End of No-Fault Could Lead to More Uninsured Vehicles
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Aug. 30--TALLAHASSEE -- Millions of uninsured cars could soon be traveling Florida's roads, a result of the looming demise of mandatory no-fault insurance and the state's inability to fully enforce what insurance requirements remain. Drivers will have to prove they have insurance when they register their cars or are involved in an accident -- and failure to be insured could mean a $500 fine and 60 days in jail. But two major enforcement tools will disappear along with no-fault: a requirement that insurance companies tell the state when a driver drops insurance; and the ability of law enforcement to check insurance papersany time they stop a motorist....

 Sen. Posey Aims to Revamp No-Fault Law: Sen. Bill Posey is Working on a Measure to Reform the State's No-Fault Auto Insurance Law
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Aug. 30--While there's still no plan to include any discussion of Florida's no-fault auto insurance when the Legislature meets next month in a special session, one more proposal to revamp the law is in the works. Sen. Bill Posey, a Republican from Rockledge who has led the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee since the beginning of the year, is drafting a bill that's very similar to one he introduced during this year's regular legislative session. Last week, Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, put out an auto insurance proposal that has the backing of the House Republicans....

 GEICO's Message to Labor Day Drivers: 'Stay Focused ...Don't Drive Distracted'
Thursday, August 30, 2007
"When researchers determined that distracted driving causes nearly 80 percent of automobile crashes,*" said Greg Kalinsky of GEICO's San Diego office, "we thought it was our job to help spread the message, particularly for Labor Day."We're coming up to one of the most dangerous holidays for driving in the U.S., and we want to remind drivers to stay particularly focused and alert. GEICO offers the following safe driving reminders to help drivers stay focused while traveling with family and friends this Labor Day weekend:...

 New GEICO Spots Feature Some Old-School Pop Icons: Geckos and Cavemen, Make Way for Ads With Flintstones and the Cabbage Patch Kids
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Aug. 30--Cavemen and geckos are already synonymous with GEICO insurance. A Richmond ad shop next wants to elevate Fred Flintstone, Jed Clampett and the Cabbage Patch Kids to that level, too. Starting today, the latest ad campaign by The Martin Agency for the auto insurance company begins....

 Bean stands up for insurance buyers
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
How do we sign up for illegal status?If my understanding of the bill recently passed by the Senate is correct, an illegal alien who has been in the United States for five years, to become a citizen, is to pay a $2,000 fine and income taxes for three of the last five years. Rep. Bean deserves credit for taking the first step in improving today's outdated insurance regulatory system....

 The Post and Courier, Charleston, S.C., Finance Column
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Aug. 27--BANKS' TROUBLED REAL ESTATE LOANS UP FIFTH MONTH IN ROW: By now, I'm sure you've read my story in Sunday's paper about the mortgage crisis sweeping the nation. Then last week, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. had some ominous news: Banks' troubled real estate loans rose for the fifth month running to total almost $70 billion. First National's three-year average return of 16.14 percent ranked 50th on the list of 200 community banks from across the country....

 Vox, Inc. Study Reveals Ongoing Problems With Auto Insurance Websites
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Vox, Inc., a customer experience consulting firm, today released its First Quarter 2007 Auto Insurance Mind Model Study. The study evaluates the home pages and usability of 14 major auto insurance providers' websites to examine customer expectations and discover where companies succeed or fail in attracting and retaining customers."Recognizing what customers are actually encountering when they go online and how that varies from their needs and expectations is essential to creating the ideal customer experience," said Luis Serpa, Account Director and Web Usability Expert at Vox, Inc....

 Officials Detail Alleged Insurance Scam: Investigators Say 32 People Lost Money; More Allegations Expected
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Aug. 28--State Insurance Department officials said Monday they had identified 32 victims of a broker who allegedly pocketed $7,000 in premium payments from customers in Warren, Washington, and Saratoga counties. But investigators believe more victims may come forward. Jill M. Morrill, 43, worked at Pro-Vu Best Insurance Co. in South Glens Falls and was arrested last month by Saratoga County sheriff's investigators....

 Local Legislators: Don't Let PIP Law Lapse: House Representatives Think Auto Insurance Plan Needs More Time
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Aug. 28--Republican leaders' current House proposal Would keep $10,000 personal injury coverage intact. Would cap attorney fees at $5,000 or three times the amount of the total claim payment, whichever is greater....

 `Cavemen' is As Crude As Cave Drawings
Monday, August 27, 2007
In the largely unnecessary tradition of "Baby Bob," "The California Raisins," "Max Headroom" and "Hey Vern! ABC is poised to introduce an ad-inspired sitcom, "Cavemen," based on the Cro-Magnons who shill for Geico insurance.The Geico gecko, one presumes, was deemed too highbrow and the good hands of Allstate must have held out for too much money....

 Driving Course
Saturday, August 25, 2007
The Topeka Police Department will host the National Safety Council Defensive Driving Course from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at department headquarters, 320 S. Kansas Ave. The cost of the program is $15 per person, and successful completion allows individuals to receive a 5 percent reduction on their auto insurance for two years. For information, call Paige Ashley at 368-9016.(c) 2007 Topeka Capital Journal....

 Save Low Rates for Home Folks
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Unless you want to head west to the Dakotas, Idaho or Iowa, we're the place for the nation's lowest auto insurance rates. According to the N.C. Department of Insurance, "tens of thousands" of drivers from other states could be cashing in on our low insurance rates and registering cars here. New York and New Jersey residents top the list....

 Another Auto Insurer Joins Coalition to Protect Florida's Drivers
Saturday, August 25, 2007
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ocean Harbor Casualty Insurance Company, an auto insurer that specializes in providing basic coverage policies to Florida drivers, has joined the Coalition to Protect Florida's Drivers. Ocean Harbor is the second auto insurer in recent weeks to join the Coalition, which is calling on Governor Charlie Crist, Senate President Ken Pruitt and House Speaker Marco Rubio to address the looming sunset of no-fault auto insurance in the special session which begins September 18. Both PIP and PD coverage are currently mandated by state law, but PIP will no longer be required if state legislators fail to act and allow no-fault to expire on October 1....

 Computers to Check Car Insurance
Friday, August 24, 2007
Aug. 24--AUSTIN -- Police will soon have the technology to automatically verify whether a motorist has valid car insurance. But the new system -- it's officially called the Texas Financial Responsibility Verification Program -- has raised concerns from some industry representatives. Under the system, insurance information will pop up on the in-car computers of police officers when they check license-plate numbers....

 Judge Rules for Auto Insurer ; Says Putting Surcharge on Driver in Accident No Admission of Fault
Friday, August 24, 2007
A single justice of the state Appeals Court has ruled that an insurance company isn't necessarily liable to cover injuries sustained in an accident just because it imposes a penalty on the driver who caused the accident.In his decision on Tuesday, Judge James McHugh said that a surcharge placed on a driver is not tantamount to a company's admission that the driver is at fault for purposes of compensating an injured party.The ruling goes back to a Dec. 31, 1998, accident in which Norwell resident Thomas Beach was leaving a Scituate restaurant and asked his 15-year-old daughter to warm up the family car....

 State Auto Financial to Present at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods 2007 Insurance Conference
Friday, August 24, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 23, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- State Auto Financial Corporation (Nasdaq:STFC) today announced that it will be a presenting company at the Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Insurance Conference, to be held Sept 4-5, 2007, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. Chairman and CEO Bob Restrepo will present an update on State Auto Financial Corporation on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007, from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time.State Auto Financial's presentation is being webcast and can be accessed at www.kbw.com/news/conferenceInsurance.html....

 A Bee in the Bonnet
Friday, August 24, 2007
INSECTS bug motorists so much that 4 per cent of drivers have had an accident trying to avoid them, it was revealed today.The damage caused to vehicles in such crashes is estimated at pounds 44 million a year, said car insurance company esure which conducted a survey.The poll showed that 21 per cent of motorists admitted taking their hands off the wheel to swat an insect and 4 per cent slammed on the brakes when one came into the car....

 EDITORIAL: Lawmakers Must Take Action on Personal Injury Protection
Friday, August 24, 2007
Aug. 24--ISSUE: Florida's latest insurance crisis is here. The state of Florida faces another insurance crisis, and once again confusion runs rampant while solutions seem scarce. State lawmakers can't reach a consensus on addressing the problem, and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is having difficulty interpreting the law....

 Your MONEY: Loan Gimmicks Can Drive Up Cost of a New Car ; CASHPOINT
Thursday, August 23, 2007
DON'T be lured by insurance and loan gimmicks if you are buying a new car. Tesco is offering pounds 100 off a sat nav set for signing up online with its car insurance. Barclays has a specialist car loan package, which offers a typical rate of 7.4 per cent and then money off its car insurance and RAC breakdown....

 State Agency Rules Drivers Will Still Need Insurance If No-Fault Law Expires
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Aug. 23--TALLAHASSEE -- Think you're confused about pending changes in Florida's auto insurance law? In an embarrassing reversal, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles now admits it fouled up its interpretation of state law. If Florida's no-fault law expires Oct. 1, as it's now scheduled to do, drivers will no longer need to buy $10,000 in personal injury protection....

 Fitch Affirms Infinity's IDR at 'BBB+'; Outlook Stable
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Fitch has affirmed Infinity Property & Casualty Corporation (Infinity) (Nasdaq:IPCC) as follows:The ratings are based on Infinity's solid underwriting results, quality balance sheet, strong capitalization and adequate loss reserving levels. Infinity is the fourth largest non-standard auto insurance company in the country....

 Mitchell International Wins a Multi-Year Contract Extension From Progressive Insurance
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Mitchell International, Inc., a leading provider of performance management solutions to the automotive insurance claims and collision repair industries, today announced that Progressive Insurance, the nation's third largest auto insurer, has agreed to a multi-year contract extension with Mitchell for auto physical damage (APD) claims estimating solutions."Mitchell is very proud of this milestone achieved with Progressive Insurance. "The contract extension validates that our dedication to providing the collision repair industry with the most advanced and trusted APD claims estimating solutions is recognized by the partners we serve."...

 Futuretrust(R) and Insurance.Com(TM) Partner for Families
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Insurance.com(TM) and the Futuretrust(R) college savings program are partnering to offer families the auto insurance they need, while also helping them save for their child's college education.Through this partnership, Insurance.com will contribute to a Futuretrust member's 529 college savings plan when a member requests a quote for auto insurance. After signing up and answering a few questions, customers will receive $4 in Futuretrust rebates, along with up to four auto insurance quotes....

 Out-of-State Drivers Enjoy Low N.C. Rates
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
RALEIGH -- Auto insurance rates for North Carolina motorists are some of the lowest in the nation. That's a fact that both attracts and is threatened by drivers from out of state who register their cars here to buy cheap insurance.Over the past few years, the N.C. Department of Insurance has noticed an increasing number of claims -- requests for payment after an accident -- coming from the New York and New Jersey area, said Al Koehler, director of the Investigations Division....

 Scheme Provided Fake Texas Auto Documents to Dozens of Immigrants: Driver's License Operation Extends to Car Inspections, Titles, Plates, Officials Say
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Aug. 21--AUSTIN -- Dozens of foreign citizens who came to Dallas between 2003 and 2005 to obtain fraudulent Texas driver's licenses also received falsified Texas auto inspections, vehicle titles, license plates and insurance policies, most without ever bringing their cars here, state officials confirmed. So far, the only criminal charges in the case are against the man federal authorities call the ringleader of the driver's license operation, 44-year-old Isaac Banai. And while that scandal has cast a spotlight on the Texas Department of Public Safety, which issues licenses, the state's systems for insurance, inspections and vehicle registrations have yet to face similar scrutiny, even though failings there helped illegal immigrants get several layers of official paperwork....