Reader’s Question:

I have an insured vehicle in Massachusetts. But because of my health condition, as of the present, I am not allowed to drive yet. Now, my sister is using my car. However, she is not named on my auto insurance policy. My question is, if my sister got involved (and I hope she won’t) in an accident would she be covered by my auto insurance company? Also, if she has a traffic violation using my car will it be put under my name? With that, will it cause my auto insurance rate to go up?

Lea

Haverhill, MA

I wish you good health Lea.

Now going back to your question, in general, auto insurance companies only cover a person if he/she is listed as one of the driver’s in your auto insurance policy. Since you’ve mentioned that your sister is not listed on your car insurance policy, then I am afraid but I think she is not covered by your insurer.

In addition, if she is cited for a traffic violation, you don’t have to worry because it will not affect your driving record at all. Said violation will be listed under your sister’s name. So with this, your car insurance rate will not go up because it is her traffic violation not yours. However, if you decide to file for a claim because there was a damage incurred on your vehicle because of your sister’s action, then your auto insurance rate might go up. This is because claims history is usually one of the factors that affect car insurance premium to increase.

To better help you with your inquiry, it is best to ask your car insurance agent in Massachusetts.

Tags: auto insurance coverage, car insurance online, car insurance tips

Reader’s Question:

I have a friend who’s license tags were removed because she was caught driving her car in Maryland without an insurance. Is this a legal action? How long does it take before the plate is returned?

Miranda

To avoid receiving penalties, license plates and registration card must be surrendered to the Motor Vehicle Administration in Maryland if the your insurance was cancelled or lapsed.

Because your friend was caught driving an uninsured car, she will receive the penalties like a fine of $150 for the first 30 days and $7 for each succeeding days for a lapse insurance, lose of plates and registration privileges and a restoration fee of up to $25 for the registration. Your friend will not be able to do future registration for other vehicles once the insurance violation is settled. In addition, the license plates will be confiscated effective on the day of registration suspension. Other than these, there are other fines that the court may impose.

In the case of your friend, it is required by the state to turn in the tags. To find out how long, you can check with Maryland MVA.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance, driving without insurance

Reader’s Question:

I am considering the idea of adding optional auto insurance coverage on my policy like Medical Payments Coverage. Correct me if I am wrong, but does this car insurance coverage mean that if I am involved in a car accident, my auto insurance company will pay for my medical bills? How about for passengers in my car? I am from Arizona if that would help you.

Georgina

Phoenix, AZ

Yes you are correct. In general, the medical payment coverage pays for the medical and even funeral bills if a policyholder is involved in a vehicular accident. In addition, even the passengers you have in your car are also covered by medical payments coverage. The amount that your auto insurance company will provide would depend on the limits that you have on that policy.

However, it would be best to check your car insurance policy to get a detailed description of the medical payment coverage. You can also ask your auto insurance agent in Arizona to better help you with your question. If you are shopping for auto insurance quotes in the state of Arizona, I would suggest trying the websites. It gives you faster results and also gives you the benefits of comparing auto insurance rates from different car insurance companies in a very easy manner.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance online, car insurance tips

Reader’s Question:

What penalty would I get if I present expired auto insurance here in San Antonio, Texas?

William

San Antonio, TX

In San Antonio, Texas, if a person shows expired auto insurance to an officer, he or she will be penalized under the “driving without insurance” offense. On the first conviction, the person will be required to pay a fine between $175 and $350. On the succeeding convictions, the fine may go up to $1,000 and even result to suspension of the driver’s license and impoundment of the vehicle.

If a person shows expired auto insurance to an officer while he or she is currently covered by insurance, then that person may go to court and clear the issue provided that he or she can show proof of insurance for the date of the incident.

The proof of insurance should have the following details in it:
1. Name, address and telephone number of the insured person
2. Insurance policy identification number
3. Policy’s inclusive dates (effective and expiration dates)
4. Name and address of people covered by the insurance
5. Limits or policy coverage
6. Model type of the vehicles covered

If one these details are not presented to the court, then the proof of insurance would be considered void. In a case like this, the defendant would have to come up with a new insurance card from the insurance company reflecting the required details on it. Otherwise, the insurance company may write a letter stating all of the details that were not previously presented in the insurance card.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

If I get in an accident with a car that I just rented, who will be responsible for the damages? I live in Texas.

Brenda

Corpus Christi, TX

Like most states, Texas is a tort state. In an accident there in Texas, someone has to be at fault, and this person and his auto insurance company is going to be liable for all the damages made in the accident.

Now, in the case of rented vehicles, rent-a-car companies typically offer collision damage waivers and liability policies as well. A collision damage waiver is not an insurance policy but an agreement that the auto rental company will waive its right to be paid for all the costs of the damage of the auto by the renter of the vehicle regardless of who is at fault in the accident. The basic liability required in Texas may be able to cover for some of the damages inflicted in the car if you get to an accident there in Corpus Christi, Texas, but your coverage limit may not be enough to pay for the actual value of the rented car. So, it is going to depend on you if you rent cars often. If you do, I think it is better to just raise the liability limit on your auto insurance policy, rather than buy collision damage waivers every time you rent.

But in the case that you don’t actually own a car and just borrow or rent, you can avail of a non-owner liability policy that pays for the damages and injuries you cause but not for the damage of the vehicle you are driving.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance, non owners insurance

Reader’s Question:

I am wondering how does one file for auto insurance claim in Maple Grove, Minnesota? What are the things that are needed to be done? I am never involved in any vehicular accidents yet but I just wanna know so I’ll be ready when that happens. Thanks!

Aubrey

Maple Grove, MN

It’s nice to hear that you are not yet involved in any accidents and I hope you’ll never be.

As to your question, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, there are four things that you need to do when filing for a claim. In an event that you are involved in a car accident just follow these steps so you could file for a claim:

1. List down all the names of the drivers involved in the accident. This includes the driver’s auto insurance company, his/her policy numbers and even the plate numbers;
2. If there are any witnesses, get their names, contact numbers, and addresses.
3. Contact your auto insurance agent or the insurance department that processes the claims; and
4. Contact the other party’s auto insurance company or agent if you are going to file for a claim from them.

For more information on how to file for auto insurance claim, don’t forget to ask your auto insurance agent in Maple Grove, Minnesota.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance claims, car insurance tips

Reader’s Question:

I am 18 years old. At present, I am under my parent’s auto insurance policy. I am curious, is it a must that I am listed under their policy? Is there an option that I could purchase my own auto insurance policy? What if I am going to drive their cars and will be driving my own car too at the same time? How would that work? By the way, I am from Deerfield Beach, Florida.

Bella

Deerfield Beach, FL

If you are going to register your own vehicle, then you can definitely purchase your own auto insurance policy. And to answer your question, it is a common practice among car insurance companies that they list the name of all the persons living in the same household with the policyholder. Generally, insurers do this to make sure they got the name of all possible users of the vehicle/s being insured. So given this, it’s only expected that you will be included on your parent’s auto insurance policy if you live with them.

Additionally, if you will still be using your parents’ car and at the same time you will be using yours, it appears to me that you will still be listed under your parents’ policy too as one of the users of their car/s and also under your own car insurance policy. To know exactly on how you can get you own auto insurance policy, ask your car insurance agent in Deerfield Beach, Florida.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance tips, teen car insurance, young driver insurance

Reader’s Question:

Last week, while driving on my way home to Carol City, Florida something broke my windshield. I filed for a claim however my auto insurance company declined to pay for the damage since they told me that I don’t have comprehensive coverage on my car insurance. I have auto insurance coverage on all of my vehicles. If I am not mistaken, according to Florida state law, if it is not my fault then the damage made on my car should be replaced by my insurer free of charge. Isn’t that right?

George

Carol City, FL

To better help you with your question, I would suggest you check on the types of auto insurance coverage you have. Do you have comprehensive coverage or not? If you’re banking on the idea that since you have the state required auto insurance policy (Property Damage Liability - PD and Liability and Personal Injury Protection - PIP) and that forces your insurer to fix your windshield then you are mistaken.

Those mentioned kinds of auto insurance coverage do not at all cover the damage made on your windshield. This kind of coverage falls if you have comprehensive policy. Since it appears to me you don’t have that coverage then I would suggest you get one now. You can ask your auto insurance agent in Carol City, Florida or check the online tools like websites if you consider in getting that kind of car insurance policy.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance claims, car insurance law, car insurance tips

Reader’s Question:

I will be buying auto insurance in High Point, North Carolina. I am aware of the things that I should think and do when buying car insurance policy. Is just need one more help about buying car insurance here. Is it better to pay the auto insurance premium at once meaning one time payment or through installment or let’s say on a monthly basis?

Charles

High Point, NC

Well, this question really depends on you. I cannot say whether paying in full is better than in paying on a monthly basis and vice versa. This is a personal choice. Let me ask you a question first. Will your financial status allow you to pay your auto insurance premium one time? Or will it not? If the answer is yes, then go ahead and opt to pay for one time only.

However, from what I know, the good thing about paying for one time is that you would get as much as 10% savings. This is a case to case basis though. Some car insurance companies offer this some do not. I would suggest asking your car insurance agent in High Point, North Carolina about auto insurance payment for some clarification.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance online, car insurance tips, cheap car insurance

Reader’s Question:

I used to drive an old car, a 1989 Honda Civic model. However, just recently I decided it’s time that my Honda retires and bought a new car. I awarded myself and ended buying a high performance car - Lotus Elise. I added that vehicle under my auto insurance policy. And I was shocked to receive a notice of cancellation of my policy from my insurer. The reason for the cancellation was because I owned a Lotus Elise. I think this is unfair on my part since I always pay my car insurance bills on time. Can my auto insurance company do that?

Eric

Athens-Clarke County, Georgia

I’m sorry for what happened Eric.

That exactly happened to my boyfriend too. He was driving an old car and switched to a high performance car. And what he got was a notice of cancellation from his car insurance company after he added said vehicle.

According to the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, adding a high performance car (like Lotus Elise in your case) could result in the change of risk on your part. As you see, driving a high-performance car makes one a high risk driver. Hence, your auto insurance company’s decision to cancel your policy is legal.

I would say now is the best time to look for another auto insurance company in Athens-Clarke County Georgia. You could ask your car insurance agent or check the websites.

Tags: car insurance law, car insurance online, car insurance tips