Auto Insurance company of United states

American National Insurance Company
American National Insurance Company (NASDAQ: ANAT) is a major American insurance corporation based in Galveston, Texas. The company and its subsidiaries operate in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa. Through its subsidiary, American National de México, Compañía de Seguros de Vida, it provides products and services in Mexico.Company description

American National was founded in 1905 by Galveston businessman William L. Moody, Jr.. Today the company offers a wide array of insurance products and services including life insurance, annuities, health insurance, property and casualty insurance, credit insurance, and pension plan services. Mutual funds and other securities products are distributed through its broker-dealer subsidiary, Securities Management and Research, Inc.

Although a publicly traded company, the majority of the stock continues to be controlled by the Moody family through foundations and trusts administered by the trust department of the family owned Moody National Bank.[6][7]

Financial ratings[8]

American National is subject to insurance regulation and examination by all 50 states as well as federal entities like the SEC and FTC. In addition, its records are audited by KPMG as well as the major financial rating agencies. The ratings reflect the company’s capitalization, operating performance and liquidity.

* A. M. Best Company: A+ (Superior)
* Standard and Poor's: AAA (Very Strong)


American Automobile Association
History

The American Automobile Association was founded on March 4, 1902, in Cleveland, Ohio as a response to a lack of roads and highways suitable for autos. The organization originally had 1000 charter members, who were generally of an auto enthusiast demographic. AAA’s membership base is and was formed from a number of local and regional motor clubs that later combined forces to create a more powerful organization.

The association expanded its scope of services as years progressed. The first AAA road maps were published in 1905, and AAA began printing hotel guides in 1917. AAA began its School Safety Patrol Program in 1920, and many driver safety programs followed in the decades to come. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, which conducts a large volume of studies regarding motorist safety, was established as separate entity in 1947.

AAA was a sanctioning organization for auto racing in the United States until 1956. It sanctioned many races, including the Indianapolis 500. After the 1955 Le Mans disaster, AAA decided that auto racing distracted from its primary goals, and the United States Automobile Club was formed to take over the race sanctioning/officiating.

[edit] Current operations
A typical AAA office
A typical AAA Car Care Plus center

Members belong to an individual club (such as AAA Northwest Ohio, AAA Mid-Atlantic, the California State Automobile Association, the Automobile Club of Southern California, AAA Oregon/Idaho, or Auto Club South, for example) and the clubs in turn own AAA. The member clubs have arranged a reciprocal service system so that members of any participating club are able to receive member services from any other affiliate club. Member dues finance all club services as well as the operations of the national organization.

From the standpoint of the consumer, AAA clubs primarily provide emergency road services to members. These services, which include everything from lockouts, winching, tire changes, automotive first aid, and towing, are handled by private local towing companies contracted by a state AAA club. Many AAA clubs have an automotive fleet division serving large metro areas, while private towing companies cover the surplus call volume by area. Recently, certain clubs have implemented an "on the go" diagnostic/installation automotive battery program, which offers members an additional service to an ever more demanding commute. This is part of AAA's vision for the future of automotive services, termed Go, not Tow. Clubs also distribute road maps and travel publications, and rate restaurants and hotels according to a "diamond" scale (one to five). The best hotels and restaurants according to AAA's criteria receive the Five Diamond Award. Many offices sell automobile liability insurance, provide travel agency, auto-registration and notary services. AAA also offers member discounts at over 100 partners including many hotels, Amtrak, Hertz rental cars, Jiffy Lube, LensCrafters, and Payless ShoeSource through its "Show Your Card & Save" program.

[edit] International affiliates

The AAA has reciprocal arrangements with a range of international affiliates. In general, members of affiliates are offered the same benefits as members of the AAA while traveling in the United States, whilst AAA members are offered equivalent benefits whilst traveling in the territory of the affiliate.

International affiliates include:

* The Automobile Association in the United Kingdom.
* The Canadian Automobile Association in Canada (TourBooks and maps of Canadian places are published by AAA, and are distributed by AAA and CAA clubs using both AAA and CAA logos).
* The ADAC in Germany.

[edit] AAA and motorist rights

The AAA has a mixed record with its support of motorist rights.

The AAA is known for occasional high profile motorist advisories of unreasonable traffic enforcement, such as when it rented a billboard to warn motorists of the speed trap town of Lawtey, Fl.[1] In addition, the speed trap in Denmark, South Carolina, continues to receive scrutiny, especially since the municipality raises revenue by issuing unwarranted speeding tickets, which, unfortunately, also puts unearned points on motorists' drivers licenses.[citation needed]

However, the AAA has taken positions contrary to motorist rights. Prominent examples include:

* Support of the old 55 mph National Maximum Speed Law[2]
* Support of Virginia's now-repealed traffic citation tax because of its revenue generation potential.[3][4]

In many states, the mere presence of a ticket on driver's record allows a provider of automobile insurance to charge higher rates regardless of actual risk, if any, posed by the actual violation. Therefore, as a major provider of automobile insurance, the AAA has a fiduciary interest in supporting policies or practices that maximize motorist citations.

ANOTHER LIST AUTO INSURANCE BY RATING :
* American National Insurance Company
* American Automobile Association
* AIG
* Allstate
* American Family Insurance
* American Farmers and Ranchers Mutual (formerly Oklahoma Farmers Union Mututal)
* Amica
* Auto-Owners Insurance
* California Casualty Insurance
* CapitalOne

* Commerce Insurance Group
* COUNTRY Insurance & Financial Services
* Cuna Mutual Group
* Electric Insurance Company
* Esurance
* Expatriate Insurance
* Farm Bureau Insurance
* Farmers Insurance
* Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance Company
* GAINSCO Auto Insurance
* GMAC Insurance
* Geico
* The General
* GuideOne
* Hanover Insurance
* The Hartford
* Hastings Mutual Insurance Company
* Haulers Insurance Company
* Infinity Auto Insurance Company
* Liberty Mutual
* Nationwide Insurance
* National Interstate
* Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
* Mutual of Enumclaw[1]
* OneBeacon Insurance Group
* Pekin Insurance[2]
* Pemco
* Progressive
* Safeco
* Safeway Insurance Group
* Standard Insurance Company [3]
* State Auto Insurance Companies[4]
* Shelter Insurance Companies
* Solid Insurance Group
* State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
* The St. Paul Travelers Companies, Inc.
* Trustgard Insurance
* Unitrin Direct Auto Insurance
* USAA
* Wawanesa (California)
* Westfield Insurance

Auto Performance Tuning, Give More Power To Your Car

Every major and minor working part of your car can be fined-tuned to increase speed, smoothness, and drivability. Let's explore the key areas of performance tuning and see how each can contribute to better driving.

Fine Engine Tuning

There are several key areas of tuning that can help give your car or truck an engine boost. One is to install a performance chip. A performance chip can be fitted in engines with fuel injection and an ECU, or Electronic Control Unit.

With a performance chip, non-turbo engines often result in about a 10 percent power boost while turbo engines often see an increase of 25 to 30 horsepower!

Engines also see a power boost with a performance cam, which can be fitted by an experienced mechanic or a really knowledgeable homemechanic. Cams of about 270 degrees can boost the engine up to an extra 12 horsepower.

A power boost valve can also be installed to replace the fuel pressure regulator, which is located in the return fuel line.

Brake Performance Tuning

Be sure to enhance your braking power before increasing power in your automobile. Brakes are very important for your performance and safety although they are not considered performance-enhancing features.

A simple way to improve braking is to install performance pads and fix performance discs. Performance brake pads enhance braking power and can withstand much higher temperatures than regular brake pads.

Air Filters and Tuning

Probably one of the easiest tune-up tasks is to replace the air filters or the air filter element in a performance air filter. If you have a fuel-injected car, you can also enhance airflow by removing the original airbox, which contains the air filter and hoses and then replacing it with an induction kit.

The kit is a cone filter that can be attached directly to the air flow meter, thus, creating a more directed, uninterrupted airflow to the engine. More air means better engine performance.

Exhaust Enhancement

With exhausts, you're not focusing on what's going into the engine, but what's coming out. There are performance exhausts that minimize pressure restrictions for fumes that are on their way out.

Hint: Replace the factory-made exhaust manifold with an aftermarket brand that is tuned to boost power.

A Better Ride with Enhanced Suspension

Suspension is another key car tuning area that often goes unnoticed. Lowering springs can be fitted to get a better look and feel for the car. Handling is improved because the springs reduce roll when taking corners. Also, the tires will have improved contact with the road.

These springs might feel like standard springs when driving over small bumps in the road; however, when cornering hard they stiffen and reduce roll. This gives comfort and improved handling. Shock absorbers and up-rated bushes also enhance suspension.

Abundant Tuning Supplies
If you have trouble finding the performance tuning products you need, use the Internet to locate thousands of tuning products at great prices. You can find auto parts and supplies for car tuning, truck tuning, SUV tuning, and more.

Also, browse through top brand name products known for their durability and performance-enhancing qualities. There are Sniper tuning products, Diablo tuning products, and many others.
Give special attention to these key areas during your next performancetuning to enjoy maximum results.

The Truth and Lies About Your Car Insurance

If you are a newbie in insurance policies, it is best to be educated on the subject. There are many myths and realities in dealing with insurance companies. It is necessary for you to have a general idea about such insurance rates so that you won't have problems later on.Car insurance is needed by people who want to be assured that their cars won't experience distress, especially when the time comes and they get into an accident or anything else. There are things in this world that you have to be aware and to prepare for. This is why it is vital to assess and choose the most affordable and most reasonable price for your car insurance.

Hence, it is true that the insurance quotes reflect the cost of certain automobile- related expenses. In fact, there are many explanations on how the increasing cost of such insurances is accumulated.

Each year millions of people get into car accidents that involve personal injury. With this type of incidents, the typical price range of such treatment is around $6,000 to $9,000. Thus, this can easily turn into tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the type of car.

This problem is actually joined by the trouble of increasing claims of automobile injury, which are currently as much as 30 % in some states. These dilemmas can turn into the new car insurance holder's burden of additional payments or premiums.

Moreover, another reason for this is the legal expenses that the company needs to pay due to the fact that an average jury award for vehicular liability cases are continuing to rise and can put up the pressure on auto insurance rates.

An average liability can cost from about $187,000 up to $269,000. This was the estimated record from the year 1994 up to the year 2000, respectively. Thus, the number one cause of death for people ages 1 up to 34 is car accident.

According to the United States Department of Transportation, these deaths cost more than $150 billion annually. People who are under the use of prohibited drugs, alcohol abuse, high- speed driving and are not using a seat belt are the leading people who are at risk of such an accident. Auto repair has also increased because of the rapid advancing age of technology, along with construction and design that have now become a must in this era. Automotive innovations and repair costs have increased tremendously and thus, higher car insurance may ensue because of this.

Hence, there is a notion that red cars cost more insurance. This is not true. Colour is never a determinant factor in calculating one's car insurance rate. The factors that are important are the year, model, body, type, engine size and the age of the car. Even if you have a cheap car but you have a large engine, or it is an unusual model, it might cost a lot to have it insured as compared to a more expensive small car.Then again, you will pay for a lesser amount in comprehensive coverage, which can cover the damage that is usually brought about by vandalism, hail, fire or even animal accidents. There is also a case, in which, two speeding tickets can make your car insurance rate go up.

Plus, it is also not true that every car insurance company can charge anyone on any way they please. Despite the increasing expenses of this company, they still have a way of covering all the damages and they also have regulators that review their customer rates.

It is also important to take note of the amount of your car, where in, it's insurance will most likely have a relative cost to. This is due to the fact that some companies shoulders only a minimum amount and will not cover certain accidents. Of course, this will result into a lawsuit but they will not include all the damages. So, it is wiser to read your terms and conditions.

Thus, if someone drives your car and there is an accident, you will still be the one held responsible. You will be financially responsible for the accident. In most states, the car insurance that covers the accident is considered the primary insurance holder, which means that the insurance company is the one that should pay for the damages. Hence, there are cases that it is not enough and the driver's insurance is the next in line to pay for the remaining damages. This is primarily why you need to know the car insurance policy in your state, as well as the laws that go hand in hand with it. States and even countries differ in policies politically and geographically.

Aside from this, there are also other factors that are being considered for car insurance rates. Of course, your rate won't be the same as that of your neighbours. Your age, nature of your work, driving record, type of vehicle and marital status are all considered. This can really vary depending on the company's standards. Sometimes, your charge can go down when you turn 25 because this is the time when car accidents go down. The extremes of ages, like that of a teenager and that of the forty year old individual is where the accident rate is at its highest.

Lastly, there is a so called rental reimbursement that can cover and pay for your rental car. This is for cases, wherein, you are on vacation and you just rented a car that resulted into an accident. This will help drivers pay for the damages to the car but this still depends on the limits you selected. Having more than one insurance policy is not really money- saving technique. In fact, it is more expensive. Most of the time, you can save your money by getting the best rate available in one company. Thus, if you want different types of insurance like that of the auto and homeowners insurance, you can look for another company that can give you the best deal. At times, you will get better deals from different insurance companies.
Car insurance is a way of preparing yourself for some stressful moments while driving your car. Getting one doesn't mean that you are already assuming that you will encou7nter car theft or car accidents. Getting car insurance is a lot like accepting the reality that these things happen and that it is best to be prepared. This is better than not having a car insurance at all and end up paying more, just because you decided is best not to have one. Since car insurances these days have death or disability insurance for the driver or owner of the car, it is a lot like caring for your family and loved ones by leaving them with nothing to worry about.
Since there are many car insurance agencies these days, it is best to assess each one and check which has been in the industry for a long time. You can also check with friends for referrals. This is actually the best thing to do as compared to believing in advertisements and flyers.

Six ways to save on auto insurance

“It was an old Oldsmobile that my mom and dad gave me and the gas pedal never even worked and I had it for two weeks!” said Vickie Sheaks.
Most everyone can remember their first car.
"Our first car was a '55 Oldsmobile," said Granger resident Dave Byers.
However, most drivers can't remember what they paid for insurance then or now. “Oh, I have no idea," said Byers.The cost of insurance revs up a lot of drivers and not in a good way. To obtain copies of free quotes, you must first know a site that offers this service. There are 2 options, you can either go to each insurance company's website and fill out their Free Auto Insurance quotes form or else you can find an online insurance broker that works with a number of insurers to get your Free Auto Insurance Quotes . Both ways have their advantages but we definitely recommend you to go online and fill out all the quote forms. When it comes down to it, you can do whichever you think is the best.
The Next step is to provide accurate information on yourself as well as what you are looking for in your free quotes. Remember, if you mess up even one detail , you may end up having an inaccurate free quotes in your hand. This could lead to a huge disappointment down the line when you are told that you cannot obtain the price of the original quotes. Please bear in mind, to get a cheaper free auto insurance quotes, please provide them this detail - your background, type of car, driving history, police record, date of birth.

Remember, the more auto insurance quotes you got, the more choices you can compare. We personally recommend a minimum of 3 free car insurance quotes. Getting one quotes is a great place to start, but this is not where you should stop. Even if your first auto insurance quote looks great, you never know what the competition is going to do for you; this is until you get free quotes from them as well. Remember to set a budget for yourself, a price that you can afford.

In the end , your final step is to purchase a policy from the auto insurance quotes that you have received. This may be the most difficult decision that you are faced with; especially if there are a couple of policies that you like.

Oh ya, a short note from me, Insurance companies are inter-linked with each other, it's better to be honest with them. That's why providing precise and accurate information to get free auto insurance quotes is no joke, make sure you give the same information to every insurance company. Don't simply try out by filling the quotes with different information, they have information exchanged everyday and they would know. You will end up getting free auto insurance quote which are much more expensive and there will be no chance to lower the premium down."You’ve gotta find somebody that you trust, that understands the business and will work for you to find out what your needs are,” stated Jim Holland, owner of Holland Insurance in South Bend.

For 18 years Holland has been providing drivers with coverage and says there are some super savings available for savvy consumers.

"Increasing deductibles — we're seeing 10 and 15 plus percent discounts, taking a deductible from $500 to $1,000," said Holland. "Does the vehicle have anti-lock brakes, air bags, all the typical credits?"

You can save up to 20 percent on your bill by insuring both your home and car with the same company — that goes for renters, too.

If your credit score has improved over the last year or so, call your agent. You can roll up to a deep discount.

Parents with student drivers can save, too.

“If you have students, good student discounts are available,” Holland adds, “If you have a student away at school, you've got to make sure your agent is aware of that so they can give you the appropriate credit on your policy.”

Don't be afraid to shop around for the best rates. Byers did and he saved $500 a year.

"I just got a quote from a local insurance agency, compared it to what I had been paying for 20-something years and said ‘Hey I've got to do something different,'" said Byers.

Experts say to get at least three quotes from three reputable agencies.

Putting the brakes on big car insurance bills is as easy as:
# Increasing your deductible
# Listing all the safety features on your car
# Combining home and car insurance with the same company
# Letting your agent know if your credit score has improved
# Letting your agent know when your student is away at college; good students get better premiums
# Shopping around for the best bargain

In these tough economic times it is good to know you can get affordable auto insurance without breaking the bank or the speed limit.

"The industry is designed to protect people and we want to do it at the right value for them," stated Holland.