Cheap Car Insurance Cost

Reader’s Question:

Is insurance cheaper on a 5 speed manual or automatic transmission?

Paul

Portland, Maine (ME)

 

It will really depend upon the type of vehicle and rating system of an insurer however in general a 5 speed vehicle is cheaper to purchase than an automatic vehicle, and therefore it will normally cost less to insure for that fact.

Any part of a liability insurance rate that uses the car in the factoring, would take into account the number of occurrences, but the transmission type is not a factor. Any portion of the physical damage (comprehensive and collision coverages) insurance rate would use the value, but it does not look at the fact that the car is an automatic or 5-speed car.

One example is this: The Corvette and Porsche would be more to insure not because of the manual transmission but due to the sports car classification. Plus, high end sports car come with much higher repair costs than the Camry.

Driving Without Insurance In Kentucky KY

Reader’s Question:

In Kentucky what is the fine for driving without car insurance?

Jean

Louisville, KY

 

The penalties for driving without car insurance in Kentucky can be rather severe. For a first offense you are cited, you will be required to go to court and can be fined between $500 - $1000 or go to jail for not more than 90 days or both.

Your Kentucky vehicle registration and license plates can be suspended for a year or until proof of car insurance is provided. You may also lose your license for up to one year. For each subsequent offense of not having proper proof of car insurance the penalties increase.

If you were found with driving without car insurance in the state of Kentucky you may contact the court listed on your citation for more information on the possible fees and penalties you may receive in court. The clerk of the court can likely inform you what the normal fine amount is for a first time offense of being uninsured motorist in the county in which you were cited.

Car Insurance Policy

Reader’s Question:

Is it true that every individual with a valid Driver’s License will automatically be covered with some sort of auto insurance?

Sam

Minneapolis, MN

To be covered by a auto insurance, a person must buy a car insurance policy through a licensed insurance company or be added to an existing auto insurance policy. In most states you need to show proof of insurance to obtain a license, while in some states you need at least the minimum state required insurance to register your car.

Insurance companies’ guidelines and state laws can differ but we know of no situation where by just getting a valid driver’s license you are automatically covered by auto insurance.

If you live in a household that already has auto insurance on cars, you might be covered under that insurance policy once you have received a driver’s license, but in some cases the policyholder would need to let their insurance company know and add you to the policy in order for you to be covered properly by the car insurance policy.

Auto Insurance Rates

Reader’s Question;

I am just wondering if parking ticket affect insurance rates as well?

Brad

Louisville, KY

A parking ticket may or may not affect your car insurance rates depending on how your specific insurance provider assigns points to such violations. There are insurance carriers that will not increase rates because of a single parking ticket however if there are multiple ones or unpaid tickets that lead to a driver’s license suspension your rates would generally be affected.

You should contact your insurance carrier regarding their rating system with your insurance agent or you can contact your state’s insurance regulatory body and check about your company’s rates that are filed with them.

Car Insurance South Carolina Quote

Reader’s Question:

Do I need to buy an insurance before I purchase a used vehicle in South Carolina?

Samuel

Columbia, SC

If this is your first car in South Carolina then you need to obtain auto insurance before taking over the ownership of a used car in most states. If you already have car insurance and are replacing a car on your current insurance policy then the coverage might insure your “new” used automobile for a couple of days. You will need to contact your state’s DMV and insurance company though to verify.

Before buying a new or used car in South Carolina, contact your insurance carrier to let them know about the vehicle you might buy. They should be able to provide you a quote of what it will cost to add the car to your insurance policy, which can assist you budget for your auto purchase. Your insurance carrier can then let you know when you should contact and add the car so it will be covered.

Cheap Auto Insurance

Reader’s Question:

What vehicles are the best for cheap insurance rates? I never got involved in car accidents, no tickets and I am a safe driver.

Albert

Fort Wayne, Indiana (IN)

In general, the less expensive a car is to purchase, the less expensive it is to insure. Additionally, domestic makes are usually less expensive to insure than foreign makes.

Other than factors like your zip code , your own driving record and the demographics of the motorist in your household, the make and model of your vehicle can have an effect on your insurance rate.

Collision-damage costs are one of the major factors in determining the cost of insuring one type of vehicle over another. You will also want to find out how attractive the car is to thieves.

Typically, cars that are the most expensive to insure tend to be either high high dollar, horsepower or expensive to repair. Higher horsepower autos are statistically favored by risky motorists that will likely drive the vehicles faster and get into more accidents. That will make insurance rates up for those who own a similar vehicle.

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