Uncategorized | Amigo Insurance

Avoiding Reckless Driving Charges and SR-22 Requirements

Reckless driving demonstrates risk to the authorities and insurance companies. Reckless driving may harm drivers, their vehicles, personal property and others on the road.

A state may require reckless drivers to get a SR-22 certificate. A SR-22 certificate is not an insurance policy. It is a certificate that verifies for the state that a driver has an active auto insurance policy.

SR-22s remain on a driving record and auto insurance policies for a couple of years. Drivers have to maintain active auto insurance for the entire SR-22 period.

If an insurance policy lapses, the SR-22 becomes void. If drivers continue to receive reckless driving charges, the SR-22 period may start over. Drivers may even face harsher driving penalties.

Drivers should do everything they can to avoid a reckless driving charge. Take a look at some of the ways to reduce this risk, and also cut the chances of getting an SR-22.

1. Brush Up On Unfamiliar Laws

Many of us cannot fully understand the myriad of state driving laws. We may not understand certain signs, right of way laws or speed requirements. Accidentally breaking one of these laws may lead to a reckless driving charge.

All drivers should periodically refresh their basic knowledge of state driving laws. Reviewing the state driving handbook or passing a defensive driving course may help them learn to be safer on the road.

2. Put Down the Mobile Devices

Multiple states penalize distracted drivers for reckless driving. A common distraction is mobile device use. Texting while driving may lead to accidents, speeding and potentially deadly harm to others. Never use mobile devices while driving.

Another common cause of distracted driving is impaired driving. Never drive while intoxicated or under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs.

3. Have Vision and Hearing Tests

Many states require vision or hearing tests for drivers to obtain a license. If drivers don’t pass these tests, they could pose driving risks. Proper vision and hearing help make sure a driver can react and avoid potential hazards. Drivers should never hit the road without wearing glasses, contacts or hearing devices required of them.

Finally, drivers should take the time to check their insurance coverage. If they don’t carry auto coverage that meet’s their state’s requirements, they could face driving charges. This may include the requirement to get an SR-22. Never hit the road without a policy that can adequately cover vehicular risks.

Need SR-22 coverage? Call Amigo Insurance Agency, Inc. at 877-999-2644. We can help you get an accurate Chicago car insurance quote right now.

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.

How Age Changes Your Car Insurance Rates

Have you ever wondered how your car insurance rate is determined? There are many factors that are taken into consideration when quoting auto insurance coverage for any given person. Your age is one of those factors. Sometimes, the younger you are the more expensive your policy could be. Generally, when you turn 25 years old, and depending on your driving record and experience, its when you start getting low prices on your auto insurance coverage; but it is not until you hit the 60 74 years old bracket that you get rock bottom quotes on your policy (if you have a clean driving record that is).

If you look at the image on this page, you will see some age brackets. Teenage drivers get the highest prices on auto insurance due to lack of experience and sometimes because they get involved in auto accidents and get tickets. And, if you notice once you pass 74 years old, your premium starts increasing again due to companies not wanting to take the risk of a person with possibly health problems.

Some companies will want medical records to be submitted along with the auto insurance application for a person that is 75 or more years old to be considered as their insured.

In the graphic, you can also take a look at the top ten most expensive and least expensive States for auto insurance along with some interesting information about accidents involving young drivers.

Driving Without A License? Don’t Drive Without Insurance!

Due to the circumstances, some people are forced to drive without a driving license, but that does not mean they have to drive without auto insurance.

Auto Insurance provides coverage for the damages we could cause to other people. If we hurt someone and/or somebody else’s property our insurance company will cover these damages on our behalf in exchange for a premium. In the State of Illinois, anyone can get an auto insurance policy even if that person does not have a driving license.

We encourage the people we come in contact with to get their auto insurance in place even if they don’t have a valid drivers license.

Here at Amigo Insurance Agency, we have the lowest price on auto insurance with and without a license.

Please, if you have to drive and do not have a driving license, contact us today or get a quote instantly to get your car insured. Don’t drive without insurance.

That is our best advice.

Sincerely,

Amigo Insurance Agency

Important Questions To Ask When Purchasing Your Chicago Auto Insurance

As a Chicago auto insurance agency, we enjoy when a new client walks into any of our offices searching for a good auto insurance policy that he or she will be satisfied with. Now, that is when we come into play. In order for a customer to walk out of our office with a smile on his face knowing that the insurance policy he just got is more than enough to cover him for damages he could cause to other people will be covered.

I, personally, love when a customer is interested on his coverage, when a client asks questions means that he will be staying with us for a long time to come just because we take the time to answer these questions and build up his confidence on our company. Here are a few of the questions that we love to hear from our clients at Amigo Insurance. Maybe you could ask these too to your own insurance agent:

What are my liability limits?
What is the difference between liability and full coverage?
What is a good option to cover the damages to my vehicle besides full coverage?
What is full coverage, really?
Do I have Medical Payments on my policy?
What happens if I get hit by someone that does not have insurance?
Sometimes I use my vehicle for business purposes, will my insurance cover me in case of an accident?
If I lend my car to someone else, will that person be covered under my insurance in case of an accident?
Is my vehicle covered under my specific insurance?

If you do not know the answer to one or more of these questions, most likely you are not aware of many other things about your coverage. Take the time to call your insurance agent and clear all of your questions about your auto policy. You will feel more at ease knowing what your policy covers and what it does not cover. Plus, you will see ways of improving your coverage and getting the best out of your money.

If we could help in any way don’t hesitate calling us at (877)999-2644 or getting a free Chicago Auto Insurance quote.

What is the best auto insurance coverage for me?

There is no right auto insurance coverage in general. It all depends on how much auto insurance coverage you think you will need in case of having a claim that will cover your assets accordingly. If you have no idea on how to determine what a good auto insurance coverage will be for yourself, here are a few tips that will help you out:

The right auto insurance coverage starts by measuring the amount of assets you currently have. The more assets you own, the higher coverage you will want to have.

What is your type of driving? Although, this may not play such an important part on choosing your coverage for many, it is always useful to identify our way of driving a car in order to determine the type of damage we could cause to other parties.

Independently of how much liability insurance you choose, it is always a good idea to add Medical Payments Coverage to your policy. This is a coverage for the people riding with you and yourself. Medical Payments Coverage will pay for medical expenses such as the ambulance service bill, x-rays, paramedics, hospital bill, etc.

What car do you drive? Do you need full coverage? Are you still making payments on your car? If you are, most likely you will need to add Comprehensive and Collision to your policy. If you are done paying off your vehicle you may want to ask about UMPD which provides protection to your own property if hit by an uninsured motorist. Its not quite like full coverage but provides some insurance for your own car and is less expensive.

Bottom line is, the right auto insurance coverage is the one that protects all of your assets in case of a claim. If you are at fault in an auto accident and your coverage is not enough to cover for all damages, more likely than not, you will still be liable for the remaining difference. And, depending on the case, they can come after you and what you own until there is no balance outstanding. A vehicle claim, could leave you gasping for air; but, if you use your insurance correctly you will be just fine.

Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. ~Wikipedia, Insurance definition

Later on, we will be posting an auto claim scenario as an example to learn more.

Please contact us at (877) 999-2644 or get the lowest auto insurance quote ever with our online quote now!

1. Brush Up On Unfamiliar Laws

2. Put Down the Mobile Devices

3. Have Vision and Hearing Tests

Blog Archive

Tags

Questions? Call Us

Visit an Office

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

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Questions? Call Us

Visit an Office

Blog Archive

Tags

Questions? Call Us

Visit an Office

Blog Archive

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Questions? Call Us

Visit an Office

Blog Archive

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Questions? Call Us

Visit an Office

Blog Archive

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Questions? Call Us

Visit an Office

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