Most Recent Auto Insurance News in State Insurance News

• Two New Appointments in Louisiana Insurance Dept Announced

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  The Louisiana Insurance Department announced that it will have two appointments this month. According to Commissioner Jim Donelon, the incoming chief deputy commissioner of insurance will be Al Ater. Starting January 11, Mr. Ater will be become managerial head of the department’s daily operations. Incidentally, the department noted that this appointment for Mr. Ater will actually be a come-back for him since he served as Chief Deputy Commissioner from 2004 to 2005. After which, he had experience as first assistant at the Department of State. Next, in July 2005, he was named Secretary of State. The new managerial head was … (more) January 11, 2010

• 1M Louisiana Car Owners Face Increased Insurance Rates Since January 1

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Since January 1, auto insurance bills rose for over 1 million Louisiana automobile owners due to a law that increases mandated minimum liability coverage. Many drivers were caught off-guard because auto insurance institutions were not compelled to warn policyholders. This law was approved in 2008. Jim Donelon, Insurance Commissioner, expressed that because of the current economic crunch, increase in insurance bills comes at a very difficult time especially for consumers. Nonetheless, he said that this new law is welcome to keep up with rising costs which includes, but are not limited to, accidents, repairs and replacement vehicles. Donelon explained: “Certainly … (more) January 10, 2010

• El Paso and Laredo Alleged To Be Hotspots for Car Thefts In The Country

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Car theft cases in the cities of El Paso and Laredo, Texas are one of the highest in the country according to a research group, a claim that is being belied by city officials.  National Insurance Crime Bureau, a non-profit organization that was created in 1992 by insurance companies to track car crimes around the country, said that car thefts are on the rise in El Paso and Laredo, two cities in Texas, and that most stolen vehicles are being used for transport of illicit drugs to and from Mexico. Police officials in Laredo and El Paso admit that most … (more) January 9, 2010

• Insurance Fraudsters Sentenced in Idaho and California

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Insurance providers and local State officials are advised to be on alert as two separate auto insurance felons have been sentenced to incarceration and probation in two separate states, Idaho and California.  Experts say that reports on car insurance crimes early in the year greatly damage credibility of the insurance system in the US. In Idaho, reports from the Attorney General’s office show that Michael M. Davisson, accused of fraudulently informing city police and his insurance provider that his vehicle has been stolen back in 2007, finally received a verdict and is now placed on a five year probation last … (more) January 8, 2010

• DC Cancels Mandatory Car Safety Checks

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  After much deliberation during the last weeks of December last year, the D.C. Council has officially cancelled the mandatory safety inspection for automobiles from the list of district vehicle requirements. According to authorities, there was no clear indication that the safety checks were effective in preventing road accidents or traffic jams caused by poorly maintained and disabled vehicles. Cancellation of safety inspections of motor vehicles has raised concerns and various reactions from motorists and safety advocacy groups who are worried that this may just be the beginning of more jurisdictions that will stop safety requirement as well. Other than their … (more) January 8, 2010

• Days of Uninsured Texan Drivers Numbered

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  According to reliable reports, a lot of Texan drivers are driving without insurance.  Reports coming from the Texas Department of Insurance indicate that 22% of the total 22 million family owned cars registered in the state are uninsured.  The counties of King, Potter and Deaf Smith are among the areas that show the highest number of uninsured vehicles according to the TexasSure database of the insurance agency. These figures do not account for commercial vehicles since they are not yet part of the TexasSure program. Texan drivers by law are required to acquire at least liability insurance to cover for … (more) January 7, 2010

• AG Coakley Blasts Auto Insurance Market, Gives Recommendations

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley made a few forceful and poignant proposals regarding ways to improve the auto insurance market and its rate-setting system after investigating the impact of Governor Deval Patrick’s market deregulation scheme. The Attorney General, through a report released from her office last December 24, discussed a retailed reportage of current market operations, financial profits that insurance companies are gaining, and bulk of consumers who have to deal with larger price mark-ups. Coakley deemed that many improvements have to be made with regard to offering better protection for consumer interest. Moreover, several observations, as well … (more) January 7, 2010

• Cal Customers Urged To Find More Extensive Auto Insurance Coverage Limits

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  CALIFORNIA – Since automobile repair costs have been high and surging towards unprecedented levels, it may not be enough to minimally depend on California’s insurance requirements. Though it is considerable that California State’s minimum requirements are among the most affordable in the United States, several auto insurance gurus advise likely customers to look into the possibility of availing higher limits than what is minimally required in order to benefit from preemptive self protection for their vehicle and their assets. Experts advise that looking into rates and quotes provided by various insurers – who are known to provide extensive coverage – … (more) January 6, 2010

• Cheaper Auto Insurance May Well Be Underway In Michigan

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  MICHIGAN – As the state House of Representatives passed a bill in the afternoon of December 24th which aims to improve automobile insurance, Michigan customers have reason to be jolly this holiday season as they may no longer be compelled to spend on expensive premium rates for their insurance. Several gurus explain that the timing is impeccable for Michigan customers to experience a less burdensome obligation to expensive premiums as it coincides perfectly with the holiday break. For several years, car insurance prices in the state are usually pricier compared to the nationwide average. According to recent data from the … (more) January 6, 2010

• Kansas Ranks Among States with Lowest Auto Insurance Rates

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  For the 5th year in a row, Kansas State is ranked as a leader in low rates for automobile insurance, according to the Kansas Insurance Department. According to data released by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the state ranks 6th lowest nationwide for average insurance expenditures. Kansas customers, according to the same NAIC report, were found to have spent $568 on average per vehicle for insurance in 2007. The national average is $795. As of press time, no data exists for 2008. The report from last year pegged Kansas state’s spending average at $579, which reveals an improvement … (more) January 5, 2010

• No-Fault Auto Insurance in NY May See Crucial Revisions Before 2010

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  To make New York State more efficient in combating against fraud and abuse in the auto insurance industry, State Insurance Superintendent James Wrynn submitted a draft of amended provisions covering no-fault auto insurance earlier this month. The changes in auto insurance, in which Wrynn espouses for the “betterment of all,” may be in place before the close of 2009 with much anticipation coming from motorists and auto insurance providers. Wrynn, in the draft, said that this draft had provisions which aim to spare New York car owners and drivers from being caught in the middle of payment abuse and tax … (more) January 5, 2010

• Louisiana Basic Auto Policy Requirements Increase Tomorrow

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  More than 1 million drivers in Louisiana will be paying more expensive car insurance premium rates starting tomorrow, January 1, 2010, as a new law takes effect increasing minimum liability coverage requirement for auto or vehicle policies. The said legislation was passed last year, back in 2008. However, many motorists will be caught off-guard as news about this requirement hike only hit headlines in Louisiana during the few remaining days of 2009. Reports say that insurance providers were not mandated to inform policyholders and some of them pretty much left the notification task to be done by State legislators. Insurance … (more) January 4, 2010

• Local Motorists Reminisce Positive Results of New Jersey’s Auto Insurance Reform

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  As the year comes to an end, local motorist groups in New Jersey cannot help, but look back at how auto insurance was like in the state before Governor James E. McGreevey signed the car insurance reform law. Recent reports show a large number of policy holders thankful for this said reform and are now happily enjoying their reduced auto policy rates. Commissioner Holly C. Bakke even commented that Gov. McGreevey’s reforms continue to produce positive results for consumers. According to Bakke, the vehicle insurance market is more competitive, resulting to better businesses in the state, and premium savings are … (more) January 3, 2010

• Senate Session Adjournment Delays Michigan Auto Insurance Reform

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  There will be a slight delay in the implementation of the Michigan property/casualty insurance bill that was already approved by the House of Representatives as Senate adjourned before the holidays without taking action on it. This delay caused by the Senate adjournment raised contrasting and differing reactions from both pro and anti groups. National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies mid-Atlantic state affairs manager Erin Collins expressed his reaction that he is extraordinarily happy that the Michigan Senate did not discuss and set action on this legislation before ending the session. Collins said that what the Senate did buys him and … (more) January 2, 2010

• Cross-state Auto Insurance Fraud Alarms Pennsylvania

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  The insurance fraud filed against 24 individuals raises the alarm on rate evasion. Last December 27, headlines in Pennsylvania were filled with stories of the rate evasion case filed against 17 New Yorkers, 6 New Jersey drivers, and 1 Pennsylvania motorist. Twenty-one have been arrested already while the remaining 3 are still wanted by law enforcing agencies. Rate evasion is the practice of falsifying information and submitting it to the state Department of Transportation, pretending to be residents of a state or owning a house or a garage there. Once registered or identified to be from that state, fraudsters can … (more) January 1, 2010

• Rate Evasion Case Filed in Pennsylvania

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Before 2009 ends, a form of insurance scam known as rate evasion has been committed and filed in Pennsylvania. Charges were already filed against 1 state driver and 23 other individuals from New York and New Jersey. Reports say that defendants are facing charges of insurance fraud for presenting fraudulent information to a government agency, applying for auto insurance using false or misleading information, and for fraudulent application for state registration. The defendants are facing possible five to seven years of incarceration and payment of $10,000 up to $15,000 worth of penalties. Defendants were already identified and arrested, except for … (more) January 1, 2010

• Massachusetts Attorney General Criticizes Car Insurance Deregulation

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  The Massachusetts’ attorney general’s office yesterday released a report last Tuesday, December 22, a report challenging the managed competition car insurance policy that was enforced back 2007. According to this detailed report, so far the said insurance policy has failed to accomplish its goals of lowering premium rates and safeguarding the interests of motorists. According to the sources, the only good thing that this managed competition system did for the state was to bring in a number of new insurance companies, boosting investment rates in Massachusetts’ auto insurance sector. On the other hand, this system failed to achieve its predicted … (more) December 31, 2009