Auto Insurance News Archive for 2009

• Local Groups against Owen County’s ATV Ordinance

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  The passing of an ordinance may be based on a popularity vote – all you need is a majority decision from commissioners and an ordinance is on its way to becoming a law. However, for Owen Country, a recently passed ordinance legalizing the use of all terrain vehicles or ATVs on county highways, which is scheduled to have its final hearing this December 21st , may still face its final storm as more and more local groups are showing up contesting that this proposed legislation will not do them any good. Included in this ordinance is a provision that grants … (more) December 23, 2009

• Arizona Drivers Expected to Pay Steeper Premiums

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Policyholders in Arizona are expected to pay steeper auto insurance premiums in the future if the budget proposal to shut down the state’s insurance fraud unit goes through. Anti-fraud groups all over the country warn that the effect will not only be felt by car insurance clients, but also by customers of health insurance companies. Reports indicate that during the first week of December, a preliminary proposal has been made in Arizona that aims to discontinue the operation of the fraud team in the state’s Insurance Department. Industry insiders are afraid that dissolving Arizona’s insurance fraud bureau will result in … (more) December 22, 2009

• Arizona to Abolish Insurance Fraud Unit

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  The holiday spirit of some drivers in Arizona may be dampened a bit as recent reports said that the state’s Department of Insurance anti-fraud unit may be shut down as a part of Arizona’s cost cutting measures. According to sources, the state is currently facing an alarming $2 billion state budget deficit and seriously needs to cut back on certain state functions. If Arizona does proceed with the abolishment of its insurance’s anti-fraud unit, it would be the first state in the US to do, affecting not only auto insurance but also health insurance. Arizona’s Coalition Against Insurance Fraud warns … (more) December 22, 2009

• Kansas Still Remains as Top State with Lowest Premium Rates

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Kansas – drivers from the Midwest state have more reasons to be more festive this holiday season as insurance regulators report that Kansans is among the US states with the lowest auto policy premiums. According to reports, the Kansas Insurance Department recently announced that the state ranks sixth lowest in the country in the list of states with an average amount spent by drivers for car insurance. Looking back in the past years, 2009 yearend ranking marks a fifth consecutive year that Kansas has achieved a high rank, making the state one of the leaders when it comes to affordable … (more) December 21, 2009

• New York Auto Insurance: The Good and Bad News

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Reports from Albany, New York paint a bad news-good news story as New Yorkers continue to pay the third most expensive amount in the US for auto policy premiums despite the fact that car insurance rates in the state continue to go down. Sources say that contradicting news and information about New York premium rates is nothing new to New Yorkers as this phenomenon seems to be happening year after year. According to the annual report published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, back in 2007, average premium rates paid by New York drivers was $1,179. The year before … (more) December 21, 2009

• New Year New Policy Requirements for Louisiana

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Reports from Louisiana point out that the New Year will bring a startling new change to the state as more coverage levels will be required from existing policy holders. Of course, with more levels of protection come more expensive auto insurance premiums. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, said in a recent interview that come January 1, 2010, a new provision in the state legislation will take effect, requiring motorists to have upgraded and much higher levels of car liability insurance. Commissioner Donelon adds that by the first day of 2010, premium rates will go up by approximately 12% – 14% for … (more) December 20, 2009

• Virginia Drivers Advised to Drive More Carefully and to Lessen Texting

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Perhaps due to the holiday season, driving and texting has become a new and hazardous trend that is making local and federal authorities crack down not only regular everyday drivers, but on drivers of government agencies as well. Recent reports from Richmond, Virginia show that drivers are strongly coerced to be more careful and responsible when taking control behind the wheel. According to insurance providers in Virginia, forcing drivers to be more responsible comes with good reason. Whether they are changing radio stations, taking a quick bite from a sandwich, talking on the phone or interacting with some passengers, drivers … (more) December 20, 2009

• 720,000 Signatures Push California Car Insurance Rate Initiative

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  According to recent reports from California, lawmakers behind the auto insurance premium rates initiative have already submitted signatures and are now waiting for results as to where their signatures will take their cause. As of Monday, December 14, 720,000 signatures have been gathered, making this measure qualified for the 2010 ballot. Sources say that proponents of this proposed initiative believe that what they are doing will change rate-setting rules for car or vehicle insurance providers. The vehicle insurance rates initiative or “The Continuous Coverage Auto Insurance Discount Act” aims to widen the ability of companies and providers to use motorist’s … (more) December 19, 2009

• Doubts Regarding California Auto insurance Act

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Monday, December 14 – proponents of the car insurance initiative in California or “The Continuous Coverage Auto Insurance Discount Act” have gathered 720,000 signatures, enough to support it for the 2010 ballot. However, groups against the discount act are coming out and saying that this proposed initiative is nothing more than a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Insurance insiders are starting to doubt whether the motive behind this initiative is really to promote benefit of consumers. According to experts, a provision saying that the extending of premium discounts will not apply to policy holders who had a lapse in coverage is … (more) December 19, 2009

• Auto Insurance Reforms as Christmas Gifts for Michigan Drivers

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  As if getting a reward for being nice throughout the year, car owners and drivers in Michigan can expect a Christmas treat as amendments in state laws regarding auto insurance coverage are set to be scheduled for sessions before December ends. According to yearend statistics compiled by major insurance providers in the US, Michigan leads the nation in diminishing the number of grave car crashes, which have been significantly reduced by approximately 54%. Drivers in Michigan also have the highest percentage of seat belt use in the country, having a rate of 97.2%. In addition, the number of accidents caused … (more) December 18, 2009

• Car Insurance in Michigan Set To Be Reformed

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Reports say that reforms in Michigan auto insurance are within reach now more than ever as providers in the state receive preferential treatment above that of consumers and other industries. Recent reports indicate that insurance companies are exempted from the US’ antitrust laws and Michigan’s Consumer Protection Act. This means that providers can increase premium rates without a need to secure prior state approval, while the law necessitates motorists to purchase their products and services. More importantly, Michigan’s 36-year-old auto No Fault law, which experts insist needs an overhaul, can now be amended easily. Senate Minority Leader Mike Prusi and … (more) December 18, 2009

• Number of Uninsured Drivers Go Up in Texas

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Navarro County remains a problem for the state of Texas as the area remains on a red alert for being a home to a high number of uninsured motorists. According to state records, approximately one in every 5 vehicles in Navarro County does not match with their current auto policy; this makes 22.54% of its total number of registered vehicles on the road uninsured, a slightly higher statistic compared to Texas’ average of 22%. A state database shows that counties that surround North Central Texas have an average of roughly 20%, except Ellis County that has a lower average of … (more) December 17, 2009

• Insurance Records Mismatched with Texas Drivers

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  A number of Texas counties have a problem matching the number of registered vehicles with their current auto policy.  Major insurance providers in Texas say that this failure of the state’s database to match records correctly causes a big problem especially since there is a huge percentage of motorists who do not posses auto insurance. To solve this problem, letters have been sent to more than 100,000 Texas drivers starting November 30 asking them to verify and match their insurance information. According to Texas Department of Insurance spokesman Jerry Hagins, the challenge for officers and patrol officials on public highways … (more) December 17, 2009

• Washington supports Pay as you drive

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, currently stands as one of the major supporters of this pay-as-you-drive concept, the idea of having auto insurance policies available that aims to lessen carbon emissions by rewarding motorists who drive less. The question now is whether state commissioner Kreidler will mandate all insurance providers to carry such policy as legislators are still debating regarding the issue. According to reports, pay-as-you-drive concept is similar to environmental movements such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED and the Energy Star appliance standards, a distinction being that pay-as-you-drive tends to combat environment degradation thru … (more) December 16, 2009

• Yes Or No: Should “Pay As You Drive” Policies Be Required?

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  As Pennsylvania State Insurance commissioner and National Climate Change Task Force chair Joel Ario backs up the idea of having auto insurance that cuts back carbon emissions or more commonly known as the pay-as-you-drive policy and believes that it should be imposed in other states, regulators argue if there is really a need to impose private companies to offer such policy. State regulators who shy away from the idea argue that the concept is already expanding in a very quick pace with local motorists easily embracing the idea and there is no need for to be mandated. On the other … (more) December 16, 2009

• New Mexico Motorists Reminded to be More Careful During Winter

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  States officials said that local authorities and insurance providers should be getting ready for whatever may happen during climate changes this holiday season. As the holiday season arrives, it also marks the winter season where insurance claims are at its peak and the number of collision and accident reports pile up. Motorists, especially in New Mexico, are once again reminded to take an extra precaution when getting on the road during winter. In states where the number of winter car accidents keeps on increasing year after year, extra precaution is needed. In New Mexico, the Emergency Management Department as well … (more) December 15, 2009

• San Francisco says NO to pay as you drive

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Key insurance regulators in San Francisco announced their reaction regarding the issue on enforcing emissions-cutting car insurance; and their reaction is a big NO. According to sources, San Francisco regulators do not want to mandate the insurance industry to start offering auto policies that aims to cut back on emissions by having clauses that rewards drivers who drive less. Regulators also even said no to future plans of offering such policies, often referred to as “pay-as-you-drive.”  According to reports, San Francisco will need more time before it will accept this idea of helping environmental movements by controlling auto insurance. Going … (more) December 15, 2009