For instances when I meet an accident but it is the other party’s fault, I do not know what to expect because I do not have car insurance?

Gene

Detroit MI

You might be given a ticket from the responding law enforcement officer. This may comprise of a monetary fine and you may need to provide proof that you have obtained an insurance policy. Needless to say, this policy will not cover you for the loss that already transpired.

More so, your license may be suspended and you may need to comply with the financial responsibility laws. This will entail you purchasing an ‘SR22′ insurance policy. The SR22 filing is proof of insurance that is filed with the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state to restore a driver’s license that has been deferred.

I have a vehicle that is only worth a few hundred bucks, do I still need to get car insurance for it?

Michael

Orlando FL

Each state has financial responsibility laws entailing either insurance or the ability to pay for any damage caused while driving. This page summarizes the insurance requirements in your state.

In all except 2 states, you will have to insure your car. It is only in New Hampshire and Wisconsin which do not have compulsory insurance laws. Most of the states really require that you show proof of insurance before you register a car.

An older car that does not have much value is usually not insured for physical damage, that is comprehensive and collision coverage. However, you still must have liability coverage on your car.

Despite the insurance you hold, you must be financially responsible for any damage your car may cause.

Is it just me or has anyone noticed that automotive insurance quotes have suddenly become higher?

Ben John

Memphis TN

You are very right in your observation that automotive insurance quotes have increased. According to news reports, it seems that for the year 2009 so far, auto insurance rates are about 12.25 percent higher that it was in 2008. Reports have also said that there are now states that experienced moderate pricing changes.

In June of this year, the average auto insurance on a yearly basis was about $1,804. By July, it went up by $8 to $1,812. Minor increase right? How about this then. Currently, the national average premium for car insurance stands at $1,796. During the same period last year, the national average was around $1,600. Guess what? That’s an increase of around 12%. High isn’t it?

There is however a silver lining to this cloud. In all likelihood, the insurance rate on a national level will stabilize. For you this means two things. First, that the increase of automotive insurance quotes will now start to slow down. Second, it is time for you buy yourself an auto insurance or possibly renew it.

If you already have insurance, then go back and study your policy. Do you find the rates high or do they seem okay? Compare this with similar policies being offered by different insurance companies. Don’t just look at the amount of the premiums needed to be paid. Also compare coverages. You may be getting cheaper insurance but the coverage may not be that good. Always remember to balance things out.

If you don’t have insurance, then start looking for one now. Most states require drivers to carry insurance and there is even a federal programs that will require you to prove that you have continuous insurance for the past year.

It is not likely that automotive insurance quotes will go down to what they were before. What you need to do is buy insurance now before the prices go through the roof.

I heard about this guaranteed issue life insurance that I can get here in Kansas. What are the stipulations and limitations of this type of life insurance policy?

Lars

Overland Park, KS

Guarantee issue life insurance looks as if an extraordinary offer because you don’t have to take medical tests to qualify for coverage. But all the convenience of having a guaranteed issue life insurance has various stipulations and limitations. This type of life insurance plan normally has a value of $5,000 to $50,000. A number of guaranteed issue life insurance policies are complicated and would offer you the chance to make the total coverage bigger with cheap and practically speaking, useless accidental coverage that would be twice or thrice as much as your total benefit when you die in an accident. But the drawback in this is that an enormous majority of life insurance claims are not because of accidents and it continues to lessen as the policyholder grows older.

Another drawback of guarantee issue life insurance is that the premiums are higher than the usual life insurance plan. So if you are in perfectly good health, you don’t have to get guaranteed issue life insurance in Kansas since the costs is much higher than if you take a life insurance plan that has medical exam. Also, the death benefits are generally restricted to a return of premium of the life insurance plan plus interest during the first two years of the effectivity of the plan, except if the policyholder passes away due to accident.

Lastly, some of these guaranteed issue life insurance advertisements are misleading since there’s no definite guarantee that you would be qualified for this life insurance policy. In most instances, the applicant would still have to answer some general health questions, thus making the life insurance company capable of sorting out those high risk applicants.

Since I was required to get SR22 here in Illinois, do I need to get higher liability coverage for my auto insurance? How do I get this kind of insurance and how can I get the best deal on it?

Billy

Peoria, IL

Even if you are required to get SR22 insurance in Illinois, the minimum liability auto insurance coverage will still be the same and that would be $20,000 for bodily injury for one person; $40,000 for bodily injury for two or more persons; and $15,000 for property damage.

In order to quickly get SR22 Illinois, you must be able to find a good auto insurer providing cheap SR22 insurance policies. But you should realize that not all auto insurance companies provide auto insurance with SR22, so approaching a specialized SR22 insurance company is recommended. Usually, the filing fee for SR22 insurance in Illinois hovers at the price range of $30-$50.

You should shop around online or by simply calling around various auto insurance companies in order to get the best deals for your auto insurance with SR22. Doing this would help you get an SR22 Illinois insurance that is just right for your budget. After purchasing SR22 insurance, the auto insurance company would send an electronic letter to the Illinois DMV to confirm that you now have SR22 insurance. You would also get your copy of your SR22 insurance through snail mail.

My mother asked me to know about SR22 Insurance, because she had heard it from her friends and maybe SR22 Auto Insurance is good for my father who drives in Washington. Is SR22 really good for my father and how does it protect him in case of violations and accidents?
Jade

Everett, WA

SR22 Auto Insurance is not for everybody who drives but for those who are high risk drivers whose driver’s license has been suspended. The Department of Motor Vehicles usually requires SR22 filings for three years depending how serious the violation is. In Washington, SR22 auto insurance is provided by the car insurance company and it provides a certificate that the insured has the minimum liability coverage that the state has required.

SR22 auto insurance is needed in Washington if the driver is driving without any car insurance which results to the suspension of the driver’s license. You cannot get car insurance if your driver’s license is suspended therefore, you need to have SR22 auto insurance. But in any case that you did not maintained the coverage, the DMV will be notified by your car insurers and your driver’s license will be again suspended and might cause you another penalty. But if your driver’s license has been suspended due to drunk driving, you also need SR22 auto insurance and after being informed that you need it to get your license back, you must first obtain minimum liability coverage for your own vehicle and a non-owner’s liability coverage if you don’t own any car. The cost of your insurance is also based on the seriousness of our violation, the place you live, the length of your driving experience and driving record.

Tags: auto insurance, DMV, SR22 auto insurance

How are insurance and SR22 related? Who are the persons that need this kind of form and insurance?

Margaret

East Brunswick, NJ

There is a direct relationship between insurance and SR22 for drivers who have been convicted of multiple violations. Typically, SR22 forms are filed together with your insurance if you have been involved in a major or minor accident and have been held responsible for your actions or any convictions such as (DWI) driving while intoxicated, or violating traffic rules. It serves as proof of financial responsibility, and the insured is required by the state government to carry it within a period of three years. SR22 is not insurance, but rather a certification or proof financial responsibility.

Those insured are required to fill an SR22 form and it must be submitted to the state DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) stating your liabilities. Whenever you are driving, you are required to carry this certificate in order to avoid hassles and citations. If one fails to comply with these requirements, then he or she will lose driving privileges. SR22 is state-specific and it depends on your state on how much the minimum liability coverage would be.

Filing term would be in a period of 3 years after suspension. During this period of time, you must maintain it in order to keep your license valid. If it expires for some reason, before the given period, you will have to renew it in order not to lose your driving privileges.

I’m helping a friend get an sr22 insurance. Where can we find sr22 insurance companies?

Diane

Nashville, TN

There are plenty of ways that you can find sr22 insurance companies.

First, you can refer to the website of your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The DMV is the government agency that requires the sr22, a certificate that shows that a driver, who has committed certain violations, has minimum liability coverage for his vehicle. Without the sr22, a driver will have his license revoked and his privileges suspended.

Since the DMV compiles all sr22 certificates per state, they have already compiled a list of sr22 insurance companies that can adequately process the filing of the said document. Their website also shows the satisfaction ratings of these sr22 insurance companies, as well as how much they charge for their services. By using the DMV website, you can be assured that your chosen insurance provider will be able to do the job.

Another option would be to scour your area’s Yellow Pages for listings of insurance companies. A number of traditional insurance providers usually advertise their services through this time-tested publication. In doing so, you not only get the best possible rates but also be assured that the company abides by the state’s insurance rules and regulations.

Finally, try to ask friends who also drive using the sr22 certificate to see who they got as their insurance provider. Make sure to ask if they found the company’s service satisfactory so you can omit them from your shortlist if they did not.

We just bought a new car last month and we want to insure it with liability with in SR22 filing in another insurance company here in Berkeley. Is it practical to do this even if the old car is insured with the old car insurance company we have? If I have an SR22, what should I do next here in Berkeley?

Kevin

Berkeley, CA

It is really impractical to avail car insurance with a different SR22 filing in two different car insurance companies. We all think that if we do this it could make our payment lower which is wrong for we are going to pay coverage twice. If you are going to ask just one car insurance company for both of the cars you have with both SR22 Filing, you would notice that it will be the same amount or much lower than what you pay for two different car insurance company. And one thing you should do is to look for a car insurance company who doesn’t take advantage of how much you can pay but those who can handle each and every situation that you encounter, DUI or not.

In Berkeley, the best thing you could do next once you have included SR22 in your insurance is to take a copy from your car insurance company the proof that you have SR22 to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and speak with an attendant just to make sure that your SR22 is in the computer. Usually, car insurance companies file your SR22 Filing up to two weeks. Just make sure that you pay your policy and review any letter from your car insurance company to have more information or premiums to tear a SR22 provider. And of course, you have to make sure that all of your cars are registered and insured in your name.

Tags: car insurance, SR22 filing, SR22 insurance

I heard from a friend here in Colorado that women can get better auto insurance rates than men. Is there any truth to this?

Rita

Denver, CO

Hi there, Rita! the Nuggets’ current season in Colorado? Anyway, your friend did make a valid point that you should also look into. Women can get lower auto insurance rates and even female-specific services when available. You can try surfing the internet and read up on insurance specifically marketed towards women.

I am sure that you will find this interesting piece of information: women are considered to be safer drivers compared to men. Why? Most major vehicular accidents can be traced to a male behind the wheel. I don’t know whether there are more male drivers than females, or maybe the cost of claims of men are substantially higher than the women drivers. Regardless of what version of the truth is out there, auto insurance companies did find this to be juicy enough to consider women as less risky to insure and thus offer them lower auto insurance rates. However, even if this is a specific product offering, the female should still consider browsing around for the best auto insurance rate possible. I am sure that with a bit of good old fashioned “get a lot of quotes” approach, one can still find a low or cheap auto insurance rate.

Tags: car insurance quotes, car insurance rate, cheap auto insurance, Female Car Insurance, women car insurance