Texas State Rep. Bill Callegari of Katy has filed a measure to require all convicted drunk drivers to install ignition interlock devices in their cars, including first offenders. If approved, House Bill 1110 by Callegari would prevent convicted drunk drivers from being able to drive their cars after drinking.

“While current law requires the installation of interlock devices in the vehicles of previously convicted drunk drivers, I think we can make our roads safer by moving this requirement up as a required penalty for a first DWI offense,” said Callegari.

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American International Group Inc. (AIG: News ) is in talks to sell its personal car insurance business, 21st Century, to Zurich Financial Services (ZFSVY.PK: News , ZFSVF.PK) for an expected price of over $2 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported late Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. However, the journal noted that the asset sale is yet to be finalized and could still fall apart.

AIG, which until last September was the world’s largest insurer, was saved from going bankrupt, after receiving an initial $85 million U.S. government bailout package. The federal government now owns 80% of the company.

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Anyone who drives a car in Michigan understands that auto insurance is awfully expensive here and may be tempted to cheer Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s efforts to cut policy rates.

But the ideas the governor is offering don’t get at the root of the problem.

A major reason for Michigan’s high insurance cost is coverage mandates tacked on by the Legislature, including lifetime medical benefits for all policies. Granholm’s plan doesn’t really address that issue.

The most recent figures from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners show the average cost of an auto insurance policy in Michigan is 12th highest in the nation, at $1,068. That’s 14 percent more than the national average of $937.

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State Farm couldn’t get a massive rate hike, so it’s pulling out of Florida.

Well, not really pulling out. More like cherry-picking.

The company plans to ditch all 1.2 million property insurance policies across the state, including residential homes, condominiums, renters’ insurance, churches and businesses. The cancellation goes for fire/theft policies and windstorm/hurricane policies.

But the company wants Floridians to know that its agents will still be happy to sell you auto, life and health insurance.

Gee, thanks but no thanks.

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Here’s the way I see Florida’s property insurance predicament. We’ve got a pre-existing condition that no insurer wants to touch.

Namely, we’re prone to hurricanes.

Our country’s dysfunctional private health insurance system likes to weed out those with pre-existing conditions (like cancer, diabetes, etc.) because they aren’t profitable. Those customers tend to use more in resources than they pay into the system.

And now the same thing is happening with property insurance, especially in high-risk states like Florida and high-risk coastal areas like Broward and Palm Beach County.

Once upon a time, spreading risk and covering people who actually might need your services was considered part of the insurance business. Insurers would insure many to cover the potential high costs of the few, and at the end of the day there would still be a little profit.

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The Department of Justice said an online program that will allow consumers to track a vehicle’s detailed history, including whether it was stolen or spent time in a scrap heap, will go live on Friday.

The department said the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System will be accessible to consumers for a fee through third-party Web sites. The system — called NMVTIS — is designed to help law enforcement and consumers to track a vehicle’s brand history, odometer data and other background about a car to prevent fraud and keep stolen vehicles off the road.

The department said it has so far enlisted 27 states to provide vehicle titling, brand data, information as to whether the vehicle has been stolen or been in possession of scrap yards and other information. The states so far account for 73 percent of all vehicles in the U.S., it said.

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About one in six drivers in Washington state does not have auto insurance. That’s the tenth highest number in the nation and new research suggests that number is on the rise.

“When you see a multi-car collision on the freeway, on I-5… if there’s more than three or four cars there, at least one of them is likely to be uninsured,” said Karl Newman, Northwest Insurance Council.

The Insurance Research Council says Washington has a 16 percent rate of uninsured drivers.

“So there’s a 15 percent chance that I’m going to get hit by somebody who can’t pay me for my damages?” asked driver Greg Sneden.

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WMBD/WYZZ TV – PEORIA – Do you have everything you need before you get behind the wheel of your car? A lot of motorists don’t.

Jessica Ingle is having a bad day: “I wasn’t paying attention to my speed. Normally I’m not a speeder.” Ingle has been caught along South-West Adams Street in Peoria. “My mind just wasn’t with me today.”

That’s not all she’s missing. Officer Chad Oberle has some bad news. “Here you are ma’am.” Ingle: “I’m getting a ticket, right?” Oberle: “yes, I’ve issued you two actually.”

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Insurance is something we all grumble about whether we pay every month, every six months or every year. Car insurance, house insurance, boat or motorcycle insurance, it does not matter. We all gripe about having to pay it, the high cost and the seemingly futility of paying for something that you pray you never need: then one day, blammo!, you need it, and boy are you ever glad then. But insurance, as odd as it might sound, can actually save you money in the long run. How, you ask? Simple.

First, not having insurance on your car is against the law. Get pulled over and you have just racked up fines, court costs and a possible loss of your driver’s license.

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Karen from Arizona said,