Rides : These are the most- and least-expensive states for car insurance

The most and least expensive states for car insurance in 2013

Louisiana is No. 1 -- but not in a desirable way.  It has the highest average car insurance rates in the nation, followed by Michigan and Georgia, according to Insure.com's annual state-by-state comparison of insurance premiums.
Maine enjoys the least expensive car insurance rates, followed by Iowa.

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2013 state rankings of car insurance rates
Rank	State	Avg. annual premium*
1	Louisiana	$  2,699
2	Michigan	$  2,520
3	Georgia	$  2,155
4	Oklahoma	$  2,074
5	Washington, D.C.	$  2,006
6	Montana	$  1,914
7	California	$  1,819
8	West Virginia	$  1,816
9	Rhode Island	$  1,735
10	Kentucky	$  1,725
11	Connecticut	$  1,723
12	New Jersey	$  1,697
13	Alabama	$  1,667
14	Missouri	$  1,638
15	Massachusetts	$  1,625
16	Pennsylvania	$  1,604
17	Delaware	$  1,586
18	Hawaii	$  1,583
19	Texas	$  1,545
20	Arkansas	$  1,545
21	Maryland	$  1,528
	National average	$  1,510
22	North Dakota	$  1,501
23	Wyoming	$  1,496
24	Alaska	$  1,455
25	Utah	$  1,438
26	Kansas	$  1,435
27	Minnesota	$  1,432
28	New Mexico	$  1,431
29	Tennessee	$  1,408
30	South Dakota	$  1,397
31	Oregon	$  1,387
32	Nebraska	$  1,384
33	New York	$  1,369
34	Florida	$  1,364
35	Mississippi	$  1,345
36	Nevada	$  1,341
37	Virginia	$  1,322
38	Illinois	$  1,322
39	South Carolina	$  1,288
40	Colorado	$  1,271
41	Wisconsin	$  1,228
42	Arizona	$  1,227
43	Washington	$  1,226
44	Indiana	$  1,183
45	Vermont	$  1,176
46	Idaho	$  1,133
47	New Hampshire	$  1,112
48	Ohio	$  1,106
49	North Carolina	$  1,085
50	Iowa	$  1,028
51	Maine	$     934
Source: Insure.com. * Dollar figures shown are an average of insurance rates for more than 750 vehicles in the 2013 model year.

Louisiana and Michigan have held one of the top three positions since Insure.com began its annual survey in 2010. Georgia rose from the No. 10 position in 2012 to this year's third-place spot, bumping Oklahoma to fourth place.
Maine and Iowa held the bottom two spots on the list last year and have been in the bottom 10 since 2010.
A variety of factors make car insurance rates more painful in some states than others -- the number of insurers competing for business, driving conditions, the portion of drivers who are uninsured, and the way state insurance systems are set up.

No. 1: Louisiana

Compared to the rest of the country, Louisiana drivers who get in accidents file more bodily injury claims than drivers in other states.
Louisiana also has a high rate of comprehensive claims, which include damage from natural disasters, says R. Parke Ellis, president-elect of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Louisiana and chairman of Gillis, Ellis & Baker Inc. in New Orleans.
In addition, a greater portion of people filing insurance claims hire attorneys, says Barry Blumberg, president of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Louisiana and president and CEO of Blumberg and Associates Inc. in Baton Rouge.
Louisiana’s judicial system may also be to blame for high rates. Lawsuits involving claims under $50,000 go before judges instead of juries. Some observers say elected judges are more likely to side with local people than insurance companies.

No. 2: Michigan

Michigan is the only state in the country that guarantees unlimited, lifetime personal injury protection (PIP) benefits for treatment of injuries from a car accident.
Other states don't even come close, observes Jeremy MacDonald, vice president of the Michigan Association of Professional Insurance Agents and president of the Mid-Michigan Agency Inc. in Alma. Florida caps PIP benefits at $10,000, for instance, and New York at $50,000.
MacDonald says an instructor at an insurance course for agents once quipped, "'I tell my wife if I have a heart attack, put me in the car and roll it into a tree.'"
Car insurance customers must buy PIP as part of the policy. PIP pays the medical bills for car accident injuries of the policyholder, family members in the household and any passengers who do not have PIP coverage. The injured person's car insurance company pays out the first $500,000 for medical treatment. Any expenses above that threshold are reimbursed by a state-created nonprofit called the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association.
A portion of everyone’s premium includes an assessment from the association, which this year is $175 per vehicle.
Last year a bill to set limits on PIP benefits failed, but legislators are expected to introduce another reform bill backed by Gov. Rick Snyder in March.
In addition to setting a cap on benefits, reform proponents have called for capping payments for medical services. Reimbursement costs for PIP claims are about three times the reimbursement costs for workers' compensation and four times the reimbursement costs for Medicare -- for the same procedures, according to the Insurance Institute of Michigan. The average PIP medical claim more than tripled to $44,138 in 2012 from $13,617 in 2000, the institute says.
Still, efforts to change the system face a tough fight from hospitals, patient advocates and some elected officials, such as Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, who was critically injured in a car crash in August. In an open letter to the public, Patterson vigorously defended the state's current auto insurance system.
The political fight is often portrayed as the "big, bad insurance companies" being stingy versus accident victims who rely on the money for survival, says Jason Verlinde, treasurer of the Michigan Association of Professional Insurance Agents and vice president of the Verlinde Insurance Agency in Richmond.
"But the people who are getting lost in the story are the ones who can't afford it," he says.
He tells of a single mom who recently scraped enough money together to buy a used car and came to see him to buy auto insurance.
"It was a great day for her because she was finally able to get transportation to change her life," he says. "But the premium was $2,600 a year for the bare-minimum coverage. That includes no collision or comprehensive, and she can't afford it."

No. 3: Georgia

Victor Hamby, president of the Professional Insurance Agents of Georgia, says the market in the Atlanta metropolitan area was "ultra competitive" from about 2003 to 2010.
Then things took a turn.
"The carriers underpriced the market, and claims caught up with them," he says. "We're seeing carriers increasing rates on auto insurance for the first time in seven or eight years, anywhere from 2 to 12 percent. We're seeing some hardening in the market."
But plenty of companies are still competing in Georgia, says Hamby, personal lines and bonds manager at Hamby & Aloisio Inc. in Atlanta.
"And that's a great thing," he says. "The regulatory environment is conducive to insurance companies writing car insurance. We're working hard to keep the marketplace in Georgia vibrant and competitive."
Donna Marcus-Doughten, president-elect of the Professional Insurance Agents of Georgia, agrees that Georgia has a healthy, competitive market. But she says traffic is terrible in the Atlanta area, which may lead to more fender-benders.
"It's bumper to bumper across six lanes," says Marcus-Doughten, vice president of Phoenix Associates in Marietta.

No. 50: Iowa

Iowa's rural sensibilities help keep rates down in the Hawkeye State, insurance agents say. The population of Des Moines, the largest city, is about 200,000.
"I don't think we're as rushed to do things," observes Paul Pohlson, president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa and vice president of Ramsey Weeks in Grinnell.
"I look at other cities I travel to, and I just think we have fewer accidents because people seem to slow down here. Maybe we don't have as much road rage."
In small towns like Grinnell, where Pohlson works, "I'm probably going to know the person that I hit or who hits me in an accident."
People aren't quick to sue one another over car accidents in Iowa, and the culture is fairly conservative, says Terry McDonald, president-elect of the Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa and executive vice president of A.W. Welt Ambrisco Insurance Inc. in Iowa City.
"It's not as easy to win over a jury as it can be in another state," he says.

No. 51: Maine

"I do think Maine being so rural is a factor in low rates," says Sheila Sawyer, president of the Maine Insurance Agents Association and an agent with Carl M.P. Larrabee Agency Inc. in Wiscasset. "We just don't have much city driving, and people learn to drive in all types of weather."
Maine's tight restrictions on young drivers and its graduated licensing program for new drivers also likely help keep accidents (and rates) down, Sawyer says.
Teens have to complete a state-approved driver education course before they can apply for a learner's permit, and they go through a three-step graduated licensing system which lets them get driving experience under lower-risk conditions. A driver under 18 with an "intermediate license," for instance, can't carry passengers other than immediate family members or drive between midnight and 5 a.m.

Survey methodology

Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to provide auto insurance rates for more than 750 car models from six large carriers (Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm) in 10 ZIP codes per state. Rates were compiled in December 2012.
We then averaged rates for all vehicles in each state to create the rankings. Rates are for comparative purposes within the same model year.
Rates are based on insurance for a single, 40-year-old male who commutes 12 miles to work each day, with policy limits of 100/300/50 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage. The hypothetical driver has a clean record and good credit. The rate includes uninsured motorist coverage. Actual rates will depend on individual driver factors.

Credit : Insurance.com

 

 

Rides - How to Handle Insurance for Your Custom and Modified Car

If you have made substantial modifications to your vehicle, you need to make sure that your insurance policy covers the real value of your car in its current condition. High-performance modifications or cosmetic structural changes to the vehicle can impact its value a great deal. If you are not insured for your modifications, you may not be reimbursed for the value of the custom rims you installed or the high end stereo system that you paid top dollar for. Some insurance companies will not extend their standard coverage to modified vehicles, while others will work with you to create a policy that covers your customized car realistically.

Possible Restrictions

Some insurance companies will agree to provide coverage for modified vehicles as long as the owner agrees to certain restrictions. The agreement may involve avoiding driving the car on a racetrack. You may have to agree to drive under a specific number of miles during the year. Since the value of the modified parts can easily exceed the original value of the vehicle, the insurance company might want to limit the amount of risk the car is subjected to. Some states also have regulations in place for insuring modified or custom vehicles.

Rate Changes

Some modifications can have a positive impact on your insurance rates. Installing anti-theft devices or extra safety equipment could earn you special discounts from your insurance company. Modifications that are designed to increase the car's power or customize the way it looks may cost you more when it comes to insurance rates. Insurance companies tend to view modified cars at a high risk for being involved in accidents. Drivers who install high speed engines usually like to drive faster. Modified cars also have a higher risk of being stolen or damaged because they tend to attract more attention. Even adding custom rims or replacing stock parts with chrome can make your car a more visible target for thieves.

Communication is the Key

The best way to find the right insurance policy for a modified car is to research several different insurance options. Each insurance company will approach modifications differently. It is not necessary to pay exorbitant rates just because you have customized your car. If you are already insured when you make your modifications, make sure your insurance company is aware of everything you've done to the vehicle. Keep all of your receipts and track any changes so that you can refer back to them if you ever need to prove the value of your car due to theft or a collision.

Car Tech : This Car DVR Is Worth Ten Traffic Lawyers

Planes have black boxes to record the vitals of an incident. About time cars had something similar, no? Enter the Car DVR, your fool-proof way to put the blame on the other guy. Assuming, you know, it's his fault.

The Car DVR, from China records twenty minute segments of 640x480 video on an onboard SD card, to give you a constantly updated log of what's been going on in front of or behind you. And its motion detector ensures that you only grab footage when you're actively driving—although that also means you can't use it to grab the license plate of a hit and run on your parked jalopy.

It's $40 with a 2GB SD card included—way less than what you'd have to shell out after a fender bender.

Rides - Insure.com releases list of most, least expensive 2011 vehicles to insure

Sucks To be Me...Damn You AMG 55...No Worries..I love my car though, it's worth it!

Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG

Looking to purchase a new car in 2011? New car shoppers may experience a nice surprise or an appalling shock depending on which new set of wheels they choose. Luckily, the folks at Insure.com have put together a list of the most and least expensive 2011 vehicles to insure.

The leader of the cheapest vehicle to insure is the Chrysler Town & Country LX minivan, with a national average annual premium of $1,092. The Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG roadster takes the top spot for the most expensive vehicle to insure with an average annual insurance bill of $3,544. Last year’s most expensive vehicle to insure was a Porsche.

“Checking out average insurance premiums for the vehicles you’re considering before hitting the car lots will help you identify deals and may ultimately affect your car buying decision,” said Amy Danise, senior managing editor of Insure.com.

Click through to check out the list of the most and least expensive 2011 vehicles to insure.

2011 vehicles with the lowest car insurance rates
Rank	Make	Model	Avg. national annual premium
1	Chrysler	Town & Country LX	$1,092
2	Toyota	Sienna 4 Cylinder	$1,101
3	Toyota	Sienna LE	$1,108
4	Honda	Odyssey LX	$1,115
5	Nissan	Murano SL	$1,128
6	Jeep	Wrangler Unlimited Sport	$1,131
7	Honda	Odyssey EX	$1,138
8	Toyota	Sienna 6 Cylinder	$1,143
9	Ford	Escape XLS	$1,150
10	Toyota	Highlander	$1,154
2011 vehicles with the highest car insurance rates
Rank	Make	Model	Avg. national annual premium
1	Mercedes	SL65 AMG	$3,544
2	BMW	750i	$3,281
3	BMW	750Li	$3,281
4	Mercedes	SLSL63 AMG	$3,263
5	Mercedes	S65 AMG	$3,221
6	Aston Martin	DB9	$3,120
7	Mercedes	CL600	$3,114
8	Porsche	911 Carrera S	$3,092
9	Aston Martin	DB9 Volante	$3,089
10	Mercedes	G55 AMG	$3,086

Insurance Study Sees Widespread Fraud in NYC

Bloomberg News

Traffic on the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City.

Four out of every 10 people who submit medical claims to auto insurers after car crashes in the New York City area visit an acupuncturist for treatment, according to a new study. Upstate, only three out of 50 such claimants submit bills for acupuncture.

Downstate claimants are also more likely to file claims for chiropractor visits (nearly five out of 10, versus two in 10 upstate). And in the New York City area, 44% eventually visit four or more health-care providers, compared with 14% upstate.

The study by the Insurance Research Council, a nonprofit organization funded by insurance companies, illustrates one of the primary reasons why car insurance is more expensive in New York than in most other states — and why it costs more in the city than it does upstate. The study will be formally released this week.

To the council, the disparity suggests widespread fraud in New York City and its suburbs. Each of the medical claims examined in the study were paid by the insurers, but the authors of the study argue that only part of the difference can be explained by “the availability of different types of treatment downstate compared to the more rural areas of the state.”

That assertion of fraud matches claims from both industry experts and state regulators, who have said organized groups are increasingly using minor crashes or entirely fictional incidents as pretexts to drastically overbill auto insurers for medical costs under the state’s no-fault law.

“While not all of those cases are fraud, the likelihood is that many of them are,” said Kristina Baldwin of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, a trade group for insurers.

The study looked at 4,500 instances in which New Yorkers submitted medical claims to their auto insurers over a two-week period last year. Insurance Research Council Vice President David Corum said the study didn’t attempt to quantify how often people who are in accidents are injured, but said a large majority of people in car crashes don’t end up filing medical claims.

New York’s no-fault system, instituted in 1974, allows someone injured in a crash to file up to $50,000 worth of claims for medical costs or lost wages with their own insurer no matter who is to blame for the accident. The system was designed to speed payment for medical treatment by eliminating disputes between insurance companies over who was at fault.

The no-fault portion of a driver’s coverage, called personal injury protection, cost $754 in the Bronx in 2009 on average, compared with a statewide average of $202, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.

Insurance companies aren’t alone in worrying about fraud: The state insurance department has been working for more than a year on a revision of the state’s no-fault insurance regulation. The state’s Insurance Fraud Bureau reports no-fault fraud increased from 10,117 instances in 2006 to 13,433 in 2009.

“Fraud is pervasive under no-fault, unfortunately,” said Steven Nachman, the New York insurance department’s deputy superintendent for fraud. “The bad guys have figured out how to game the system.”

Insurers hope the insurance department’s changes make it easier for them to deny fraudulent claims, but consumer advocates worry legitimate expenses will be more likely to be turned down as well. J. Robert Hunter, the director of insurance for the Consumer Federation of America, said regulators must remember that insurers have been caught cheating their customers as well.

“You have to fight the fraud,” he said. “But that goes both ways.”

Rides : 7 insurers sue Toyota over acceleration crashes

Los Angeles — Seven insurance companies have sued Toyota Motor Corp. in an attempt to recover money paid to cover crashes they blame on sudden acceleration.

The insurers cite data that blames 725 crashes on the problem and fault the Japanese automaker for failing to equip its cars with an override system that would cause a car to idle if the brake and gas were deployed simultaneously. They are seeking damages in excess of $230,000 from 14 crashes throughout the United States.

The lawsuits allege that "certain of Toyota's cars and trucks have a defect that causes sudden uncontrolled acceleration to speeds of up to 100 mph or more," the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

Toyota said the latest lawsuits were without merit.

"Toyota believes that any allegation that a vehicle-based defect is the cause of unintended acceleration in this or any other complaint is completely unfounded and has no basis," Toyota spokeswoman Celeste Migliore told the Times.

The insurance companies are American Automobile Insurance Co., Fireman's Fund Insurance, National Surety Corp., Ameriprise Insurance, IDS Property Casualty Insurance, Motorists Mutual Insurance and American Hardware Mutual Insurance.

The lawsuits were filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court. They follow the recent disclosure that Toyota paid $10 million to the family of four people killed in a runaway Lexus crash that led to recalls of millions of the automaker's vehicles.

The 3 Things Your Auto Insurance Company Doesn't Want You To Know

In good times, it's natural that we pay less attention to our individual expenses. But today, regardless of our current situation, we all need to save as much money as possible.

And when it comes to saving money, the experts agree one of the best places to start is with your auto insurance.

While it’s natural that companies want to generate as much profit as they can, auto insurance is one area that many people end up paying way more than they should. That’s because they are unaware of some key information which insurance companies aren’t in a particular hurry to share.

How to make sure your Insurance Company is not getting rich off you

1. Auto insurance rates are constantly changing. In fact, in certain states and for certain policies rates have actually dropped significantly in the past 12 months. And if your record has improved you may even be eligible for additional reductions. You can be sure, however, that your insurance company isn’t going to call you up and let you know their rates have dropped.
2. You are not locked in to your policy. Even if you have pre-paid your current insurance company for an entire year, you have the right to cancel the policy at any time and receive a pro-rated refund. In fact there is no cost to switch policies from one company to another.
3. Comparing quotes from multiple insurance companies delivers the most savings. Today there are online services that let consumers quickly shop for the best rates from a nationwide selection of auto insurance companies, all competing for your business. You simply enter your requirements, and instantly receive quotes from a wide range of reputable companies so you can immediately see how much you could save by switching.

One of the most comprehensive of these comparison services is offered by a website called InsWeb. They operate a free service that will quickly get you auto insurance quotes from a wide network of premium insurers. The site also contains a wealth of reference information that helps you understand how different policies work and how to save the most money possible.

The fact is that with a minimal amount of time and the help of a service such as InsWeb you may be able to quickly save hundreds of dollars.

So, if you're into saving money, start by finding out how much less you could be paying every month for your auto insurance coverage.

Let any anxiety or worry about the future melt away. Now is where you can make a positive difference. Now is when you can let yourself be.

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