Car insurance rates go through the roof when consumers are involved in one accident or more. Nobody wants to be in an accident, but some are unavoidable and sometimes beyond the control of the driver.

You've been slapped with a fine for a driving infraction — now what? Should you just pay the ticket and forget about it? What about demerit points and how they will affect your driving record, not to mention your auto insurance rate?

You may have heard of this recent happening: a driver in Kitchener, Ont. is facing seven charges in a stunt-driving investigation. Doing 145 km/h in a 90 km/h zone, the driver, in a sedan, is facing charges that include stunt driving (driving at a rate of over 50 km/h), speeding in a 90 km/h zone, driving with a blood alcohol concentration level over zero (he was a Class G2 licence holder), producing false evidence and knowingly having false insurance.

If you drive a car, then it's inevitable: you probably have a couple of bad habits. Nobody's perfect and while it's tempting to start multitasking, speed or even try to finish getting ready for work in the car, know that you could be setting yourself up for trouble.

When it comes to understanding the insurance industry in Canada and Ontario specifically, it can get a bit confusing for the average consumer. What organizations are out there? And what regulatory bodies are helping protect your rights as a policyholder?

With bills to pay and the state of the economy keeping you up at night, you've probably been trying to think of ways to cut down on your monthly costs. You may even be contemplating terminating your auto insurance policy, wondering what will happen if you don't have insurance…

Should I buy life insurance on my mortgage or a life insurance policy? The first step is to contact a licensed insurance broker and compare rates from different insurance companies. He or she can help you choose the right option, but know there's a difference between the two.

Knowing what your home insurance policy does — and does not — cover can make a world of difference in terms of how you'll end up dealing with a potentially difficult situation. So go ahead and test your knowledge by taking our quick and easy quiz...

When it comes to picking a car, safety is usually pretty high up on the list of requirements for consumers. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the following 11 new car models made it to the top of the list in their respective categories (based on the 2008 vehicle make):