Car Insurance Collision Coverage

Reader’s Question:

How can I reduce the cost of collision coverage?

John

Boise, ID

You may be able to raise your deductible, pick a less expensive car or determine if any other discounts could apply for your car insurance policy.

What you pay out of your own pocket is called deductible before your car insurance policy kicks in. The higher the deductible, the lower your car insurance rate. For instance, increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 on collision coverage could lower your auto insurance premium.

Generally, collision coverage is not worth buying for older cars with high mileage because if you ever file a claim for significant damages, your insurance providers will likely declare your car a total loss rather than fix it. That’s because the cost of fixing your car far exceeds its market value or actual cash value. The value you get for the car in the total loss may not justify the car insurance premiums you pay for the collision coverage.

 

Tags: auto insurance, autos, car insurance rate

SR22 Reinstatement California CA

Reader’s Question:

I live in California and my license was suspended because of a DWI conviction. What is the process I have to go through to reinstate my driver’s license?

Sarah

Anaheim, CA

Hi Sarah, thanks for asking. An SR22 Filing is a form issued by an insurance company that is required in order to remove a suspension placed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles on your driving privileged. This is caused by receiving a DUI / DWI, too many tickets, reckless driving or having an uninsured accident.

This document from the Insurance Company in California provides a guarantee to the California Department of Motor Vehicles that you have obtained the California required minimum liability coverage. The insurance company will notify the California DMV should the insurance lapse for any reason. A person cannot receive an SR22 filing without buying insurance, because an SR22 filing is evidence of liability insurance in force.

To get the reinstatement process started, you have to be eligible to get your license back. If you are not sure contact the California Department of Motor Vehicles and ask for the date you are eligible to receive your license back. Also, ask them what other fees are needed to reactivate (usually a reinstatement fee, and payment of all other outstanding parking/moving violation fines).

So the next step is to find the lowest price auto insurance quote from the best carriers in California. There are many options on the Internet, so you just have to make sure you are choosing the most beneficial for you. If their price is OK with you, they will fax or mail you the paperwork to start your policy, and upon receipt, issue the SR22 Filing which will permit you to go to your local DMV office to reinstate your license.

Car Insurance New York NY

Reader’s Question:

I really have a bad driving record. I am 26, and I have totaled 3 vehicles. The first two were when I was a teenager. The last accident was a little over 3 years ago.At that point, I canceled my auto insurance policy after the insurance provider paid for the loss, because I no longer owned a vehicle. I have a lot of questions about auto insurance. I still have 3 insurance points. If I have my name on a joint title of a vehicle with my girlfriend, do I have to carry insurance on myself? I live in NY.

Taylor

New York, NY

 

First of all, if your girlfriend’s name is on the title with your name, she should be able to take out a policy for the vehicle. Depending on whether you will be driving the car or not, some insurance carriers will permit you to be excluded from the policy. If you are specifically excluded from operating a vehicle in New York, you will NOT be covered if you drive the car. As for your driving record, some insurance providers only look for infractions over the last 3 years. Some insurance carriers look at the last 5 years, and some carriers look at the last 7 years. Also, insurance providers tend to reward people for prior insurance opposed to punishing people for lack of prior car insurance.