The color of a car influences how much it costs to insure it, Comprehensive coverage protects drivers in all situations because, after all, it's "comprehensive," and car insurance companies can charge whatever they want. Have you ever thought one or more of these statements to be true? You're not alone.

A recent online survey of 1,000 drivers conducted by DriveSM Insurance from Progressive finds many drivers accept common car insurance myths as true. Here's a sampling of the survey findings along with the facts behind each:

   --  Myth: Car insurance companies consider vehicle color when
       determining rates.
       Survey Says: Twenty-five (25) percent of drivers surveyed
       mistakenly believe that the color of their car affects their
       auto insurance rate.
       Fact: Color is not used to calculate auto insurance rates.
       Information that is used includes the vehicle's year, make,
       model, body type and engine size, as well as information
       about the driver.

   --  Myth: Car insurance rates are not regulated and car insurance
       companies can charge whatever they want.
       Survey Says: More than half of those surveyed (54 percent)
       did not know that each state has a regulatory body that
       oversees insurance companies operating within that state.
       Fact: Each state has regulators who review the information
       companies collect as well as the rates they charge; insurers
       cannot deviate from those rates.

   --  Myth: Comprehensive coverage protects drivers in all
       situations.
       Survey Says: Almost half of drivers surveyed (48 percent)
       wrongly believe their car insurance policy's Comprehensive
       coverage protects them in all situations because, after all,
       it's "comprehensive."
       Fact: Comprehensive coverage is one type of protection
       available on an auto insurance policy (others being Collision,
       Uninsured Motorist, etc.). Comprehensive coverage pays only
       for damage caused by an event other than a collision, such as
       fire, theft, or vandalism; it also covers weather-related
       (e.g., hail, flood) damage, damage caused if a vehicle
       collides with an animal and it provides a rental car if a
       vehicle is stolen.

   --  Myth: Rental reimbursement coverage protects drivers who crash
       their rental car while on vacation.
       Survey Says: One out of three drivers surveyed (33 percent)
       did not know what protection is provided through rental
       reimbursement coverage.
       Fact: Rental reimbursement coverage pays for the cost of a
       rental car if a driver's personal car is in the shop as a
       result of an accident and he or she needs a replacement
       vehicle.

   --  Myth: Bundling insurance coverages always results in a cheaper
       car insurance rate.
       Survey Says: The majority of drivers surveyed (51 percent) say
       they'll always get a better rate if they "bundle" their
       insurance, i.e., buy their car insurance policy from the same
       company that insures their home.
       Fact: Just because a driver buys more than one product from
       the same insurance company doesn't always mean they are
       getting the best rate available. In many cases there are
       savings to be had by talking with an independent agent or
       broker who can create a custom insurance package with
       policies from competing insurance carriers.

   --  Myth: Car insurance rates go down dramatically when drivers
       turn 25.
       Survey Says: Sixty (60) percent of those surveyed mistakenly
       think rates go down drastically when a driver turns 25.
       Fact: Young and older drivers typically have the most car
       crashes and different car insurance companies' customers have
       different claims experiences. At Drive Insurance, for
       example, crash frequency starts to decline when a driver
       reaches their mid to late twenties. However, when developing
       an auto insurance rate, insurers generally consider a variety
       of other information about the driver in addition to their
       age, including information about their vehicle, their past
       claims history and the claims experience for other customers
       like them. One or more of these pieces of information could
       lead to a driver getting a higher, lower or the same rate
       when they turn 25.

"Car insurance is complicated stuff. Adding to the confusion are the myths floating around out there," says Rick Crawley, product development general manager, Drive Insurance from Progressive. "It's important for drivers to have accurate information so they can make more informed decisions. We hope that by debunking these myths, and by letting people know that independent agents and brokers can help separate fact from fiction, they'll ultimately get the right coverage and services for their needs."