Hello there. I hear the type of car you have can affect the auto insurance rates you pay. Can anyone give me some tips? I’m planning to buy a nice new car soon.

Alex

Philadelphia, PA

Hey there, Alex! I’m sure you’re all excited to get your new car. Sometimes, it’s real easy to get carried away when you’re looking to buy the car you have always dreamed of. Still, unless you’re swimming in money, it would be best to choose a practical vehicle as the auto insurance costs for the lavish cars almost always comes with a high price tag.

If you want to walk on the safe side, I suggest you buy a car that isn’t so expensive to insure. Veer away from the vehicles that cost a lot to repair. Also stay away from cars that are favorites of car thieves. You can check out the car’s safety ratings as this will also affect the auto insurance prices that you pay. You can even get discounts for having additional safety and anti-theft devices installed. If this isn’t your first car, maybe you can ask your auto insurance company for a discount as you will be insuring multiple cars with them. You will need all the discounts you can get to ensure that you can buy enough coverage for your car. In general, you would need more coverage for a new car as it is more expensive to repair or replace. So do shop around online and get your free auto insurance quotes. Happy car shopping!

My daughter is away at college and was recently arrested for underage drinking. She does not have a vehicle at school but her license has been suspended for 3 months. She is on my auto insurance and I would like to know this affect my insurance rates? I live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Henry

Lancaster, PA

Even though your daughter is away at college, since she stays on your auto insurance it is likely that her underage drinking violation could affect your car insurance rates. An insurance carrier in Lancaster, Pennsylvania will normally take into account the driving histories of all household members, especially those listed as drivers on the insurance policy.

Since insurance carrier’s rating systems vary, to check for sure how your daughter’s violation of the law will affect your car insurance rates contact your insurance broker. Also your insurance carrier’s rating system should be filed with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department if you would rather contact them for this information.