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

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 your 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 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

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

Reader’s Question:

My name is Dex. I am 16 years old and currently residing in Los Angeles, California. I recently got my student permit and already I crashed onto a tree. Am I covered by parents’ car insurance or am I dead meat?

Dexter

Los Angeles, CA

Dude, here’s the thing. First things first. The California law states that a person at least 18 years old may obtain a student driver’s permit, therefore allowing you to drive a motor vehicle but not without restrictions. Next, I’m guessing that you had a friend with you when you used your parents’ car and you came crashing on a tree and that it happened in the wee hours of the morning. And that friend of yours was a minor like you. Am I correct? All right, so here goes. For those minors driving in Los Angeles California, or the whole of California for that matter, you are restricted to drive alone and thus must be accompanied by an adult 25 years old that has a license when you are driving and you have a passenger that is under 21 years old and when you are driving between 12 midnight and 5 AM. Now, because you are a minor, your parents now must take full responsibility for the property damages, if any, that you did. If all my guesses were right, then you have got so much going against you when it’s time to face your parents. But since you’re a minor, you had been covered by your parents, as dictated by the law, when you first applied for a license.

So, you’re good, dude. On the insurance side, that is. Overall, I think you’re dead meat.

Tags: auto insurance, teen insurance, Young driver car insurance

Reader’s Question:

Does my 19 year old son needs to get car insurance if she will drive my automobile? We live in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Craig

Sioux Falls, SD

Normally your son will be required to be listed on your car insurance policy if he lives in the same house so he will be properly insured. Auto insurance providers require that you list all licensed household members to the car insurance policy or you can exclude them to your policy. If you specifically exclude a driver in your car insurance policy, he will not get any coverage at all if they drive your vehicle.

I know if you add your teen to your car insurance policy in Sioux Falls, South Dakota it will greatly affect your car insurance rate since based on statistics young drivers have less experience when it comes to driver and is likely get involved in an accident. If your daughter just have a learners permit, you may contact your car insurance provider and see if they will require to add her to your policy or not.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance rate, Student car insurance, teen insurance, Young driver car insurance

Reader’s Question:

You know, my mom and dad just broke up a couple of years ago. It’s quite sad but now I’m getting used to it. In fact, there are some good things that came out of it. My dad gave me a new car for my 21st birthday, and now my mom is offering to buy me auto insurance for it. Which auto insurance should I get in Allentown Pennsylvania PA?

Nathalie

Allentown PA

That’s a nice little set-up you have there, Nathalie. And it is also nice that you are able to look at the positive things brought about by your parents’ separation. As is evident, they still want the best for you. So, to answer your question, get the best kind of auto insurance there is! And that would be a full or comprehensive insurance.

There are many types of auto insurance in Allentown Pennsylvania PA and they differ in the offered coverage and price. Sometimes car owners opt for the cheapest package they can find because of financial reasons. They take the risk of going without a comprehensive insurance because they can not (perhaps at the moment) afford a more expensive insurance. That doesn’t seem to be the case with you since I am sure that your mother wants full coverage for your car and you.

Let us quickly go through the types of coverage you can have. Let’s say you forgot to step on the brakes and you hit a car on an intersection. Liability coverage will pay for the damages you have caused to the other car, including bodily injuries damage to the car itself. But it will not cover the costs to repair your car – this will be covered by collision coverage.

For other unfortunate events that can happen to your brand new car like a broken window, theft, a tree branch falling on top of it – those will not be covered by liability nor coverage insurance. You will need to get comprehensive insurance for this type.

Maybe you can ask your mom and dad what type of auto insurance they have and if they are satisfied with it. You can then solicit quotes online for the same type of auto insurance by entering your zip code on the space you see on this page. You can also ask your parents to recommend a trustworthy insurance company in Allentown Pennsylvania PA.

Have awesome fun with your new car, Nathalie!

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance quotes, Student car insurance, teen insurance, Young driver car insurance

Reader’s Question:

My son is a full time student currently residing on campus. He does not drive and he does not own vehicle. He is on our car insurance policy currently and I would like to know if we could remove him from our car insurance policy in Flint, Michigan and will be covered if occasionally drive our vehicle?

Jenny

Flint, MI

Generally, car insurance carriers will require you to list all licensed household members and that includes all children that are away at college or home that may drive your cars. Usually coverage is extended to those you have given permission to drive your car. However it does not cover a relative who drives your car that are not listed on your car insurance policy or specifically excluded on the auto insurance policy.

I suggest that you check with your current car insurance carrier in Flint, Michigan to know exactly the rules and guidelines in your specific situation. You may also read over your car insurance policy to verify if your son will still be covered if you take him off your car insurance policy.

Insurance carrier’s rules and guidelines differ. Some may look into mileage driven and some insurers do not. I believe it is possible that your son may be included as an occasional driver on your car insurance policy. Another option that you may do is to exclude him at the time that he is in school by showing proof that he is not residing with you. The insurance company would want to make sure that your son do not have access to your vehicles so may need to present proof that he does not live with you. So, verify with your car insurance company in Flint, Michigan to get the answers for your car insurance needs.

Tags: auto insurance, Student car insurance, teen insurance, Young driver car insurance

Reader’s Question:

If a teenage driver, my 16 year old daughter, is not listed on the car insurance policy in Kenner, LA and gets in an accident, is she covered?

Lisa

Kenner, LA

In most cases there would not be coverage if your daughter is not included in your insurance policy in Kenner, LA and gets in an accident. Most insurance providers require that all household members and/or licensed drivers be disclosed on the car insurance policy. You should verify with your insurance agent or insurance carrier to determine if this damages would be covered.

When a young driver acquires their learners permit or drivers license a call to the insurance carrier is required. I know how hard it is when it is time to insure our teens.

Comparison shop for young teen driver’s prices. You can obtain some comparison prices for car insurance quotes here by just typing in your zip code in the box above to get started.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance quotes, teen insurance

Reader’s Question:

Why do auto insurance companies in Fort Wayne, Indiana ask about young licensed drivers in the household even if they don’t drive the car? I gave my sisters name and the auto insurance agent told me that she would be excluded from my insurance policy. Why?

Hart

Fort Wayne, Indiana (IN)

Insurance providers in Fort Wayne, Indiana want to know about all licensed household members , young or old, so they can determine their potential risks for having you and these licensed drivers covered by your auto insurance policy. When you buy auto liability insurance there can be a vicarious risk assigned to the insurance provider to cover all household members. Many insurance providers will require that you either add licensed drivers in your household to the insurance policy or exclude them. The reason for this is that as household members it is assumed they have access to your cars and may drive them at any time.

Excluding your sister from your auto insurance policy would mean that you are not paying extra on your car insurance policy to have her as a driver and thus she is not extended any insurance coverage by your insurance policy if she were to operate your vehicle and be in an accident.

Tags: auto insurance, teen insurance, Young driver car insurance

Reader’s Question:

Im 17 years old residing in Greensboro, North Carolina. Can I register title and insure a vehicle under my name?

John

Greensboro, NC

According to the NC DOT their laws do not set a minimum age limit as to ownership of a car as long as the car owner can sign their name on the application of title. But a license plate cannot be issued without auto insurance on the car.

According to North Carolina DOT, insurance providers normally will require you to have a parent or guardian sign your insurance paperworks if you are under eighteen years of age and thus still considered a minor.

Once you find out the laws for registering and titling a car in Greensboro NC you then can contact insurance carriers for quotes and for their guidelines on a minor getting a car insurance policy. Most insurance providers will require a parent or guardian to sign on an car insurance policy with you since it is a legal document.

Tags: automobile, Business Auto Insurance, teen insurance, Young driver car insurance