As a parent, I wanna be able to help my 19-year old son get affordable auto insurance here in Washington, DC. How can my son have lower auto insurance so that he won’t be so much worried about paying it?

Parker

Washington, DC

Young driver auto insurance can be terrifying but you can certainly do something to help your son have lower auto insurance in Washington, DC. Here are some helpful tips:

1. You can add your son to your auto insurance policy instead of getting his own. You can do this if he still drives your car and still lives with you. You can get the so-called multiple-vehicle discount by doing this.

2. Aside from teaching or reiterating to him how to drive safely, it would be better if he has formal training in driving. Let him take a defensive driving course so that he can get another auto insurance discount for it.

3. Since your son is only 19 years old, I assume that he is still studying, so encourage him to get at least an average of B in school so that he can get good student discount on his auto insurance policy.

4. It is always a good idea to let him drive a low-profile vehicle so that he can get lower auto insurance premiums.

5. You can pass on to him what you know about safe driving and you also must educate him about the importance of following traffic rules at all times. Let him know as well that he should avoid drinking and driving because if he gets caught for DUI, it can double, or even triple his auto insurance rates. He will already be considered a high risk driver if he is charged with DUI and high risk means high auto insurance premiums.

How do I find affordable car insurance rates here in D.C.? Any tips for me?

Molly

Washington D.C.

Not crazy with the idea of spending hours on the phone with different car insurance agents? Don’t have the will to hire a broker either? Here are some tips to help you get a policy with an affordable car insurance rate:

1. Comparison Shop Online – Use car insurance quote comparison portals (like this website). Not only can you get a free quote check of the latest rates, you can also instantly compare these offers coming from a wide-variety of insures today. This will maximize your chances of getting the best policy in the market.

2. Go with a Bigger Deductible – Setting your policy’s deductible to a higher amount will also reduce the amount of rates/premiums you will pay. Just don’t raise it too high or you might end up unable to file a claim once you need to.

3. Know Car Insurance Ratings – Go to Moody’s, A.M. Best’s, or J.D. Powers’ website. These independent rating agencies offer a wealth of vital information that tells you which insurers have the best scores, prices, and ratings in your area.

4. Get an Annual Payment Plan – Ask your car insurer if they offer a yearly payment plan, since most companies who do tend to give incentives for it (either a discount or reduced car insurance rate.)

5. Discounts – Finally, know what car insurance discounts you’re eligible for. A quick look at the insurers’ homepage can tell you about the discount options available (as well as how to be eligible for them). Discounts can be a really big help in reducing your total insurance bills.

If someone is charged with misdemeanor DUI here in Washington, D.C. what penalties are involved? And also, with a DUI conviction, is it possible to still get low cost DUI insurance?

Ray

Washington, D.C.

There’s a big difference between a misdemeanor DUI and a felony DUI. If I am not mistaken, a misdemeanor DUI is for first or second time DUI offenders while felony DUI would be for repeat DUI offenders. If that is the case then misdemeanor DUI would involve a fine of $300 to $1,000, jail time which could be up to 90 days, and revocation of your license for 6 months. That is the penalty for first time DUI offenders.

If it’s your second to be convicted of DUI offense then your penalties would include a fine of $1,000 to $5,000, jail time of up to 12 months, and license suspension for 12 months also.

Meanwhile, getting a low cost DUI insurance may be quite hard but you may get affordable DUI insurance or SR22 insurance. By the way, if convicted of DUI offense, to reinstate your license, you will be asked to carry SR22 insurance for a period of three years. Here are some important tips that could help you get affordable SR22 insurance:

• Check the Internet and do some shopping for your SR22 insurance needs.
• Enroll in a defensive driving class.
• Drive less.
• Install safety devices on your car.
• Do your best to have good driving records.

For more information about misdemeanor DUI, you can also check with a DUI lawyer in your area.

I’m thinking whether I would just go with a car insurance agent or go online to buy my car insurance here in Washington, DC. Will I be able to get cheap online car insurance even if I don’t have an insurance agent working with me?

Marcelo

Washington, DC

An advantage of working with an insurance agent for your car insurance in Washington, DC is that you could be able to combine all types of insurance coverage that you want to buy such as life, health and homeowners. You may also seek advice from the insurance agent about your specific situation. You can get straight answers to your questions from the car insurance agent you are working with. The only problem with an agent is that he/she is representing one company so you wouldn’t have much of a choice.

On the other hand, you could also get cheap online car insurance if you go directly to a car insurance company Website. You may visit as many car insurance company Websites as you can to get cheap online car insurance. For more convenience, you can just go to a car insurance comparisons Website and get more than one insurance quote from different car insurance companies. From there, you will see a lot of options for your cheap online car insurance and compare them from each other. This way, you’d be able to see which one has the best coverage and at the same time, offer you cheap online car insurance. As with working with an agent, there is also an option online wherein you can ask questions from the Website’s representative and get straight answers as well.

Tags: car insurance, car insurance agent, car insurance online, cheap car insurance

I’m confused with the information that I see online while I was looking around for my car insurance here in Washington, DC. Since I really don’t want to waste time going to different places to get my insurance, what else can I do?

Ingrid

Washington, DC

Since you are confused with the details that you see online while shopping for your car insurance in Washington, DC, you may opt to work with an insurance agent from any website that you may have came across with. You can get in touch with them by giving them a call and asking whatever question you have with regard to your car insurance. They can prove that they are a good agent if they uncomplainingly answer your questions without giving you any pressure in buying car insurance policy. Keep in mind that you don’t have to pay anything to get an insurance quote and that the agent wants to make deal with you more than you have to deal with them if they begin to compel you to buy a car insurance policy.

You have to be patient once you start your search to get reasonably priced car insurance. You definitely have a lot of car insurance options available for you. Make a research and look for something that would meet the insurance requirements in the District of Columbia. Make a decision on the amount that you could shell out on your car insurance and the amount you actually need for your car. Start comparing the quotes that you got online and in case you have any queries, get in touch with an agent. These are the things that you need to pay special attention to and your persistence would effectively get you the car insurance you need.

Tags: car insurance, car insurance quotes, car insurance agent

Do I need to carry gap car insurance coverage here in Washington, DC as long as I have a loan on my car?

Hadley

Washington, DC

In general, new vehicles are likely to drop more of their value in the first year in comparison to used vehicles. On the average, the car industry points out that a vehicle drops 11 to 20% percent of its value during the first year. Say a vehicle costs approximately $30,000, the value it loses within the first year is $3,300 to $6,000. But some automobiles hold on to their value better than others. For instance, while gas prices are exorbitant, reselling costs for fuel efficient vehicles rise.

Since you have a car loan in Washington, DC, you may not have paid a lot for the vehicle during the first year. And this is the period when the disparity between what you have a loan from and the car’s worth can be the most. The vehicle’s value reduction starts to slow during the next two to three years, then even out during the fourth or fifth year of possession. This is the time that you can think about cancelling the gap car insurance coverage because the value of the vehicle and what you have a loan from have generally aligned. You also have to keep in mind that if you are purchasing a new vehicle, the most famous new vehicles are the most famous used vehicles, which means they cling to their value better.

Tags: car, car insurance, gap insurance

If I cause an accident and I have collision coverage for my car insurance here in Washington, DC, how will my insurer pay for my losses if I have brought the car to a body shop for repair?

Gabby

Washington, DC

In case you were the one who was at-fault at an accident and you have collision coverage, your car insurance company in Washington, DC would get the repair bill from the body shop after you have already paid your deductible. This kind of practice is commonly identified as a first-party claim setting. In this instance, your car insurance provider has the power to pay whoever they believe needed to straighten out your loss, provided that they follow the District of Columbia’s insurance regulations. For example, if you own the vehicle, the car insurance company may issue a check intended for you and the repair shop you have selected to repair your vehicle.

Then again, some states have established a “direct payment plan” wherein you receive the payment directly and you could use the finances to pay for the things that the body shop you selected have done on your vehicle. Systems of issuing payments for claims differ by car insurance provider and state. Some insurance provider would write the check out for you and the body shop. The goal is to reduce instances of fraud and assure the repair of your vehicle. Moreover, the insurance provider may not issue you a check in case you selected to repair your vehicle at a body shop chosen by the insurance provider. Insurance companies have exclusive dealings with these body shops in which the insurance company could just pay the body shop directly.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance claims, car insurance company

I would have to take a few moments to understand what I need to buy for my car insurance here in Washington, DC. Other than the required liability insurance, what other coverage can I purchase?

Laurie

Washington, DC

By law, you will be mandated in the District of Columbia to purchase at least the minimum auto liability insurance coverage. The first one would be for bodily injury liability which would protect your properties in case you’re held responsible for a car accident in which other persons are injured or killed. The next one would be for property damage liability which will cover for the repair or replacement of the vehicles or other properties of other people. Lastly, it is also required in Washington, DC to get uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. This type of coverage will protect you from any losses caused by other motorists who have small or no car insurance coverage.

Other than the mandated auto liability insurance, you may also opt to purchase other coverage. First would be the collision coverage which would pay for the repair or replacement of your vehicle if it gets damaged in a car crash. Then you may also opt to buy comprehensive coverage which would cover you from any damage on your vehicle that is caused by any other things than a car accident. Examples of these things include theft, storm, earthquake, flood, etc.

Tags: auto liability insurance, car insurance, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage

My husband just joined the military and we are wondering if military discounts are also available for our car insurance here in Washington DC?

Bennett

Washington D.C.

Yes, it is quite possible for enlisted, actively serving or even reserved military personnel to receive military discounts for their car insurance. It shouldn’t be too much of a difficulty for your husband to apply for this discount even if he is already paying for insurance there in Washington D.C. There are at least a few types of discounts that most insurance companies provide military personnel: Regular discounts, membership discounts for some military-related organizations, and a form of discount provided to those who are deployed to imminent danger zones or areas:

Regular Discounts
Some auto insurance providers offer insurance premium discounts of up to 15% total. This applies to those on active duty, retired, reserved or a member of the National Guard.

Discount by Association
Some providers like GEICO offer special discounts for members of professional associations such as the National Military Families Association, Air Force Sergeants Association, Fleet Reserve Association, and The Marine Corps League among others. Your husband should be able to get information as to which professional association where he could qualify for additional auto insurance discounts.

Imminent Danger Pay Areas
As designated by the Department of Defense, if your husband is deployed into an imminent danger pay area or country, he can also get some additional discounts towards his auto insurance rates. These areas may include: Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Pakistan, Somalia, Serbia etc. (you can get a complete list of imminent danger countries from your auto insurance provider).

Tags: advice, car insurance, car insurance company, car insurance quotes

Hi! I recently sold my car here in Washington DC but I intend to get another one within six-months, would it be advisable to keep paying my current car insurance policy or just cancel it and get a new one when I already bought a car?

Mary

Washington DC

Good question, it would sound like just another way for an insurance agent to keep your business, but when you are advised by your car insurance provider to maintain your insurance coverage, especially if you intend to get a car again in the foreseeable future, you want to go ahead and take their advise. Regardless if you don’t have an automobile right now you can choose to adjust your coverage so that it becomes a Non-owner’s car insurance, that way even if you are borrowing someone else’s car you still have the financial capability of paying for damages or injuries you might cause others in a car accident. It will also be beneficial for you since, depending on the type of coverage you get, it might no longer be necessary to buy additional rental car insurance in the event you will be renting a car in the future.

It is also necessary for you to know that getting big gaps in car insurance coverage might put you in the position of having to pay inflated insurance rates in the future due to non-continuous coverage. Also, Washington DC’s financial responsibility laws require every driver to carry some form of auto insurance or equivalent financial protection while driving. Regardless which vehicle is being used. Ask your insurance provider if you can drop comprehensive coverage and maintain liability insurance only to keep insurance costs down for the moment.

Tags: auto insurance claims, auto insurance online, car insurance, car insurance company