Latest Insurance News

The Wise Man of TV: ROT on TV

By Jon Wise CHEATERS (Living) - air your dirty laundry somewhere else...Car insurance adverts - annoying and patronising... Kacey Ainsworth on Holby Blue... Corrie's Morton/Peacock/ Platt noisy neighbour debacle - nothing to shout about... Badger or Bust - bog off... My Family - sh*tcom trash at its worst. (c) 2007 People, The; London. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

State Farm Battles the Gecko

By Scott Miller, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill. May 20--BLOOMINGTON -- Chicago Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano trotted home to extend a late-inning lead in a recent game -- a "State Farm Insurance run," proclaimed WGN radio announcer Pat Hughes. Those watching the game on television may have noticed the State Farm logo on the Wrigley Field bricks behind home plate. It's another of a growing number of State Farm plugs, as the Bloomington insurer boosts advertising to maintain name r...

Smart Shopping Gets Junior Behind the Wheel

By Francine Brevetti BARBARA DUENAS of Hayward put her stepson Israel Villanueva on her auto insurance policy because her safe driving record meant the 18-year-old could get a cheaper rate than if he were listed under his mother's policy. "His mother gave him a car for graduation," Duenas said, "but he gets a lower premium under my policy." For parents buying insurance for their teenager's first car, keeping the premium down can be the deciding factor between letting the son or daughter...

Car Insurance Bill Backed: House Panel OKs Proposal Making Deception in Attempt to Evade Rates a Felony

By David Ranii, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. May 18--A proposed bill aimed at deterring out-of-state residents from wrongfully obtaining auto insurance in North Carolina has gained some traction in the General Assembly. The "rate evasion" bill backed by the state Department of Insurance won the unanimous consent of the House Committee on Insurance on Thursday morning. That action pushes the bill to consideration by the entire House. The bill, thought to be the first to tackle this...

Auto Insurance: Optional?: When the State's Controversial No-Fault Law Expires in October, There May Also Be No Requirement for Drivers to Carry Insurance

By Beatrice E. Garcia, The Miami Herald May 18--After Oct. 1, Florida drivers will no longer be required to carry auto insurance. That's the unintended consequence of lawmakers' inaction during the regular legislative session that ended two weeks ago. The state's controversial no-fault law, which requires drivers to buy at least $10,000 in personal injury protection, or PIP, and $25,000 in property damage liability, is set to expire because lawmakers failed to extend it or replace it wi...

Aviva Offers Poles Direct Motor Insurance

Commercial Union Poland, the Polish operation of general insurer Aviva, has announced that it is to enter the direct motor insurance market. The company said that policies will be sold direct to customers via the telephone and internet. Car ownership has grown exponentially in Poland over the past 15 years, with 43% of the population now owning cars. The Polish car insurance market is worth GBP1.9 billion and is expected to double within the next 10 years. Furthermore, the demand for comp...

Ford Model a Safety Pick: Insurance Group Cites Taurus-Sable

By Justin Hyde, Detroit Free Press May 14--The revived 2008 Ford Taurus-Mercury Sable sedan was named a top safety pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety today, one of 18 models to receive the designation for crashworthiness. The institute also said it had designated the 2007Acura MDX sport-utility vehicle a top pick. Only vehicles that score high marks in the institute's front and side crash tests, offer electronic stability control and protect against whiplash injuries -- ...

In Brief

By Fink, Dan Three states - Texas, Oklahoma and California - are considering legislation that would limit marketing of credit cards on college campuses, according to the trade publication American Banker. The measures reflect growing concerns about the amount of debt college students have when they leave college, according to an article on www.americanbanker.com. Each measure would take a different approach, from limiting the amount of marketing to reducing the kinds of gifts and incentives...

Some Auto Insurers Will Keep No-Fault

By Russell Ray, Tampa Tribune, Fla. May 12--Some of the state's auto insurers are preparing to lower consumers' premiums now that Florida's no-fault insurance law is set to expire Oct. 1, while others say they may continue providing the controversial coverage. Some Florida drivers, especially those who don't have health insurance, may want to maintain the coverage, which provides $10,000 worth of personal injury protection. The PIP provision covers their medical bills if they are injured ...

Insurance Joint Venture at HSBC

HSBC is trying to address lacklustre sales of household and car insurance by forming a joint venture with Aviva. The bank already distributes products from Aviva's Norwich Union business, but the closer relationship will enable it to share in underwriting profits rather than just receive a slice of commission. Dyfrig John, who runs HSBC's UK banking business, says he wants to become one of the top ten general insurance providers with annual premiums of around Pounds 600m. 'We should hav...