good news for auto insurance companies.  Many are hoping that this recovery will cause auto insurance rates to go down.

A new bill, Proposition 17, is expected to pass and will require auto insurance companies to give discounts to car owners that have had auto insurance protection for periods of time.  It’s expected to work as a reward system for loyal customers but is could reduce overall auto insurance rates for many drivers on the road.

According to the article “AAA Hawaii Lowers Car Insurance Rates” posted on USInsuranceonline.com, car insurance quotes are going down in Hawaii.

Auto insurance from AAA Auto Insurance in Hawaii will be costing drivers about 10% less because of a recent approval from the state insurance commissioner.  AAA says the lower rates will save residents about $120 per year on average.

State insurance Commissioner Jeffrey Schmidt says The Insurance Division carefully reviewed the rate filing and they were happy to approve a discount for Hawaii drivers.  In addition to the drop in auto insurance rates, AAA states that drivers could get even more discounts for various different reasons.  Discounts will be available for having more than one car on a policy, holding more than one policy, and having a history of safe driving.  This is great news as many try to save money during these tough times.

One of the major factors auto insurance companies use when determining your car insurance rates is your driving record.  According to the article “Are You Driving Distracted, and is Your Auto Insurance Suffering” published on lexch.com, even non-fatal crashes are bad to have on your driving record.  Driving safely can end up saving you a lot of money in the long run.

According to Distraction.gov, which is the official US Government site for distracted driving, there are 3 main types of distractions which include visual, manual and cognitive.  In 2008, distracted drivers caused about 5870 fatal car crashes.  This is a staggering statistic which should motivate us all to stop unnecessary distractions while driving such as talking on our phone, texting, or eating.  Even having a conversation with other passengers can distract you from focusing on the road.

Before you get car insurance quotes, be sure to understand where your driving record stands.  Accidents do fall off your record over time as well as tickets and even some DUI’s.  But it’s important to note that the safer you drive, the less likely you are to be in an accident and pay higher car insurance rates.  Not to mention you may save lives, including your own and friends and family, if you are consistently a very safe driver.  There are so many reasons to drive safe, and no good reason to risk it and distract yourself from paying constant attention to the road.

State Farm auto insurance is a proud supporter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), whose primary mission is to put an end to drunk driving and support victims of such crimes.  They also fight to put an end to underage drinking.  State Farm is a national sponsor and they share very similar values in educating youth about the dangers of drinking.

“Protecting You/Protecting Me” is a comprehensive program offered through MADD which uses an approach to stop underage drinking through effective, educational efforts to stop the access of alcohol to our youth.  This excellent program is a research-based plan which is nationally recognized nationally.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention named it a “Model Program”.

State Farm and Meharry Medical College also came together to research why seat belt and child safety is lower among African Americans.  They plan on using the findings to influence legislation to further support cultural public awareness programs.

Driver safety continues to be a priority of State Farm.  If you choose to disregard any safety provisions put forth by the law, then not only are you putting yourself and other drivers lives at risk but you are increasing your chances of paying higher auto insurance rates or having to carry SR-22 insurance.  There are no benefits to breaking the law when it comes to driving.

Bristol West Auto Insurance, along with many other auto insurance companies are getting hit with fraudulent claims.  According to the article “Report: Staged Car Wrecks On the Rise” by James Hart on blogs.kansascity.com, there has been a 40% jump in car accidents since 2007 staged on purpose with the sole purpose of ripping off insurers like Bristol West.  This statistic comes from a report from The National Crime Insurance Bureau.

Many of the fraud accidents are committed by all knowing parties, but sometimes the perpetrators target innocent drivers.  To avoid becoming a target, follow these simple tips:

• Avoid tailgating
• Always call the police immediately if you are involved in an accident
• Use your phone camera to document any damage as soon as it happens
• Never admit fault

Protecting yourself on the road is very important and knowing this type of fraud is going on can help you be more prepared if you are involved in an accident.  Avoiding the accident altogether is obviously ideal so your car insurance quotes are not affected.

As America becomes more and more environmentally aware, the sales of hybrid cars increase.  According to the press release “Top 10 Most Popular Hybrids Quoted for Auto Insurance in 2009″ found on PRWeb.com, quotes on auto insurance for hybrid cars is the information used in obtaining this list.

The top five most popular hybrid cars based on auto insurance quotes are the following:

1. Toyota Prius
2. Toyota Camry Hybrid
3. Honda Civic Hybrid
4. Ford Escape Hybrid
5. Lexus RX400h

Owning a hybrid may earn you discounts on your auto insurance in addition to saving you on gas costs and helping the environment.  Shop around when you are looking to cover your new hybrid car and ensure you are getting the best deal.