Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Geico Allman Brothers motorcycle insurance ad criticised]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/28/geico-allman-brothers-motorcycle-insurance-ad-criticised/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/28/geico-allman-brothers-motorcycle-insurance-ad-criticised/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/28/geico-allman-brothers-motorcycle-insurance-ad-criticised/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Geico Money Man Allman Brothers commercial - video screencap

When Geico gave the go-ahead on a new ad for motorcycle insurance set to the iconic Midnight Rider by the Allman Brothers, we're guessing the company didn't realize band members Duane Allman and Berry Oakley both died in motorcycle accidents within a year of one another. The deaths are the stuff of rock and roll legend, as both Oakley and Allman perished in crashes in Macon, Georgia within a block of one another back in the early '70s.

The spot, titled Money Man, features a rider seemingly made of money cruising along on a tree-lined street with dollar bills floating off behind him. The idea is that the rider saved so much money by switching to Geico that cash is literally falling off of him. Still, we can't help but think The Martin Agency, the agency behind the spot, could have opted for a different soundtrack. We also can't help but wonder why the surviving members of the Allman Brothers Band or its label didn't think to nip this licensing deal in the bud, too.

We've reached out to The Martin Agency for comment, and will update this post as soon as we hear back. In the interim, check out the spot for yourself in the video below.

Continue reading Geico Allman Brothers motorcycle insurance ad criticised

Geico Allman Brothers motorcycle insurance ad criticised originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allman brothersallman brothers bandgeicogeico allman brothersinsurancemidnight ridermoney manmotorcyclemotorcycle insurancevideoThu, 28 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20521734/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/28/geico-allman-brothers-motorcycle-insurance-ad-criticised/20521734/article-detail.xml 20521734 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/geico-allman-brothers-money-man-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/geico-allman-brothers-money-man-628.jpg <![CDATA[Infographic: The history of the garage]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/26/infographic-the-history-of-the-garage/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/26/infographic-the-history-of-the-garage/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/26/infographic-the-history-of-the-garage/#commentsFiled under:



Infographics are the energy bars of information delivery - not bad for you, lots of tasty calories and just enough to get you by, but not so heavy on the lasting sustenance. Yet because they skip all the boring bits they can make just about any subject interesting, and that's how we've come to know all kinds of interesting things that we'll shortly forget about the humble home garage.

The IFA Insurance Company lays out the stats on the domestic carport, from its origins in the word "garer" and as a place for horses, to being covered for feature stories and magazines and a source of envy for homeowners. Oh, and the US alone has 82 million homes with a garage - enough to store every car made in the world last year, with a few garages left over to fix a few million of those cars.

You'll find more factoids in the full infographic below.

Continue reading Infographic: The history of the garage

Infographic: The history of the garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>garagehome garageifa insuranceinfographicinsuranceSat, 26 Jan 2013 13:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20433879/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/26/infographic-the-history-of-the-garage/20433879/article-detail.xml 20433879 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/garageinfographic_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/garageinfographic.jpg <![CDATA[Even more images of the airport full of 15,000 flood-damaged Sandy cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/04/even-more-images-of-the-airport-full-of-15-000-flood-damaged-san/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/04/even-more-images-of-the-airport-full-of-15-000-flood-damaged-san/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/04/even-more-images-of-the-airport-full-of-15-000-flood-damaged-san/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Overview of airport filled with Hurricane Sandy flooded cars

The damage from a major natural disaster can be harrowing - loss to life and limb combined with property damage, environmental, economic and psychological impact make picking up the pieces difficult. But long after the crisis ebbs, the damage lingers, becoming ever more pernicious and difficult to discern. Mold inside walls, unseen weakened structures... they all get covered up with fresh coats of paint. So, too, it is with the automobiles affected.

We first told you about these cars yesterday, but now professional photographer Doug Kuntz has agreed to share his incredible aerial images with Autoblog so we can pass them on to you, the reader. Going one better, Kuntz has given us more than twice as many images than what you saw on the Weather.com link yesterday.

The runways full of cars seen above are the four-wheeled remnants of Hurricane Sandy - but they aren't all headed to the scrap heap. These vehicles are but part of the over $63 billion in damage brought by the late October storm, but insurers are hoping to recover some of their own damages by auctioning some of them off, parting others out, and scrapping the rest. The runways of Calverton Executive Airport on Long Island shown above are now home to 15,000 such vehicles - a sliver of an estimated 230,000 cars and trucks damaged or written-off by Sandy.

Some of the cars shown in these images will join thousands of others that will filter their way back into the used car market in some form or another. New York law dictates that complete vehicles must have their titles stamped as "flood" to alert buyers, but it's not uncommon for that to not happen, whether born of intent to deceive or simple neglect.

Snapper Kuntz urged Autoblog to warn you, the reader, of the danger of purchasing flood-damaged cars like these, including damaged electrical and safety systems. In Sandy's case, he didn't just see these vehicles from the air:

"I saw some of these cars parked on the streets of Rockaway with the bags deployed. I talked with tow truck drivers and mechanics who moved these cars, and have worked on Katrina wrecked cars. The tow truck drivers confirmed the airbag deployments, and the mechanics agreed about the problems taking time to show, and be very expensive to fix, and in some cases, not worth the cost."

Kuntz, who referred to such vehicles as "ticking time bombs," believes strongly that all the affected vehicles should be scrapped, and he agreed to share these images with us as long as we relayed his valuable warning. We join him in urging caution when wading into the used car market at all times, but particularly following major disasters like Sandy. It can take weeks, months or even years for flood-damaged cars to reveal themselves, so get your prospective buys properly inspected. And if there's any doubt in your mind, well, just check out the gallery above for 15,000 good reasons why walking away is usually the smart move.

Even more images of the airport full of 15,000 flood-damaged Sandy cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>calverton executive airportcar insuranceflood carsflood damageflood-damagedhurricane sandyinsuranceinsurance fraudsandysuperstorm sandyFri, 04 Jan 2013 12:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20417023/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/04/even-more-images-of-the-airport-full-of-15-000-flood-damaged-san/20417023/article-detail.xml 20417023 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/628-sandy-flood-cars-kuntz_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/628-sandy-flood-cars-kuntz.jpg <![CDATA[More car dealers capping finance and insurance products amidst ethics concerns]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/28/more-car-dealers-capping-finance-and-insurance-products-amidst-e/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/28/more-car-dealers-capping-finance-and-insurance-products-amidst-e/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/28/more-car-dealers-capping-finance-and-insurance-products-amidst-e/#commentsFiled under:



Automotive News reports a larger number of dealers are scaling back the markup on their finance and insurance products as well as aftermarket service plans in an effort to avoid the ire of regulators. There are no industry numbers on how many dealers use self-imposed caps on how much they can charge their customers for these services, but Automotive News polled dealers in an independent survey. Of those who responded, around two-thirds say they use caps, with two-thirds of those who do attributing the restrictions to ethical concerns. Gouging a customer invariably has a negative impact on store reputation, and dealers aren't keen to encourage an increase in government oversight.

Some dealers can mark up financing and insurance products by 100 percent, but most prefer to use sales volume to boost their bottom line. Doing so builds consistency and credibility among new buyers by eschewing large discounts or markups. Even so, several of the respondents in the AN survey reported record finance and insurance revenue through the third quarter of 2012, with dealers seeing over $1,200 per vehicle.

More car dealers capping finance and insurance products amidst ethics concerns originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Dec 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dealerdealer capdealersfinancefinance and insuranceinsuranceFri, 28 Dec 2012 11:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20411234/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/28/more-car-dealers-capping-finance-and-insurance-products-amidst-e/20411234/article-detail.xml 20411234 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/gyi0062477889_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/gyi0062477889.jpg <![CDATA[Why men in the US still pay more for auto insurance [w/poll]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/26/why-men-in-the-us-still-pay-more-for-auto-insurance/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/26/why-men-in-the-us-still-pay-more-for-auto-insurance/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/26/why-men-in-the-us-still-pay-more-for-auto-insurance/#commentsFiled under: ,

Men vs. Women insurance rates

It's not just your imagination - insurance premiums in the United States are still higher for men than they are for women. According to a recent study of 5,000 quotes conducted by Onlineautoinsurance.com (OAI), auto insurance quotes for men are still about 23 percent pricier than women's on average. Plus, if a man and a woman with the identical driver profiles (same driving record, age and vehicle) received quotes for the same coverage, the man's quote would be more expensive 62 percent of the time.

As expected, it was young men (under 25) who paid the brunt of the cost, with an average premium of $676 more than their young female counterparts when the quotes differed - keep in mind that men and women were offered the identical premiums 27 percent of the time and women were quoted higher in 11 percent of the cases.

While figuring out why men often pay more still isn't completely clear, experts cite statistics showing that men and women drive differently. Not only do men spend more time behind the wheel (they drive about 1.5 times as many miles), but they are more likely to violate laws for speeding, yielding and passing. Plus, they take more risks (males were involved in 1.25 million more crashes in 2010).

Interestingly enough, courts in the European Union have decided that "differences in insurance pricing based purely on a person's sex are discriminatory;" a new Gender Directive is officially in effect and it will change premiums for policyholders. The US is unlikely to follow its lead, as insurance companies in the States are typically allowed to use rating factors (those that correlate with actual risk), despite the obvious controversy.

Considering the statistics, do you think men should pay more for car insurance than women? Take part in our informal poll below.

View Poll

Why men in the US still pay more for auto insurance [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car insurance for mencar insurance for womencost of insurancedriving recordgender directiveinsurancepremiumsWed, 26 Dec 2012 17:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20411415/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/26/why-men-in-the-us-still-pay-more-for-auto-insurance/20411415/article-detail.xml 20411415 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/insurance-men-women_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/insurance-men-women.jpg <![CDATA[EU auto insurers can no longer use gender to calculate premiums]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/21/eu-auto-insurers-can-no-longer-use-gender-to-calculate-premiums/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/21/eu-auto-insurers-can-no-longer-use-gender-to-calculate-premiums/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/21/eu-auto-insurers-can-no-longer-use-gender-to-calculate-premiums/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The European Union's Gender Directive is officially in effect. Last year, the EU Court of Justice ruled that "differences in insurance pricing based purely on a person's sex are discriminatory." That means that insurance companies can't factor gender into their premium tables, so as of December 21, 2012 the rates that EU residents pay for different types of insurance products will change - the expected trend for car insurance is that women's rates will go up while men's rates go down.

The courtroom argument is that the varying rates for men and women are arbitrary. The insurer's argument for the varying rates is, for instance, that young men are many times more likely to get into car accidents, and more serious accidents, than women. Or take life insurance, another product affected by the directive since men don't generally live as long as women. In that case, premiums should rise for women but drop for men. On the other hand, premiums for income protection insurance or pension annuities should increase for men but decrease for women.

Predictions as to how much the average person's rates will change are all over the charts, but it's a new factor for British consumers to consider when shopping for insurance. Autoblog EU readers, take note: if you didn't get that shopping done before now, you're an automatic member of the new, non-discriminatory regime.

EU auto insurers can no longer use gender to calculate premiums originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car insuranceequalityeueuropegender directivegender equalityinsuranceFri, 21 Dec 2012 11:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20409042/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/21/eu-auto-insurers-can-no-longer-use-gender-to-calculate-premiums/20409042/article-detail.xml 20409042 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/pretty-female-driver_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/pretty-female-driver.jpg <![CDATA[Trial of man whose Bugatti Veyron went in the drink mysteriously delayed [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/03/trial-of-man-whose-bugatti-veyron-went-in-the-drink-mysteriously/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/03/trial-of-man-whose-bugatti-veyron-went-in-the-drink-mysteriously/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/03/trial-of-man-whose-bugatti-veyron-went-in-the-drink-mysteriously/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Andy House submerged Veyron

The mysterious case of the drowned Bugatti Veyron has taken another turn toward the strange.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let's bring you up to speed: Andy House, who owns an exotic car repair shop called Performance Auto Sales, crashed his Veyron into a lagoon in Texas after allegedly being distracted by a low-flying pelican... or something. Naturally, House turned a claim into his insurance company for the totaled supercar to the tune of $2.2 million, which is likely more than the car is actually worth.

Shortly thereafter, video surfaced of the crash, with nary a distraction in sight. The next makes-you-go-hmm moment occured when reports surfaced of a new Veyron, along with a pair of Lamborghini coupes and a Porsche 911 GT3, landing in House's garage. The estimated cost of these supercars, according to Jalopnik, is $2.2 million. All of this made Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company's insurance fraud lawsuit in 2011 - two years after the incident - come as little surprise.

So, the latest: For some completely unknown reason, the lawsuit between House and his insurance company has been delayed. Jalopnik reports that nobody, including the office of the Galveston Court Clerks, has been able to explain why the trial did not start as planned. That said, as soon as we find out more, so shall you.

A video from local news station KLTV can be seen below.

Continue reading Trial of man whose Bugatti Veyron went in the drink mysteriously delayed [w/video]

Trial of man whose Bugatti Veyron went in the drink mysteriously delayed [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andy housebugattidrowned bugattiinsuranceinsurance fraudperformance auto salesPhiladelphia Indemnity Insurance CompanyveyronWed, 03 Oct 2012 16:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20340642/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/03/trial-of-man-whose-bugatti-veyron-went-in-the-drink-mysteriously/20340642/article-detail.xml 20340642 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/submerged-veyron-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/submerged-veyron-628.jpg <![CDATA[Mississippi tops Automotive Misery Index]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/18/mississippi-tops-automotive-misery-index/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/18/mississippi-tops-automotive-misery-index/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/18/mississippi-tops-automotive-misery-index/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mississippi

Anyone who's ever laid claim to a set of keys can tell you car ownership is an expensive proposition, but according to CarInsurance.com, just how expensive can fluctuate significantly depending on where you call home. The site released a new study called "The Automotive Misery Index," which looks at each state's average household income compared to factors like the cost of fuel, the number of miles driven and the cost of full insurance coverage for a 2012 Honda Accord EX. Surprisingly enough, Mississippi ranked as the state with the highest misery index, thanks in part to low average household income, high average mileage and very expensive insurance.

Five states with the highest misery index:
  • Mississippi
  • Oklahoma
  • Louisiana
  • West Virginia
  • Montana
Five states with the lowest misery index:
  • New Hampshire
  • Alaska
  • Connecticut
  • Colorado
  • Washington
You can check out the full top 10 list by checking out the press release below.

Continue reading Mississippi tops Automotive Misery Index

Mississippi tops Automotive Misery Index originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accordautomotive misery indexfuelfuel costhondahonda accordinsurancemississippiTue, 18 Sep 2012 18:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20324992/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/18/mississippi-tops-automotive-misery-index/20324992/article-detail.xml 20324992 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/mississippi-628opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/mississippi-628opt.jpg <![CDATA[IIHS study says most crash avoidance tech actually working [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/05/iihs-study-proves-crash-avoidance-tech-actually-working/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/05/iihs-study-proves-crash-avoidance-tech-actually-working/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/05/iihs-study-proves-crash-avoidance-tech-actually-working/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Are collision avoidance systems, automatic braking and adaptive headlights worth their extra cost? A study by the Highway Loss Data Institute says yes.

Those three new automotive technologies seem to reduce crashes. Matt Moore, VP of HLDI says, "So far, forward collision technology is reducing claims, particularly for damage to other vehicles, and adaptive headlights are having an even bigger impact than we had anticipated."

The study "how each feature affected claim frequency under a variety of insurance coverages for damage and injuries." The analysts says their data indicates that avoidance systems offered on Acura and Mercedes-Benz lowered property damage liability (PDL) claims by 14 percent. Volvo models equipped with similar equipment saw a 10-percent improvement.

Volvo's numbers, however, may have been skewed by the fact their system is bundled with lane departure and fatigue warning devices. The study surprisingly showed that lane departure alert systems seemed to actually increase crash claims.

"Lane departure warning may end up saving lives down the road, but so far, these particular versions aren't preventing insurance claims," Moore says. "It may be that drivers are getting too many false alarms, which could make them tune out the warnings or turn them off completely. Of course, that doesn't explain why the systems seem to increase claim rates, but we need to gather more data to see if that's truly happening."

The HLDI is a non-profit affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

See video below for more information from David Zuby, chief research officer with IIHS.

Continue reading IIHS study says most crash avoidance tech actually working [w/video]

IIHS study says most crash avoidance tech actually working [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acuraadaptive headlightsadaptive lightingauto brakeauto insurancecollision+avoidance+technologycollisionavoidancetechnologycrash avoidancehldiiihsinsurancelane departuremercedesmercedes-benzsafetyvolvoThu, 05 Jul 2012 13:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20271080/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/05/iihs-study-proves-crash-avoidance-tech-actually-working/20271080/article-detail.xml 20271080 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/iihs-video-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/iihs-video-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Want people to obey the speed limit? Pay them.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/want-people-to-obey-the-speed-limit-pay-them/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/want-people-to-obey-the-speed-limit-pay-them/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/want-people-to-obey-the-speed-limit-pay-them/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Pulled over

Parents know that sometimes the chance for reward is a more powerful child obedience method than the threat of penalty. "Clean your room or your grounded" can be less effective than, "Clean your room and we'll go get ice cream."

A recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study shows that when the stick is combined with the carrot, drivers behave much better. The study placed GPS trackers to measure speed in eight cars loaned to 50 different drivers for a week each. The drivers were told that, at the end of their week, if they kept their speed within the posted limits, they would be paid $25 each. Every time a driver went over the speed limit by five to eight mph, he would lose three cents. If the driver's speed exceeded nine or more ticks above the posted limit, he lost six cents.

If the drivers were caught speeding by the cops they got speeding tickets as usual.

Each time the car's ignition was switched off, drivers got a report showing how much their lead feet had reduced their rewards.

The results were promising, with one driver saying he had made a game out of trying to keep his $25. NHTSA officials involved in the study say insurance companies might be very interested in implementing the program for their customers.

"We found that the incentive system was incredibly effective in getting drivers to reduce their speeding," Ian Reagan, a traffic safety researcher at NHTSA tells NPR. "Egregious speed limit violations were almost eliminated - that's driving nine or more [miles per hour] over the speed limit."

Want people to obey the speed limit? Pay them. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jun 2012 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>insurancenhtsanprpaid+to+go+the+speed+limitpaidtogothespeedlimitrecent+study+on+speedingrecentstudyonspeedingsafetyspeedingspeeding penaltyspeeding rewardThu, 21 Jun 2012 16:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20263456/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/21/want-people-to-obey-the-speed-limit-pay-them/20263456/article-detail.xml 20263456 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/pulledoverbyredjar_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/pulledoverbyredjar.jpg <![CDATA[How Ford's Sync could lower your insurance]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/03/how-fords-sync-could-lower-your-insurance/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/03/how-fords-sync-could-lower-your-insurance/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/03/how-fords-sync-could-lower-your-insurance/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ford Sync

How far are you willing to go to save a few bucks on your auto insurance? Because State Farm will gladly shave five percent from your premium if you're willing to permit the insurance company to log into your Sync-equipped vehicle to view the Vehicle Health Report. According to Motor Trend, the actuaries just want to look at your mileage, and if you can keep it in the triple digits each month, you'll be eligible for further savings.

If you're one of the four million Ford customers who have Sync'ed your ride and you're thinking this sounds like a great deal, please stop to ask yourself, "What would George Orwell do?" Sure, this program and others like it are nothing new, in fact, State Farm has been offering a similar deal for OnStar customers for some time, according to the report.

But we have to wonder just how slippery this slope will get before your insurance company starts using telematics data in ways that are much more intrusive. We can imagine surcharges for driving your car during high traffic times or parking in dangerous neighborhoods. Or perhaps you'll start being billed for mileage "overages," just like a cell phone plan. The whole concept, frankly, has us reaching for our tinfoil-lined hat.

How Ford's Sync could lower your insurance originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Jun 2012 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big brotherfordinsuranceonstarstate farmstate farm insurancesynctelematicsSun, 03 Jun 2012 14:05:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20248770/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/03/how-fords-sync-could-lower-your-insurance/20248770/article-detail.xml 20248770 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/sync-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/sync-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Average cost of car ownership rises to $8,946 per year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/average-cost-of-car-ownership-rises-to-8-946-per-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/average-cost-of-car-ownership-rises-to-8-946-per-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/average-cost-of-car-ownership-rises-to-8-946-per-year/#commentsFiled under: ,

old cash register

We Americans sure do love the freedom of owning our own automobile, but the price of that freedom is climbing. AAA has released its 62nd annual "Your Driving Costs" study, which shows a 1.9-percent year-over-year increase in the cost of auto ownership. That's an average of $8,946 per year per car, with costs including monthly payment, fuel, maintenance and insurance.

Given the sharp rise in the cost of a gallon of petrol, it's no surprise that prices at the pump are up 14.8 percent, or an average of 14.2 cents per mile. Tire prices are up 4.2 percent, in part because material prices have skyrocketed. The average insurance policy jumped by $33 versus 2010 numbers, with an average rate of $1,001 per year.

Interestingly, used cars are worth more than they were a year ago, with a depreciation drop of 4.9 percent, which means a new car purchase may hold its value a little better than before.

If $8,946 is too rich for your blood, AAA shows that the best bet could be a smaller sedan. Compact models average $6,735 per vehicle, while 4WD SUVs top the charts at $11,360. Large sedans are close to the SUV numbers, with an average of $11,324. AAA based its findings on a driving cycle of 15,000 miles per year. Scroll down below to read the AAA press release.

Continue reading Average cost of car ownership rises to $8,946 per year

Average cost of car ownership rises to $8,946 per year originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 May 2012 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaaauto ownershipcarcar ownershipcost of car ownershipcost of carscost of ownershipinsurancereal cost of carsvehicleFri, 04 May 2012 10:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20229626/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/04/average-cost-of-car-ownership-rises-to-8-946-per-year/20229626/article-detail.xml 20229626 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/dollar-keyboard_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/dollar-keyboard.jpg <![CDATA[Returning U.S. soldiers have trouble with road rules at home]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/29/returning-u-s-soldiers-have-trouble-with-road-rules-at-home/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/29/returning-u-s-soldiers-have-trouble-with-road-rules-at-home/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/29/returning-u-s-soldiers-have-trouble-with-road-rules-at-home/#commentsFiled under: ,

USAA chart

Life can be tough for U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Post traumatic stress disorder must make everyday tasks hell to deal with.

Not the least of which is re-adjusting to American road rules. In Iraq, the goal of the morning commute is to reach the destination alive. The more speed the better, and anything not moving out of the way quickly enough gets plowed into the pavement.

Many returning military personnel find it difficult to forget the lessons they've learned on hostile foreign roads. Over there, smart drivers follow the center line to avoid IEDs on the shoulders. Turn signals only give the enemy advance notice of your next move, and stopping at intersections makes you an easy target. When back in the states, those tactics are still effective for negotiating traffic, but aren't appreciated so much by fellow drivers.

A new study by insurer USAA (which serves members of the military and their families) shows that on average, returning troops had 13 percent more at-fault accidents than before they left. U.S. Army personnel showed the largest change at 23 percent, with Marines showing 12.3 percent increase.

Fortunately, USAA says it has no plans to raise rates in response to the study's results. It's also sharing the data with researchers and traffic safety experts in hopes of finding a solution.

Continue reading Returning U.S. soldiers have trouble with road rules at home

Returning U.S. soldiers have trouble with road rules at home originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aggressive drivingdrivinginsurancemilitarymilitary driving accidentsPTSDUSAASun, 29 Apr 2012 12:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20225746/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/29/returning-u-s-soldiers-have-trouble-with-road-rules-at-home/20225746/article-detail.xml 20225746 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/usaa-study-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/usaa-study-opt.jpg <![CDATA[UK to use gas station cameras to automatically stop fueling of uninsured cars? [w/poll]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/14/uk-to-use-gas-station-cameras-to-automatically-stop-fueling-of-u/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/14/uk-to-use-gas-station-cameras-to-automatically-stop-fueling-of-u/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/14/uk-to-use-gas-station-cameras-to-automatically-stop-fueling-of-u/#commentsFiled under: ,

UK petrol price sign

The British sure love their surveillance cameras, don't they? As if living in the police state that is modern Great Britain isn't bad enough for motorists, what with all the speed cameras and the like, there's a new plan afoot: Keep the uninsured from pumping gas.

According to The Mirror, a new government proposal would have surveillance cameras at gas stations determine whether a vehicle carries valid insurance and registration before turning on the pumps. Automatic license plate recognition is already in place at thousands of British fueling stations, acting as a deterrent to driving off without paying. The new measure would be as simple as allowing the systems to cross-reference databases of the national Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, according to the report.

One in 25 drivers in the UK are uninsured, according to The Mirror - some 1.4 million motorists. While the report calls this rate "one of the worst records in western Europe," it's far better than here in the United States.

According to data from 2009, published by USA Today, nearly 14 percent of U.S. drivers, or one in seven, has no insurance. In that report, the south stood atop the list of U.S. states with the highest rates of uninsured drivers, with Mississippi, New Mexico, Tennessee, Florida, Oklahama and Alabama all topping 20 percent.

What do you think about this initiative? Is it it a good idea or a bad one? Would you welcome similar legislation here in the States? Take part in our survey below and feel free to leave your thoughts in Comments.

View Poll

UK to use gas station cameras to automatically stop fueling of uninsured cars? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto insurancebig brothercar insurancecctvgasoline stationsgreat britaininsuranceinsurance camerasecurity camerasurveillance camerasuninsured driversunited kingdomWed, 14 Mar 2012 19:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20193434/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/14/uk-to-use-gas-station-cameras-to-automatically-stop-fueling-of-u/20193434/article-detail.xml 20193434 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/uk-petrol-prices_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/uk-petrol-prices.jpg <![CDATA[Cheaper cars are more expensive to insure]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/15/cheaper-cars-are-more-expensive-to-insure/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/15/cheaper-cars-are-more-expensive-to-insure/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/15/cheaper-cars-are-more-expensive-to-insure/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2012 Honda Civic

Life is not fair. That's about the only rational explanation we can offer for this little fact of life: A low MSRP is likely to mean big insurance payments.

Citing information from Insure.com, MarketWatch says the average price to insure a 2012 Honda Civic sedan, for instance, is about $2,353 per year, while a 2012 Toyota Sienna will run only $1,111 annually. The least expensive vehicles to insure tend to be relatively large vehicles, like minivans, trucks and SUV's, according to the report. Even though those vehicles tend to be much more expensive than compact cars, they also tend to be driven by older, safer drivers.

Don't think this is just a case of the rich getting richer, however, as expensive luxury and sports cars are none too cheap to insure either. The 2012 Audi R8 Spyder topped the Insure.com list of most expensive vehicles to insure at $3,384 per year. The Sienna had the lowest average insurance cost in the study, followed by the Jeep Patriot and Dodge Grand Caravan.

Insure.com's editorial director, Amy Danise, told MarketWatch that the savings some people think they're getting by buying small could evaporate because of the higher insurance premiums. Her advice to keep premiums low? "Buy the minivan, move to the farm, only drive it locally and make sure you never have an accident or kids," she said.

I think we'll just keep writing those checks to AAA instead.

Cheaper cars are more expensive to insure originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 audi r8 spyder2012 honda civic2012 toyota siennaaudiauto insuranceciviccompact carshondainsurancer8r8 spydersiennasmall carstoyotaWed, 15 Feb 2012 09:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20171809/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/15/cheaper-cars-are-more-expensive-to-insure/20171809/article-detail.xml 20171809 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/2012-honda-civic-ex-sedan-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/2012-honda-civic-ex-sedan-opt.jpg <![CDATA[UK insurer says "reckless fog light drivers" cause 300,000 accidents a year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/uk-insurer-says-reckless-fog-light-drivers-cause-300-000-accid/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/uk-insurer-says-reckless-fog-light-drivers-cause-300-000-accid/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/uk-insurer-says-reckless-fog-light-drivers-cause-300-000-accid/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It would probably be easier for researchers to change tracks and start telling us what doesn't cause cancer or obesity or car accidents. Latest on the list of automotive smash-up causes, according to a study by UK insurer Swiftcover, are drivers leaving their fog lights on in good visibility. The numbers are brazen, with Swiftcover attributing "as many as 300,000" accidents and two million near misses in the last 12 months "caused by drivers leaving fog lights on in the same period."

The UK highway code prohibits driving with one's fog lights on in conditions with visibility greater than 100 meters. Swiftcover's study says the lights dazzle other drivers, especially in London where 50 percent of incidents were registered, and that this applies to both front and rear fog lights.

Follow the jump for a press release on the study and a link to the Highway Code if you need a refresher.

Continue reading UK insurer says "reckless fog light drivers" cause 300,000 accidents a year

UK insurer says "reckless fog light drivers" cause 300,000 accidents a year originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car accidentcar crashfog lightfoglightinsurancestudyswiftcoverswiftcover.comukunited kingdomwreckTue, 31 Jan 2012 11:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20159161/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/31/uk-insurer-says-reckless-fog-light-drivers-cause-300-000-accid/20159161/article-detail.xml 20159161 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/13kiasorentoreview2011_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/13kiasorentoreview2011.jpg <![CDATA[Hagerty predicts this year's future classics]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/30/hagerty-predicts-this-years-future-classics/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/30/hagerty-predicts-this-years-future-classics/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/30/hagerty-predicts-this-years-future-classics/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,



The world would be considerably less entertaining if we could all predict the future. Even so, the classic car gurus at Hagerty Insurance have cast a few chicken bones in an attempt to figure out which vehicles produced today might eventually turn collectible.

The company restricted entrants to hardware with a price tag of less than $100,000, so the list isn't populated with too many wild exotics. While vehicles like the Nissan GT-R Black Edition, Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca Edition, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Porsche 911 are low-hanging fruit, the list also featured a few surprises.

For starters, it begins with none other than the mighty Buick Regal GS. Hagerty says the vehicle is a win because it's the first Buick with a manual transmission since the fall of the Holy Roman Empire. The Fiat 500 Abarth also makes an appearance alongside an even hotter hatch, the Volkswagen Golf R. Of course, we're simply thrilled to see the sinister Audi TT RS make a showing. Hit the jump for the full list or view each vehicle in our gallery above.

Continue reading Hagerty predicts this year's future classics

Hagerty predicts this year's future classics originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500500 abarth911audibuickcamarocamaro zl1chargercharger srt8chevroletdodgefiatfordfuture classicsgolfgolf rgrand cherokeegrand cherokee srt8gt-rgt-r black editionhagertyhagerty insuranceinsurancejeepmustangmustang boss 302mustang boss 302 lagunra secanissanporscheregalregal gstttt rsvolkswagenMon, 30 Jan 2012 18:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20159781/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/30/hagerty-predicts-this-years-future-classics/20159781/article-detail.xml 20159781 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/01-regal-gs-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/01-regal-gs-opt.jpg <![CDATA[UK survey says Honda models most "pothole-proof"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/25/uk-survey-says-honda-models-most-pothole-proof/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/25/uk-survey-says-honda-models-most-pothole-proof/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/25/uk-survey-says-honda-models-most-pothole-proof/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Honda Civic Wheel

A new study by Warranty Direct in the UK claims Honda makes vehicles that are the least-susceptible to damage from potholes. According to the company, only 1.4 percent of Honda owners submit a warranty claim for repair due to pothole damage. Compare that figure with the 12.2 percent of Chrysler owners who submit claims - the American automaker found itself the least resilient to pothole damage alongside luxury makes like Land Rover, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Surprisingly enough, Smart actually landed itself in second place for the number of claims submitted as a result of pothole damage.

Economical brands like Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan and Kia all fare well against rough pavement, however. We're not surprised by the outcome. Luxury vehicles are more likely to be equipped with low-profile tires and large, expensive wheels that can easily be bent or broken under the right circumstances. Budget vehicles, meanwhile, make due with meaty sidewalls and sturdy steel wheels. Head over to What Car for the full rankings.

UK survey says Honda models most "pothole-proof" originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hondahonda pothole studyinsurancepotholepotholesstudywarrantywarranty claimSun, 25 Dec 2011 18:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20133046/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/25/uk-survey-says-honda-models-most-pothole-proof/20133046/article-detail.xml 20133046 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/honda-civic-wheel-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/honda-civic-wheel-628.jpg <![CDATA[Can removing your late spouse from your auto insurance policy <i>raise</i> your premium?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/04/can-removing-your-late-spouse-from-your-auto-insurance-policy-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/04/can-removing-your-late-spouse-from-your-auto-insurance-policy-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/04/can-removing-your-late-spouse-from-your-auto-insurance-policy-i/#commentsFiled under: ,

Insurance office neon sign, by David Hilowitz

The auto insurance industry is strange. While past driving history plays a small role in deciding a driver's premium, insurance company research on prior claims determines a driver's likelihood of getting into an accident. That's why it's more expensive for young males to insure their vehicles than young females, and why married couples typically enjoy a discount on their coverage compared to their single friends. But what happens when a drastic life change moves an individual out of one risk pool and into another?

The Consumerirst reports that for one young widower, losing his wife to cancer also meant a 10 percent increase in his premiums. The individual called his insurance company to remove his spouse from his policy, expecting the decrease in the number of household drivers to translate into a lower bill. The insurance representative expressed sympathy for his loss, but explained that since he's now single, he's lumped into the same risk pool as unattached drivers.

Can removing your late spouse from your auto insurance policy raise your premium? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Dec 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto insturanceinsuranceinsurance premiumspremiumsSun, 04 Dec 2011 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20116691/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/04/can-removing-your-late-spouse-from-your-auto-insurance-policy-i/20116691/article-detail.xml 20116691 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/insurancedhilowitz_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/insurancedhilowitz.jpg <![CDATA[State Farms teams up with... Ralph Macchio?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/18/state-farms-teams-up-with-ralph-macchio/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/18/state-farms-teams-up-with-ralph-macchio/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/18/state-farms-teams-up-with-ralph-macchio/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Admittedly, the U.S. doesn't offer the world's greatest driving instruction. By and large, young drivers are forced to rely on their parents to teach them how to handle themselves behind the wheel, which perpetuates a painful cycle of trans-generational bad habits.

State Farm is out to cure that ail with a new program designed to better prepare parents for the rigors of the passenger seat. The Road Trips program incorporates a number of online tools, including videos, intended to alert both parents and new drivers to the challenges associated with learning to drive in 2011. With more distractions than ever before, State Farm says that parents need to understand the temptations facing their children while driving.

The video series features Ralph Macchio of The Karate Kid fame as he walks his son David through the wax-on, wax-off of driving. If it sounds like watching paint dry, you're pretty much dead on, but we still applaud State Farm's efforts here. Parents even have a shot at winning a brand-new 2012 Ford Focus SE, too. Head over to the program's site for more information and hit the jump for a look at the introductory video.

Continue reading State Farms teams up with... Ralph Macchio?

State Farms teams up with... Ralph Macchio? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>driving instructioninsuranceralph macchioroad tripsstate farmstate farm road tripsthe karate kidTue, 18 Oct 2011 17:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20084408/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/18/state-farms-teams-up-with-ralph-macchio/20084408/article-detail.xml 20084408 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/ralp-macchio-state-farm-road-trips-628-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/ralp-macchio-state-farm-road-trips-628-opt.jpg -1 2