Cars and Auto Insurance

People who drive a passenger vehicle in a big city (or even its suburbs), usually have to concern themselves with the scourge of traffic congestion. And if you have ever been in a heavy traffic jam where there doesn’t appear to be any end in sight, it always seems like its the worst traffic in recorded history.

But unless drivers frequently travel throughout the country by car, they probably don’t have much of a sense about where traffic is heavier or lighter than anywhere else. Is there a way to determine which city has the worst traffic conditions?

One company does exactly that – and the top city on their most-congested list probably won’t surprise you.

And the “Worst U.S. Traffic Award Goes to…”

INRIX is a company that focuses on traffic patterns in congestion in all major cities in North America and Europe. Its Traffic Data Archive actually analyzes and interprets real-time traffic data for all urban areas in every quarter hour of every day all year long. The firm then expresses its findings through an INRIX Index which represents more congestion based on how large the number is.Read More »Which City Has the Worst Traffic? (Hint: It’s in California)

Auto accidents are a part of the practice of driving. Even the most careful drivers can make a mistake, or simply be at the wrong place at the wrong time when someone else strikes their vehicle. Damages can range anywhere from a dented fender to a totaled car.

That’s why smart drivers always carry ample auto insurance. If they cause an accident, the insurer will pick up the tab for repairs to the victimized vehicle (or property). If their own vehicle is damaged and they’ve purchased the right coverage , their policy will cover repair costs.

Read More »How Insurers Estimate Auto Repair Costs

These days, drivers in California have more options than ever before when it comes to auto insurance. Not only are there over a hundred companies from which auto insurance can be purchased, but finding insurers, comparing rates and coverage, and signing up for insurance is easier than ever before with rate comparison websites such as AISInsurance.com.

But this “culture of choices” goes both ways. In other words, auto insurance companies can choose whether or not they wish to insure you. Moreover, these insurers can elect to declare your policy null and void under certain conditions — which can sometimes leave you on the hook for thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs.

Read More »10 Things That Could Make Your California Auto Insurance Plan Invalid

Now that you are a well-seasoned individual getting lots of “senior discounts,” you have amassed enough life experience to have earned the right to pay less for auto insurance. So if you think you are paying too much for your coverage, here are eight things you can do about it:

1. Retire. It’s something that you probably want to do anyway. But retirees generally pay less for auto insurance because they don’t have to worry about that stressful daily commute to work anymore. So when you do bid adieu to the workforce, be sure to notify your insurance agent about your new status.

Read More »8 Ways for California Seniors to Lower Their Auto Insurance Rates

People who shop for auto insurance are often looking for fairly different things. Some want insurance against as many types of mishaps as possible. Others want to add a teen driver to their policy. Some even want zero-deductible insurance coverage.

And then there are the people who are burdened with subpar credit records.

In some states a person’s credit score does affect how much he or she pays for auto insurance. That’s because there’s a strong statistical correlation between an individual’s creditworthiness and his or her risk of filing an auto accident claim. Therefore, car insurers often charge higher premiums to policyholders who have lower credit scores.

So if your credit is less than stellar, here are eight suggestions for finding auto insurance that won’t blow up your budget.

Read More »6 Tips for Getting Auto Insurance If You Have Bad Credit

Loyalty. It’s ostensibly a virtue that should be cherished above most (or all?) other human qualities. In theory, a person who is loyal to something or someone should reap bountiful rewards for his or her dedication and steadfastness.

But these days, there are many situations where this simply isn’t the case. You can have a checking account at a bank for years, but they might still deny you a car loan or mortgage. You could be a credit card holder with a certain company for a decade, but still see your interest rate jacked up if you miss a payment. And there are countless Americans who have been laid off from a company after working there 20 or 30 years or longer.

In short, the respect and admiration for loyalty isn’t what it used to be. But here’s a little good news: loyalty does count for something in today’s auto insurance industry.

Read More »Does It Pay to Be Loyal to Your Auto Insurance Company?