Can I Lie To My Auto Insurance Company About Where My Car is Parked?
Reader’s Question:
I live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and it is really not cheap to park your car here so I garaged my vehicle in my girlfriend’s house in the suburbs. Is it legal if I change my zip code (where the vehicle is parked) in my car insurance information.
Sam
Philadelphia, PA
The place where the vehicle is garaged is typically where you live majority of the time regardless of where you garage your vehicle occasionally. Even though you use your girlfriend’s garaging address to keep your vehicle, you likely still need to operate the car to where you live, by using your automobile on a regular basis. So your residential address would be the similar as your garaging address.
Insurance carrier’s guidelines can vary though so I would recommend that you speak with your insurance carrier to know what rules they have for garaging addresses. If how you are garaging the automobile is acceptable to them and permitted according to their rules and guidelines then you may be able to use the garaging address.
If the insurance carrier does not allow this, you might think about shopping around for car insurance and obtaining auto insurance rates from other insurance companies to check if you can get cheaper premiums in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
How Much Will My Auto Insurance Company Pay If My Car Is Totalled?
Reader’s Question:
My sister was berating me why I bothered on getting comprehensive auto insurance. I have told her the many benefits and she seems convinced. She was even surprised to find out that my auto insurance will pay for my car if it was stolen or totaled. She asked how much I’d get for the car if this happens and this was one question I can’t answer. How much, indeed?
Cynthia
Levittown PA
Hello, Cynthia, how nice of you to advocate the advantages of getting comprehensive auto insurance. Like your sister, there are many others who do not feel the need to get comprehensive auto insurance and end up having to suffer the effects of a vehicular accident or theft or similar unfortunate events involving the vehicle.
If your vehicle is totaled or stolen, your comprehensive auto insurance will pay you its fair market value in Pennsylvania . To get your car’s fair market value, you should look around and see how much a similar car would cost in PA. When you do this, be sure to factor in the make and model of your car, mileage, and how long it’s been used so that you can get a fairly accurate estimate of its fair market value. This will be a considerable sum but if it is still on loan, the amount will be somewhat less than your loan balance. This is the time for gap insurance to come in. Gap insurance will pay for that difference and will enable you to use your money in getting another car. If by any chance you are interested in gap insurance, you get free quotes from this site by entering your zip code.
Good that you have turned your sister into a believer. The world needs many others like you and your sister!
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.
Lastly, you can check with your insurance company if they offer discounts for reduced mileage. Many insurance companies in Philadelphia 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!
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