Here in Seattle, WA, I noticed that most car insurance companies only write six month policies. Why is that? Is that regular practice? Is this the same in other states, as well?

Kurt

Seattle, WA

A six month insurance policy is a regular practice among car insurance companies. Car insurance companies change their rates according to their appraisal of your risk factor. Insurance is about the company having your back when something happens to you, your car, the other car or the driver of the other car. Now, before they gave you a car insurance quote when you first applied for coverage there in Seattle, WA, they checked out your risk factor. They presented a quotation after checking several things out. A six month insurance policy allows insurance companies to recheck or revisit the status of your risk factor and make changes accordingly. They would check if your lifestyle has changed: has it mellowed down or have you taken up drag racing as a hobby. Knowing this, your premium may increase or decrease depending on the outcome of their appraisal. So basically, this can be beneficial for the policy holder, too.

Although, this gives the insurance company a chance to raise premium, this is also an opportunity for the policy holder to lower it. Long term policies are not welcomed by insurance companies as this can effectively immobilize them when the risk factor of a policy holder has increased in the middle of the policy term. If the lifestyle of a policy holder has not or does not change dramatically, then there is no cause for alarm over this six month insurance policy.

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance premium, Car Insurance Company

My car was damage and I just want to know if my premium will go up if I make a claim on my own car? I live in WA.

Jerome

Thank you for asking Jerome.

It depends upon your insurance company’s rating system if the accident would affect your car insurance rate.

The Washington State Insurance Commissioner states that most companies apply a surcharge to motorist who have been involved in an accident or convicted of multiple moving infractions.

According to the office of the Insurance Commissioner also notes that ca insurance rates are based on different factors. The insurance you pay consists of a “base rate” plus or minus amounts reflecting various factors like your age, gender, marital status, driving history, type of the vehicle, driving record and claims history. There is a different base rate for each type of vehicle and geographical area. While insurance companies may differ in the amounts they assess for each factor, the major rating factors are fairly universal.

So if you are still trying to decide about making a claim for the damage of your vehicle sustained you may then contact your insurance company to get information if this claim may affect your future premiums.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

I received a speeding ticket in the state of TX If I ignore the ticket and let the statute clear the charge, Will the state of Washington where I am licensed do anything about this?

Emil

Thank you for asking Emil.

Washington and Texas are both members of Drivers License Compact (DLC) and Non-Resident Violator Compact. The DLC has its member states that forward information concerning traffic violations that a motorist received back to the individual’s home state. So the court in Texas will inform the Washington Department of Licensing of your citation.

The Non-Resident Violator Compact requires member states to suspend the driving privilege of those who get tickets for moving infractions in other states and fails to pay or otherwise take care of the ticket properly. Since WA and TX are both part of this it seems that if you do not take care the Texas speeding ticket that Washington State could suspend your license until you did take care of the TX ticket.

We know of no statute of limitations that you could wait out for the Texas ticket, it will likely remain with you until you take care of it. If you think there is a limit of time in which Texas can try to collect on or enforce the ticket, you may verify with a traffic ticket lawyer to get information on this.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

I’m in Washington state for a business for 5 months and I am planning to purchase a car. I have an international license, can I drive around the US license and change insurance companies every month?

Luis

Thank you for asking Luis.

It will be hard to get around the issue of getting a US license for auto insurance by switching insurance carrier every month or so. It is not easy to get car insurance with a foreign or international license at first and then if you start to cancel insurance every few weeks it will show up when you are trying to get new car insurance. Insurance carriers will likely see this as a red flag and will not want to insure you.

Usually, the Department of Motor Vehicle keeps tabs of insurance polices, when they cancel, terminate or lapse, to make certain a vehicle is not without insurance. If you change insurance providers so often, this might cause the DMV to become suspicious. I would suggest that you may get a Washington state license first if you want to buy a vehicle, it might not be as difficult as you think.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

I received a ticket in BC with a Washington state drivers license. Will this increase my auto insurance rate?

Kelsey

Thank you for asking Kelsey.

The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) site states that they keep a record of traffic violations, convictions for motor vehicle infractions and notices for failure to appear or respond to traffic citation on every motorist in the state. This information that goes on your driving record is obtained by clerk of the courts and licensing agencies so it would appear that the out of state information forwarded back to the DOL would also be placed on your WA driving record.

If this speeding ticket is placed on your WA driving record than your insurance company will see this violation the next time they pull up your MVR. According to the Washington Office of Insurance Commissioner the insurance rating systems differ depending upon an insurance company’s own guidelines usually rate on various factors including your driving record. To get information if this state speeding ticket will affect your rates, check with your insurance provider on how to go about their rating system.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Do I have to start the three years all over again if I am required to carry an sr22 auto insurance and I cancel before the end date and re-purchase it again?

Jerry

Thank you for asking Jerry.

According to Washington State law whenever any individual whose proof has been canceled or terminated and applies for a license within a period of three years from the date proof was originally required, any such application shall be refused unless the applicant shall reestablish such proof for the remainder of such three-year period.

I would suggest that you check with Washington Department of Licensing to verify what is required of you with regards to the time period in which you must carry the SR-22 or proof of Financial certificate.

Goodluck!

MariCAR