I am looking for better auto insurance for my new car than my previous insurance coverage. I had Sta@@ Far@ insurance for years, but they seem to slowly but surely raise their rates over the years.  I got a new car and they have once again raised my rate, so I am ready to shop around.

Stanley,

Boston MA

Stanley,

Good for you!  Checking your auto insurance rates every 3 years is a great idea.  This is a pretty common tactic for many agents, they slowly raise your premiums but the increase is so low that they know you will just put up with it. But over the years, so incremental increases really add up to a lot.  Checking around will almost always result in lower rates….at least until year 3 until the new company starts to jack up your rate ever so slowly.

The zip code form above is for Comparison Market, they are a leader in comparison insurance shopping. They will compare 12 companies for you….instantly, and for free…and there is no obligation to do anything.  Once you see the results, which you will online, you can select each carrier and learn more about their offer and the coverage they are offering you and of course the price.

Honestly, this is the fastest and easiest way to shop around for car insurance.  Try it now…and post your comments after you get the rate quote. We want your feedback!

I was given speeding tickets in Wyoming last year and in Montana last month. Will these violations appear in my Washington driving record? Is this going to affect my auto insurance rate?

Louie

East Seattle, WA

Like Washington State, Wyoming and Montana are also members of the Driver License Compact (DLC). Therefore, whatever violation you commit in those states will be relayed to the Washington Department of Licensing (WA DOL) Office and would eventually appear in your Washington driver’s record. Under 46.21.010 of the Washington Revised Code, it is stated that the licensing authority of DLC shall report all convictions and violations made in another DLC member state to the licensee’s home state. This report shall state clearly the violation, the action/s taken, and the plea for guilty or not guilty.

Since all your traffic violations in your home state and in other DLC member states are recorded in your MVR, then your automotive insurance policy carrier will definitely see them once they decide to pull your record. Typically, automotive insurance companies base their policy rate computations on different factors. However, it is common practice to use the driver’s record as one of the bases, too. This rating procedure is acknowledged, though not mandated, by the state’s laws. Therefore, with your MVR in their hands, it is possible that your automotive insurance rates will go up once your driving history has been factored in.

If you need to find out if the speeding tickets you got from Wyoming and Montana would affect your policy rates, ask your automotive insurance agent for their rating system.

I am a 16-year old driver turning 17. My dad is planning to buy me a new car as a Christmas gift. I heard that car is one of the factors in getting lower auto insurance premium. What are the cars that are cheap to insure in Santa Ana, California? I just wanna make sure that my dad’s car insurance rate would be affordable that’s why it’s ok for me if he’s gonna buy me an inexpensive car.

Dante

Santa Ana, CA

That’s nice to hear Dante.

It’s true that the more expensive your car is the more expensive the auto insurance premium would be. To answer your question, according to vehicle retailers, the following are considered to be inexpensive to insure for the first 5 years of ownership:

• Chrysler PT Cruiser 4dr Wagon
• GMC Safari SLE AWD 3dr Minivan
• Dodge Caravan SE 4dr Minivan
• Saturn ION 1 4dr Sedan
• Pontiac Sunfire 2dr Coupe
• Jeep Liberty Sport 4WD 4dr SUV
• Saturn L300 1 4dr Sedan
• Volvo S40 4dr Sedan
• Saab 38600 Linear 2.3t 4dr SportWagon
• Buick Century Special Edition 4dr Sedan

Remember that aside from the car you are driving, there are still several factors that affect auto insurance rate in Santa Ana, California. For more information about factors that cause auto insurance premium to go up or down, don’t forget to ask your car insurance agent. Happy car shopping!

I was surprised when I renewed my car insurance. I was charged a higher rate because I moved to Houston, Texas. I use to live in a suburban district also in Texas. Does living in a city really warrant an increase on my car insurance rate?

Deidre

Houston, TX

Always remember, Deidre, that automotive insurance companies compute premiums based on risk factors. The combination of these different risk factors will determine the eventual amount of premium you will have to pay. Most insurance companies take into consideration the following factors that may affect your car insurance premiums: Geography, age, marital status, gender, driving record, vehicle, credit rating, occupation, and insurance claims.

Since you mentioned you transferred to Houston, Texas and got an increase in your premiums, this means that your car insurance company took into consideration your Geography as a risk factor. What makes Houston at a higher risk is because it is the 4th largest city in the U.S. It would mean that more vehicles will be on the move at any given time, giving a higher probability of a car accident to occur. And the insurers don’t like higher probabilities of accidents because that will mean more automobile insurance claims. We’re not just talking about higher incidence of road accidents, but also higher incidence of car theft and vandalism. For sure, area with a high crime rate qualifies automatically for a higher car insurance premium. However, Deidre, you can reduce your premiums too on account of a good driving record. If you can establish that you are not a road risk, your car insurance company will recognize this and will give you discounts on your premiums or they will give you higher deductibles for your comprehensive car insurance coverage.

I am just curious. I am about to get auto insurance. I heard from a friend who just purchased his car insurance that auto insurance companies take a look at a person’s credit history with or without a person’s permission. Is that true? Is that being practiced here where I live? By the way, I am from Chandler, Arizona.

Abigail

Chandler, AZ

I’ve read something about your question. And yes, your friend is definitely correct.

According to the federal Fair Credit reporting ACT (FCRA), with or without a person’s permission, insurers are allowed to dig into a person’s credit information. However, insurers (in your case car insurance companies) must inform a person that they are going to collect credit information. Also, they must notify you that you have the right to access said information and have inaccurate information (if any) to be corrected.

I hope I was able to help you with this. Bear in mind that credit history is one the factors that affect car insurance premium. The better your credit history is the higher the chance of getting lower insurance rate. If you are shopping for car insurance rates in Chandler, Arizona you can seek the help of a car insurance agent or use the websites.

I would like to make sure if it is illegal to have your car insurance registered to a different address than where you live? I live in Los Angeles, CA right now, but if I place the address for my car insurance to my parent’s house in another city, the rate is reduced by at least half.

Victor

Los Angeles, CA

It is illegal and a form of fraud to give false information on an insurance application, especially for the express reason of lowering your insurance rates. According to the California Department of Insurance, fraud happens when an individual knowingly lies to obtain some benefit or advantage to which they are not otherwise entitled or an individual knowingly denies some benefit that is due and to which someone is entitled.

An alleged wrongful act may be handled as an administrative action by the Department of insurance or the Fraud Division may handle it as a criminal matter depending on the specific issues involved. Trying to obtain car insurance from your parent’s address instead of your own address where the car is actually garaged would be misrepresentation and could get both you and your parents in trouble if done. If you did acquire car insurance using their address and this lie was later uncovered your car insurance could be cancelled and if an accident occurred it may not be covered since the insurance policy was set up using false information.

This can also be classified as material misrepresentation which as defined by the Department of insurance is a false statement given by an applicant of any important fact that, had the insurance company known the truth, it would not have insured the risk. Instead of committing fraud it is best to be upfront and truthful with an insurance company and use your correct address. If you want to try and reduce costs for your car insurance in Los Angeles, California ask about discounts or if there are driver programs in which to participate so that you can reduce your premiums.

Do you know the online traffic class that I can go to take the course to remove points from my drivers license in Georgia ?

Rita

Columbus, GA

The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) does not permit driver to take traffic school classes online or on a computer. The Georgia Department of Driver Services only permits class instruction for its approved traffic school.

To get more information regarding driver’s classes to removed points from your drivers license or driving history in Columbus contact the Georgia Department of Driver Services.

Keep in mind that after taking the course to show your finished certificate to the correct state office so that the points will be taken off of your drivers record. Usually this must be done within a certain amount of time.

If I live out of state with an out of state driver’s license, Will I have to have car insurance while driving in Burbank, California? I am a good driver with no accidents on my record

Gene

Burbank, CA

If you have car insurance on a car in one state typically it will extend and cover your vehicle in another state by conforming to at least that state’s minimum car insurance requirements.

If you are traveling from one state to another you will need to have car insurance on the car so that it is covered during the drive. Even if you came from a state where auto insurance is not strictly required on a vehicle and drove to Burbank, California, since California state law requires vehicles on their roadways to have auto insurance, or another form of financial responsibility, on them you would need to abide to this state law.

According to the California DMV all cars driven or parked on a CA street, road or highway must be insured.

Is it legal if I live in Northeast Cobb, GA and title a vehicle in FL so it would be cheaper? How would this affect auto insurance as well? Would it matter if I am a good driver with a clean record?

Brandon

Northeast Cobb, GA

It is not advisable to try and avoid paying the taxes due in one state on a car or try to pay less in taxes by titling a vehicle in a different state. It is considered fraud in most states if you do it in purpose in order to avoid taxes that a state requires on a car.

As for the car insurance concern, normally you need to insure and register your car in the state which you live (in your case in Northeast Cobb, GA) and the car is garaged. If your vehicle was titled and registered in FL you would be required to have FL insurance on it. Most insurance providers in Florida would be curious as to why the vehicle is garaged in GA but titled in FL and may not offer car insurance coverage since vehicle is not residing in Florida.

Does change in civil status make insurance rates cheaper? If I get married will I be able to save money on my car insurance in Boston, Massachusetts?

Cole

Boston, MA

Most car insurance companies offer a variety of discounts that can save you money on premiums. However, all the discounts that a particular company might offer may not be available in every state. There are many factors that are being considered by car insurance company for you to be eligible for discounts and there are factors that can also affect your car insurance rates. Once of the factors considered is your marital status. Married people tends to be more experienced, responsible and more stable. So it might be possible to save money on your auto insurance premiums in Boston, Massachusetts if you get married. If both of you have good driving records, it could even help with the insurance rates. Generally, insurance companies find that married couples are safer than single individuals.

In Massachusetts, the Division of Insurance lists a 5% discount can be applied to the premium paid for compulsory coverage and, if selected, optional coverages if a married couple own two or more vehicles insured by the same car insurance company, generally known as a multi-car discount. However, if your fiancé has a bad driving record, you can expect it to affect your insurance premium after you get married. Your car insurance policy covers you, your spouse, any other individual insured under your policy, and any licensed driver in your household. If any of those people have a poor driving record, it will surely affect your rates.