Reader’s Question:

Good day! I just got my drivers license and of course, I’m a first time driver. Anyways, I’m 20 years old and I want to know how much it will cost to get a car insured because I am planning to buy a second hand car. Are there pointers to lessen a car insurance?

Dave

Dallas, TX

Congratulations on your new license Dave! Unfortunately, being a first time driver means you have no driving history. This means insurers will line you up in a very high risk group which leads to higher insurance cost.

However,you can do something about that high cost even if you’re a new driver. First is earn good grades. Studies shows that students with good grades are responsible in areas of life thus there is a possibility that they are more responsible when it comes to driving. Most insurance companies offer discount to these student drivers up to 20% if they can maintain a B or better grade average. Second is to enroll at a driving school. If you can take a formal drivers training course, do it, since most auto insurance company will offer 10% discount. Third is, trying to just include yourself on your parents insurance policy. It will surely cost less if you’ll just add yourself too your parents policy rather than insuring a car on yourself. Fourth is drive less expensive or a low profile car, cars which are less likely to get stolen or burglarize are cheaper to insure compared to expensive cars. Lastly, try not to get any driving citations or accidents.

Always have a good driving behavior, if you get into any accidents, you could turn up to be a high risk teenager and you could face cancellation of insurance policy or worse denial by other insurance company. Remember, as long as you can keep a clean driving record, your car insurance cost will get lower and lower thus saving you lots of money.

Tags: First time driver car insurance

Reader’s Question:

Hi. I’m a single parent in Texas. Should I list down my teen under my auto insurance policy? I think he should already be listed under my ex-husband’s policy.

Amy

Arlington, TX

Hi there, Amy. I suggest that you review your existing auto insurance policy to help you understand better what you insurance company’s stand is regarding this matter. Most auto insurance companies will require the teen to be listed under the policy of the parent where the teen resides more often. However, there are also auto insurance companies that will require both parents to list down the teen. So, why don’t you give your agent in Texas a call to find out exactly what your auto insurance company requires? I suggest that you list him down anyways just to make sure that the both of you are covered. Being a single parent, it is hard enough making ends meet without having to worry about additional expenses that an accident may bring. Also, if your teen is not properly insured and gets in an accident, you will not be able to file for a claim. Worse, you risk your auto insurance being cancelled or being un-renewable because of misrepresentation. This in turn will lead to even higher prices of auto insurance premiums for you in the future. I know that insuring a teen driver may cost more than the usual due to the high risk of accidents involving teen drivers. So, why don’t you shop around for auto insurance companies that specialize in teen drivers? If your teen gets good grades at school you may even be able to get a discount.

Tags: auto insurance policy, teen, teen insurance

Reader’s Question:

Hi. I found a job and recently moved to Lubbock, Texas. My insurance has just expired. Can somebody please tell me where I can get the best car insurance rates and premium coverage for my car?

Diedre

Lubbock, TX

Well, Diedre, we welcome you to Lubbock, Texas, the home of the Texas Tech University, the Warren and Myrta Bacon House, the Cactus Theater and the birth place of Buddy Holly. You will definitely love your new life here in this beautiful city. You probably have not explored this place yet because you apparently are not aware that Lubbock is a small city but you will be very surprised to find that it offers numerous products and services that cater to your different needs. We have a handful of car insurance providers within the city, as well as some more in the neighboring cities. As a matter of fact, there’s one along 82nd Street, another in 20th Street, and I believe there’s one near the University and one along 34th Street. I have already tried some of them through the years and most of them give very reasonable and attractive packages. I’d like to believe that over here, we have lower rates when compared with the other states in the country.

You may also check the pages, they are most probably listed, too, so finding them won’t be very difficult for you. Compare the packages first to see what suits you perfectly, okay? Hope you find it.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance rate, cheap auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

Hi, I’m Jenna, and I live here in San Antonio Texas. Can someone explain to me the different types of car insurance coverage? My mom’s buying me a car!

Jenna

San Antonio, Texas

There are many types of automobile insurance coverages out there, and I’m glad that you’re taking the time and putting in the effort to know. That just shows what a responsible person you are. I’ll try to differentiate the major types just as an overview. Try to learn the finer details by asking different automotive insurance companies there in San Antonio, TX.

On the top of the list is Bodily Injury and Liability. This does two things: covers you when you injure someone, and pays your legal fees, should you have any. Car Rental coverage will pay for your car rental fees when, as a result of an insurance claim, your car is indisposed and is being fixed. Collision coverage will protect you should your vehicle collide with something. For damages caused by theft, vandalism and natural calamities, you need Comprehensive Insurance. Credit Insurance will pay off your remaining auto loan balances in the event of death or permanent disability. Full Glass pays for damaged windows. No Fault coverage will pay for medical expenses of everybody that was injured regardless of who caused the accident. Medical coverage, on the other hand, pays the medical bills of your passengers and yourself if you live in an area where No Fault is not available. And finally, Liability Insurance will pay for vehicular repairs or for any damages to stationary objects that were hit.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

How can I make my teen’s auto insurance cheaper in Dallas Texas?

Paul

Dallas TX

Here are some of the tips on how you can make your teen’s car insurance cheaper in Dallas Texas.

Be sure your teen driver takes a driver improvement course. In most states they require young drivers to take a driver education class. In addition to that, most auto insurance carriers provide cheaper car insurance rates to young drivers who have taken, and successfully completed, a driver education class.

Advice your teen to do well in school since by making good grades in school some insurance company may offer discounts on their auto insurance rates.

It is cheaper if you keep your teen driver on your auto insurance policy. It is much cheaper than paying car insurance rates for a separate auto insurance policy. Also, if your teen has his or her own automobile, some insurance company offer if you have more than one vehicle in your car insurance policy.

Speak with your car insurance agent on what other discounts that is available to you and ask them how else you can get your teen’s car insurance rates lower.

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

Reader’s Question:

I am 19 years old, and am just now obtaining my Texas driver’s license. Do I have to get auto insurance to drive my mother’s vehicle just for the driving test, or it is okay as long as the vehicle itself is insured?

Daniel

College Station, TX

You will need to verify with the Texas Drivers License office or the Department of Public Safety to find out for sure what proof of insurance you need for the vehicle you will be driving for the driving test. If you are driving your mother’s vehicle then likely her insurance carrier would require you to be added to the car insurance policy in order for you to be covered while driving her vehicle for the driving test.

The Texas Department of Insurance states that , young drivers must comply with the state’s financial responsibility laws. Most young drivers, have the option of satisfying their legal requirements by being listed to their parents’ car insurance policy.

According to the Texas DOI site a parents’ car insurance policy covers children living at home or away at school, even when not added on the auto insurance policy. Even though children are automatically covered on their parents’ insurance policy, it’s essential that they be added on the policy as soon as they reach the driving age or get their driver’s license.

Insurance carriers are required to charge the accurate rate, based on the classifications of the motorists in your family. If the parents don’t have all of the drivers in their family added on their car insurance policy and the insurance carrier learns about them later the insurance carrier will bill the policyholder for the extra car insurance premium you should have paid.

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

Reader’s Question:

My insurance carrier in Longview, Texas will not cover my 19 year old daughter on my auto insurance policy, can she get non owners policy instead? If she drives one of my cars, is she covered?

Dan

Longview, TX

If your daughter is excluded on an insurance policy in Longview, TX then she should not drive any car in the household, even with a non-owners policy.

The Texas Department of Insurance states that you can sometimes take off a teen-aged driver or adult child living at home from your auto insurance policy by buying a non-owner policy. Usually this is a bad idea because a non-owner policy merely gives additional liability insurance when driving a non-owned car.

Additionally if your child then has an accident while driving your vehicle, neither your car insurance policy nor the non-owner policy will pay for your car’s damage. This is because the child is excluded from your insurance policy and his non-owners is only for giving additional (excess) liability, if the primary insurance will not pay on the accident then typically the non-owners would not pay either.

The best way to do this is to find an insurance company that will cover the 19 year old daughter on the car insurance policy with you.

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

Reader’s Question:

I am a college student insuring my own vehicle and I would like to know if I should I obtain car insurance in Temple, Texas where I I live in or the state I attend university in?

Richards

Temple, TX

Generally it depends upon your insurance carrier’s guidelines, Temple, Texas laws of where you are a resident of and the state where you are attending college that dictates where you should have your car insurance.

If you are a student attending school out of state normally you will need to speak with your car insurance agent regarding your car insurance policy to check if your insurance coverage will extend to you while you are out of state at college. Some insurance providers will permit you to keep your car insurance policy and coverages in place while you go to college, while other insurance companies will not, either due to the distance from your home in Temple, Texas, the different auto insurance requirements in each state or due to the fact your vehicle will be garaged and used out of state for an extending period of time.

Tags: auto insurance, Student car insurance

Reader’s Question:

Can a sixteen year old have their own vehicle title and have their own auto insurance in Arlington, Texas?

Riley

Arlington, TX

The Texas Department of Transportation states there are no age restrictions for a person to be recorded as the owner of a car. But they also go on to say that insurance providers may impose age restrictions on individuals they insure and may charge higher insurance rate for certain age groups. Since proof of financial responsibility is a requirement to getting TX registration, an individual’s ability to get this auto insurance may limit his ability to register his car.

Generally one must be an adult to get a car insurance policy on their own, so over the age of eighteen. At age sixteen, you are still considered a minor therefore generally state laws and insurance providers guidelines will require you to have a parent or guardian sign on legal paperworks, such as an insurance policy, with you in Arlington Texas.

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

Reader’s Question:

Will my auto insurance premium in Brownsville, Texas go up if I receive a public intoxication and a minor in consumption?

Gary

Brownsville, TX

Typically alcohol offenses are taken very seriously by car insurance carriers. Having a motorist who may drive a car while being impaired can be considered quite a risk for insurance carriers.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, individuals under twenty one years of age who are convicted of the alcohol violations, such as consumption of alcohol by a minor, will receive a thirty day license suspension for the 1st offense, sixty days for a 2nd offense, and 180 days for a 3rd offense

To check how your specific insurance company in Brownsville, Texas will react, regarding insurance rates and premiums, to these Class C misdemeanors check with your insurance broker about how your insurance company’s rating system is set up.

Tags: drunk driving insurance, DUI, DWI insurance, teen insurance