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3 weeks ago | 
bankrate.com | R.E. Hawley |Amelia Buckley
The cost of car insurance has been a problem in Michigan for years. In the heart of America’s auto industry, premiums soar over those in neighboring states. Michiganders pay 63 percent more for car insurance than Wisconsinites, 82 percent more than Hoosiers and 96 percent more than Ohioans as of January 2025. Five years ago, the state’s legislature set its sights on fixing the problem with the passage of Senate Bill No. 1, a sweeping reform of Michigan’s auto insurance laws.
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3 weeks ago | 
bankrate.com | R.E. Hawley |Amelia Buckley
Underinsured motorist coverage, or UIM, may be one of the least understood types of car insurance, but it’s increasingly important in an era of rising rates and precarious driving. Rising prices can easily leave drivers underinsured — sometimes unknowingly — and this key coverage gives drivers a way to recover their losses if they’re in an accident with an at-fault driver who doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the damages. What is underinsured motorist coverage?
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4 weeks ago | 
bankrate.com | R.E. Hawley |Amelia Buckley
Teslas are the hottest new target for vehicle vandalism. But as the smoke clears from dealership lots, many Tesla owners are predicting a financial aftershock. Could the recent rash of Tesla vandalism cause already-high insurance premiums to rise? The short answer: Probably, but it’s not clear. Insurance premiums respond to a wide range of risk factors. All cars need insurance — but not all cars are profitable for insurance companies.
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1 month ago | 
bankrate.com | R.E. Hawley |Amelia Buckley
What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow? “Buy my dream car” is a common answer — and it makes sense. Luxury vehicles are more than just a status symbol. They can also be more comfortable, visually appealing and fun to drive. But when buying a luxury vehicle, it’s not just the upfront purchase price you need to consider. Ongoing costs, such as the cost of auto insurance, could make you think twice before committing to luxury vehicle ownership.
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Nov 19, 2024 | 
bankrate.com | R.E. Hawley |Lisa McArdle
For generations, teens have been considered the most dangerous drivers on the road. But Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) might be the first generation of teens to challenge that stereotype. Since 2012, when the first Gen Z teens got their permits, teenage drivers have seen fewer fatal crashes than any previous generation. Despite unprecedented levels of distraction from smartphones and social media, teens today are less likely to get into a serious car accident than ever before.
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Nov 13, 2024 | 
bankrate.com | R.E. Hawley |Natasha Cornelius
As the 2024 hurricane season winds down, thousands of homeowners face the incredible challenge of cleaning up and starting over. Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which devastated portions of the Atlantic coast in September and October, are estimated to join the ranks of the most costly climate disasters in U.S. history — and for many, the disaster is far from over. For many homeowners, a lack of homeowners and flood insurance means huge financial losses.
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Nov 11, 2024 | 
bankrate.com | R.E. Hawley |Amelia Buckley
Most modern cars come equipped with advanced safety technology. Features like lane departure warnings, forward collision mitigation and blind spot detection are becoming standard, and automakers have even committed to making automated emergency braking an essential component of all new cars by 2029. From a safety perspective, this is all great news. After all, research shows that advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) can reduce crash risk by as much as 50 percent.
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Nov 6, 2024 | 
bankrate.com | R.E. Hawley |Maggie Kempken
For generations of American teens, getting a driver’s license has been an important rite of passage. But for Gen Z, the thrill may be wearing off. Amy K. lives in metro Atlanta with her husband and two sons, aged 19 and 24. Both of her sons put off getting their driver’s license well past age 16, the earliest age at which teens in Georgia can move from a learner’s permit to an intermediate license. “When I asked around,” she says, “it didn’t seem to be as weird as I would have thought it was.
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Oct 29, 2024 | 
southfloridareporter.com | R.E. Hawley
Written by , – Edited by Amelia Buckley – 7 Minute readInsurance commercials are everywhere, and compared to other financial products, the ads are especially catchy. Even if you don’t have a policy with Allstate, you’re probably familiar with Mayhem and his cartoonish crises. Jake from State Farm and Flo from Progressive are even common Halloween costumes. It’s hard to get through a half-hour of TV without hearing a single plug for car or home insurance (or both!).
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Oct 28, 2024 | 
bankrate.com | R.E. Hawley
Insurance commercials are everywhere, and compared to other financial products, the ads are especially catchy. Even if you don’t have a policy with Allstate, you’re probably familiar with Mayhem and his cartoonish crises. Jake from State Farm and Flo from Progressive are even common Halloween costumes. It’s hard to get through a half-hour of TV without hearing a single plug for car or home insurance (or both!). All those ads cost money — big money.
