Advice & Tips
Auto Products
Buyer's Guides
Car Care & Maintenance
Car of the Year Awards
Earth Angel Award
Insurance & Accidents
Legends & Leaders
New Car Reviews
News & Views
Planet Driven
Road Humor
Safety & Security
Sex Drive
Teens & Tots
Used Car Buying
Vehicle Safety Ratings
What Women Want
Vehicle Model Guide

I'll Take the "Cheap" Stuff

Insurance is a fact of life for car owners, but that doesn't mean they spend a lot of time thinking about it. In fact, 17 percent of those surveyed admit they have "no clue" what their insurance would cover in case of an accident.

And when it comes to buying auto insurance, cost is the overwhelming consideration when asked to choose from some possible criteria. More than six in ten (64 percent) responded that cost is their top consideration in buying insurance, while 28 percent cited "reputation of the company" as the most influential factor. However, when factoring the cost of auto insurance into the purchase of a car, only 16 percent viewed it as an "important consideration."

"It's not just safe driving that people should pay attention to," DeYoung said. "Making sure you have adequate auto insurance coverage is equally as important."

Litter Bugs, Tailgaters Among Top Drivers' Pet Peeves

On the lighthearted side, the Allstate survey shows that American drivers have strong opinions about the most annoying habits of other drivers. When asked about a list of behaviors, nearly nine in ten drivers said they are very annoyed when other drivers "drive too close," "throw trash out of the car window" or "don't use their signals." Following closely behind, 84 percent responded they're very annoyed by others who "drive slow in the passing lane," while 83 percent cited drivers who "weave in and out of traffic."

Rounding out the list of most-annoying habits of other drivers were "hogging the road," cited by 71 percent of respondents, "riding the brakes" (69 percent), and "talking on their cell phone" (61 percent).

For Better or For Worse, Americans Have a Unique "Car-ma"

Many drivers admitted to a strong emotional relationship with driving and their cars, ranging from those who "love their car" (26 percent) to those that consider driving "a sport" (six percent). Only 18 percent admitted negative feelings toward their car, calling it "just a way to get from one place to another."

For 24 percent of survey respondents, "driving gives them a true sense of freedom," while 14 percent said their car is "an expression of who I am in life." And nine percent of those surveyed said their car "is the center of my life." (CONTINUE...)