Reader’s Question:

My wife drivers license has been suspended for almost ten years. Can she still obtain car insurance. I have a learner permit and I have a used vehicle and I need car insurance. I tried to obtain car insurance however the insurance provider said that I need a full valid drivers license. Can my wife get the auto insurance in Appleton, Wisconsin?

Robert

Appleton, WI

It is possible that some insurance carriers will be able to insure your wife no longer have suspended drivers license and is getting her new valid drivers license. State laws vary with regards to suspended license and auto insurance laws.

Your car insurance and your spouse’s auto insurance will likely be categorize as high risk since you only have learner’s permit and is considered inexperienced driver and your wife has a suspended driver’s license for ten years.

You may be able to obtain car insurance quote from various websites and you can start getting quotes here. Just enter your zip code to get affordable auto insurance quote in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance quotes, high risk insurance

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

Reader’s Question:

My son had 2 at-fault auto accidents within a few months of each other. The only auto insurance he could get after the second accident was high risk. How long does he have until he no longer has to stay on high risk insurance? We live in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Will

La Crosse, Wisconsin

In WI dates and types of moving violations, restrictions, accidents, and withdrawals are all recorded onto your driver record abstract. Driving record information are retained for the preceding 5 years; but, certain violations can result in a motorist record being retained indefinitely. To check which ones this would be, you may contact the WI Department of Transportation.

The WI Commissioner of Insurance states that motorists in WI can be classified by auto insurance providers based on a number of different characteristics including, but not limited to, marital status, age and gender, where the car is garaged, make and model of car, driving record, prior car insurance coverage and annual miles driven.

Drivers can typically obtain insurance from a preferred company instead of a non-standard (high risk) insurance companies when they have had a clean driving record for the previous 3 years to 5 years. To make sure how long your son’s accidents will affect his insurance rates in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and therefore classifying him as a high risk, you may contact the Wisconsin Commissioner of Insurance.

Your son can obtain a quote here for La Crosse, Wisconsin car insurance here with the insurers to check if their rates are less than what he is currently paying.

Tags: auto insurance, automobile, high risk insurance

Reader’s Question:

I’m from Milwaukee, WI. I got hit recently by another driver who was clearly at fault Milwaukee. He offered me to pay in cash for the damages rather than make a claim on his car insurance; is that okay?

Karen

Milwaukee, WI

It’s a bad idea to accept cash if you’re injured or if you even have a hint of being injured. Your PIP coverage should pay for your medical expenses and any lost wages that you may incur if you’re injured. Once your PIP is consumed, your health insurance will kick in and pay for the rest of your expenses. You can sue the at-fault driver to pay for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and any lost wages as a result of the crash if you do not have PIP or health insurance.

On the other hand, never take money on the spot if you choose to accept the other driver’s cash offer for the physical damage to your car. Be sure to know exactly how much it will cost to repair your vehicle. You could end up paying for a portion of the repairs yourself if you don’t get an accurate estimate, Say for example, the other driver offers you $1,000 to pay for damages and you later receive an estimate showing that the total cost is $1,500 to repair your car, you may have to kick in $500 of your own pocket.

It is also important for you to carefully examine any documents you may be required to sign that absolve the other driver of any further liability. If the at-fault’s party has consulted an attorney, it is likely that the attorney has drafted a document that will take away your right to sue later. If you are in doubt about signing the document, consult an attorney. Hiring a lawyer is an unavoidable expense that you’ll have to pay for. Always check your policy language for details so it’s advised to contact your Milwaukee, WI insurance agent to have a statute of limitations for reporting accidents.

Tags: auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

I received my first offense of DUI in Kenosha Wisconsin. My license was suspended immediately. Can I still be covered by an insurance carrier with a suspended license? If an insurance provider finds out about the DUI conviction, how much does car insurance rates increase?

Britney

Kenosha, WI

The penalties for operating while intoxicated (OWI) in Kenosha Wisconsin can include forfeiture of car and revocation of license for the first time conviction, 3 year license revocation, to up to six years imprisonment, and possible seizure of car for subsequent violations. Also, more harsh penalties apply if death or injury results.

With a drunk driving conviction, car insurance rates tend to increase quite a bit. The amount of the auto insurance rate increase will depend upon your insurance carrier’s rating system. If your insurance does rise to an unmanageable amount, you may get a lower car insurance quote in Kenosha Wisconsin.

Tags: automobile, car insurance quotes, car insurance rate