Smart Auto Insurance Blog

As to be expected, auto insurance rates are very high for teenage drivers because they are riskier since they are new and in the learning process of driving.  The article “A Crash Course On Auto Insurance” by Diane Giles on kenoshawnews.com points out that adding a teen to an auto insurance policy can double the yearly premium. 

Director of Insurance for the Consumer Federation of America, Robert Hunter, says that data on teen deaths and accidents is very bad.  It’s especially bad for young, male drivers and that is directly related to their auto insurance rates.  Auto insurance companies use this data to determine who is most likely to file a claim.  Car crashes are the number one cause of death among teens in the US.  A driver age 16-19 is 4 times more likely to have a fatal car crash compared to a driver age 25-69.  That is astonishing and extremely concerning. 

Experts agree that it is crucial for parents to get involved and educate their kids on driving safely.  Not only drugs and alcohol are distracting kids.  It’s also talking on the phone, texting, and loud and rambunctious passengers.  By having your teen contribute to their auto insurance bill it can encourage them to drive safely.  They need to understand the direct correlation between a clean driving record and the cost of auto insurance.

According to a press release, State Farm is lowering its Georgia auto insurance rates next month. As of March 9th, both comprehensive coverage and collision coverage premiums will decrease by an average of 1.5%. (However, medical and liability coverage rates will not change.) This is thanks to State Farm having to pay out fewer insurance claims than expected. This decision by the largest auto insurer in the state could save drivers over $16 million!

Get your own State Farm quote now and see if you will save money under the new rates.

A new program from Progressive Insurance allows drivers to go online and pick their own auto insurance premium. The Name Your Price tool on their website will show you the most package that best fits the price you entered. Then, you can gradually change the desired level of coverage with a slider (Want lower auto insurance rates? Up your deductible or lower your coverage limit). Pretty simple, right?

The insurer plans to take the Name Your Price tool nationwide this year. It’s currently available in these states:

• California
• Ohio
• Texas
• Florida
• Connecticut
• Kansas
• Georgia
• Maryland
• Indiana
• Illinois
• Oklahoma
• Michigan
• Pennsylvania
• Missouri
• Wisconsin
• Washington

Get your own Progressive Insurance quotes.

Progressive Insurance is launching its MyRate tracking device in Kentucky this week, according to Alex Davis from the Courier-Journal. The product is a small computer that plugs into a car’s diagnostic port under the dashboard (for cars built after 1996) and tracks a person’s driving habits. Based on those results, individual auto insurance premiums will be calculated

Behaviors tracked by MyRate include:

• How often a driver slams on the brakes
• How often a driver accelerates rapidly
• When a vehicle is used
• How many miles are driven