The luxury regional final of Auto Tourney 2011 sees siblings from BMW going head to head. Which one will enter the final four fine cars?
Auto Tourney 2011: Luxury Regional Final
posted by Erin Bullen on March 26th, 2011 under Auto Insurance Analyst
Focus on: New car insurance for young drivers
posted by Mitchell Kirby on March 26th, 2011 under Insurance Advise
While the fuel duty reduction announced in the Budget may have brought some relief to young drivers, for many the cost of motoring remains unaffordable due to steep insurance premiums. Motorists in their teens or early twenties pay substantially higher premiums than older drivers because they are considered higher risk by insurers. According to the Driving Standards Agency, in the UK, an 18-year-old driver is more than three times as likely to be involved in a crash as a 48-year-old.
But now The Co-operative Insurance has become the latest insurer to launch a policy specifically for young drivers, which promises lower premiums if the policyholder can demonstrate that they are responsible on the roads.
Here, we look at how the policy works and whether it could be right for you…
What’s the deal?
The new Young Driver policy calculates premiums based on driving behaviours and rewards those who demonstrate they drive safely with lower premiums.
Progressive Takes Pay-as-You-Drive Program Nationwide
posted by Eve Dearth on March 23rd, 2011 under Auto Insurance Analyst
Progressive Insurance recently announced that it is now offering its Snapshot program to all states. The pay-as-you-drive (PAYD) program had been implemented in a few dozen states, most recently Florida, but now is available for all customers.
How Do Pay-as-You-Drive Programs Work?
If you’re not familiar with the Snapshot program, it is a pay-as-drive-option that judges your driving behaviors to determine how much you should be charged for your auto insurance. For Progressive’s program, drivers are asked to install a tracking device called an on-board diagnostic (OBD) port that records and sends driving data to the company.
After driving the car for 30 days with the device intact, the company is able to determine your driving habits. At
How to Obtain the Best Car Insurance Rate
posted by Erin Bullen on March 23rd, 2011 under Auto Insurance Analyst
The average car insurance rate varies from state to state. Individuals residing in New York may find their rate to be higher based on several criteria. This will depend on the city in which they live, the car they drive, accident history, and age of driver. It pays to shop for the best rates. All drivers in the state of New York have to conform to the minimum auto insurance coverage. This minimum is for each car, per each accident and includes at least $25,000/per person up to 50,000 for injury, $50,000/100,000 for death, and $10,000 for property.
Here are ways to lower rates and understand what insurers are looking for.
Check with your current provider first - Ask your current insurance provider if there are ways to lower the premium. In an effort to stay competitive, they often take the time to explore discount options. Individuals with insurance on a home or business may want to bundle the coverage.
Fitch: Japanese Earthquake Losses Manageable for Insurers
posted by Mitchell Kirby on March 21st, 2011 under Insurance Advise
Fitch Ratings says in a newly-published report examining the insurance industry’s possible exposure to the 11 March earthquake in Japan that it does not expect significant negative rating action as a result of the event due to a number of loss mitigating factors. The report expands upon the comment issued by Fitch entitled “Japanese Earthquake Losses Manageable for Primary and Reinsurance Companies” dated 13 March 2011 at www.fitchratings.com.
The agency believes that losses can be absorbed by the insurance and reinsurance industries without any widespread solvency problems, or undue financial strain. However Fitch underlines that the assessments within the report remain subject to change as more information becomes available.
As Japanese primary insurance companies and global reinsurers start to provide their initial loss estimates from the 11 March earthquake, Fitch will review these companies to determine whether rating action is warranted.
Rating action is unlikely unless a loss causes capital and leverage ratios to deteriorate beyond previous expectations. Fitch
Gleaming pumpkin 32 years in the making
posted by Erin Bullen on March 20th, 2011 under Auto Insurance Analyst
This story begins like thousands of others around North America. A guy begins a restoration project, then life gets in the way and the project gets put on the back burner. That is code for being stuck in the back of the garage and having stuff piled on top of it.
For Mark Bard, the story began in 1979 when he began restoring the 1970 Mustang Mach1 you see above. It got stuck in the corner just a year later. In 2006, work finally resumed on the project, which was finally completed this year. 2011.
32 years later!
They say that good things come to those who wait and Marks Mach1 is a very good thing.
This Mustang is an interesting combination of old meets new, as one can see that special attention has been paid to keeping the Seventies flavor, while adding in some modern touches.