Latest Insurance News

Insurance Rate Overhaul Bans Credit Scores for Now

By JAY FITZGERALD Insurance Commissioner Nonnie Burnes yesterday ordered an historic overhaul of the state's system for setting auto-insurance rates - but kept open the possibility that motorists' credit-report information could be used in the future to set premium prices. Under Burnes' plan, a new "managed competition" system for auto insurance would be introduced next April, replacing the current setup in which regulators set specific rates that insurers can charge drivers. The new sy...

Over 40% Eat or Drink Behind the Wheel

EATING and drinking are the most frequent dangerous driving habits, according to Sainsbury's Car Insurance, with 41 per cent of motorists questioned admitting 'offending' during July. This is followed by driving while feeling tired, driving wearing flip flops or barefoot and speeding. Fourteen per cent of motorists said they used a non-hands-free mobile phone while driving and a tenth admitted to sending texts from behind the wheel. (c) 2007 Evening Mail; Birmingham (UK). Provided by Pr...

Deal Worked Out to Bring PIP Back on Jan. 1

By Josh Hafenbrack, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Oct. 5--TALLAHASSEE -- PIP is back -- or at least it will be on Jan. 1. The Florida Legislature ended roller-coaster negotiations to restore the state's no-fault auto insurance system on Friday morning, with quick votes in the House and Senate. The Senate approved legislation to bring back mandatory personal-injury protections, or PIP, on a 37-0 vote, sending the issue to Gov. Charlie Crist for his signature. PIP, which expired on Monday, w...

Plugs & POINTS ; in Association With Fish4

The stocks of two very special supercars are running low in the UK - so hurry if you want a Corvette Coupe Victory Edition, or a Corvette Ron Fellows Edition. The 6-litre Victory Edition, produced to celebrate the success of Corvettes in sports car racing, is priced from pounds 42,990. The Ron Fellows Edition is based on the Corvette Z06 and can accelerate from 0-to-62 mph in just 3.9 seconds, and power on to a top speed of 199mph. It costs pounds 59,990 and is only available in white. The ...

No-Fault Law is Revived, Reformed: The State's No-Fault Law Will Be Restored Jan. 1, but the Next Three Months Could Be Tricky for Florida Drivers

By Beatrice E. Garcia, The Miami Herald Oct. 6--TALLAHASSEE -- Florida's no-fault auto-insurance law is coming back Jan. 1. But some sections of the new law take effect as soon as Gov. Charlie Crist signs it, expected next week. The final vote was smooth and quick Friday, despite months of negotiations and an expensive public relations campaign mounted by major insurers urging elimination of the controversial law. The bill restoring the no-fault system passed unanimously in the Senate a...

No-Fault Auto Insurance Gains Legislative Support

By Josh Hafenbrack, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Oct. 4--Reviving mandatory personal-injury protection for Florida's drivers is gaining political steam in the Legislature, picking up the endorsement of a crucial Senate committee Thursday morning. Bringing back no-fault auto insurance -- an effort supported by Gov. Charlie Crist -- appears headed to likely floor votes in both chambers during the special session that ends Oct. 12. In a unanimous vote, the Senate Banking and Insurance Commit...

Divide Seen in U.S. Alien ID Issuance

A schism in tolerance for illegal U.S. immigrants is developing as some cities and states issue identification as other areas ban it, USA Today reported.In Oklahoma, a law is to take effect next month that forbids issuing drivers licenses or any other form of identification to illegal immigrants while New York and Connecticut have opposite policies, the newspaper said.New York Motor Vehicles Commissioner David Swarts said licenses for illegal immigrants was a policy of New York Gov. Eliot Spi...

Low-Cost Car Insurance Expands: State-Sponsored Program Adds 3 Lode Counties

By Joe Goldeen, The Record, Stockton, Calif. Oct. 3--California's Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program just about doubled the number of counties this week where eligible uninsured motorists can get the minimum legal coverage for less than $400 a year. Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne counties are among the 20 counties added to the list, bringing the total to 42. San Joaquin County motorists have been able to purchase the low-cost insurance for $292 annually since June 2006. Only 16 mostl...

Putting the Pedal to the Metal Has Always... [Derived Headline]

WASHINGTON - Putting the pedal to the metal has always put people at risk of higher car insurance premiums, but what about making late credit card payments? Over the last decade, insurers increasingly have relied on customers' credit scores as a factor in determining how much to charge them for automobile insurance. It's a practice that has some lawmakers crying foul because of evidence that it disproportionately affects some minority groups. A Federal Trade Commission report, requested...

As No-Fault Insurance Ends in Florida, Find Out What's Next

By Randy Diamond, The Palm Beach Post, Fla. Oct. 1--Florida's no-fault auto insurance system has expired -- at least for now. Lawmakers are working to revive the system, and there are plenty of people who believe Personal Injury Protection -- known as PIP -- or some comparable system will be resurrected. But not everyone supports it, and there is no guarantee. At least one bill that would institute a revised auto insurance system has been drafted. Legislators will meet in Tallahassee fo...