Reader’s Question:

My boyfriend has a bad driving record. He got multiple speeding tickets and been convicted of DUI once. His auto insurance premium is killing him. It’s just way too high! We are thinking of switching to another auto insurance company. Are there things we could do to lower an insurance premium for a high risk driver like him? We live in Green Bay, WI.

Tiara

Green Bay, WI

I’m sorry to hear that Tiara. Being a high risk driver also means paying more and more to your insurance rates. But you don’t need to lose hope at all. There are still ways to lower down your boyfriend’s premium:
First, know your boyfriend’s driving history. Tell him to check with Wisconsin Department of Motor vehicles (DMV);

Second, he should be responsible to pay each pending violation;
Third, encourage him to enroll in a safety course in driving. This will help him improve his driving skills;

Fourth, if he’s driving a fancy car tell him to shop for inexpensive car and be satisfied with it;

Fifth, demand that he install safety features in his car like seat belts, airbags, and alarms;

Lastly, surf the internet and find the beast deal that you could get from car insurance companies in Green Bay, WI. Be sure to get the company that could offer the best policy for high risk drivers. Also, check with your local car insurance agents in Wisconsin and tell them what exactly you need.

Once you have chosen the policy for your boyfriend, make sure to study and analyze it together. And it’s always important for your boyfriend to maintain a clean driving record. With that, you’ll see a change on his premium in time.

Tags: auto insurance, drunk driving insurance, DUI, high risk insurance

Reader’s Question:

I heard from my aunt that being a woman means getting lower rates in auto insurance. Is there such thing as discounted auto insurance for women? I just don’t get it. How could a gender be factor for auto insurance rates in Wilmington, DE?

Vincent

Wilmington, DE

Yes your aunt is right. Auto insurance companies in Wilmington, DE do look at gender as one of the factors in auto insurance rates. The explanation is simple: according to studies, female drivers with ages from 18 to 25 have lesser vehicular accidents as compared to male drivers of the same age group. Also, women drive less than men thus lessening the risk of getting involved in car accidents. Not only that Vincent, male drivers are also considered careless drivers. They are often involved in risky driving practices like over speeding, drunk driving, or even failed to wear seatbelts all the time.

So, if we are to consider Driver A (a female, whose age is between 18 to 25) to Driver B (a male driver, of the same age range), then Driver A will be paying less on her insurance rates as compared to Driver B. But gender has an effect on auto insurance rates only for young drivers, particularly the mentioned age range.

So, you really don’t have to worry. Being a man does not affect your insurance rates to go up forever. What’s always important is to drive safely and maintain clean driving record. I have a clean driving record for a long time here in Wilmington, DE, and guess what? My insurance rate is just the same with my girlfriend.

Tags: auto insurance, Female Car Insurance

Reader’s Question:

What are the penalties for driving without insurance in the state of Georgia? What happens if you get involved in an accident and you are not at fault and the other individual is insured?

Brenda

Sandy Springs, GA

When a driver is convicted of driving uninsured in Georgia one part of the penalty is a sixty to ninety day license suspension. If you are found by a police officer to not have acceptable proof of insurance, as the vehicle owner you will not be able to purchase and register a Georgia license plate for their car; unable to replace renew, or transfer their existing GA tag; and will be subject to car impoundment and fines if the car was involved in an accident.

Since you were involved in an accident, the state of Georgia might also require you to carry SR-22, a financial responsibility insurance certificate. As for the accident, typically if you were not at fault you will be able to make a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance provider and that individual would go through their own insurance provider for their damages and medical bills.

Tags: auto insurance, sr22 car insurance

Reader’s Question:

My husband is serving the military and I’m looking into the possible discounts we can take advantage of; where do I find information about that?

Christine

Great Falls, MT

Car insurers offer discounts to armed forces personnel according to rank, placement, and duty of the individual applying. The easiest way for you to find information about policies and discounts available is by checking online. You’ll find car insurers that specialize in working with active service men and women, commissioned officers in the military, and government employees. There are military car insurance discounts given to retired service personnel. These insurers offer a host of discounts to suit different military personnel needs. Such coverage extends to the families of active and retired service persons. There’s also a special consideration for those serving in the National Guard and Reserves. The discounts offered may be up to fifteen percent less the standard advertised rates. Plus, there are even more military auto insurance considerations for those serving in imminent danger areas.

By offering discounts to military personnel, car insurers show not only their appreciation to the men and women who serve the U.S. Government but their high regard to the outstanding character and honorable citizens of this country. Those receiving military auto insurance discounts tend to be responsible clients and the insurers trust that payments are expected to be made regularly. That special coverage is available also because service men and women have steady jobs with a very slim possibility of layoff.

Tags: auto insurance online, Car insurance discounts, military discount

Reader’s Question:

I want to confirm that if I take a defensive driving course how much will my car insurance premiums in Paterson, NJ be discounted or will it go down?

Harrison

Paterson, NJ

New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI), the insurance regulator for NJ, has a guide for car insurance that states that New Jersey law requires insurers to offer discounts for drivers who have successfully completed a Defensive Driving course approved by the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission.

Completion of an approved motor vehicle defensive driving course renders licensees eligible for car insurance rate reduction pursuant to N.J.S.A. 17:33B-45 1 and motor vehicle point reduction in accordance with N.J.S.A. 39:5-30.9 The insurance rate reduction is available for three years or until a driver accumulates four (4) motor vehicle points or loses his or her driver’s license. Discounts apply to private passenger vehicles, with only one discount per vehicle. If the auto insurance policy insures two or more vehicles, the discount applies to the vehicle principally operated by the individual who completes the defensive driving course. With some car insurance companies this discount is called an accident prevention discount and comes with certain other requirements so you would need to adhere to it. To find out how much the discount would affect your auto insurance rates in Paterson, NJ or cause them to be reduced by you would need to speak to your car insurance agent.

Tags: Car insurance discounts

Reader’s Question:

If I get into an accident while driving a rental car causing heavy damages on it, which insurance company is going to take care of the repairs? Is it my personal auto policy or is it the rental car’s insurance? If the cost of repairs exceed the insurance coverage limits, does that automatically mean that the auto insurance policy of the other party kick in? I live in Kansas.

Crystal

Kansas City, KS

Under the terms of your personal auto policy (PAP), a rental car is considered a non-owned vehicle. The “other sources of recovery” portion under the PAP further says that any insurance provided with respect to a non-owned vehicle “shall be excess over any other collectible source or recovery”. This includes any coverage provided by the owner of the non-owned vehicle; the rental car company. So it is clear that if you purchased the rental car company’s physical damage coverage for the car you rented, your PAP will provide excess coverage.

Consider also that the “other sources of recovery” portion includes “any other source or recovery applicable to the loss.” This means that your own auto policy will provide excess physical damage coverage if the at-fault driver has insurance.

Your rental contract may state that you’re primarily responsible for any damage to the car. In this case, you need to look at what your own car insurance policy declares in the “other sources of recovery” clause. Your policy is in excess over “any other collectible source of recovery”. In the event that the rental company does not provide physical-damage coverage, or you’re hit by an unknown or uninsured driver (and there is no uninsured motorists property damage coverage), there is no other collectible source of recovery and your auto policy becomes primary.

Tags: car insurance

Reader’s Question:

I’m about to get my first car. But my mom keeps on telling me I should do my homework and check on things I need to learn in getting a car and one of them is car insurance stuff. I know there are a lot of things I need to know about it. HELP! I live in Louisville, KY.

Allyn

Louisville, KY

Having the first car means only one thing FREEDOM but that doesn’t end there. Having a car means also getting car insurance. As a licensed driver myself, I can’t stop on emphasizing the importance of car insurance to every driver. So what is really with car insurance?

Car insurance provides every driver a security blanket. It’s what we call our guardian angel on the road. As you can see Allyn, a vehicular accident often results in damage to property, to other people and worst even to yourself. And every vehicular accident only means one thing, financial burden. With a car insurance to back you up, it provides you financial means to survive an accident in one way or another.

Also, if there are damages caused to your car other than vehicular accidents (such as damage as a result of robbery, vandalism or fire) that is also covered by car insurance. This depends though if this is included in your policy.

Lastly, getting car insurance is required by law. Getting caught while driving without car insurance may mean not only getting a ticket, having your license suspended, paying a hefty fine, but worst having your vehicle impounded.

It’s always best to feel secured and be ready for the future. I’ve been driving for more than 10 years now here in Louisville, KY also and I still believe that having car insurance is one way of securing your future. Enjoy riding your first car!

Tags: auto insurance, Beginner car insurance, Young driver car insurance