| Auto Insurance

Does thinking about auto insurance put you to sleep? The history of auto insurance certainly won’t! Learn about the world’s first car accident, driver’s license, and more!

Infographic about history of auto insurance

The History of Auto Insurance

  • Between 1913 and 1927, Ford factories produced more than 15 million Model Ts.
  • 1891: World’s first car accident happened between two Ohioans and a tree…
  • 1897: First auto policy is issued to Gilbert J. Loomis, a mechanic who built his own one-cylinder car for cruising.
  • 1903: Massachusetts + Missouri are the first states to start a driver’s license law. Before then, anyone could put the pedal to the metal.
  • 1927: Massachusetts is the first state to require automobile owners to purchase car insurance.
  • 1956: 29 years later, other states see the benefit to mandatory car insurance laws and followed Massachusetts’ lead.
  • 1964: J.J. Hightail is born in the sweet little town of Shockey, Tennessee.
  • 1991: Direct Insurance is founded.

NOW Insurance laws are different state to state. All but one, New Hampshire, requires mandatory (compulsory) car insurance.

We’ve been providing affordable coverage since our inception. We’re committed to doing things differently, and that means we’ll do right by you.

Safety: Then + Now

Population of the U.S.

  • 1930: 123.2 M
  • 2000: 281.4 M

Number of Deaths Caused by Crashes

  • 1930: 110 a day
  • 2000: 114 a day

10x Safer!

  • People are much safer drivers now, partly thanks to the development of driver’s education and automobile maintenance programs.