Sometimes there is no reasoning with people, but this time 21st Century Auto Insurance floods the viewer with reasons why they are better.

Commercial

Commercial opens with a red convertible under the 21st Century Auto Insurance logo facing a light blue convertible under the GEICO logo. The silent 21st Century representative walks the best he can on the screen. He is wearing a swimming cap, old fashioned swimsuit, water wings and flippers.

Announcer: Here at 21 Century, we get it. Car insurance isn’t sexy, it’s…eh…practical.

Representative dips down and puts a nose plug on.

Announcer: Which means when you need it, you just want it to be there for you.

A string with a big, white handle falls in front of the guy on the screen and he pulls on it, releasing a flash flood of water pouring into the two cars behind him.

Announcer: Now, some insurance companies want you to think that their coverage is better. Well, we here at 21st Century say, “Poppycock”! Well, ok, we don’t say it very often, but we do say it, and we can prove it. These identical cars have different insurance providers, and of course, both policies cover flash flood damage.

The car doors open and water comes pouring through. The screen changes to read “A Few Days Later”.

Announcer: So both cars get repaired.

Screen changes to read “Switched from GEICO/ 21st saved $508 a year”

Announcer: But drivers who switched from GEICO to 21st save an average of 508 dollars a year for the same coverage.

Screen changes to where Progressive is now where GEICO was and the $508 goes up to $550.

Announcer: Drivers who switch from Progressive to 21st, they save even more. Now that’s practical. Call 888-GET-2121 and see for yourself, or visit 21st.com. 21st Century Auto Insurance, the same great coverage for less. The information being provided by the announcer is also on the screen.

Singers sing the diggity song and commercial closes with the red screen and the 21st logo as well as the “Same great coverage for less”.

Point of Commercial

The last year or so the 21st Century Auto Insurance commercials have focused on the fact that insurance coverage is the same from company to company. That the only real difference is how much each company charges for their coverage.

What They Want You to Do

Like all insurance companies, 21st Century would like you to switch to them. They are providing you with a visual of how insurance is the same from company to company, want you to laugh about it, and then really think “Hey if it is all the same, why am I paying more at my current company?”

My Thoughts

These 21st Century Auto Insurance commercials make me wonder why I’m not insured with them, because our way of thinking about insurance is the similar. All insurance coverage is pretty much the same; the only difference is the cost. Well, the cost and how the company treats their customers.

Then I smack myself on the head as I remember, I am insured with 21st Century……sort of. My insurance is with Farmers, who in turn owns 21st Century. Yeah, I know it’s a stretch, but I’m still staying put with the parent company, for now.

As far as the 21st Century Auto Insurance commercial, I have to say that I like this representative more than I like Flo from Progressive at the moment. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t talk, his reactions and facial expressions are hilarious, and 21st Century hasn’t inundated us with him to the point of getting annoying like Flo has reached.

Giving this 21st Century Auto Insurance, flash flood commercial a thumbs up.

The 2012 Jeep Compass fails to impress in any area, except in insurance rates.

The 2012 Jeep Compass is a good looking vehicle.

The 2012 Jeep Compass is one of those vehicles that everything about it makes it blend into the wall. There is really nothing about the 2012 Compass that makes it stand out above the other vehicles like it. It’s not a top rated safe vehicle to drive, the overall quality has been rated as average, and even the insurance is most likely to be about average.

Safety Ratings for the 2012 Jeep Compass

There are no safety ratings available for the 2012 Jeep Compass from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The only safety test result that could be found for the 2012 Compass was the rollover safety test through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The vehicle earned 4 out of 5 stars for this particular test.

J.D. Power and Associates did provide a rating for the 2012 Jeep Compass, but for overall quality, not for safety. In overall quality, the Compass was rated as average, only earning 3 out of a possible 5 for a rating. The overall quality rates how the vehicle itself works for owners within the first 90 days of ownership. It takes into account breakdowns, mechanical issues, or where controls and features work, but are confusing to use or figure out how to use.

Recalls for the 2012 Jeep Compass

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does have a recall listed for a specific set of the 2012 Jeep Compass. This set was built December 17, 2011 through January 2, 2012.

The recall was prompted due to a damaged roll-over valve in the fuel tank assembly. If the vehicle is in an accident, fuel could be allowed to leak out; which in turn increases the chance of a fire happening.

Insurance Thoughts on the 2012 Jeep Compass

With no safety ratings for the 2012 Jeep Compass, it’s hard to determine where the medical payments and personal injury protection may fall. But, with the average rating from J.D. Power and Associates for overall quality and a 4 out of 5 rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, I am going to have to say that the premium for these two coverages are going to be about average.

For comprehensive and collision coverage, you are most likely going to be looking at average rates or lower. The 2012 Jeep Compass starts at under $20,000, making its parts and total loss payouts nice and low. At the same time, it has been on the market since 2007, which should be just enough time to have a good market for the aftermarket parts that insurance companies like to work with.

Liability coverages will most likely be average to high. Average, due to the fact that the typical driver found behind the wheel of one of these vehicles is middle aged and usually has a kid; which means it doesn’t have the reputation of getting into reckless accidents. Possibly higher, because it is a jeep SUV and the 2012 Jeep Compass is going to be able to cause more damage to anything it hits, as compared to a sedan or an economy car.

Now with all that being said, the Jeep Compass does have different models available.  While most of the models will see average insurance rates, as compared to other similar cars, there is one model that does Jeep credit and sticks out. The 2012 Jeep Compass Sport was ranked as the 4th cheapest vehicle to insure in 2012 by insure.com.

So if you are interested in a 2012 Jeep Compass, you need to makes sure to do your research on all the different versions it comes in.

Ways to prevent a deer season accident and the how your insurance comes into play.

Deer season in the fall sees more deer accidents than any other time of the year.

In part one, we started talking about deer season and why it is a dangerous time for drivers as well as the deer. We also covered one of the most dangerous things that you can do when you encounter a deer.

Here in part two, we cover additional things you can do to prevent a deer accident, states in which you need to be most vigilant in, as well as how your insurance plays a part if you do hit a deer.

What Else Can I Do to Prevent a Deer Season Accident?

A letter to the editor published in the Times in Munster, Indiana (August 2011):

“A lot of deer get hit by cars west of Crown Point on U.S. 231. There are too many cars to have the deer crossing here. The deer crossing sign needs to be moved to a road with less traffic.”

-Unlike the driver above, be cautious in areas that have deer crossing signs. These signs aren’t put out on the road at random, and they are not like school crossings where the kids purposely go to that location to safely cross the road. These signs get put out to advise drivers that your chances of encountering a deer are higher in these areas and to be on the watch for them.

-Be careful at dusk when the deer are most active.

-Use your brights (high-beams) whenever you can. It will allow you to see beyond the road, giving you a chance to see any deer that may be along the side of the road so you can take care when you approach them.

Who is Most Likely to Hit a Deer During Deer Season?

State Farm insurance scoured their statistics and provided a list of the top ten states where you are most likely to hit a deer. Each state was ranked by the odds in which they were most likely to hit a deer, and not by how many deer related accidents they had.

The top 10 states you are most likely to hit a deer with your vehicle:

10) Virginia

9) Arkansas

8) Minnesota

7) Wisconsin

6) Montana

5) Pennsylvania

4) Michigan

3) Iowa

2) South Dakota

1) West Virginia

West Virginia actually topped the list with a 1 in 39.9 chance of drivers getting into an accident with a deer. The next closest state (South Dakota) only had a 1 in 68 chance of a deer vs. car accident.

So where is the best place to drive without a chance of hitting a deer? That would be Hawaii.

Drivers in Hawaii only have a 1 in 6,801 chance of hitting a deer.

What Happens to My Insurance After I hit a Deer?

Any damages that you claim on your insurance policy from hitting a deer will fall under your comprehensive coverage. This is not considered an at-fault accident, nor is it a not-at-fault accident; it is just a comprehensive claim.

If you have liability only coverage, your insurance policy will not cover the damages from the deer. Coverage is also not available by any government agency that cares for the forest or the road.

Because you cannot control when a deer will run out in front of you and damage or total your car, deer season is a great example as to why it is highly recommended that you should carry more than just liability insurance on your vehicle.

Deer Season may be something hunters look forward to, but its not a good thing for drivers.

Drivers need to keep their eyes open for deer during deer season.

In most parts of the country, we have either just finished or are in the midst of deer season for the hunters. Unfortunately, even for those of us that don’t hunt we too are in the midst of a deer season – deer hitting season. This time of the year, October through December, there are more deer related car accidents than any other time of the year.

What can you do about it? Very little.

What’s up with the Deer Season for Drivers?

October through December, is when the deer roam the furthest from their normal homes. It really has very little to do with hunting season, and more because it is the deer’s mating season. During mating season, deer wander so far because they are trying to find a mate.

For those of us that live in rural areas, we notice very little increase in the number of deer accidents and dead deer on the side of the road as compared to any other time of the year. That’s because we live in or very near the natural habitat of the deer.

During mating season, they start roaming into more urban areas with drivers that are not used to seeing them as often.

Don’t Swerve to Avoid Hitting a Deer?

During deer season, or any other time of the year, if a deer jumps directly out in front of you on the road there is very little you can do. Most likely, you will instinctively swerve to try and miss the deer, but that may cause you to hit another car or put yourself in an even more dangerous situation (like, going down an embankment).

Also, if you swerve in the same direction that the deer is running, you just increased your chances of still hitting that deer. If you swerve in the opposite direction, and the deer was with its herd, you may very well end up hitting another deer that you didn’t see at first.

Lastly, if you swerve and hit anything other than a deer, your accident just went from being able to be paid under your comprehensive coverage to having to be paid under your collision coverage. For most people, they have to pay more out of their pockets for their collision deductible than they do for their comprehensive deductible.

Instead of swerving, hit the brakes. You may still hit the deer, but you could also be preventing a worse accident. So by stopping you also stop the motion of at least one of the objects (your car), thereby decreasing your chance of hitting the other object (the deer), if the deer continues to keep going.

To be continued……

The 2012 Kia Forte is a boring, cheap car that is easy on the eyes and the insurance premium.

The 2012 KIA Forte is a nice sedan with good insurance premiums.

The 2012 Kia Forte is definitely not the type of vehicle that you are going to see drag racing along the street. It has a basic engine, high safety rankings, and is more of the type that young parents are going to be buying when they have their first baby.

This doesn’t mean in any way that the 2012 Forte isn’t a good buy, it just means that it is a safe bet that will have a nice low insurance premium to go with it.

IIHS Safety Ratings for the 2012 Kia Forte

The 2012 Kia Forte secured the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) designation as a “Top Safety Pick”, but only for the sedan models.

The Forte rated “good” for the front crash, side impact, and roof strength (rollover) tests. The good rating is the highest rating the IIHS gives to vehicles they test.

Receiving a good rating is nothing new for the Forte as it has always earned good ratings in all categories except one, since it was introduced in 2010. The only time it has ever earned a lower rating was when it was first introduced. The Kia Forte earned an “average” rating in the side impact test, but the company quickly made changes to the car and this rating is only for vehicles that were built June 2009 to November 2009.

Insurance Thoughts on the 2012 KIA Forte

This car is going to be nice and cheap to insure; which will go along nicely with the low car payment it has as well.

The 2012 Forte has 3 nice things in its favor as far as far as insurance ratings are concerned.

One, being a “Top Safety Pick” means that the vehicle is very safe for anyone inside the vehicle at the time of an accident. This translates in to lower premiums on the medical payments and/or PIP coverages.

Two, the Forte is an inexpensive vehicle, so an insurance company won’t be paying much to replace or fix it if it ever were to get into an accident. Because the insurance company won’t be paying much, you won’t be paying much for the comprehensive and collision coverage.

Finally, the liability coverage premium is going to be one of the lowest available. The vehicle is not associated with reckless racing and it’s a sedan that won’t do much damage. In other words, the 2012 KIA Forte is not the type of vehicle that insurance companies have to worry about causing many or expensive accidents.