Your insurance company can’t verify the annual mileage you drive, your marital status or who in your household drives your car, so why do they ask those questions when it comes to getting an insurance provider?

We reached out to an insurance expert for answers about what you share with your insurance provider. But one thing is for sure; your contract with an auto insurance provider is about trust.

“On every insurance application the consumer is asked to sign it in order to give consent,” says Anne-Marie Thomas, a spokesperson from InsuranceHotline. “You’re authorizing the insurance company to collect and assess your driving history in order to give you insurance.” That means that your driving history and the answers you give on your insurance application is what makes up the majority of the profile that your provider has of you.

The post 10 Things Your Insurance Company Knows About You appeared first on AutoGuide.com.

Car insurance is a necessary evil, an extra expense you really can’t drive without. Coverage is important both to protect yourself and others when the unexpected inevitably happens.

Paying that monthly premium can take a sizable bite out of your budget, especially if you drive an expensive or powerful vehicle. It’s no secret, as horsepower and performance go up so do insurance costs. Does every underwriter have a master’s degree in being a wet blanket?

SEE ALSO: 10 things Your Insurance Company Knows About You

Still, some models are much cheaper to cover than others. Accordingly the folks at Insure.com have determined the 10 most affordable vehicles to indemnify. To come up with this list they’ve compiled pricing information from carriers including Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm, taking data from 10 separate zip codes in each state.

The following prices include $100,000 injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 to cover property damage. The insured is a 40-year-old man with a clean driving record and a daily commute of just 12 miles.

10. Ford Escape – $1,161

Ford’s compact Escape crossover lands in the No. 10 spot on this list, averaging less than $1,200 to insure annually. The S trim level of this vehicle is a bargain in more ways than one; base price is less than 24 grand.

9. Dodge Grand Caravan SE – $1,158

Next up, the Dodge Grand Caravan … SE! All it costs to insure one for 12 months is $1,158. What a bargain! But that’s not all. You can practically pick one of these breadboxes up for your signature plus the lint in your pockets as down payment. An SE model can be yours for around 25 large, but unbelievably this trim doesn’t scream “cheap” quite as loudly as the American Value Package, which is a few grand less.

8. Dodge Journey SE – $1,149

And if you’re looking for even more value you can spend a little extra time at your local Dodge dealer because the brand’s Journey crossover is also an insurance bargain. On average an SE version of this vehicle will set you back just $1,149 to cover for a year. Base price for one of these is less than $25,000 including destination fees.

7. Subaru Outback 2.5i – $1,144

But American vehicles aren’t the only ones that are affordable to insure, oh no. You can drive a Subaru Outback 2.5i without breaking the bank because annual indemnity costs for this crossover average just $1,144. You’ve probably got that stashed away in your couch cushions. Out the door you can get one of these vehicles for about 26 grand.

6. Chrysler Town & Country Touring – $1,140

Well, that was a brief reprieve but we’re back at the Pentastar brand for our No. 6 model. It should be no surprise that if the Dodge Grand Caravan is on this list then its identical twin will be as well. The Chrysler Town & Country miniature vanlette also earned itself accolades for being affordable to insure. Annual coverage for one of these family-haulers averages a paltry $1,140.

5. Jeep Compass Sport – $1,140

Surprise, surprise, we’ve got another Chrysler vehicle on this list! Tying the Town & Country for insurance affordability is the Jeep Compass Sport. Undercutting other vehicles presented here, the base price for one of these is less than $20,000, not including any rebates that may be available. In more ways than one the Compass is extremely affordable.

4. Honda CR-V LX – $1,115

Joining the Subaru Outback listed above is another Japanese vehicle, the ever-popular Honda CR-V. Out thrifting even the miserly Compass, this high-quality crossover offers customers a lot of features in a long-lasting, no-nonsense package. Annual insurance costs average just $1,115. As for vehicle pricing, you can snag yourself a CR-V for $24,000 and change.

3. Jeep Patriot Sport – $1,104

This is getting old. Next up … ANOTHER JEEP, specifically the Patriot Sport. This off-road-focused crossover kicks off at less than 18 large, not counting any rebates, which could be significant based on where you live. But a bargain-basement price is not the Patriot’s only budget-boosting trick. Annual insurance costs average a paltry $1,104. How’s that for value?

2. Honda Odyssey LX – $1,103

Undercutting the Patriot by just one solitary buck in average annual coverage costs is the Honda Odyssey LX minivan. Widely considered the best of its breed on the market today, this vehicle is a great option for families; it’s safe, reliable, efficient and not to bad of a drive, either. Regrettably it’s not that cheap, starting around $30,000 including destination fees.

1. Jeep Wrangler Sport – $1,080

How’s this for a surprise? It’s hard to believe, but according to Insure.com of all the vehicles out there Jeep’s Wrangler Sport is the cheapest to insure. Um, how? Well, we’re not entirely sure but this SUV averages little more than a grand to cover for 12 months. The Sport model is the cheapest version available wearing a starting price of less than $24,000. Fortunately higher-end trim levels are also extremely affordable to insure.

[Source: Insure.com]

The post Top 10 Cheapest Vehicles to Insure appeared first on AutoGuide.com.

A study has revealed the most expensive and least expensive states in the U.S. to insure a car.

Leading the way as the most expensive state in the U.S. for car insurance is Michigan with an average rate of $2,476. The study was conducted by Insure.com, who has done the annual study since 2010 and Michigan has ranked among the top three states for most expensive rates every year since.

One of the major factors that makes Michigan an expensive state for auto insurance is because of its no-fault auto insurance system, which features the most generous personal injury protection (PIP) benefits in the country, according to Insure.com. Coming second on the most expensive list is Montana with an average rate of $1,886. Rounding out the top five are Washington, D.C. ($1,799), Louisiana ($1,774) and Florida ($1,742).

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Most Expensive Cars to Insure

Now if you’re looking to save money on auto insurance, Maine is your best option with an average rate of $805. The state has placed among the three states with lowest rates since the study began in 2010. “We have few large urban areas so we have lower overall traffic problems, and we don’t have hailstorms or tornadoes,” said Jeffrey McDonnell, president of the Maine Insurance Agents Association.

Ohio was last year’s least expensive state but this year rates have gone up slightly to an average of $843. The rest of the top five least expensive states are Idaho ($877), Iowa ($886) and New Hampshire ($905).

The study averaged rates for the 20 best-selling vehicles in the U.S. and compared rates from six major insurance companies. Insure.com admits that the car you drive matters, but it also added that “where you live usually matters more.” Factors that influence insurance rates include theft and fraud, with motorists paying more if they live in urban areas where claims are more frequent.

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Liberty Mutual will start informing its policyholders if they have a pending recall on their vehicle.

The insurance company has announced a partnership with a third-party data provider that will help identify any open safety recalls announced in the past six months for their policyholders’ vehicles.

By using vehicle identification numbers (VINs) along with current customer contact information, the company will provide information to policyholders about a specific vehicle’s open safety recalls. Customers will also be able to login to their eService page to find up-to-date information to check whether their vehicle is impacted by a recall.

SEE ALSO: Top 5 Worst Car Insurance Deals

Last year, a record number 51.26-million vehicles were called in the U.S. and Liberty Mutual wants to stress how important it is to have a recalled vehicle fixed. A recent study conducted by the company showed that 62 percent of those surveyed believed it’s the automaker’s responsibility to notify them if their car is recalled. In some cases however, car owners aren’t able to receive the first class mail notifications because they have either changed addresses or the vehicle has changed ownership.

By tying it in with your auto insurance, Liberty Mutual will always have recent information on your mailing address as well as your vehicle, so that they can inform you of any pending recalls.

The post Liberty Mutual Will Inform Policyholders of Recalls appeared first on AutoGuide.com.

The American Automobile Association has said that it is raising premiums on Tesla vehicles by up to 30 percent.

Tesla, naturally, isn’t happy with the move.

AAA Chief Actuary Anthony Ptasznik said that they noticed some anomalies in Tesla claims to date, so they took a look at some other data sources. Data from the Highway Loss Data Institute, a research organization that gathers and publishes data on vehicle insurance claims, backed up AAA’s findings. Ptasznik said that “looking at a much broader set of countrywide data, we saw the same patterns observed in our own data, and that gave us the confidence to change rates.”

The report covered 2014-2016 model years. In the large luxury SUV class, where the Model X is grouped, claim frequency is the same as the average for all vehicles, and the cost is 43 percent above average. Model X owners file 41 percent more claims than average, and they cost 89 percent more. The Model S, in the large luxury vehicle class, saw 46 percent more claims than average, with claims costing more than double average (the rest of the class is 13 percent more claims and 50 percent higher cost). That’s a big jump for insurers.

Russ Rader, a spokesman for HLDI’s parent group the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety offered an overarching comment.

“Teslas get into a lot of crashes and are costly to repair afterward, consumers will pay for that when they go to insure one,” he said.

SEE ALSO: AWD Tesla Model 3 Will Be Available Early Next Year

Tesla disagrees with the claims. In a statement to Automotive News, Tesla said that its cars were being incorrectly grouped because they had a higher rate of acceleration than their peers. The statement called it “false and misleading.” They also added that National Highway Traffic Safety Administration testing shows the Model S holds the lowest likelihood of injury and said that “we expect Model X to receive the best score for any SUV ever tested.”

Tesla is working with insurance companies as part of their Insure My Tesla program to ensure lower rates for their customers. The automaker says that in addition to the crash testing scores, “leading insurers also appreciate the added safety benefit of Autopilot.”

The company also argues if the Highway Loss Data Institute’s system placed it with the right competitors, Tesla’s crash data would not stand out negatively. The data however, says the Tesla Model S is involved in 46 percent more claims than average, and those claims cost more than twice the average.

A version of this story originally appeared on Hybrid Cars

Discuss this story on our Tesla Forum

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Cars and trucks aren’t getting any cheaper, and neither is insurance.

According to analysts at Kelley Blue Book, during April 2019 the estimated average new-vehicle transaction price in the U.S. was nearly $37,000! You can blame added safety features and technology, the proliferation of luxury amenities and more for this ever-growing figure.

If new-vehicle sticker shock isn’t enough to make you convulse, you’ve also got to budget for fuel or electricity, plus maintenance and possible repairs. Oh, and you’re definitely going to need insurance.

ALSO SEE: Top 10 Most Reliable Cars

Now, this is one area where you could save significant amounts of cash if you’re smart. As they have for nearly a decade, the website Insure.com has compiled a list of the cheapest vehicles to get insurance for. Supposedly they compared rates in every state of the union for some 3,000 different models and trim levels, shopping prices from six major providers and then averaging them out.

So, what are the best insurance bargains out there? Well, here are 10 of the most affordable 2019-model-year vehicles to insure.

10. Jeep Compass Sport, $1,349

And we start with the Jeep Compass Sport, a handsome off-roadable compact crossover that looks like a baby Grand Cherokee. Insurance for this little mountain goat will supposedly set you back $1,349. Not too shabby. Base price for most-affordable Compass is likewise budget-friendly at 23 grand and change including delivery.

SEE ALSO: 12 Things to Know About Alfa Romeo – The Short List

9. Subaru Forester 2.5i, $1,347

Undercutting that Jeep by a single two-dollar bill – for insurance coverage, of course – is the Subaru Forester 2.5i. Keeping costs down, this Japanese utility vehicle comes with loads of standard equipment including all-wheel drive, the automaker’s EyeSight suite of advanced safety equipment and even unbeatable crash-test scores, all things insurance companies love!

8. Ford Escape S, $1,344

In position No. 8 on this list is the Ford Escape S, the most affordable version of this compact utility vehicle. In this configuration, it comes with a 2.5-liter engine, a phalanx of airbags and not much else. Plan on spending around $1,344 for insurance. Base price is about $25,000 to park one in your garage.

ALSO SEE: Top 10 Best Cars for Teens – The Short List

7. Jeep Renegade Sport, $1,338

Next up, another Jeep! Slightly cheaper to insure than its bigger brother is the diminutive Renegade Sport. According to Insure.com, the average cost of coverage for this petite SUV is $1,338. Grab a front-wheel-drive model with a manual transmission and standard 1.4-liter turbocharged engine and it will set you back about 20 grand.

6. Honda CR-V LX, $1,333

Coming in sixth place is the Honda CR-V LX, the first of three vehicles from the Japanese automaker that made it in this top-10 list. Coverage will cost you around $1,333, one solitary Abraham Lincoln less than the Renegade. Shielding passengers from harm should the unthinkable happen, it’s earned a Top Safety Pick score from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

5. Honda HR-V LX, $1,325

The subcompact Honda HR-V utility vehicle is another insurance bargain, averaging just $1,325 for coverage. Even this entry-level model comes with a flipping and folding second-row Magic Seat plus standard front-wheel drive and a 141-horsepower 1.8-liter engine, all for less than $22,000.

SEE ALSO: 8 Great V8 Swaps – The Short List

4. Mazda CX-3 Sport, $1,307

Moving along, in spot No. 4 is the Mazda CX-3 Sport, yet another subcompact crossover. In stripped-down form, it comes with a 148-horsepower engine, front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic gearbox, all for 21-grand and change. The national average to insure this vehicle is a paltry $1,307.

3. Subaru Outback 2.5i, $1,306

But even cheaper than that is the Subaru Outback 2.5i, which clocks in at $1,306. Of course, insurance companies love Subarus because they come with lots of safety equipment and are relatively inexpensive. This base Outback starts around $27,000.

2. Jeep Wrangler Sport, $1,304

Wowzers, a third Jeep! The off-road brand’s Wrangler also made this list, in Sport form. Insurance companies must love these rugged and often fairly bare-bones vehicles. Sturdiness and mechanical simplicity, in theory, keep them out of trouble. Coverage for this flavor of Wrangler averages $1,304. Base price for one is less than $30,000.

1. Honda Odyssey, $1,298

And now for the vehicle that, on average has the lowest insurance rates! Drumroll, please… It’s the Honda Odyssey minivan! Yes, this family hauler will cost you just $1,298 to cover. They say that’s $514 less than the national average of $1,812.

SEE ALSO: Car Maintenance, 10 Things Every Car Owner Should Know – The Short List

Interestingly, the Odyssey has always been an insurance bargain. For eight of the 10 years they’ve been compiling this list, it has made it in the top five. And back in 2010 when they started ranking new models this van cost $1,095 to insure, which means over the last nine years the cost has only increased by $203.

Check out more episodes of The Short List!

The post Top 10 Cheapest Cars to Insure in 2019 – The Short List appeared first on AutoGuide.com.

Insurance companies are becoming increasingly tech savvy about monitoring their customers.

Progressive and Allstate are turning to smartphone apps to monitor how well their customers are driving, a natural progression from OBD-II connected devices like Progressive’s Snapshot. The Snapshot device currently is installed in your dashboard, monitoring a 30-day driving period. Based on the drivers’ mileage and hard stops, customers could be eligible for discounts.

SEE ALSO: 10 Ways to Lower Your Insurance

Now that smartphones are so popular, Progressive and Allstate are both looking to towards apps that would make it easier to monitor their drivers without having to install such a device. Currently, Allstate has launched Drivewise, an app that monitors and gives feedback on driving behavior and is testing it in Montana, Nebraska and New Hampshire. Progressive on the other hand, is running a contest for developers to come up with a clever app but has also been speaking with multiple automakers about installing software that can track and make judgements on driving.

The post Insurance Companies Developing Apps to Track Drivers appeared first on AutoGuide.com.

Nestled in the untamed wilds of Northern Michigan, or more specifically the charming mini-metropolis of Traverse City, is a world-class collection of vintage cars you’ve probably never seen or even heard of before.

Informally referred to as The Hagerty Garage, this eclectic group of vehicles is comprised of about 25 autos plus a handful of antique motorcycles, some boats and a few outboard motors for a little variety. This private collection is the property of Hagerty Insurance, the largest classic car insurer in the world.

The firm is headquartered in Traverse City and employs around 700 people. They have offices across the U.S. and Canada as well as a branch in the UK that serves Europe.

Jonathan Klinger, public relations manager at Hagerty and my tour guide explained that the collection has three overarching themes. There are cars that have been in the Hagerty family, vehicles restored by Hagerty kids and automobiles with local history. The beautiful red 1967 Porsche 911 S for instance was rebuilt by company CEO McKeel Hagerty. “Some of these cars have been in the family since the ‘60s,” Klinger said.

One vehicle with particular local significance is a 1948 Ford convertible. Nicknamed the “Dunesmobile,” this fully restored drop-top was actually used to take tourists for thrill rides across Sleeping Bear Dunes in the Northwestern corner of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. It was part of a fleet of 10 such Fords and is the last known survivor.

Another real eye-catcher is a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396. Painted bright orange this car is impossible to ignore. Curiously it was actually restored by Hagerty employees. Klinger said the company has a special program that allows any worker to get their hands dirty in the garage.

This particular Camaro was totaled in a crash, but instead of scrapping it the company decided restoration was the right thing to do. So far employees have brought three cars back to life in just four years but this ’69 took two years of work to be roadworthy once again because of the damage it sustained

SEE ALSO: Visiting the Studebaker National Museum

Setting Hagerty’s vehicular assemblage apart from other car collections is that these beauties are anything but trailer queens; they actually get used. In fact the company hosts special events where they teach kids how to drive cars with manual transmissions and they do it with some of their vintage vehicles. How cool is that? I even got to test drive a 1915 Ford Model T, which was an unreal experience.

Understandably not everything sees regular use. Klinger said, “The only car that doesn’t get driven much is the E-Type Jag.” He said it’s 100 percent origianl and is simply too special to risk getting damaged.

And Klinger knows a thing or two about driving old iron. He gained notoriety for using a 1930 Ford Model A sedan as his only road-going transportation for an entire year. He put the car through every kind of weather imaginable from rain and snow to baking-hot temperatures and covered salt-covered roads. The project was called 365 Days of A and it concluded a couple years back.

But when asked which car topped his list Klinger said, “My personal favorite is that 1917 peerless, hands down. For me as a car enthusiast I love the early cars, even pre World War I … I’m always amazed at the early technology.” This green beauty is powered by a cutting-edge-for-the-time V8 engine, which was tremendously powerful in its day.

He also has a personal connection to this two-seat behemoth, which sits about as tall as a bar stool and has a cockpit that’s narrower than a laundry basket. In fact it’s so tight in order to operate the clutch pedal you have to remove your left shoe!

Upping its sentimental importance, Klinger said he knew the previous owner before the car was acquired by Hagerty. Additionally he campaigns it in The Great Race, a long-distance, controlled-speed, endurance competition for vintage cars. Accordingly this Peerless is fitted with special analog timing devices for making precise speed and distance calculations. And after riding shotgun around the block it’s easy to see why this is his top choice; it makes glorious noises!

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Coolest Cars at Woodward Dream Cruise

“As time goes on this collection will slowly grow and evolve,” said Klinger thanks in part to the company’s employee restoration program. He also said, “The reason that this collection exits, it’s kind of part of the DNA of the company, the DNA of the family.”

The founder, Frank Hagerty, who recently passed away, got started in this business back in 1984 by insuring wooden boats. He did that at a time when other insurance companies wouldn’t touch them with a 10-foot yardarm. Klinger said they were viewed as “floating pieces of firewood filled with gas”

Over the years his company grew, fueled by customer service and common-sense coverage. Klinger said, “This business was built by a family of car enthusiasts not by a family of insurance enthusiasts.” This is something that’s immediately obvious after taking a peek inside The Hagerty Garage.

GALLERY: The Hagerty Garage

The post Touring the Hagerty Insurance Private Car Collection appeared first on AutoGuide.com.

Insurance is something everyone needs but no one wants to pay for. Shelling out a big chunk of change every month for an essentially invisible service seems like a gross financial burden until you actually need it.

This is especially true of car insurance. Maybe you’ve never had an accident or perhaps you haven’t even been pulled over since Regan was in the White House, but no matter how cautious you are having good insurance is a smart decision.

And all of this is fine and good if you drive a showroom-fresh Toyota Camry, but what if your car isn’t stock? What if it’s got modifications? Here are some guidelines to make sure your upgraded ride is covered.

To get some answers we talked to Andrew Smidt, underwriting manager at Farmers Insurance about coverage for aftermarket-enhanced vehicles. Surprisingly there’s actually good news for enthusiasts with upgraded cars and trucks. He said, “Our standard auto policy is designed to insure vehicles that are factory built,” but, he said they are still able to offer coverage for vehicles with “minor modifications.”

Smidt said the standard Farmers auto insurance policy typically covers up to $1,000 worth of modifications. But he also cautioned that it depends on what those upgrades are. Things like special graphics, window tinting, smoked tail-lamps or other minor enhancements should be covered by the standard policy up to a grand. But beyond that, stuff it starts to get a little iffy.

“The thing that we get concerned with is anything that changes the way the vehicle drives, makes it less roadworthy or anything that’s not legal,” said Smidt. This means plunking a gigantic turbo in your sport compact, jacking your pickup truck skyward with a lift kit or putting race headers on your sports car are probably not going to be covered.

SEE ALSO: 10 Ways to Lower Your Insurance

Smidt said, “[If] you put something that’s illegal in your vehicle we’ll put it back to the way it was,” but if you get in an accident and file a claim they’re not going to replace components that break the law.

In simple terms this means you’re still covered in spite of any modifications you’ve made to your car or truck, the company simply won’t pay to replace those modifications.

But let’s say your vehicle has a bunch of upgrades, more than a grand that’s covered by one of Farmers’ standard policies. What are you supposed to do? “If you modify past that and did something [like] a special paint job or some interior equipment that was more than that, then there’s a customization endorsement that can be used,” said Smidt. Think of these as special add-ons to a standard policy.

To get an endorsement a customer would have to go and talk to a sales agent, walking them through the upgrades they’ve made to their vehicle. If the customer is eligible and the endorsement is available in their state, one of these extra-cost additions from Farmers will cover modifications up to $10,000.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Cheapest Cars to Insure

Despite their willingness to work with customers that have vehicles with aftermarket enhancements there’s one thing they want absolutely NOTHING to do with. If you go racing or get involved in a speed contest of any kind, “There would be no coverage at that point,” Smidt said. This applies to things like track days and of course street racing, which is an incredibly stupid thing to do, though it makes us wonder if Vin Diesel’s Dodge Charger in The Fast and the Furious was covered in some way.

In addition to policy endorsements Farmers also offers specialty insurance products. If you’ve got a classic vehicle or a show car you could opt for something that’s known as a stated-value policy. Smidt said these “provide coverage up to the limit that the customer requests.”

Let’s say you have a ’67 Camaro and it’s got historical plates. You might insure it with one of these policies for $25,000; if it ever got totaled in a wreck you’d get a check for that amount.

When it comes to vehicle modifications Farmers’ main focus is getting customers to talk to their agents, and that’s good advice regardless of who your insurance carrier is. If you have special needs or require a unique policy to cover a modified car or truck company representatives can help guide you to the most appropriate policy.

GALLERY: Trucks of the 2013 SEMA Show

Discuss this story on our Luxury Lifestyle Forum.

The post Can I Insure a Modified Vehicle? appeared first on AutoGuide.com.

Like an addendum to Murphy’s Law, the unforeseen tends to happen when you least expect it; misfortune is like a lot like a combination ninja/cat burglar/stealth bomber. Glance away for a split second and BAM, something bad happens.

Whether your dog sneaks a slice of pizza off your dinner plate or a friend’s printer stops working for no apparent reason right after installing fresh ink cartridges, misfortune is a fact of life. Likewise, automobile crashes can occur like a bolt out of the blue. One instant you’re zinging along and the next a driver behind you is trying to get a closer look at what you’ve got in the trunk by using their crossover as a battering ram. Let’s say you’ve just been involved in an accident, here are some helpful tips from the folks at AAA.

1. Preparedness

One thing that will make dealing with a crash much easier is being prepared. No, you don’t have to have a FEMA’s worth of supplies and emergency equipment on hand, but a few basics will help immeasurably. Keep a pen and some paper handy for jotting important information down. A smartphone, digital or disposable camera is wise as well for documenting the scene. It also pays to have your insurance and registration information handy and organized. You don’t want to be digging through the glove box for two hours to find this stuff.

2. Check for injuries

OK, preparedness is all well and good before a crash occurs, but after the fact is when things really matter. And provided you’re able to, the very first thing you should following an impact is check to see if anyone is injured. Hopefully everyone involved is alright but if they’re not call 9-1-1 and get some medical professionals on the scene as soon as possible. Also, it might be a good idea to keep a first-aid kit in your vehicle, so add that to the items listed in point No. 1.

3. Stay safe

If nobody’s injured and the vehicles involved are drivable do your best to get them out of the way by pulling off to the side of the road or into a nearby parking lot if possible. This helps prevent unnecessary traffic snarls and it keeps you safer; you really shouldn’t be standing in the middle of a highway during rush hour. And even though they may be smashed like a snow globe dropped from a fourth-story window, turn your hazard lights on to help warn other motorists. Signal flares aren’t a bad idea, either, especially if your ride is immobilized.

4. Law enforcement

Now you’ve got to call the police. You could skip getting the constabulary involved but that’s a really bad idea. If you don’t report a crash to law enforcement you may have no recourse down the road, so go ahead, give Ol’ Smokey a ring and get an investigation going. Chances are you’ll be glad you did, especially if you’re not at fault.

5. Play accident investigator

After all of this stuff is out of the way it’s a good idea to document the scene. Grab a camera (as long as your Kodak Fun Saver didn’t expire in 1998) and snap a few pictures of your car, the other vehicles involved and any property that’s been damaged.

SEE ALSO: Why do Car Seats Expire?

Next you’ll want to record a variety of information about the other parties involved. Make sure to get their full names; addresses and e-mail addresses; the makes, models and years of all vehicles involved; vehicle identification numbers (VIN); license plate numbers; driver’s license numbers; as well as insurance carriers and policy numbers. If you didn’t keep a ream of lined paper in the trunk to record all of this you may want to consider it in the future.

6. Notify your insurer

If you thought talking to the police was rough, now you’ve got to contact your insurance provider. Many companies have employees available 24/7 to help you through the claims process. If possible, it’s likely best to notify them as soon as possible, ideally from the scene of the crash, though jamming bamboo slivers under your fingernails may be more appealing than dealing with an insurance company.7. Unattended vehicle or property

No, that unoccupied van you just sideswiped was not abandoned, it was merely unattended. If an accident you’re involved in causes any damage to property or unattended vehicles you should take action to inform the owner. If that person is AWOL then at the very least attach a note to their vehicle or property with your contact information. It’s just the right thing to do.

8. Repair time!

Next, you get to take your car (or have it towed) to a body shop so they can scrub the blood and gristle from the undercarriage and fix any cosmetic damage that may have occurred from hitting that jogger. Some insurance companies have partnerships with certain repair firms, which may provide some helpful benefits, a free rental car perhaps.

9. Pray

And finally, it’s wise to make a few entreaties to the sky deity of your chose, asking him/her/it to prevent your insurance company from sending you your rates into low-earth orbit. Insurers love charging “at-risk drivers” absurd amounts of money for coverage; a little faith at this time could save you down the road.

SEE ALSO: IIHS Crash-Test Ratings Explained

The tips and suggestions highlighted above are helpful when you’re involved in a motor-vehicle crash.  But as always it’s best if you can avoid getting into an accident in the first place. Remember to drive defensively, don’t let technological temptations distract you and always remain observant of your environment.

Hungry for more? Check out our Tips and Advice section.

[Source: AAA]

The post What to do After a Crash appeared first on AutoGuide.com.

Looking to lower your car-insurance premium? Aren’t we all? Well, one easy way to cut the cost of coverage is to raise your deductible.

A study published by InsuranceQuotes.com clearly illustrates that higher deductibles result in big savings, though not all drivers benefit equally. Motorists in some states make out like bank robbers while others get shafted.

Still, if you increase your insurance deductible – that is the amount a policyholder has to pay before coverage starts – from $500 to $2,000 the national average saving is 16 percent. In some states the reduction was nearly double that at a whopping 30 percent! Without question this is one of the easiest ways to save money on insurance.

SEE ALSO: How to Drive Through a Roundabout

But two-grand for a deductible is a bit steep for some drivers. What if you increase that number from $500 to a more reasonable $1,000? Well, nationally that still results in a nine percent savings.

Residents of Massachusetts, South Dakota, Kansas and Wyoming should reduce their costs the most from this deductible increase. Bay State drivers save the most at more than 19 percent!

On the other side of the coin, motorists in Michigan, Florida, Louisiana and North Carolina get thrown under the bus. Drivers in The Mitten State really get screwed, saving less than four percent by doubling their automobile insurance deductible from $500 to $1,000. Exacerbating this issue, Detroit residents already pay the highest rates for insurance in the whole country.

Click here for more tips and advice.

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Usage-based car insurance is losing popularity among American drivers.

According to a recent survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI), 51 percent of Americans said they would never consider using a pay-as-you-drive insurance program, up from 37 percent last year. The survey suggests that millennials are most likely to use such a service and that they are also the least concerned with privacy issues. Interestingly, 26 percent of respondents said they did not know how usage-based car insurance worked while 21 percent said their primary concern was sharing personal information.

SEE ALSO: What is Usage-Based Car Insurance?

Usage-based car insurance generally employs  a small sensor installed on the vehicle, like the one pictured above, to track mileage, what time of the day owners are driving and how hard drivers hit their brakes. The survey finds that many Americans incorrectly believe that those sensors monitor for drunk driving and driving in high-crime neighborhoods, which they do not.

It also showed that millennials are more than twice as likely as their older peers to hear about pay-as-you-drive insurance from friends or family. Nearly 75 percent of Americans said they learned about usage-based car insurance through a television commercial.

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Your insurance company can’t verify the annual mileage you drive, your marital status or who in your household drives your car, so why do they ask those questions when it comes to getting an insurance provider?

We reached out to an insurance expert for answers about what you share with your insurance provider. But one thing is for sure; your contract with an auto insurance provider is about trust.

“On every insurance application the consumer is asked to sign it in order to give consent,” says Anne-Marie Thomas, a spokesperson from InsuranceHotline. “You’re authorizing the insurance company to collect and assess your driving history in order to give you insurance.” That means that your driving history and the answers you give on your insurance application is what makes up the majority of the profile that your provider has of you.

The post 10 Things Your Insurance Company Knows About You appeared first on AutoGuide.com.

Car insurance is a necessary evil, an extra expense you really can’t drive without. Coverage is important both to protect yourself and others when the unexpected inevitably happens.

Paying that monthly premium can take a sizable bite out of your budget, especially if you drive an expensive or powerful vehicle. It’s no secret, as horsepower and performance go up so do insurance costs. Does every underwriter have a master’s degree in being a wet blanket?

SEE ALSO: 10 things Your Insurance Company Knows About You

Still, some models are much cheaper to cover than others. Accordingly the folks at Insure.com have determined the 10 most affordable vehicles to indemnify. To come up with this list they’ve compiled pricing information from carriers including Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm, taking data from 10 separate zip codes in each state.

The following prices include $100,000 injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 to cover property damage. The insured is a 40-year-old man with a clean driving record and a daily commute of just 12 miles.

10. Ford Escape – $1,161

Ford’s compact Escape crossover lands in the No. 10 spot on this list, averaging less than $1,200 to insure annually. The S trim level of this vehicle is a bargain in more ways than one; base price is less than 24 grand.

9. Dodge Grand Caravan SE – $1,158

Next up, the Dodge Grand Caravan … SE! All it costs to insure one for 12 months is $1,158. What a bargain! But that’s not all. You can practically pick one of these breadboxes up for your signature plus the lint in your pockets as down payment. An SE model can be yours for around 25 large, but unbelievably this trim doesn’t scream “cheap” quite as loudly as the American Value Package, which is a few grand less.

8. Dodge Journey SE – $1,149

And if you’re looking for even more value you can spend a little extra time at your local Dodge dealer because the brand’s Journey crossover is also an insurance bargain. On average an SE version of this vehicle will set you back just $1,149 to cover for a year. Base price for one of these is less than $25,000 including destination fees.

7. Subaru Outback 2.5i – $1,144

But American vehicles aren’t the only ones that are affordable to insure, oh no. You can drive a Subaru Outback 2.5i without breaking the bank because annual indemnity costs for this crossover average just $1,144. You’ve probably got that stashed away in your couch cushions. Out the door you can get one of these vehicles for about 26 grand.

6. Chrysler Town & Country Touring – $1,140

Well, that was a brief reprieve but we’re back at the Pentastar brand for our No. 6 model. It should be no surprise that if the Dodge Grand Caravan is on this list then its identical twin will be as well. The Chrysler Town & Country miniature vanlette also earned itself accolades for being affordable to insure. Annual coverage for one of these family-haulers averages a paltry $1,140.

5. Jeep Compass Sport – $1,140

Surprise, surprise, we’ve got another Chrysler vehicle on this list! Tying the Town & Country for insurance affordability is the Jeep Compass Sport. Undercutting other vehicles presented here, the base price for one of these is less than $20,000, not including any rebates that may be available. In more ways than one the Compass is extremely affordable.

4. Honda CR-V LX – $1,115

Joining the Subaru Outback listed above is another Japanese vehicle, the ever-popular Honda CR-V. Out thrifting even the miserly Compass, this high-quality crossover offers customers a lot of features in a long-lasting, no-nonsense package. Annual insurance costs average just $1,115. As for vehicle pricing, you can snag yourself a CR-V for $24,000 and change.

3. Jeep Patriot Sport – $1,104

This is getting old. Next up … ANOTHER JEEP, specifically the Patriot Sport. This off-road-focused crossover kicks off at less than 18 large, not counting any rebates, which could be significant based on where you live. But a bargain-basement price is not the Patriot’s only budget-boosting trick. Annual insurance costs average a paltry $1,104. How’s that for value?

2. Honda Odyssey LX – $1,103

Undercutting the Patriot by just one solitary buck in average annual coverage costs is the Honda Odyssey LX minivan. Widely considered the best of its breed on the market today, this vehicle is a great option for families; it’s safe, reliable, efficient and not to bad of a drive, either. Regrettably it’s not that cheap, starting around $30,000 including destination fees.

1. Jeep Wrangler Sport – $1,080

How’s this for a surprise? It’s hard to believe, but according to Insure.com of all the vehicles out there Jeep’s Wrangler Sport is the cheapest to insure. Um, how? Well, we’re not entirely sure but this SUV averages little more than a grand to cover for 12 months. The Sport model is the cheapest version available wearing a starting price of less than $24,000. Fortunately higher-end trim levels are also extremely affordable to insure.

[Source: Insure.com]

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A study has revealed the most expensive and least expensive states in the U.S. to insure a car.

Leading the way as the most expensive state in the U.S. for car insurance is Michigan with an average rate of $2,476. The study was conducted by Insure.com, who has done the annual study since 2010 and Michigan has ranked among the top three states for most expensive rates every year since.

One of the major factors that makes Michigan an expensive state for auto insurance is because of its no-fault auto insurance system, which features the most generous personal injury protection (PIP) benefits in the country, according to Insure.com. Coming second on the most expensive list is Montana with an average rate of $1,886. Rounding out the top five are Washington, D.C. ($1,799), Louisiana ($1,774) and Florida ($1,742).

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Most Expensive Cars to Insure

Now if you’re looking to save money on auto insurance, Maine is your best option with an average rate of $805. The state has placed among the three states with lowest rates since the study began in 2010. “We have few large urban areas so we have lower overall traffic problems, and we don’t have hailstorms or tornadoes,” said Jeffrey McDonnell, president of the Maine Insurance Agents Association.

Ohio was last year’s least expensive state but this year rates have gone up slightly to an average of $843. The rest of the top five least expensive states are Idaho ($877), Iowa ($886) and New Hampshire ($905).

The study averaged rates for the 20 best-selling vehicles in the U.S. and compared rates from six major insurance companies. Insure.com admits that the car you drive matters, but it also added that “where you live usually matters more.” Factors that influence insurance rates include theft and fraud, with motorists paying more if they live in urban areas where claims are more frequent.

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Liberty Mutual will start informing its policyholders if they have a pending recall on their vehicle.

The insurance company has announced a partnership with a third-party data provider that will help identify any open safety recalls announced in the past six months for their policyholders’ vehicles.

By using vehicle identification numbers (VINs) along with current customer contact information, the company will provide information to policyholders about a specific vehicle’s open safety recalls. Customers will also be able to login to their eService page to find up-to-date information to check whether their vehicle is impacted by a recall.

SEE ALSO: Top 5 Worst Car Insurance Deals

Last year, a record number 51.26-million vehicles were called in the U.S. and Liberty Mutual wants to stress how important it is to have a recalled vehicle fixed. A recent study conducted by the company showed that 62 percent of those surveyed believed it’s the automaker’s responsibility to notify them if their car is recalled. In some cases however, car owners aren’t able to receive the first class mail notifications because they have either changed addresses or the vehicle has changed ownership.

By tying it in with your auto insurance, Liberty Mutual will always have recent information on your mailing address as well as your vehicle, so that they can inform you of any pending recalls.

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The American Automobile Association has said that it is raising premiums on Tesla vehicles by up to 30 percent.

Tesla, naturally, isn’t happy with the move.

AAA Chief Actuary Anthony Ptasznik said that they noticed some anomalies in Tesla claims to date, so they took a look at some other data sources. Data from the Highway Loss Data Institute, a research organization that gathers and publishes data on vehicle insurance claims, backed up AAA’s findings. Ptasznik said that “looking at a much broader set of countrywide data, we saw the same patterns observed in our own data, and that gave us the confidence to change rates.”

The report covered 2014-2016 model years. In the large luxury SUV class, where the Model X is grouped, claim frequency is the same as the average for all vehicles, and the cost is 43 percent above average. Model X owners file 41 percent more claims than average, and they cost 89 percent more. The Model S, in the large luxury vehicle class, saw 46 percent more claims than average, with claims costing more than double average (the rest of the class is 13 percent more claims and 50 percent higher cost). That’s a big jump for insurers.

Russ Rader, a spokesman for HLDI’s parent group the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety offered an overarching comment.

“Teslas get into a lot of crashes and are costly to repair afterward, consumers will pay for that when they go to insure one,” he said.

SEE ALSO: AWD Tesla Model 3 Will Be Available Early Next Year

Tesla disagrees with the claims. In a statement to Automotive News, Tesla said that its cars were being incorrectly grouped because they had a higher rate of acceleration than their peers. The statement called it “false and misleading.” They also added that National Highway Traffic Safety Administration testing shows the Model S holds the lowest likelihood of injury and said that “we expect Model X to receive the best score for any SUV ever tested.”

Tesla is working with insurance companies as part of their Insure My Tesla program to ensure lower rates for their customers. The automaker says that in addition to the crash testing scores, “leading insurers also appreciate the added safety benefit of Autopilot.”

The company also argues if the Highway Loss Data Institute’s system placed it with the right competitors, Tesla’s crash data would not stand out negatively. The data however, says the Tesla Model S is involved in 46 percent more claims than average, and those claims cost more than twice the average.

A version of this story originally appeared on Hybrid Cars

Discuss this story on our Tesla Forum

The post Tesla Owners Could Soon be Paying More for Insurance appeared first on AutoGuide.com.

Insurance companies are becoming increasingly tech savvy about monitoring their customers.

Progressive and Allstate are turning to smartphone apps to monitor how well their customers are driving, a natural progression from OBD-II connected devices like Progressive’s Snapshot. The Snapshot device currently is installed in your dashboard, monitoring a 30-day driving period. Based on the drivers’ mileage and hard stops, customers could be eligible for discounts.

SEE ALSO: 10 Ways to Lower Your Insurance

Now that smartphones are so popular, Progressive and Allstate are both looking to towards apps that would make it easier to monitor their drivers without having to install such a device. Currently, Allstate has launched Drivewise, an app that monitors and gives feedback on driving behavior and is testing it in Montana, Nebraska and New Hampshire. Progressive on the other hand, is running a contest for developers to come up with a clever app but has also been speaking with multiple automakers about installing software that can track and make judgements on driving.

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Nestled in the untamed wilds of Northern Michigan, or more specifically the charming mini-metropolis of Traverse City, is a world-class collection of vintage cars you’ve probably never seen or even heard of before.

Informally referred to as The Hagerty Garage, this eclectic group of vehicles is comprised of about 25 autos plus a handful of antique motorcycles, some boats and a few outboard motors for a little variety. This private collection is the property of Hagerty Insurance, the largest classic car insurer in the world.

The firm is headquartered in Traverse City and employs around 700 people. They have offices across the U.S. and Canada as well as a branch in the UK that serves Europe.

Jonathan Klinger, public relations manager at Hagerty and my tour guide explained that the collection has three overarching themes. There are cars that have been in the Hagerty family, vehicles restored by Hagerty kids and automobiles with local history. The beautiful red 1967 Porsche 911 S for instance was rebuilt by company CEO McKeel Hagerty. “Some of these cars have been in the family since the ‘60s,” Klinger said.

One vehicle with particular local significance is a 1948 Ford convertible. Nicknamed the “Dunesmobile,” this fully restored drop-top was actually used to take tourists for thrill rides across Sleeping Bear Dunes in the Northwestern corner of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. It was part of a fleet of 10 such Fords and is the last known survivor.

Another real eye-catcher is a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396. Painted bright orange this car is impossible to ignore. Curiously it was actually restored by Hagerty employees. Klinger said the company has a special program that allows any worker to get their hands dirty in the garage.

This particular Camaro was totaled in a crash, but instead of scrapping it the company decided restoration was the right thing to do. So far employees have brought three cars back to life in just four years but this ’69 took two years of work to be roadworthy once again because of the damage it sustained

SEE ALSO: Visiting the Studebaker National Museum

Setting Hagerty’s vehicular assemblage apart from other car collections is that these beauties are anything but trailer queens; they actually get used. In fact the company hosts special events where they teach kids how to drive cars with manual transmissions and they do it with some of their vintage vehicles. How cool is that? I even got to test drive a 1915 Ford Model T, which was an unreal experience.

Understandably not everything sees regular use. Klinger said, “The only car that doesn’t get driven much is the E-Type Jag.” He said it’s 100 percent origianl and is simply too special to risk getting damaged.

And Klinger knows a thing or two about driving old iron. He gained notoriety for using a 1930 Ford Model A sedan as his only road-going transportation for an entire year. He put the car through every kind of weather imaginable from rain and snow to baking-hot temperatures and covered salt-covered roads. The project was called 365 Days of A and it concluded a couple years back.

But when asked which car topped his list Klinger said, “My personal favorite is that 1917 peerless, hands down. For me as a car enthusiast I love the early cars, even pre World War I … I’m always amazed at the early technology.” This green beauty is powered by a cutting-edge-for-the-time V8 engine, which was tremendously powerful in its day.

He also has a personal connection to this two-seat behemoth, which sits about as tall as a bar stool and has a cockpit that’s narrower than a laundry basket. In fact it’s so tight in order to operate the clutch pedal you have to remove your left shoe!

Upping its sentimental importance, Klinger said he knew the previous owner before the car was acquired by Hagerty. Additionally he campaigns it in The Great Race, a long-distance, controlled-speed, endurance competition for vintage cars. Accordingly this Peerless is fitted with special analog timing devices for making precise speed and distance calculations. And after riding shotgun around the block it’s easy to see why this is his top choice; it makes glorious noises!

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Coolest Cars at Woodward Dream Cruise

“As time goes on this collection will slowly grow and evolve,” said Klinger thanks in part to the company’s employee restoration program. He also said, “The reason that this collection exits, it’s kind of part of the DNA of the company, the DNA of the family.”

The founder, Frank Hagerty, who recently passed away, got started in this business back in 1984 by insuring wooden boats. He did that at a time when other insurance companies wouldn’t touch them with a 10-foot yardarm. Klinger said they were viewed as “floating pieces of firewood filled with gas”

Over the years his company grew, fueled by customer service and common-sense coverage. Klinger said, “This business was built by a family of car enthusiasts not by a family of insurance enthusiasts.” This is something that’s immediately obvious after taking a peek inside The Hagerty Garage.

GALLERY: The Hagerty Garage

The post Touring the Hagerty Insurance Private Car Collection appeared first on AutoGuide.com.

Insurance is something everyone needs but no one wants to pay for. Shelling out a big chunk of change every month for an essentially invisible service seems like a gross financial burden until you actually need it.

This is especially true of car insurance. Maybe you’ve never had an accident or perhaps you haven’t even been pulled over since Regan was in the White House, but no matter how cautious you are having good insurance is a smart decision.

And all of this is fine and good if you drive a showroom-fresh Toyota Camry, but what if your car isn’t stock? What if it’s got modifications? Here are some guidelines to make sure your upgraded ride is covered.

To get some answers we talked to Andrew Smidt, underwriting manager at Farmers Insurance about coverage for aftermarket-enhanced vehicles. Surprisingly there’s actually good news for enthusiasts with upgraded cars and trucks. He said, “Our standard auto policy is designed to insure vehicles that are factory built,” but, he said they are still able to offer coverage for vehicles with “minor modifications.”

Smidt said the standard Farmers auto insurance policy typically covers up to $1,000 worth of modifications. But he also cautioned that it depends on what those upgrades are. Things like special graphics, window tinting, smoked tail-lamps or other minor enhancements should be covered by the standard policy up to a grand. But beyond that, stuff it starts to get a little iffy.

“The thing that we get concerned with is anything that changes the way the vehicle drives, makes it less roadworthy or anything that’s not legal,” said Smidt. This means plunking a gigantic turbo in your sport compact, jacking your pickup truck skyward with a lift kit or putting race headers on your sports car are probably not going to be covered.

SEE ALSO: 10 Ways to Lower Your Insurance

Smidt said, “[If] you put something that’s illegal in your vehicle we’ll put it back to the way it was,” but if you get in an accident and file a claim they’re not going to replace components that break the law.

In simple terms this means you’re still covered in spite of any modifications you’ve made to your car or truck, the company simply won’t pay to replace those modifications.

But let’s say your vehicle has a bunch of upgrades, more than a grand that’s covered by one of Farmers’ standard policies. What are you supposed to do? “If you modify past that and did something [like] a special paint job or some interior equipment that was more than that, then there’s a customization endorsement that can be used,” said Smidt. Think of these as special add-ons to a standard policy.

To get an endorsement a customer would have to go and talk to a sales agent, walking them through the upgrades they’ve made to their vehicle. If the customer is eligible and the endorsement is available in their state, one of these extra-cost additions from Farmers will cover modifications up to $10,000.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Cheapest Cars to Insure

Despite their willingness to work with customers that have vehicles with aftermarket enhancements there’s one thing they want absolutely NOTHING to do with. If you go racing or get involved in a speed contest of any kind, “There would be no coverage at that point,” Smidt said. This applies to things like track days and of course street racing, which is an incredibly stupid thing to do, though it makes us wonder if Vin Diesel’s Dodge Charger in The Fast and the Furious was covered in some way.

In addition to policy endorsements Farmers also offers specialty insurance products. If you’ve got a classic vehicle or a show car you could opt for something that’s known as a stated-value policy. Smidt said these “provide coverage up to the limit that the customer requests.”

Let’s say you have a ’67 Camaro and it’s got historical plates. You might insure it with one of these policies for $25,000; if it ever got totaled in a wreck you’d get a check for that amount.

When it comes to vehicle modifications Farmers’ main focus is getting customers to talk to their agents, and that’s good advice regardless of who your insurance carrier is. If you have special needs or require a unique policy to cover a modified car or truck company representatives can help guide you to the most appropriate policy.

GALLERY: Trucks of the 2013 SEMA Show

Discuss this story on our Luxury Lifestyle Forum.

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