Allstate has today announced the release of their Mini Roadside Service iPhone app that is set to go up against road side service providers such as GM’s OnStar.

This app will apparently give users the ability to quickly access service if they so encounter problems such as a dead battery, flat tire, running out of gas or any other automobile complications. Autopia says that non Mini owners can get down on the deal as well as Allstate has a similar program for sale at $119.95.

While the app isn’t as convenient as being built right into the car, like OnStar is, this will definitely give those a chance without GM vehicles to get down on some hassle free roadside assistance.

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Why worry about the pains of car maintenance and the added cost in the form of parking fees if you can access an alternative way of getting around by paying for what you drive? That is precisely the reason why the U Car Share came into being, a keen alternative for people who are looking to curb down their transport needs and also avoid the burden of parking and their fees.

The U Car Share program has expanded all the way to Salt Lake City, easily accessible 24/7 and only paying for what they use as long as they are members of the said program. U Car Share takes care of fuel, insurance and maintenance costs. Hourly rates that include 180 miles free per reservation range from $8.00-$12.00 per hour, depending on the vehicle.

For a limited time, membership is free for all residents of Utah. To avail of this service, simply log on to ucarshare.com today and enter promotion code SLC82009 when signing up. The promo is good until October 30 after which regular charges will start.

Members can reserve cars for as little as an hour at any time of day. Gas and insurance are all included in one low hourly rate starting at $4.95 per hour ($0.59 per mile).

(Source) Press

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Here we go again, another story of a teenager crashing a car because they can’t handle its power. This time the victim is a ‘69 Chevy Camaro that was crashed after a man’s 17 year old son decided to take the car for a joyride. Of course, he just had to pull a burnout on a street and upon hitting third gear found himself in a neighbor’s lawn.

The kid’s consequences include a wreckless driving ticket and his insurance company dropping him off the plan. Of course, I’m sure that doesn’t even compare to what his dad’s going to give him considering there were $30,000 worth of damages.

via Jalopnik

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In one of the tempting deals seen yet to entice car purchase, Volvo Cars of North America announces a special treat that should really spur some sales. The new Volvo Overseas Delivery Program offers a very tempting offer where you can get the chance to win 2 free tickets to West Sweden and make use of your purchased Volvo vehicle with no extra charge.

The promo starts from July 20 to September 1. Visitors simply have to register at the site and create an ideal Swedish travel itinerary with the online trip planner. The submitted itinerary will be entered for a chance to win which covers one week of hotel stays, flights for two and use of a Volvo car for an unforgettable experience.

Volvo will provide two complimentary airline tickets to Gothenburg, Sweden, where the customer will pick up their new car directly from the Volvo factory. Then, they can head out on a European road trip and simply drop off the car and Volvo will ship it to the United States for free.

Now with that deal, what more can you ask for? No more worries on car rentals or modes of transportation. Better yet, you are using your own car which also comes with insurance good for 15 days.

(Source) Press

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Access to a car by bystanders starts with windows. Normally, these are kept closed but knowing how thieves operate, they will always find some way to break into your car and steal some of the things that they see such as your expensive car radio or maybe even the stuff you leave carelessly in your car.

Post Office Car Insurance takes the initiative in reminding motorists on the importance of making sure that windows are closed and making sure that valuables left inside their car are kept out of sight. By doing these simple reminders, you can save yourself the trouble of your car being broken into and losing some prized possessions.

(Source) Press

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The celebrated Car Allowance Rebate System is starting to show the fine prints which most motorists failed to look at. There are some small bits of highlights that people have forgotten to look into and this includes the higher rates for car insurance.

Apparently, when this CARS program was signed into law, much of the focus was into the amount they could get for their old cars. However, insurance premiums were not even considered nor mentioned by most motorists. The only thing that mattered was the savings they can get from the new car which incidentally was way off compared to an actual trade-in.

There had to be a catch and unfortunately this is one of them. Assuming you get the whole $4,500 rebate, you are still not getting the right value for your car. So as a wise motorist, why would you bite? Rather than spend on a new car, you are perhaps better off with your old one and with nothing to worry about.

Keep in mind that in whatever good deal you seem to get into, read everything to the last letter. Some may be aware while others are not. Just be wise on car buying choices. It may place you in a worse bind than when you simply had a functioning car which could be better compared to sacrificing the actual value it has over the market.

(Source) Press

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For every motorist, a corresponding car insurance exists. Hence, the only thing left is finding them. Of course, the search will vary. And this normally lies on the coverage and price that they offer, something that should be duly studied by people of different ages since they have to find out which car insurance is worth getting.

If you are an older driver and are looking to renew your policy, make sure you go to a company who will reward you for the fact that you are less likely to drive fast or recklessly. Let’s face it, a 17-year old drives a little differently to a 70-year old. Unless, of course at 71 years of age you enjoy pulling doughnuts – which definitely don’t come with jam.

As an older driver, you’ll also, more than likely, want a different make and model of car than a younger driver. Your car insurance company should take that into account and supply a quote that reflects that fact accordingly.

Just remember these facts. Our car preference changes in time but so does our manner of driving. Call it a mellowing period, it also means that we are at that point where car driving is done cautious and of course safer compared to the high risk times all of us once had.

(Source) Press

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Cars have become safer by the day thanks to technology. And if there is one part of technology which deserves recognition, it is that of the safety that cars now carry. We have seen the birth of airbags and Antilock Braking Systems (ABS) and now the Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

How does ESC work?

The system detects the point when a car is about to go into a slide and applies precisely measured amounts of braking force to each wheel, so as to correct or prevent the slide.
It should be pointed out, however, that ESC is not a replacement for responsible and safe driving and those sentiments are shared by car insurance companies, including Saga. It will not be able to prevent all potential accidents, although research results are more than encouraging.

And with safer cars, car insurance claims diminish as well. This is because the probability of being caught in accidents have become lower thanks to these safety enhancements. And you can be assured that for the years to come, more safety features for vehicles will be coming out as well as car manufacturing companies vie for safer cars to distribute in the market.

(Source) Press

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One thing that people hate about online car insurance is the waiting period. But perhaps other car insurance companies can take their cue from The Buzz, Australia’s new offering for busy individuals who want to manage their car insurance needs in a flash.

Among the highlights include a 60 second quick quote and simple language. It also includes a host of other online ’self-serve’ features consumers have requested, including Live Chat. Consumers can also choose exactly what insurance cover they want for their car, and only pay for that.

“The Buzz has been developed from the voice of Australians,” Ms Johnson said.
“People told us they want insurance products and services that are flexible and that suit their own needs. Importantly, they want choice and control over what they do – after all, that’s why they’re using the internet.

(Source) Press

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Analyze your car expenses and you may find a glaring figure that is associated with the car insurance premiums you are paying. Now, ask yourself, do I need car insurance? Well it depends. It largely lies on the type of driver you are, defensive or high risk. Of the two, the latter obviously needs car insurance coverage since he is most likely prone to accidents and potential injuries.

But for some people, the consistency and use of having car insurance seems to be wearing off. Some are dropping it and deem it as unnecessary, particularly now that the times are hard and everyone is tightening their belts. It is a risk, but for some people, the solution is just to drive safely or limit your trips to avoid needing it.

However, here are some facts you should know if you decide to drop your car insurance:

1. Driving without car insurance is a crime
2. Your auto insurance rates will increase when you reinstate your policy
3. You very well may incur stiff penalties

Hence, given these facts, would it be wise to overlook insurance? While many see it as something that covers the car only, you may end up losing a lot more (not to mention spend more) if you are not aware of the things that can happen if you drop it.

Penalties for failing to maintain car insurance can range from a fine, to a suspended license, to jail time. If you get caught, your car or license plates could be impounded until you can pay the fine. Then, you have to pay another fee to reinstate your registration.

(Source) Press

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Here is an appealing way to distinguish the type of car insurance coverage motorists should have. Employing the MyRateSM behavior-based insurance program, the right kind of insurance will be given depending on the type of driver you are. The best part of it is that you will pay lower rates on vehicles that are driven in less risky ways, a big plus for drivers who are low risk.

“MyRate is designed for consistent and safe drivers,” said Richard Hutchinson, Progressive’s MyRate general manager. “It’s for people who drive at low risk times of day and who keep alert for others on the road. They don’t make fast lane changes or follow too closely behind other drivers so they don’t have to over-react or slam on the brakes.”

Drivers who sign up with MyRate receive a device that plugs into a port in their car and measures how, how much and when the car is being driven. Cars driven less often, in less risky ways, and at less risky times will be receiving a lower premium. Also, drivers with more than one car can select which, if any, of their vehicles to enroll in MyRate.

(Source) Press

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For sure a lot of us have experience being pulled over by a traffic enforcer. Depending on what you did or even if you feel that you did not do anything, it is automatic for us to pull over. However, once we are there what do we do?

Mind you, traffic enforcers are no angels and if you give them attitude, they will cite you or worse, give attitude to you as well. Depending on the gravity of your offense, you just have to be rational about it and wait for them to tell you what you did wrong.

As a reminder, here are some tips you may want to refer to the next time you get pulled over:

1. Pull over immediately.
2. Don’t make any sudden movements.
3. Stay in the car with the seatbelt buckled.
4. Be polite and respectful.
5. Keep license, registration and insurance up to date.

You may say that these things are familiar and nothing new. But then again these are only reminders not to aggravate the situation just in case you really did something to catch their attention in pulling you over!

(Source) Press

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Truck collisions and accidents have their share of issues, particularly when it is time to make claims. This time however, a Claims InSite has been opened, aiming to strike down the long wait and complement its North America truck collision repair centers.

Claims InSite is a unique solution designed to facilitate management of the entire accident process in real time, from incident reporting to ensuring vehicles are repaired in a quick, efficient and cost-effective manner. The solution also identifies the right collision repair centers and finds the best locations for chassis, body and trailer repairs, complete vehicle refinishing, and frame and alignment work for commercial trucks and vehicles via a national network.

When an accident occurs, Penske customers can call the 24-hour, seven-day per week Claims InSite national call center for assistance. Claims specialists gather claim information, including incident details from the driver, vehicle photos and police reports, and upload it to a Web-based management system. As details regarding repairs and insurance claims are processed, customers can track progress in real-time through the password-protected site, located at MyFleetAtPenske.com.

(Source) Press

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After getting a failing grade by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for rear collisions, it seems that Toyota has learned its lesson and added some new preventive measures to spare Toyota 4runners from road accidents.

Since 2008, all Toyota 4Runners come equipped with side curtain airbags to help prevent head injuries. They also added front-seat-mounted side-impact airbags thus providing added protection for all 4Runner vehicles.

At least now, Toyota 4Runner owners can look forward to safer motoring since you never know when a freak accident may suddenly occur on the road.

(Source) Ask Cars

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Who would like to buy his favorite car in the midst of this Global economic crisis? No one will, unless he is rest-assured that he will retain his job no matter what happens. However, the new incentive from Hyundai Corp. in co-ordination with Walkaway USA LLC may change your mind. A Hyundai buyer can now return his vehicle to the company if he looses his job within 12 months from delivery of the car without damaging his credit rating. 

“The question for consumers right now is what is going to happen to their income in 2009,” Joel Ewanick (Vice President Hyundai Motors America) told Automotive News. “That’s what is keeping them on their couches. No matter how big the rebate you put out, the real issue is fear.”

The Buyers should have been current in their payments and must prove that they have lost their jobs. If the car is in perfect condition, the buyer can leave the keys without incurring any costs. Hyundai’s new automaker incentive program was kicked of nationwide on Friday, Jan 2. The program is going to continue throughout 2009. 

Source

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