In the latest Esurance commercials, we talk about … what else … savings. More specifically, we talk about how Esurance was built to help you save on car insurance.

Born online, raised by technology, majors in efficiency. So whatever they save, you save. Hassle, time, paperwork, hair-tearing-out, and yes, especially dollars.

This, however, has led a few of our friends and fans to wonder, “How exactly does Esurance save you money?” It’s a darn good question and we have some darn good answers. So in case you’ve ever wondered, here are the top 3 ways Esurance was built to save you money.

1. Born online (no envelope lickers)

As a dot-com survivor, we know what it takes to make a business run online. And with more than a decade’s worth of experience under our belt, we’re getting pretty good at it (if we do say so ourselves).

Our unique online customer experience helps us limit our expenses substantially — and it’s not hard to see why. Think about how much paperwork you get from your various financial services providers each year. Then multiply that by hundreds of thousands of customers. Now add in the costs … paper, ink, stamps. Even having someone to lick the envelopes and drop them in the mail costs money. It all adds up.

By offering our customers the option to handle most of that paperwork electronically, we’re able to save (big time) on overhead costs. We can then pass those savings along in the form of great rates. Meaning everybody wins.

2. Raised by technology (useful gadgets galore)

With easy-to-use online tools, super-handy mobile apps, and a Twitter account (@EsuranceCares) designed specifically to help customers with their questions and concerns, we’re pushing the envelope on what can be done to make car insurance easier. And the more we’re able to make the experience smoother — from quote to claim — the more time and hassle we help you save in the long run.

But don’t get us wrong. Just because we’re constantly working to improve our online and mobile tools doesn’t mean we’re a company based solely on technology. We’re also comprised of living, breathing car insurance experts who work round-the-clock to field calls from customers, answer their questions, and help them find ways to save money. Which leads us to our next point …

3. Majors in efficiency (calibrated services and comparison quotes)

By offering a wealth of online and mobile tools as well as 24/7 expert service, we provide our customers with a streamlined process that lets them choose the easiest approach.

This is not only more efficient for our customers, it’s also more efficient for us since we’re able to calibrate our services more specifically. Plus, in the true spirit of saving customers time and money, we offer online comparison rates from other companies. We’ll even help customers buy whichever policy is priced right for them (whether it’s from us or not). How’s that for efficiency?

Now that you know our (not-so-secret) sauce and can see how simple the equation is, why not get a car insurance quote to see how it works? Find out if being born online, raised by technology, and majoring in efficiency can add up for you. Or just keep us in mind next time you’re shopping for car insurance. Either way, thanks for stopping by.

Related links

Watch the Esurance Savings commercial
Check out the first commercial of our new TV ad campaign.

The voice in the new Esurance commercials (and more)
A celebrity narrator. A Grammy-winning song. And a talking dog. Get the whole scoop.

Get a quote and compare rates
Want to know how much you could save on car insurance? Start right here.

With winter storms blasting parts of the country with as much as 9 inches of snow, many drivers are currently on winter storm watch. Even if you don’t have to brave the tempest, the recent storms are a good reminder to get that winter car kit in good working order. (It may be almost March, but winter’s still packing some punch!)

Kitty litter for snow and ice

Did you know that of the 11 essential items to keep in your winter car kit, kitty litter is one of the top 3? If you find yourself stuck in snowy slush, non-clumping cat litter can be a lifesaver (or at least a time-saver). Pour it in the path of your wheels to help get traction.

And, as anyone who’s ever lifted a bag of cat litter knows, it’s really heavy, so if you keep it in the trunk, it’ll add weight to the rear of your vehicle, which can also improve traction.

Kitty litter for driveways

But how does kitty litter stack up against good old-fashioned salt when you want to de-ice your driveway? Well, as it turns out, kitty litter stinks when it comes to melting ice.

Salt, used since the 1930s to keep snow-covered roads from freezing and becoming dangerously slick, is still one of the best methods for melting snow and ice on your driveway. The reason is simple: salt not only melts ice by lowering the freezing point of water, it also provides added traction once said melting is done. In fact, one pound of salt can melt roughly 46.3 pounds of ice!

Kitty litter, on the other hand, is nothing but glorified clay. While it will help with traction, it won’t actually melt snow (chemically speaking). It’ll just absorb it, leaving you with gobs of wet clay.

So before the next storm hits, make sure you have some salt (any kind will work) on hand for fast de-icing action. And if you happen to be more of a sweet tooth than an ol’ salty dog, sugar will also work in a pinch.

Environmental impacts of salt

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, 43 percent of all salt used in the U.S. is utilized for de-icing purposes (roughly 15 million tons a year!). And while salt is incredibly useful, excess salinity can damage vegetation and contaminate groundwater. So, with this in mind, salt your driveway only when you must, and try not to oversalt. (Just like cooking, a little will go along way.)

More winter driving resources

11 must-haves for your winter car kit
Find out what you need to have in your winter car kit.

6 simple tips for using snow chains
Even if you live in a place where it rarely snows, it helps to know the basics, just in case.

Greatest winter driving tips
Whether you’re facing down a blizzard in Babbitt, Minnesota, or waiting out a thunderstorm in South Ogeechee, Georgia, use these tips to stay safe (and hopefully warm and dry) this winter.

Related links

How road salt works
Explore the science behind de-icing roads using salt.

Highway de-icing chemicals and drinking water (PDF)
Discover the dangers de-icing salt poses for our drinking water (and us).

Presidents’ Day is upon us, and what better way to celebrate our forefathers than by giving them new rides (American-made, of course)? Here’s a list of cars we think some of our former presidents might be driving if they were around today.*

Our birthday boys 

George Washington (born February 22, 1732)

As commander of the Continental Army, Washington helped liberate us from British rule. He also went on to establish the office of president, setting some pretty important ground rules for our modern-day democracy. Away from the public eye, Washington was an innovative agriculturalist and astute businessman.

Such a complex man would require a versatile vehicle — something befitting official state functions yet still rugged enough for weekend excursions to Mt. Vernon with Martha. For you, Mr. Washington, we have chosen the aptly named Jeep Liberty, a car with a well-regarded military history, just like yourself. 

Abraham Lincoln (born February 12, 1809)

President Lincoln was a self-taught man from a modest frontier family. Though he rose to power and prominence, he never put much stock in flash or extravagance. Therefore, a luxury or sports car simply wouldn’t do. 

Forward-thinking in his views on slavery, yet conservative politically, we think Lincoln falls somewhere between electric car and traditional sedan. With that in mind, we’ve chosen the Lincoln (obviously) MKZ Hybrid — a traditional-looking sedan with a modern twist (and we’d be happy to provide the modern car insurance to go with it).  

Plus, we hear President Lincoln is now moonlighting as a vampire hunter, so the hybrid’s near-silent engine could come in handy as he stalks the undead.

More presidential rides

Since pondering former presidents’ cars is just so darn fun (and a good distraction from our other work), we couldn’t stop with just the birthday boys. Here are our other presidential picks.

Thomas Jefferson — Chrysler Town & Country

The Sage of Monticello had a big family — just how big is open to debate — so naturally he’d need a safe, reliable minivan to tote the kids around. 

James Madison — Chevy Corvette

At just 5’4”, “Little Jemmy” might have wanted a car with BIG attitude. Need we say more? 

Andrew Jackson — Harley Davidson

“Old Hickory” was tough as nails and we’re pretty sure he’d fit right in with the Harley crowd.

John Tyler — Chevy Monte Carlo

Who? What? Exactly.

Ullyses S. Grant — Dodge Charger

Grant charged and the enemy surrendered. We figure he’d like a car that reflected his style.

Chester A. Arthur — Cadillac CTS-V

“Prince Arthur,” as his nickname implied, was known for indulging in the finer things in life.

Franklin D. Roosevelt — Ford Fusion

Practical, reliable, great mileage … we could be talking about the car or the 4-term president.

Harry Truman — Ford Fiesta

Known for living modestly after his presidency, we think he’d go for an economical car.

John F. Kennedy — Ford Mustang

Do we really need to give a reason for this one?

Think we missed the ball? Got some more? Let us know your choices for presidential cars on our Facebook page!

*We’re just having some Presidents Day 2012 fun (it is the jolliest of holidays, after all). We’re in no way advertising or passing judgment on any of the cars (or presidents) listed in this post.

Related links

For more speculating, check out our Insuring Famous Rides series.