Reader’s Question:

I am a full time student here in Ohio, but I’m originally from Texas. My mother plans to give me her car, which has a Texas registration. Will I be able to get Ohio car insurance coverage even if the car is titled in Texas?

Ruth

Cincinnati, OH

You are considered a non resident since you are an out-of-state college student. It’s assumed that after completion of your studies here in Ohio, you’ll return to your home state. Since you are a non-resident of Ohio, then there should be no need to register your mother’s car in this state since it already is registered in Texas.

As for insurance purposes, you will need to have your mother’s car insured in the state where the car is registered, in this case in Texas. This is because during the registration process, before the Department of Motor Vehicles approves a car registration application, proof of financial responsibility needs to be submitted first. Check with your mother’s current car insurance provider in Texas first. If it will provide you with auto insurance coverage while driving around Ohio, then there should be no need to get a separate Ohio car insurance coverage. But if it will not cover you in Ohio, then the best thing to do is to contact a local insurance agent that represents multiple insurance providers in this state. This way, you will get valuable information without having to call all companies individually. You can also visit the websites of various insurance companies licensed to do business in the State of Ohio.

Tags: auto insurance coverage, car insurance, DMV, Student car insurance

Reader’s Question:

What does uninsured motorist coverage pay for in the state of Louisiana?

Bob

Baton Rouge, LA

In Louisiana, the law requires that all motorists must have automotive liability coverage for each vehicle that they own. This automotive insurance covers the property damages or bodily injuries that the person may be held legally responsible for - but only up to the limit specifically stated in the policy. The liability coverage required by the state law is 10/20/10. An amount of $10,000 will be paid for the bodily injuries of one person, $20,000 for two or more persons (in a single accident), and $10,000 for property or vehicle damages caused to the other party. Beyond this minimum limit, the state law requires no further coverage for the motorist.

Uninsured or underinsured motorists insurance is one of the optional coverages that you may add to your automotive insurance policy. The uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is useful when you get hit by a vehicle and the driver has either no insurance or just little insurance that is not enough to cover the full amount of your injury expenses. In this case, your uninsured/underinsured policy coverage will be used to handle the expenses for the bodily injuries caused by the accident to you or to the occupants of your vehicle. In the case of hit-and-run drivers, they are classified as uninsured motorists only if there are no interested witnesses who want to cooperate. If you plan to get this coverage, you may try to consider the uninsured motorist economic only coverage. This option also covers the bodily injuries caused by an accident involving an uninsured motorist, however it only pays for the actual amount of the injuries.

There is also an uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage that covers property damage. This coverage provides for the repair of your vehicle once you get in an accident involving an uninsured driver. Under this coverage, a $250 deductible is applied and either $10,000 (the limit set for the recovery of the vehicle) or the actual cash value of the vehicle is covered by the insurance (whichever is less).

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance coverage, car insurance law, liability insurance

Reader’s Question:

I plan on purchasing car insurance here in Missouri. Who should I include in the policy?

Joey
Columbia, MO

It is important that you have car insurance. Moreover, if you share a house or an apartment with other drivers, it is imperative that you all have car insurances. If you live with a roommate, a wife, a partner or a kid, as long as they have drivers’ licenses, they should have car insurance, or be included in yours.

Even if they don’t drive your car, you still have to include them as an occasional driver. Putting them down on the policy assures you that in the event that they do use your car and get involved in an accident, they are still covered. Because if you don’t include them in your policy and something happens to them in your car, it may slow down the process when you make your claim. It can also be a reason for the insurance provider to deny your claim.

It is reasonable that you may want to save money, but insuring the other drivers in your household would save you from future trouble. It doesn’t really cost a lot more to include a driver or two in your car insurance policy, and some insurance providers offer discounts for a policy for multiple cars or multiple drivers. So it is advisable to consult with your agent there in Missouri about the discounts that you can get and about how you can keep your premiums to a minimum.

Tags: auto insurance policy, auto insurance premium, Car insurance discounts

Reader’s Question:

I’m planning to buy a hybrid car here in South Bend, IN, to save gas, but my friend mentioned something about the negative effect it has on auto insurance premiums. What is that all about?

Rodel

South Bend, IN

Your friend is right. Hybrid cars tend to affect the premium rate of your insurance policy. It’s not that insurance companies does not want you to be mindful of our ozone layer, it’s just that there are factors connected to a hybrid car that increases your risk factor. It’s crazy, I know. Save the environment, feed your insurance company. According to a top insurance company, hybrid cars are more expensive to repair. Its parts cost more. Hybrids have complex parts that are expensive to replace. Owing to the complexity of its part and operation, you would need a “hybrid” mechanic also to handle the repairs. Mechanics need special training to handle a hybrid, and that effectively raises labor cost. Also, it takes longer to repair a hybrid because of its complexity. Labor payments constitute a large chunk of car accident claim costs. The higher the repair cost, the higher the premium rates go. But don’t lose hope just yet, there is still good news. The premium cost will still be cheaper compared to the gas savings you get.

So, it’s still okay to care. You can still go and save South Bend, IN, care about the ozone layer, and save money along the way.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance cost, cheap auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

Hi! I’m Ben from Colorado Springs, Colorado. I would just like to get a clearer picture of what an SR-22 is. A little help, please.

Ben

Colorado Springs, CO

Hey, Ben, how’s it going in Colorado Springs, Colorado? Simply put, an SR-22 is a document required by the state that proves that you have the minimum insurance in compliance with that particular state’s laws. Not everyone needs this, though. You will most likely need one if you have a marred driving record. That is, if you were caught drunk driving, perhaps, or without the minimum required insurance or driving without a license. If you are required to have this, you will have to purchase an automobile insurance and inform your insurance company that you need an SR-22. Your chosen provider will file this form in your behalf with the proper government office, which is usually the Department of Motor Vehicles. Once this has been done, you will again be able to drive legally, that is, with the proper licenses and insurance. As your insurer has guaranteed to the government that you are insured. Once the insurance lapses, so does your right to continue driving. So if you need this, make sure you renew when you have to.

But altogether, it would really be better to avoid all this hassle by ensuring you drive safely, with the proper documents and covered with the right amount of insurance.

Tags: auto insurance, sr22 insurance

Reader’s Question:

I did not pay my car insurance for over a year and I am worried about the penalties that I will be facing now that I am ready to get car insurance again with a different car insurance carrier in Pocatello Idaho.

James

Pocatello, ID

You may still be able to find car insurance company that will insure you but you can expect a higher car insurance premium since you did not have a car insurance policy for more than a year thus there was a lapse on your car insurance. You may have a hard time finding a car insurance company though especially if you were cancelled for non payment and you may also lose any insurance discounts you have in your previous car insurance policy.

You may want to take care of any issues before purchasing car insurance policy in Pocatello Idaho if for instance your license has been suspended due to being uninsured. You may pay any fines associated in your penalties of being uninsured as well.

The Idaho driver’s manual states that you will be required to provide proof of car insurance for the first offense of being uninsured. If you get convicted of being uninsured in a 5-year period, you will be required to provide proof of financial responsibility certificate for a period of 3 years. This proof of financial certificate is also called an SR22 financial responsibility form that you can obtain from your car insurance company in Pocatello Idaho.

Tags: auto insurance, Car Insurance Company, sr22 insurance

Reader’s Question:

Should I expect my auto insurance rate to increase if I reported an accident to my insurance carrier in Deerfield Beach in which I was not found at fault?

Lisa

Deerfield Beach, FL

It is unlikely you would see a car insurance rate increase solely because you were in an accident in which another driver was at fault.

You may receive an auto insurance rate increase if you have been involved in many car accidents altogether in thse same year or in recent years. Even if you had many accidents and were found not at fault in any of them, the insurance carrier in Deerfield Beach may assume there is something hazardous about your driving and therefore may charge you a higher car insurance rate.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance cost, car insurance rate

Reader’s Question:

Can I insure my car in Brandywine, DE if I have a revoked or suspended license to have it driven by a licensed driver?

Paul

Brandywine, DE

If you have a revoked or suspended drivers license it will likely be hard to find an insurance company for your car in Brandywine, DE. Most insurance carriers will not insure a driver that has a revoked or suspended license.

Insurance companies that do insure an individual with a revoked or suspended license require the driver to have the ability to obtain a license within thirty days and then get the valid driver’s license within that thirty day period.

Even if you are not driving your car but you want someone to drive you around in your vehicle or want somebody to transport it somewhere, it will need to have auto insurance on it. There are insurance carriers that will permit someone else to insure your vehicle, even if that individual has not insurable interest in the car.

Tags: auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

If your kids get married can they still remain on your auto insurance? I live in Bloomington, Illinois.

Clark

Bloomington, IL

Once your kids get married, and if they moved out of your household and into one with their spouse, typically they cannot stay on the parent’s car insurance policy. Normally, your insurance policy in Bloomington, Illinois covers those in your household and typically a child that is away at college depending upon how far away the university is from your residence.

Generally when your children get married and move out of your house on their own with their spouses they will need to get an auto insurance policy to cover their cars together in both their name and their spouse’s name and be taken off of the parents’ insurance policies. If the vehicles the children have are in the parent’s name then you may need to add the child’s name to the vehicle title so they can insure and register the vehicle in their own name now that they are married.

Tags: car insurance

Reader’s Question:

My teenage son is a 17 year old full time college student and living on campus, 30 miles away. He does not have a vehicle. Currently he is on our car insurance policy. In Saginaw, Michigan, can we take him off our insurance policy? If he drives our vehicle on occasion will he be covered by our policy?

Frances

Saginaw, MI

Most insurance providers in Michigan will require you list all household members as drivers - including any children at college or away from home that may operate your car. Coverage is usually extended to any other individual using your insured vehicle with your express or implied permission to do so. But, it usually does not include any relative not listed on the insurance policy or application. You should contact your insurance carrier to determine what your specific guidelines are regarding this concern, since each insurance carrier has different insurance guidelines and rules. Some insurers do look at mileage driven some don’t. It may be possible to add your teenage son as an occasional driver. You also may be able to exclude him off the insurance policy for the time he is in school with proof of his other address. The insurer may go on the assumption that he has access to your car and may require you keep him listed as a regular driver. So you may check with your insurance carrier in Saginaw Michigan to find a resolution to your insurance needs.

Tags: auto insurance, insurance advice, teen insurance, Young driver car insurance