Car Insurance Enumclaw Plateau Washington WA

Reader’s Question:

If get involved in an accident and it is not your fault does it go on you driving record and is it counted against you?

Hermes

Enumclaw Plateau, WA

Most US states document on a motorist’s motor vehicle records (MVR) if an accident has occurred involving them, but typically they do not assign whose at fault. In Washington State, collisions involving non-commercial cars stay on a person’s driving record for five years from the date of the collision. Collisions involving commercial cars remain on the record for ten years.

The state of Washington document accidents on your driving record to show involvement, but the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) does not determine fault for the collisions.

 

Tags: auto insurance, automobile

Auto Insurance Cancellation Notice Washington

Reader’s Question:

How much notice does insurance providers required to send you if they decide not to renew your car insurance policy in the state of Washington?

Ray

Bellevue, WA

The office of the Insurance Commissioner for Washington State states that insurance carriers are required to provide a twenty day written notification regarding the non-renewal of a personal car policy and a ten written notification for cancellation or termination due to non-payment of premium.

If need more information about the insurance laws of the state of Washington you can call the office of the Insurance Commissioner since this is the insurance regulatory body for Washington state.

Washington Insurance Rate Quote

Reader’s Question:

What law(s) governs insurance rate quotes in Washington? Can an insurance carrier increase a quoted rate after you purchased the auto insurance and you have provided all the information about your driving history?

Pam

Bellingham, WA

Each state has its own statutes or laws that govern insurance carriers. Most states have insurance regulators or department of insurance (DOI) as part of the state government agencies to assist consumers understand their rights, get needed insurance for things such as cars or file a complaint if necessary.

Most insurance regulatory bodies know that the discrepancy in a quote compare to the actual premium insurance rate can be because of information that was revealed by your drivers record or other researched information that required the original insurance rates to be changed. These agencies in Washington do encourage individuals to get an explanation for the increase and urge those that feel the first quote was intentionally low to get a person’s business to file a complaint.

Auto Insurance Rate Washington WA

Reader’s Question:

Im planning to move from Washington State to CA. I am just wondering if auto insurance rate in Washington State is higher than California?

Markus

Spokane, WA

Yes, generally Washington State’s car insurance rates are higher than the State of California. In 2004 – 2005 the NAIC states that the average expenditure of car insurance in Washington was $541 while in California the average cost was only $487.

Always remember that car insurance is more expensive in urban areas due to the higher density of traffic, increased likelihood of vandalism, theft and greater incidence of fraud. So Los Angeles, CA comes up with an average cost of $3027 and ranks within the top five most expensive cities to insure a car.

Car Insurance Washington

Reader’s Question:

How long after purchasing a vehicle do you have to obtain car insurance in the State of Washington?

Denver

Spokane, Washington (WA

 

According to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner for Washington state, the State requires individuals that operates a motor vehicle to have liability insurance. There is no grace period for the liability insurance.

In addition to that, the insurance regulator for the state of Washington noted that all insurance providers have different time requirements to add a newly acquired car to the policy. You would need to verify with your insurance company to find out if there is a grace period for adding that new car to your existing insurance policy. Most dealers require physical damage coverage on the car before it leaves the dealership.

If you do not already have an car insurance policy on any car but are purchasing a vehicle then you will need to get insurance before leaving the lot with the vehicle normally. You can provide an insurance carrier information on the car ahead of time so that the policy can be started. The dealership may need to contact or fax the insurance agent with information as well. If for some reason you do not end up purchasing the vehicle then you would inform the insurance provider so that the policy would not go into effect.

Washington car insurance quote

Reader’s Question:

I received a ticket in MD. Will the points be added on my Washington license?

Red

Thank you for asking Red.

Yes.

Your home area in Washington, DC and the state of Maryland are both members of the Drivers License Compact (DLC). If you are convicted of the MD ticket then their courts will forward this information to the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles.

The District of Columbia DMV states that motorist receive points for certain traffic traffic violations, whether the infractions happened in the District of Columbia or in other states. The DC DMV will assess points if you are found liable at a hearing, fail to pay a ticket within the required time, are convicted in court of a moving violation, or you pay the ticket. The points that you will receive depends on the type of violation you received in Maryland.

Since the Maryland traffic violation will be put on your DC driver’s license your insurance company will see it the next time they pull up your motor vehicle record (MVR) and so this could affect your car insurance rates. Whether this out of state traffic ticket will affect your insurance rates will depend upon your insurance company’s rating system. To get more information about your specific insurance carrier’s rating system check with your car insurance agent.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

auto insurance rate in WA

Reader’s Question:

I purchased a car in Washington state and I just want to know how I can get an insurance so I can drive it back home in Canada.

Jim

Thank you for asking Jim

Typically, insurance providers do not sell car insurance for one day. The shortest period is usually 6 months for a car insurance policy. I would suggest that instead of getting US insurance to pick up the vehicle and drive it home it will likely be easier for you to see if your current Canadian insurance company will add the vehicle to your insurance policy.

According to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) they provides universal car insurance to BC motorists. The ICBC is also responsible for motorist licensing, car registration and licensing so you might contact them regarding how to get car insurance on the car you are picking up from Washington state and then how to register it.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

car insurance WA

Reader’s Question:

Will my insurance in in the state of Washington be accepted or effective in CA?

Jim

Thank you for asking Jim.

It actually depend upon your situation if Washington State auto insurance would be effective or accepted as coverage in California.

For instance if your motor vehicle is registered in Washington State because you reside there but you are visiting California then normally your WA coverages would conform to California’s car insurance requirements.

If you have moved to California then you would need to register and insure your car in California with an insurance company authorized to do business in CA. If your Washington insurance company also does business in CA then it may be a simple process of working with your insurance agent to change it over to a new agency in CA.

To verify if your Washington insurance would be effective in California for your case you should contact your insurance company who can discuss the specifics of your policy with you. To get more information if your Washington State insurance coverages would be accepted by California for your case you may also try contacting the CA DMV and/or California Department of Insurance.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

car insurance WA

Reader’s Question:

I have a suspended license in MI and I’m planning to get a drivers license in the state of Washington will I be able to do this?

Michelle

Thank you for asking Michelle.

I would suggest that you check with the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) to check if you can apply and get a WA driver’s license while your previous state of Michigan has your license suspended there.

It is likely that WA will require you to get your MI driver’s license reinstated before you can acquire a Washington State license.

According to the Washington law you have 30 days to get your Washington driver license once you establish residency in Washington State. The DOL states that in order to do so you need to turn in a valid out of state license, which your suspended Michigan license would not be.

IN addition to that your driving record from Michigan will be brought over to WA when you get a Washington state license.

To find out and to make sure if you can apply and get a WA driver’s license you should check with the DOL. If you need to reinstate your MI license before getting a Washington license, you may contact the MI SOS to check how to go about doing this so that you can again be licensed to drive.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Washington sr22 insurance

Reader’s Question:

I received a ticket for reckless driving and I was ordered to get an sr22. I just want to know how do I have to carry it. It has been 5 years already? What do I need to remove it? I live in Washington.

Ray

Thank you for asking Ray.

It looks like that you were mandated to carry proof of Financial Responsibility (SR-22) Insurance Certificate after a suspension because reckless driving conviction and you need it to reinstate your license. Yes, normally an individual in this situation needs to have SR-22 insurance for 3 years.

To get more information if your period to carry the SR-22 for your reckless driving offense is complete already you may contact the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) or other state agency that required you to carry the SR-22. If your time period for holding the SR-22 has been completed then the DOL or other WA department should be able to inform you what is needed to be done in order stop carrying this certificate of insurance.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

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