Top 10 Least Expensive Cars To Insure In Canada

1. Buick Rendezvous 4DR 2WD


2. Mercury Grand Marquis 4DR


3. KIA Sedona


4. Buick Le Sabre 4DR


5. Buick Century 4DR


6. Lexus ES 300 4DR


7. Ford Taurus Wagon


8. Mazda MPV


9. Saturn Vue


10. KIA Spectra 4DR

These are the latest figures from Insurance Bureau of Canada based on statistical claims history for all vehicles on record. The actual final auto insurance costs will of course vary depending of all the combined price factors involved.

Also here is a list I posted couple of months ago to the 10 least expensive cars to insure in the US

Auto Insurance And Credit Reporting

Yes, many auto insurance companies will check your credit history as a part of the process in determining the final cost of your auto insurance.

So how knowing about that can help you with auto insurance? Well, you can order a free copy of your credit report and see if there is anything there that can be improved. All information on such reports, positive or negative stays there only for certain stated there length of time. If a particular one is to expire soon then switching your auto insurance after that date can lower your premium automatically. Also you might find some other items in the report that you weren’t aware of.

By the Fair Credit Reporting Act you are entitled to a free credit report from any of the three credit reporting companies – Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. They got a PDF webpage with a Request Form hat you can print out, fill in and mail to receive that free credit report. The mailing address is: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281



A word of caution here. There are also a number of companies offering what they only call a free credit report, but when you read the fine print it turns out not free at all. It might be called as ‘free with a membership’ or ‘free within trial period’ and if you don’t cancel during the trial time they will bill your credit card. These are not part of the legally mandated free annual credit report program.

California New Low Cost Auto Insurance Program Expanded

California has just passed Senate Bill 20, sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Garamendi. It is to start on April 1 (not a fools joke).

It is a Low Cost Automobile Insurance program allowing low income drivers to opt for the liability auto insurance for under $400 a year. With the new legislation in place it will be expanded to the counties of Alameda, Orange, Riverside, Sand Bernardino and Sand Diego.

Plans are in the workings to also expand the program to the counties of: Contra Costa, Imperial, Kern, Sacramento, Santa Clara, San Jaquin, San Mateo and Stanislaus.

In the words of Senator Martha Escutia "My goal in creating the Low Cost Auto Insurance Program six years ago was to provide an affordable alternative for consumers who are required to have, but simply cannot afford a conventional policy. The expansion of the program to additional California counties is a blessing for many working families who are searching for affordable auto insurance."

This auto insurance program has been created in 1999 and originally applying to the Los Angeles and San Francisco Counties. With the new legislation in place it will encompass 16 counties.

The terms for it are that to qualify for this program the family income must be lower then 2.5 times the Federal poverty level of $24,000 for a single individual, $33,000 for two people and $50,000 for a family of four and the insured vehicle’s total value needs to be under $20,000. There are also some minimum driving record requirements for it. For more information please call 866-602-8861

Here you also read what I wrote about this developing program in January.

Online auto insurance purchases on the increase

According to Insurance.com the number of auto insurances bought in the US over the internet rose by 20%. It is reflecting the growing shift in the direction of people doing their financial transactions on the net.

"During the past five years we have seen a tremendous growth on our site as a result of customers' increased confidence level with the internet," said Insurance.com President Lou Geremia. "We've embraced this new growth by adding over 100 licensed insurance agents to our sales center and have extended our sales center hours to 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern Standard."

New California auto insurance policy proposal

On February 24th there is to be a formal hearing for a new California auto insurance policy that might result in the auto insurance rates rising in some counties as much as 35 percent.

The idea relates to rising rates in urban areas as well as more in relation to personal driving record.

Insurance Australia readying to acquire almost a quarter of China Pacific

Insurance Australia Group (IAG) is preparing to buy 24.9% stake in China Pacific Property Insurance (CPPI). IAG is Australia’s largest auto and home insurance company.

CPPI has already sold a 24.9% of its shares to Carlyle Group and Prudential Financial, which is rated as the 3rd largest life insurance company in the US.

The investment is related to China’s insurance market having grown 20% over the past 5 years.

AAA will provide auto and home insurance in Hawaii

AAA has been offering auto and travel services to Hawaiians since 1912 but it is the first time that it will make available home and auto insurance to the 120,000 islanders.

It will be done through AAA's affiliate - Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club, rated as A+ by A.M. Best. The later issues yearly over 1 million car insurances in California and also offers such in Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Texas and Vermont.

Hawaiian AAA members, paying their $54 annual membership fee will qualify to apply for the insurance. All others can receive a free auto insurance quote from AAA but will need to become members in order to apply for it.