Smart advice for smarter coverage - Page 12

Whether it’s because of sticker-shock at the price of a new car or a newly found focus on saving rather than spending, Americans are holding onto their automobiles longer than ever.  While the average period of ownership before a trade-in used to be two to three years, a recent survey shows ten years is now […]

The development of wireless charging for electric automobiles is as important as wireless internet has been for computers and smart-phones.  Green automakers see it as imperative for the future of electric cars – and the U.S. government is in agreement.  Wireless charging technology is expected to translate the somewhat tepid public enthusiasm for electric vehicles […]

By Aaron Crowe Donating a car to charity is one of the few times when the donor, and not the charity, is the biggest winner. And we’re not talking about the emotional or intrinsic benefits, though those are good too. While the tax break for the donor shouldn’t be more than the car is worth, […]

What is the future of traffic? Depending on what urban center you live in, it could take an hour to drive ten miles. All these cars, where can they go? More and more cars are on the road and it will most likely continue to increase. What solutions do major cities have or are planning […]

On the surface having a limit of $100,000 on your policy may seem adequate. Everything costs more nowadays. The cost of building materials, cars, and medical expenses keep rising. $100,000 of a combined single limit may not even cover half of a major accident where you are at fault.  Some states offer liability coverage as […]

The latest federal statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) were filled with good news for drivers, one of the key findings being that highway deaths in the year 2011 hit their lowest levels in over six decades. Roadway fatalities dropped 1.9 percent last year continuing a downward trend that has resulted in […]

If you’re taking a road trip this holiday season, be prepared to meet plenty of fellow travelers on the highway.   AAA is estimating a record 93.3 million American drivers will be hitting the road for the holidays.  That’s an increase of 1.6% over last year and just 400,000 people less than the biggest holiday travel […]

If you’d like to save as much as 30% on your auto insurance – and who wouldn’t? – a new program called usage-based insurance might just be your ticket to lowering your premiums. Usage-based insurance (UBI) allows insurers to track how much customers drive via a small tracking device and adjust the insurance premium based […]

Dear Mr. Claus, Regarding the highly unusual nature of your recent claim for repairs to your vehicle in the amount of $124,568.27, GEICO has the following questions and concerns. First off, you’ve listed your reindeer-powered vehicle in the ‘delivery utility’ category and stated that it’s used solely for business during one annual 24-hour period from […]

There are almost 200 million dogs and cats as pets in the United States, and of course those pets sometimes have to travel with us. They may be going with us a mile down the road to the grocery store or 3,000 miles across country. Sometimes however people forget about the need for pet automotive […]

Believe it or not there are some states that do not require you to have car insurance, although all states do have financial responsibility laws. There are plenty of bad drivers out there who actually drive around with no insurance illegally. This is one of the reasons for uninsured motorist’s coverage, but there are plenty […]

A new study conducted by Toyota and the University of Michigan has found that when it comes to distracted driving, if your kids even “think” that you are driving distracted they are likely to do the same when they get behind the wheel. The studies authors also report that teens are under the impression that […]

By Aaron Crowe  Children aren’t the only ones who want Christmas presents. As an adult, you can still find joy in getting a gift from a loved one. The same goes for cars. Getting a gift for your car is basically getting a gift for yourself, but it’s also a thank-you to your car for […]

General Motors and Chrysler are about to make it much easier to go green if you are driving a full size pick-up. They are going to start selling pickup trucks that can seamlessly switch between natural gas and regular old gasoline. These specialty trucks have two separate tanks and allow drivers to choose the fuel […]

Just because a police car isn’t around doesn’t mean you aren’t being watched. School busses, mass transit busses, stationary cameras on corners, toll booth cameras and of course red light cameras are catching driving infractions all the time. The issue of personal privacy is being challenged constantly. A high profile case of such a camera […]

During the holidays driving and even parking become more hectic than usual. There are mad rushes to get out of work early, mad rushes to the mall, and mad scary rushes to the in-laws. There are precautions to take when making the holiday rounds. The craziest place to be may be the mall. Crazy anxious […]

David Bakke has a young son and lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He shares his insights related to money management and insurance on the blog, Money Crashers Finance. Kids are expensive – no doubt about it. And just as they get older and you think you’ve made it through the expense avalanche, bam, they go on […]

Eco-car makers are hoping to receive a boost from the Obama administration, at least in the form of the continuation of the tax credits and subsidies that were a hallmark of his first term.  They’re also hoping that Obama expands his support of the industry in the next four years by raising the tax incentive […]

A pilot program in California is giving new meaning to the term ‘green’ by adding ocean algae to the list of alternative bio-fuel ingredients.  The fuel, made by San Francisco-based Solazyme, Inc., is a mix of 80% diesel and 20% algae-based bio-fuel.  It’s known as B20, and is being tried out at four gas stations […]

Child car seats are one the most important safety issues when driving.  A simple but important law has been changed in Maryland. Children must stay in a car seat or boosted seat until they are eight years old, regardless of weight.  This is intended to keep children as safe as possible, as it is believed […]

If you are headed out to the mall on Black Friday there is a good chance that you will be in a parking lot accident. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), last year 77 million people planned on hitting the shopping centers on Black Friday which translates into a lot of people competing for […]

CarFax was awarded two patents in recent months which highlight how the company services can tie a vehicles history to how insurers price insurance for the same vehicle. The patents were awarded in August by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and protect the company’s rights to “apparatus and method” for rating and underwriting […]

Remember the old commercials with the crash test dummy hurtling unbuckled through the car windshield?  Those ads, which were targeted toward getting people to use seat belts, have gone the way of the ivory billed woodpecker.  Nevertheless, statistics show that people are buckling up at a record rate. According to figures just released by the […]

When automobiles first started showing up on city streets, they were thought by some to be a passing fad.  As of 2009 there were over two hundred and fifty million cars and light trucks registered in the United States per the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics. This didn’t include larger trucks and motorcycles. Even in […]