Today, we are going to begin our "Insurance 101" series. In this series, well discuss all things related to insurance: terms, topics, types -- if its insurance-related, we will be talking about it. While this insurance stuff gets us really fired up, we realized its not the most exciting stuff for most people. So, well try to make this short, sweet and fun! And dont worry -- this is an ongoing series; we wont be bombarding you week after week with this stuff (in fact, we have a really fun sum...

Alright: its quiz time! Today we are going to play a round of "Would You File an Insurance Claim If...". Answer the following questions honestly -- and remember, this makes a great game for the next family get-together! Would you file an insurance claim if... you got into a fender-bender in the parking lot at Preschool dropoff? Would you file an insurance claim if... a tree branch fell and damaged your gutter? Would you file an insurance claim if... your teenage son backed i...

One of the ways you can save major money on car insurance is by opting for a plug-in diagnostic kit. Known as SmartRide, Snapshot or In-Drive (depending on your insurance company), this device attaches to the inside of your car (like an external hard drive connects to a USB port) and gives you personalized feedback to help you make safer driving decisions. All of your actions while behind the wheel -- miles driven, speed, acceleration, deceleration, what time of day you drive and how quickly...

It may sound like something out of The Jetsons -- but self-driving cars are here! According to recent data, as many as 10 million cars will be outfitted with self-driving features by the year 2020. While exciting, these futuristic vehicles have opened up a whole can of worms. Especially for insurance companies. How are they insured? Who’s to blame in the event of an accident? Can you trust machine over man? We don’t know the answers to these questions, but here are some f...

Weve talked about self-driving cars before, debating the pros and cons of these cars of the future. However, this week, Bloomberg Technology posted a bullish case for self-driving cars. In this article, the media mogul quoted a recent study by insurance broker Aon Plc. According to Aon, premiums for U.S. auto insurers may drop more than 40 percent once the use of automated vehicles has been fully adopted by 2050. Aon analyst Paul Mang was careful to specify the conditions under which ...

Life insurance is something most of us need -- but choosing the type, terms and amount of life insurance can be daunting. Do you want term life insurance, or universal? Is a higher premium better? Do you really need a $1 million dollar life insurance policy? Today were explaining everything you need to know. Sit back, grab a cup of coffee and peruse our ultimate guide to life insurance! Types of Life Insurance The two major types of life insurance are term life and permanent life (...

As we get older and go through lifes many milestones, our car insurance premiums can change. We know its probably the furthest thing from your mind (especially as youre saying "I do!" or welcoming a new baby), but its true. Much of the time, these life changes affect your premiums for the better; meaning, theyll result in significant savings. Here are 5 life milestones that affect your car insurance: 1. Getting Married Saying "I do" doesnt just mean metaphorically joining your li...

Looking for something to cheer you up on this gloomy Wednesday? Consider this: it costs less to drive in Ohio than almost every the other state in the county. In fact, Ohio auto insurance is second only to Maine in its affordability. As of 2016, drivers in Ohio will spend, on average, $899/year on car insurance. The national average is $1,325. Why is Ohio so much lower than the rest of the country? It has to do with the number of insurance carriers in the state, as well as Ohios "s...

Do you have flood insurance? If so, your rates may be going up. Beginning April 1, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood insurance policy premiums will increase by an average of 6.3%. How much your insurance will increase depends on the type of policy you have. Seeing the biggest (up to 25%) up in premiums will be those with the following insured "risks": Pre-FIRM (Flood Insurance Rate Map) subsidized non-primary residential properties; Pre-FIRM subsidized non-residential bus...

Car insurance companies are paying out claims in record high numbers. Inevitably, this will have an effect on your insurance premium, as insurers have to raise rates to offset these claims. Whats causing this spike in claims, and what can you do? The experts at Selective Insurance explain the 4 reasons your car insurance rates are rising: 1. Drivers are driving more Maybe its due to airfare being expensive, having to commute to work or gas prices making car travel more affordable - but Ame...

  In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, many of us are likely thinking about flood insurance. While Southwestern Ohio isnt in hurricane territory, we arent immune to the effects of hurricane season and/or flooding (see above picture of the Cincinnati riverfront from the 2015 flood). Heres what Ohioans should know about flood insurance: Ohioans need flood insurance, too! Flood insurance covers physical damage to structures affected by flooding from heavy snowmelt and runoff following hea...

Many times we receive the question, "Why is my auto insurance more expensive than my neighbors or friends?"  There are many different factors that go into insurance rates and no one is exactly the same.  Here are just a few of the components of auto insurance rating.  Insurance score- Each company has their own way to calculate your insurance score, but most follow this method. They calculate your score from information on your credit report, accident, and insurance claim h...