The top 10 cheapest and most expensive 2011 cars to insure

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A new year means many things for car buyers; new safety ratings, new models, and new costs. Another aspect of a car search to consider is the cost of Auto insurance; preferably before Royce rolls his brand new auto from the lot.

Fortunately, Insure.com has done the world a great service by ranking the most expensive and least expensive cars to insure. Most of the cars on these lists will come as no surprise to you, but nonetheless good information to have before you adventurously strike out to haggle with the peddlers of the automobile world.

Least Expensive (2011)(Cheapest first) Chrysler Town and Country LX Toyota Sienna Toyota Sienna LE Honda Odyssey LX Nissan Murano Jeep Wrangler Honda Odyssey EX Toyota Sienna Ford Escape Toyota Highlander

Most Expensive (2011)(Most expensive first) Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG BMW 750i BMW 750Li Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG Aston Martin DB9 Mercedes-Benz CL600 Porsche 911 Carrera S Aston Martin DB9 Volante Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG

It’s important to note that the car you drive is NOT the only factor that affects your auto insurance rates. Several other factors, including age, gender, area of residence, and annual mileage also play a part in determining the number at the bottom of your car insurance bill. We’ve also written about how each of these affects your insurance, if you’re interested.

As for the car itself, there are reasons that some cost more to insure than others. This is due to safety ratings, top speed, anti-theft devices, and cost. It makes sense that a fast, poorly protected car will be the apple of a thief’s eye and therefore cost more to insure.

Performance: what can this baby do on the highway?

If your car’s engine could power a third world village, your insurance is going to be higher. Insurance companies have to assume that high performance cars are bought for just that reason: to drive fast and practice risky driving behaviors. If you want to keep your insurance low, stay away from performance vehicles.

Foreign Cars:

If your dream car has parts from obscure companies and/or locations, beware. Should you get into an accident (even a minor fender bender), the replacement parts will be much more costly than high supply auto parts. That factors into your insurance cost; in fact, it may factor in even more in the future if gas (and thus shipping) prices continue to rise.

Bigger is not always better:

First and foremost: YOU ARE NOT NECESSARILY SAFER IN A BIGGER CAR. There are many large trucks and SUVs that have inherent safety flaws.  Consult crash test reviews and data before you commit to a larger car. However, even if safer, SUVs are not necessarily the best way to obtain low car insurance. Big cars tend to have a higher liability coverage rate because they do more damage to other cars in accidents.

Consider a ‘family car’:

Remember the ‘high performance, high insurance’ paragraph? Well the converse is also true. Cars associated with ‘routine, safe’ driving behavior are going to cost you less. These are the cars that many think of as ‘family vehicles’: minivans, station wagons, and family sedans. This is due to the fact that ‘family vehicles’ are statistically involved in fewer crashes than other types of cars; therefore, they will cost you less to insure.

 Remember:  insurance companies play a game of numbers; if your car is going to cost more to replace, then you’re going to pay more for it.  With that in mind, go forth and buy the right car for you and your insurer.

And, of course, if you find yourself in an auto insurance pinch, look to Gordon Insurance: we provide both a wealth of information on our website and would be happy to place you with the right insurance agency for you.

What’s the Difference Between a DUI and an OUI?

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 Ever wonder what’s the difference between being charged with Operating Under the Influence (OUI) versus Driving Under the Influence (DUI)? Last week Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz spelled out the difference about drunk driving statutes and a variety of  other social issues  at an informative evening held at Notre Dame Academy in Hingham.

Across the nation, drunk driving laws are aimed to curtail impaired driving and save lives.  It turns out Massachusetts uses the OUI standard and the biggest distinction is that a driver may be charged if the keys are in the ignition even if the operator pulled off the road to sleep off a bottle of Jack Daniels. In states with DWI laws, this same impaired operator may not be charged if he or she pulled off the road. Although the operator may be taking a drunken snooze in the driver’s seat in the parked vehicle, this situation does not violate the law in DWI states as the operator is not in the process of driving. For the operator in an OUI state, District Attorney Cruz pointed out, removing the key from the ignition could make the difference between an arrest. If the key remains in the ignition, the person is considering operating the vehicle.

Impaired driving laws save lives and efforts to curtail repeat offenders were bolstered with the enactment of Melanie’s Law in 2005. The statute is named after thirteen year old Melanie Powell of Marshfield who was killed in an accident caused by a repeat offender in 2003. Melanie’s Law strengthens the penalties for repeat drunk drivers. Statistics show that the roads have become safer under Melanie’s Law- 3500 Massachusetts drivers with a history of driving drunk are unable to start their cars today without first blowing a clean, sober breath into a tube to unlock their ignition. The end result is that Melanie’s Law saves lives.

For more topical insurance information and resources, visit our website or get a quote.

Tide Turns On $9000 Engagement Ring

A Cape Cod jetty may have caused a rocky start to the engagement of a Massachusetts couple. You probably heard the story this week about the would- be groom that tied a $9000 engagement ring to a sand dollar. This was all part of his plan to propose at the jetty overlooking Bass River Beach in South Yarmouth. The good news is the girlfriend found the sand dollar. The not so good news is she dropped both the sand dollar and the $9000 bauble. The ring is still lost to the great Atlantic.

 The news reports that the ring was insured by the groom’s mother a few days earlier.  It shows the importance of discussing insuring valuable articles  with an insurance professional. Our agency representatives make a point of explaining guidelines with customers to assure valuable items are properly insured.  Who owns the ring and where they reside are all important factors  in deciding on how the ring should be insured. If the engaged couple have their own individual residence or reside together then coverage should be secured through a tenant or condo policy. If the groom or bride-to-be live at home then it is possible to insure under a parent’s home insurance policy.

 A happy ending is expected for this lucky couple on all fronts. The wedding proposal was accepted and a replacement engagement ring  will soon be adorned by the lucky bride-to be.

 

 Kasey McCarthy, CPCU

Andrew G. Gordon, Inc. / Insurance

680 Main Street  (POB 299)

Norwell, MA 02061

Car Accident Tips

You are minding the rules of the road when you get rear-ended; now the scattered fragments of your bumper are decorating the pavement. No one likes fender benders or car crashes, but if you find yourself in an accident, there are things you can do to make the process as painless as possible.

Before you hit the road:
• Drive with a cell phone in case of a need to place an emergency call.
• Carry insurance information in your glove compartment, as well as a pen and pad of paper for taking down information.
• Carry a disposable camera in your car, to take pictures of the crash site and vehicles involved. If there is incriminating evidence of distraction on the other driver (e.g. a full Dunkin Donuts breakfast splayed all over his/her clothes due to the crash), try to discreetly snap a picture. These will be very helpful in determining fault in the accident. DO NOT get the pictures developed as this may destroy their legal integrity. Keep the pictures in the camera and contact your insurance company.

Obtain the following information at the crash site:
• Information about the other driver: name, address, driver’s license number, insurance information and license plate number.
• Information about witnesses: names, addresses and, whenever possible, license plate numbers.
• Information about police officers: obtain the name, badge number and precinct number of the investigating office and request the case control number or accident report number.
• Information about the location: precisely determine the address or location of the crash scene and note information about traffic, weather and road conditions. If the configuration of the roadway played a factor, note that information as well.
• Information about the car accident: write down how the accident happened including fault, layout of the roadway, presence of traffic control devices, etc
Taking these steps will provide valuable information to the insurance company and help facilitate your claim settlement.

And of course, make sure that you are around to do these things. ALWAYS WEAR A SEATBELT!
For more insurance information and resources, visit us at the A.G. Gordon, Inc. Website and get a free quote now!

Get Registry reminders…automatically

With the Registry providing less notice by mail for license renewal reminders, we recommend everyone sign up for automatic email reminders for renewing your driver’s license, registrations, state inspection stickers. You can use Plymouth Rock’s on-line service, available through our web site at: www.agordon.com. Don’t let an expired inspection sticker, or worse, an expired driver’s license become the reason your insurance costs go up! For the best auto insurance advice, choice, and rates, visit www.agordon.com.

Swimming Pool rules

A swimming pool can provide a refreshing respite from this summer’s heat, but be aware that it can also be a source of liability.   Be sure to comply with your town’s requirements for securing your pool – fencing, locks, etc.   Just a bit of caution can result in peace of mind, as well as safety for your family and guests.
And whether you have a pool or not, look to Gordon Insurance for being sure you have enough liability coverage in your home insurance in case there’s an accident at your home.

Auto Insurance Discounts

Car insurance is a fact of life for drivers in Massachusetts, an expensive fact for many of us. However, there are many opportunities to reduce the amount of money paid into auto insurance through discounts offered by insurance companies. I’m Geoff Gordon, a representative of Andrew G. Gordon Insurance and Risk Management, and here I discuss these discounts and show you how to save money on your car insurance.

 

For a look at our auto discount form, see our Auto Insurance quote page.

And for topical insurance information and risk managment solutions, come visit us at our website.