A nonprofit agency in charge of driving safety in the United States, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), recently issued a list of the most unsafe vehicles this year.

From a number of crash tests (crash-test) done IIHS stated, lower-class sedan vehicles most at risk during a fatal accident. Chevrolet Aveo and the Chrysler PT Cruiser was accused as a car that has ranked worst crash-test in their classes. Especially the impact of the side and rear crash an accident.

The way a car handles itself during a crash determines much about the severity of the occupants’ injuries. Some cars hold up better than others: Tiny cars and low-level sedans are especially at risk, according to crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Bigger cars, because of their mass, generally fare better in tests–but may be more likely to roll.

This helps explain why the Chevrolet Aveo and Chrysler PT Cruiser, both inexpensive, smaller cars, have the worst crash-test ratings in their class–they each received “marginal” test-results for side- and rear-impacts. They join the Cadillac STS and Mercury Grand Marquis as some of the most dangerous vehicles of 2010.

What was the most unsafe car ever made?

The Ford Pinto had a tendency to explode even in minor accidents

In order to find the best auto insurance company, you need to look for an auto insurance company that has the best price for your desired coverage; find one that offers discounts; search for a company whose coverage fits your needs; look for one that has good customer service; seek out an auto insurance company that is financially stable; and find one that is licensed to operate in your area.

With the competing auto insurance companies in the market today, you find it difficult to look for a company that will suit your needs best. Whether you have a new or an old vehicle, here are the most important things to look for in an auto insurance company.

Look for an auto insurance company that has the best price for your desired coverage

The main concern of every customer is always to find the most affordable auto insurance rates. Ask for price quotations from as many auto insurance companies as possible to widen your options. You may also contact your state insurance department for auto insurance rates in your area. When asking for quotations, give all the information you have as to your driving records, the make of your vehicle, and other very important information that affect insurance prices.

Find one that offers discounts

With the heavy competition in the industry, many auto insurance companies offer discounts along with certain conditions. Find a company that gives you special discounts for less risky driving conditions. Examples include lower rates for those vehicles with anti-theft devices, for those drivers who never had a ticket, and those drivers who have not been involved in an accident for many years of driving.

Search for a company whose coverage fits your needs

Look for a company that offers you the most important auto insurance coverage. These are the comprehensive auto insurance which are responsible for paying for loss or damages incurred from theft and other incidents aside from collision-related accidents. Collision insurance, on the other hand, is responsible for vehicular damages caused by collision. Another one could be a limited medical insurance that pays for the medical expenses incurred by the insured driver and passenger/s who are hurt during the accident.

Moreover, you may decide to drop certain coverage or add, depending on your needs and most especially your budget. If your car is quite outdated, you may consider dropping collision insurance, which can be very expensive in your case.

In examining collision or comprehensive coverage, make sure your insurance company replaces your parts that are from original equipment manufacturers or OEMs to make sure that your vehicle will be in better condition than using third-party parts. There may also be instances when your car needs to be repaired for a week or more, so you need to make sure that your insurance company pays for your car rental or a similar amount, while your car is being repaired. Read the rest of this entry »

Who is the better driver? Man or Woman?

First of all, let’s take a look at some statistics that I have located on line that will help this investigation.

Men are more than twice as likely to die in a car crash as women, consider the yearly statistics shown below. In fact, studies have shown as many as 73 percent of all people killed in car accidents are male. Since record keeping began: male fatalities significantly outweigh female fatalities. However men and women do not drive the same number of miles under the same conditions- men do about 60-65% more driving than women. Studies show that woman take shorter trips and female drivers have a greater number of minor crashes than do men. However men are still 70% more likely to be in a serious crash.

Insurance company AAMI has found some interesting statistics in a recent telephone survey of more than 2,000 drivers.

- 55 per cent of men – 30 per cent of women – drink drive.

- 47 per cent of men – 38 per cent of women – have rudely gestured at other drivers.

- 84 per cent of men – 77 per cent of women – have crashed their vehicle,

- 51 per cent of men – 40 per cent of women – have been distracted by billboards while driving

- 46 per cent of men – 36 per cent of woman – admitted to verbally abusing another driver.

- 22 per cent of men – 15 per cent of women – admitted to using their mobile phones without hands-free accessories while driving.

So you can see from the survey that things are not looking that great for men, but do all those statistics make women better drivers?

“Our claims data shows that men’s crashes tend to be more serious than women’s, they are more likely to be involved in head-on collisions, roll-overs and loss-of-control crashes, as well as crashes involving pedestrians, cyclists and animals.” AAMI spokesman Geoff Hughes said. Read the rest of this entry »

Buying auto insurance can seem like an overwhelming duty. There are many tips to consider that can potentially save or cost you a lot of money and stress over the years.

Auto insurance rates depend on several factors, including, your age and marital status, where you live, how many cars are on your policy, annual mileage driven, how far you are from your work, what you drive, how long you have been with your insurance company and what other things do you have insured with them, and of course your driving record.

Here are a few car accident insurance tips that can make this task much easier:

1. Drive A Low Profile Vehicle

Some cars carry high insurance costs based upon the perceived risks associated with those cars. For example, if you drive a sports car, most insurance companies will presume there is a higher inherent risk and assign a higher rate on your insurance policy. For much lower rates, drive a low-profile vehicle that does not raise any red flags with your insurance carrier.

2. What kind of insurance coverage do I need?

Most states require that you have liability insurance; to pay the other drivers for whatever damage you cause in an at-fault accident. Comprehensive coverage pays for the physical damage to your car from things like fire, theft, weather, and vandalism. Collision coverage pays for damage to your car if the accident was your fault (if the other driver was at-fault his insurance will pay for your damages).

3. Keep Your Credit Report Clean

Your credit report is often used by the insurance carrier to determine the amount of risk they assume to offer you a policy. Though most insurance carriers won’t proactively tell you that your credit report is used to determine your car insurance rates, there is a strong correlation between a person’s credit rating and the risk an insurance carrier assumes in offering that person a policy. Pay your bills on time and review your credit reports annually to ensure they are clean of errors.

4. How do I choose the right Auto Insurance Policy?

The minimum liability coverage required by your state may likely be low – so if you hit an expensive car, the other driver (or her insurance company) may sue you for any excess damages. Think about a higher coverage limit if you can afford it – and if you have assets to protect in case you get sued.

5. Install A Car Alarm Or Anti-Theft System

Often, you can save money on your car insurance rates if you install a anti-theft device. Your rates are largely a result of the perceived risk that a car insurance company assumes in carrying your policy. Installing a car alarm in your vehicle lowers this perceived risk. As a result, your rates may be lowered. Read the rest of this entry »