Auto Insurance Rate in Maryland

Reader’s Question:

I’m wondering if an insurance policy in Baltimore, Maryland is written with two adult names and one of them dies, is the premium lowered?

Frances

Baltimore, MD

Good question Frances. If there are two adults on an insurance policy and one of them is taken off of the policy (for many reasons, such as death), then the rate can be affected. It may possibly be lowered, it depends upon the rating system and if the insurance policy premiums were higher at all due to the second adult driver being on the insurance policy.

Contact your insurance agent in Baltimore, MD since insurance guidelines and rating systems differ, to find out how your specific insurance companies rating system works and how your rates would be affected in this type of situation. If your rates would not be lowered you can compare by shopping online if you have internet access, for better car insurance rates. The only rating factor difference that some rating systems may see for is a widow versus single, but typically a widow rating variable would cost less than a single rating variable.

Do I Need Liability Or Comprehensive Auto Insurance Coverage?

Reader’s Question:

My car is already 10 years old, is there a point when one should consider not having liability, or comprehensive and collision insurance policy in Wilmington, Delaware?

Michael

Wilmington, DE

Car insurance and the types of optional insurance put on a certain vehicle are personal choices one has to make depending on the individuals financial and overall situation. Most states require some type of liability insurance on a car, so typically there is not a point in time in which to take off the state mandated liability insurance, unless you have sold or gotten rid of the car.

In order to confirm if you think physical damage (PD) insurance, comprehensive and collision, are necessary for your car first determine the value of your car. You then can weigh the value of your vehicle against your PD premium, as well as the deductible amount you would pay if you needed to use these coverages. An older vehicle that has a lowered actual cash value (ACV) may not be worth the extra expense of comprehensive and collision coverage, so you do not want to pay more for insurance than the vehicle you are protecting is actually worth. If you decide you want to keep comprehensive and collision on your car, you may see if you can lower your premiums for these coverages by raising your deductible. You may check as well if there are any discounts available for you in Wilmington, DE. If you decided that your vehicle does not need physical damage coverages any longer, you still will need to keep the state’s mandated minimum liability insurance on the vehicle.

I Need Auto Insurance Help In Colorado

Reader’s Question:

I know that in Lakewood Colorado, where I currently reside, there is a Motor Vehicle Insurance Data Base Law. What information does the database contain and what information is submitted by insurance companies?

Billy

Lakewood, CO

In Colorado, based on auto insurance laws, a statewide database has been established to track compliance and noncompliance within Colorado, of motor vehicle insurance requirements. On a monthly basis, car insurance companies are mandated to submit information on policies issued during the previous month. This information is also submitted to the database by vehicle registration offices on vehicles registered.

The database includes information about your Colorado driver’s license, vehicle, and any information submitted by insurance companies regarding insured vehicles and all individuals listed as insured on your policy. Information submitted by car insurance companies includes: the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), make and year of the vehicle, and the name, date of birth, driver’s license number, and address of each individual insured or owner on the policy. This information allows for a match to the Colorado State vehicle and driver files. If in case you have been stopped by a police officer and you do not have evidence of insurance in your car or you are not listed in the database as having insurance, your driver’s license is subject to confiscation and suspension. Per CRS 42-2-127.7 you may request for a hearing or present proof of insurance that was valid at the time you were stopped, at a driver’s license office or at 1881 Pierce Street in Lakewood, Colorado.

Automotive Car Insurance

Reader’s Question:

If I have four vehicles and four licensed motorists does each person need to be listed as a primary driver on one of the vehicles?

Patty

Waterloo, IA

 

Normally, it will depend upon state insurance laws and the insurance provider’s own underwriting rules and guidelines to determine if each motorist must be a primary on a car or not.

Generally, it is up to the individual insurance company to decide about principal or primary motorists and occasional motorists and how they must be listed on the insurance policy. Not all insurance carriers use the rating terms primary or principal motorist.

With insurance providers that do use these terms then typically they will consider someone as the primary driver on the policy if he or she is the registered owner of the car, drives the car to school or work, or drives the car more than anyone else.

Auto Insurance Question

Reader’s Question:

I have a car insurance policy. Do I need to reimburse the car insurance company for the medical payments?

Shelley

Boise, ID

Insurance carriers differ on their rules and guidelines however medical insurance on car insurance policies usually only pays in excess of what your primary or personal medical insurance does not pay.

If your primary medical insurance paid and you were also reimbursed by your car insurance company for the same medical bill you might owe them money back. However if the car insurance medical coverage did what it is intended to do, pay the excess that your primary medical insurance did not cover, you should be fine. If you need more information concerning your specific policy you may speak your insurance provider.

New Driver Car insurance

Reader’s Question:

I am a new driver and only have a learners permit and I am trying to obtain car insurance. Is it possible for me to get auto insurance if I only have a learner’s permit?

Robbie

Billings, MT

Yes, it is possible to get an insurance policy with a learner’s permit with certain insurance providers.

Typically, you will either need a drivers license or be able to obtain one within 30-45 days. The insurance providers will probably make you obtain a regular driver’s license within 30 days of your policy’s inception date depending on your age,. Plus, if you only have a learner’s permit, the insurance providers may require you take out the insurance policy with a motorist on it who has a regular operator’s license.

If your parents already have an insurance policy, you should check if you can be added to their policy for coverage.

California Cheap Auto Insurance

Reader’s Question:

I am moving to San Jose, California and I would like to know if car insurance is cheaper there than in New Jersey? What is the point system like in California?

Allan

San Jose, CA

This will depend on different factors if your insurance rates will be cheaper in California than in New Jersey. On the average though California car insurance can be more cheaper than NJ auto insurance.

The average insurance rate in 2003 for a California motorist was $950 while in New Jersey the average was $1,365. That year the national average was $914.

The insurance coverages for California and New Jersey are a quiet different. While liability limits are both set at 15/30/5, personal injury insurance (PIP) is an optional coverage in CA and NJ requires $15,000 worth of PIP to be purchased

Auto Insurance Stockton CA

Reader’s Question:

I live in the Stockton California and have a CA drivers license, however I do not have auto insurance. Can I still drive my sister’s cars as long as their cars have insurance?

Cindy

Stockton, CA

 

According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) site, CA motorist and vehicle owners are required to carry minimum monetary limits of liability auto insurance. So this means that even if you do not own an automobile that as a motorist you need to carry car insurance while you have a driver’s license in CA.

Your sister can check with their insurance provider to see if you would be covered under their policy while driving their car. If you are going to operate the car on a regular basis you might need to be added as either a driver or occasional driver. Your insurance coverage typically follows a car and not always the driver. So, when you are driving their car, their insurance should cover you. It is essential to check with their insurance carrier because many policies have exclusions for these cases. For instance, you can have an exclusion for any motorist under the age of 25 on a policy.

Car insurance agents

Reader question:

Where do I go to get car insurance quotes?

Lizzie

Excellent question, Lizzie.

There are several places that you can go to get cheap auto insurance quotes, many of them right here on the internet. The first thing you might want to do is either look around this page at the ads–one of them is likely to lead you to a free instant online auto insurance quote site–or, failing that, do a google search for free auto insurance quotes. The sites that will come up often have several companies from which they glean their information, so once you have finished getting your quotes you will have many options. The truth is that you should never look at one car insurance company, because while a certain company may have the best auto insurance rates for you at one point, when your situation changes so does your relationship with your insurer. You always need to shop around.

Also on the internet are the business sites of many an auto insurance company today. These sites usually contain details about policies as well as car insurance quotes for new and current customers. Many, like Progressive, claim to give quotes of the competitors as well. It is true that they do this, but you can usually get more and more specific quotes from sites that are not connected with a certain company. The upside of these sites, though, is that once you have your quote you can normally also buy your car insurance policy online.

For those who don’t feel comfortable looking on the internet for auto insurance quotes, you can get an expert to do it for you. Car insurance agents are a big help when it comes to finding the auto insurance company that is the best choice for you. There are two kinds of auto insurance agents.

• Captive car insurance agents.

These are agents who give quotes from and sell policies only for the one company that they are connected to. In this case, you might as well just go straight to the company’s website. Captive car insurance agents are a good choice sometimes, but normally only after you have already decided by other means to do business with the car insurance company that they are affiliated with. Even if you do end up choosing to do all of your car insurance business with a captive auto insurance agent, you should at least do yourself the favor of doing a web search on free car insurance quotes or asking an independent car insurance agent for some brief assistance. A little research can go a long way.

There are certain companies who deal with captive car insurance agents only. These include AA, State Farm, Liberty Mutual, and AllState, as well as more.

• Independent car insurance agents.

These car insurance agents tend to work for around five or more car insurance companies. They are like the free quote website of the physical world, in that you can call them up and get quotes for several different plans and policies. They are a good option for everybody, both those undecided on a car insurance company and those settled, but who might seek options at a later point.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

Carpooling car insurance discount

Some people prefer to spend their commute either in the silence of their own vehicle or immersed in the music from their radio, which covers up their cracking singing voice. However, one thing these people are missing is the possibility of a car insurance discount that could save them a bit of money if they were only willing to sacrifice a bit of alone time. In line with car insurance companies desire for their policy holders to drive less and more safely, the use of other means of travel than your own car covered by your policy could not only get you a unique discount, but could get you some collateral discount as well.

Quite a few car insurance companies on the market are now offering a special discount for people who choose to use public transportation or car pool on their way to work instead of driving their car. The reason for this not only stems from the fact that the more you drive, the more chance you have to get into a car accident, but also from the road conditions and traffic stress that usually come with driving to work and can increase chances of getting into a collision, even among good drivers. Another great thing about this car insurance discount is that if you follow it faithfully, you might qualify for a low mileage discount as well, which most companies will give you if you travel less than five thousand miles a year in your car.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

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