Reader’s Question:

I live here in Anchorage, Alaska, and I do not have car insurance as of the moment. I’m thinking of getting one, but I have no idea which one to choose. Can anyone give me any pointers?

Merrill

Anchorage, Alaska

Whoa, Anchorage, Alaska, up there to the North. It must be terribly freezing out there. Hehe. Anyways, i am sure that there must be loads of auto insurance companies there from which you could choose, but a good advice of what to do in choosing a good car insurance company is to check the web site (if there’s any, but I’m sure there is, even in Alaska…heehee) of your state’s division or department of insurance. I am quite sure that you are going to see there dozens of information online about auto insurance companies like complaints, alerts, policies, regulations, benefits and other related links that would help you in choosing wisely.

There also has to be some frequently asked questions section where you could get some information that could answer a lot of your questions. You should also check out the consumer complaints section to give you an idea of which companies are most likely to give you a splitting headache when you are already making your claims. But if your state does not offer that information, you can just visit the other states’ sites because in this way you would be able to compare the terms and premiums of the companies. If visiting web sites do not help you, you can also check out some body shops and ask them which companies they would recommend because i’m sure they might have some concrete ideas since most probably, they handle with insurers almost every day. If this still doesn’t work for you, you can always hire an independent agent who could guide you to choosing the best company for your auto insurance needs.

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance online, car insurance cost, car insurance rate, cheap auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

A tree limb fell on my windshield and I would like to know if my liability insurance in Boise, Idaho will cover this?

Jane

Boise, ID

No, if a tree limb that damaged your windshield will not be covered under your liability insurance. I suggest that you check with insurance agent if your property damage insurance will cover the damages.

Your property damage liability covers you if your vehicle damages other people’s property. Normally it is their automobile, however it could be a a house or a fence or any other property damaged in an accident. Bodily injury liability may also give for a legal defense if another driver in the accident files a lawsuit against you.

You will need a physical damage of comprehensive coverage on your vehicle so that your windshield will be covered from the tree limb.

If you only have the liability coverage in Boise, Idaho and you do not have the comprehensive coverage on your car your car insurance will not pay for the damage to your windshield. You may be able to obtain car insurance policy quotes on this website for physical damages of collision and comprehensive so that in the future your vehicle will be fully protected by your auto insurance.

Tags: auto insurance, comprehensive insurance coverage

Reader’s Question:

I have an SR22 and I am wondering what exactly does an SR22 insurance cover in Nashua, New Hampshire?

John

Nashua, NH

The New Hampshire Department of Safety states that an SR22 is a form that shows proof of liability insurance and is filed by the insurance carrier licensed to sell insurance in the state of New Hampshire.

The SR22 insurance certificate shows that you are complying New Hampshire responsibility laws and is usually mandated by the state if you have had an accident without car insurance or due to any serious traffic infraction. This certificate is filed by your current car insurance company to the Department of Motor Vehicle and in case it has been cancelled, the DMV will be notified.

The minimum liability limits for liability coverage in the state of New Hampshire is 25/50/25 and this means bodily injury liability limits of $25,000 per injured person up to $50,000 per accident and property damage liability limits of $25,000.

Tags: auto insurance, sr22 insurance

Reader’s Question:

Where do I get the SR 22 form? I also need to know the process. Thank you.

George

Chicago, IL

The SR-22 form is something that the insurance provider has and will file once you have bought the insurance required of you by the state. Policyholders may be given this form to take to the license office in Illinois. In some case, it can be downloaded in websites or mailed. Some insurers offer instant SR-22s, while other insurance companies require it to be filed before mailing it to you.

If you are required to carry an SR-22, then you should contact your car insurance agent and advise them of the needed filing with our state. The form must be filed by an insurance carrier licensed through Illinois insurance regulatory body normally.

If you are unable to find an insurance company that can file the SR-22 form for you then check with your IL insurance regulator who should be able to advise you where to find an insurance carrier in your area that you can buy the required insurance from.

Tags: sr22 insurance

Reader’s Question:

How long are you required to carry SR22 auto insurance because of a DUI in Colorado? I have insurance in Loveland CO.

Pete

Loveland, CO

The state of Colorado requires a SR-22, a financial responsibility certificate, be acquired when you are convicted of drunk driving. The sr-22 certificate itself is not an insurance policy, but instead is a guarantee by the insurance provider that you will keep insurance in effect for a certain period.

If you are required to have an SR22 form and do not keep the SR22 certificate current, the insurance provider will notify the Colorado Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) at which point your drivers license will be suspended.

The amount of time that are required to have the SR-22 is typically three years. According to Colorado legislator under some case, such as those with an alcohol related driving violation, it could be for a different period, as long as the insured’s license has been restraint.

So it would seem that the SR-22 form would have to be maintained for either three years or for a period equal to the duration of your license suspension or revocation in Loveland, CO. To verify for sure you can contact the Colorado Motor Vehicle Division.

Tags: drunk driving insurance, DUI, sr22 car insurance

Reader’s Question:

Ive had an sr22 auto insurance on file for the past five years but I think I dont need it anymore. I live in California and havent had a ticket or any traffic violation in five years. How will I find out if I still need an sr22 in California?

Jim

Los Angeles, CA

The most effective way to know if you still need an SR22 is to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles in the state of California. You may contact the California DMV can be reached at 1 (800) 777-0133.

You may visit your local drivers license office in CA.

I suggest that you contact the DMV because laws and rules are very arbitrary when it comes to an SR22 insurance policy. In most states you can use the internet to verify our license requirements.

Tags: auto insurance, autos, sr22 car insurance

Reader’s Question:

Is there any hard and fast rule in getting cheap auto insurance and discount car insurance?

Joe

Las Vegas, NV

Glad that you asked, Joe.

These days, auto insurance climb nearly as fast as gas prices do. More and more people like you are trying to seek ways to save money in any way with their expenses, including auto insurance premiums. Chances are, you will definitely find discount that you never know existed with just a little investigation and a few phone calls. You can always call around or just shop online for you to find the best auto insurance discounts from many auto insurance companies out there. You’ll never know what’s in store for you.

So what if you already have auto insurance? Can you still get discounts? Of course! You can simply increase your deductible in order for you to reduce your annual premium by 10-15%. Another way is for you to pay your entire year’s worth of premiums in one lump sum so that you will be eligible for a discount. There are also discounts for electronic or direct payment from your checking account if you cannot pay in one lump sum.
Still you can always modify your car’s safety features to save you a few dollars on premium rates. You can add alarms, anti-lock brakes, automatic seatbelts, side air bags, and any anti-theft devices.

Reader’s Question:

I would like to know how much will it cost to get an SR22 form?

Jenny

New Haven, CT

Typically, insurance providers are allowed to charge a nominal fee for filing the financial responsibility certificate (form) to the state. State laws vary but the SR-22 form filing fee is normally only $15 to $25.

The car insurance coverage bought that is associated with the SR-22 form will be rated according to different factors that normally go into rating an insurance policy, regardless of the SR-22 form filing. The rates are not different whether you are getting an SR-22 or not.

Your driving record is one of the the rating factor in the cost of car insurance so you are required to obtain and carry the SR-22, for reasons like reinstatement of your drivers license after a DUI suspension, it may affect your rates. However the SR-22 form itself does not go beyond the filing fee.

Reader’s Question:

What is an sr22 form and what does it looks like?

Truman

Thank you for asking Truman

A form which must be filed by the insurance company stating that auto liability insurance is in effect for a particular individual is what is commonly called as the sr22 or the financila responsibility certificate. THis is required when insurance is provided to a person who got involved in an accident or was convicted of a moving violation and was unable to show proof financial responsibility.

Below is the sample of the form:

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

Is it cheaper to get an sr22 form from other company or from my current company?

Amber

Thank you for asking Amber.

If your current insurance provider will file the SR-22 form for you, after making sure you have at least the types of insurance and liability limits that is mandated to you by the state, then normally it would be easier for you to keep the same insurance provider.

If your current insurance company does not offer the SR-22 for you then you will need to get a different auto insurance company that does deal with “high risk” drivers and will forward the SR22 form to the proper state agency on your behalf.

Your current insurance policy will not be able to be kept if your current insurance company does not file SR-22 forms for policyholders.You will need to get an auto insurance with an insurance provider that does SR22 filing and is cheaper. Then after that terminate your current insurance once your new car insurance is active.

Goodluck!

MariCAR