What Cars Are Cheaper To Get Auto Insurance?
Reader’s Question:
Hello, I’m from Pennsylvania. We have finally decided to purchase our son his own car and get him his own vehicle insurance policy. He is going off to college pretty soon. He’s very excited about this, and I’m sure he would want a fancy one. However, my husband and I want to be practical. Vehicle insurance coverage alone can be draining on the budget. What would be a good choice of vehicle?
Jenny
Philadelphia, PA
Hi Jenny of Pennsylvania! Are you planning to get your son a liability car insurance coverage? This is the minimum requirement in most states primarily because you must be able to take responsibility for any damage you might inflict on another person while driving. This, however, does not cover damages to your own car, so your car choice in this case won’t matter so much.
It’s a good thing though that you’re being careful about buying a vehicle. There are several factors that affect your premium especially if you’re getting a comprehensive car insurance coverage. What car you drive is one of them. Some cheap cars to insure include Chevrolet Venture, Honda Odyssey, Buick LeSabre, Oldsmobile Silhouette, and so on. You might want to canvass vehicles in this range. If the car you choose is likely to get into an accident, it will be more expensive to insure. If it is costly to repair, vehicle insurance companies will also charge more. Between a sedan and a mustang, the former would be the obvious choice.
Even if you could afford it, I wouldn’t recommend buying an expensive car especially if your son is a beginner at driving. His inexperience could work against him. Both the value of his car and his lack of driving experience will raise the premium of his vehicle insurance policy. These are hard times, and I guess your priority should be utility and safety. He could get his sports car later.
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
Will Comprehensive Auto Insurance Pay For Hit and Run Accident?
Reader’s Question:
My car was parked in front of my house in Reading, Pennsylvania and last night it was hit by another vehicle. I have comprehensive and uninsured motorist coverage. Will these cover the damage on my vehicle?
Marla
Reading, PA
Comprehensive insurance coverage covers your car for things other than collision such as fire, flood, or animals or if your car gets stolen. Collision coverage on the other hand covers your vehicle when your vehicle hits, or is hit by, another car, or other object. I do not think your comprehensive coverage would cover the damage to your car you mentioned if it was from another vehicle since that would usually fall under the Collision coverage.
Uninsured motorist can be either for property damage or bodily injury. If you have the bodily injury (UMBI) then it will not pay for damages sustained to your automobile. Normally this insurance covers you, your passengers or insured members of your household for bodily/personal injuries, death or damages caused by an at-fault uninsured or hit-and-run motorist.
If you have uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD), and if the damage are from a hit and run accident then your vehicle may be covered. Typically UMPD covers your car when property damage is sustained by an insured and the other party does not have car insurance.
You may contact your insurance carrier in Reading, Pennsylvania to get better understanding of the coverages you have on your car insurance policy and you may also ask if the damages sustained in an accident would be covered.
Do I Need To Have Auto Insurance On A Car I Seldom Drive?
Reader’s Question:
I’ve always wanted to be a journalist since I was a kid. And now, I’m living my dream! Although I have just started, I can tell that this is what I’ll be doing for a long time. Trouble is, I travel all the time! I have a car, insured in Pennsylvania, which I rarely use. Is it wise to keep this auto insurance? I really barely use the car, you know.
Jean
Philadelphia PA
How amazing for you, Jean, to live the dream you’ve always had! I’m sure that your lifestyle has drastically changed because of all that traveling, not to mention the hours required of your job. But, nothing beats passion! I’m sure you don’t mind the changes because like you said, you’ve always wanted to be a journalist! Great!
You know, Jean, it’s all about risk. Whether or not you want to keep your existing auto insurance should be determined by how much risk you are comfortable at. True, you may use your car very so often, but remember that accidents can happen anytime, no matter how long or how infrequent you’ve been on the road. What you can do is perhaps let somebody else – a family or a friend – use your car and enroll him or her as an authorized driver? This however will entail costs so you should also consider if you will be willing to take this option.
Another option is to reduce the coverage so you can reduce your premiums as well. If you feel that because you are on the road less frequently and will therefore require less coverage, then you can look at other auto insurance packages that cost less but with reduced coverage. You can get free quotes from this page by entering your zip code in Philadelphia Pennsylvania PA.
Lastly, you can check with your insurance company if they offer discounts for reduced mileage. Many insurance companies in Philadelphia Pennsylvania PA offer this kind of discounts and it will be beneficial for you to check if yours does.
It’s not necessary to stress yourself with these things, Jean. I’m sure that your local insurers will be more than happy to assist you. The important thins is that you’re living your dream.
I will certainly look out daily for you in the papers!
Student Auto Insurance in Pennsylvania For Out Of State College?
Reader’s Question:
I live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. My daughter is going to college in a different state and I am planning to transfer the title under his name so he could get her own car insurance. My question is, should he get car insurance here in Lancaster or where she is attending school.
Robert
Lancaster, PA
Typically a person insured their vehicle to where they are a resident of, which in your case in Lancaster. If your daughter is an out of state college student, she is still considered a non resident to that state.
So if your daughter is going to register and insure the vehicle in Lancaster she needs to make sure that she will be covered when she attend college in a different state. Your daughter would need to makes sure that he will be insured in the state where she will be doing most of her driving. She may speak with the car insurance carrier to get more information
You may be able to get more information on registering the vehicle with the PennDOT.
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 Scranton, 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 Scranton PA, you need to tell the insurance provider of your new license.
Military Discount Car Insurance in Pennsylvania?
Reader’s Question:
My son is in a military academy and He will spend about a total of 1 month at home during the year for visits. I just want to know if in Erie, Pennsylvania do I need to keep my son on my auto insurance, if his drivers license address is still at our address? If not what will happen if he got involve in an accident while driving my vehicle? Can he get a military discount on car insurance?
Gina
Erie, PA
Insurance provider guidelines in Erie PA vary so you will need to contact your insurance company’s agent to check if they will require you to keep your son in your policy or not, that is away at the military academy for most of the year.
Since he is only going to be at home for a month in a year your insurance provider may permit you to take him off as a driver for the present time period. If they do then your insurance company will probably let you to inform them when he does come in for visits. While he is in using the vehicle they may require you to add or re-instate him as a an additional driver.
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.
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