Reader’s Question:
I would like to put my daughter under my car insurance policy here in Palm Beach, Florida. I know this might cause my rates to go high, do you have any suggestions on how I can keep my rates low with my teenage driver?
Vanessa
Palm Beach, FL
Teenager Drivers can really cause a big on their parent’s auto insurance expenses. It is a known fact that teenagers are not the best driver’s, as statistics have shown over the years. The good news is that there are actually there are a lot of ways on how you can keep your car insurance rates there in Palm Beach, Florida, in check:
1. Teach your teen to become a responsible driver -making your teenager realize the importance of obeying traffic rules while on the road and the long-term consequences of reckless driving is one of the most effective and important steps you can take to prevent your car insurance from significantly increasing, as well as keeping them safe while driving a vehicle.
2. Smart student’s get good discounts – encourage your child to excel academically since most car insurance providers offer parents with a good student discount towards their auto insurance policy.
3. Consider an Older Vehicle – maybe you can convince your daughter to drive an older, less expensive vehicle (or this may not even be an option for you and her). In any case, it will cost you less to ensure a used, less expensive car as compared to giving them a brand new model.
4. Keep them under the same policy – it will cost much more for your daughter to get her own policy as compared to staying under yours as a “named” driver, your insurance company might even give discounts for doing this too.
Reader’s Question:
I want to understand my automobile insurance policy here in Palm Beach Florida a little better, what comprises my insurance policy?
Janet
Palm Beach, FL
Your regular auto insurance policy is actually a package composed of several different types of insurance coverage and each has a role in protecting your financial well being while driving a vehicle. The basic auto insurance policy will have the following: Bodily Injury Liability coverage, Property Damage Liability, Collision Insurance Coverage, Medical Payments (sometimes known as “MedPay”) or Personal Injury Protection, Comprehensive Insurance coverage and sometimes, Uninsured or underinsured motorists coverage policy. It would also be interesting to note that some of these coverage are optional while others, such as Liability Insurance, are mandated by the financial responsibility laws of Palm Beach, Florida.
Bodily Injury Liability – pays for medical treatment, injuries, income loss and pain and suffering compensation if you injure someone in a car accident. Florida minimum requirements: $10,000 payable to each injured person per accident for a total of $20,000 for all injured individuals per accident.
Property Damage – pays for damages you caused to private or public property in a car accident ($10,000 Florida Minimum)
Collision Insurance – pays for damages and repairs to both parties vehicle in a collision.
Comprehensive – Provides coverage if you lose your car due to non-car accident related circumstances like acts of god, floods, vandalism etc.
Personal Injury Protection – pays for treatment of your injuries in a car accident regardless of who is at fault.
Uninsured/ Underinsured Motorist – pays for the extra amount needed to restore or repair your vehicle if the other party has no or insufficient insurance coverage to do so.
Reader’s Question:
I bought a new car in Florida just when we moved in Palm Beach. I heard there is a little difference in the rules regarding car insurance here in Florida in terms of loss of policy. What are those rules and what are the penalties, if there are any, for not having car insurance in Palm Beach Florida?
Dave
Palm Beach, FL
First of all, be reminded that car insurance in Palm Beach or anywhere you drive in Florida car insurance is a requisite to anyone who drives along Florida roadways. And there are certainly penalties for not having a proof of car insurance while driving when the authorities know it.
There are two occasions wherein you may lose your car insurance policy. For one, when your insurance provider cancelled your policy due to failure to renew it or to pay the necessary amount on time, you do not have other options but to subscribe for another policy. You better hurry because your former insurer immediately informs the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) once your policy is cancelled.
The other occasion is when you are driving and you do not carry with you the proof of your car insurance. And in case a police officer caught you driving with his/her knowledge that your car is not insured and you are unable to provide him your insurance card, DMV has the right to suspend your license and your car’s plate and registration up until you are able to show a proof of new insurance policy you get. However, you need to pay a $150 to $500 fee to have your license back as well as your car’s registration and license plate.
Reader’s Question:
I have done some research for car insurance companies and I am near in reaching a decision as to which company I’d go with. Aside from checking if the policy contains the coverage I need for my car insurance here in Florida, is there some kind of clauses that I should avoid?
Noelia
Palm Beach, FL
I believe that you have gone through a tough time to find the perfect insurer for your car insurance in Palm Beach, Florida. But before you go ahead and put your signature on, you have to go over the policy. Aside from making sure that it has the coverage you need, there are two sections that you must check in the policy:
1. Check if you surrender your privilege to take a matter in court and would just be compelled into mediation if there’s dispute over a certain issue. An insurance expert said that it would be a lot better not to let pass this privilege because it would be simpler for insurance companies to take advantage of you. In case you see this in the policy you are considering, everything is not automatically lost. A contract is a mutual arrangement, so you could remove that part in the policy. In case the insurer doesn’t approve the policy sans clause, you have to look for another insurer.
2. In case you find in the policy that the insurance provider could use “aftermarket parts” for body shop repairs, choose another insurer. If the vehicle that you drive is pretty recent that you intend to maintain for a long time, you’d likely be satisfied if you take some more time looking for another insurer that has competitive edge than try to argue with the insurer once you file a claim.
Reader’s Question:
What causes my car insurance rates for my car here in Palm Beach, Florida to change? (And how is it determined in the first place?)
Mack
Palm Beach, FL
Hi Mack! It is a good idea to know what can cause your insurance rates to change as well as the how’s and when’s. An educated consumer is an empowered consumer, and being one is just as important in managing your car insurance costs there in Palm Beach, Florida. Below are some factors that can cause your car insurance rates to change, for the better or for the worse.
You’re Driving History
Your driving record is a significant factor on how car insurance companies evaluate (and re-evaluate) your premiums. Sometimes traffic and moving violations as far back as three to five years ago could still come back and haunt you in the form of inflated insurance rates. It is also important to get a copy of your driving history prior to applying since you don’t want any errors or incorrect records affecting your rate evaluations.
You’re Age and Where You Live
This is somewhat out of your influence to change. Teenage and Senior Citizens are viewed as high risk drivers. Males are more prone to car accidents than females. Rural Dwellers also file fewer claims and get involved in less car accidents than City Folks. Insurance Companies live by these statistics.
You’re Credit History
As with almost everything, excellent credit opens up a lot of doors towards savings and better rates while blemished credit histories only open up doors to tenacious bill collectors and high insurance costs.
Reader’s Question:
I was made aware that my credit history can affect my car insurance rate that’s why I always try to keep it clean. Will you explain to me how can my credit have an impact on my premiums here in Palm Beach, Florida?
Otto
Palm Beach, FL
You almost certainly know that the lenders use the details on your credit report to find out if they would give you credit. However, in some states your credit rating could also be considered by car insurance providers. Having a good or bad credit history could have an influence on your car insurance coverage and help figure out the insurance rates that you would have to pay.
For instance, you didn’t have a job for many months a few years back. Before you land a occupation, you had some overdue payments on your credit card and other bills. This may cause your car insurance rates to go up, even if you have never filed a claim on your insurance policy. Another case is that you have always paid your dues on time but you use cash instead of a credit. This can be a problem because just like applying for a credit card or mortgage, you won’t have history of monthly payment for credit card. A lot of people know that having a good driving history is necessary; however, that is not just the case. Most car insurance providers in Palm Beach, Florida also take into account your credit as a significant rating factor.
Reader’s Question:
What will happen to my auto insurance policy here in Palm Beach, Florida should I get caught driving drunk?
Will
Palm Beach, FL
Hi Will, should you get caught driving under the influence (DUI or DWI) or get involved in any serious type of vehicular violations, then you can expect some very heavy consequences not only from your car insurance provider there in palm Beach but from the state of Florida as well. The law is very serious about drunk driving, car accidents and traffic violations. And the repercussions are also far reaching, something you will have to live with and work hard to rectify for the next two to three years.
Most likely your auto insurance coverage will either get canceled or your insurance premiums gets dramatically inflated but thats going to be the least of your problems. Your driver’s license might get temporarily suspended until you pay some healthy fees, thats if you’re not sentenced to spend some time behind bars . If you’re insurance does get canceled there are still insurance providers out there who’s willing to take in high-risk driver. Yes, you’re going to be considered a high-risk driver and get all the perks that come with it such as sky high rates and having to file and maintain an SR22 (proof of financial responsibility) for at least a couple of years. It’s going to be a dreadful experience in exchange for those few bottles of suds. So why risk it?
Reader’s Question:
My brother will be gone for a while and he asked me to take care of his two kids, his house and his cars. I may have to use one of his cars for some errands that I need to do. Can I get like temporary car insurance for it here in Palm Beach, Florida?
Taryn
Palm Beach, FL
Temporary car insurance is perfect for temporary car possessions, vacation driving and if a new driver would be taking over driving tasks of an automobile. The temporary auto insurance would give you protection with full or liability insurance, depending on what coverage you need. I assume that your brother has an existing car insurance policy but a temporary driver may not be covered on his policy. Since, he will be gone for a while and you will use one of his cars, he may consider purchasing temporary car insurance. A lot of car insurance providers in Palm Beach, Florida offer temporary car insurance.
A lot of car insurance policies are written for weeks instead of a longer period such as six months which is the typical term for a conventional policy. For the ease, often times the insurance rates for a temporary auto insurance policy is considerably larger that the pro-rated amount for an annual policy. The temporary car insurance policy could give liability or full coverage and this could be the perfect answer for your current car insurance needs.
Reader’s Question
Would it still be worth it to get car rental insurance even if we already have car insurance? Were gonna go on vacation in Palm Beach, Florida and we would like to minimize our car expenses as much as possible.
Misty
Palm Beach, FL
Whether or not its advisable to get a temporary car insurance for a rented automobile depends on your existing car insurance policy or if you even have car insurance coverage at all. Most rental car insurance costs around $20 – $30 a day while your existing policy may already provide comparable insurance coverage for the price your already paying. Also, it my be good to note that some car rental insurance policies will only provide coverage for the following: Zero Deductibles, which means that you don’t pay any amount for insurance with the rental service in the event of a claim and Downtime coverage, which protects you from having to pay the daily rental rate of the vehicle in case it is unusable due to repairs.
It is best to consult your existing car insurance policy or better yet, talk to your insurance agent to see what kind of coverages can be extended for you on a rental during your vacation at Palm Beach, Florida. Also study the terms and conditions of the rental car insurance offer should you decide to take the additional coverage. The key is to make sure that you are not paying for duplicate coverage nor spending money on unnecessary protection. If you don’t have personal auto insurance then it may be a good idea to get car insurance with the renters but its best to get your own if you will be renting for an extended period of time.
Reader’s Question:
My son and his family based in Palm Beach, Florida are fond of going out of town especially during Holidays. If they get car insurance, how can they benefit from it and how can they get an affordable one?
Larry
Palm Beach, FL
Car insurance can protect your son and his family from potential financial burdens whenever they get involve in car accidents in the future. This reason makes car insurance very beneficial especially today that numerous roadway accidents occur every year in Palm Beach, Florida.
Moreover, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Early Edition Report reveals that the month of December has the highest number of car accidents with about 601,000 cases. And because your son and his family love to travel on Holidays, they are getting more prone to car crashes. In this case, your son and his family actually can benefit from car insurance more than other policyholders.
Car insurance premiums largely depend on different factors such as the driver’s driving record, sex, age, and the features of the car your son wanted to insure. Cars with anti-theft devices and have lower chances of physical injury in the event of a car accident are paired with lower car insurance premiums. To ensure the affordability of insurance car policy, I encourage you to shop for insurance quotes that have different coverage. You can log on to insurance websites or talk to local insurance agents so that they can explain you insurance quotes from various insurance providers.