Amica, Carfax Join Forces To Increase Used Car Buyer Protection

CENTREVILLE, VA - November 3, 2008 – Amica Mutual Insurance Co. today took a bold step to protect consumers from unknowingly buying cars that were once severely damaged.  For the first time, total loss vehicle information from Amica will be available to used car buyers and sellers through Carfax Vehicle History Reports.  Thousands of Carfax-subscribing dealers and millions of used car buyers have access to a wealth of vital vehicle history details that help consumers shop with greater confidence.

“We feel this proactive step in providing our total loss information will provide an additional level of consumer protection, potentially decrease fraudulent activity, and ultimately reduce the number of unsafe vehicles in the marketplace,” said Auto Physical Damage Manager Scott Wendel of Amica Mutual Insurance Co.

Amica Mutual Insurance Co., ranked highest in customer satisfaction among national auto insurers, nine years in a row by J.D. Power and Associates, is leading the effort for total loss disclosure by insurance carriers to Carfax.  Consumers demand this type of damage information to help them make more informed buying decisions.  Carfax-subscribing dealers can provide one-click access to this and other important information through millions of free Carfax Vehicle History Reports available online.

“Amica has made a decisive choice that every insurer needs to follow,” said Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax.  “Every year, insurance companies total more than five million vehicles.  Our dealer customers have been clamoring for this information and Carfax is breaking new ground to give them access to it.  Making this information available to dealers and consumers through Carfax Vehicle History Reports improves consumer protection and makes our roadways safer.”

Amica also will report vehicle theft data to Carfax to alert used car buyers and sellers about vehicles that were reported stolen.  More than 22,000 data sources report vehicle history information to the Carfax database, comprised of nearly 6 billion unique vehicle records.

About Amica Mutual Insurance Co.  - www.amica.com

Amica Mutual Insurance Company, the nation's oldest mutual insurer of automobiles, was founded in 1907. The company is a national writer of automobile, homeowners, marine, and personal umbrella liability insurance. Life coverage is available through Amica Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary. Amica employs more than 3,000 people in 39 offices across the country.

About Carfax - www.carfax.com

Millions of used car buyers and sellers each year rely on Carfax, the most trusted provider of vehicle history information. Using the unique 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) found on vehicle dashboards and title documents, Carfax instantly generates a detailed Vehicle History Report on any used car or light truck. Carfax Vehicle History Reports™ provide valuable information that helps used car buyers and sellers make better decisions.  Free Carfax Vehicle History Reports are instantly available with vehicles listed in nearly every online marketplace by Carfax-subscribing dealers.  For more information, ask your dealer or visit www.carfax.com.

Contact: 

Scott Wendel
Amica Mutual Insurance Co.
(800) 652-6422

Christopher Basso
CARFAX Public Relations
(703) 934-2664