Auto Insurance News Archive for June, 2009

• Wisconsin State Senator Fights Auto Insurance Rate Hikes

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  State Senator Mary Lazich says that she insisted the removal of a state provision that would require car owners and motorists to take on additional coverage and in the process increase auto insurance premiums. Her proposal amendment came up during early budget deliberations on the Wisconsin senate floor just last week. In her blog “Conservatively Speaking”, Lazich criticized the provision, saying that with the current economic gloom gripping the nation, the state should not “encourage” motorists to do away with their car insurance. Lazich explained that agents in the auto insurance industry confirmed a hike in auto insurance premiums this … (more) June 23, 2009

• New Jersey Insurer Launches Roadside Assistance Program

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  A New Jersey-based auto insurance provider recently announced that it will be launching a new roadside assistance program for its policy holders come June 27. Teachers’ Insurance Plan of New Jersey said that in addition to its already existing services, the firm insurance provider will be introducing a roadside assistance program for interested customers. “With First Class Roadside Assistance, our customers can travel the country knowing that ‘we have their backs’ in the case of an emergency,” said Marc V. Buro, President of Teachers Auto Insurance Company of New Jersey. He also added, “This package of benefits and services far … (more) June 23, 2009

• SUVs, Sports Cars, Most Expensive to Insure, Research Shows

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Talk about a hole in the pocket. A research released by Insure.com confirms a well-known fact among auto insurers – large SUVs and high-performance sports cars are the cost the most to insure. The research revealed that among the new car models introduced this year, the most expensive to insure is the latest version of Nissan GT-R. The Japanese supercar comes equipped with a 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 engine and 485 horses galloping under the hood. “GT-R owners who are young with less-than-spotless driving records could easily see their annual car-insurance premiums zoom to several thousand dollars,” the report said. In … (more) June 23, 2009

• Auto Repair Shop Owners Decry ‘Steering’

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Talk about David versus Goliath. The owners of auto repair shops in this part of New York have cried foul over the covert practices that some large auto insurers are sticking to when policyholders bring in their vehicles for repairs. Randy Hassell, the owner of Hassel Bros. Auto Body in Jamaica, Queens, deals regularly with representatives and agents of some of the biggest auto insurance firms in the US. He says that more often than not, auto insurers try to weasel their way out of paying claims made by clients involved in accidents, especially those that need repair. When Hassell … (more) June 20, 2009

• Bad Economy Boosts Direct Car Insurance Marketing

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  With the financial slump taking its toll on once-strong US companies, many industry leaders are cutting back on their advertising and marketing expenses. Despite the substantial cutbacks on ad spending, auto insurance companies are resorting to more direct means to reach potential clients and customers. Car insurance firms have been relentlessly sending out direct mail offers to prospective policyholders in an effort to stem the grim economic outlook. Mintel Comperemedia, a provider of direct marketing competitive intelligence and data, says that a total of three billion (that’s billion with a B) mail offers were sent by auto insurers to American … (more) June 20, 2009

• Car Insurance Firm Starts Campaign for Wounded Soldiers

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Who says that you can’t help others and save money at the same time? A car insurance firm has found a way to continue its business and help the country’s brave men and women. Auto insurance company CheapestCarInsurance.com launched its latest program aimed at helping car owners get discounts for their premiums and at the same time, help wounded servicemen and their families. Interested clients can log on to CheapestCarInsurance.com’s website and fill out the forms for free online insurance quotes and half of the income generated will be donated by insurance companies to The Wounded Warrior Project, a charitable … (more) June 20, 2009

• Insurance Giant Launches ‘behavior-based’ Program

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Progressive, one of the country’s leading insurance companies recently launched its latest program which targets less-risky drivers and cars. The new service, called MyRate, is a behavior-based insurance program being offered in Connecticut. The new product gives drivers the chance to avail of special rates based on how they drive, when they usually drive, and how much they take their cars out for a spin. However, the new program is available only to Connecticut drivers and car owners who purchase it from the internet or through the phone. By giving clients the freedom to affect and alter their premium rates, … (more) June 20, 2009

• Car insurance rates on the rise in Georgia

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  With the economic crunch still keeping a tight hold over Americans’ wallets, insurance rates in the state of Georgia continue to increase significantly. As the effect of the financial crisis on Wall Street trickles down into the different insurance industries, companies are raising their rates this year in Georgia and in other states. And if previous insurance trends take hold, then insurance policies can cost even more once the economy starts to make a recovery. While home insurance costs rose anywhere from 5% to 11% this year according to the Georgia Department of Insurance, hikes in car insurance rates have … (more) June 18, 2009

• Car Insurers Eyeing Pet Coverage

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Apparently, pets deserve the same treatment as their owners, even when it comes to insurance coverage. More and more auto insurance firms are offering coverage for pets involved in car-related accidents. At present, there are four insurers offering up to $1,000 to clients whose pets have sustained injury or worse, died, in car accidents. Pet coverage gained a new boost when a local TV station showed a short news story about a resident who narrowly escaped a watery grave when the woman’s car was rear-ended into a canal. The CBS news crew was able to capture footage of the driver … (more) June 18, 2009