Survey Questions and Answers

June 15 - July 1

This Week's Survey Question: Online Driving Sites Do you visit online sites when thinking of buying a car? Yes No We will email you the results in your next Romanov Report. Feb 15 - Mar 1 Survey Question: Fighting a ticket Have you ever talked your way out of a ticket? Yes No What did you say to get out of it? We will email you the results in your next Romanov Report. Feb 1 - Feb 14 Survey Question: Celebrity Which celebrity would you least trust to drive your car, for fear they'd crash it? Selection - Based on 11,419 Responses: Paris Hilton 45% Tommy Lee 13% Courtney Love 28% Nick Nolte 14% January 18 - January 31 Survey Question: At-Fault Accidents If "black ice" or "freezing rain" causes you to have an accident, do you think you'll be considered to be "at-fault" by your insurance company? Selection - Based on 11,805 Responses: Yes 61% No 39% Well, there's always blame when it comes to an accident, but it's harder for an insurance company to get their money back if they blame the weather, so the "buck" stops with you. An insurance company would say "the car didn't drive in to the guardrail, you did". 61% of us apparently expected to be blamed or considered to be at-fault for accidents related to poor driving conditions, or learned the hard way, while 39% of us will be paying a little closer attention to the weather conditions. January 5 - January 17 Survey Question: Roadside Help If your car breaks down and you need a tow, do you have any type of roadside assistance, like CAA? Selection - Based on 10,309 Responses: Yes 49% No 51% So when you see a car on the side of the road needing assistance, it's pretty much a 50/50 split as whether they have roadside help. The question now becomes, would you stop and help? Actually, all you really need to do is call the police and report that it looks like a driver may need help. That is, if they're not on their cell phone already. December 21 - January 5 Survey Question: Tickets and Insurance If the court reduces your fine to $0 and drops the demerit points on your speeding ticket, will the ticket count on your insurance? Selection - Based on 7,148 Responses: Yes 59% No 41% I'm surprised that 59% of drivers knew that the ticket would count, even if the fine and demerit points were both dropped. To actually have the ticket NOT count on your insurance, the ticket has to be dropped. I'll bet even though you know this, it still gets you wondering how fair it is to have your insurance rate so dependent on cleverly placed speed traps. December 8 - December 21 Survey Question: Sun, Moon and Star Driver Do you think your astrological sign reflects the type of driver you are? Selection - Based on 7113 Responses: Yes 14.6% No 85.4% The results show that about 15% of us beleive in the influence that our astrological sign has, the rest of us just read about it for fun, right? Click here for Personality Traits for the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac November 24 - December 1 Survey Question: Fuel - Premium vs. Regular Do you understand the benefits of Premium Fuel versus Regular Fuel? Selection - Based on 1,433 Responses: Yes 76.6% No 23.4% November 17 to November 23 Survey Question: Car of the Year Do "Car of the Year" awards influence your buying decisions? Selection - Based on 3,423 Responses: Yes 17.5% No 82.5% The results show that only 17.5% of the drivers consider the "Car of the Year" awards when deciding on buying a car. November 10 to November 17 Survey Question: Big Payout If you have an accident, what cost would you be prepared to absorb, before involving your insurance company? Selection - Based on 5,829 Responses: $0 to $99 35% $100 to $1,000 45% $1,001 to $2,500 13% $2,501 to $5,000 3.5% $5,001 to $7,500 2% $7,501 or higher 1.5% Wow, 93% of us would absorb up to $2,500 before we involve the insurance company. Maybe some of us should increase our deductible to lower our insurance rate. November 3 to November 10 Last Week's Survey Question: Forgive Me Not? Last week's survey question asked: When an insurance company says it offers "Accident Forgiveness", which definition comes closer to your understanding? 1) Your rate will NOT go up, and the accident will NOT appear on your driving record. 2) Your rate WILL go up, and the accident WILL appear on your driving record. The results showed: Selection - Based on 5,805 Responses: Your rate will NOT go up 76% Your rate WILL go up 24% 76% of drivers surveyed were wrong. Accident Forgiveness doesn't mean what you think it does. Accident Forgiveness generally means that your "good driver's rating" falls, your rate will increase and the accident will appear your insurance record. Claims Protection is a coverage that can be bought, which will stop a rate increase, but the accident will still appear your insurance record. The link below shows how most insurance companies deal with Accident Forgiveness and Claims Protection. http://www.insurancehotline.com/romanov/050513_auto_insurance.pdf Here's how to read the Accident Forgiveness chart, using Aviva as an example: Aviva controls 0.7% of the market share in Ontario. If you are a "9" Star driver, meaning you have been driving accident-free for 9 years, then should you have an accident, you will fall to a "5" Star rating, your rate will increase by $400, and the accident will show on your driving history. If you have been driving "6" years, accident-free, you'll drop to a "5" Star, and your rate will go up $175 and the accident will show up on your driving history. If you have been driving "5" years, accident-free, you'll remain at "5" Stars, your rate will not increase, but the accident will show on your driving history. If you have had 2 accidents in 5 years, you will not be renewed. October 27 to November 3 Survey Question: Gas Stations With gas prices increasing and decreasing at the drop of a hat, do you have "Brand Loyalty"? The results showed: Selection - Based on 5,895 Responses: Yes 40% No 60% The results show that most of us go for the cheapest gas price, regardless of brand. Still 40% of us do have brand loyalty for the big names like Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada. I thought the breakdown would be interesting for you to see, so here it is: Yes = 2,342 (40%) Breakdown for "YES": Shell = 534 (9.1%) Penny = 22 (0.4%) Petro = 644 (10.9%) Loblaws = 26 (0.4%) Top Value = 13 (0.2%) Sunoco = 439 (7.4%) Beaver = 26 (0.4%) No Frills = 51 (0.9%) Esso = 569 (9.7%) Cogo = 7 (0.1%) Horizon = 1 (0.0%) Tru Value = 7 (0.1%) Curb Stop = 3 (0.1%) No = 3,553 (60%) Breakdown for "NO": Cheapest = 2364 (40.0%) Closest = 544 (9.2%) Full Service = 54 (0.9%) Coffee Shop = 22 (0.4%) Points = 154 (2.6%) Other = 415 (7.0%) October 20 to October 27 Survey Question: Public Transit Last week's question asked: Public transit systems everywhere are constantly being improved at the taxpayers' expense. Would there ever be a point at which these improvements would cause you to use public transit instead of your car? Selection - Based on 5,770 Responses: Yes 42% No 58% The results show that 42% of us would indeed switch to public transit as the system improves, while 58% will keep driving their cars, no matter what. Romanov Rant: As far as I can see this is a win, win , win, situation. More drivers will gladly be switching to public transit, people who continue to drive will get some traffic relief, but most importantly the government is NOT wasting our tax money on this one. Let me know, for those of you who would switch, what "STILL" needs to be done. I will pass your comments on to the Transit Commission. Comments: October 13 to October 20 Survey Question: Wave Goodbye The Toronto police are taking job action and issuing "warnings" instead of speeding tickets. Are you taking advantage of this? Or, if this happened in your city would you speed? Selection - Based on 3,720 Responses: Yes 8% No 92% The results show that 92% of us said that they would NOT take advantage of police job action showing that people generally try their best to obey the law. Romanov Rant: Good for us. Generally we are an honest group and when we do get ticketed we deserve a fair trial. That means the officer is there to answer to his charges, because the last thing you should ever do when being ticketed is conduct your own "curb side trial." October 6 to October 13 Survey Question: Damages Insurance companies base their rate on risk, not what they pay for an accident. Even if you pay for repairs yourself your rate will increase. Is this fair? Selection - Based on 7,549 Replies: Yes 20% No 80% The results show that 80% of us feel that if we choose to pay for our own accident, the insurance companies should skip the "risk" analysis and leave the rate alone. Actually there is one insurance company that is NOW doing that, Dominion of Canada Insurance Company. Romanov Rant: If I had an insurance company I'd ask, right on the application, "Are you willing to pay for your own accident" if you said "YES" I'd lower your rate! If you said "NO" I'd send you to my competition. September 29 to October 6 Survey Question: The Government Do you believe the provincial government kept their promise to lower car insurance rates? Selection - Based on the InsuranceHotline survey: Yes 16% No 84% The results show that 84% of us feel that the government has not kept their promise to lower car insurance rates. Romanov Rant: As promised, I'll pass this poll on to the government. But, if in fact, they did keep their promise of lowering rates, they should be obligated to tell us where or how to find them. InsuranceHotline.com is the best way to find these lower rates, but does the government expect me to let everyone know where these rates are? Do you have any suggestions how to get the message out? When I approached the provincial government and offered to provide them with this service, they turned their backs to it. Thanks, Lee Romanov September 22 to September 29 Survey Question: Bank On It Presently, banks are not permitted to sell insurance at the locations where you do your banking. Should they be? Selection - Based on 5,111 replies: Yes 63% No 37% The results show that 63% of us feel that the banks should be allowed to sell all their product lines, including insurance, at the same location. September 15 to September 21 Survey Question: Rental Vehicles If you are towing a rented trailer and have an accident caused by a defect with the trailer, who is responsible? Selection - Based on 4,899 replies: You 55% The rental company 45% The results show that 45%, less than half, of drivers have it correct. Any vehicle you tow is your responsibility and is covered under your insurance. If you have an accident, you will be considered "at-fault" by your insurance company, even if the trailer was not fit. If you rent a vehicle and have an accident, the rental company's insurance would be the primary insurer, if you have purchased their insurance, usually $15 per day. You would also be responsible for any deductible on their policy. BUT, if you refuse their insurance, the full payment of the claim is your responsibility. To protect yourself make sure you have added the rental endorsement 27 to your car insurance policy. The cost of the endorsement is usually around $25 for the whole year and would cover the vehicle every time you rent. September 8 to September 14 Survey Question: Your Money Did your insurance rate go down this year? Selection - Based on 6,615 replies: Yes, my rate went down. 54% No, my rate went up 46% The results show that 54% of drivers' rates went down. The McGuinty government said that there would be an overall 10.6% rate reduction, which could mean that some people's rates would go up, others down. Romanov Rant: Wow, 46% of drivers are still experiencing rate increases. Certainly, the announced rate reductions of 10.6% would imply that a substantial majority of drivers would benefit. Apparently this is not true. Almost half of us are still getting slammed with higher rates.This seems unjust, especially when all insurance companies are decreasing their rates as a result of record profits, right? It would be interesting to hear the government's response to these stats. Maybe I should send them to them in time for the next election. September 1 to September 7 Survey Question: Hurricane Katrina Do you think Hurricane Katrina will affect your car insurance rate? Selection - Based on 5,350 replies: Yes 32% No 68% Based on the results, most of us feel that Hurricane Katrina won't affect our insurance rate. The answer's in the wind: The reality is, it would be highly unlikely for our insurance rates to be affected by Hurricane Katrina. However, not impossible, since the reinsurance market (insurance companies insuring themselves) got the wind knocked out of them. More likely though, any increases in your rate would be as a result of the recent "wind" and "rain" storm that hit Ontario, Friday, August 19th and the damage it caused. August 23 to August 31 Survey Question: Guns, Gas, Renewals What worries you the most? Increased gun violence Increased gas prices Increases in your car insurance cost Selection - Based on 5,822 replies: Increased gun violence 22% Increased gas prices 32% Increases in your car insurance cost 46% The results show that 46% of us are more afraid of an envelope than a gun. Romanov Rant: Wow! I'll tell you my answer was "gun violence". Only because my renewal can't kill me. Yet what are the odds that someone, "that I don't know", is going to take a shot at me. However, I know without a doubt that my renewal is going to come and if it increases, for no apparent reason, I'll feel like I'm being held up at gun point. August 18 to August 25 Survey Question: Gas Guzzlers In light of the record-high gas prices, what kind of vehicle would you purchase next? Selection - Based on 6,450 replies: A conventional fuel vehicle 4,903 (76%) An alternative fuel vehicle 1,547 (24%) The results show that 76% of us won't give up the car we love, regardless of the gas hikes. Romanov Rant: As far as gas prices go, so what. What's a little extra for the convenience of driving the car you want. If you want to save money, make sure that you're insured with the insurance company with the best rate. After all, car insurance policies are identical, word for word. If you end up paying $500 more to another company you aren't getting anything extra. The insurance savings can more than offset the increase in gas prices. August 11 to August 18 Survey Question: Pricing Which industry do you feel is the LEAST honest about their pricing? Selection - Based on 5,012 replies: Gas Stations 1,262 (25%) Cell Phone Companies 727 (14%) Insurance Companies 1,864 (37%) Lawyer's Fees 461 (9%) Mechanics 698 (14%) The results show that most people feel that insurance rates and gas prices need to be more transparent in their pricing. The Romanov Rant: With insurance companies reporting record profits, if you experience an increase on your renewal, then there should be a letter explaining why. With regard to gas companies, it's suspicious that gas prices jump right before the weekend. And how can a cell phone company provide free service over the weekend, but then have to charge during the week? What is the REAL cost of an airwave? Although lawyers typically get a bad rap, when it comes to pricing, they thoroughly itemize everything, and you know exactly what you're paying for. After we calculate these results, who do you think we should send them to first? Selection - Based on 5,012 replies: The media 41% Prime Minister 19% Premier 14% The CEOs in these industries 25% This is good advice. And we will forward this survey to the media. August 4 to August 11 Survey Question: Buying a new car Is the fear of higher insurance rates influencing your decision on buying a new car? Out of 5,096 people, 3,838 people said "yes" the fear of higher insurance rates was influencing their decision to buy a new car. From that 1,258 people said "no" the fear of higher insurance rates was NOT influencing their decision to buy a new car. Selection - Based on 5,096 replies: Yes 3,838 (75%) No 1,258 (25%) Therefore, 75% are fearful of what their insurance would be if they were to buy a new car. Answer: The reality is that the difference in the insurance rates between a new and older vehicle is within a couple of hundred dollars, as long as you do a rate search through www.InsuranceHotline.com to find which insurance company has the best rate for that new vehicle. This chart compares the insurance rates between a new and older vehicle for the 30 top insurance companies in Canada. The lowest and highest rate calculated are displayed. Difference between a 2005 and 1998 Pontiac is only $215 per year Year Vehicle Low High 2005 Pontiac Grand Am SE 4DR $1,528 $4,924 1998 Pontiac Grand Am SE 4DR $1,313 $4,698 Difference between a 2005 and 1998 Chevrolet Blazer is only $310 per year Year Vehicle Low High 2005 Chevrolet Blazer S Series 2DR 4WD $1,898 $6,207 1998 Chevrolet Blazer S Series 2DR 4WD $1,588 $5,509 July - 28 to August 4 Survey Question: Cell Phones The US National Safety Council found that accident statistics among cell phone users are worse than those of drunk drivers. Their analysis shows that the use of a cell phone while driving increases the risk of getting into an accident by 4 times. InsuranceHotline.com asked: What's your experience? The results showed from over 5,000 drivers surveyed, along with accident statistics, that 8% of the accidents are directly related to cell phone use. July - 21 to 27 Question - Insurance Rate Differences Last week 5,351 people responded to the question; How much do you think rates can differ between insurance companies for the same driver and car? Selection - Based on 5,351 replies: They are all the same 549 (10%) Between $100 to $500 2,465 (46%) Between $500 to $2,500 2,022 (38%) Between $2,500 to $10,000 248 (5%) Over $10,000 67 (1%) The results of the survey found that most drivers think there is a difference of $100 to $500 in rates between insurance companies. Only 1% of drivers thought insurance company rates differed by over $10,000. Answer: There can be over $10,000 difference in rates between insurance companies. The Financial Services Commission of Ontario did a rate comparison on 4 different driver profiles of 51 insurance company rates showing rate differences of over $15,000. Toronto Driver Profiles Lowest Highest Difference 19 Years-Old, Clean Record $5,750 $15,551 $9,801 23 Yr-Old, 1 Ticket & Accident $2,051 $17,468 $15,417 2 Drivers -Old, Clean Record $1,763 $6,992 $5,229 70 Years-Old, Clean Record $970 $2,576 $1,606 For the Financial Services Commission of Ontario link to their rate guide, click here. 2005 Consumers' Association of Canada's Rate Comparison The chart below compares 30 different insurance company rates in Ontario to Vancouver for the same car and driver. The Consumers' Association's report that drivers could be paying 45% more than they need to, along with the Insurance Bureau's advisory that rates have come down, should alert drivers that they need to do an effective rate comparison to ensure they're not overpaying.