Reader’s Question:

Does full coverage auto insurance on a new car automatically change to liability only after a couple of years or does the insurance company has to call to make the change after a few years? I live in Hoover, AL.

Stewart

Hoover, AL

If you wish to make any changes to your car insurance policy such as dropping your comprehensive and collision so that you only have the state required liability coverages you would need to tell the insurance company, your insurance provider, of the change. Car insurance coverages do not change automatically after a few years.

An insurance company does not make changes to your auto insurance policy in Hoover, AL without you requesting it. In addition if you are still paying for the new vehicle after a few years it is unlikely that you could lower your insurance coverages from from full coverage to basic insurance liability. Normally your lien holder requires you to have the full coverage (comprehensive and collision coverages) on the car since it their asset until you pay it off.

Tags: auto insurance, cheap auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

I heard that the state Alabama have new auto insurance liability requirements? What is it?

Brandon

Birmingham, AL

Yes you are right. The state of Alabama has increased their minimum limits for car insurance. Recent legislation has been made so that the minimum liability limits for auto insurance in Alabama will go up from 20/40/10 to 25/50/25.

It is expected that those who carried only previous Alabama minimum liability coverages and therefore now must increase their liability limits will see their insurance rates go up a minimal amount, probably up $20 to $30 a year. Car insurance rates for uninsured motorist coverage are expected to go up around $13 for those who also need to up their minimum coverage limit now to at least the same as their bodily injury liability limit amount.

Tags: auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

My car was hit in the parking area where I work and no one confessed to the accident the police officers were notified and a damage report was filed. Will I be penalized even when it’s not my fault?

Mike

Gadsden, AL

This is a case where your car insurance policy should protect you when you are not at fault.

When you buy insurance or renew your insurance policy, your insurance provider will evaluate your claims history and based upon their rates and guidelines they will apply any surcharges to your insurance policy.

I do not think that it would be a penalty, but more of an evaluation of your claims record to know your insurability and the likelihood of future claims. The future claim potential may cause your insurance rates to rise.

Tags: auto insurance claims

Reader’s Question:

How long is a new driver covered under their parents auto insurance policy after they get their drivers license? They have insurance in Tanner-Williams, Alabama.

Dan

Tanner-Williams, AL

A new driver may not be automatically covered under their parent’s policy after they obtain their license.

In order to be covered, you have to be listed on the insurance policy declaration page. That means the insurance policy holder contacted the insurance provider and had the motorist endorsed onto the insurance policy. Some auto insurance policies do cover a motorist on a restricted license, but once an operator’s license is acquired they should be added to the insurance policy.

If you are listed on your parent’s policy, you should be covered on that insurance policy until you are endorsed or removed from the policy. I suggest that you contact your parent’s insurance company to know if you are included on the insurance policy and if anything needs to be done to remove you from the policy. If you reside in the household in ,Tanner-Williams, AL it is likely that you should remain listed or excluded from the policy.

Tags: auto insurance, car, New Driver Insurance

Reader’s Question:

I currently have restricted driver’s license in Alabama due to a prior DUI but at one point in Birmingham. I was driving outside my restrictions. I crashed my car due to a road hazard and given that my insurance policy is current, I am still anxious that my insurance will not pay for damages even though I was not driving to or from work which is what’s mandated by my restricted license provisions.

Michael

Birmingham, AL

The insurance company’s provisions and/or exclusions will determine if this is covered under your policy. Exclusions on a Personal Auto Policy can be different for every carries and state, so you better review your policy:

Some typical exclusion follows:
-committing a high misdemeanor or felony, or seeking to avoid lawful apprehension or arrest by a police officer; or
-acting with specific intent to cause injury or damage to himself or others;
-operating or “occupying” an “auto” without the permission of the owner of the “auto” or name insured under the policy insuring that “auto”.
-War (declared or undeclared);
-Civil war;
-Insurrection;
-Rebellion or revolution;
-Any act or condition incident to any of the above resulting from radioactive, toxic, explosive, or other hazardous properties of nuclear material.
-and other specified on each policy…

Based on the typical exclusions listed, it seems like you will have coverage afforded unless there are other exclusions listed on your policy.

Tags: sr22, SR22 filing

Reader’s Question:

I’m planning of upgrading my cars engine system. Is it necessary to inform the change to my insurance carrier? I live in Alabama.

Jim

Tuscaloosa, AL

It is always best to let your insurance carrier in Alabama know of any upgrades or customizing you do to your motor vehicle. This way the auto insurance agent will be able to make sure your current auto insurance policy will cover these new items. If not then generally they should be able to assist you obtain different coverage that will cover the upgrades to the car.

I would also recommend checking with your automobile manufacturer as well to make sure you are not voiding any warranties with your upgrades.

Tags: auto insurance, autos, car insurance agent

Reader’s Question:

I need to know the minimum mandatory insurance coverage for the State of Alabama. I was charged with DUI around Huntsville, Alabama and I need someone’s tips for my SR22 filing here.

Dexter

Huntsville, AL

Ok…so that’s not the end of the world yet. You can still relax since you never really run out of options in Huntsville, Alabama.

First of all, let me explain to you the minimum mandatory insurance coverage in Alabama AL. Remember the figures 20/40/10: $20,000 bodily injury for one person in one accident, $40,000 for two or more persons in one accident and $10,000 property damage incurred in one accident.
Law enforcement officials in Huntsville, Alabama will ask for proof of insurance at the time of a traffic stop or at the time of an accident in which damage or injury occurs.

A valid insurance card must be presented to provide proof of insurance coverage in AL. Be careful with your auto insurance renewals because if your policy has lapsed or has not been renewed, the Alabama Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will suspend operator’s privileges until proof of insurance is provided.

Since you committed DUI, it is highly probable that Alabama DMV will mandate proof of financial responsibility in the form of SR-22 insurance. This insurance is also known as high risk auto insurance in some auto insurance companies and SR22 filing companies in Huntsville.

State motor vehicle departments, as a rule, do not maintain databases of individual insurance policies like what’s in Huntsville, Alabama. Insurance companies do have the obligation to maintain a database and to issue any form notifying the Alabama DMV when an individual’s insurance policy has been cancelled, lapsed or has not been renewed. As the owner, you also get a copy and must then show Alabama proof of insurance. Failure to do so will result in suspension of your driver’s license. This is the time when the DMV will require an SR-22 high risk auto insurance policy in order for the license to be reinstated.

Tags: DUI auto insurance, non-owner auto insurance, non-owner policy, sr22, SR22 filing

Reader’s Question:

My car insurance premium was raised once by an auto car insurer in Birmingham, Alabama because of a bad credit. In my opinion though, I do not think it is relevant to do that. I do not even think that can be lawful in Birmingham, AL.

Gary

Birmingham AL

Different people will have different views on this debate on car insurance premium with relevance to credit standing.

The pro people say that basing car insurance rates on credit allows car insurance companies in Birmingham, Alabama AL to more accurately predict risk, making rates lower for everyone. The anti people say that bad credit does not make someone a bad driver in Alabama. Even if many people with bad credit are bad drivers, it doesn’t mean that good drivers with credit problems should be punished as well.

However, what’s interesting to know is that most people agree that car insurers should notify car insurance policyholders should car insurance rates increase due to a bad credit. After all, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) clearly stipulates that that people have the legal right to be notified when they are declined for credit, employment, or insurance, on the basis of their credit history. However, the same Act is unclear on whether or not car insurance companies have to notify you if your bad credit results in higher rates. This now leaves legislature issues which we need to watch out for.

Since laws always come a long way to get perfect for everyone, the least you can do is to watch your credit so that you will keep your car insurance rates at level for now.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

How much the ticket will be if you get caught driving without a license in Tuscaloosa Alabama?

Ben

Tuscaloosa, AL

According to the Alabama Code 32-6-1 drivers are required to be licensed in Alabama. Subsection (a) states that every individual, except those specifically exempted by statutory enactment, shall procure a driver’s license before operating a motor vehicle upon the highways of the Alabama state.

It would appear that a ticket for driving without a license in Tuscaloosa Alabama will come with a fine of around $100 in addition to the extra $50 fee. The amount for this violation should be within the parameters set by of the Alabama state but the exact cost of a ticket will differ from one jurisdiction to the next. If you have received a violation for being an unlicensed motorist then the court listed on the violation should be contacted for specific information on the penalties you are facing.

Tags: car, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

I’ve been looking around to get an cheap high risk car insurance. What are the minimum requirements for liability car insurance in Alabama?

Aaron

Birmingham, AL

In Alabama, car insurance represents a significant drain on many drivers’ monthly resources and almost all drivers would like to find a cheap high risk car insurance.

A basic liability policy is the smallest and cheapest insurance policy that an Alabama driver can purchase and still drive 100% legally. A basic liability policy may be what you are looking for if cost is your only concern.

In Alabama, the legal minimum amount of liability insurance you must purchase is called a 20/40/10 liability policy. This means that your insurance would pay out a maximum of $20,000 to any one individual for medical expenses which result from an accident with your vehicle. It would pay a maximum of $40,000 in medical expenses for everyone involved in an accident with your vehicle regardless of how many people are hurt or what the extent of their injuries are. Finally, the insurance would pay a maximum of $10,000 in property damage for any accident. Generally, property damage means repairing the other person’s vehicle, but property damage can include other property as well.

There are two things that can make this insurance risky. First is that this insurance pays nothing for your medical bills and nothing on the medical bills of anyone in your vehicle at the time of an accident. This insurance also pays nothing toward the repair of your vehicle.

Second, and more importantly, the maximum payout of a basic liability policy isn’t necessarily enough to cover the actual medical expenses or property damage which could easily result from an accident. You could be held personally responsible for paying the remainder out of your own purse or pocket if the insurance fails to pay all of the medical or property damage expenses of the other party. Conceivably, this could result in you losing your life savings or even being forced to sell your home in order to make payments.

It is possible to purchase liability insurance with higher payouts, and of course, at a higher monthly premium. Regardless of whether you choose to purchase a full coverage policy or a basic liability policy or something in between, your best option for finding the cheapest high risk car insurance is to buy your policy online. Online insurance companies have a very little overhead and they would pass that savings on to you. You have to compare prices at the largest number of insurance companies possible if you want to find the rock-bottom price for your car insurance. Make sure that you make your price comparisons on more than one website, rather than relying on just a single site.