Cheap Automotive Insurance Rates
Reader’s Question:
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 automotive 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.
Auto Insurance Question in Los Angeles
Reader’s Question:
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.
Cheap SR22 Car Insurance?
Reader’s Question:
If a person in a household is required to get an SR-22, will this affect the policies of all other drivers in the household in Great Falls Montana?
Richard
Great Falls, MT
If one individual in a household is being required to carry an SR-22 this should not affect the other policies of other motorist within their household in Great Falls.
The car insurance policies of these other drivers will need to reflect that driver (the one that is required to get an SR22) and exclude the driver. If those car insurance policies will not exclude the motorist and are needed to cover the driver then those insurance policies could be affected.
If the motorist does not have an SR22 on any insurance policy, then the household policy will need an SR22 insurance for the driver.
Auto Insurance Company Question
Reader’s Question:
What exactly is the definition of motorist list only status? What is the difference between unrated and list driver?
James
Atlanta, GA
Each insurance providers has their own terms they use when they rate an individual for an insurance policy or how they list an individual on a policy. Each state has different requirements for household members and how they are listed, excluded, rated or excluded with surcharge on a policy.
Some states require that all residents be listed on a policy, but in some instances you may want to exclude coverage for a household member.
Since insurance companies have their own different definitions for drivers’ statuses, so you may consult with the insurance provider you know that is using this specific auto insurance terminology or read through the terms of their policy to see what their intended meaning is for “list only” and “unrated” motorists.
Cheap SR-22 Car Insurance In California
Reader’s question:
How can I reinstate my suspended license in California after a DUI charge?
Alice
Good question.
A simple way to reinstate your suspended license is to purchase liability coverage utilizing the state of California’s minimum requirement in filing SR-22 car insurance form in California Department of Motor Vehicle. The policy is in two types:
An owner policy is an insurance the gives liability coverage for the driver’s personal car or vehicle. This can also be issued under collision and comprehensive coverage. Other additional coverage that may be added to premiums are uninsured motorist, underinsured, medical bills, towing or other rental car bills etc.
The non-owner policy on the other hand, is also called as operator policy. It is an insurance policy that gives mandatory liability coverage on any cars that the policy holder drives but does not own it. For instance, it can be a friend’s car or a company car used for work related. This policy can be issued exclusive of the existing insurance. Your current insurance company doesn’t have to be informed of the requirement for the SR-22 coverage if in case you have other vehicles in the household with an existing insurance. Your policy may be cancelled or your premiums might increase if your insurance company discovers multiple and extreme traffic violations.
Another form to show financial responsibility would be to buy a bond in the amount specified by the state of California. The amounts ranges usually from $30,000 and $50,000. An authorized car insurance company may issue the bonds.
DMV will determines the length of time you will need to carry the SR-22 depending on the gravity of the violation. Generally its between 3-5 years. But in some cases if you carry the insurance for 3 years without any traffic violations, the SR-22 may be then terminated. Fees for reinstatement and penalties will be assessed at the higher cost to the owner.
Goodluck!
-MariCAR
Car insurance for the student driver with a good driving record
Personally, I think I would be more likely to purchase auto insurance (or anything, really) from a company that was run by aliens. It seems like it would be easier to get a claim through with them because they have less experience cheating humans out of their money than other car insurance companies run by earthlings. Paying way too much for car insurance for the student driver is one of the hardest things about young people getting insured with their vehicles, and although I can’t guarantee you that Mercury is going to save you from that (although you can get free online auto insurance quotes to find out), I can tell you some ways to save that are pretty much universal among all auto insurance companies.
We’ve already discussed the good student car insurance discount, which is one of the easiest ways to get a break on the amount you are paying on your auto insurance for your teenager (or for yourself, if you are that teenager). As a recap, what that involves is a discount of between five and ten percent on your insurance policy if you have a B average or better or, in some cases, make a 3.0 or better. This is not the only way for student’s to get discounted car insurance, though.
One of the reasons that students have to pay so much to begin with is because, since they are new drivers and thus less experienced, they aare statistically more likely to get into an accident that will require a claim to be filed. They are also statistically more likely to cause the accident, and to have mre serious ones. How do you prove to the car insurance company that you’re not like that? By keeping a good driving record. This doesn’t mean you’ll automatically start paying the same amount as someone older than 25 with a good record, but it will take a lot off of the normal young person price.
There will be a different requirement for your driving record depending on where you go, so make sure you ask around and maybe go online to get some free quotes. Some companies are okay with a year’s worth of clean record to get the discount, so you could get it as young as 16 or 17. However, some require five years, so you’ll have to wait until you’re halfway through college already. Either way, it helps you save on car insurance while you’re a student and much longer.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
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