Most Recent Auto Insurance News in State Insurance News

• Safeco required to disclose customers who have been surcharged for Auto Insurance

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  The Court of Appeal in Los Angeles California has passed judgment that Safeco Insurance Co, the Seattle based insurance company is now required to disclose information on which customers they surcharged for not having continual auto insurance. According to the proceedings between Safeco Insurance Company of America v/s The Superior Court of Los Angeles County, the plaintiffs have stated that surcharges that were not approved and disclosed were in violation of Proposition 103 which was approved in 1988 by California voters as the insurance regulation. Consumer Watchdog invested in Safeco auto insurance application process in 2002, post which Consumer Watchdog … (more) April 22, 2010

• MetLife Auto and Home now includes an Identity Theft Service

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  MetLife Auto and Home has added the functionality of an Identity Theft Service to help protect their customers’ from tax related identity theft. The program is made available to its customers from states where such a service is permitted by regulators, to protect them from identity theft with respect to their vehicles and homes at no extra cost. Bob Lundgren, vice president of product marketing at MetLife Auto & Home said “Tax-related identity theft has become a serious consumer concern, impacting tens of thousands of taxpayers each and every year,” With use of this service, customers who suspect that they … (more) April 21, 2010

• Congress Seeks Insurance Records

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  After Toyota released a statement that they will be recalling 8 million cars worldwide due to a faulty part, State Farm released a statement that way back in late 2007, they had noticed a trend and informed the NHTSA – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of a possible problem with Toyota vehicles. The insurance company also kept in touch with the NHTSA – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after the complaint. State Farm noticed a sharp increase in the number of Toyota vehicles involved in accidents and thought that something was amiss. Other insurance companies didn’t register any such statistics, … (more) April 20, 2010

• Arizona to verify Auto Insurance

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Jan Brewer, Gov of Arizona has enforced a bill which aims at reducing the number of uninsured motorists. HB2224 states that a driver who has a three or more violations for not providing proof of insurance within a three year period will be required to submit proof of financial responsibility before the state restores the persons drivers license and license and registration plates are re-installed. According to Arizona law, the owner of a motor vehicle must be able to provide proof of financial responsibility; this evidence must be carried in the vehicle at all times. Failure to produce the evidence … (more) April 19, 2010

• The rule of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts disappoints the MAIA President

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  A law suit by the Arbella Mutual Insurance Co and the insurance agents of the state based on costs given to a new company and the policy related to the risk plan was approved by the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. This legal battle began in June of 2008, questioning the decision made by Commissioner Nonnie Burnes who added a process to help new insurance companies to assign high risks and the profile of individual agents who owned the rights to rework on this process. The state’s earlier auto insurance system gave private organizations levy to charge their customers, which was … (more) April 17, 2010

• A Bill that raises the Minimal Insurance Coverage drivers in Maryland must have on their insurance policies was passed by a second Senate Committee on Monday.

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Based on a survey conducted by the state Division of Insurance, it showed the benefits of the ‘managed competition auto insurance system’ for the last one year in Massachusetts show carriers added to individual agencies to nine auto insurance companies. The survey also shows a dip in drivers who are not insured and the market written policies. The average premium based on each automobile witnessed a dip in the year when it was part of managed competition. As for the reports from DOI, from the year 2006 to the year 2007 this dipped only to 5.2%. The state earlier had … (more) April 16, 2010

• Second Senate Committee Okays Minimum liability auto insurance bill

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  A Bill that raises the Minimal Insurance Coverage drivers in Maryland must have on their insurance policies was passed by a second Senate Committee on Monday. The Judicial Proceedings Committee held hearings on the bill and it showed statements from victims of various accidents supportive of the change and opposed by people who advocate for the poor “We are seriously concerned about what this will do to the most vulnerable people in the state,” Job Opportunities Task Force’s Melissa Broome stated. 90 percent of drivers involved in automobile accidents are low income persons according to Frank Boston. The minimum coverage … (more) April 15, 2010

• Car damage claims set to rise in 2010

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Recent news foresees a high rise in insurance claims this year for car damages. This news, reported from various car insurance companies throughout the UK and United States in addition to local police reports, directs this anticipated dilemma to the increasing percentage of irresponsible car owners, young and inexperienced drivers, damage brought by natural disasters, deficient car insurance policies and premiums, and, non-car insurance coverage holders. Safety on the road is always number one for every car owner. Governments of UK and US have been growing concerns on road safety, thus their calls on safety measures instructed strictly in the … (more) April 13, 2010

• The Global Economy Meltdown and Car Insurance Companies

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Insurance companies have spoken and broadsheets have announced…no company is being wasted by the global economy meltdown. One by one, insurance companies lose one tire in the leg of the race in the competition to service delivery to every insurance holder in the country. Even the biggest was not spared. The most recent of reports announced State Farm—one of the biggest insurance corporations, was badly hit by the wave of critical dilemmas of the economic crisis. From investigation backed up by statements and reports from the company, 2008 was the biggest lost yet, with a sum total of USD 542 … (more) April 12, 2010

• Client Letter Ranks One for the Trusted Insurance Company

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Client Letter of Top Down Systems Corporation has recently been chosen by New Jersey’s High Point Property and Casualty Insurance Company to aid in its document automation solution. Client Letter is innovative software that delivers to car insurance needs, focusing on document process and back-up systems. Working towards a goal of delivering to all client needs including letter correspondence to customer service through calls, this document automation software is said to give clients a more hassle-free customer care support from the insurance company. Clients of High Point Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its affiliates will now enjoy an easy-to-use … (more) April 9, 2010

• More Effective Auto Insurance in 2010

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  The percentage of uninsured drivers in the United States has come down to 13.5% from the earlier 14.9%* as a result of focused efforts made in the beginning of 2010. These positive results can be attributed to a concerted effort by various states to promote public safety across the country. This is certainly a welcome trend, considering that earlier legislative actions to bring down the number of uninsured motorists were relatively slow to show results. This trend, which has been mapped by the Insurance Research Council, takes into account the number of insurance claims filed by individuals, and calculates the … (more) April 7, 2010

• Michigan Auto Insurance Bills Left Undecided, Senate Takes Off!

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  The senate of Michigan took off even without taking any sort of action just before Christmas when the bill package for casualty or property insurance was passed already by the house representatives. According to the package, the commissioner of insurance would get more power of authority along with other things. He would have more authority over strips and rate insurers of their capability to use credit points, levels of education and their other qualifications in fields of occupation in underwriting. Melvin Butch Hollowell, the state’s consumer advocate shows reports presented by the legislation of its recommendations in February. The supporters … (more) April 6, 2010

• Auto Insurance Assessment moves up north by 14% in Michigan

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Starting 1st July, 2010 till 30th June 2011, the cost of assessment by Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association for the insurance providers will cost $143.09 per vehicle insured by them. Last year the prices dropped by $18, but then increased by around $20 and currently, the assessment by the MCCA stands at $124.89. The no fault insurance law in Michigan states that the cost that might be incurred by the MCCA during the course of the coverage period should be covered by the premium for the policy. All or some of the deficits incurred by the MCCA also needs to be … (more) April 4, 2010

• Electronic Insurance System for verifying auto insurance in West Virginia

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  The lawmakers in West Virginia are making it easy for the courts and police professionals to check if a particular driver has the minimum insurance liability specified by the state. This measure, which already had the backing of the Senate, has now been approved by the house. This electronic verification system, being developed by Division of Motor Vehicles, will check the credibility of the insurance coverage by contacting the insurance providers. This system will need to cooperation of the insurance providers to make it a success. The bill now awaits the signature of Governor Joe Manchin for implementation purposes. The … (more) April 2, 2010

• North Dakota Auto Insurance Rates are the Lowest in US

  by Jeanny Hopper

  Grand Forks Herald of North Dakota reported on March 23, 2010 that the state had the lowest auto insurance costs in the United States. The newspaper cited a report of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or NAIC, released in December, 2009. According to the report, the average auto insurance premiums paid by drivers of North Dakota was around $511.79 in 2007, which was the most recent data collected by the NAIC. The report revealed that the national average of annual auto insurance premiums were $794.98. The report of NAIC showed that Washington D.C. headed the list in the cost … (more) March 31, 2010

• Illinois Police Enforce Strict Traffic Regulations, Arrest 24

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  The Daily Gazette in Sterling, Illinois reported on March 28, 2010 that the state police authorities head been tightening the enforcement of traffic law compliance. The police department had named the exercise as Operation COPS. This exercise is a traffic safety program that had been utilized in various parts of the United States regularly. The Illinois State Police Department had partnered with the Sheriff’s Department of Whiteside County and the police departments of Sterling and Rock Falls to continue this program in the state. The aim of the Operation COPS is reducing the number of accidents, saving lives of drivers … (more) March 30, 2010

• Auto Recalls Unlikely to Affect Auto Insurance Premiums

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner, Joel Ario, commented on the recent auto recalls, PRNewswire-USNewswire reported on March 15, 2010. The Commissioner explained that the auto recalls might not impact auto insurance coverage. At the same time, he advised auto owners to respond promptly to the recall notices issued by the vehicle manufacturers. The Commissioner pointed out that fresh information about safety problems in certain cars were surfacing nearly every week, increasing the concerns of auto owners and other car users about the safety of cars and the impact of such recalls on their auto insurance premiums. He revealed that insurance companies would … (more) March 29, 2010