More People Going Without Auto Insurance

In today's economic environment, more and more people are choosing to go without auto insurance while they still take to the roads. Industry experts estimate that about 13.8% of all American drivers are uninsured and this causes a whole host of problems for all drivers and insurance companies. Auto insurance companies lose a significant amount of money every year due to uninsured drivers and these costs are passed on to insurance premiums that insured drivers will feel. Whether you have new or used car insurance, you will likely see rate increases over time partly due to uninsured drivers.

Larry Copeland wrote the article "One in Seven Drivers Have No Insurance" on USA Today and points out that uninsured drivers end up costing insured drivers billions of dollars per year. This astonishing figure is creeping up as inflation rises and health care costs continue to increase. Data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners reports that in 2007 the cost of people going without insurance was about $10.8 billion.

Requiring auto insurance hasn't been enough motivation to get all drivers insured. The consequences aren't quite severe enough in most cases and there are not systematic checks in place to ensure a driver is insured at all times. Generally, someone would get caught after being in an accident or getting pulled over, but if they aren't caught in this situation no one may ever find out they are uninsured. Some states have in place random auditing, but this is expensive and still isn't deterring people from getting insured in a timely manner.

GM Including Auto Insurance in Car Purchase

With car sales still remaining flat, GM has come up with an innovative way to attract customers. In Oregon and California, GM is offering a free, one year auto insurance policy with the purchase of one of their new cars. The deal is limited to 2010, 2011, and 2012 Buick, GMC, Chevrolet and Cadillac cars and crossovers. Currently it doesn't have used car insurance for their older cars as part of the deal.

GM believes this is a effective way to stay competitive in this flat market. According to the article on USA Today by Chris Woodyard, the policy will be completely free and offered through MetLife Auto Insurance. GM hopes to attract customers who are looking to save money and also save time searching the internet for auto insurance quotes.

MetLife Auto will be including the quality policy with liability and physical damage coverage for a full year. The policy will cover the person who purchased the car and whoever drives the car with the owner's permission. The offer is only good until September 6, 2011, so if you live in California or Oregon this is a great opportunity to save hundreds of dollars on a free auto insurance policy for a full year.

Do You Need Used Car Insurance?

It is required by law to carry auto insurance on any type of automobile whether it be new or used. Some people think some used cars are so old and cheap that they do not need to get it replaced if it's in an accident. But it's important to understand that auto insurance is not only to protect replacing the damaged car. It's also required to help cover health costs from injuries and to ensure you can fix the other person's car if the accident is deemed your fault.

The minimum amount of coverage a driver must carry varies from state to state and is known as the "Financial Responsibility Limit" for your particular state. This isn't necessarily the best way to gauge how much coverage you need, but it's helpful to know what the minimum amount is in case that's all you can afford. All states require that you have a certain level of liability insurance to pay for bodily injuries to yourself and other victims of the accident.

The good news is that used car insurance is often less expensive than car insurance for a newer car. Used cars are generally less expensive to repair and replace so this can translate to lower car insurance quotes from various insurers. If the car is too old though it can have the opposite effect if the car is deemed unsafe. As always, shop around to ensure you are getting the best deal on your used car insurance policy.

Car Insurance Quotes Affected by Economy

Industry expert and the Insurance Information Institute's Senior Vice President, Steven Weisbert, gave a presentation last month which highlights the rise in car insurance quotes over the past three years. This disappointing information is detailed in the article "Report: Car Insurance Price Trends Are Out of Sync with Economy" by Ben Zitney found on OnlineAutoInsurance.com.

Weisbert believes the auto insurance market started struggling at the end of 2007 after four consecutive years of dropping car insurance rates. The national average costs on car insurance coverage has increased steadily for three years now which is directly affecting stuggling consumers in this down ecomony. The report shows an approximate increase of 12% from '07 to '10 and this is causing huge impacts on families.

The presentation "Mega-Trends Influencing the Future of Auto Insurance" by Weisbert was addressed back in October 2010 at the National Auto Insurance ExecuSummit in Connecticut. Not only did it go over many new trends in the industry, but it helped to explain some of the increases in car insurance rates over time. Now more than ever, consumers should be shopping around to compare car insurance rates since there can be large variations in prices from insurer to insurer.

Cheapest Car Insurance

The article "Insurance Rates: Top 5 States to Insure a Car for Less" by Laurent Belsie on CSMonitor.com, compares the top 5 states where the lowest percentage of the median income goes to pay for car insurnace. If you live in one of these states it's still very important to compare car insurance, but knowing you will probably get a good deal is comforting to know.

Number five on the list is Utah, where the median driver spends about 3.5% of their income on car insurance. Their car insurance quotes may be lower because Utah has twice as much space and many less drivers than a state such as Virgina. Next on the list is New Hampshire, then Hawaii, Minnesota, and the cheapest on the list is Massachusetts.

Massachusetts may be surprising since it's often known as being an expensive state. But because of the high income overall in the state, residents only spend about 2% of their income on car insurance. This is the lowest in the country overall, and this is even considering the bustling city of Boston and their higher rates.

State Farm Car Insurance Quote

State Farm Car Insurance is currently number one in America. They have been providing quality coverage to Americans since 1922. They prioritize their customer's needs which they believe keeps them a leader in giving and following through on a State Farm car insurance quote.

Many reputable groups such as the Illinois DOI and various other departments of insurance groups recognize State Farm as a leader in providing car insurance and many other types of insurance. Their car insurance specifically is designed to help financially cover potential car accidents, loss, and injuries. It helps to protect consumers and give them the peace of mind to know they are covered.

Not only does car insurance protect you as the driver, but it also protects fellow drivers on the road, pedestrians, passengers, and property. It's also there to assist you in case you are sued for an auto related situation. Most states require by law that you carry insurance, so it really shouldn't be a choice. With that said, there are many reasons to carry coverage regardless of what the law dictates. Getting a State Farm Car Insurance Quote can show you car insurance can be affordable.

insurance.com acquires 4insurance.com

Press Release

Online insurance agency Insurance.com has purchased personal lines insurance shopper 4insurance.com.

As a result of the acquisition, 4insurance.com will offer car insurance quotes from over a dozen auto insurance companies.

Launched in 1996 by iHomeowners, 4insurance.com offers consumers the ability to shop for auto, life, home and health insurance plans.

At 4insurance.com, consumers will answer one set of questions in order to get multiple insurance rate quotes from top companies, and can then select and purchase a policy online or over the phone with in-house licensed agents.