Americans will drive a few miles out of their way to save a couple of cents per gallon on gas and fastidiously check the air pressure in their tires to improve mileage to save a buck or two, but many fail to take advantage of a simple way to save money: raise the deductible on their car insurance from $500 to $1,000.
Car owners save an average of 9% on their premiums with that change, according to insuranceQuotes.com. The savings jump to 16% if they change it from $500 to $2,000. The changes do vary by state: Massachusetts gives the biggest break at 19% for making the $500 change while Michigan provides the smallest cut at just 4%.
READ MORE to find out about rates.
The CNW September Retail Automotive Summary is now available.
Here are some of the headlines:
♦ Three Trends to Watch: Younger Buyers Returning; Used Leasing Growing; Box-Store CPO Satisfaction
♦ September Leading to monthly sales gain; SubPrime Rockets
♦ Jitters down; Closing Ratios up
♦ September Used Sales Ahead of Year Ago
♦ Used Diesels in Growing Demand
♦ NEW COLUMN: Jesse S: Socially Speaking -- Hashtag as a Business Tool
In conjunction with the typical Internet feeding frenzy that goes hand in hand with the announcement of each new iPhone, Apple has been cited in countless headlines recently after its debut of its new Apple Watch on September 9. The so-called "smartwatch" is far from an industry first – Samsung, Motorola and Pebble all have models on the market, and who can forget 2003's Fossil Wrist PDA? – but as per usual, Apple's entry is garnering more than its fair share of media attention.
The Apple Watch ("iWatch" to many) has also raised interest of a more ominous sort from certain regulatory bodies. Last week, multiple automotive outlets in the United Kingdom ran stories quoting officials from that country's Department for Transport as saying that use of an iWatch while driving would carry the same penalty as use of a mobile phone. For the Brits, then, getting nabbed checking an alert on one's wrist might mean the same 100-pound fine (about $160) that was instated last August.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Efficient Drivetrains Incorporated (EDI) have unveiled two new utility trucks, including the industry’s first electric hybrid drivetrain Class 5 truck featuring 120 kilowatts of exportable power capable of providing power to homes and businesses during outages
The vehicles feature the “EDI Drive” plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV) system, which provides up to 30 miles of all-electric range and an additional 300 miles of range in PHEV mode and an 80% reduction in emissions when compared to conventional trucks. In addition, these vehicles are the industry’s first to also offer both parallel and series hybrid modes, allowing the vehicle to maximize fuel efficiency in both highway and in-city driving conditions.
READ MORE to learn about the capabilities