The 2012 Dodge Journey brings pleasant safety and insurance premium surprises to its owners.

The 2012 Dodge Journey is one of the cheapest vehicles in the nation to insure.

The 2012 Dodge Journey is a great pick for drivers looking for a good SUV that will keep their family safe. It is also a great pick for those that prefer to keep more money in their wallets than in the bank accounts of their insurance company.

IIHS Safety Ratings of the 2012 Dodge Journey

Good news for those of you that are considering buying a 2012 or even a 2013 Dodge Journey, the IIHS (Insurance Institute of Highway Safety) has rated these models as “Top Safety Picks” after testing them. “Top Safety Picks” are the safest vehicles on the road today; which does affect your insurance rates for some of the coverages on your policy.

The 2013 and 2012 Dodge Journey earned “good” ratings in all four categories that the IIHS tests in now. The categories include frontal crash tests, side impact crashes, rollover crash tests and rear crash protection tests. With each test the vehicle is ranked as being good, acceptable, marginal or poor.

To be a “Top Safety Pick” the vehicle has to earn “good” ratings in all four categories.

2012 Dodge Journey Recalls

There have been two recalls for the 2012 Dodge Journey and both were in late 2011.

The first was a recall due to the brakes, and only affected 340 vehicles. The second one was due to an issue with the engine cooling, and only affected 667 vehicles.

In the full spectrum of things, these were two very minor recalls. The number of vehicles that were recalled was minute compared to other recalls that manufacturers have faced in recent years, with other recalls sometimes numbering in the millions.

If you do have one of these vehicles, you should have been notified by Dodge already as to what to do. If you purchased a used 2012 Dodge Journey and want to make sure that your vehicle was not affected, you can always call and talk to your local Dodge dealer and they should be able to look up your vehicle history by its VIN number.

Insurance Thoughts on the 2012 Dodge Journey

Right off the bat I can tell you that the insurance on the 2012 Journey is going to make you very happy. Per the 2012 insurance ranking from insure.com, the 2012 Dodge Journey SXT was ranked as the 11th cheapest vehicle to insure. I would be very surprised if next year the 2013 journey didn’t also make it somewhere on the list for the lowest insurance premiums in 2013.

Buyers beware of a previously damaged car and the hassle of trying to get it insured.

This is one previously damaged car you may not want to purchase.

Most of us have seen the pictures that surfaced in the days following Hurricane Sandy. The sheer destruction that the storm caused to almost everything it came in contact with, including an incredibly high number of vehicles, was staggering. For me, the cars submerged underwater and piled against the opening of an underground parking garage is one of the pictures that sticks out most in my head.

That picture got me thinking about all the salvaged titles that I have talked to people about in the past. It also made me wonder how many of those vehicles will end up being sold to unsuspecting buyers, instead of ending up in a junkyard.

Why Do These Vehicles End Up Being Resold?

Because water damage leaves very little trace, it’s very easy for some unethical people to buy a salvaged vehicle and then sell them to buyers enticed by the low price tag they see. What they don’t see though, may be hidden mold that can damage their heath, electrical systems that can short out and cause a car fire later down the road, as well as damage to engine parts if the car was in salt water (most of the cars damaged by Sandy were).

To protect yourself as a buyer, always check the history of a vehicle before you handover any money.

Checking the History of Damaged Cars

Anytime a vehicle is totaled out it has to be reported to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System within 30 days. This data base helps to protect buyers from purchasing vehicles that were previously damaged without them know about it.

To access the report for the vehicle you are interested in, visit vehiclehistory.gov. The report will provide you the information you need to find out if the vehicle is good or was previously damaged and has a salvage title.

What are Salvage Titles for Damaged Cars?

If you pull a report for a vehicle and it lists that there is a salvage title for that vehicle, this means that the vehicle was declared a total loss by an insurance company in the past. A vehicle that has been declared a total loss by an insurance company means that the total amount to fix the car exceeded 75% of the worth of the vehicle.

The problem with salvage titles is that they are hard to insure. Most insurance companies don’t want to cover a vehicle that has had that much previous damage to them. Before you choose to purchase a damaged car with a salvage title, contact your insurance company.

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.