Reader’s Question:

I wonder if you could help me. My father is thinking of buying me a car in Oklahoma and he will register and insure the car in Oklahoma under his name. I will be added as the primary driver on the car insurance policy. However, I live in St. Charles, Missouri. Is this possible?

Fred

St. Charles, Missouri

Your father will need to speak with his car insurance provider and see if it is they will allow that kind of arrangement but generally most insurance providers will not allow this. Most insurance carriers will not allow the car to be in more than one household in a single car insurance policy so I dont think they will permit a car to be insured in Oklahoma and garaged in St. Charles, Missouri.

Another reason why that kind of situation will not work is that state liability laws are different in Oklahoma and Missouri, that is why the car needs to be insured in a state where it is garaged and driven.

The state of Oklahoma, requires minimum insurance of 25/50/25, while in the state of Missouri requires minimum insurance of 35/50/10 and uninsured motorist coverage of 25/50. I suggest that for you to be get proper insurance in Missouri, your father may have to include your name on the title of the car so you can register and insure the car in Missouri.

Tags: auto insurance, Car Insurance Company

Reader’s Question:

In Illinois, is there a law that say I am required to take their damaged vehicle to the Springfield Illinois insurance carriers referred shop?

Clark

Springfield, IL

No I am not aware of any law that say you can take your damaged car to your Springfield, Illinois insurance carrier’s referred repair shop.

You are not required in the state of Illinois to use the insurance carrier’s preferred shop, or any that they referred you to. The Illinois Department of Insurance states that you are not required to use your insurnce carrier’s suggested repair shop for your wrecked car to be repaired. So you may be able to choose your own shop to repair your car but, if your repair shop charges more than the insurance provider suggested shop, you may probably have to pay the difference.

According to the Illinois Department of Insurance there is no law that states limits the number the company can ask for or how many estimates you must submit. Your insurance carrier may ask for various estimates to determine the median cost to fix your car.

Tags: Car Insurance Company

Reader’s Question:

Is car insurance more expensive for a new vehicle as opposed to an older vehicle?

Peterson

Anaheim, CA

Generally an older used car will cost less to insure since it is worth less than a brand new vehicle normally. In addition, cost of parts and repair tend to be lower for a used vehicle compare to a new vehicle and thus if the vehicle must be repaired after a wreck the expense should be less for the insurance company to fix the used vehicle.However it will still depend on the type of car as well as the age of it.

If you are looking for a vehicle to purchase and are trying to decide between a older car or a new vehicle in Anaheim, CA, you can obtain a car insurance quote on each car to check what the price difference would be for each to be insured.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance cost, car insurance quotes

Reader’s Question:

If I have a car in Arcadia, California that has been off the road for more than a year now because it is in the process of being repaired. My question is, do I still need to register and insure it?

Julian

Arcadia, CA

You need to contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles in Arcadia, California to verify if you need to keep this car registered and insured.

In California they have more strict guidelines for inoperable vehicles. California law requires cars to be currently registered if they are driven, stored, towed, parked on public highways or roads or parked in an off-street public parking facility at any time during the period of registration.

If you have an inoperable car in California , you can apply for non-operational status on the car and pay a planned non-operation (PNO) fee. Once this status is placed on a vehicle’s record, it stays until you decide to drive the car and pay full registration renewal fees.

Tags: auto insurance, automobile

Reader’s Question:

Is there any program that I can enroll in or is there anything that I can do to reduce two points off my NJ license?

New Jersey does have ways in which licensed NJ drivers can reduce points from their MVR.

Up to three points can be subtracted from your driving record point total one year after:

• your license restoration; or
• your last point violation; or
• your driving record was violation or suspension free for the past year;
• you complete an MVC driver improvement program offered to problem drivers selected by the MVC. You can receive credit only once every 2 years.
• the last time annual safe driving points were subtracted from your record;

You total points will never go below zero. If you go without license violations or traffic violation for many consecutive years though you can zero out your total points. For the 2 points you have currently, you may contact the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to find an approved traffic school to attend so that two points can be remove from your record.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance rate

Reader’s Question:

I live in Flint, Michigan and I would like to know how many points does it take to be considered a unsafe or bad driver for insurance purposes?

Dan

Flint, MI

Michigan has a point system in which each moving violation has a point value, which is set by Michigan Vehicle Code law. Points are assessed and put on your driving record after you have been found guilty or convicted of or responsible for a civil infraction. Points placed on your driver record (MVR) stay there for two years.

The amount of points in which it takes for an insurance provider in Flint MI to determine you as an unsafe driver will depend on the individual insurance carrier since insurers differ on how they use these violations to determine your auto insurance rates or if you are a high risk driver. To check your insurance carrier’s rating system you can contact them or your state’s insurance regulator since auto insurance rates must be filed with this agency.

Also Michigan has decided that if you accumulate seven or more qualifying points on your driving record or are convicted of specific moving violations you will have to take part in the Driver Responsibility Program.

Tags: good driver insurance, insurance, safe driver insurance, traffic violation

Reader’s Question:

My 22 year old son is giving a vehicle titled in his name to his sister. Do I have to title the vehicle in another name to take out insurance so my other son can drive? We live Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Sarah

Cedar Rapids, IA

It is likely that you will need to have your 22 year old son sign the title of his vehicle over to you or your other son if he is handing over the ownership of the car. This will permit you or your son to be the owner of the vehicle and thus can register and insure it.

If the son that is receiving the vehicle is a minor, under 18, you will likely need to also sign paperwork with him since documents such as an auto insurance policy is a legal contract and generally minors are generally not allowed to enter into a binding legal contract without a parental or legal guardian signature as well.

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

Reader’s Question:

I co-signed a lease for my teenage son’s vehicle when he was in college. A year later, he has moved out and is taking time off from college. He is still on my car insurance policy. What are our options? We live in Tamiami Florida.

Gene

Tamiami, FL

You have a couple of options depending on where the car stays everyday at the end of the day. If the car stays at your son’s residence, you should remove him and the car from your car insurance policy. Many insurance providers will not insure cars from more than one household - unless it is a student risk attending college in the same state from which the insurance policy originates. So, if you do this, I suggest that you make sure he satisfies the terms of the lease - because your credit may be at risk. Now, if the car stays at your household everyday at the end of the day and your son does not drive your cars with any frequency, you should remove him from your policy. To remove him from your insurance policy, you will probably need to provide proof he resides elsewhere. Another option is to turn the car back to the dealer - if you can. Ultimately, you will need to consult your insurance provider and the lease company to assist develop a plan that will meet your needs.

Tags: auto insurance, autos, high risk insurance, teen insurance, Young driver car insurance

Reader’s Question:

I am not satisfied with one body shop and want my car towed to another shop, do I still need to pay the first one my deductible? I live in Las Vegas Nevada.

Leo

Las Vegas. NV

You would only pay the body shop that actually repairs your car. But, you may be still responsible for any storage fees accumulated and most likely would have to pay those in order to have your car released.

You may contact your Las Vegas car insurance adjuster as soon as possible if you are considering having your car moved to another body shop. This would reduce any unnecessary additional costs.

Tags: auto insurance, automobile

Reader’s Question:

If a person is in jail and he own a vehicle, how will he insure it? He wont be out anytime soon. If he doesnt carry car insurance then his tag won’t get renewed. But he doesnt drive it. How should he go about doing this?

Paul

Los Angeles, CA

Most states would require that one should maintain insurance on the car if it is currently registered. It is possible that if he is not driving the car that he may not have to insure it. He could cancel the registration and return the tag. He can still insure the car if you wish to do so. He could buy an auto insurance policy like he ordinarily would. He could use the street address where the vehicle is being kept and you could continue to be the named insured. He can easily and quickly get a car insurance quote and purchase his policy online.

Tags: auto insurance, autos, insurance advice, quotes