Quotes provided by Comparison Market, the leader in auto insurance comparison
Reader’s Question:
I have auto insurance with my insurer for five years now. I am a good payer since I always pay my car insurance bill on time. However, when I was about to renew my auto insurance policy with them, they declined it. The reason they gave me is because I had three minor accidents wherein it was entirely my fault. Can my auto insurance company in Sandy Springs, Georgia not renew my policy just because of that? Is it legally right to decline a renewal because of the claims made by the policyholder? It is my understanding that the reason why I have auto insurance is to have something to back me up in an event of a car accident.
Brad
Sandy Springs, GA
I’m sorry to heat that Brad. However, according to the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, a car insurance company may choose not to renew a person’s policy if said person had more than one instance of at fault accident for a period of three years. Also, if a policyholder’s total of claims made amounts to $750 or even more.
Since your car insurance company in Sandy Springs, Georgia decided not to renew your policy, then it’s the best time for you to get another auto insurance company. You can ask the help of your auto insurance agent or even check the available websites. Also, to avoid this from happening again, please do practice safe driving. No matter how minor an accident is, it’s still an accident and would affect your driving history and the chance of renewing or getting a car insurance policy.
Tags: auto insurance, car insurance law, car insurance online, car insurance tips
Auto Insurance Cancellation Athens-Clarke County Georgia GA
Reader’s Question:
I used to drive an old car, a 1989 Honda Civic model. However, just recently I decided it’s time that my Honda retires and bought a new car. I awarded myself and ended buying a high performance car - Lotus Elise. I added that vehicle under my auto insurance policy. And I was shocked to receive a notice of cancellation of my policy from my insurer. The reason for the cancellation was because I owned a Lotus Elise. I think this is unfair on my part since I always pay my car insurance bills on time. Can my auto insurance do that?
Eric
Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
I’m sorry for what happened Eric.
That exactly happened to my boyfriend too. He was driving an old car and switched to a high performance car. And what he got was a notice of cancellation from his car insurance company after he added said vehicle.
According to the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, adding a high performance car (like Lotus Elise in your case) could result in the change of risk on your part. As you see, driving a high-performance car makes one a high risk driver. Hence, your auto insurance company’s decision to cancel your policy is legal.
I would say now is the best time to look for another auto insurance company in Athens-Clarke County Georgia. You could ask your car insurance agent or check the websites.
Auto Insurance Claims Augusta-Richmond County Georgia GA
Reader’s Question:
I was involved in a car accident last week. Fortunately, I only suffered minor injuries and it was not my fault. The law enforcement officer at that time gave a ticket to the other driver, since it was clearly his fault. However, the other driver’s auto insurance company in Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia is refusing to pay me for any damages. They thought that I’m still somewhat to be blamed for the accident. This is not right! Can’t the Insurance Department force them to pay for my damages? I mean, since it’s been established that it was the other guy’s fault.
Benny
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
It’s nice to know that you suffered just minor injuries.
Going back to your question, unfortunately it is not within the legal responsibilities of the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner to determine who is at fault in a vehicular accident. Thus, the said office cannot force auto insurance companies to pay or settle the claims made. The said office’s role regarding third party claims like what happened to you is in fact very limited. It is mainly restricted to making sure that the other party’s auto insurance company is handling a fair investigation.
It appears to me that you will need some legal help. So, I would suggest it is best to seek legal help for you to know what exactly is needed to be done. I hope it would end up favorable on your part. And I also hope for your speedy recovery.
Auto Insurance Law Mount Prospect Illinois IL
Reader’s Question:
My husband and I are about to celebrate our third wedding anniversary next month. We are considering on going to Mexico again since that is where we first met. Now my question is, I have auto insurance coverage on my car in Mount Prospect, Illinois. We will be driving to Mexico using my car. Will my Illinois auto insurance coverage be extended in Mexico? If that is the case so does that mean we don’t have to worry about getting a Mexico auto insurance right?
Norma
Mount Prospect, IL
Congratulations on your wedding anniversary!
I am sorry to disappoint you Norma but according to the fact sheet from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Division of Insurance) that I have read, your Illinois auto insurance policy is NOT VALID in Mexico. Hence, before going to Mexico you should purchase enough Mexico auto insurance policy that would cover you while you and your husband are in that country. Please remember that only Mexican auto insurance companies are considered valid in Mexico. American and Canadian auto insurances are not acknowledged in Mexico.
You can start shopping around now to get auto insurance in Mexico. Try the websites to get the auto insurance deal you’re looking. Have a safe trip to Mexico!
Auto Insurance Rate Oak Lawn Illinois IL
Reader’s Question:
I head from my cousin that credit history is one of that factors that auto insurance companies in Oak Lawn, Illinois consider when setting car insurance rate. My question is, if I don’t have a credit card and most probably that would mean I don’t have a credit history can this be taken against me by auto insurance companies? Can they opt to not approve my application just because I don’t have a credit history? How does not having a credit history affect my ability to purchase auto insurance?
Nathan
Oak Lawn, IL
There might be a possibility that not having a credit history might affect your ability to purchase car insurance in Illinois. As you see Nathan, your cousin is correct that car insurance companies do consider a person’s credit history to set his/her auto insurance premium.
However, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Division of Insurance), auto insurance companies cannot use credit history as the sole reason in taking unfavorable action against a person. The state of Illinois requires auto insurance companies to do one of the following in an event that a person does not have a credit history:
Consider a person as having a neutral credit history;
Consider a person as having other than neutral credit history; and
Exclude credit history as a factor in setting auto insurance rate for that person.
For more information about setting auto insurance rate in Oak Lawn, Illinois you can ask the IL Division of Insurance or your auto insurance agent.
High Risk Auto Insurance Orland Park Illinois IL
Reader’s Question:
My boyfriend has a bad driving record. And because of that I guess he’s being punished. We can’t get an auto insurance company willing to insure him. We’ve been turned down over and over again. This can’t go on forever. He needs to drive his car and he can’t do that without car insurance in Orland Park, Illinois. Help please anyone?
Beverly
Orland Park, Illinois
I would suggest seeking a help of a car insurance agent so you could avail of the Illinois Automobile Insurance Plan. This plan is designed to help drivers with poor driving history or owns high performance cars (or expensive cars) to purchase auto insurance policy.
There are a total of four requirements that your boyfriend needs to meet to be able to qualify on this program:
Be turned down by car insurance companies, which you won’t have a problem since you’ve already mentioned that it happened to your boyfriend over and over again.
Has a valid license to drive or is qualified to get one;
Doesn’t have unpaid auto insurance bill for the past three years or 36 months; and
Owns a vehicle that is safe to be operated.
This is an expensive plan. However, maintaining a good driving record while under this plan would eventually result to your boyfriend’s be accepted by standard auto insurance companies in Orland Park, Illinois.
Buy Car Insurance Palatine, Illinois IL
Reader’s Question:
Can you give me suggestions on what I should do when shopping for car insurance rates in Palatine, Illinois? I’m totally new to this car insurance stuff so I find it somewhat difficult and confusing. I really need some help about this. Thanks!
Bridget
Palatine, IL
Surely Bridget!
Just follow these five easy steps and you would see that shopping for car insurance is not as difficult as you imagined:
Make sure to get your auto insurance policy from a reliable auto insurance company. You could contact the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Division of Insurance) to know if the auto insurance company you are considering is licensed by the state to do business in Illinois;
Make sure to find a reliable auto insurance agent. If you decide to purchase auto insurance policy from an agent, then be sure that he/she is also licensed by the state of Illinois. You can check that information through the Illinois Division of Insurance too.
Be careful when shopping. Auto insurance rate is expensive. The key to effectively shop is find out the auto insurance policy that you need, the limits that you need for said policy, and your budget. Be sure to compare auto insurance quotes from different car insurance companies;
Be sure to understand the auto insurance policy you are purchasing; and
Be honest and give accurate information when filling out the application form.
For more information about purchasing auto insurance in Palatine, Illinois you could contact the Illinois Division of Insurance. Also, check the websites so you could start shopping.
Cheap Auto Insurance Huntington West Virginia WV
Reader’s Question:
I would like to keep my auto insurance rate in Huntington, West Virginia affordable. Well, right now I would say it’s reasonably priced. However, I would like to know what should I do the get the lowest auto insurance rate possible? I just wanna save on things I could control and I guess saving on my car insurance premium is one of the things I could do.
Henry
Huntington, WV
There a lot of ways that you could do to save on your auto insurance premium. Let me give you the factors that affect your auto insurance rate to go up or down according to the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner :
The car you are driving;
Traffic violations;
Driving miles;
Claim history;
Driving experience;
Amount of Deductibles; and
Cost of coverage.
In addition, the WV Offices of the Insurance Commissioner strongly advise that you do check you car insurance policy from time to time. By doing this, you would know if you are still getting the coverage you need or not. Also, it’s a good practice to shop for auto insurance quotes so you could compare rates in Huntington, West Virginia. You could easily do that by using the websites