August, 2017 | Amigo Insurance

Auto Insurance for Your Teenage Driver

Your family has finally arrived at the time in your lives where you have a teenage driver in the home. Your teen has passed the tests, logged their practice hours and is now ready to drive solo. While you may be ready to panic at the thought, comprehensive auto insurance coverage can set your mind at ease.

But, it can be stressful finding coverage that fits your teen’s unique needs and your family’s budget.

Auto insurance for teens is usually more expensive. This is because teens represent a very big risk for insurance providers. New drivers don’t have the same experience as seasoned drivers. High odds exist that your teen could have an auto accident in their first few years of driving. Therefore, it pays to invest in a high level of protection to keep them safe and avoid putting your family assets at risk.

Find the Right Car Insurance Policy for Your Teen Driver

Purchasing an auto insurance policy for your teen can be pricey if you aren’t sure where to begin. Before you start your search, ask yourself if you want to add your teen to your own policy or if you’ll buy them separate coverage.

Adding Your Teen to Your Policy

Adding your teen to your existing policy is often the most affordable option for your family. On average, you can save over $3,000 per year when you combine coverage for everyone in the family. When you add your new driver to an existing policy you will also likely qualify for discounts. Those discounts can help ease the cost of a teen driver taking to the open road.

Do your research before investing in car insurance coverage for your teen. We can help you to look for different discounts that may be available including good student discounts, safe driving courses and driving contracts.

Benefits of Comprehensive Coverage for Teen Drivers

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens aged 16 to 19 in the US. Drivers who fall into that age group are 3 times as likely than drivers aged 20 or older to have a fatal crash. With such an increased accident risk, it makes sense that insurance costs for teens are much higher than other drivers. With a comprehensive car insurance policy, you can help protect your teens in the event of an accident and give your family peace of mind.

We’ve got you covered. Call Amigo Insurance Agency, Inc at 877-999-2644 for a free Chicago auto insurance quote. One of our agents can help you determine the best way to insure your teens.

You’ve Gotten a Moving Violation, Now What?

No one wants the police to stop them while driving. Drivers, regardless of their record, need to take each driving violation seriously.

By taking steps to address the charge, you can save yourself a lot of potential trouble. Consider these steps to make driving after a ticket less of a hassle.

1. Understand the Charges and Cooperate

When the police stop you, you are welcome to ask questions and inquire about the citation. However, never become argumentative or combative with police.

It seems cliché but a little understanding goes a long way. First, argumentative suspects may elicit additional charges besides just the moving violation. Furthermore, they are likely to elicit very little sympathy from the officer. The officer may be able to use a driver’s conduct against them should they have to appear in traffic court.

2. Contact Your Proper Authorities

After you’ve received a charge, infrequent offenders may have to pay a fine or appear in traffic court. However, as moving violations often go on a driver’s record, they often have a chance to appeal the citation. If you decide to appeal your citation to the courts, contact your lawyer to begin the proceedings. You will likely have to gather evidence and present your case before the court to have the charge waived.

Regardless of whether you decide to appeal, you still have to face the penalties. Pay all of your fines, and appear at all your court hearings.

3. Understand Penalties

A ticket or driving violation isn’t exactly the most fun experience in the world. For infrequent offenders, the consequences are likely relatively minimal. However, frequent traffic offenders may face much tougher penalties. Depending on your driving record and offense history, you may face tougher penalties. The most severe penalties may include the loss of driving privileges, and even potential jail time.

4. Protect Your Car Insurance

A moving violation often signifies that you take unsafe risks while driving. Auto insurance companies routinely consider applicants’ driving records when they issue coverage. Therefore, the existence of moving violations on your record may lead an insurer to consider you a high-risk driver. Insurers may penalize high risk drivers in the following ways:

Classifying the driver as non-standard operator, forcing the driver to look for new coverage. Often, non-standard coverage comes at a higher cost.
Increasing the premiums of the driver’s existing auto insurance.
Cancelling the driver’s existing coverage. They may have to seek a new policy that better addresses their risks.

Furthermore, driving charges may not allow drivers to qualify for discounts or cost reductions. Therefore, it is best for all drivers to avoid moving violations as best they can. Paying careful attention to the rules of the road is often all you need to remain safe.

We’ve got you covered. Call Amigo Insurance Agency, Inc at 877-999-2644 for a free Chicago auto insurance quote.

Why You Might Need Non-Standard Auto Insurance

When looking for auto insurance, your insurer may classify you as a non-standard policyholder. What is this term? What makes you a non-standard driver?

Non-standard auto insurance applies to certain drivers who are riskier to insure. Different companies classify different drivers as non-standard. Some companies may not insure them at all.

If you find out that you’re a non-standard driver, talk to one of our auto insurance agents. They can help you determine why you fall into this category, and determine the best way to insure you. With the right attention, you can hit the road knowing that you have the right coverage.

What is Non-Standard Insurance?

There is no concrete definition for non-standard auto coverage. Most companies classify non-standard policyholders as those who are the riskiest to insure.

Because these drivers come with higher risks, companies account for those risks when insuring them. Companies likely cannot insure non-standard drivers at the standard market rates for insurance. Non-standard drivers may pay more for their coverage because of their unique risks.

Different auto insurers consider drivers non-standard for a variety of reasons. A driver might become non-standard because of their driving record, age, vehicle or other factors.

Choose an insurance company that will insure you for any non-standard risks. There are many fairly common reasons that a driver might qualify as non-standard. Your insurance agent can help you choose the correct policy for your needs.

Coverage for New Drivers

When someone begins to drive for the first time, they don’t have the experience of a seasoned driver. For that reason, new drivers are often considered non-standard policyholders.

New drivers usually pose a relatively high cost risk to their insurers. Insurers may recommend that new drivers buy higher levels of insurance coverage in the beginning. This helps to better cover the insured’s cost risks. These factors might make new drivers have to pay higher costs for coverage.

The good news is that new drivers can often reduce their coverage limits over time. Furthermore, as drivers gain more experience, their risk level usually drops. As risks drop, you might be able to reduce your coverage levels, and therefore pay less for coverage.

High-Risk Drivers

Experience driving makes drivers safer and more attentive to their on-road risks. However, some drivers continue to make mistakes. If you continually commit driving infractions, you may tarnish your driving record. Frequent accidents, tickets or other violations will often stay on your driving record for a few years.

Insurance companies have access to most of their policyholders’ driving records. If insurers see your driving record gain citations, they might classify you as a high-risk driver. High-risk drivers often qualify as non-standard drivers. Therefore, you might pay more for insurance the higher risk you pose to insurers.

SR-22 Insurance

Your state may require you to get an SR-22 certificate for a variety of driving infractions. These include DUI/DWI charges, multiple tickets, or frequent accidents. Therefore, SR-22 insurance usually falls under both non-standard and high-risk insurance coverage.

SR-22s are not insurance policies themselves. They are certificates that classify you as a high-risk driver. They verify for your state’s authorities that you carry adequate auto insurance. You may have to carry the SR-22 for a couple of years. You must carry continuous auto insurance coverage while you have the citation.

SR-22s may cause your auto insurance rates to rise. You may even have to change policies because your existing policy may not cover SR-22 risks. Therefore, you might expect to pay more for coverage with an SR-22 policy.

After an SR-22 comes off your record, you might see a chance to reclassify yourself as a standard driver. This could help lower your insurance rates.

Non-Standard Vehicle Coverage

Sometimes, the car you drive can classify you as a non-standard driver.

An old car that you take to car shows often has a lot of value attached to it. The same goes for an extremely expensive, custom-made vehicle like a Lamborghini. Antique, valuable or specialty cars often need unique coverage levels. This is perhaps because of their age, design or operational risks.

Furthermore, high-risk vehicles don’t have to be the most valuable. For example, salvage-title cars are those that were previously damaged and considered a total loss. Though you might have repaired this vehicle, it still has major damage in its past. This makes its operation quite risky.

Whether new, old or repaired, you vehicle might contain risks that make it riskier to insure. For that reason, your auto insurance provider may need to issue a non-standard policy.

Affording Non-standard Coverage

Even if you have to pay more for a non-standard policy, there are ways you can control your costs.

Drivers might be able to save on coverage if they qualify for discounts from their insurer. Multiple insurers offer a variety of discounts like accident-free or safe-driver discounts.

Safe driving and attention to your car could help you become less risky in the eyes of your insurance. They might reduce your rates the longer you go without an infraction.

We’ve got you covered. Call Amigo Insurance Agency, Inc at 877-999-2644 to get a free quote on Chicago auto insurance.

Who are the Highest-Risk Drivers?

Experience, age, vehicles, restrictions and your driving history all collectively determine your risks. Your auto insurance provider will use that risk to determine how to provide coverage for you.

High-risk drivers present the highest cost risks to insurers. An insurance company assumes high chances of issuing a claim when insuring that driver.

When an insurance company issues a claim, it costs the company money. So, insurers often have to charge high-risk policyholders more for their coverage. One way to avoid paying higher prices is to reduce your chances of becoming a high-risk driver.

What are some of the common examples of high-risk drivers, and how do you insure yourself if you become one?

Determining Which Drivers are High-Risk

Most insurance companies determine who is a high risk driver differently. Some might use your credit score as a factor, while others will use your age. Almost all of them will use your driving history as a risk factor.

Nonetheless, there are still various drivers that most insurance companies consider high-risk. If you fall into one of these categories, you might pay more for your insurance coverage.

New or Teen Drivers

Many people lump new and teen drivers into one high-risk category. However, these two groups are not always the same.

A new driver can be anyone who recently learned to drive. There is no age limit. These drivers do not have the experience of seasoned drivers. Therefore, they pose a higher risk of accidents and other hazards on the road. As experience increases, a driver’s risk may decrease, and an insurance company may lower a driver’s rates.

Since most teen drivers are new drivers, they usually face most of the same risks. Research also shows that teen drivers are more likely than older drivers to have accidents or commit driving violations. Their risk level is often compounded because of their age.

Older Drivers

Like teen drivers, older drivers also face a higher risk while driving. Age might begin to impact faculties like vision, reflexes and concentration. This may cause insurers to classify older drivers as high-risk.

Uninsured Drivers

Most drivers in the U.S. have to carry auto insurance. Most states set minimum insurance coverage limits that all drivers have to carry. If you fail to carry your state’s minimum insurance, you could face financial penalties.

Since going without insurance is illegal, drivers should not let their policies lapse. If you fail to carry insurance, many insurance companies will classify you as a high-risk. Most insurers remind their policyholders to renew their policies within ample time.

Poor Driving Record

Almost every insurer looks at driving records when determining rates and issuing coverage. Drivers who have a poor driving history represent higher risks in the eyes of their insurance companies. Therefore, they are a greater cost burden. Insurers routinely raise premium prices, or even decline coverage for drivers who have experienced:

Multiple at-fault accidents
A record of speeding tickets or reckless driving charges
SR-22 requirements, which are certificates that verify for states that high-risk drivers have insurance
DUI/DWI convictions

Most insurers don’t look at your entire driving history, only that of the last few years. If your insurer sees your record improve, it might remove your high-risk classification. Therefore, they might lower your prices. The safer you drive, the more likely you are to save money on your insurance rates.

Poor Credit

Some insurance companies take a driver’s credit into account when determining risk. A poor credit score might signal that a policyholder might not reliably pay for the coverage. Therefore, a high-risk rating may result for the policyholder.

Rare Vehicles

Not all vehicles can receive standard insurance coverage. Certain cars have excessive or unique value. A normal auto policy might not provide high enough coverage levels for those cars’ needs.

Classic vehicles, or custom-built cars might need excessive insurance because of their operational risks and values. This may mean an insurer has to classify the driver as high-risk in order to improve the driver’s coverage.

How Do You Insure Yourself as a High-Risk Driver?

One company might offer you more affordable coverage if it assigns you a different risk level than another. Therefore, it is always best to compare policy options when getting auto insurance.

While you may still carry a level of risk with one company, it may be lower than the risk you carry with another. Your independent insurance agent can often compare policies based on your driving risks. They can help you pinpoint affordable coverage. Furthermore, your insurer may offer discounts even if you are a high-risk driver. You might qualify for student, auto-payment or loyal customer discounts. That way you can save coverage in spite of your extra risks.

As a high-risk driver, make sure you never go without the required coverage for your vehicle. Also work with your insurance provider to balance costs and coverage.

Amigo Insurance Agency, Inc has your coverage needs in mind. Call 877-999-2644 to get a free quote on an affordable Chicago car insurance policy.

The Heat Threat and Your Vehicle

Not only people suffer from heat exposure, so can other items, cars among them. Though cars are extremely durable, heat can cause damage under the right conditions.

This may mean a driver has to seek repairs for the vehicle. They might wonder if their auto insurance covers heat damage.

How Heat Impacts Vehicles

Most people leave their vehicles parked in the hot sun without a second thought. Even during the hottest periods, most cars can withstand the high temperatures. However, what many drivers forget is how temperatures may cause inconspicuous damage.

Heat is a very powerful weapon. Just as heat exposure may cause sunstroke in humans, it might cause unique problems in vehicles.

Car windshields can to withstand extremely tough conditions. However, weakened or poor-quality windshields might crack or corrode during excessive heat. Heat causes glass to expand and contract. If the glass already suffers from structural weaknesses, damage could develop quickly. Windshield replacement is often expensive. Therefore, drivers should routinely inspect their windshields for cracks, corrosion or weakness.
Heat places excessive strain on engines, batteries and a car’s combustion systems. These systems have water and coolant components to help keep them from overheating. If the cooling system suffers from neglect or damage, heat might lead to damage within the engine. Damage might become expensive to repair. Furthermore, a failed cooling system may affect other areas of the vehicle.
Changes in temperature routinely affect a car’s tire pressure. With the incorrect tire pressure, a vehicle can face control issues that may make it harder to drive. The wrong pressure also raises the risk of flats or tire collapses. Should tire pressure lead to a failure while driving, an accident could occur.

Therefore, drivers should remain aware of the risks that heat poses to vehicles. Before damages have time to take root, drivers can often repair them.

Car Insurance and Heat Damage

More often than not, car insurance will not cover damage from excessive heat. Some policies may even exclude heat damage from coverage.

Policies usually do not cover what they call normal wear and tear, or otherwise preventable damage. Heat damage often arises from existing problems. Therefore, policies may not cover them because you might have been able to take steps to prevent them. This is why it is so important for drivers to maintain their vehicles.

We’ve got you covered. If you need a Chicago auto insurance quote, call Amigo Insurance Agency, Inc at 877-999-2644 now.

Find the Right Car Insurance Policy for Your Teen Driver

Adding Your Teen to Your Policy

Benefits of Comprehensive Coverage for Teen Drivers

Blog Archive

Tags

Questions? Call Us

Visit an Office

1. Understand the Charges and Cooperate

2. Contact Your Proper Authorities

3. Understand Penalties

4. Protect Your Car Insurance

Blog Archive

Tags

Questions? Call Us

Visit an Office

What is Non-Standard Insurance?

Coverage for New Drivers

High-Risk Drivers

SR-22 Insurance

Non-Standard Vehicle Coverage

Affording Non-standard Coverage

Blog Archive

Tags

Questions? Call Us

Visit an Office

Determining Which Drivers are High-Risk

New or Teen Drivers

Older Drivers

Uninsured Drivers

Poor Driving Record

Poor Credit

Rare Vehicles

How Do You Insure Yourself as a High-Risk Driver?

Blog Archive

Tags

Questions? Call Us

Visit an Office

How Heat Impacts Vehicles

Car Insurance and Heat Damage

Blog Archive

Tags

Questions? Call Us

Visit an Office

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