3 Auto Insurance Underwriting Challenges a VIN Decoding Solution Will Overcome


The process of underwriting for auto insurance policies involves many steps and needs to account for a number of risk variables. The vehicle specifications are just one piece to consider when assessing risk. Some others include client demographics, geography, and driving history. 

As the variety of available vehicle safety equipment continues to increase, so does their effect on insurance risk ratings. It’s important that underwriters utilize the right resources to help them understand the options available, thereby saving them time and increasing process accuracy.

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Topics: Automotive Data, Safety, Insurance, Automotive Technology, Vehicle Equipment


7 Reasons Why Using a Vehicle Data Provider Will Save You Time & Money


In this day in age, there's so much work to get done with such a small window of opportunity to do it in. Many of us have our time spread thin between work, family and social lives; so after a long days work, having to take more work home is less than ideal! This is where utilizing a 3rd party solution(s) becomes a necessity for many businesses. 

The saying "time is money" applies to most all professions, however, maybe none more so than professionals in the automotive industry. Regardless of which segment you work in (auto sales, marketing, insurance, software development, logistics, etc.) there will be a number of items on your team's agenda that cannot be contracted to a 3rd party. Luckily, with vehicle data solutions readily available from trusted data providers, you are not stuck having to create a solution in-house.  In fact, with the availability of delivered data, web services and hosted software solutions, integrating these products has never been easier.     

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Topics: Automotive Data


The Key Role of an Accurate VIN Decoder in Online Insurance Quoting


Online quotes have revolutionized the world of car insurance, by providing multiple quotes, quickly, from different carriers. This has created an environment where consumers shop around for the lowest premium possible and may do so as frequently as once or twice a year. As a result, there is a consistent demand for online quoting, both from the insurers directly as well as from third party sites that provide quote comparison tools, and an increase in competition.

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Topics: Auto Portals, Automotive Data, Vehicle, VIN, Insurance, Auto Manufacturers


10 Attributes of Vehicle Data That Will Sell Your Online Listing


Never before have there been more ways for auto dealers to market inventory to customers - who are able to take advantage of unprecedented availability of vehicle data and methods of comparison shopping.

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Topics: Automotive Data, Marketing, VIN, Safety, Vehicle Valuations


3 Reasons Why a VIN Database Is Essential For Your Transport Business


Like an individual fingerprint unique to each person, the Vehicle Identification Number is unique to each individual vehicle. And just like the federal government maintains a database of fingerprints in order to access information on individuals registered in the system quickly and accurately, a VIN database can also access a wealth of information on each vehicle in the system in a quick, organized, and easy manner.

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Topics: Logistics, Automotive Data, Vehicle, VIN


VIN vs PIN - What is being assigned to Off-Road vehicles


Since 1981 the global vehicle manufacturing community has used the 17 digit VIN as a means to uniquely identify a vehicle.  The VIN captures basic vehicle information as part of an international standard, and in some countries, like the US, it is used to capture additional data. In the US, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, is tasked with regulating the information the VIN must capture, how it is assigned and to whom.  Some of the many benefits of the VIN system include being able to identify and recall vehicles with safety issues, track vehicle's accident and maintenance history, and identify vehicles that have been stolen.

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Topics: Automotive Data, VIN, Safety, Powersports


Suzuki Opts-Out of Making Vehicles for the US Automotive Market


 

After nearly three decades of production, Suzuki has announced its departure from the U.S. automotive market. Suzuki first began manufacturing automobiles for the U.S. market in 1985 and will stop selling automobiles once their current supply runs out. They will however continue to produce motorcycles, ATV’s, and watercraft here in the U.S.

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Topics: Support, Auto Portals, Automotive Data, Vehicle, Marketing, Auto Manufacturers, Automotive, Dealers


NHSTA to Test Safety Benefits of Vehicle-to-Vehicle Data Sharing


NHSTA to Deploy Fleet of 2800 V2V-Ready Vehicles This Summer.

Most new vehicle technologies, including even safety features, are introduced as premium options on luxury vehicles.  In the case of safety features these gradually become available to lower priced vehicle segments as it becomes more mainstream.  However, the exception to this rule happens when regulations are put in place that require new technology be installed on new vehicles from a certain date forward.  Based on the NHTSA’s interest in Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) technology and possible safety benefits it may become one of those exceptions before too long.

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Topics: Automotive Data, Safety


How to use DMS Data to Improve VIN Decoding


As we explained in our article "VIN-to-Trim/Style Matching Explained", VINs often are not encoded with enough information to determine a single vehicle style. This means that important details such as MSRP, MPG, and certain standard installed equipment may not known based on the VIN alone. If you're working with DMS data, there's a good chance that you have additional, valuable data at your disposal that you can use along with the VIN to decode down to a single vehicle style.

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Topics: Automotive Data, VIN


Google 2011 consumer research study


We found an interesting study this morning published by Google which describes consumer automotive shopping behavior in 2011. Some highlights below here as well as a link to Google direct for the full presentation.

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Topics: Auto Portals, Fuel Economy, Automotive Data, Vehicle, Marketing, Safety, Vehicle Equipment, Dealers