Samantha Kostaras is an insurance reporter who covers personal finance and insurance. After a degree in finance from the University of Alabama and stint at Morgan Stanley, she worked as a financial analyst before becoming a journalist. Her writing has appeared in The Simple Dollar, Reviews.com, Coverage.com, and elsewhere.
More from Samantha Kostaras
The Largest Car Insurance Companies of 2022
The largest car insurance companies are some of the most recognizable names in the auto insurance industry. Major auto insurance companies are household names — we see them advertise in Super Bowls and between episodes during Hulu binge-watching. Larger insurers tend to have financial strength you can rely on and the budget to provide better ...
Here Are the Biggest COVID-19 Discounts on Auto Insurance
Is your auto insurer going to give you money back because of COVID-19? We asked the experts what to expect from these premium payback programs....
Is Now a Good Time to Switch Insurance Providers?
There is so much uncertainty right now surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, including financial uncertainty, and people are looking for ways to cut costs to help make ends meet. We asked the experts a question on many people’s minds: Should I try switching carriers to save money on my auto insurance? There are lots of factors ...
What Happens If Someone Else Gets Into an Accident in Your Car?
If you’ve ever handed your car keys over to a friend or family member, you’ve probably felt that slight concern that it comes back in one piece. But what if your car doesn’t come back in one piece, or other people get hurt in an accident while it’s being driven by someone who isn’t you? ...
Is Pay-Per-Mile Car Insurance Right for You?
What Is Pay-Per-Mile Car Insurance? Pay-per-mile car insurance is a type of insurance policy where your monthly rate directly depends on the number of miles you drive. Traditional insurance offers coverage for a flat monthly rate, no matter how many miles you drive in the month, relying on factors like accident history and age to ...
9 Things You Didn't Realize About a AAA Membership
AAA is known for its membership-based roadside assistance service. For a flat, annual fee, and depending on membership level, you get access to a set number of free AAA service calls per year and with typical base memberships ranging from about $50 to $80 annually, this service can pay for itself quickly if you need ...
Here's What Determines How Much You Pay for Car Insurance
The cost of your auto insurance premium is the result of careful risk calculations by your insurer based on lots of different factors. Car insurance bills won’t come with an itemized receipt with how much you’re paying for falling into certain categories, but this guide will help you learn about the factors that influence the ...
Mercury Insurance Ends Legal Battle For $41 Million. Are You Being Charged Illegal Fees?
Mercury Insurance Company’s 20-year legal battle with the California Department of Insurance over fees charged to consumers has finally come to a $41 million conclusion, according to California regulators. The record-setting payment comes after the California Supreme Court refused to review Mercury’s case regarding broker fees in August, causing Mercury to pay the $27.6 million ...
How to Choose What Auto Insurance Coverage Levels You Need
Choosing the right auto insurance coverage levels is important not only to keep you legal on the road, but to keep your personal assets protected in the event of an accident. This guide will help you balance cost with coverage. First, it’s important to understand three of the key components of an auto insurance policy: ...
Tesla Believes the Future of Car Insurance Is All About Driver Data
Tesla introduced the latest addition to its list of sleek product innovations last month: car insurance. The news of a car manufacturer insuring its own vehicles made headlines even outside the Tesla bubble, but the idea was met with skepticism by some long-established industry experts. At his company’s annual meeting in May, Warren Buffet, CEO ...
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