Reader’s Question:

If the estimate to repair a car is more than the automobile is worth, will car insurance pay the additional cost to repair? I live in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Carol

Appleton, WI

Normally an Appleton, Wisconsin insurance carrier will not pay more than a vehicle is worth to repair it. As a matter of fact, many times if the cost to repair the vehicle is anywhere from 75 -100% of the value of the car an insurance provider will not pay for repairs but instead total out the car and pay the policyholder actual cash value (ACV) for the automobile.

When a vehicle’s damage reach, and especially they exceed, the value of the vehicle it is not economical for an insurance carrier to repair the vehicle instead of settlement with the owner for the actual cash value or fair market value of the automobile. Repairs, towing, storage costs, rental reimbursement costs are all taken into consideration by an insurance carrier when determining if a vehicle should be totaled out or not.

If the cost of damages is nearly the actual cash value of the vehicle and there are other expenses such as towing and storage of the car that are also costly then many times the vehicle will be declared a total loss even if the damages alone are not as costly as the the value of the vehicle but with the extras it makes more economical sense to total out the car and sell it for salvage.

Tags: auto insurance, Car Insurance Company

Reader’s Question:

I am a college student and I come back home in Green Bay, Wisconsin for only a month during winter break. I do not have a car in college. I would like to know if there was some auto insurance plan that would cover me for only a month that I am home and have a vehicle, so I wont be paying insurance when I am not driving.

Jeremy

Green Bay, WI

It sounds as if when you are home in Green Bay, Wisconsin , you will be driving your parent’s car. If this is the case then your parents will need to verify with their insurance carrier to check what options are available to cover you when you come home. If you are still using your parent’s residence as your address of record, their insurance carrier may still consider you to be a household member that needs to be on the auto insurance policy, especially in order to be covered and operate a car when you come home to visit during winter breaks.

Insurance carrier’s guidelines vary therefore you will need to speak with the insurance agent regarding you being away at college from your parent’s insurance carrier. Most insurance carrier require that all household members are included on the car insurance policy, including any children away from home or at college that may drive your car during the occasional trips home.

Tags: Student car insurance

Reader’s Question:

I am currently under my parent’s car insurance policy. I cant afford to get car insurance yet on my own since I am only 18 years old.. I live with my parents in Kenosha Wisconsin but they are planning to move in Illinois. Can I stay on their auto insurance if I wont be living in the same household? I have my own vehicle.

Kenosha WI

Peters

No, it is not likely that your parent’s insurance policy will be able to continue to have you and your vehicle if they move out of state. The state of Illinois has different auto insurance liability requirements than the state of WI so that is one problem that may arise but also most all insurance companies will not cover an individual and the vehicle that is not part of the household. Since your vehicle will be garaged in Kenosha Wisconsin and not at the address of your parents then an insurance provider will not usually allow you or your vehicle to be covered on your parent’s insurance policy once they move, especially to a different state.

You can check if there are ways in which to lower the car insurance premium. You can look for car insurance discounts such as safety features on your vehicle for one. Other ways in which to obtain discounts may be taking a driver improvement course or safety course, some insurance company lower car insurance rates if you take approved traffic class. In addition if you are going to school and maintaining good grades some insurance companies give good student discounts.

Tags: auto insurance, Car insurance discounts, Student car insurance

Reader’s Question:

I am just wondering if there are insurance provider in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that will insure delivery drivers like me?

Bennett

Milwaukee, WI

If you have an employer and you are not an independent contractor verify with your employer to know if the insurer in Milwaukee will provide you coverage while you are engaged in that employer’s job.

Business or commercial driving rates, newspaper carriers, delivery services and real estate agents fall into this same category, are higher than those in standard personal auto policy policies.

Since most personal car policies will exclude coverage for the car while it is being used for business purposes you will likely have to get a commercial or business use policy for your car since you will be delivery property for money.

Tags: Business Auto Insurance, commercial insurance

Reader’s Question:

How long does a speeding ticket remain on your record for insurance carriers? Was it three years?

James

Green Bay, WI

Normally insurance carriers have a look back period to rate on an offense conviction for three, five or seven years. Since your speeding ticket would be on your driving record for five years then an insurance carrier could rate you on this violation for that time period or for a lesser time period.

Since insurance carriers look back period and rating systems differ so you will need to contact your insurance provider to check how long they will rate you on the speeding ticket.Your insurance agent in Green Bay, Wisconsin should be able to inform you about your insurance carrier’s rating system and/or you can contact the Wisconsin insurance regulator with whom surcharge and rates information must be filed with.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance rate, traffic violation

Reader’s Question:

I received a speeding ticket in New York. My automobile is registered and insured in Appleton, Wisconsin. Will this speeding ticket affect my driving record and auto insurance?

Joey

Appleton, WI

If you are convicted of this speeding offense in the state of New York then their courts will likely notify the Wisconsin Department of Transportation of the speeding ticket.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation states that they do receive in from out of state courts information on Wisconsin licensed motorists and traffic violation convictions. According to the Wisconsin DOT though that no points are assessed for violations of traffic offenses from out of state but the conviction is placed on your WI driver record.

You can contact your insurance agent in Appleton WI about your insurance company’s rating system or you may contact your state’s insurance regulator since insurers must file their insurance rates with this state entity.

Tags: auto insurance, traffic violation