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

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

Just last week, I was rear ended. Do I have to bring the car to a collision center that is connected to my car insurance company here in Texas, or can I just have it fixed at any certified collision center?

Kurt

Houston, TX

Hello, Kurt! Since you are from Texas, we have to refer to the Texas Department of Insurance, the insurance regulator for the state of Texas. It says that every after an accident and your car needs repairs, there are two options available for you: You can wait for the car insurance company to send over a claim adjuster and inspect your car and make an estimate for the needed repairs, or you can just inform them that you’ll be the one to provide repair estimates from mechanics and auto body shops.

Car insurance companies in Texas cannot require you to use a particular repair shop, although some companies may give you their favored or preferred collision centers. Please remember that with regards to the scope of collision and comprehensive claims, the extent of the car insurance company’s obligation is only to pay for parts of like kind and quality (LKQ). You can’t expect materials or parts more expensive than the original part. The amount car insurance companies are obligated to pay depends on the car’s actual cash value, which is the amount your car would be worth if it were not damaged. Meaning, company will pay only up to its actual cash value or its fair market value before the accident.

Tags: auto insurance claims, Car Insurance Company, collision insurance coverage

Hi. My grandfather is 82 years old and lives in Texas. Recently, he lost his driving privileges because he failed an eye exam. Can he still get auto insurance coverage even if he no longer has driving privileges?

Carrie

Pasadena, TX

Auto insurance companies usually don’t offer coverage to someone who does not have driving privileges. However, a senior citizen is an exemption. Senior citizens who lost or voluntary surrenders his or her driver’s license should be able to find auto insurance coverage. This is, of course, does not mean that he still has permission to drive because of the insurance coverage. This means that he can still have someone drive his or her car and know that the car and passenger are covered by auto insurance.

Senior citizens would usually get high premium when applying for auto insurance coverage. That’s a fact. Teenagers and senior citizens are bundled together in this category.

Upon finding an auto insurance company, your grandfather will have to list himself as part of the excluded list of the people with driving privileges that will be driving the car. Your grandfather will need to declare himself as a non-driver and list down the people that he allows to drive the car around.

Finding auto insurance with this type of scenario in Texas is harder because the primary driver or the owner of the insurance will not be the basis of the policy rate. Determining the policy rate and premium will depend on the listed drivers of the policy.

Tags: auto insurance premium, car insurance, senior car insurance

My friend drives my car every now and then here in Texas. He is listed in my auto insurance policy, and he also has his own auto insurance. Now, if he gets in an accident, is it true that his auto insurance will be the one that covers the damage?

Charlene

Austin, TX

Charlene of Texas, you would be wrong. If your friend figures in an accident while driving your car, your auto insurance policy will be the one to step in and handle things. You will be the one who will file a claim. Since your friend is listed as a driver in your policy, this accident will surely be covered.

If your driver friend is the one at fault, your collision coverage will step in. Collision coverage handles accidents where the driver of the car that’s insured is the one at fault. In other words, if the accident has something to do with the driver’s driving skills, collision coverage is the part of your policy that steps up. But if your driver friend is not the one at fault, the other driver’s insurance will have to shoulder the damages.

If your friend was at fault, there is a chance that his or her auto insurance coverage will be included in the equation. If the amount of the damage far exceeds the amount stipulated by your auto insurance policy, your friend’s auto insurance policy will cover the remaining cost. You may need to check the details of your and your friend’s auto insurance policies to be really sure on this.

Unfortunately, even if it wasn’t you who was driving the car, the auto insurance claim will go on your record, and it will affect your auto insurance rate when you renew your coverage.

Tags: auto insurance coverage, collision insurance coverage, non owners insurance

I am about to get car insurance policy in Texas. Can you give me some tips here?

Jack

Corpus Christi, TX

Good day, Jack. Having your car insured can prove to be a tough task, but if you just ask around I’m sure a lot of people will help you. If I am to give you a tip on getting your car insurance, that’ll be on the requirements that the law in the state of Texas mandates. In case you do not know, different states here in this country have different laws that govern car insurance. Here in Texas (I am from Houston, by the way), there is a minimum bodily injury liability limit of $25,000 per person that is injured to a total not exceeding $50,000 for every accident. Also, $25,000 is the minimum amount for the coverage of property damage liability. In order to familiarize you to the terms, this coverage of the bodily injury and property damage liabilities are often referred to as 25/50/25. But I heard that as of April of this year, requirement for higher limits already went into effect.

I also need to remind you that Texas is a tort state. This means that in a car accident, there has to be someone who is at fault. The tort law of this state is in contrast to the no fault law of some other states. In a tort state, the person at fault in an accident and his insurance company is going to be the one responsible for all the damages.

Jack, the easiest way is actually to hire an agent that would arrange all of your auto insurance needs. I’m sure that there are some reliable ones there in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Anyways, good luck and I hope I was of some help to you.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance

In the state of Texas, what will happen if I get into an accident and I was found to be at fault? Will the damages in my car be paid by my insurance?

Cris

Amarillo, TX

Typically, the party who is not at fault will be the one to claim for the reimbursement of the damages made on him and his vehicle. Your insurance company will be the one handling that in the event that you were insured during the time of the accident. Otherwise, you would have to pay the damages from your own pocket. If you are insured, the amount that your insurance company will be paying the third party would depend on how much coverage you have per bodily damage, vehicle damage, or damage property. For example, if you damaged another vehicle and you carry $50,000 in your vehicle damage insurance, then your insurance company would have to pay the third party $50,000. You may have to check with the local laws of Amarillo, TX about Personal Injury Protection because in a state where this is required, the coverage for bodily injury would have to be prioritized regardless of whose fault it was.

With regards to your vehicle, since you were found at fault, you could only claim under your collision coverage which is is included, I think, in your physical damage. Typically, this coverage is paid in the form of a deductible. The deductible may range from $100 to $1,000 depending on how much you agreed on with your insurance company. So if your damage amounted to $300 and your deductible is $500, you would have to be responsible for the whole amount and not the insurance company.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance, car insurance cost

I got into a wreck 2 months ago in our town here in Austin, Texas and my car was deemed a total loss. Can I still buy my car back?

Adam

Austin, TX

Yes, typically, in Texas (as in most other states), if your car has been found to be a total loss, you will have the option of buying it back from the auto insurance company for its salvage value - that is if you want to keep it and repair it on your own. Insurance companies usually have their own guidelines when it comes to buy back so you may have to inquire with your insurance agent there in Austin, Texas regarding the process on how to get things done with their company.

In Texas, I think you can keep your car if you are willing to deduct its salvage value from what the amount settled with your insurance company. But you have to make sure that the cost to repair the car will not exceed the car’s actual cash value. Otherwise, the insurance company will not agree with the buy back. If you need information about your car’s salvage value, you may contact your local salvage yards for estimates.

You may also ask your local government to check on how to go about the registration of your vehicle once you’ve bought it back. Typically, they know how to determine type of branded title (salvage or rebuilt) your car will have after the buy back. You would have to research on this one because it is hard to find insurance policies for a car with a branded title so I suggest you shop around for the best insurance deals to make sure you get the right coverage that you need.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance

Help! I hail from Dallas Texas, and I think I just got the short end of the stick from an accident. Oh, my God, my car got hit by and uninsured motorist. Although there was no serious injury or damages incurred, I’m still concerned. Is there some way for me to be protected from incidents like these in the future?

Belle

Dallas, TX

Hello, Belle! I can understand how you feel right now. It is disappointing how some motorists can be so irresponsible. I don’t know how many are out there in Dallas Texas. I am glad that there was no major damage to both you and your vehicle. Anyway, there are some measures that you can take to ensure that you are safe and protected by your automotive insurance company.

I do suggest that you take a few minutes off your busy schedule and check what you have on your insurance policy. If you are covered comprehensively, then you won’t have any trouble. But the thing is, most of the time, a great number of us regular folk don’t really drive vehicles that merit us to go with comprehensive coverage. With comprehensive coverage, as the name suggests, you get protection from acts of God, and to an extent, even automobile replacement. Other than comprehensive coverage, to add to what your state tells you to get i.e. liability coverage, you can check out Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist coverage as a substitute. This type of coverage includes bodily injuries to you, your passengers and even your authorized driver from a hit-and-run and the uninsured motorists. Have a safe drive there, Belle.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance

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