Question: “Sometimes I see cars driving around with no license plate. Is this legal?” The simple answer is “no” but there are some exceptions. All 50 states require, by law, that every vehicle in operation needs to bear a visible license [...]
Let’s be honest with ourselves: Have you ever tapped, bumped, swiped or hit a stationary vehicle in a parking lot and driven away? With NCAA college basketball teams competing during March Madness, hundreds of thousands of fans will attend playoff [...]
Many drivers mistakenly think there is a “grace period” for making an auto insurance payment after it’s due date, inferring from the 30 day grace period some health insurance providers might offer. This is not true when it comes to car insurance. We want to [...]
Women are bad drivers…Right? At least that’s how the old adage goes, but let’s take a look at the facts. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, while 50% of licensed drivers were men, 57% were involved in crashes of all [...]
Amidst the glitz and glam of the star-studded Academy Awards, the media is abuzz over who will take an Oscar, which designers our celebs will don and what surprises the night will have in store. Chiming in on the Oscar fodder [...]
A recent survey predicts over 179 million people will be watching the Super Bowl this year and we wanted to have a little fun with that massive population as it relates to insurance, vehicles and you… Here is our TOP [...]
Typically, about 6 months before your license is up for renewal, the Department of Motor Vehicles will check a database called the National Driver Register (NDR) and look to see if you’ve been an infamous driver… and the short answer [...]
Happy New Year! We’re one week into 2013…how is your resolution coming? For many of us, the new year is a new leaf and it’s a must to kick off the New Year with renewed inspiration, but research published by [...]
Attention California residents: 750 new laws took effect on Jan 1, 2013 and you may want to be aware of the changes. Of interest to drivers, there are 6 new laws – including your option to present your proof-of-insurance electronically [...]
To get insurance or not on a rental car– that is the question! If you’re like us, finding a clear answer to this decision after you’ve spent the day flying and waiting in lines at the airport can be convoluted. [...]
Some of us have the occasional ‘bad day’ – you forget to set an alarm clock in the morning, traffic is a bear & your day is an endless stream of papers showing up on your desk. What a headache. [...]
At just 7 inches tall, he’s not only Answer Financial’s most vertically-challenged employee but he’s also the most huggable. We are pleased to announce his role in delivering news on behalf of Answer. From blog posts, ways to save money on [...]
Our Refer-a-Friend program allows you to earn a $25 gift card through our new Facebook app! Here’s how it works: Visit our new Refer-a-Friend app on our Facebook page Fill out your name & email address Click “share” on your [...]
Consumer Reports just released its November Review of car-insurance ads, in which it advises consumers to check insurance rates online with sites such as Answer Financial, Insure.com, InsWeb, and NetQuote. However, insurance comparison sites are not created equally. So how [...]
Our thoughts are with those on the east coast who have been affected by “Super Storm Sandy.” Some of you may be wondering, “Does my auto insurance cover my vehicle from water damage?” If you currently carry comprehensive coverage on [...]
We are pleased to feature a guest blog post by Dr. Ingrid Pyka* who represents VPI® Pet Insurance, a trusted partner of Answer Financial. Last year, VPI paid more than $1 million in claims for foreign body ingestion. Don’t let your pet [...]
If you are heading home for Thanksgiving or ringing in the New Year somewhere special, the last thing you are probably thinking is, ‘am I insured for that?’ Wherever your travels take you, these tips will keep you safe and [...]
What is one recurring holiday that elicits excitement from people, young and old alike? It’s the weekend! 60+ glorious hours are granted to everyone from students to professionals, and the weekend can be a key to restoring the peace that may [...]
Each year southern California experiences about 10,000 earthquakes. While many of these quakes are considered small (magnitude 3.0 and under) about 15-20 quakes are magnitude 4.0 or greater. We want you to be prepared in the event of this natural [...]
For many technology enthusiasts, music lovers and “creative” types, the release of a new Apple product is a celebration of epic proportions. It takes over the news headlines for weeks to come. Television ads show how the new products will [...]
The day comes for every parent when the beautiful bundle of love you brought home from the hospital speaks those inevitable words, “Can we go to the DMV to get my permit?” In the blink of an eye your little one [...]
If you are in a dispute with your insurance company and have heard the words ‘material misrepresentation’ as part of the dispute, you may have a serious issue on your hands. In this article we’ll define material misrepresentation, talk about [...]
A car accident can happen at anytime, but do you know what you should do when you’re involved in one? To answer this question we summarized and expanded below on the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) guidelines of “What to do [...]
Question: I don’t have a valid driver’s license – can I still get car insurance? Answer: With a few exceptions that we’ll go over below, the answer to this question is a resounding “NO”. If you do not have a [...]
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With summer in full swing and millions of Americans going on road trips, driver safety is never more important to keep at the top of your mind. While kids playing in the backseat, eating in the car and studying maps [...]
Editor’s Note: This is part of our ongoing series where you can get advice directly from our agents on the call center floor. This week, we’re hearing from agents Linda Stevens and Mindy Mayfield about why you need to make [...]
Let’s say you have been in a serious accident and you were not found to be at fault. Not only was your car totaled, but you are going to require extensive medical treatment as a direct result of the accident. [...]
Editor’s Note: This is part of our ongoing series where you can get advice directly from one of our agents from on the call center floor. This week, we’re hearing about why the same person can get different rates from [...]
Allowing your auto insurance to lapse is never a good thing. Here’s the three main reasons why: Required by law Nearly all states require drivers to carry auto insurance at all times. If you have allowed your auto insurance to [...]
Question of the Week: How does auto insurance work when I cross a state line? Answer: All auto insurance policies are valid nationwide. If you carry relatively strong coverage in your home state (which we highly recommend), that coverage will most [...]
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When you think about your annual expenses, you might think that auto insurance is a major drain on your finances, and while we all want to save as much as we can, auto insurance in fact only accounted for 2.19% of [...]
Question: Is it better to buy my teenager a used car and then add it to my auto insurance or should I just let him/her drive my car? Answer: The answer to this question depends on the exact situation, but [...]
The state: California The vehicle: 2010 Honda CR-V EX Today we are looking at auto insurance quotes for a 2010 Honda CR-V EX in California. We’ll run a few different quotes for different locations and other variables, so that you [...]
Editor’s Note: This is the first article in a new series we’ll be publishing called “Agent’s Corner” where you’ll get advice directly from one of our agents on the call center floor. This week, we’re hearing about SR-22′s from Charles [...]
A slightly obscure type of auto insurance coverage is called “accidental death” (or sometimes “automobile death indemnity”) which provides coverage for funeral expenses in the event that you or someone in your vehicle is killed, and the driver of your vehicle [...]
When it comes to property and casualty insurance, an endorsement is a amendment to your insurance policy contract that specifies your coverage under certain special circumstances or for itemized valuables. In some states and with some insurance companies, certain endorsements are [...]
Getting a joint car loan is a serious commitment for both parties. When it comes to auto insurance, there are additional things to consider when deciding whether or not to get a joint car loan, especially if both parties do not live [...]
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CRASH! You just got in an accident, and after you confirm that no one is injured, your next thought might just be “I wonder what’s damaged?” Well, using data from thousands of crashes, we put together the following infographic to [...]
You might be surprised to know that most auto and home insurance companies do not operate or provide coverage in all 50 states. In fact, most don’t even come close to operating in all states. Here’s an explanation. To begin [...]
Whether it’s auto, home, motorcycle, boat or other kinds of policies, all liability insurance has maximum limits. These limits are determined by how much coverage you are willing to pay for, though in all cases insurance companies have a liability [...]
You were in an accident and do not feel that you are receiving the proper repairs or fair coverage from your insurance company for those repairs, here are five options you have to try to fight for what you feel [...]
Question of the Week: Can you temporarily add someone to your car insurance policy? Answer: Absolutely. Whenever you have the need, you may contact your insurance company or agent to ask that someone be temporarily added to your policy. However, [...]
You are moving to a new state and while going through your moving checklist, you contact your auto insurance company about your car insurance. Your auto insurance agent tells you that you are about to move to a state that [...]
Question of the Week: Can you just keep the money from an auto or home insurance payout and not put it towards repairs? Answer: This really depends on whether or not you fully own your vehicle or not. If you [...]
If you have been living abroad for a number of years and are now returning to reside in the United States, one of the things on your to-do checklist will most likely be getting auto insurance in the US for [...]
You’ve been in an accident that will require your car to be towed. You’ve called the police and they are on their way to the scene. You are about to call your auto insurance company and start to wonder, “how [...]
If you are thinking of doing major renovations and/or adding an addition or garage to your house, you should know that it will most likely increase your home insurance premium. The reason for this is pretty straightforward: you are adding [...]
Question of the Week: Is it ever too late to file a claim with your auto or home insurance provider? Answer: This answer may surprise you – in most cases with property and causality insurance (which includes auto insurance and home [...]
So you are in the market for a brand new car. You’ve been visiting dealerships, test driving, doing online research and now you’ve narrowed your choices down to a few different models. Once you make your final decision, you’ll most [...]
If you are customer of a members-only shopping center such as Costco, you may have noticed that your store offers insurance (most likely auto insurance, but possibly other types including home insurance) – and your reaction was probably something like, [...]
Question of the week: When will an accident or speeding ticket start to affect my car insurance premium? Answer: Generally, if you have an accident within the first eleven months of your auto insurance policy being in effect, you will [...]
Many people buy salvaged vehicles for spare parts for their daily driver or for a “project car”. However, some people find salvaged vehicles that they either buy in a condition that they feel is road worthy, or they fix them [...]
We’re pleased to announce that Answer Financial now has a new mobile website for people to get insurance quotes quickly right from their web-enabled phones. The new website can be found at http://m.answerfinancial.com As one of the largest insurance agencies [...]
It’s a new year, and many people are starting their New Year’s resolutions. For many, this includes goals around better money management and as well as finding ways to save a few dollars here and there. In that spirit, we [...]
Kelley Blue Book (KBB), which offers regularly updated pricing for used cars, has added a “Very Good” rating in order to better reflect the evolving used car market. Additionally, KBB has expanded its weekly ratings to 51 regional markets nationwide [...]
With winter fast approaching, you may be considering taking your summer vehicle off the road and into your garage. If so, there are a few things you should be aware of regarding your auto insurance. Let’s start off saying that [...]
AAA has released a report that shows that vehicle crashes are three times costlier to American cities than traffic congestion. Based on crash and congestion data from 2009, AAA found that the economic impact of car accidents in the urban [...]
While not for everyone, classic car collecting is a popular hobby that can entail significant financial investment over many years. If you are a new collector, restorer, or someone just thinking of getting into the hobby, you might be wondering [...]
Rental cars have been around for decades, and even newer alternative rental car services such as Zipcar are well established now, but a new brand of rental car services are springing up – people renting out their private cars by [...]
We are happy to announce that we, along with Esurance, have been formally acquired by The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL)! Here is the press release on the announcement: NORTHBROOK, Ill., Oct. 7, 2011 - The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) today announced [...]
While there are many things to consider when moving to another state, you shouldn’t forget that changing states could possibly have a large impact on not only your insurance premiums, but also on your insurance needs. Home insurance Let’s assume [...]
If you are in a legally recognized relationship – whether married, in a civil union or domestic partnership – you should be aware of how this can affect your auto insurance policy. First of all, we’ll look at married couples. [...]
According to the latest annual study on homeowners insurance by J.D. Power and Associates, home insurance policyholders are more satisfied with their insurance companies in 2011 than they were in 2010. The study – which rates policyholder satisfaction on a [...]
It’s that time of year again – back to school, and for many college students that means moving into an apartment or condo. If you’re one of these students (or perhaps a parent) we highly recommend that you look at [...]
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Ever wondered what home insurance gets used for? Well, we put together the infographic below to highlight the most expensive homeowners insurance claims in the United States from 2005-2009 (data source: ISO via III.org). So the next time you are [...]
Strong storms, hurricanes, overflowing rivers … Depending on where you live, your home could be prone to flooding. With that in mind, do you have flood insurance? You may not be aware of this, but homeowners insurance (which we highly recommend you purchase [...]
A new survey conducted by Allstate found that most Americans are in favor of stricter laws for teen drivers, including the banning of cell phone usage, and setting the minimum age for obtaining a driving permit to 16 years old. [...]
Dave Jones, California’s insurance commissioner, recently offered some helpful tips about shopping for auto insurance that we’d like to pass along. You can go here for all of the commissioner’s tips, but a couple were particularly useful to anyone – in any [...]
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), a non-profit funded by the insurance industry, has released its list of the top 10 cars stolen in 2010, with two Hondas from a decade and a half ago topping the list. For the [...]
If you’ve ever shopped for insurance online, you may have noticed that certain insurance providers also reveal quotes, or at least estimates, from some of their leading competitors. Sometimes these quotes are even less expensive than their own. Naturally, you might ask yourself, [...]
In a previous post, we addressd the fact that earthquakes can strike nearly anywhere on Earth. This year we’ve seen two devastating quakes on the Pacific Rim, first in Christchurch, New Zealand in February, followed by the earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan in March. [...]
A recent report by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), shows that Volvo’s low-speed but high-tech crash avoidance system on the Volvo XC60 SUV model has dramatically cut down on auto insurance claims filed. The system, called City Safety, has [...]
A number of major auto insurance companies are adopting pilot programs around so called “usage-based” insurance tracking and benchmarking technologies (including GPS, OnStar, and custom devices). These technologies enable insurance companies to determine the cost of your insurance by, among [...]
General Motors (GM), in a move to attract new customers, has teamed up with MetLife to bundle a year of auto insurance to anyone who buys a new 2010-2012 Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet or GMC car, truck or crossover in the states of [...]
According to a report last month by J.D. Power and Associates, insurance customers who use emerging technologies such as smartphone applications, online chat, and email as complementary channels to interact with their insurance providers, “are significantly more satisfied than [customers] using [...]
A new safety report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – the first such report since 2007 – says that SUVs are some of the safest cars on the road. This change is “dramatic” according to the IIHS, [...]
Here’s a question for you – when was the last time you spent five minutes checking to see if you are getting as much value as you can from your insurance? Awhile? Well, here are five reasons you should periodically [...]
One in five US respondents to a recent comScore survey said that they have purchased auto insurance online, and 32% of those surveyed who have not purchased auto insurance online before, will likely do so in the future. “Consumer preferences [...]
The past few years have dramatically risen the awareness of the destructive power of earthquakes, including the recent 9.0 quake off of the coast of Japan that created a tsunami that caused tremendous loss of life and property in that [...]
We are excited to launch the Insurance Center Blog, which will be a resource for anyone shopping for auto, home and other types of insurance. The Insurance Center Blog will strive to bring our readers up-to-date information, statistics, news and [...]
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