Insurance Journal 03.05.15 

Google Compare for car insurance was introduced on Thursday in California, "with more states to follow," the tech giant said.

"Google Compare for car insurance provides a seamless, intuitive experience for connecting with your customers online," the company said in a news release sent out Wednesday evening that was under embargo until today. "Whether you're a national insurance provider or one local to California, people searching for car insurance on their phone or computer can find you along with an apples-to-apples comparison of other providers all in as little as 5 minutes."

Named as partners in the release are carriers Mercury Insurance and MetLIfe. Participation in Google Compare is based on a flexible cost-per-acquisition model, but payment isn't a factor in ranking or eligibility, according to Google.   See Google's Rate Comparison tool and  Read More Here    

That Google is getting into auto insurance should have the voice in the head of every agent who sells personal auto coverage saying: "Be afraid, be very afraid."

OK, that's not exactly how W.R. Berkley Corp. CEO William R. Berkley put it when speaking before an audience at the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas' Joe Vincent Management Seminar in late January. What he said was: "I'm here to tell you that you're screwed."

One problem is that Google designs self-driving cars, which gives it a huge advantage in the auto insurance market, he said. "It means Google knows the rules for driving on every road in the United States and they're working on Europe. So they know that on this block you can go 25 and on the next block you can go 35. They know where you can take a right turn, a left turn or whatever," Berkley said.

Berkley details some of Google's advantages in the market   

Google could be working with CoverHound, which currently offers online quotes for multiple insurers including Hartford, esurance, 21st Century, Travelers, Safeco, National General, Progressive, Foremost, Plymouth Rock and others.       

Colorado Springs Farmers Office moving away from marijuana lounge

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A Colorado Springs insurance agent is moving her business because of a marijuana lounge that opened next door.
Liz Hanson has worked at the Farmers Insurance office on North Circle Drive for nearly 20 years, but she's moving to a new location this week.
"Everybody knows we're here but I can't stay. I absolutely can't stay the way things are," she said. Hanson said loud music and marijuana odor is starting to affect her business.  

State Farm has become the first insurer in the United States to receive FAA permission to test Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for commercial use.

The decision provides the Illinois-based insurer the opportunity to research drone technology and potentially deploy it in ways that could benefit customers. State Farm plans to explore the use of unmanned aircraft to assess potential roof damage during the claims process and respond to natural disasters.

The company filed an application with the FAA to test drones in late last year. At the time, it asked for two exemptions. One to allow the company to test drones at a private State Farm test site in central Illinois and the other would allow it to use drones during catastrophes.

This is some bad news and some good news. First the bad: A hacker contest uncovered dangerous security flaws in every major browser. But the good news is, one browser has already release updates to plug the holes and fix the flaws.  

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                                                                                            Alex Conger    

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