Although most states require drivers to have insurance, that hasn't stopped a large swath of Americans from doing without it. Industry analysts say that about one in seven drivers don't have coverage in response to the struggling economy, USA Today reports.

The number of drivers lacking coverage does not come cheap, either. Statistics have shown that uninsured motorists cost insured drivers $10.8 billion in 2007. The state with the largest percentage of offenders was Mississippi, where a whopping 28 percent of people behind the wheel are uninsured, despite the fact laws mandate it.

"It is costly to track down violators of compulsory insurance laws, and unless the odds of getting caught are high and the penalties severe, drivers will continue to flout the law," Loretta Worsters, president of the Insurance Information Institute, told the publication.

On the opposite end of the spectrum was Massachusetts, which only had 4 percent of drivers uninsured. New Hampshire is the only state without some sort of similar law in place.

Motorists looking to purchase insurance for their new car should consider a few tips before doing so – including finding competitive quotes and reviewing your previous driving record, Edmunds reports.

For most brides-to-be, the last thing on their mind before they get married is what kind of car they'll be taken to the ceremony in. Such was not the case for 26-year-old Megan Ashton, who spent six years transforming an old Volkswagen Beetle into a Porsche 356, The Telegraph reports.

The project began when Ashton bought the 1969 VW for just £200 when she was a student. Then after her fiance proposed, she stripped down the original car and added larger pistons and cylinders to the engine. She also added a white leather interior and the body of a 356.

''There were times when I didn't think we'd get it done in time as it was such a huge project, but it meant so much," Ashton told the news source. "I dreamed of driving the car but got carried away buying my wedding dress, which meant it was quite difficult to fit in."

Though not officially a Porsche, the car has a top speed of 100 miles per hour and is worth about £25,000. The 356 was Porsche's first-ever automobile and was originally created in 1948.

Presented with a number of attractive year-end sales events, almost two-thirds of new and used car shoppers are planning on making a purchase in the next three months. Kelley Blue Book's Market Intelligence Customer Sentiment Survey found that 62 percent are expecting to buy, setting up a successful fourth quarter for the auto industry.

Along with showing that a large swath of shoppers are looking to buy in the near future, the study also indicated that many of them already know what they're looking for. In particular, 55 percent of those polled have decided on the segment while 54 percent have settled on a price. New car buyers are planning to spend an average of just over $28,000, while used car buyers are expecting to pay an average of $11,415.

"Consumers seem to know what they want… it is just a matter of finding it in the current marketplace," said Kelley Blue Book research analyst Camryn Craig. "Inventory levels improved in September and are expected to continue improving through the end of the year."

Drivers who know what they're looking for will want to head to New Jersey Auto Auction, which carries plenty of makes and models at affordable prices.