Smart advice for smarter coverage - Page 9

By Aaron Crowe One of the first childhood lessons when crossing a street is to look both ways for traffic before walking across. It’s a simple thing to remember, but even adults often don’t remember it, as seen on this video of a woman leading her children between two parked cars into a street without […]

By Michelle Mears-Gerst The number one killer of children ages 1 to 12 in the United States is car crashes according to the National Highway Traffic Administration. In many states the laws allow children to ride in a car without a car seat or booster seat if they weigh 60 pounds or are eight years […]

If you’ve ever had a teenage driver in the family, you know that insurance premiums can go through the roof when you add them to your policy.  In fact, parents can expect their insurance rates to double when their teen gets behind the wheel, and it will stay that way until they turn 20.  This […]

By Aaron Crowe Almost one-fourth of drivers feel they’ve come close to causing an accident while using their cellphone while driving, according to a recent survey by CheapCarInsurance.net. Overall, 28% of those surveyed say they’ve texted, emailed or browsed the Internet while driving, a part of distracted driving that the Centers for Disease Control and […]

By Aaron Crowe Cars have become rolling computers, with enough computing power to run the engine, brakes and play music and give you directions. The critical electronics systems in cars make them vulnerable to hackers, leading to “different safety and cyber security risks,” according to testimony by David Strickland, the chief administrator for the National […]

By Aaron Crowe Owning a red car won’t increase your auto insurance rates — despite the myth that it will — but buying a red car or other popular color could cost you more at the car dealership. Ranging from $200 to thousands of dollars, many carmakers charge extra for certain colors, partly because the […]

By Aaron Crowe When the zombie apocalypse comes — and it will — you’ll want the biggest, fastest and sturdiest vehicle to escape from the man-eating undead. If you can get to your car safely, and have the presence of mind to remember the keys, supplies and have it gassed up ahead of time, then […]

By Aaron Crowe Summer is the deadliest time of the year for teenage drivers, with seven of the 10 deadliest days of the year happening between Memorial Day and Labor Day, according to AAA. An average of 422 teens die in traffic crashes during each of the summer months, 16% more than the monthly average […]

For those of us who are concerned about climate change, the effect our vehicles have on the environment is a major consideration.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are things you can do to minimize the greenhouse gases your vehicle pumps into the atmosphere, thus reducing your impact on the environment and your contribution […]

By Michelle Mears-Gerst When kids first learn to walk parents rush to buy gates for their stairs, locks for the cupboards, and safety nobs for the stove. However, as those kids grow up the dangers and risks continue to escalate especially for parents with teenage drivers. Insurance companies consider teens the riskiest group of drivers […]

By Aaron CroweA new car costs an average of $31,377, giving car shoppers plenty of reasons to look at cheaper used cars.But even many used cars can be expensive, with the most sought-after late-model used cars averaging $15,793. The good news is that after the recession caused used car prices to hit record highs, prices […]

Safety should be the foremost concern for any parent faced with buying a car for a teenage driver. In fact, most of us would like to buy an armored Humvee to keep our kid in one piece while they learn to negotiate the dangers of the road, but obviously, that’s not a feasible option. Consumer […]

By Aaron Crowe Selling or trading in your used can seem like a big load off your mind once the transaction is completed. But even after checking the trunk and under the seats for any valuables you don’t want to leave behind before saying goodbye to the car, there’s a spot your likely to forget […]

By Aaron Crowe Flying cars are the norm in science fiction movies. From Luke Skywalker’s Land Speeder that hovered just a foot or so off the ground, to the flying cars in “Blade Runner,” getting around traffic on the ground by going airborne is common in futuristic movies. But such futuristic cars, and others that […]

By Aaron Crowe Insurance company websites are easier for auto insurance policyholders to use for service than for potential customers to shop for a policy, according to a recent study. The J.D. Power & Associates 2013 Insurance Website Evaluation Study found that requesting a quote and finding policy information are the two most difficult tasks […]

By Aaron Crowe A 1989 California law that requires insurers to get approval from state officials for rate hikes has resulted in California being the only state to see rates drop during that time. Between 1989 and 2010, while every other state saw substantial increases in auto insurance expenditures, California drivers saw their insurance costs […]

By Aaron Crowe Texting and driving isn’t banned in Hawaii, but travel 3,000 miles north to Alaska, and it’s a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and a year in prison. That’s the biggest discrepancy between states in texting punishments. Most states fine drivers for texting from $20 to $100 or so, […]

By Michelle Mears-Gerst Technological advances in vehicle anti-theft devices are making it harder for thieves to target newer model cars making older models a target. Recent studies from the National Insurance Crime Bureau show an upswing in older cars stolen. The top five  cars that are predicted  to be the most popular among thieves in […]

While winter weather certainly takes a toll on your vehicle, the heat of summer has its own special challenges. According to the Car Care Council, smoldering temperatures can stress your cooling system, battery and tires, so before you set off on a summer journey, whether it’s across town or across the country, be sure to […]

By Michelle Mears-Gerst Summer is here and that means vacations, road trips, amusement parks and so much more. This is a time of fun, relaxation and getting away from the real world. To ease your mind during these carefree weeks take a moment while your car is being  tuned up and perform an insurance checkup […]

For a car that not many people buy, the Mini Cooper gets plenty of safety complaints. The Cooper had the most safety complaints last year among vehicles sold, beating out some of the most-purchased cars in America that get plenty of consumer complaints themselves. Only 66,123 Minis were sold in 2012, but they yielded 123 […]

When it comes to using recycled materials, one of the oldest auto companies in the world is the maverick upstart. Unbeknownst to most of us, Ford Motors vehicles are made of 85% recycled materials by weight, making them the leading user of post-consumer products in their manufacturing process.  Recycled detergent bottles, tires, and battery casings […]

By Aaron Crowe It wasn’t a difficult decision for Delanie West to start driving less. Beyond polluting less and exercising more by riding a bike, West, 38, saves money on gas, tolls and parking, totaling about $4,000 a year. She still owns a car but her insurance costs have dropped because she’s driving less. West, […]

By Aaron Crowe Apple has taken over your home and portable devices — half of all American households own an Apple product — and now the company is aiming at your car. Its portable devices have been connected to cars for years, and last June it offered Siri Eyes Free to allow the iPhone’s voice-recognition […]