Your KITT to Cutting Insurance Costs

Even without David Hasselhoff behind the wheel in Knight Rider as the driver, this dry-witted, crime-fighting, computerized car, can still kick some bad-guy butt. And drive up ratings. A new two-hour TV movie based on the 1980’s series, rode to success last Sunday when 12.7 million viewers tuned into watch the Knight Industries 3000, aka KITT, get his swerve on. NBC (GE) hopes to get more mileage out of the franchise: A regular series is in the works, and Knight Rider will be replayed this Saturday at 9pm. 

This time our favorite taking car isn’t a Pontiac Trans Am (GM), but a Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500KR (F) with laser guided missiles, olfactory sensors (yes, KITT can smell), and Val Kilmer providing its voice. But is KITT insured? As long as his owner had good credit, his insurance would be about $5,000 a year, jokes Rob Thielki, an agent with Vern Funk insurance in Washington. (Not to mention a whole lot more in body shop bills.)

In the real world, it shouldn’t require KITT level reconnaissance to find good deals on your auto insurance. Several companies cater to specific professions with unique discounts. Horace Mann Insurance (HMN), for example, covers teachers and educators, giving members of the National Education Association 10% off. As part of its standard teacher’s policy, if a policy holder “requires a new car after an accident, they get replacement costs instead of the bluebook,” says Randall Robertson, an agent in Ocala, FL. And if a teacher’s car is broken into on school property or at a school event, the deductible is only $25.