Reader’s Question:

I work at home and my wife uses the car much more than I do. We’re in Columbia, Missouri. When we applied for auto insurance, someone suggested that I place her as the primary driver. Does that really affect the auto insurance premium rate?

Thomas

Columbia, MO

Yes, Thomas, it does. This is true in Columbia, Missouri and the rest of the country. This is where we- as men, can shout “unfair!” and invoke the equality of all men and all those things. But the thing is auto insurance companies have the statistical data to back this up. Female drivers are considered safer drivers compared to male drivers. Because of this, female drivers are generally offered cheaper premiums than men. You see, premiums are based on several factors. Statistics occupy a large chunk of it. These statistics show that females are better and safer drivers. In over 90% instances of dangerous driving, men figure prominently. Statistics further add that female drivers tend to drive slower and they’re more careful when on the road. Studies also show that women tend to drive short distances most of the time. Although studies also show that women tend to have as many accidents as men, their accidents are not usually as serious as the one where men are involved. Now, females get cheaper premium insurance rates. Couple that with other premium buster tips and you’ll be surprised at how much your wife can lower your premium rate. You know, buy a safer car or purchase other insurance like homeowners from the same insurance company, that’ll afford you more discounts. If you and your wife only drive short distances, you might also consider looking for policies that offer discount for lower mileages.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance quotes, car insurance rate

Reader’s Question:

I got into a car accident in St. Joseph, Missouri, a couple of weeks ago. And there was no police around to do the report. Can I still make claims on my car insurance?

Barbara

St. Joseph, MO

Hi, Barbara. Sure you can still file for your claims. You see, these insurance companies set a time frame with which you can file your claim with them, and this is regardless of whether you have a police report or you don’t have a police report. Now then, if you are lucky enough, and I will bet you are because that has almost always been the case, there are those insurance firms that will even allow you to file your claims from six months to at most one year after the incident happened. Just to be sure, please go check with your local insurance agent in St. Joseph, Missouri or go read on Missouri’s regulations on the length of time they will allow late claims for accidents without an accompanying police report because they could of course vary from state to state, as the case may be. You can also check Missouri’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles. As for now, you can already starting making your own report by recounting the events of that day, how you got into the accident and why there was no police report. There are no guarantees of a successful claim, unfortunately. It is ultimately the insurance company’s discretion if your claim with no police report is valid or not.

Good luck Barbara!

Tags: auto insurance claims, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

I have a question. Yesterday, my friend was driving my vehicle when the vehicle brakes fail and the automobile rolled into the water. I am just wondering if my car insurance comprehensive coverage in St. Charles, Missouri will cover my vehicle?

Dan

St. Charles, MO

Well, Dan, if you have the physical damage of comprehensive coverage in St. Charles, Missouri, this would usually covers your automobile, and usually other automobiles you may be operating for losses resulting from incidents other than collision coverage. For instance, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your automobile if it is damaged by fire, flood or animals. Comprehensive coverage also covers the car if it was stolen. It should also cover the loss that you mentioned to what happened to your car.

It is best to report this incident to your car insurance provider and speak with them regarding the details and specifics of your car insurance policy. You may also speak with your claims adjuster if you have more questions regarding car insurance claims in St. Charles, Missouri.

Tags: auto insurance, comprehensive insurance coverage

Reader’s Question:

I am only 18 and I have my own car but car insurance doe not come in cheap for me so I am wondering if there is any way I can do lower my car insurance rate in Independence, Missouri or if there is any classes I can take?

Ben

Independence, MO

There are a lot of car insurance discounts that you may take advantage of in Independence, Missouri especially for younger drivers so make sure that you ask for car insurance discounts to your car insurance company before setting up a car insurance policy or during your car insurance application in Independence, Missouri.

Most car insurance companies offer car insurance discounts to those who have not had any accidents, traffic infractions or car insurance claims for several years. You may also be able to get car insurance discounts if you take defensive course or if you are a full time student with a grade point average of B or higher. These may only be available to certain insurers so you may ask them if these discounts are available.

If you have more than one car and will insure it to the same car insurance company, make sure to ask for multi car insurance discounts if it is available to them. Some insurance companies may also provide discounts if you have safety features on your car such as airbags, anti lock brakes, alarm etc.

Tags: Car insurance discounts, car insurance rate, teen insurance, Young driver car insurance

Reader’s Question:

My son is turning eighteen on December. He lives with me in Columbia Missouri but he is not attending school at the moment. I am wondering how old can he have to come off my car insurance policy?

Harry

Columbia, MO

I am not aware of any requirements or age restrictions for automobile insurance policies that distinguish an age for removing someone off from a car insurance policy. If your son or any other adult residing in the house with you and had a drivers license they would need to be included for rating on your auto insurance policy.

You typically must include all licensed motorist in the household on your car insurance policy or exclude them so they will not be rates, if that is allowed by your car insurance carrier.

Your teen will have to remain included on the car insurance policy in Columbia Missouri until he is no longer considered a risk to your insurance provider. That is when he moves out, obtains his own car insurance policy and/or automobile, or when he is excluded from your car insurance policy. If you exclude your son from your car insurance policy, she will not be covered in case of an accident.

Tags: auto insurance, Student car insurance, teen insurance, Young driver car insurance

Reader’s Question:

If I buy a car that is only three years old, am I required to have comprehensive insurance coverage on that car?

Tim

Kansas City, MO

No.

State laws have minimum car insurance coverages that you must carry on your car. Normally these coverages bodily injury liability (BIL) and property damage liability (PDL).

When you pay for a vehicle in full then you have to decide if you think comprehensive and collision are worth being added to your policy since they are optional coverages. So while you are not required to carry comprehensive coverage on your car you will need to weigh how much it would cost you to replace or fix the vehicle if it is damaged in a way that comprehensive coverages would cover such as flood water or hail or if your vehicle is stolen compare with the cost of putting comprehensive coverage on the car.

You speak with your car insurance agent to help calculate what coverages would be best for your case. You can also obtain auto insurance quotes with and without comprehensive coverages on it to check what the price difference is. You can anytime have a higher deductible on your comprehensive coverage to make your comprehensive car insurance rates lower.

Tags: auto insurance, comprehensive insurance coverage

Reader’s Question:

Someone told me that if you lease a vehicle, the lease company pays most of the insurance since it is technically still their vehicle. is this true? We live in O’Fallon, Missouri.

Viktor

O’Fallon, MO

To the best of my knowledge it is not true that a lease company will pay for automobile insurance on a car that you are leasing from them. Typically, the leasing company that owns the car that you are leasing states in the leasing documents that you are responsible for carrying not only the state minimum mandated liability car insurance on the automobile but physical damage coverages of comprehensive and collision.

If you do not carry the physical insurance on the vehicle in O’Fallon, MO and the leasing company finds out, it could be a breach of your leasing contract. What could happen because of this would be determined by the terms of your leasing contract. It is possible that the leasing company takes out “forced” insurance on the car, which would cover their asset. Normally forced insurance is charged to you if you let the required auto insurance lapse.

Tags: auto insurance lapse, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

Im planning to move in Kansas City Missouri and I would like to know if one is required to have both uninsured and underinsured coverage or is it optional?

Joan

Kansas City, MO

According to Missouri law all motor vehicle drivers and owners are required to maintain some type of motor vehicle liability insurance coverage.

If you are the operator or owner of a motor vehicle in Kansas City Missouri, you are required by law to insure that vehicle with coverage for injuries you cause to the other person, in at least $25,000 per person, per accident up to $50,000 of bodily injury liability, and $10,000 for property damage liability coverage.

A minimum liability insurance coverage in Missouri is 25/50/10, Uninsured motorist coverage is required while underinsured motorist is an optional additional coverage for you. To more information on car insurance laws of Missouri contact the MO Department of Insurance.

Tags: auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

How long does a suspended license remain on you driving record in Lee’s Summit Missouri? Is there anyway to fix your driving record if there is a suspension on it?

Michelle

Lee’s Summit, MO

In Missouri, suspension for violations such as Pay a Traffic Ticket (termed FACT) or Failure to Appear can only be taken off after five years after the reinstatement date of your license. To take it off from the record, the Department of Motor Vehicle must be contacted with a request for the suspension to be taken off.

When you have been convicted of the violation that resulted in the suspension of your drivers license in Lee’s Summit Missouri, that offense will be listed on your driving history for a certain amount of time. Besides waiting for the amount of time your state has set for the suspension requesting expungement of that violation from your record, it is unlikely that you could get the suspension listing removed from your driving record.

Tags: auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

Where can I check in Florissant Missouri if I can purchase a vehicle without drivers license?

Clint

Florissant, MO

To check if you are able to buy a vehicle in Florissant Missouri without having a valid driver’s license you may contact the Missouri Division of Motor Vehicle and Driver Licensing. They should be able to provide you information on if it is possible to purchase, title and register a car without a state driver’s license.

Even if it is possible to purchase a vehicle without a license, it might be not easy finding a car dealer that does not require a driver’s license as part of their procedures for selling a car. In addition, most insurance providers require an individual applying for an insurance policy to have, or in a short time acquire, a driver’s license.

Tags: autos, car dealers, Driving without License