Smart Auto Insurance Blog

The article “Jacksonville tops Florida for car crashes” by the Jacksonville Business Journal gives a brief overview of the report from the Florida Highway Patrol.  In the report it is found that Jacksonville has the highest incidents of car crashes in 2008 which may affect the city’s auto insurance rates.

Jacksonville crashes were shockingly 50% higher than Miami.  Jacksonville totaled about 14,000 car crashes throughout the year.  The 2009 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test released a report ranking Florida 43rd in the country based on exam scores.  Florida’s average driving exam score was 74.1%. 

The good news is that statewide there were less crashes that resulted in death in 2008 from 2007.  There were less than 3,000 fatalities for the first time in 8 years.  Pedestrian deaths fell about 5%, but pedestrian injuries were up about 4% overall.  These types of reports are used by Florida auto insurance companies to assist in determining rates.

Have you bought or plan to buy a smaller car to save money on gas? According to Kevin Ransom of CNN, your total savings may be less than you’d think, because drivers of smaller cars (like the Ford Focus, Mini Cooper, Toyota Yaris, Honda Civic, Nissan Altima, Toyota Prius, and Pontiac G6) tend to be charged higher auto insurance rates than those of larger vehicles.

There are several reasons why smaller cars are more expensive to insure:

1. They are more likely to be used in long, extended commutes; making them more likely to be involved in accidents.
2. Drivers may be more aggressive when driving in a smaller car. For example, they might think that they can squeeze into a small gap in traffic and end up causing an accident. Someone driving a SUV, minivan, or pickup truck probably wouldn’t take that risk.
3. With all the larger cars dominating the road, it’s simply harder for other drivers to see you in a smaller vehicle. This results in a greater chance of them crashing into you.

On average, six-month premiums can differ by several hundred dollars depending on the model of your vehicle. However, rates can vary depending on the insurer. Get auto insurance quote comparisons to find the best price for you.

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