It may sound like something out of The Jetsons -- but self-driving cars are here! According to recent data, as many as 10 million cars will be outfitted with self-driving features by the year 2020. While exciting, these futuristic vehicles have opened up a whole can of worms. Especially for insurance companies. How are they insured? Who’s to blame in the event of an accident? Can you trust machine over man? We don’t know the answers to these questions, but here are some f...

We’ve all been there: you’re driving down the highway and a rock flies into your windshield, immediately cracking it. Or maybe you come out to your car after work to find a brand-new chip in your windshield. Windshield chips are unfortunately part of driving. Stuff happens! As drivers, we’re probably unsure of when we should seek professional repairs - and, more importantly, how much repairs will cost and what’s covered by our insurance. Small Repairs As a gen...

If you get into a car accident, what do you replace the damaged parts with? Will any old part do, or should you replace with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts? Does it matter? And, more importantly, what does your insurance cover? You may think you need to replace with original parts, but thats not always the case. Or the most economical. Heres what you should know: Unless youre a car enthusiast, you wont notice a difference. According to the Consumer Insuranc...

Weve talked about self-driving cars before, debating the pros and cons of these cars of the future. However, this week, Bloomberg Technology posted a bullish case for self-driving cars. In this article, the media mogul quoted a recent study by insurance broker Aon Plc. According to Aon, premiums for U.S. auto insurers may drop more than 40 percent once the use of automated vehicles has been fully adopted by 2050. Aon analyst Paul Mang was careful to specify the conditions under which ...

A recent accident involving self-driving cars has once again put this new technology in the news. Last month, an Arizona driver turned left across three lances of traffic just as the light was turning from green to yellow. According to a report from the Tempe, Ariz., Police Department, the first two lanes were backed up with cars, and the driver crossed them at a speed of about 20 mph. Then, she approached the third lane when a self-driving Uber SUV came through the intersection, hitting...

Its a fact: most car accidents are the result of distracted driving. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, each day over 8 people are killed and 1,161 are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. Whats more alarming, is that the number is likely much higher due to inconsistencies in reporting. Distracted driving is driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving. The CDC classifies three main types of di...

Have a kid in a car seat? The American Academy of Pediatrics updated its guidelines recently on car seat usage and safety. The CDCs updated guidelines are more concise and transparent, making life much easier for parents! Heres what you need to know about the CDCs updated car seat guidelines: 1. All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing seat until they are at least 2 years of age or, preferably, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat manufacturer...

We all know we shouldnt be texting while driving. Soon, Apple will make it impossible to text and drive. Apples iOS 11, a new version of the operating software for Apple mobile devices, will contain a "Do Not Disturb While Driving" feature. Whenever the device is connected to a car using either Bluetooth or a cable -- or if the car is moving -- the phone will withhold any notifications for things like text messages or news updates. (Dont worry about being rude -- the sendee will get an auto...

Car insurance companies are paying out claims in record high numbers. Inevitably, this will have an effect on your insurance premium, as insurers have to raise rates to offset these claims. Whats causing this spike in claims, and what can you do? The experts at Selective Insurance explain the 4 reasons your car insurance rates are rising: 1. Drivers are driving more Maybe its due to airfare being expensive, having to commute to work or gas prices making car travel more affordable - but Ame...

The insurance industry has been hit with hundreds of thousands of claims in the wake of recent hurricanes - but its not just homeowners and business owners who are filing the claims. Car owners have flooded insurers with claims, the New York Times reports. Roughly 100,000 claims have been filed so far, with analysts expecting that number to climb as high as 500,000. Unlike most homeowners policies, which generally exclude flood damage, comprehensive car insurance policies do cover flooding, m...

  Self-driving cars promise to transform the automobile industry - and not just for insurers. A recent report in Insurance Journal states that self-driving cars will completely change life for motorcyclists -- for the better. Its a simple safety equation: when robots are at the wheel, far fewer bikers will die on the road. As a result, more people will be inclined to use this alternative form of transportion, which previously had been seen as too dangerous. How, exactly, will self-dr...