What Is an Auto Insurance Supplement
Reader Question.
What is an auto insurance supplement? How can I get out of having to pay for it? My car is in the body shop after an accident and the shop is telling me something about an auto insurance supplement that they need to submit….? I am confused.
Arnold, G
Well, I found another video from this guy which does a great job of answering your question about auto insurance supplements so I thought I would post it as my answer to your question Arnold. Take care
Looking For New Driver Auto Insurance in Pennsylvania?
Reader’s Question:
Hello, wondering if anyone can offer advice here. I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and I just started working. I am a new driver and I plan to buy my first car soon. What basics should I look at first in getting car insurance? I do plan on having a long relationship with my car and treat it as a valued possession.
Matt
Pittsburgh, PA
Hello there, Matt and congratulations on your move. That is a fine idea you have there, practical and not wasteful. Based on my experience, you buy the automotive insurance based on what you plan to do and how you’ll use your car. I’ll also suggest checking state laws first, on what’s the bare minimum of auto insurance that a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania car owner should have. Also bear in mind that too little or too much insurance is bad. You can either get caught unprepared in an emergency situation or get caught stuck with payments you can’t afford.
Here is one basic tip that I think you should check out. If you are a new driver and looking at acquiring an expensive brand new car and you’re confident about dealing with deductibles, you can look at having collision and comprehensive coverage in your auto insurance. With collision coverage, you’ll be prepared for vehicular accidents on the road i.e. you hit another car or another car hits yours. With comprehensive coverage, your car is insured for damages that are not caused by other vehicles. Let’s say, by some freak event, a tree just drops on your car, the resulting damage to your car will be covered by your auto insurance
Cheap Occasional Driver Auto Insurance in Pennsylvania
Reader’s Question:
I live in York, Pennsylvania and my nephew, who is 19 years old, wants to occasionally drive my vehicle to get to school. He doesn’t live with me. Can I insure him? What happens if he gets in an accident? I have full coverage.
Rita
York, PA
You will need to verify with your insurance carrier to find out if they will permit you to add your nephew as a driver or if he will be covered to drive your vehicle occasionally as the insurance policy currently is written. Since he does not live in your household it will be up to your insurance carrier’s underwriting rules to know if he can be added to your insurance policy in York, Pennsylvania or not.
Your insurance company should also be able to inform you if he would be covered if he was in an accident without being added to the insurance policy. Since your vehicle has full coverage and that you are referring to state mandated liability plus physical damage coverages of comprehensive and collision. So you will want to verify to make certain these coverages will extend to your nephew when he borrows your car to drive to school.
Can I Get Auto Insurance in Pennsylvania With Out of State License?
Reader’s Question:
I recently moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania and I have a Delaware license. I am planning to buy a vehicle. Do I have to switch to a PA license before I can obtain vehicle insurance in Scranton?
Jake
Scranton, PA
You should be able to insure a vehicle in PA with your DE driver’s license but it would be advisable to change over your Delaware license to a Pennsylvania license before purchasing, registering and insuring a vehicle just to make the whole process easier. You will need to go to the PA Bureau of Motor Vehicles to get a Pennsylvania driver’s license and register and title a car in this state.
The PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT) states that all new residents with out-of-state non-commercial driver’s licenses must get a Pennsylvania Driver’s License within sixty days of establishing PA residency.
If you do buy and insure a vehicle in Scranton Pennsylvania before you exchange your DE driver’s license for a PA license then once you do obtain your PA license, during the sixty day period you have after you becoming a resident of PA, you need to tell the insurance provider of your new license.
What Are The Penalties For Driving Without Insurance in Pennsylvania?
Reader’s Question:
I got involved in an accident and was informed that my license was suspended and my auto insurance was not valid prior to the accident in Springfield. What will the penalties be?.
Richard
Springfield, PA
In Pennsylvania the penalties for driving with a suspended license will differ depending on the reason for your license suspension. If it was suspended due to driving a car without auto insurance it will likely be three months before you can have it reinstated.
If you are found by police officer to be driving without insurance in Springfield PA, you could face the following penalties and expenses:
- A minimum fine of $300 for driving uninsured;
- A three month suspension of your driver’s license;
- A three month suspension of your vehicle’s registration;
- A $50 restoration fee to restore your vehicle’s registration;
- $50 restoration fee to restore your driver’s license;
- Your car may not be driven by anyone while the registration is suspended.
In addition if you were at fault in the car accident, you likely will be held personally liable for the damage to the other driver’s car. You may contact the Pennsylvania Driver and Vehicle Services to get more information regarding the penalties.
Teen Drunk Driving Insurance Rates in Pennsylvania
Reader’s Question:
I am only eighteen years old and I receive a DUI in Scranton, Pennsylvania, I went through the ARD program and I would like to know if my auto insurance will go up at all?
Charles
Scranton, PA
In Pennsylvania they permit for an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) for 1st offense of DUI. When a DUI offender is accepted into an ARD program the state suspends their charges however they are required that certain court ordered conditions are met. These conditions may include community service, drug and alcohol counseling, etc.
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department states that if you are convicted of an alcohol related violation such as DUI in Scranton, Pennsylvania, whether or not you complete an ARD program, your license will be suspended. This alone is a valid reason for insurance providers to increase rates, non-renew or cancel your insurance policy.
Get Lower Rates On Auto Insurance For Teens in Pennsylvania
Reader’s Question:
Living a life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania can be so demanding. Maybe that’s just for me because I’m getting ready to buy my teenage daughter her own car. But, of course, I would also have to worry about the auto insurance. What cars for teens would be the best for low insurance rates?
Emily
Philadelphia, PA
In general, the less expensive a vehicle is to purchase, the less costly it is to insure. Typically, vehicles that have high horsepower, high dollar or expensive to repair are the most expensive to insure. Higher horsepower cars are statistically favored by risky drivers that would likely drive the car faster and get into more accidents. That would send insurance rates to go up for everyone who owns a similar car.
Your insurance company might charge you higher rates if the car that you will buy for your daughter is popular target for thieves. Insurance companies feel there is a higher risk for it to be stolen and parts might be in higher demand, thus, would cost more. It would also likely cost more to fix after a collision if it is a high-priced car. This can actually cause insurance to be higher on that type of car. You can get quotes for each car that you are interested in buying for your daughter to find out which one is cheaper to insure. I’m confident enough to say that you can always get an online rate quote for great car insurance in Pennsylvania from this site.
What Happens If I Drive Without Insurance And Driver License?
Reader’s Question:
If I got involved in a car accident without insurance and driver’s license in Pennsylvania however it is not my fault. Could I be charged with a crime if someone got killed in the accident?
Fred
Pittsburgh, PA
Operating a vehicle without insurance and without a valid license are both against the law in the state of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania laws states that every car that is required to be registered should be covered by financial responsibility (FR). Most motorists choose to get Financial Responsibility in the way of auto insurance.
The penalties for not having auto insurance, or another form of FR, can include:
1. A three month suspension of your driver’s license
2. A minimum of $300 fine
3. $50 reinstatement fee to restore your driver’s license
4. A three month suspension of your vehicle registration
5. $50 reinstatement fee to restore your vehicle registration
6. That the car may not be driven by anyone while the registration is revoked or suspended.
Since you were driving without the required state insurance and without a valid license you will likely received some of the penalties above if you were convicted by the responding law enforcement officer. There might be other penalties too if you get involved in an accident and if a death occurred.
