Reader’s Question:

In the state of Minnesota, if another person gets into an accident while driving my car, will he be covered by my auto insurance policy?

William,

St. Paul, MN

In the Minnesota Driver’s Manual, it is stated that every owner of a motor vehicle must have no-fault and at least minimum state-required liability insurance. The proof for the auto insurance must be carried at all times and must be made available to the court or the law enforcer at the time that is required.

Typically, an auto insurance policy in Minnesota covers members of the household - provided that they are listed in the policy and that they do not have their own policies. Therefore, if they get into an accident while driving your car, they are pretty much covered.

If an uninsured driver uses your vehicle with your permission and gets into an accident while operating your vehicle, your auto insurance policy will cover him. During the event that this driver gets into an accident or commits a road traffic violation, he must be able to show proof of insurance to the police officer if he is required to show it. Although he is not the owner of the vehicle, he must show proof of insurance showing your name (as the owner) or if in the absence thereof, give the officer your name and address. Minnesota State Statutes Section 169.71 states that if a person is not able to show proof of insurance at the time that it is needed, he will be charged of misdemeanor and may be penalized by fine payment, imprisonment, or suspension of driver’s license (depending on the frequency of the violation).

Tags: auto insurance coverage, auto insurance policy, car insurance law

Reader’s Question:

I am in the process of getting a leased car. The agent in Columbus, Ohio is offering gap insurance and I barely know anything about it. Shall I take it?

Ruth

Columbus, OH

Hi Ruth. Personally I like the whole kit and caboodle of gap insurance. For most of us car owners who do not have the extra cash always, gap insurance could come handy, especially when what we have is a long-term lease, like, let’s say, five years.

Gap insurance bridges the difference between what the insurer assesses your car to be worth and the remaining balance of your loan at the time of the loss or accident. It’s literally that–filling in the void that we, as a matter of fact, often overlook. For example, your 18-month-old car which you bought for 18,000 gets stolen. You still have an outstanding loan balance of 13,000, and based on depreciation rates, the insurance company’s assessment of your car is only 12,000, then there is that difference of 1,000 that you will have to take out of your own pocket.

That difference is what the gap insurance covers. Most auto dealers and insurance companies in Columbus, Ohio, offer gap insurance. So, it should be easy for you to review them first and to choose the best deal. And contrary to what others might think, gap insurance is actually very affordable. I’d get one in a heartbeat.

Tags: auto insurance, gap insurance

Q: For what reasons may my license be suspended and I made to file a DMVsr22?

A: There are a ton of reasons why you may be made to file an DMVsr22, but here is a short list:

• if you get caught riving without insurance in California, then yor license will be suspended
• if you are caught vandalising
• if you are convicted of drunk driving
• if you get into an accident and don’t file a report
• if you have too many points on your driver’s license from things such as tickets
• if you get a ticket and you decide not to go to the court date, or if you don’t pay the fine you owe by the time it’s due
• if you are caught drinking, whether your driving or not, when you are not legally old enough to do so

In some of these cases, you are able to reinstate your license after a certain amount of time by filing a DMVsr22. In other cases, you are only able to get a restricted license, such as one which you can only use to drive to work.

Q: Can you explain the Sr22 certificate filing process to me?

A: Sure. The Sr22 certificate filing process isn’t very complicated, and it is composed of only a few steps, the first being the suspension of your license. In most cases, you are only able to begin filing your Sr22 certificate once the date which you can get your license back on is arrived. Once that date nears, you have to sign up for a car insurance policy and SR22 filing with a car insurance company. Do this at least a couple of weeks ahead of time, preferably a month, because some companies take as much as 30 days to file and your Sr22 certificate needs to be filed when you go to get your license back.

Next, your car insurance company may send you the Sr22 certificate to sign. Sometimes, you send it back and then the company passes it on to the DMV. Other times, you hold on to it and take it with you when you go to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Still other times, your company will be up with the times and will make it much quicker and easier to file it by doing so electronically–this takes around two days, compared to weeks to a month. Once you have your Sr22 certificate, you pay your reinstatement fee and get your license back.

Reader question:

If I get an SR22 for DUI, how long must I have the form on file?

Jane

Thanks for the question, Jane.

Well, if all goes well, you should only have the SR22 for DUI form on file for three years, unless you are in Texas, in which case, two years. This is if you do everything correctly and quickly. See, normally, you are actually on probation for five years, which means that you do not return to normalcy until five years have passed since you restored your license. You can bypass two of those years by having an SR22 form on file continuously for the first three years, but if you decide to wait it out and not reinstate your license, in most states you will have to wait the whole five years.

Of course, how many years you must file an SR22 for DUI will also hinge on how many DUIs you have had before. If this DUI is only your first DUI, then you will do three years along with the people who racked up too many traffic points or drove without insurance and so on. In some states, though, if you have been convicted of multiple DUIs, then you will have to file SR22 for DUI for even longer, with the amount going up to as much as 10 years.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

Reader question:

What is DUIsr22 insurance?

Margo

Glad you asked, Margo.

DUIsr22 insurance is what you will need if you want to start driving again after the period in which your driver’s license has to be suspended has ended. For most people, that period lasts from several weeks to several months, and you then have the option to purchase DUIsr22 insurance.

This type of insurance basically involves you buying a regular insurance policy, but the company also has to file a form with the DMV proving that you are insured with them; if you ever cancel your policy, another form cancelling the first form is filed.

DUIsr22 insurance is expensive, and someitmes difficult to get because of the risk you pose to car insurance companies. If you aren’t able to find a policy, then you should call around to so called “high risk” car insurance companies. Usually one of these companies will be able to insure you, but make sure you gather quotes so that you don’t pay too much.

If even one of those leaves you out of luck, contact your state department of insurance, where you can find out about an ssigned-risk pool, which will charge you more for your premiums but guarantee you that you will have an insurance policy.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

Reader question:

I know teen driver liability insurance rates are high, so can I just not get my teen insurance?

Kim

Not an option, Kim.

The single thing that makes parents think twice before allowing their kids to stick the key in the ignition is the high teen driver liability insurance rates. For teenage girls, these rates are exceedingly high, at around 50% more than what your own average rate should be. For boys, it’s even worse, with as much as double the adult rate. This disparity drops off when they’re older, but since you’re the one footing the bill now, it doesn’t do you any good, does it?

There are two reasons, though, why parents should just accept the (lowest) teen driver liability insurance rates they can find, anyhow.

• First of all, your car insurance company won’t believe that your teenager isn’t driving no matter how much you insist this is the case. If there is a teen in your house, they will have to be on your policy, because on the near certainty that they will drive your car against your wishes, and the possibility that they will get into an accident, your company might not pay your claim.
• Second of all, your teen needs the experience. The fastest way to low teen driver liability insurance rates is to build a good driving record, and that can help you as well.

take care,

Fashun

Reader question:

Can I get an SR-22 car insurance rates comparison online?

Alison

Yep, Alison.

After being charged with a DUI, you aren’t exactly oozing free time. You gotta figure out how to get to work, hire a lawyer, and somehow pay the bills. If it weren’t for the wide availability of SR-22 services online, you probably would have a hard time doing a SR-22 car insurance rates online comparison or anything else related to your SR-22, with a schedule like that.

Here’s a few things you can do with your SR-22 online.

• Shop for car insurance and do a SR-22 car insurance online rates comparison.
• Purchase your SR-22 insurance online.
• File your SR-22 form with the state department online.
• Receive your form to be signed with an electronic signature.
• Set up debit payments on your car insurance policy to more easily avoid suspension.
• Find reviews for SR-22 car insurance companies.
• Get information on assigned-risk pools in your state.

take care,

Fashun.

Reader question:

How much coverage do I need to put when looking up my SR-22 auto insurance online coverage rates?

Mac

Glad you asked, Mac.

One of the last questions you come to on the car insurance quote form is about your coverage. Most people are just willing to accept whatever SR-22 auto insurance coverage online rates the form assigns to them, but if you want to get the price that is both the cheapest and the best for you, then you need to put a little more thought into it.

If you have a new car, or your leasing a car, paying off a car, have a valuable car, an expensive car…and so on, then you should take a further look at the comprehensive and collision sections of the SR-22 auto insurance coverage rates online. You’ll need these coverages, especially if you’re paying on your car still. You can, though, keep the deductibles high to keep your rates low.

If you don’t fall into one of the aboce categories, then you can probably do with skipping that part. But even if you don’t get comprehensive and collision, how much liability do you need? It might be tempting to get the minimum so you can keep your SR-22 auto insurance coverage online rates low, but agents and companies suggest you get at least 100/300/100 levels of liability to protect yourself against lawsuits.

take care,

Fashun

Reader question:

Is it possible to buy cheap online SR-26 insurance, or will I be denied?

Jack

Excellent question, Jack.

Buying insurance after a cancellation or nonrenewal isn’t easy, and if it was a SR-22 policy and an SR-26 cancelation form was filed, then there’s another extra hurdle. But that doesn’t mean that cheap online SR-26 insurance isn’t possible.

You want to give the regular companies a look before trying anything else, by checking the rate quotes from the heavy hitters. Problem is, with an SR-22 policy AND a cancellation of an SR-22, you’re going to have trouble getting into those place. If you fail there, then there are companies just for you.

High risk companies have a record of charging higher prices, but many have cheap online SR-26 insurance available for those who know how to compare prices and exploit all of the right discounts. The area where you can generate the most savings is the area of discounts, so cut down on your driving and review the discounts available from the company with the best rates and a few others. Remember, the company with the cheaper initial rate might not be cheap once you apply discounts to the rest.

take care,

Fashun.