U.K. government may stop uninsured drivers from buying gas

The British government is currently considering an initiative to stop drivers without insurance from being able to refuel their vehicles. The program would involve the use of the thousands of cameras with license plate recognition technology – that have already been implemented to help prevent drivers from fueling up and leaving without paying – to be reworked to be able to provide a cross-checking against the insurance and tax records with the government. The pump would operate only if both insurance and tax records match within the database. The government…

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California ranks ninth in American auto insurance prices

According to a report by Insure.com, the residents of California experienced some relief in their auto insurance prices when they fell from $1,991 last year to $1,709 now. In 2011, California insurance rates held sixth place in the country for the most expensive annual car insurance premiums. However, this year it has dropped to ninth place. The report did not examine the reason that the prices fell. On the other hand, Louisiana remained in first place, where the average premium for coverage was $2,536 this year. The report claimed that…

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EU “unisex” laws take their tolls on the finances of both men and women

The latest rule changes in the European Union involving unisex pricing have meant that at the end of this year, when the regulations go into effect, men and women will both be facing expenses that they have never seen before. A primary example of this change is the ruling that prevents gender discrimination while establishing auto insurance premiums – regardless of the fact that it is less likely that a woman driver will be involved in a car accident than a man driver, and that crashes involving female drivers are…

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Consumer Watchdog chastises California’s Mercury Insurance for supposed illegal practices

Mercury is looking to raise its auto insurance rates by $89 million in California, a move that consumer advocates are calling “illegal.” Consumer Watchdog, a group concerned with making the California insurance industry more consumer friendly, claims that the insurer is looking to pass a new law that would allow it to raise rates for good drivers that have, simply, not driven for a period of time for any reason. Mercury Chairman George Joseph claims that the legislation the company is backing would save policyholders money, but Consumer Watchdog calls such…

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U.K. government clamps down on uninsured motorists

The United Kingdom has had a troubled past with uninsured motorists. The government decries the lack of insurance coverage as an unnecessary and dangerous risk. To combat the plight, the Department of Transportation has instituted a new system, which they are calling Continuous Insurance Enforcement. Drivers who fail to renew or otherwise obtain insurance coverage will have their vehicle clamped, seized and destroyed. The initiative has drawn outrage from the nation’s motorists. Motoring groups warn that innocent drivers will be at risk of having their vehicles taken away should they…

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