Smart Auto Insurance Blog

JD Power’s 2009 National Auto Insurance Study offers auto insurance provider ratings for a wide variety of insurers such as Encompass Car Insurance.  Encompass rated average which is good considering it’s a smaller company.

In the category of overall satisfaction, Encompass ranked average.  The category of contacting the insurer also ranked average.  Policy offerings received two stars which is the second to worst rating to receive.  Billing payment was considered average and pricing received two stars.  Overall the company achieved an average ranking.

It’s convenient that JD Power is ranking smaller companies, but other smaller insurers such as Dairyland Insurance are not included in the ranking report.  You can still receive reviews on these smaller companies through review websites or the Better Business Bureau.  As you shop around for car insurance you want to consider how other people view their experience with the company.  Price is obviously very important but you need to understand what you are getting for the price quoted.

According to the press release “Progressive Launches Industry’s First Android App for Car Insurance” from Business Wire, Progressive Auto Insurance has a phone application for the Google Android (TM) operating program.  Android happens to be the fastest growing smart phone out there according to data from comScore, Inc.

Matt Lehman, Progressive’s Web experience director says they have seen a 30% increase in visits to their Mobile Website by Android owners over the last 4 months.  They have aimed to simplify the mobile app experience for the Android customers.

Progressive is the first major US auto insurance company to offer an Android app for auto insurance.  They also have an iPhone Apple application as well as their Mobile Website.  You can download the free Progressive app for your Android at the Marketplace on Android phones.

Many companies are leaning towards mobile phone users since more and more consumers want to access their financial information through their phone.  Benefits of these various applications include getting car insurance quotes and purchasing a policy, making payments and updating policy information, and reporting ad tracking claims.  In is the wave of the future, and perhaps smaller auto insurance companies, such as Dairyland Insurance, will offer some sort of similar benefit for their customers.

Many question whether or not gap insurance, offered by most auto insurance companies, is worth the money.  If you need it, it will come in extremely handy.  According to the article “Car Gap Insurance: Is it Right For You?” by Russ Heaps on bankrate.com defines gap insurance as the coverage difference between the actual value of your new car and what the value was when you drove off the lot.

This can be a huge benefit if you are in an accident with your new car because the average new car loses 30% of its value the first year after it is purchased.  By the 3rd year that loss in value will be closer to 50% according to the senior consumer advice editor at Edmonds.com, the auto data provider.  If you are protected with gap insurance your insurance company will pay the difference in this high cost, rather than you.

You are a good candidate for gap insurance if you lease a car, finance it for 60 months or more, put down less than 20%, roll negative equity from a previous loan into a new car loan, driver over 15,000 miles a year or buy a new car with a history of high depreciation rates.  Check with your auto insurance company to see if this gap coverage is offered.  Get a quote with Dairyland Insurance to see if their benefits suit your needs.

Many people do not realize that you can rent a motorcycle for short periods of time.  You can enjoy the sublime feeling of riding on a beautiful day without the commitment of purchasing a motorcycle outright.  According to the article “Yes, Motorcycles Can Be Rented” by Dan Sorenson on azstarnet.com, rates for renting a motorcycle for a day can range from $99 to $200.

The more expensive ranges for renting a motorcycle usually include higher end models and insurance coverage.  If you owned a motorcycle you would purchase a separate policy through a company that offers motorcycle insurance, such as Dairyland Insurance, but through renting you can get that included.

Most rental companies have basic requirements for renting a motorcycle.  You must be 21 years old or older, have a valid driver’s license which includes a motorcycle endorsement, and a deposit with a credit card good with at least $1000 in available credit.

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 “Regulators Shy Away From Imposing Emissions-Cutting Auto Insurance” by Evan Lehmann on NYTimes.com, key insurance regulators recently said they won’t require the auto insurance industry to offer auto insurance policies that help reduce emissions by rewarding drivers who are on the road less.

The regulators also weren’t keen on the new plan to make those policies standard across the county.  This plan is often known as “pay-as-you-drive”.  Joel Ario, Pennsylvania’s insurance commissioner believes they will never require the pay-as-you-drive concept.  Ario and other researchers have promoted the drive less mentality over the years.  They believe drivers will stay off the roads more if they know they will pay less on auto insurance quotes because of it.  This will lead to less environmentally unfriendly emissions from automobiles.

The concepts are similar to other movements such as the Energy Star appliance standards, and the green building code called LEED, or Leadership Energy and Environmental Design.  Auto insurance companies such as Eastwood Insurance, would have to offer some type of policy that rewards drivers for driving less, but in a way this already makes drivers less risky which often translates to lower rates.

Dairyland Insurance, which specializes in covering motorcycles has agents in many states.  Like most auto insurance companies they determine your rate by a number of criteria, and when shopping around for motorcycle insurance particularly it’s important to know what factors are being used.

According to the article “Dairyland Motorcycle Insurance” on motorcycle-insurance-tips.com, your car insurance quotes are based on your age, how much experience you have driving a bike, your location, claims history and driving record.  They also considered if you have taken the important MSF training course on motorcycles.

They type of bike you drive is also factored in.  The newer and more expensive the bike, generally the more expensive it will be.  You can have some control over your monthly premium by adjusting your coverage levels for medical and liability protection.  Wealthy drivers with a lot of assets may want more protection then someone with little to no assets.

According to the article “Drunken Driving, and Motorcycle Deaths Decline” by Gary Richards on The Daily Democrat, fatal motorcycle crashes caused by drivers who are under the influence of alcohol are on the decline in California.  This may end up affecting California auto insurance rates.

There are many factors that contribute to this statistic, but the author says that stricter laws, better law enforcement, and better education have contributed to fewer deaths.  Also, the economic downturn is causing more people to drink at home and save money by not purchasing motorcycles. 

Dairyland Insurance, which specializes in motorcycle insurance, may see an impact to their rates as crashes decline.  If you receive a DUI, it can stay on your driving record for up to 10 years and some counties are requiring even first time offenders to blow into a breathalyzer before their car will start.  These are just a few examples of the stricter laws that may be causing fewer accidents and fewer claims being filed by drivers.  This ultimately saves insurance companies money and allows them to offer lower premiums.

Rates on your auto insurance quotes for your motorcycle have many determining factors.  Some of these include the type of motorcycle you drive, your experience with driving a motorcycle and your driving history.

Another thing insurance companies consider when calculating your quote is what type of training you have had in driving a motorcycle.  DMV’s and other safety classes offer classes that educate you on the particulars of driving a motorcycle.  Having this type of course under your belt may lower your auto insurance quotes.  It’s important to keep any certificates you may receive to prove your class registration.

Many auto insurance companies offer motorcycle insurance, including Dairyland Insurance, which is a subsidiary of Sentry Insurance, a parent company.  They specialize in motorcycle insurance as well as other forms of non-standard auto insurance protection.  They have been rated very strong by Standard and Poors for the last 5 years for their excellent business.  About 20% of their customers live in Florida but they are licensed in many states.

Are you in the market for a motorcycle?  One thing to consider when making your purchase is that you will need an insurance policy for your new bike.  You will want to shop around to find the policy that fits your lifestyle, much like you will look for a bike that fits your needs.  Most states require you to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage, but there are many other types of optional coverage choices.

Some companies specialize in motorcycle policies such as Dairyland Auto Insurance, a member of the Sentry Insurance Group, and can give you detailed information on what you may be looking for.  You can also use comparison sites such as smartautoinsurance.com to find the best rate if price is your number one concern.  It may be worth your while to take a training course such as the Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider course, since many companies will offer a 10-15% discount to graduates of similar courses.  There are also multi-bike discounts for those insuring more than one bike as well as organization discounts for members of certain motorcycle associations.

Many factors go into determining the rate of your motorcycle insurance.  Bike type, style, and age are just a few, so keep this in mind as you are shopping for your new motorcycle.  Just like you plan on choosing the right bike for you, it’s important to ensure the company who insures your bike is right as well.