Reader’s Question:

Hi, I live in Arizona. Now, I got a ticket for speeding in Nebraska. Is that going to affect my driving record and my auto insurance premium here in Arizona?

Isaac

Glendale, AZ

Yes, Gilbert, your driving record in Glendale, AZ will be “updated” even if the driving violation was done in Nebraska. You see, in the 1960s, some states formed the DLC or Driver License Compact. It was not so big before but it gained momentum in the ’90s. The aim of this organization is to monitor its motorists wherever they may be. The organization aims to make sure that a driving infraction you commit in one state will be forwarded to your home state. Arizona, your home state, and Nebraska, where you got the ticket, are signatories of this compact, which means that your speeding ticket will be sent to Arizona.

Now, one tiny traffic violation won’t really affect your premium, I assume this is the reason behind your question. Usually, auto insurance companies do not consider your first speeding ticket to be a factor in raising your auto insurance premium. But if you have several speeding tickets in your home state plus that one in Nebraska, then you might have to expect a little increase in your auto insurance premium. Minor road violations are no longer considered minor if they’ve been committed several times. The auto insurance company will reassess your risk factor when they check you driving history and find it peppered with road violations.

Tags: auto insurance premium, Car Insurance Company, traffic violation

Reader’s Question:

I am from Arizona, and have been accident-free since I had my own car two years ago. Are there ways that I can lower my car insurance premiums?

Jack

Phoenix, AZ

Car insurance companies compute their rates based on the pool of losses they experience. Insurers take into consideration the statewide or countrywide losses their policyholders caused. The losses caused by the few policyholders will be paid for by others within the pool of policyholders even if they have had clean driving records.

Other reasons for the increase in premiums are the costs incurred by the insurer from settlements after a wreck, like medical expenses for the injured persons, or cost of repair or replacement of vehicles involved in a wreck. Although this may seem unfair, car insurance providers make up for this by providing discounts to policyholders who have not been a liability to the company. Most car insurance providers in Arizona give discounts to accident free drivers. A policyholder may also be eligible for a package discount if both home and car insurance are purchased from the same company. Most insurers also give discounts to car owners who have airbags and automatic seatbelts in their cars. Also, being a non-smoker could qualify you for a discount in some auto insurance companies. It is best that you talk to your insurance agent about discounts since most insurers do not advertise their promos.

Tags: auto insurance policy, auto insurance premium, Car insurance discounts

Reader’s Question:

I let my 19-year-old son use my car once in a while. This makes me quite worried because he goes out a lot. My car insurance provider here in Arizona doesn’t exactly give good service, so I’m thinking of switching to another company. What level of service can I expect to receive from other car insurance companies out there? How much help can they be if my son ever gets into trouble?

Marilyn

Glendale, AZ

My advice is for you to first ask your auto insurance providers there in Arizona what services are available in their package. How much would that cost you? Tell them about your concerns and ask them how they normally handle such. Finally, try to ask around about how soon and how well they respond. Nothing beats experience when it comes to these things.

The companies with reputedly good service usually have trained representatives who respond to accidents in about two hours or less. They can assist you in accident scenes, your work place or your home. Several car insurance companies have partnerships with vehicle repair shops. You can directly take your car to these pre-approved shops and wait for your agent. This makes resolving your car trouble faster and generally more efficient.

If you can afford it, you can also choose car insurance providers with coverage that help you if you ever need towing, flat tire changing or delivery of fuel and fluid. If you have to rent a car because yours has been damaged, some insurers also reimburse what you spend on car rental.

Many of these services may be available 24 hours but first, ask whether or not they are. I hope this gives you peace of mind.

Tags: auto insurance, Car Insurance Company

Reader’s Question:

Needing help in Arizona. I just bought a new car, so I won’t be using my old car anymore. The vehicle insurance on the old car is up for renewal. Should I still renew it?

Cathy

Mesa, AZ

Hi there, Cathy. That’s a great question to ask. Each state in the USA has its own policies on vehicle insurance, even for vehicles not in use. Fortunately, Arizona does not require that unused vehicles be insured. However, you should not just stop your vehicle insurance. There are some steps to take to make sure that the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicle is properly notified about the status of your vehicles. You will have to apply for de-insurance of your old vehicle with the DMV. This way, your vehicle will not be suspended for lack of insurance. I think that if you go to their website you will be able to do this online. However, if your vehicle is already de-insured, you will not be able to drive it in the streets of Arizona until you have it properly insured again. If you are caught driving this vehicle without the proper vehicle insurance, you can be fined from $500 up to $1,000 and have your vehicle registration and license suspended. If this happens, you will have an even tougher time getting insurance for any of your vehicles and your vehicle insurance rates will most likely increase. Aside from this, the state may require you to ask your automobile insurance company to file an SR-22 in your behalf before you can resume driving again.

Tags: auto insurance, sr22 insurance

Reader’s Question:

Hi, I’m planning to get motor vehicle insurance here in Flagstaff, Arizona. I’m just wondering how the premium is computed. Also, I was told that I may have to pay an excess in case a wreck happens. I would like to know how it goes. Thanks!

John

Flagstaff, AZ

Hi John, first of all your motor vehicle insurance premium is computed based on many factors, therefore it entails different computations. However, you would notice that your insurance agent there in Flagstaff, Arizona may have to get certain data from you such as the type of vehicle you’re using, where it is kept or garaged, the names of drivers other than you, including their respective ages, your previous records on driving, and your insurance policies. All these may have to be considered to determine the most appropriate insurance premium for you.

For the excess that you’re asking, this refers to the amount that you may have to pay when you claim. You may refer to your insurance certificate for the types of excess. Let us not forget to read the fine print. However, there are certain exemptions to paying an excess. One is during an accident involving two vehicles and you, as the driver of one vehicle, were found to be not at fault. However, you must be able to personally state the details about the other vehicle’s driver such as his or her name, home address, contact number, and the vehicle’s registration. Also, you may be exempted during an incident wherein your vehicle is the only one involved and you as the driver are not found at fault. In this case, you should also be able to identify (and prove) the persons at fault and state their personal details (i.e. name, home address, contact number).

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance premium, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

My car was hit by an ambulance in Phoenix, Arizona while it was parked. Will the ambulance be liable? I don’t wanna go straight to the police, insurance or the hospital as I might be laughed at.

Rodney

Phoenix, AZ

Hi, Rodney. Accidents with ambulances are always dicey. It is always a long process under normal circumstances, if you know what I mean. When the sirens of the ambulance are wailing, you are supposed to give way to the ambulance as they are in an emergency situation. You will be asked if didn’t you hear the siren and then it will turn out that you are the one at fault and be required to take tests or something to see if you really are fit to drive.

Anyway, in your case, you are quietly parked on a side street in Phoenix, Arizona. Now, that is a different matter altogether. More or less, you can go after them as it was clear it was the ambulance driver’s fault. However, the burden of proof is on you to show that the ambulance did hit you. You can check with the nearest hospital if the driver reported the incident, and also that way, it will make things easier as the driver indeed acknowledges that he bumped a car along the way but was not just able to stop due to the urgency of the moment. But first and foremost, report the incident to your auto insurance broker to give the “how to go about it” in more details.

Tags: auto insurance, Car Insurance Company

Reader’s Question:

When I try to register my automobile I was told that I need to get an SR22 because I have a lapse on my car insurance. I thought SR22 is only required if you get caught driving without car insurance or if you got convicted of DUI or DWI. I only have a lapse on my insurance? Is this possible? I live in Chandler, Arizona.

Tom

Chandler, AZ

Yes, it is possible in in Arizona to be required to obtain an sr22 insurance if you had a lapse on your car insurance coverage. Usually, the sr22 insurance is required as a result of a DUI or various traffic violations. Your previous auto insurance provider notify the state of Arizona if your auto insurance policy lapse, canceled or expired. After the state received notification from your insurance company that your car insurance lapsed, they will send your notification through a certified mail that you need to show proof of automobile. Your drivers license and vehicle registration will be suspended if you fail to provide proof of liability insurance to your state.

If you want to reinstate your drivers license and vehicle registration you will be required to provide proof of insurance and obtain an SR22 certificate of financial responsibility in the state of Arizona. You will have to carry and maintain an SR22 for a period of three years from your suspension date.

If you want to know more about insurance laws in the state of Arizona, you may contact the Arizona Department of Insurance. You may be able to ask them what you need to do to reinstate your drivers license if it has been suspended.

Tags: auto insurance, sr22 insurance

Reader’s Question:

Greetings. I am a former resident of Lake Havasu City, Arizona and has just recently moved to Phoenix about a month ago due to work-related issues. I intend on settling here and have already moved in most of my stuff from Havasu. I haven’t, however, updated my my new address with my auto insurance. Will my insurance cover the cost if ever anything happens to me even if my personal information is not updated?

Noel

Phoenix, AZ

Hello, Noel. To answer your question—Your auto insurance that you acquired in Lake Havasu will cover damages and expenses to you and your car even if your residency is not updated as long as it happens within the said coverage period of your policy and as long you can provide proof of your former address, your date of moving to Phoenix, Arizona and the date of when the policy came to effect. This also means that you have to update all legal identifications including driver’s license, as well as your car registration. You may opt to do this on the next renewal of the said documents. Just be sure to provide a copy of your driver’s license, your car’s registration and police report, in case anything happens, to your auto insurance before they approve of paying for the damages. Proof of identity is what’s most important. State ID, DMV license, Social Security and other primary legal identifications is a must. However, if your auto insurance finds other inconsistencies with your personal information through your other identifications, they can assume that you might be giving false personal information.

Your auto insurance will question such inconsistencies and ask for a plausible reason for such event.

Tags: auto insurance, Car Insurance Company, car insurance cost

Reader’s Question:

Its not about my car, its about the boss CD that I am planning to install into my car which is more or less worth more than the car. Will this be covered by my auto insurance policy here in Catalina Foothills, Arizona?

Leo

Catalina Foothills, AZ

Gotcha Leo,

It depends in so many ways Leo. You need to check your comprehensive auto insurance policy terms and condition first Leo. Your CD player is expensive, so what you need is an assurance that it will be covered. Normally auto insurance requires your CD player to be installed on the dash board, which is the right place for such or according to their specifications. If what you are telling me that your CD player is expensive than the ca, then you might want to install alarm system into your car because CD players like that would really attract a lot of looters.

Auto insurance companies in Catalina Foothills, Arizona often times provide discounts if some added safety feature is installed into your car. In your case, you need to install and activate an alarm system.

In terms of coverage, if you are not covered. You’re auto insurance can carry as much rider as you want on it. You can start include a rider that can cover your CD player specifically or other personal things such as CD’s, tapes, etc. Always review your auto insurance policy; there are so many possibilities for discounts on it. Review it now with your auto insurer in Catalina Foothills, Arizona.

Tags: auto insurance, Car insurance discounts

Reader’s Question:

I am going to renew my auto insurance policy here in Casas Adobes, Arizona next week and I received two different offers from two different auto insurance companies, with discount respectively. Can you please help me determining which one I’m going to choose?

Rafael

Casas Adobes, AZ

Sure Rafael,

Wow! Normally discounts are incentives being offered by the auto insurance companies in Casas Adobes, Arizona to selected drivers only. Also only few auto insurance companies who give certain offers to certain individuals and you’re lucky to get not just one but two offers. So if you are interested with these discounts, might as well contact your local insurance agent in Casas Adobes, Arizona to give you pointers on these offers. The usual incentive discount that an auto insurance company provides is when the driver has a clean driving history or the accident free discount.

There are also discounts being offered to good students, this discount is for the teenage drivers or youth drivers who posses a solid academic records. Also these youth drivers can receive auto insurance discounts upon completion of safety driver awareness educational program.

Discounts are also offered to a family who includes more than one vehicle in their policy. You can also get big discounts when you combine auto insurance to homeowners’ policy. You will notice a big value for your money on this method.

With those discount solutions that I’ve presented to you, I will be glad and happy to hear if one of these days you will be qualified to those incentive discounts. Check your options for auto insurance policies in your are by typing your zip code on a similar form on any insurance websites like the one in this page.

Tags: auto insurance, Car insurance discounts, car insurance quotes