In December of 2011, the National Transportation Safety Board advised that there should be a ban on the use of “portable electronic devices” by automobile drivers. This is a relevant suggestion, but is it really one that is going anywhere? How many vehicles do you see on the highways and streets where the driver has one hand holding a cell phone to their ear?
People have so much to say, they can’t seem to lay their phones down even for a few minutes. Many drivers consider the use of the cell phone while operating a vehicle as a way to maximize their time or simply entertain themselves; but at what cost?
As you might expect, if the NTSB is questioning texting and talking at the wheel, the insurance companies have already placed it as a target. There are many states with laws against texting while driving, but there are no clear lines as to how to enforce it. Should insurance companies decide not to pay claims resulting from texting, it might get the public’s attention.
The Stance of the Insurance Provider
We must remember that insurance is purchased for the policyholder’s protection, whether he/she is at fault or not. Accidents are caused; they don’t just happen. The insurance company expects to pay for mistakes made by drivers, even if the driver is breaking the law when the accident occurs.
When a driver runs over a pedestrian while he/she is texting on a cell phone, the insurance provider can’t refuse to cover the person who was hurt just because the policyholder was in the wrong, although the driver can pretty much count on having their policy cancelled for being a higher risk.
Undeniably, there needs to be something done about accidents caused by texting, but there are many other mistakes drivers make that are just as deadly. An insurance company that begins to list a great many driver mistakes it won’t pay for is not going to be getting many policies.
What Can Be Done
Insurance companies spend a great deal of their budgets on education, and this is still the best way to instigate change. That education isn’t just at the policyholder level either. Government officials, congressional representatives, the courts, and everyone else should receive the word on why accidents happen and how they can be prevented.
The message won’t be taken to heart by everyone, but safety can’t be dictated in the first place if others don’t try to contribute to the cause, whether it is by educating their children or working with others so a louder voice is heard.
What factors are the most important when selecting an automobile to buy? Does the color matter that much, the body style, or the make?
Asking any driver the top 10 reasons for buying a car would bring many answers, but most wouldn’t list low insurance premiums as a reason to make the purchase. Still, insurance is an important part of car ownership.
Car Payment Plus Insurance Premium Equals Real Car Payment
It is much better to consider the cost of insurance before even shopping for a vehicle, because it adds to the bottom line. That, in essence, equates to insurance expense being something “added” to the monthly car payment. What good is it to make payments on a car when you can’t afford the insurance?
Several organizations rate the cost of insurance for different types of automobiles each year to provide comparisons for consumers. The estimated rates are based on a hypothetical driver with a good driving record who is middle aged.
Coverage is set for amounts that aren’t the minimum, but are low. For instance, something along the lines of:
* $100,000 Injury Liability
* $300,000 for all Injuries * $500 Deductible
* $50,000 Property Damage
It might seem that anyone would understand that you must pay more for insurance on a Porsche than you would for a Ford, but given the choice between similar vehicles and price tags, there can be significant differences in insurance premiums.
How Premiums Are Set
The way that insurance companies set premiums, aside from the driving record and other personal aspects of the policyholder, is based on several factors, primarily historical ones. By checking the number of accidents a make of car has each year, tendencies are determined that may have to do with the overall safety of the vehicle and its design flaws.
Of course, consideration must be given as to how many of each model vehicle is on the road. How much each vehicle costs to be repaired when damaged, or the amount paid for total loss, bears directly on premiums. Also taken into consideration are bodily injury claims and payouts.
The winner of this year’s least expensive vehicle to insure is the Toyota Sienna LE, according to one source. This is just one of 20 cars that are economical to insure this year. The most costly to insure of the models reviewed is the Audi R8 Spyder Quattro. As you might guess, BMWs, Mercedes Benz vehicles, and other high dollar automobiles are going to be expensive to insure.
Although not as sporty as many people like, mini-vans are generally less expensive to insure because of the safety features added in their design and what it costs to have the vehicles repaired.
Bottom line is, if you can’t afford the insurance, you can’t afford the car.
Many of the bells and whistles supplied with new cars are little more than window dressing and a way to increase the bottom line cost to the consumer. However, some manufacturers are placing more thought into technological advancements for safety and accident reduction.
Three of these changes were reviewed and studied by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) recently to determine if they were effective or not.
Lane Departure and Collision Warnings
Three manufacturers offer some safety tools based on new developments in artificial intelligence. Acura, Mercedes, and Volvo have warning mechanisms that alert drivers to the dangers of collisions ahead or leaving the traffic lane.
Tests involving the automatic warning for lane departure did not prove to be effective. In practice, the driver is often dozing off when this happens, and a warning might be too late if that is the case.
Indications are that the Buick and Mercedes lane departure warnings may be more harmful than helpful. The tests showed an increase in accidents when vehicles were so equipped, although the increase was only marginal.
The warning of a collision ahead has shown to be more useful, especially with Acura and Mercedes. Their designs offer an automatic braking system that engages when the object ahead gets nearer rapidly. Volvo’s design bundles the forward collision warning system in with the lane shift alert, which makes it somewhat less effective, but it does check out with an approximate 10% reduction in collisions.
Directional Headlights
Another innovation that seems to be of use is adaptive headlights. This feature ties the steering with the lights so they follow the trajectory of the car. This has great promise in providing much better vision going around curves. While this may offer an advantage to the driver of the vehicle so equipped, it could prove to be detrimental to oncoming traffic, which will be determined by more testing.
Adaptive headlights show promise because they tested out to an almost 10% reduction in collisions. This is very important when you consider that only about 7% of police reported accidents occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
All these features are in relative infancy, and they will be tweaked in the coming years. Their relative importance may prove only to improve safety by a few points, but any life saved or accident prevented makes their application worthwhil
If you’re in the market for a new car and you want to increase your safety on the road, a recent study from the Highway Loss Data Institute suggests the latest safety devices found in higher end sedans, such as the Mercedes-Benz CL, and SUVs like the Acura MDX, might be good choices. These cars and similar models include technologies that will help you avoid accidents.
One of these technologies is known as a forward collision avoidance system. With these systems, sensors in the car react to an object, such as another car, in front of the vehicle. The sensors can alert the driver and sometimes can even automatically put on the brakes to avoid impact. While we all know to be defensive drivers and to keep our eyes on the road, no driver is perfect and these systems are designed to act like an extra pair of eyes that can watch for potential safety threats. According to the study, cars featuring these types of systems had 14% fewer liability insurance claims than did similar models without such technologies.
On the down side, these vehicles are not cheap. According to Acura.com, a 2012 MDX with a collision mitigation braking system starts at over $52,000 while the Volvo XC60 with the optional technology package that includes collision warning, pedestrian detection, auto braking, and other crash avoidance additions starts at a more reasonable $36,000 according to Volvo’s website.
Another effective safety technology found on cars today according to the HLDI study is adaptive headlights. Unlike traditional headlights that shine their beams in a straight line ahead of the car, this lighting system can bend around the road so you can always see what is in front of you even around tight curves in the road. The headlights can do this because they respond to your steering as well as your speed and your car’s elevation on the road. By adjusting to these conditions, the headlights are more effective at showing you what’s ahead in the road early enough so you can avoid an accident. In the study these adaptive headlights reduced injury claims by nearly one-third on Mazda vehicles and property damage insurance claims by one-tenth across all models that offer this safety option.
Adaptive headlights are already required equipment on new automobiles in Europe, but that’s not the case yet in the United States. However, several car manufacturers, including BMW, Volkswagen, Renault, Lexus, and Audi do offer them as an option on at least some of their models. Again, these safety options do add to the price of the Car. The option package for Mercedes-Benz C-class coupes that includes this feature costs an additional $6,450.
While these two types of auto safety technologies have proven effective in reducing accident claims, they may not be the only ones that work. Many of the newest technologies, such as blind spot detection and backup camera systems, simply are too new so not enough data is available to determine their effectiveness.
The bottom line is that these optional safety features do seem to work as intended but as a car buyer you have to decide if the extra protection is worth all the extra money.
Car accidents happen every day and this is why car accident claims are filed in all 50 states. It is important for drivers to take extra measures to reduce the likelihood that they will be involved in a car accident. One way to do this is to have a crash avoidance system on your vehicle. Many newer models of vehicles come equipped with one of these systems.
The way it works is that, when a person is backing up or may hit something, an alert goes off so that they can pay attention and avoid an accident. Many newer SUV’s and compact cars have these systems to prevent people from backing up into the street and hitting children or other vehicles.
A new study has found that vehicles that come with a frontal collision warning system are 14 percent less likely to be involved in a car accident. This proves that the system can be an effective tool at keeping drivers safer when they are on the road. There are also warning systems that allow your car’s headlights to change direction to show where you are steering. This can help reduce car insurance claims by ten percent.
Having a warning system in place that utilizes a vehicle’s headlights allows drivers to have more visibility. Many nighttime car accidents happen because a driver is not able to see objects or vehicles that might be ahead of them. Vehicles are becoming more and more safer every year. This is great news for both car insurance companies and their policy holders. If vehicles come with these kinds of safety features then fewer car accident related claims will need to be filed. This lowers car insurance premium rates which is great for consumers.
Another way for people to avoid becoming involved in a car accident is to take their time while driving. Many people get cited for driving over the speed limit. Being a few minutes late is not worth someone losing their life or killing someone. Many drivers lack the patience that is necessary to be cool headed when they are behind the wheel.
The final way to avoid an accident is to make sure that you have a car that is well maintained. Many people do not keep their tired properly inflated with enough air and do not have them serviced enough. Many car accidents are caused by mechanical issues that can cause the car to drive erratically.
You can research auto safety ratings till the cows come home, but the bottom line is that the most important factor in auto accident prevention is related to your driving habits. Here are some basic dos and don’ts to improve your chances of arriving safely at your destination every time you get behind the wheel:
Pay attention to the road:
While driving distractions can include activities like eating, talking to passengers, grooming or adjusting the radio, the primary culprit is talking on the phone and texting. The advent of cell phones and other hand-held devices has led to a worldwide epidemic of unsafe driving habits. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, using a hand-held device while driving makes you four times more likely to have an accident serious enough to cause injuries. In particular, sending or receiving texts while behind the wheel multiplies your risk of a crash by a factor of 23.
Ease up on the accelerator:
Safe driving means more than just obeying the speed limit to avoid getting a ticket. Adjust your MPH according to driving conditions like rain, fog or snow, when visibility is hampered and roads are slick enough to make stopping more difficult. Make concessions for traffic conditions when roads are clogged with traffic and lanes are merging. A decrease in your speed can make a big difference when it comes to arriving at your destination unscathed.
Don’t be a bumper rider:
Tailgating is the primary cause of rear-end conditions. You never know when the driver in front of you is going to brake suddenly for an animal, pedestrian, or to avoid a collision with another driver. Use the three-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you: when they pass a stationary object, it should take three seconds before you reach it. Raise the amount of time to six seconds at night or during low visibility conditions.
Stay wide awake:
Studies show that drowsiness is a significant contributor to driving accidents. Whether it’s caused by lack of sleep or prescription drugs, when your ability to focus is hampered, you’re much more likely to make errors in judgment or to lose control of your vehicle altogether. If you’re drowsy from lack of sleep, pull over safely and rest until the feeling passes. Even a brief nap can restore your ability to focus and prevent you from falling asleep at the wheel. Medications can also cause drowsiness, so read labels carefully to know if the side effects are going to impair your driving skills.
Alcohol and driving = trouble:
Always forego getting behind the wheel when you’ve had too much to drink. Appoint a designated driver when you know you’re going to imbibe. Err on the side of safety when you’re not sure if you’ve had one too many. Calling a cab or asking a friend for a ride can save you and others from catastrophe.
Don’t become another accident statistic:
Add these simple but effective tips to your driving tool-belt and you’ll significantly enhance your safety on the road.
Many states are now enacting texting while driving bans. Now, the two states of Idaho and West Virginia have finally jumped on the bandwagon and have passed bills on this issue. It is important for all of the 50 states to jump on board because the problem is one that has not gone away.
West Virginia decided to enact the law because they found that too many teens were texting while driving and were getting involved in car accidents. Teens already pay the highest car insurance rates in the nation, so enacting the law could help to reduce their insurance premium rates.
Under the new law, which is called SB 211, texting while driving is a primary driving offense while using your handset alone to talk on the phone is classified as a secondary driving offense. Both are serious offenses, and first time offenders will be slapped with a $100 fine. This may not seem like a steep fine but for teens it can put a huge pinch on their wallets. Once a driver has reached or exceeds a third offense, they will get three points on their driver’s license and will receive a $300 fine.
Teens will be hit with a harsh reality if they are a multiple offender because getting points on your driver’s license is bad news. Car insurance companies evaluate each driver’s driving record every six months to evaluate their risk. Seeing a three point violation for multiple citations for texting while driving can cause insurance premium rates to soar.
Idaho has taken a different approach with their new texting while driving law. Drivers cannot receive points on their driver’s license for the infraction because it is not considered to be a moving violation. This is good news for drivers however, people who are proven to be at fault for a car accident due to texting while driving will get a citation and their car insurance premiums will skyrocket. The fine for the offense is now $85 which is less than what most states charge.
Harsher fines could help the states make sure that drivers, especially those that are under the age of 25 get the message and obey the law. Texting while driving is seen as a more serious offense than just talking on the phone while driving. This is mainly because people have to look down and read the letters on their keyboards in order to send a text message. Hopefully, both states will see success with the new laws.
The United States is a country that has a huge problem with drivers who text while driving. Now Cape Town, South Africa is trying to deal with the same exact problem. Now, there has been a new law proposed in Cape Town which would allow police officers to seize cell phones from people who are texting while driving. This is a very unique approach to fixing this problem.
If you can take away the cell phones, then this sends a message to drivers that they must comply with the no texting while driving laws. Additionally, there are heavy fines and penalties for committing the offense. The drivers get their phones returned in one business day but they have to first pay a fine which is R500 on the first offense. Each additional offense incurs a larger fine.
The action is one that is necessary because there has been an increase in car accident related claims and fatalities. Politicians hope that the law will be passed because it could reduce car insurance rates.
The way that this would be accomplished is that if they can reduce the number of claims then insurance premium costs will drop for the entire car insurance pool. This will be a huge help to drivers. Many accidents are caused by distractions so being able to reduce claims by taking away cell phones is important.
Deterring drivers from texting while drivers can be a difficult task to undertake. People are often selfish and they do not think that their actions have consequences. Many politicians think that this law should be enacted all over South Africa. The problem has become an epidemic in many countries because drivers often do not get caught engaging in the illegal behavior by authorities.
Drivers can use Bluetooth devices to avoid using their hand sets. However, Bluetooth does not allow drivers to text without their hands so they still cannot resist the temptation to pick up their phones and send text messages. Many car insurance companies are in favor of a ban on cell phone usage across South Africa because they hate the idea of having to continually pay out compensation for insurance claims related to the practice.
It is critical for drivers to understand that their cell phones will be seized if they are caught texting while driving. This can be serious for people who use their cell phones a lot during the day. Hopefully, the law will help drivers in Cape Town be safer.
July 4th is Independence Day which is a holiday where many teen drivers are out of school and attend barbecues and parties. This time of year can be one where many teens are behind the wheel. A study by AAA has found that the percentage of teens who drive during the summer months increased by more than 40 percent.
Most parents are not around their kids during the week during summer vacation so this leads to teens not having adequate supervision when they are driving. Parents often allow their kids to drive to keep them pre-occupied during the summer. This can lead to tragedy. The latest statistics have found that more than 30 percent of the teen driver related deaths happen in Maryland during the summertime.
Teen drivers are at a distinct disadvantage because they do not see the harsh realities of acting carefree when they are behind the wheel. Teens do not fully understand the value of life until something tragic happens. In 2010, more than 3100 teen fatalities were reported in Washington due to car accidents.
One great help is the graduated driver’s license programs that a majority of states have enacted. This is a program in which teen drivers have to wait until the age of 21 to get a normal driver’s license. For a period of five years, teens have restrictions on their driving privileges.
For example, teen drivers are restricted from driving after dark and before dusk. If all of the 50 states decided to have similar restrictions on teens then approximately 9,500 car accidents should be prevented each year. It would also prevent approximately 500 fatalities per year.
The states need to step up to the plate on this issue because it is an important one. A new study has found that ten percent of the fatalities that occur on July 4th are teen drivers. This shows that more could be done to avert tragedy.
Parents need to especially make sure that their teens are chaperoned at parties. Many teens consume alcohol illegally during the summer months, especially during the fourth of July. It is important for teens to feel like they can be open and honest with their parents and tell them if they have become intoxicated.
Many teens fear that they will get in trouble so they remain silent and try to drive themselves home. The holiday will only be safer if parents are able to become more involved and enforce safer driving rules for teens.
The world has changed a lot since the Internet was invented. Car insurance companies have utilized technology a lot and now they are going even a step further. Many car insurance companies now offer low mileage discounts and now they are going to be monitoring their policy holders even more closely.
Satellites and other forms of technology can be used to monitor the mileage that drivers are driving. Many car insurance companies use in car devices that policy holders must install on their vehicles for three to six months to show their driving patterns.
Car insurance companies want to give discounts only to those drivers that they view as being deserving. Some drivers can receive half off if they install a device on their car and drive less than 500 miles per year. Many senior citizens only use their vehicles to go short distances once or twice per week so they may be able to take advantage of such as discount. However, most people who have children will probably receive less of a discount because they have to drive on an almost daily basis. Children need to be dropped off at school five days a week and activities and errands need to be run.
The in car driving devices can report several things to car insurance companies. These include the following: mileage that has been traveled, the speed that the car was driving, the time of day that the car is being driven, how many times the vehicle accelerated, and how many times the car makes sudden stops or turns.
If a person drives a lot at night then they will face higher car insurance premium rates. This is because the night time hours reduces visibility and people often become fatigued when behind the wheel and end up falling asleep while they drive. This can lead to car accidents which reduce the discount that will be offered. Most insurance companies offer a ten percent discount for policy holders that sign up for the programs and then they adjust the discount after the information has been compiled.
Drivers who drive more than 10,000 to 11,000 miles per year will receive a discount of ten to eleven percent off of their insurance premiums. Few drivers are signing up though because they are put off by the idea of the program. One insurance company had only 500,000 of 12 million policy holders’ sign up for the program. Drivers should consider giving it a shot so that they might qualify for a discount.
Police officers are supposed to protect and serve their communities. It is important for these brave men and women to uphold the law and act morally. In the town of Newark, New Jersey, a police officer is in deep trouble with the law because of his actions.
Allegedly, a thirty year old police officer named Suliaman Kamar reported his vehicle stolen when it was not in fact stolen. This is a type of car insurance fraud and it is very serious. The man collected almost $11,000 from his car insurance company and might have broken the law.
Subsequently, the officer has been charged with two crimes. They are: third-degree theft by deception and tampering with public records or information. These offenses are serious and could land him behind bars.
The insurance fraud went undetected for three years which is a very long time. The way that the fraud was uncovered is that an insurance agent at Liberty Mutual saw the stolen vehicle parked in front of the police officer’s residence. The officer had put the license plate of another car that he owned on the back of the stolen vehicle.
Police officers were alerted to the car insurance fraud and they had a search warrant issued so that they could search the premises and get access to the vehicle and see if it was in fact the same one that had been reported stolen years before.
The man could face three or more years in prison and a fine of $15,000. It is important for instances of insurance fraud to be investigated even if years have passed. In this situation, an employee just happened to drive by the residence and spot the vehicle that he had thought was stolen. Some people are desperate and then it leads then to become involved in criminal activity.
Some have speculated that the fact that the officer had been laid off at the time of the incident that this might have been a motive for the alleged crime. He will get his day in court soon so he is presumed innocent until a verdict is handed down in his case.
People need to understand that they cannot try to make a quick buck by filing a fraudulent car insurance claim. The action can come back to haunt people even years after the crime is committed. Hopefully, this case can be handled quickly so that a resolution can be found.
Many drivers get into minor car accidents and wonder if they are allowed to do their own car repairs if they have the knowledge and abilities to do so. Many car insurance companies will allow accident victims to conduct the necessary repairs on their vehicles themselves. It is important though for policy holders to be aware of a few facts.
The first one is that if you take your vehicle to a body shop then your claims adjuster might cut a check to them for repairs that they did not do. This could lead to you not being reimbursed for the expenses that you incurred for doing the repairs yourself. You need to inform your insurance company of your intentions so that they do not think that you are trying to pull a fast one on them.
The second fact is that taking on your own car repairs can be expensive. It can also take a lot of time so it is important to weigh the pros and cons before deciding to take on such a huge burden by yourself. Car repair shops have access to a lot of tools and manpower which makes completing car repairs much easier and time efficient. When people try to do the repairs on their own, it can be a lengthy process and they might not have access to their vehicle while they finish the repairs.
The third fact is that you will have to document all of the expenses that you incur. Make sure to keep all of your receipts so that you can show them to your insurance claims adjuster. It is a good idea to have the car inspected by a professional mechanic to make sure that the repairs that were done are up to par. Some people who do their own car repairs end up encountering safety issues with their vehicle because a part was not placed where it should have been.
It is a good idea to only do car repairs yourself if you feel as though it is advantageous to you. Some people do save money by doing the work themselves but you can always run the risk of further damaging the vehicle. Insurance claims adjusters will only cut you a check for the value of the damage done at the time of the car accident. Any further damage and issues that are caused will not be covered so it can be better to be safe than sorry.
It is important for people to understand that adding someone to their vehicle’s title without their consent is a huge mistake to make. Many senior citizens add their kids or grandkids to their vehicle titles so that they can make sure that they can take ownership of the vehicle when they become ill or pass away.
One grandmother who is 88 years old learned this lesson the hard way. The woman had added her 24 year old grandson to her vehicle’s title but neglected to inform him of the change. She hardly every used the pickup truck and during the winter time, she had her car insurance policy lapse.
The Oregon Department of Transportation sent her a letter asking her to verify that she did in fact have car insurance coverage. She did not respond to the letter because she thought that she was in fact insured. A few months later, her grandson received a letter asking him to prove that the vehicle was insured or he would lose his driving privileges in one month. The problem was that the woman’s grandson did not get the letter quickly enough because he was attending college classes in Idaho.
The man had to allow his license to be suspended and then he had to apply for a SR-22. This is a penalty for people who have allowed their insurance policy to lapse and is also for people who have been convicted of drunken driving offenses. The man felt that the punishment was not justified because he had his own personal vehicle that he had always kept properly insured for years.
The issue here is that the state of Oregon requires that all vehicles have car insurance coverage at all times. The fact that the grandmother had a vehicle that she did not use did not usurp this law. She was required to maintain the insurance coverage even during the winter. Because her grandson was listed on the vehicle’s title, he was legally responsible for the coverage as well even though the action was taken without his knowledge.
It is important for seniors to notify their friends or family members when they are adding them to the title of a vehicle. Then, they can decide if they want to be added and they can make sure that they are aware of any car insurance issues that take place. Knowledge is power so people need to take these matters seriously.
Many people across the United States are trading in their used cars for newer models of vehicles. Some drivers are shocked when they purchase a new vehicle and see their car insurance premiums skyrocket.
This is due to the values of the cars. For example, a used car may be worth $4,000 while a newer vehicle might be worth $15,000. When someone buys a new vehicle and it gets totaled, seriously damaged, or is stolen then the car insurance company has to pay up a lot more cash to settle the claim.
If you are a driver who wants to save a penny then you should focus on vehicles that are not as expensive and that sit higher to the ground. For example, sport utility vehicles can be very safe and they do well in the winter months because they can have four wheel drive.
One way for drivers to save themselves as much money possible when getting a new car is to buy the safest model of vehicle possible. Having traction control, side and rear airbags, an anti-theft alarm system, and passive restraint seat belts can be very beneficial.
This is because your insurance liability rates will drop because of the added safety features. Crash test ratings play a huge part in how safe a vehicle is when it suffers a sudden impact.
Drivers need to look online because there are various websites that show the crash ratings of different vehicles. It is a good idea to focus on how well a vehicle can take a side or front on impact because these accidents take place all the time.
Online car insurance quotes can be a big help to drivers when they are deciding on which model of car to buy. In today’s economy, it is important to know what you will pay for your car insurance premiums so that a budget can be created.
Speed can be an important factor for men when they purchase a car. It is a good idea to focus on cars that do not have very high top rates of speed because this can increase your insurance rates. Do not ever consider modifying a vehicle such as adding nitrous or other features that can increase the vehicle’s horsepower.
Faster is not ever better when your car insurance company determines your premium rates. Take your time and think about the entire picture before signing on the dotted line.
Many drivers in Florida are angered by the fact that their car insurance rates are still high despite the new legislation that has been passed to try to deal with insurance fraud. Florida is the number one state where car insurance fraud happens so it has been important for politicians to get on board and pass laws to deal with the problem.
The issue that many drivers face is that they live in a no fault insurance state. When people live in these states, they have to pay higher premium rates. This is because car insurance companies are required to pay out for insurance claims regardless of who is at fault which is costly to do. Drivers in the state want some relief soon.
Insurance insiders have said that attorneys are behind the problem and that a decline in car insurance rates is unlikely to occur within the next few years. Legislators have not taken action to cap the fees that attorneys can charge for their services in regards to car insurance claims.
One lawyer was fighting a $180 insurance claim for a client and had billed him over $60,000. Another claim was for roughly $200 and the attorney was given almost $40,000. With lawyers being able to collect thousands of dollars for their services, it puts policy holders at risk financially.
The problem here is that if legislators took action and capped attorneys’ fees then accident victims and other policy holders would have a very hard time getting legal representation. Car insurance claims can be hard to deal with because a driver is assigned fault. This means that many victims have to sue their car insurance company or other drivers to get the compensation that they need to cover their expenses.
Florida needs to be able to consider having a percentage that attorneys can make off of each claim that they handle. This would help to reduce the amount of money that attorneys can get for their legal work. It is important for both lawyers and policy holders to be able to co-exist together because they both need each other to survive.
Legislators need to explore alternate methods to reduce car insurance rates. One idea might be to allow mediators to be involved in claims where an attorney would be asking for less than $1,000. Mediators are very good at trying to settle claims quickly so that claims can be discharged fast.
It is important for younger drivers to know about good student discounts. Now most people think that teen drivers are the only drivers who qualify for this type of car insurance discount but that is not true. Drivers who are under the age of 25 and who attend high school or are classified as a college student who takes classes full time may apply for a discount.
In most states, a young driver must be able to prove that they have a clean driving record. Some car insurance companies also allow college students who have less than nine years of experience behind the wheel to get the discount. For example, some people get their driver’s license at 18 instead of 16 so if they attend college later in life then they could still qualify for a good student discount. Each car insurance company has their own set of rules regarding the age parameters and guidelines that they use.
It is important for car insurance companies to motivate younger drivers to do well in school. This is because if they can transfer that responsibility to their driving habits then they are less of a risk to insure for the coming years.
In order for a driver to be classified as a “good student” they need to meet various criteria. The first is that the student must get at least B’s on their report card. This equates to a grade point average of 3.0 or above. Students who receive their educations through homeschooling will need to be able to produce standardized test results documenting that they are in the top 20 percent of students.
June is the month where many students graduate high school or college. If a student has graduated within the last three months and has a clean driving record and good grades then he or she may still be able to get a discount. It is usually dependent on the car insurance company that they are applying for coverage from. Working for good grades is very important not only to secure a discount on premiums but to also do well in life. Studies have found that drivers who perform well in school are more likely to be more focused behind the wheel. Drivers can save up to 20 percent on their insurance premiums so the reward can be immense. Younger drivers pay a lot more than older drivers for coverage so any discount can be a huge help.
Many parents struggle with the fact that their 16 year old children will become drivers. It is crucial for parents to be as educated as possible about car insurance requirements for teen drivers. The first thing that many parents ask is when they need to add their child to their car insurance policy.
The answer to this question is to review your auto insurance policy and then speak to a customer service agent for advice. Some parents decide to add their teen to their insurance policy as soon as he or she has received their learner’s permit while others decide to wait until the day that the teen has gotten his or her driver’s license.
Each car insurance company and state has different guidelines in place so your car insurance agent will be able to help you find out what the rules are so that your teen driver is properly insured. If you have to add your child as soon as he or she gets a learners permit then you may want to wait to allow them to begin to learn to drive until age 16 or 18. Many parents find the increase in their car insurance premiums to be a burden so being able to prepare for this expense in advance is a good idea.
Some parents decide to make their teen driver help foot the bill. This is a great way to make the teen more responsible and help lessen the penny pinching. If a teen can stay accident and ticket free for three years then they may qualify for a good driver discount. This usually saves parents 15% to 20% off of their insurance premiums which can be a huge help in today’s economy.
It is more cost effective to allow your teen driver to be added to your existing car insurance policy than let them go it alone and get their own policy. This is because most parents have good driving records which reduce the overall risk that is being assessed. Most parents will see their premium rates increase by between 200 to 400 percent. This can be a very harsh reality to have to face but teens with no driving record alone will pay even more than that to become insured even with basic liability insurance coverage alone.
Parents need to consider driving with their teens all the time until they are added to a car insurance policy. Some teens have taken vehicles while on a learners permit and have caused accidents. In some cases, these damages were not paid for by insurance companies so it pays to be as cautious as possible.
Automobile accidents happen every single day in the state of Michigan. The state has a no fault car insurance law which means that regardless of who is determined to be at fault for an accident; the insurance companies still pay for the insurance claims that are filed.
The state’s no fault law states that each driver has to pay money towards the damages relating to automobile accidents even if they in fact did not cause the accident to occur in the first place. This amount is currently $500 for all drivers and now this figure would be increased to $1,000. Many drivers in the state are furious about this because they feel that they are being unfairly targeted.
Drivers have to have no fault insurance coverage which they pay monthly premiums for. They already have to pay $500 for being involved in a car accident so doubling that expense in a bad economy is not something that many drivers can afford right now.
Gov. Rick Snyder has signed a new bill into law called HB 5362. The law was sponsored by a Republican named Cindy Denby. Politicians who support the bill have stated that drivers who are not at fault for an automobile accident can take the at fault driver to court and sue them for the money that they have to pay for the accident. However, many drivers do not have the time to wait to recover the money that they have paid out. One thousand dollars is a lot of money for drivers to have to pay. There is a provision in the bill that states that uninsured drivers will not be able to sue the at fault driver to recover the money that they paid out.
The state has had a hard time being able to continually pay out money for all of the no fault insurance claims that are filed. Michigan is a state that has a high unemployment rate so the state has said that they needed to take action. They want drivers to take on more financial responsibility so that claims for damages can be paid out faster. By having the cost double, they can help to ensure that the no fault insurance system is fiscally secure.
Many drivers are still going uninsured in Michigan. It is important for everyone to pitch in so that accident claims can be fully funded for many years to come.
A new study that was conducted by the CDC or Center for Disease Control has found that more than 50% of teens have revealed that they send text messages and emails while driving. This is a very dangerous driving habit that teens need to break because it can lead to tragedy.
The issue here is that teens are so used to technology that they do not see the possible dangers of using their cell phones while they drive because they see others doing the same thing. The mindset that many teens have is that it takes less than a minute to send an email or text message so nothing bad will happen to them if they do this while driving. However, what they do not understand is that most driver errors are caused by split second distractions. For example, if someone drops their cell phone on the floor then they will often look down to try and find it. Many drivers have been killed for this very reason alone.
When a teen who already is experienced adds even more distractions to the mix it can cause automobile accidents to occur. One 18 year old teen boy from New Jersey ended up being the at fault driver in a fender bender in a traffic jam because he was texting while driving. His mother was very angry about the incident and punished him by making him take a defensive driving class.
The accident however did not deter the teen from texting while driving because he admitted that he still text messages others while driving even though he caused an accident. Many teens are just like him and do not comprehend the severity of the offense.
On average, teens send and receive more than 100 text messages and emails every day. If an email or text comes through to a smart phone then the teen will hear a chime and immediately will be curious enough to reach over and read the message. It is not surprising that teens admitted that they do text while they drive because it is something that many states have banned but yet they find the laws ineffective.
Teens need more education about the dangers of texting while driving when they take driver’s education classes. The topic is only briefly touched on by educators. Parents need to be at the helm and lay down the law with teen drivers so that fewer accidents happen.
Many drivers make the mistake of down grading their car insurance policies without doing enough research beforehand. In today’s economy, many drivers have to down grade their policies because their premium rates are too expensive for them to afford.
It is important to weigh the pros and cons before taking the action though. One woman downgraded her car insurance policy from full coverage to basic liability coverage only. Her insurance rates were going up every year so she wanted to take this action to save her some money.
It is crucial for driver to take their own driving abilities into account when making an insurance policy change. For example, if you know that you are not the best driver and have been ruled the at fault driver in an accident then you may want to keep full coverage on your vehicle.
Some drivers over estimate their driving prowess and think that liability insurance coverage only will protect them and that having full coverage on their vehicle is a waste of money. However, if that driver is determined to be at fault for the automobile accident then their car will not be repaired because their car insurance policy does not cover the expense.
The woman ended up being in an automobile accident shortly after down grading her car insurance policy. She was driving during the winter time and ended up hitting some black ice. She then skidded off the road and hit a guard rail which caused extensive damage to her vehicle. The woman thought that she would not be determined to be the at fault driver who caused the accident but she was wrong.
When there is a one car accident the driver is always deemed to be at fault because the car insurance company cannot file an insurance claim against anyone else. The woman’s car was totaled so she ended up having to donate it and walked away with nothing but headaches after the accident.
Unfortunately, this type of scenario happens on a daily basis all across the United States. Drivers think that they can win at Russian roulette and decide that having basic insurance coverage is the way to go. Before changing your insurance policy, it is important to see how the changes would impact you if you were involved in an accident that very day. Murphy’s Law is alive and well so drivers need to protect themselves.
During the summer months, many drivers decide to go on road trips. A majority of Americans use rental cars when they travel because they do not want to put more miles on their personal vehicle or they want to reduce the likelihood that their vehicle will encounter a mechanical issue.
When a driver goes to rent a vehicle, they will be offered the chance to purchase rental vehicle insurance coverage. Most people are unsure about whether or not they need to purchase the insurance coverage. Here are some tips for drivers so that they can decide if car rental coverage is for them.
The first tip is to call your car insurance company and ask to speak to an agent. He or she will be able to get a copy of your car insurance policy and see if the coverage extends to rental vehicles. Most people who have collision or comprehensive car insurance policies have this additional coverage but it is important to not make any assumptions. Automobile accidents can happen at any time and being behind the wheel of a rented vehicle can put you in a dangerous situation if you are not properly insured.
The second tip is to contact your credit card companies. Many credit card companies allow their card holders to buy car rental coverage at a cheaper rate. See if your credit card companies do so that you can receive a discount. Some credit card companies extend this coverage to their card members if they purchase the car rental with their credit card. Make sure to do your homework so that you can find out if any of your creditors extend this type of service.
The third tip is to research your state’s laws regarding car insurance rental coverage. Some states mandate that driers purchase the coverage so make sure to search online for your state’s requirements. Most drivers who pay for the insurance coverage will be out of pocket $20 to $40. It is well worth the investment though to reduce the financial liability if you are ruled to be the at fault driver in a car accident. It also can allow drivers to get a new rental car if the car that they are driving is stolen or damaged.
A collision damage waiver is typically offered to drivers and it costs about $20. It is a great form of protection and puts the liability on the car rental provider instead of the driver. It is well worth the investment and having this type of coverage can make road trips much less stressful.
The weather can be something that can cause drivers to have to file car insurance claims. In 2011, car insurance companies saw that drivers are filing even more weather related claims especially for damage caused by hail. Hail related insurance claims cost car insurance companies almost $800 million dollars last year alone. However, in 2010, this figure was at $536 million dollars. In 2008, this figure was at $471 million dollars. This is a huge increase and will undoubtedly impact car insurance
Many drivers do not take the weather seriously and do not protect their cars from hail. Hail pellets can be the size of a baseball and they can hit a car with a lot of force. This can create dents, shatter windshields, and even destroys car windows and interiors.
Many states such as Texas, Louisiana, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia have to deal with excessive hail storms every year.
One major hail storm caused 6,000 insurance claims to be filed. This cost insurance companies $18 million dollars. This is why it is crucial for drivers to buy comprehensive car insurance coverage. Liability coverage alone will not cover the necessary repairs that cars need after they have been damaged in a hail storm. One way to save yourself more than 15 percent off of your premiums is to have a deducible of at least $500. Living in an area that is prone to this type of weather is dangerous so having the extra insurance coverage is important.
For example, if a driver has hail pellets blow out all of their car windows then they would have to pay more than $750 dollars to have the windows repaired. This is because many of the windows that are installed in vehicles today are power windows. These windows are much more expensive to replace so having liability insurance coverage alone could be a huge financial mistake. The savings for having this type of coverage would evaporate quickly when having to pay to have all new windows installed.
Weather patterns change every year and as we can see, hail can play a huge role in the number of insurance claims that are filed every year. It is important for all drivers to take this weather event seriously. If you have a garage, then you should park the car inside of it to protect the car from being damaged by falling hail.
It is important for drivers and accident victims to understand that they need to file their car insurance claims as soon as possible. Most car insurance policies have stipulations which state how long a person has to file a claim. If a person exceeds this filing deadline then their car insurance related claim may be denied.
This is what happened when a man who is named William DeFrain was involved in a hit and run accident. He suffered head injuries on May 31, 2008 but failed to notify his auto insurance company about the incident taking place until August 25th of that year. He wanted to file a claim under his uninsured motorist’s coverage but his insurance policy contract stated that he had to file a claim within 30 days of the accident.
DeFrain failed to comply with this requirement so his car insurance company denied his insurance claim. However, he eventually passed away from the injuries he had in November of 2008. His estate decided that they would file a lawsuit against his car insurance company after his death.
The case has gone before the Michigan Supreme Court. The executors stated that DeFrain could not have notified his insurance company about the accident because he was too injured to do so. Brain injury victims often have a hard time handling their affairs after an accident has taken place. This is why it is crucial for friends or family members to notify the insurance company of what has happened so that the claims process can begin.
In this situation, it took more than 90 days for the initial car insurance claim to be filed. It far exceeds the guidelines in the contract. The judge in the case stated that uninsured motorist coverage is not mandatory in a no fault state such as Michigan. The coverage that DeFrain had was optional and the victim had the responsibility to notify their insurance company or have someone do it on his behalf.
Insurance companies have the right under the contract to be able to deny a policy holder’s claim even if they were incapacitated at the time when they deadline should have been met. The court ruled in favor of the car insurance company because they acted within the parameters of the contract. It is very unfortunate when something like this happens especially to a victim who then passed away from his injuries. Drivers need to make sure to read the fine print in their car insurance policies for this very reason alone.
Many drivers complain about car insurance premium increases. Every six months, drivers are subject to a renewal of their car insurance policies. At this time, drivers could see their insurance premiums increase, decrease, or stay the same. Here are some tips to help drivers avoid costly car insurance increases.
The first tip is to always tell the truth to your car insurance company. Many drivers try to play the system when going through the quotes process to get a lower premium rate. When the driver’s insurance policy comes up for renewal, the premiums often soar because of inaccurate information such as not reporting a traffic ticket or minor accident.
The second tip is to avoid getting any traffic tickets. For each traffic ticket that you accrue, it will take you approximately three years to have it expunged from your driving record. Make sure to watch your speedometer closely and focus on the road ahead of you. Do not get any tickets for running a stop sign, speeding through a red light or reckless driving either because those signal red flags to insurance adjusters.
The third tip is to make sure that you take advantage of any loyalty discounts that your insurance company offers. Multi policy discounts allow you to bundle your insurance services which can save you time and money.
The fourth tip is to make sure to do your homework and shop around. Do not leave your car insurance shopping until the day before your insurance policy comes up for renewal. Start shopping at least two months before so that you can compare the quotes side by side and make the right decision for your needs and budget.
The fifth tip is to be precise when adding a young driver to your existing car insurance policy. Many parents do not take the time to look for good student or good driver discounts for their teens. It is also crucial to make sure that the child takes driver’s education classes so that they can receive a discount. Not acting quickly enough can cause insurance premiums to soar for parents.
The sixth and final tip is to read your renewal policy carefully. When your insurance policy comes up for renewal, make sure to read all of the fine print. There might be some changes that you are unaware of so make sure to review all of the documents carefully and ask an insurance agent for assistance if required.
Car insurance companies have been wrestling with the fact that they have no way to keep track of how their policy holders behave when they are behind the wheel of a car. Now, technology is finally allowing them to have more information about drivers. The approach is fairly straight forward; Ford has something called Sync installed in its vehicles. It is located in the dash board and can help drivers navigate, back up safely, and get information.
Some car insurance companies have their drivers install data recording devices on their vehicles for around six months to get information about how they drive. Now Ford will use this device to give information such as miles driven to insurance companies starting with State Farm.
Today many drivers are looking for ways that they can receive discounts on their car insurance premiums. The new models of Ford vehicles will have this Sync device installed on them. This means that most drivers will need to purchase collision or comprehensive insurance coverage on their vehicles because they will be financed. These two types of car insurance coverage can be quite costly so getting a discount is a much needed benefit in today’s ever changing economy.
The device can measure how many times the driver puts on the brakes, the rate of speed that the car is being driven, and how well the driver handles the car. This is very important information for car insurance companies to have at their disposal. One issue that might impact this is if people allow different drivers to operate their Ford vehicle. For example, many parents have teen drivers in their households. If a teen is constantly driving over the speed limit then this could negatively impact the data that is being sent to the car insurance company.
Drivers who decide to sign up for this new pilot program will receive a five percent discount on their car insurance premiums. Then, after a six month time period, the mileage that the car has been driven will be tabulated. Most drivers who have driven less than 1,000 miles will receive up to a ten percent discount.
It is important for drivers to make sure that they are being as honest as possible with their driving behavior and routines. Some people try to scam their insurance companies by acting like angels for six months and then going back to their reckless behavior. Hopefully, other vehicles will be able to use similar technology to offer the same discounts in the future.
The economy has made it so that drivers have a hard time choosing the right car insurance policy. Most people first consider the bottom line without taking their best interests into consideration. Being involved in an automobile accident can happen to anyone regardless of their age, gender, race, model of car, or even driving experience. Here is some information to consider when choosing a car insurance policy.
The first thing to take into consideration is whether or not your car is financed. If you have signed car loan documents stating that you will maintain comprehensive or collision insurance on your vehicle at all times then you must comply with this stipulation or your vehicle could be repossessed.
If you bought your vehicle out right then liability only coverage may be for you. States cannot mandate anything besides no fault and liability insurance coverage for drivers so meeting the minimum coverage can be an asset and a liability.
The next thing to think about is whether or not you would want to repair your car if it has been damaged. If you drive a car that is 15 years old then it probably is not worth the time or the financial investment to purchase a collision or comprehensive car insurance policy. However, if you drive a 1965 classic Ford Mustang that would cost thousands of dollars to restore then having this type of insurance coverage can save you a lot of money in the event of an accident.
Third, consider your personal finances. If you are struggling just to pay your rent and other fixed expenses then a pricier policy might not be wise because you might allow your insurance premiums to lapse in order to keep your head above water. If you have extra money each month, then you might want a car insurance policy that has additional coverage besides a liability only policy.
For example, if you have a lot of friends that borrow your vehicle, then you might want to add additional drivers to your car insurance policy. If a friend or other person takes your car and are involved in an accident then you will have to pay out of pocket for the damages which can cost thousands of dollars. Never just purchase a policy without knowing the coverage amounts that it contains. Insurance agents are great at helping people weigh the pros and cons of several types of insurance policies.
Many people own small businesses today. It is crucial to have the right car insurance policy if you own a business where employees have to drive to different locations. Here are some great tips on choosing the perfect car insurance for your small business.
The first thing to know is that if you put your name on the title of any vehicles that you own for your business that you will need to purchase a personal car insurance policy. It is often better to register all of your business’s vehicles under the business’s name so that you can purchase a commercial policy.
One great aspect to a commercial car insurance policy is that you can add a business interruption coverage stipulation. This means if an employee gets hurt while driving the vehicle then the car insurance company will help to compensate for some of the wages that have been lost. You cannot add this option onto a standard personal car insurance policy.
Commercial car insurance coverage is similar to personal coverage. This means that the location where the vehicles are parked, the number of automobile accidents that have been accrued, and the safety of the vehicles.
Employers need to make sure that they screen their employees carefully. Make sure to ask each employee about their driving record. It pays to hire employees that have no traffic tickets or automobile accidents on their driving records. Having even one employee who has a terrible driving record can make car insurance premiums go sky high.
When choosing an insurance policy, it is important to shop around for the right coverage. Having enough coverage on each vehicle that is owned is crucial especially if the titles are in the owner’s name alone. A small business is often a LLC or limited liability corporation so it is a much better idea to register the titles under it in case an automobile accident incurs hefty monetary damages.
Small business owners should spend at least three weeks shopping for car insurance coverage. It can be very helpful to meet with insurance agents directly. With small businesses, owners want to make sure that they save as much money as they possible can on the coverage that they buy. It is vital to buy the right type of coverage with the correct policy terms so that the business does not have to worry about any liabilities that a driver might cause when they are behind the wheel.
The state of California has been struggling to deal with the number of uninsured drivers that are on the road. According to the latest statistics, there are more than four million drivers on the road who lack car insurance coverage. Even though car insurance coverage is mandated, many residents still break the law to save money. The state has a huge deficit and many drivers are living at or below the poverty line.
There is a program in place that will help drivers become insured. It is called the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program. It was created in 1999 and allows drivers to get help paying for their liability car insurance coverage. This is a drawback to lower income drivers who have financed vehicles that need collision or comprehensive coverage. This is because it will not help to pay for their insurance premiums for them.
Currently, drivers pay approximately $28-$30 per month for their liability coverage when they participate in the program. This has helped many families be able to follow the law and become insured. Now premiums have dropped nine percent for the participants.
Because the economy is so bad right now, the eligibility requirements for the program have been changed. Now, the income eligibility requirements will increase which will allow more drivers to be added to the program. A single person has to make $27,925 or less to qualify and a family of four needs to make $57,625 or less in order to qualify. This change will help even more people who are struggling just to pay the bills. Each participant will get a temporary insurance card when they sign up for the coverage. Before, drivers had to wait two weeks to be able to get their proof of insurance. Each driver can choose one of five payment plans such as paying their premiums up front or by having a deposit in place for a specified period of time.
States with higher insurance rates such as Michigan and Florida should consider this type of program. In an era where many people have lost their jobs, it is crucial to have programs that can help to lend a hand to those in need. Liability insurance coverage is vital to have when an automobile accident takes place. If the states can find it in their budgets to have this kind of program then it will help to keep the roads much safer.
Every day in the United States, drivers who are uninsured get into automobile accidents. Many people who own uninsured vehicles are unsure about whether or not they can file a claim against someone who hit their vehicle.
For example, one woman had her vehicle parked on private property when it was hit by another vehicle. Even though this woman was uninsured at the time of the accident, she is still well within her rights to file an auto insurance claim. This is because she was not the at fault driver.
If the woman had been operating the vehicle and had been deemed at fault for the accident at the time then she would have been in serious trouble. This is because the other driver would have been able to sue her. The state would also be able to come after her for operating a vehicle while uninsured. This would mean that she would receive a ticket, a fine, the possible suspension of her driver’s license, and even the impounding of her vehicle.
If a car is parked then this is taken into consideration by car insurance companies. A majority of states have no pay no play laws, which makes it hard for uninsured drivers to make claims against drivers who hit them when they are behind the wheel. The woman in question would need to file a property damage liability claim with the at fault driver’s car insurance company.
Claims adjusters will ask people if they are insured so it is important to be honest. Some people have expired insurance policies and try to lie when faced with this question. It is important to tell the truth to increase the likelihood of being able to collect compensation for the damages that were done.
In most situations when there is an insurance claim for a totaled vehicle; the car insurance company will offer the driver a settlement to resolve the claim. This is a great way for drivers to quickly settle these matters so that they can replace the vehicle as soon as possible.
Drivers need to keep in mind that not being properly insured can land them in hot water. Most states will not allow drivers to make insurance claims that are even at the state’s minimum liability coverage limits. Drivers have also faced litigation and jail time for their actions. There are great insurance policies out there for all drivers so complying can help prevent major headaches.
Most teens will be out of school in less than a month. This means that many young drivers will be on the road. Many parents wait until the late spring or summer months to allow them to have their own vehicles. Times are tough and many teens have to work in order to pay for their car insurance premiums and gasoline. On average, teens are paying approximately 18 percent of their salaries on their car insurance premiums alone.
In a bad economy, where unemployment is high, this can be a tough pill for teens to have to swallow. For many teens, the only way that they can commute to a job is by owning a car. Car insurance coverage is basically mandatory everywhere so the expense is one that they have to find a way to work into their budgets. This is not just a problem in the United States; teens in the United Kingdom are feeling the pinch as well.
According to statistics, most teens will spend around 2,500 pounds each year on their car insurance premiums. However, young men will pay around 3,635 pounds and females will pay 1,869 pounds. There is a huge difference in the amount of money that young male drivers will pay versus their female counter parts. This also is happening in the United States today as well.
Young male drivers have a stigma attached to them that will be hard for them to overcome. Men love fast cars and they will be penalized for this with their car insurance companies. Speed is a major factor in automobile accidents and in the United Kingdom; many accidents are due to excessive speed and reckless driving.
On the other end of the spectrum, older drivers who are over the age of 71 are seeing a sharp decline in their car insurance premium rates. In the UK, most drivers in this age bracket will pay on average 436 pounds per year. This is on point with United States drivers who are the same age and will pay $700 to $900 a year for insurance coverage.
Young teens need to make sure that they find ways to save money on their car insurance coverage. A great way for men age 17 to 20 to save money is to get good grades, take defensive driving courses, and to drive as few miles as possible. Shopping around will allow teens to take their time and choose their insurance company wisely.
