Latest Auto Headlines
All the headlines from our Auto Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Michigan Woman Charged In Fake Auto Insurance Policy Scheme
Oct 7 2013 // A 40-year-old woman has been arrested in the sale of more than 300 bogus auto insurance policies to Detroit, Mich.-area drivers. The Wayne County sheriff’s office says Timmica Morton was arraigned on charges that she...
Fatal Deer-Vehicle Crashes on Pace to Set Record in Minnesota
Oct 4 2013 // Minnesota Department of Public Safety is reminding motorists and motorcyclists to be especially cautious of deer in coming months, as they are breeding and more active this time of year. DPS says seven people have been...
Researchers Question Privacy of Usage-Based Auto Insurance
Oct 2 2013 // A study by a handful of university professors in Colorado claims user-based insurance tracking programs installed in millions of vehicles can collect data that shows where drivers are going, unbeknownst to most users of...
Toyota Claims Plaintiffs Fabricated Fatal Acceleration Theory
Oct 2 2013 // Toyota Motor Corp. said plaintiffs’ lawyers seeking to blame a fatal accident on unintended acceleration made up a theory of how a 66-year-old woman’s foot got stuck between the gas and brake pedal of a 2006...
J.D. Power: Personal Lines Agents Missing out on Opportunities in Renters Segment
Sep 30 2013 // Insurance agents who only focus on homeowners insurance customers are missing a golden opportunity to build long-term relationships with renter customers as their insurance needs grow due to life or circumstance...
LAPD Chief Beck Rescinds Car Impound Policy
Sep 30 2013 // Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck has rescinded the department’s controversial car impound policy that made it easier for unlicensed drivers to keep their cars. The Los Angeles Times reported that Beck issued an...
FERMA Forum Opens with Solvency II Analysis from Karel Van Hulle
Sep 30 2013 // The bi-annual Risk Management Forum of the Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA) kicked off with a reception on Sunday night for the 1400 plus delegates at the MECC Conference Center in the Dutch city...
The Hartford Extends Term of AARP Home, Auto Insurance Program
Sep 27 2013 // The Hartford has extended its agreement with AARP to offer home and auto insurance products to its members. With the three-year extension, The Hartford’s relationship with AARP now runs through January 1, 2023. This...
Insurance Institute Cites Top Cars for Crash Avoidance
Sep 27 2013 // Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Subaru earned the highest marks in a new front crash avoidance test program developed for the U.S. insurance industry. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a non-profit group...
Groups Say Regulators Allow Unsafe Mexican Trucks on U.S. Roads
Sep 27 2013 // Regulators determined to let Mexican trucks on U.S. roads under a trade deal have downplayed safety shortcomings with companies in a border-crossing pilot program, according to safety, trucking and labor groups. Trucking...
Price Drives Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction, Shopping Around: J.D. Power
Sep 26 2013 // Rate increases are driving more customers to obtain competitive price quotes, while satisfaction with the buying experience is trending downward among new-buyer customers due to lower price satisfaction among new buyers,...
MetLife: Lack of Car, Home Insurance Sales ‘Ridiculous’
Sep 26 2013 // MetLife Inc., the largest U.S. life insurer, is pushing agents to sell more car and residential coverage after the head of the company’s main retail business said they’ve been missing an opportunity to...
Not So Fast: Driverless Vehicles Face Driver Caution and Other Speed Bumps
Sep 24 2013 // The world has moved quickly from wonder at the idea of driverless cars to impatient expectation. The Cadillac SRX zipping around a test track in suburban Detroit is flashing a sign: Not so fast. The car can pilot itself at...
Travelers Launching Low Cost, Segmented Product in New Personal Auto Strategy
Sep 20 2013 // The Travelers Companies Inc. is adopting a new strategy to become more price-competitive in personal auto insurance. Travelers’ CEO Jay Fishman explained his company’s personal auto strategy at the Barclays...
Michigan Secretary of State Launches Anti-Fraud Task Force
Sep 19 2013 // With the aim of battling auto insurance fraud, Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson has launched an anti-fraud task force – Fighting Auto Insurance Rip-offs (FAIR) – that involves Michigan State Police,...
State Auto Announces Western Region Staffing Additions
Sep 18 2013 // The western region office of State Auto Insurance, based in Austin, Texas, announced additions to its regional workforce to support a growing small business, middle market and large account portfolio. The group has added...
Vermont Court to Reconsider Case of Borrowed Keys in Fatal Car Crash
Sep 16 2013 // It’s back to the trial court for a Vermont case in which a woman lent her car keys to a man, who then gave them to the woman’s boyfriend, who then got into a fatal accident. The Vermont Supreme Court ruled on...
Anhalt Named Sentry Senior Vice President in Wisconsin
Sep 11 2013 // Pete Anhalt has been promoted to senior vice president of consumer products for Sentry Insurance. Anhalt will be based in Madison, Wi. He will oversee specialty auto, motorcycle, and standard consumer products. Anhalt...
Sinkhole in Oklahoma City Swallows Car; No Injuries
Sep 10 2013 // A sinkhole that opened up alongside a downtown Oklahoma City street has swallowed a car, but the car’s two occupants escaped unharmed. The sinkhole opened up on Sept. 8 near NW 2nd St. and N. Villa Ave. in downtown....
Tennessee Court Reinstates $43.8M Verdict for Auto Accident Victim
Sep 6 2013 // The Tennessee Supreme Court has reinstated a $43.8 million verdict for a Memphis child who was paralyzed in an auto accident. According to court records, Billy Meals was 6 years old on Jan. 18, 2002. He was riding in the...
