The Insurance Panda blog explains auto insurance in plain English. We cover car insurance costs, discounts, coverage rules, state laws, and industry changes—so you can understand your policy, avoid common mistakes, and pay less without sacrificing coverage.
October 21, 2022
Allstate Rewards was a points-based program that rewarded some drivers for participating in Allstate’s telematics programs (like Drivewise) and redeeming points for things like gift cards, discounts, and sweepstakes. But here’s the important update: Allstate discontinued the separate “Allstate Rewards” points program in October 2023. That means you generally can’t earn new Allstate Rewards points […]
October 17, 2022
Want to buy an SUV without paying sky-high insurance premiums? Some SUVs are consistently affordable to insure, while others can cost hundreds (or even thousands) more per year because they’re expensive to repair, expensive to replace, or more likely to generate large claims. Keep reading to discover some of the cheapest SUVs to insure in […]
October 16, 2022
Allstate offers a pay-per-mile car insurance plan called Milewise. Instead of paying a flat monthly premium no matter how much you drive, Milewise ties part of your bill to your mileage. Milewise can be a strong fit for low-mileage drivers (work-from-home, retirees, households with a “second car,” etc.). But it’s not a guaranteed win — […]
August 28, 2022
Safelite is one of the biggest and best-known auto glass repair and replacement companies in the U.S. Whether insurance covers Safelite depends on (1) what caused the glass damage and (2) what coverage you carry. In many cases, Safelite can verify your coverage and help handle the claim paperwork. Below is what you need to […]
July 30, 2022
Finding insurance can be tricky when a vehicle has a salvage or rebuilt title. Many carriers won’t insure a salvage-branded vehicle for on-road use, and some will limit coverage once it’s rebuilt. The good news: once your vehicle is properly repaired and retitled as rebuilt (sometimes called “reconstructed” or “prior salvage,” depending on the state), […]
June 6, 2022
Auto insurance prices vary wildly — and many drivers pay more than they need to for the same level of protection. In 2025, national “average” premiums are well into the thousands per year for many drivers, but your price depends on your state, vehicle, driving record, credit (where allowed), and the coverages you choose. The […]
May 17, 2022
Roadside assistance pays for help when your car can’t (or shouldn’t) keep going—think towing, fuel delivery, jump-starts, flat tire changes, lockouts, and winching. Cost depends on where you buy it. As a rough guide, an add-on through your auto insurer is often the cheapest option, while auto club memberships (like AAA) and wireless add-ons typically […]
May 5, 2022
Teenagers generally pay some of the highest auto insurance rates in the United States — mostly because they’re new drivers, not because they’re “bad” drivers. That said, the car you choose still matters. Vehicles that are cheaper to repair, less likely to be stolen, and packed with safety tech tend to cost less to insure. […]
April 18, 2022
Auto insurance is designed for sudden, unexpected events — not the predictable costs of owning a car. So if your vehicle breaks down because of age, wear and tear, or skipped maintenance, a standard car insurance policy won’t pay for the repair. That said, there are situations where insurance can help with repairs (when damage […]
March 29, 2022
If your car needs repairs after an accident or other damage, you usually have two options: file an insurance claim or pay for repairs out of pocket. A simple rule of thumb: if the repair bill is less than your deductible, paying out of pocket is typically the cheaper move. If it’s only a little […]
March 17, 2022
“Non-standard” car insurance usually means an auto policy written for drivers (or vehicles) that fall outside a carrier’s “standard” underwriting guidelines. That often includes high-risk drivers — but it can also include specialty situations like SR-22 filings, rebuilt/salvage titles, or certain collectible and high-value vehicles. The good news: needing non-standard coverage doesn’t mean you’re out […]
March 8, 2022
If someone hits your parked car, the next steps depend on one big thing: do you know who hit you? If the driver left their info, it’s a standard claim. If they took off, it’s usually treated as a hit-and-run. Either way, you’ll want to document the damage, report the incident, and figure out which […]
February 8, 2022
Driving without car insurance is more common than most people realize. The latest national estimate puts the uninsured motorist rate at 15.4% — which is more than 1 in 7 drivers. Even though nearly every state requires liability insurance, millions of motorists still drive uninsured. The exact risk depends heavily on where you live: some […]
December 21, 2021
Most states track moving violations using a driver record system—often with “points” (sometimes called demerit points). Checking your points (or your driving record) helps you stay ahead of bigger penalties like license suspension, reinstatement fees, and mandatory driver improvement courses. In most states, the fastest way to check points is to request your driving record […]
December 13, 2021
If your car has an alarm (or other anti-theft tech), you might qualify for an auto insurance discount. Many insurers offer discounts for anti-theft devices—especially systems that make your vehicle harder to steal or easier to recover. But the savings are often smaller than people expect because the discount usually applies only to the comprehensive […]
November 17, 2021
Car repairs can be a nasty surprise. A vehicle might seem affordable to buy and insure — then hit you with pricey parts, long labor times, or high-tech components that are expensive to calibrate after even minor damage. The good news: some cars are consistently cheaper to maintain and repair than others. And it’s not […]
November 16, 2021
The New York Automobile Insurance Plan (NYAIP) is New York’s “assigned risk” auto insurance program for high-risk drivers who can’t get the coverage they need in the regular (voluntary) market. The program is established under New York law and administered with support from AIPSO. Instead of choosing a carrier yourself, you apply through a certified […]
November 15, 2021
If you’re buying or driving a new car, your insurance choices get a little more interesting—because a newer vehicle can qualify for add-ons like new car replacement insurance, gap coverage, and mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI). The key is matching the coverage to how you bought the car (cash vs. loan/lease), how long you plan to […]
November 11, 2021
Reddit can be a surprisingly helpful place to learn how people actually shop for car insurance — especially in communities like r/personalfinance, r/frugal, and r/povertyfinance. That said, Reddit advice isn’t personalized to your state, your vehicle, your driving record, or your finances. Use it as a starting point, then confirm coverage details with your insurer […]
November 8, 2021
Getting hit by an uninsured driver is stressful—especially when you realize there may be no insurance company on the other side to pay for your repairs or medical bills. Unfortunately, uninsured driving is still common in the U.S. (roughly one in seven drivers by recent estimates). That means it’s smart to know what to do […]
October 28, 2021
Hitting an animal can do more than dent a bumper—it can total a vehicle, trigger airbag deployment, and create a serious safety hazard on the roadway. In most cases, auto insurance will pay for damage from hitting a deer (or other animal) if you carry comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive is the part of your policy that […]
October 28, 2021
Car insurance is expensive enough already — and one “small” mistake (like a ticket, an at-fault crash, or a coverage lapse) can trigger a big jump at renewal. This guide walks through the most common ways people accidentally make their car insurance more expensive, so you’ll know what not to do. From adding risky drivers […]
October 22, 2021
When you’re buying a used car, the sticker price is only part of the cost. Insurance premiums have climbed in recent years, and two vehicles with the same purchase price can have very different auto insurance rates. The good news: picking a model that’s inexpensive to repair, performs well in crashes, and isn’t a top […]
October 5, 2021
You may have heard about “buying cars from insurance companies.” In a way, that’s true: when insurers declare vehicles a total loss, they often sell those vehicles through salvage auctions—sometimes at steep discounts compared to clean-title cars. Most of these vehicles were part of total loss insurance claims and may have salvage (or other branded) […]
October 2, 2021
Buying a car from a private seller can be straightforward — but the paperwork matters. If you miss a key document (or sign something incorrectly), you can end up with registration delays, surprise fees, or even problems proving ownership. In most states, the two must-haves are the vehicle title and (often) a bill of sale. […]