Will My Car Insurance Cover Me While Driving Out Of The Country?
Filed under: Teenager car insurance, Teenager insurance
Reader’s Question:
I am planning to have a vacation in Thailand. Can I use my California driver’s license if I drive in that country? Will my car insurance cover me if I get involved in a car accident there?
Gene
San Jose, CA
Many foreign countries do not accept a United States driver’s license. This is why you have to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) as this is honored in over one-hundred-fifty countries, and Thailand is included. You have to remember that this permit is not a replacement of your United States driver’s license. The IDP comes only secondary and supplements your valid license. Additionally, IDPs are not valid in your country of origin, in this case the United States. Before traveling abroad, contact the American Automobile Touring Alliance or the American Automobile Association (AAA) to obtain your IDP as they are the only ones who can give you this.
About your car insurance concern, in most cases, your existing car insurance coverage in the State of California will only cover you overseas if you will be driving in countries neighboring America. But since you will be flying halfway across the globe to Thailand, this means that you will have to purchase separate car insurance coverage there. Whether you intend to rent a car or borrow a friend’s vehicle in Thailand, you will need to have car insurance just to be on the safe side. For rental cars, coverage can be obtained from the same company where you rented the vehicle. As for borrowing a friend’s car, it might be best to obtain a short term non-owners policy.
Before leaving the US, do some Internet research about Thailand. You can also obtain valuable information from the US Department of State Overseas Security Advisory Council because they provide guidelines on driving overseas.
Tags: auto insurance coverage, car insurance, non owners insurance
Teenager Auto Insurance Question: My Dads Car Insurance Rates Doubled When He Added Me On His Policy!
Filed under: Teenager car insurance, Teenager insurance
Reader’s Question:
My dad just added me to his auto insurance policy here in Ohio, and his auto insurance premium rate just increased. Is there anything I can do to bring down his auto insurance premium rate?
Gilbert
Columbus, OH
There may have been other factors why your dad’s auto insurance premium rate increased, but there’s a big chance that your inclusion caused it. A teenager’s risk factor is higher than the usual motorists. For one thing, when teenagers get their driver’s license, driving becomes a big thing for them. My son, when he got his license, would grab every opportunity to drive the car. Now, teenagers, due to the limited amount of time they’re given to drive, are inexperienced drivers, and this inexperience does not stop them from wanting to drive. And also, teenagers can be reckless and fearless when behind the wheel. That’s why your dad’s auto insurance premium rate rose.
Well, if you want to bring down your dad’s auto insurance premium rate, you can enroll in a defensive driving class that is recognized by your dad’s auto insurance company there in Ohio. You can also search for other driving classes or training sessions that would merit discounts. You can ask your dad’s auto insurance agent for that. If you’re still in school, you can get a teenager auto insurance discount by doing good in school. Students who do well academically are considered to be safer drivers than other teenagers. If you’re doing well academically, this tells the auto insurance company that you’re a responsible and disciplined person.
Tags: auto insurance premium, Car insurance discounts, car insurance rate, teen, teen insurance
Will My Car Insurance Rate Increase If My Son Got Involved In An Accident?
Filed under: Teenager car insurance, Teenager insurance
Reader’s Question:
We’re from Rhode Island. My teenage son was driving my car from the grocery store, and he accidentally rear-ended someone else’s car. He is listed under my car insurance policy. Will my premiums increase because of this?
Dorothy
Warwick, RI
Getting a traffic ticket is definitely a financial burden. A simple trip to the grocery store can turn into a financial nightmare if the driver was not careful. Although the State of Rhode Island does not observe the point system, traffic violations are firmly enforced and punished accordingly. This may result in license suspension or revocation, paying huge amounts in fines or possible jail time.
In most rear-end accidents, including the ones that happen in Rhode Island, the driver who drove into the other car is usually declared the one at fault and will receive a traffic citation for it. Since your son is listed under your policy, you can expect an increase in your car insurance premiums. This is due to his being a teenager and is immediately viewed with suspicion by the insurer. Teenagers tend to drive more aggressively and tend to be careless behind the wheel compared to older drivers. Your insurer will increase your premiums based on the potential risk of filing claims in the future due to traffic violations, or worse, accidents that your son may cause.
Check with the Department of Public Safety. Your son may be granted permission to take a driver improvement course to have his ticket removed. This way, you have a greater chance of negotiating for lower premiums on your policy.
Tags: auto insurance policy, auto insurance premium, teen, teen insurance, traffic violation