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Odds are you have seen the Geico Gekko on television at least once in the last 24 hours.  If not, it may have been Flo the Progressive Insurance lady.  Geico introduced the Gekko in 2000 and began to spend then-unheard-of amounts of money on television advertising.  Since then it has become an “arms race” between the major insurers to capture the imagination … and the business … of American drivers.  Character-based and humorous commercials are used to catch the viewer’s attention and often become part of the popular culture.  With insurance ad spending estimated at $903 million for Geico, followed by Allstate, State Farm and Progressive, the stakes are huge.  Remember this the next time you see 3 or 4 different car insurance commercials all in the span of a half-hour television program.

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How much of a gambler are you?  Can you be comfortable knowing the odds are in your favor or will you be kept up at night unless you’re betting on a sure thing?   Warranties (and insurance) on big-ticket purchases like cars force you to consider the risks and rewards carefully.  They cost you money and provide protection, but is the protection really worth the price?  The answer to this is different for different people.  But one thing that’s true for everyone is that it’s important to really understand a warranty before signing up.  Here are five specific questions to ask before you’ll know if that extended warranty for your new car is a good choice.

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The new Mercedes-Benz seat belt design provides more comfort and more safety for backseat passengers.  The  “active seat-belt buckle” automatically extends and retracts via an electric motor.  As part of the PRE-SAFE® preventive safety system, the new functionality is activated “in critical driving situations or when a critical distance from other objects is detected”.   The automated design includes a reminder to buckle up, easier latching, reduced slack when belt is in use, PRE-SAFE® functionality for rear seat occupants, and POST-SAFE functions that facilitate rescue and release after an accident.

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The sticker price is just the first chapter in the story of how much a new car will ultimately cost you.  Taxes and warranties and options must also be accounted for and are usually made clear at the time of purchase.   One major cost that is often overlooked until after the purchase is car insurance.  Many buyers either outright forget to take insurance into account, or assume that premiums for the model they are buying will fall within a certain dollar range.   Don’t get caught off guard by an unexpectedly high insurance bill.  Get an official estimate from your insurance company of what your payments will be before you drive your new ride off the lot.

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If you drive a Porsche convertible, you already know that its an expensive car to insure.  But, for the rest of us, its probably not as clear how the auto insurance rates for our make and model compare to other cars.  So in case you’ve been wondering, Insure.com has published lists of the top 20 least expensive and top 20 most expensive cars to insure.  National average costs for the lower range are approximately $1100 per year, but this average jumps to approximately $2400-$3300 for the most expensive models.  Toyota, Jeep, Chevrolet and Dodge are common among the makes that are easier on the wallet, while Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Porsche dominate the higher premiums.  It’s really no surprise, but if you are considering the purchase or lease of a different car take a good look at this list.

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One Arizona State Representative is working to make this a reality. The proposed legislation, by Rep. Jeff Dial, R-Chandler, “would lay the groundwork for virtual driver’s licenses and allow drivers to display insurance documentation on electronic devices”. So instead of going to your wallet and/or glove compartment to produce your identification, you would most likely pull out your Smartphone. An electronic version of your drivers license and proof of car insurance would be just a few touches away and available to hand to the officer. This legislation would only affect Arizona residents, and even if passed it would probably be several years before being fully implemented. However, it may well be only a matter of time before this becomes standard.

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The numbers are dramatic. In just the first six months of a concentrated “crackdown” on Personal Injury Protection fraud, Hillsborough County Florida is seeing real success. New regulations require thorough reporting by medical clinics that primarily treat patients involved in questionable accidents. With the institution of this new ordinance, more than half of these questionable clinics have already closed their doors. The National Insurance Crime Bureau has also reported a large decrease in auto insurance fraud.

Does your auto insurance include roadside assistance coverage? If so, find out what it covers and how much its costing you. Common roadside services include towing, tire change, battery jump start, emergency fuel and fluid delivery and locksmith service. Depending on what your policy includes and your driving habits, you may decide to forgo the coverage and save money on your premium. Or, consider other sources of roadside assistance insurance, such as automobile clubs, and compare prices. If you are covered by your auto insurance as well as another insurer, you probably don’t need both and may consider dropping one of them.

When looking to reduce your auto insurance premium, one of the first options that comes to mind is to raise your deductibles. However, this requires careful consideration and calculations before you’ll know if its a good idea. Weigh the reduction in premium against the additional amount you’ll be responsible for in case of an accident. For example, if you save $100 per year in premiums, but will have to pay an additional $1000 in out-of-pocket expenses for a claim, it would take 10 years of accident-free driving to recoup the additional risk. Use your own numbers and determine the risk for yourself. Only you can be the judge.

Avoid this small mix up that could cost you big. Each vehicle has a VIN (vehicle identification number) code, which identifies the make, model and year of the car. The VIN is unique for each car, so it is also used to track the vehicle’s history. If your insurance company does not have your correct VIN, it can potentially cause major problems, such as having a claim denied due to the discrepancy between the number on your car and the number on your policy. It’s important to check your policy to make sure it lists the correct number. Also, call your agent with this information when you purchase a car or change insurance. You’ll find the VIN where the dashboard meets the windshield on the driver’s side of the car.