Getting into a car accident is always a stressful situation. You’re worried about injuries, damage to your vehicle, and of course, money. How do you know if paying for repairs out of pocket will help you in the long run or make things more complicated? We’ve got you covered. Here are some questions to ask yourself when considering paying out of pocket after a car accident.

Who else was involved in the accident?

Si...

10 safe driving scholarship options to apply to

Nothing is more important than being a safe driver on the road. Distracted driving and drunk driving have enormous consequences not only for you as a driver, but for your family and other people on the road. Because it impacts thousands of Americans every year, particularly teens who account for almost 10 percent of distracted drivers in fatal car crashes, many organizations ...

When it comes to driving, we’ve all heard myths gathered over the years from relatives, friends, and beliefs in the public sphere. Whether it’s myths about car safety, maintenance, or trivial matters, such as whether it’s legal to drive barefoot or keep the light on in your car, you may have some misconceptions about your car and how you drive it. Let’s take a look at some of the most common driving myths and why they aren’t true.

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What to do if your car is totaled

Uh-oh…your car is totaled. Or is it? “Totaled” is a word that gets thrown around a lot when it comes to car accidents, but the term actually has a very specific definition. It is only used in insurance when the damage to the car falls under a particular set of circumstances set by your insurance.

It’s not the driver’s responsibility to determine if the car is totaled. That falls onto th...

Your car insurance coverage shouldn’t be a mystery. Knowing what your car insurance does and doesn’t cover is crucial information, and something you’ll want to know before you have to file a claim. Feeling a little foggy about what your insurance plan covers? No worries. Read on for a fuller understanding of your coverage.

What’s covered depends on your coverage

The first thing to do when trying to get a clearer pictur...

On the list of major purchases, it doesn’t get much bigger than buying a new house. While there’s a certain charm to getting a place that’s been lived in, there’s also something special about being a home’s initial tenants.

There are a number of differences between an existing home and a new home. Most of them are pretty obvious, like custom features that allow owners to hide unsightly cords for electronic hookups, for instance, or ...

You’ve saved, researched models and brands, and now you’ve finally taken the plunge and bought a car—congratulations! But before you hit the open road, you need to take care of a few things first, and that means it’s time to buy yourself some car insurance. Since you just dropped a big chunk of change on your car, you might think the smart thing to do is save a few bucks a month by picking the minimum required coverage, right?

Don’t...

Do you have a reliable way to get around if your vehicle is in the shop for repairs? If you don’t, you aren’t alone. In fact, in a recent poll conducted at Elephant, we found 27% of participants didn’t have an alternate way to get to work if their car was out of commission. That’s where rental reimbursement can help.

Also referred to as “rental car coverage” or “transportation expense coverage,” rental reimbursement helps you pay fo...

The knights in shining armor of fairy tale fame wouldn’t be so brilliant without their noble steeds. The same can be said for today’s road warriors, whether commuting or vacation-bound.

Motorists are getting the most out of their car-buying dollar, when you consider that the average age of cars on the road today is 11.4 years, according to IHS Automotive. This means that drivers are waiting more than a decade before turning their ve...

With the continued rise of catalytic converter thefts being reported, you may be wondering what to do should it happen to you. Is catalytic converter theft covered by insurance? Is there a specific type of catalytic converter theft insurance?

If you recently had your catalytic converter stolen, check with your carrier before buying a replacement. Comprehensive coverage pays for catalytic converter theft.

What is a catalytic conv...

It’s an inevitable part of car ownership— the longer you own a car, the more likely you are to need repairs or potentially get in an accident. Even if you safely park your vehicle in a covered garage, perform routine oil changes, and treat your car with maybe a tad too much loving admiration (don’t worry — we won’t judge!), your vehicle will start to show signs of its age. And even when we keep our cars in great shape, there’s alwa...

Let’s face it, driving can be stressful. Traffic jams, distracted drivers, car trouble: all these factors can lead to a commute that leaves you wanting to pull your hair out. However, the way you react to these stressors can affect you and your fellow motorists’ safety in a major way. Let’s talk about the ways road rage and driving anxiety can be dangerous, and how you can keep these common emotions under control.

 Aggressive drivin...

Did you know that between 2019 and 2020, the number of US citizens working from home grew from 22 percent to 42 percent? For many, that change is permanent, with offices offering full-time remote opportunities or more flexibility in office work schedules. If you and your partner are both working from home, you may have noticed that having two vehicles is starting to feel unnecessary. That’s why now may be a great time to sell your ...

Facts about heart attacks

Here's a surprising number that just might take your breath away this National CPR Awareness Week: 735,000. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that's how many Americans experience a heart attack in the average year. That's 1 in every 43 seconds. Most of these episodes are the sufferers' first, but for more than a quarter, it's their second or more.

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We all lead busy lives, and sometimes things just slip through the cracks. If that means letting your veggies go bad or forgetting to floss before bed (sorry, dentists), it just means you’re human. However, some slip-ups can have more serious consequences. For example, letting your car insurance lapse can not only lead to higher insurance rates but also fines and lack of protection in the event of an accident. In this post, we’ll e...

When you’re thinking of buying a car, nothing may be more reliable than a compact. They are affordable, great on gas, stylish, and depending on the make and model, could be tried-and-true in performance. Popular models include the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Hyundai Elantra. This class of cars, one step above subcompact vehicles and one step below mid-size cars, seats up to four passengers comfortably, though for car buyers on...

We’ve all been there. It’s the middle of the night and you’ve just managed to drift off to sleep when suddenly your peace is interrupted by the sound of a car alarm. It’s annoying, but it helps keep people’s car’s safe, right? The answer is complicated. Read on to find out just how effective car alarms really are.

Car alarms and car theft

The first car alarm was developed a century ago, but they didn't become widespread until th...

No matter what kind of driver you are — road-tripper, carpooler, or daily commuter — you know that car ownership comes with its fair share of hassles. Even keeping up with routine car maintenance can sometimes feel like a lot to handle — throw even the most minor windshield damage into the mix, and now you’ve got a recipe for urgently-required repairs.

Whether you’re driving down the road and a pebble hits your windshield, a random ...

There’s nothing quite like the freedom that comes from hitting the open road on your motorcycle. Nothing can stand between you and your right to enjoy the scenery from the comfort of your bike. Nothing, except maybe a license? Read on to learn why you might want to get motorcycle insurance despite not having a motorcycle license.

What to know about riding a motorcycle

First things first, the rules of the road are sacre...