Oh no!!! I forgot to pay my auto insurance premium last month. Will my policy be canceled?
Each state has its own rules governing the cancellation of automobile insurance policies. You should check Part F of your personal auto policy (PAP) regarding termination and cancellation conditions. This section will address when, how, and for what reasons coverage under your personal auto policy can be terminated. You should also check any applicable endorsements regarding cancellation.
If you fail to pay your premium on time, your insurance company has the right–after providing you with at least 10 days notice–to cancel the policy. The notice of cancellation, mailed to the named insured shown on the Declarations page of the policy, will inform you of the date and time the cancellation will take effect. Even if you’re only a day late with your premium payment, your state may allow your insurance company to cancel your insurance policy, and the company won’t necessarily reinstate you once it gets your money. Furthermore, once your policy has been canceled, you may find yourself paying more money for a comparable policy or having trouble finding insurance at all. For our clients, sometimes we can be of help in this situation by dealing with the insurance company for them.
That being said, some insurance companies will not immediately issue a cancellation notice. You may simply receive an overdue notice, asking you to pay the past-due premium plus a late fee. Other companies may state in the cancellation notice that if payment is received by your insurance agent prior to the effective cancellation date shown, your coverage will be considered “reinstated.” It may also be possible for you to reinstate coverage after the effective cancellation date by paying the overdue premium and perhaps an additional sum. (However, it is likely that you will not be covered for any accidents between the effective date of cancellation and the date of reinstatement.)
In any event, you must look to state law and your automobile insurance policy to learn whether your policy will be canceled. Feel free to call us to ask for assistance.
- Published in Auto Insurance Premiums, Automobile Insurance, Insurance Doctor, Uncategorized
Exactly what is an SR-22?
SR-22 is a document required by the court in the Commonwealth of Virginia for persons convicted of certain traffic violations that demonstrates proof of financial responsibility. If you need one, we will assist you for FREE when you get your policy.
- Published in Auto Insurance Premiums, Automobile Insurance, Insurance Doctor, Uncategorized
I’m about to marry someone with a bad driving record. Will my insurance premium go up?
So you are about to say I Do and you discover your fiancé has a poor driving record! Well expect it to affect your insurance premium after you get married. Your automobile insurance policy covers you, your spouse, any other named insured listed under the policy, and any licensed driver in your household. If any of those people have bad driving records, it will affect your rates.
Of course, insurers consider marital status when calculating risk, so the very act of tying the knot may improve your future spouse’s risk profile. But if their driving record is really bad, you may want to consider additional strategies related to carrier selection, adjusting deductibles, driving school, and other approaches to avoid a hike in your premium. We can provide you with specific advice in this regard.
What strategy will work for you depends on your circumstances. We can discuss all of your policy options with you and make recommendations.
- Published in Auto Insurance Premiums, Automobile Insurance, Insurance Doctor, Uncategorized
I am buying a used car that is worth only a few hundred dollars. Do I need to insure it?
An auto insurance policy is a package of different kinds of coverage. You generally have some flexibility in terms of both the types and amounts of coverage you select. However, practically every state has enacted insurance laws that require drivers to carry at least liability auto insurance. Many states even require that you present proof of insurance before you register a car. So the short answer to the question is that you will need to insure your car, regardless of its value.
Drivers must carry liability insurance. The liability coverage section of an auto insurance policy provides financial protection from liability claims against you when you (or certain other people) cause an accident that results in bodily injuries to other people and/or damage to their property. Every state has mandatory minimum limits of liability coverage.
Comprehensive and collision insurance is optional in virtually every state. The collision and comprehensive section of your policy covers physical damage to your own vehicle resulting from collisions and a variety of other causes (e.g., fire, falling objects). It may also cover losses associated with theft. However, your car’s value plays a big part in assessing your need for this type of coverage. It may not be cost-effective if your vehicle is worth less than $1,000 because you’ll have to satisfy a deductible, and the most you’ll receive (even if your car is totaled) will be its actual value (i.e., after depreciation). That’s not much, especially taking into account the premiums you would have been paying for coverage. If your care is over 15 years old (and is not a collectible), you may only get liability insurance on it.