Smart Auto Insurance Blog

Many drivers think the items in their car are covered in their auto insurance policy, but this is often not the case.  Homeowners insurance policies and renters insurance policies often cover these items, but you will have to check with your insurer to be sure.

If you think renters insurance isn’t necessary you should think again if you are renting a property.  Unlike auto insurance, renters insurance is not required by law, but it offers almost as much value.  Many renters think they don’t have much to replace but they may not realize how quickly items such as clothes, furniture, dishes, and toiletries can add up.  Not to mention renters insurance policies can cover liability if someone is injured within the rental property.

More and more landlords are actually making renters insurance a requirement as part of the lease agreement to ensure no liability issues arise.  Fire, theft, and water damage can happen to anyone so making sure you are protected is very important.

It’s no surprise that using your phone while driving can cause accidents since your attention is taken away from the road.  But smartphones have added a new danger to the mix.  Smartphones are addicting and many Americans admit to using their phones to check email, update social sites, and read text messages despite this being against the law.

According to the article “Use Smartphones Smartly Can Help Avoid Car Accidents” by Richard Burton on AutoQuoteNow.com, 72% of people who use their phone while driving say work is what tempts them to break the law.  About 33% are drawn to social sites such as Facebook and Twitter while driving.

Fatal accidents have increased dramatically from drivers using their phones, despite laws being passed to ban such usage.  These handheld computers are a major distraction for many drivers and it takes self-discipline to wait until the drive is over to check the phone.  The good news is that awareness is on the rise and hopefully education will ultimately help to deter using smartphones while driving.

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.

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.

According to the article “Mandatory Auto Insurance Hits Wisconsin” by Hilary Dickinson on beloitdailynews.com, as of Tuesday Wisconsin drivers face a $500 fine maximum if they are caught driving without auto insurance.  This is a big change for Wisconsin auto insurance policy holders.

Wisconsin is the 49th state to make auto insurance mandatory and some auto insurance agents question whether or not the new law will be effective.  The new law requires drivers to carry proof of insurance with them when they are driving and one policy card should be kept in the vehicle at all times.  If a driver is pulled over and has insurance, but cannot prove it with a policy card then they may face a ticket.

Some experts wonder if the fines are going to be enough of an incentive for them to purchase auto insurance.  With auto insurance rates for high risk drivers being relatively high, it may be cheaper for them to take the risk of not having insurance at all.  There hasn’t been a huge increase in Wisconsin drivers shopping for auto insurance.  People who would abide such law already have auto insurance because it’s the responsible thing to do since Wisconsin already mandates drivers to be responsible for an accident financially.

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.

MSN’s Money Central web page lists the most and least expensive cars to insure for 2010.  This information is helpful to know as you shop around for auto insurance quotes to use for comparison purposes.

At the top of their list for the most expensive car to insure specifically in the “car” category is the Porsche 911 Carrera GT2 2-door coupe with 6 cylinders with an average premium of $2943.78.  The next car is the Mercedes S65 AMG 4-door sedan with 12 cylinders at $2863.03.  The 3rd most expensive car is the Porsche Panamera Turbo AWD 4-door sedan with 8 cylinders with an average premium of $2837.39.

The least expensive car to insure is the Dodge Caliber SXT 4-door hatchback with 4 cylinders with an average premium of $1192.85.  Next is the Dodge Caliber 4-door hatchback with 4 cylinders at $1196.21 and the 3rd least expensive car is the Volkswagen Golf GLS 4-door hatchback with 4 cylinders at $1196.39.  Remember to keep this information handy as you compare auto insurance rates to ensure you are getting the best deal.

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.

Infinity Auto Insurance has a branch of their company which insures collectible automobiles called Classic Collectors Insurance.  This type of insurance comes in very handy for those rarely driving a car because it is considered a Classic.

Like many auto insurance companies, Infinity has some guidelines when insuring a classic car.  For example plans have low mileage coverage - 1000, 3000, or 5000 miles.  And there is a list of things cars cannot be used for such as:

1. Work/school commute
2. Regular personal use
3. Business/commercial use
4. Racing or timed events
5. Backup transportation

There are also some strict requirements that must be adhered to.  All drivers in the household must have a valid driver’s license and may not have had more than 1 moving violation or at fault accident in the past three years.  There is a max of 2 drivers per household.  Also, the driver must have at least 10 years driving experience in order to qualify for this type of coverage.

If you own an antique, modern classic, kit cars, replicar, an exotic, street rod or a special interest modified car get auto insurance quotes to see if you can get the appropriate classic collectors coverage.

Monthly auto insurance is an option for many looking for transitional coverage or inexpensive premiums with little to no down payment.  Auto insurance companies such as Eastwood Insurance offer low down payment options and that can be invaluable for those struggling financially.

Monthly auto insurance is a policy where the rates are paid in monthly payments with a 30 day installment plan.  Customers can choose to make the payments each month as long as they want their policy current.  Terms can be offered in 3 months, 6, or even 12 month increments based on the policyholder’s situation.

Some tips to keep auto insurance rates lower include setting up automatic withdraw from your bank account to lower billing fees.  Fees could be lowered by up to $10 per month, sometimes more.  If you are able to pay in advance fees are often lowered by going this route.  The cost of monthly auto insurance will vary from carrier to carrier, and many variables are considered.  Continue to shop around and compare auto insurance quotes to ensure you are getting the best deal and not wasting your money.