You’re charging me for what?! Insurers find new ways to set car insurance rates
You’re charging me for what?! Insurers find new ways to set car insurance rates

Insurance companies are getting creative when it comes to determining how much you should pay for car insurance. In addition to using traditional factors, such as your driving record and how many miles you drive each year, some insurers now look at such things as…
Bucks for the bang
Bucks for the bang

It is much easier to save money on your car insurance than your home insurance. Insurers compete hard for auto customers. That’s because it’s easier for them to make a profit and the risks are much more predictable. So if you have a decent driving…
Should states ban credit-based insurance scoring?
Should states ban credit-based insurance scoring?

Drivers in Texas who have bruised credit soon could have one less thing to worry about when buying insurance. A bill pending in the state Senate would prevent insurance companies in Texas from using credit-based insurance scores to determine how much to charge policyholders for…
Poor credit history can harm your ability to buy home and car insurance
Poor credit history can harm your ability to buy home and car insurance

he cancellation of homeowner’s insurance policies in Florida based on consumers’ credit histories is drawing close scrutiny from state insurance officials. In a recent letter to Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty, the state’s insurance consumer advocate, Robin Smith Westcott, criticized insurers for using legal claims and…
Insider tells how some insurance companies rig the system
Insider tells how some insurance companies rig the system

Tony Bartelme Posted: Sunday, December 2, 2012 12:22 a.m. UPDATED: Sunday, December 2, 2012 12:29 a.m. Mark Romano, a former Allstate executive turned whistleblower, stands outside the fence circling Allstate’s massive guarded headquarters in Northbrook, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. Romano was in charge of…
Driver Protection or Loss of Choice? NY SUM Debate Awaits Approval
Driver Protection or Loss of Choice? NY SUM Debate Awaits Approval

When the New York Legislature passed amendment S. 7787/ A. 10784 in June, there were both cheers and jeers. It’s now the center of a debate between those who believe it’s protection for drivers and others who think it’s a loss of choice for consumers.…
A roadmap to emergency roadside assistance
A roadmap to emergency roadside assistance

You’re stranded by the side of the road with an empty gas tank, a flat tire or smoke pouring out of your hood. This is not the time to wonder why you didn’t buy roadside assistance with your auto insurance policy. Instead, experts say, you…
What does it take to keep customers satisfied with auto insurance claims?
What does it take to keep customers satisfied with auto insurance claims?

Overall satisfaction with the car insurance claims process has risen over the past year, despite the fact that claims are costing consumers more, according to a new study from market research giant J.D. Power and Associates. Using a 1,000-point scale, overall satisfaction by claim filers…
Mandated car insurance vs. mandated health insurance: What’s the difference?
Mandated car insurance vs. mandated health insurance: What’s the difference?

If Americans don’t raise an eyebrow over being forced by law to buy car insurance, why the big stink over having to get health insurance? That debate was rekindled when talk show host Piers Morgan recently posed that question to U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, a…
The 7 most terrifying car insurance words
The 7 most terrifying car insurance words

A car accident or major traffic violation can leave you rattled, but even scarier can be the effect on your car insurance rates . Here are seven words that are sure to send you screaming. 1. Surcharge If you think the embarrassment of causing a…
5 tips for renewing your car insurance policy
5 tips for renewing your car insurance policy
Greater Expectations
Greater Expectations

If you weren’t thrilled with the way your insurer handled an auto accident claim, you’re not alone. Consumer satisfaction with auto claims is dropping, according to a recent study by J.D. Powers. Given how aggressively insurers compete for your auto business, you have the power…
Car repair shops getting squeezed by insurers: Consumers Beware
Car repair shops getting squeezed by insurers: Consumers Beware

Car repair shops across the country say insurance companies are controlling their prices by steering customers toward preferred businesses that do their bidding.Several business owners in Central Iowa took their complaint to the governor’s office in September, and state legislators will likely address the issue…
Denied! 6 Foolish Moves That destroy a Car Insurance Claim
Denied! 6 Foolish Moves That destroy a Car Insurance Claim

When you purchase car insurance, you hope your claims will be paid. But in many situations, your insurer can deny your claim because of things you’ve done. Negligence, criminal activity or simple forgetfulness all can cost you. Here are six things you may do that…
inCREDITable
inCREDITable

It may surprise you to learn that your credit rating is probably impacting the amount you’re paying for insurance more than your driving record or the condition of your home. This is called “credit-based insurance scoring.” The worse your score, the higher your premium. There…
Roadside assistance may affect auto insurance rates
Roadside assistance may affect auto insurance rates

Since auto insurance companies typically offer less expensive roadside assistance plans than their competitors, for the many drivers who experience a flat tire or cracked windshield every year, these companies are often the first place they turn when in a rut. As a result, many…
Can roadside assistance sabotage your car insurance?
Can roadside assistance sabotage your car insurance?

When your car battery dies or you get a flat tire, having a roadside assistance plan can be a godsend. Car insurance companies generally offer cheaper roadside plans than those of motor clubs. However, these programs raise a question in many consumers’ minds, says Amy…
Consumer Advocates Share Insurance Claim Tips
Consumer Advocates Share Insurance Claim Tips

Insurance companies are in the business of making money. So consumers need to know these tips to avoid getting the runaround. Charles Thomas still isn’t sure which was worse: The fire that broke out on the deck of his San Francisco home two years ago…