Car Insurance Experts

What is PIP insurance coverage?

PIP stands for personal injury protection.  Usually pip insurance coverage covers the hospital, medical and funeral expenses of the insured driver, passengers injured in his/her vehicle, and any pedestrians that are hit by him.  The amount of coverage provided depends on the specified amounts stated in the car insurance policy. 

Personal injury protection insurance is sometimes referred to as no fault insurance because the driver can use their PIP insurance policy no matter who is at fault in an accident.  PIP insurance coverage is not available in all states, and coverages and limits also vary by state.

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What is the penalty for getting a DUI in Kentucky? This is my first offense.

The penalties for a first offense DUI conviction in Kentucky include:

·         2-30 days in jail

·         $200-$500 fine

·         30-120 day driver’s license suspension

·         Possible 48 hours – 30 days community service (this can be applied for in lieu of paying a fine and/or jail time)

·         90 day alcohol abuse program

If this is your second or third offense, you could face much harsher penalties.  You should contact the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet if you have any specific questions about your DUI penalties or driver’s license suspension. 

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I live in Virginia, and I got a DUI.  How long am I required to carry SR-22 insurance for?

In the state of Virginia you are required to carry SR22 insurance for a period of 3 years from the effective date of your suspension.  If you have had SR 22 insurance for 3 years you should contact the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to find out if you are no longer required to maintain the SR22 filing. 

If you are looking for cheap SR-22 insurance make sure you do your research and compare quotes from multiple insurance companies to ensure that you find the best rate possible.  Also, make sure you compare quotes once a year before you renew your policy to make sure you are not overpaying for your SR22 insurance policy.

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I have had 3 accidents and gotten 2 speeding tickets in the past 2 years.  Can my car insurance company cancel my policy?

Yes, your auto insurance provider can cancel your policy at any time if you have filed too many claims or have become too risky to insure by being convicted of too many traffic violations.  If your company cancels your policy it will be hard for you to find another company to insure you that doesn’t charge you outrageous rates. You could try taking a defensive driving course to help lower your rates. You need to contact your car insurance company to see what you can do to prevent them from dropping your auto insurance coverage.  Try to avoid any more accidents and tickets and your auto insurance rates should go down over time.

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I just bought a car and purchased an auto insurance policy.  What will happen if my car is totaled in an accident?

That just depends on the type of car insurance coverage you have. If you only have liability coverage then your insurance company will not pay for any damages to your vehicle.  If you have physical damage insurance coverage your car insurance company will determine how much to give you for your vehicle.  Most insurance companies determine this amount by looking at the actual cash value of your vehicle. The actual cash value is the amount of money required to replace your car less any depreciation.

As you can imagine, it is quite common for the insurance company and you to disagree on the amount of money you should receive for your vehicle. If you have a loan on your car and are worried that you might be upside down in your loan you might want to consider getting gap insurance.  Different insurance policies have different amounts of coverage, so you should read your policy to see how much coverage you have. 

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I bought a new car recently. Should I consider getting GAP insurance? How does it work?

Gap insurance is something you might want to consider if you have financed or leased your vehicle, and will provide you with very valuable protection by bridging the gap between what your regular auto insurance company will pay you for your vehicle and what you owe on the vehicle loan in the case of an accident or theft.  This type of insurance will provide you protection against accident, theft, flood, tornado, fire, vandalism, or hurricanes. Typically, insurance companies will only offer the cash value of your car not the retail value which can cause problems if you owe more money on the loan than the insurance company is willing to give you. 

Let’s say for example that you buy a new car for $30,000 with no down payment, and 9 months later you get in to a car accident and total your car.  At this point you owe $27,000 on the car but your insurance company only wants to give you $25,000.  Gap insurance would pay that additional $2,000 for you so you don’t suffer any losses.  Some gap insurance policies will even pay the deductible for your regular auto insurance so you don’t have to.

Gap insurance is definitely something you should consider to protect yourself financially. Most auto insurance companies do provide gap insurance, so you might want to ask your current insurance provider about getting a gap insurance policy set up.

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I just bought a new car and the insurance is more expensive than my old car. Why does the auto insurance cost so much if this car is cheaper than the one I had previously?

There are a number of reasons why your auto insurance could have increase when you bought your new car.  The make and model of the vehicle have a large impact on your car insurance rates.  Insurance companies don’t just look at how expensive the car is.  They look at other factors like how likely the car is to be stolen or how easy it is to break in to.  There are numerous lists out there of the most frequently stolen cars, so you might want to check to see if your car is on there.  Some cheaper cars have less expensive parts but suffer serious damage in even minor wrecks due to poor craftsmanship, so this could be another reason why your rates went up.

You should ask your insurance company why your rates went up if you have any doubts or feel like you could be over paying.  It is always a good idea to compare free car insurance quotes online before you purchase a car just to make sure the insurance costs are affordable.

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What are some important factors to look for when buying a new car? How will these factors affect my auto insurance premium?

In general it’s a good idea to look at things like interest rate, monthly payment, gas mileage, quality, and the cost of car insurance before you purchase a new vehicle.  Your car insurance rate can vary greatly depending on what kind of car you drive.  You should think about things like is the car foreign made? How expensive are the parts to fix? Does it have good safety features such as airbags, alarm system, etc.? How much horsepower does it have?  All of these factors could lower or increase your rates.

The best thing you can do is a bit of research. It’s never a good idea to rush in to buying a car just because the price is right.  You have to think about all of the costs involved in owning a car, and you don’t want to buy a new car only to realize that you cannot afford the insurance.  I would compare free car insurance quotes from at least 3-5 different insurance providers to get a good idea of how much insurance will cost you for a particular car.

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What is PLPD insurance?

PLPD car insurance stands for public liability and property damage, and it is usually the minimum amount of car insurance coverage required by the state.  This type of coverage is basically the same thing as property damage and bodily injury liability insurance.  PLPD auto insurance provides coverage for damage that you do to someone else’s property and covers you if your car causes any injury or death to someone.  PLPD insurance does not provide coverage for any damage to your vehicle in an accident or for theft or vandalism.

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Is it ok to let my friend borrow my car even though she does not have car insurance? I have my own insurance policy for my car. Will she be covered?

That just depends on your insurance policy. Normally, auto insurance follows the car, not the driver, so your car would be covered even if she was driving.  You need to read your insurance policy or call your insurance provider just to make sure though. Some policies will not allow other drivers or uninsured drivers to drive your vehicle.  Never let anyone that isn’t listed on your car insurance policy drive your car unless you have checked with your insurance company to make sure they are covered.  You don’t want your friend to get in to an accident and then find out later that the insurance company won’t pay for it.

Remember, if your friend gets in to an accident and it’s her fault, your auto insurance will have to pay for the damages, and your car insurance rates could increase.  The more insurance claims you have on your policy the higher premiums you will have to pay. 

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I was convicted of a DUI, and I am trying to get my driver’s license reinstated.  How long do I need SR-22 insurance for in Vermont?

Vermont state law requires that you maintain SR22 insurance for a period of 3 years in order to have your driver’s license reinstated after getting a DUI.  If you let your insurance lapse during your 3 year SR-22 filing period, your driver’s license will be suspended again, and you will have to start your filing period all over again. The SR-22 filing period starts the day your driver’s license is reinstated, not the day you get the DUI or when you become eligible for reinstatement. 

Depending on the severity of your DUI offense (first, second, third+) the length of your SR22 filing period could vary, so it is important that you contact the Vermont DMV to find out exactly how long you need to carry SR 22 insurance. Make sure you compare quotes from a few different SR-22 insurance providers before you decide which one to go with or you could end up overpaying.

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I am looking for a new auto insurance provider. Are there any insurance companies that do not do a credit check?

Every insurance company has different factors that they look at when determining your car insurance premium.  Not every auto insurance company will check your credit history though.  There are some states have regulations that control how much your credit score can affect your insurance rates. It is up to you to do some research and find which companies don’t look at credit as a factor to determine your car insurance rates. 

If you have poor credit and are concerned how this might affect your car insurance premium, don’t worry.  Just keep shopping around until you find the insurance company that offers you the best rates with no credit check.

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Will I have to make a down payment when I buy my car insurance policy?

Usually car insurance companies will require you to make a down payment when you initially purchase your policy. The only way to avoid this is to pay your auto insurance policy in full at the time you purchase it.  If you decide to make monthly payments instead, you will be required to make some sort of down payment.  Insurance companies do this because they want some sort of payment in order to protect themselves before they start giving you auto insurance coverage. It’s pretty much impossible to find a company that will insure you with no money down.

Make sure you compare quotes from at least 3-5 different car insurance companies so you can make sure you are getting the cheapest rate possible.  When you decide which company to go with you can ask them what your payment options are and what kind of down payment that they will require you to make.

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I just purchased a new auto insurance policy. The insurance company gave me the option to either pay my premium up front or to make monthly payments. Which is better?

I don’t think that either way is better than the other because they both have advantages and disadvantages. If you can afford to pay your entire auto insurance premium up front then go for it. Most insurance companies will give you a small discount for paying up front, so that is one benefit.  If you do not have the financial means to spend that much money all at one time, then that’s ok.  Just stick with making the monthly installment payments.  In the end you might pay a little bit more money that way, but you have the convenience of breaking down your large premium in to more affordable monthly payments.

Paying your car insurance premium doesn’t have to be a burden, so select the option that works the best for you and your financial situation. 

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My daughter is getting married next month and moving in with her new husband. After she is married can she stay on my car insurance policy?

Once your daughter is married and moves out of your household she will probably not be able to stay on your car insurance policy.  Normally, insurance companies will only cover drivers that actually live in your household with the exception of students that are away at college.  Each state and individual auto insurance company has different rules, so you should check with your current car insurance provider to see what they say.

Most likely your daughter will need to get her own insurance policy with her husband since she will be living at a seperate residence.  Car insurance should be a little bit cheaper for her now that she is married and combining multiple cars on one policy should also help make her insurance more affordable. There are lots of ways to save on your auto insurance, so make sure you tell your daughter to do a bit of research before she decides which car insurance company to go with.

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I was convicted of a DUI in Florida. How do I go about having my driver’s license reinstated?

Well, you first need to wait until your revocation period (180 days - 1 year) ends.  You will need to show proof of completion or enrollment in a DUI school to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV).  If you fail to complete the DUI class 90 days after you provide proof of enrollment, your driver’s license will be suspended again. You will also be required to pay a number of different fees such as an administrative fee ($115), reinstatement fee ($60) and a license fee. The fees you are required to pay can vary depending on the severity of your offense or if this is not your first DUI offense.

You must also show proof of the required amount of liability insurance coverage and file an SR-22 form for a period of three years.  You can find cheap Florida SR22 insurance by doing a bit of research online.  Make sure you compare quotes for at least 3-5 different insurance companies. Once you meet these requirements, you should have no problem getting your driver’s license reinstated.

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I am a 15 year old boy, and I cannot wait to get my driver’s license. What will happen if I get caught driving without a license in Kentucky?

It is never a good idea to drive without a valid driver’s license, especially if you are not even old enough to drive legally.  In Kentucky it is a Class B misdemeanor to drive without a driver’s license.  If someone allows you to drive to drive their car and knows that you do not have a driver’s license, they will also be found guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.  The punishment for a Class B misdemeanor in Kentucky is a fine of up to $250 and/or up to 90 days in jail.

Since you are a minor, getting caught without a driver’s license can prevent you from getting your driver’s license when you are 16.  If you get in to an accident, the insurance on the car you are driving will probably not cover you, and you could face thousands of dollars in damages.  Driving without a license is a very serious offense, so it’s best to wait until you are legally allowed to drive.

My 16 year old son was pulled over and got an MIP in Michigan.  Will our car insurance rates increase?

Well, that really depends on your auto insurance company.  Most insurance providers consider teenage drivers as high risk drivers because of their lack of driving experience, and your son getting an MIP will not help things.  The Michigan DMV will most likely suspend your son’s driver’s license, so paying for car insurance might not be your biggest problem. If he does get to keep his license your insurance company could still choose to drop him from your insurance policy if they feel he is too much of a risk to insure.

You can pretty much expect to see a large increase in your auto insurance premium.  It’s impossible to give you an exact dollar amount because every insurance company is different. You definitely need to contact your insurance company as well as the Michigan DMV to get everything straightened out with your son’s MIP charges.  

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I was pulled over this morning and got a speeding ticket.  How much will my auto insurance premium go up?

There is no set amount that your insurance premium will increase if you get a speeding ticket or are convicted of any other moving violation.  It really just depends on your insurance company and your previous driving record. If this is your first ticket, your insurance rates will probably not change or you will only see a small increase.  If you have received multiple tickets, your insurance rates you will probably see a larger increase.

Every auto insurance company has a different policy.  Some will base the increase on the severity of your offense and some will raise your rates a certain amount per violation.  Some states have laws that prevent car insurance providers from raising your rates after only one ticket or violation.  If you have questions about your insurance rates, you can call your insurance provider and ask them what their policy is.

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I was pulled over for a DUI last month in Ohio.  Will getting a DWI attorney help reduce my charges?

Getting a DUI attorney could help you reduce your charges and make the whole DUI process a little bit easier on you.  If you feel that you were wrongly accused of driving drunk, getting a DUI lawyer will definitely help and could even get the charges dropped completely.  Remember, hiring an attorney is not cheap.  You could possibly spend thousands of dollars on a good DWI attorney, so you might want to consider the expenses before you decide to go down that road.  Getting a DUI is very costly with all of the fees, fines, and SR22 insurance expenses you have to pay.

Every case is different, and it is up to you to decide whether or not hiring a lawyer will really benefit you in the long run.  You could call an attorney and set up a consultation to explain your situation to them.  They will be able to tell you if they can help reduce your DUI charges.