Reader’s Question:

I am planning to move from Los Angeles Ca to New Haven, CT and I would like to compare insurance rates in in both locations? Will my traffic violations in CA affect my car insurance rate in CT?

Ron

Los Angeles, CA

There are differences between the mandatory state insurance requirements in California and Connecticut. You are required to have bodily injury of $15,000 up to $30,000 per accident and property damage of $5000 per accident in California.

The state of Connecticut requires liability limits of $20,000 up to $40,000 for bodily injury per accident and $10,000 for property damage per accident. The state of Connecticut also requires a minimum of $20,000/$40,000 of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Since Connecticut has more and higher insurance requirements than the state of CA their state average for car insurance is higher. I was unable to find city averages but in the state average for Connecticut was $981 while the state average in California was $821.

Your moving violation in Los Angeles CA might affect your insurance rates in CT since insurance carriers that you apply for insurance with will check your driving history as part of their rating factor.

Tags: auto insurance, cheap auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

In Bellflower, California, how many hours in a week can an occasional driver in my insurance policy drive my vehicle?

Williamson

Bellflower, CA

An occasional driver is the individual who is not the primary or principal driver of the car and the definition for principal driver is the individual who operates the vehicle most often.

Some insurance company suggest as a rule of thumb that an occasional driver is not found to be driving the car in question no more than once a week.

The requirements for a person to be termed as an occasional driver vary by insurance provider in Bellflower, CA and possibly by state so it is best to verify with your insurance agent for your specific insurance carrier’s requirements.

Generally insurance carrier permit coverage for the occasional driver provided that driver does not reside in your household and the car is parked in your house at the end of the day.

Tags: auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

Im in the process of moving from Washington State to Los Angeles California. Is it true that that the state of Washington has higher car insurance compared to the state of California?

Watson

Los Angeles, CA

Generally, in the state of Washington car insurance rates are higher than the State of California. According to the NAIC the average expenditure of car insurance in in California was only $487 while in Washington the average cost was $541.

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

Tags: car insurance cost

Reader’s Question:

My daughter will be attending college in the state of Arizona. She has found a vehicle in Arizona that she would like to purchase. Can we keep the Arizona registration for her vehicle and still insure her under our insurance policy in Los Angeles CA?

Allen

Los Angeles, CA

You will have to change over to AZ auto insurance and not be able to put your daughter’s Arizona registered vehicle on your CA insurance policy.

Your insurance company in Los Angeles CA will not likely permit you to insure a vehicle that is registered, driven and garaged out of state with your daughter. Since she is a college student though your California insurance carrier may permit him and the vehicle to be on your insurance policy. Insurance carrier’s guidelines vary so you would have to verify with your insurance company to check what your insurance company’s guidelines permit for this kind of situation.

Even if your insurance company’s guidelines would permit you to insure a vehicle in Arizona for your daughter attending school, the fact that the vehicle is registered in AZ does not permit you to use out of state insurance to cover it.

Tags: automobile, car insurance, teen insurance

Reader’s Question:

Do you need to have a drivers license to purchase, register and insure a vehicle in CA? I know many unlicensed motorists in Alhambra California, and I was just wondering how they obtain and register their vehicles.

Jason

Alhambra, CA

What I know is that in California a driver’s license is not required to be presented to purchase or register a vehicle. But if you do not have a driver’s license it is not easy to obtain car insurance which can be an issue in many states. In California, auto insurance is needed for a vehicle that is registered in the state.

It is illegal to operate without a license and insurance in California so even an unlicensed drivers were able to purchase and register a vehicle in Alhambra if they are without a valid driver’s license and car insurance for the car then they are driving illegally.

To get more information on California or other state laws regarding the selling or buying of a car and registration requirements you may contact the CA DMV.

Tags: auto insurance, driving without insurance, Driving without License

Reader’s Question:

Is there some way I can find out if a particular person has car insurance in Bellflower, California?

Christine

Bellflower, CA

Yes, though state laws very you normally can go through some state agency to check if an individual is insured. If you want to check if a certain vehicle is insured some Department of Motor Vehicles may be able to provide you this information if you have a VIN or license plate for the car. This could be helpful if you were hit by a vehicle and got the license plate number and want to know about the owner and if they are insured.

In the state of California you can request the insurance information by contacting the Department of Motor Vehicle’s Financial Responsibility Unit and submitting a form.

Tags: auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

If you get a speeding ticket in NY but you live in Chula Vista, California (CA), can you take a traffic school and get the speeding ticket remove from your driving record both in CA and NY?

Dan

Chula Vista, CA

You will need to verify with the courts in NY where you received the traffic ticket to check if there is a way in which to take traffic school so that this ticket will be removed from your record. It may be possible also that if you take a driving course through New York that the ticket is taken off or not seen as a conviction and therefore will not be transferred to Chula Vista, California.

If instead the ticket information is reported to back to your home state it will likely be put on your California driving record and assigned points to it. It is unlikely that you could take traffic school in CA to remove the points or ticket.

In California to take traffic school you must be approved by the judicial officer or court clerk in the county in which the violation was written. Since the ticket was not received in CA this does seem unlikely but you may verify with the California Department of Motor Vehicles to be sure.

Tags: auto insurance, automobile

Reader’s Question:

I received a drunk driving violation in Los Angeles California. Due to deployments with the military I was only able to finish three months of my six month classes. I now want to purchase a vehicle of my own, is that possible if I have a DUI in California?

Bea

Los Angeles, CA

There is no California law that I know of that would not permit you to have a vehicle in your name due to a previous DUI conviction in Los Angeles California. What you need to verify though is if your license has been revoked or suspended because of not completing your alcohol education classes that were likely appointed by the court. If your license is not valid than it might not be easy for you to find a car dealership that will sell you a car due to this fact.

To make sure that you have taken care of all outstanding issues regarding your DUI in Los Angeles California and that you have a valid license, you should contact the CA Department of Motor Vehicles.

Tags: auto insurance, drunk driving insurance, DUI

Reader’s Question:

I live in Los Angeles California. My vehicle has small dents on its underside. I do not know what cause the dents. I reported it to the insurance provider as comprehensive damage, but they considered it as collision claim. What do I do to make it as comprehensive claim?

Ben

Los Angeles, CA

Collision coverage means the impact of your insured vehicle with another object or upset of your insured vehicle. Loss caused by missiles, fire, falling objects, theft or larceny, explosion, windstorm, earthquake, hail, water, flood, malicious mischief or vandalism, riot or civil commotion, colliding with a bird or animal, or breakage of glass are other than collision losses Your loss would be covered under your collision coverage, since your car was likely struck by other objects (unless you can show proof that the damage was done by one of the items that would be covered by your comprehensive coverage). Your auto insurance policy in LA California should pay for these damages less the deductible that applies.

Tags: auto insurance, autos

Reader’s Question:

What will be the penalties if I get caught driving with a suspended license in the state of California? I also would like to know if this will make my license suspended even longer?

Marie

Los Angeles, CA

The California Vehicle Code states that if a suspended motorist is caught driving a car the California Highway Patrol has authorization to tow and impound the car for up to thirty days. If you have a prior conviction for driving while with a suspended license in California it is possible that the car could be taken from you by the state of California as a forfeit.

Other penalties for continuing to operate a vehicle with a suspended license may include getting your license suspension time lengthened or your license may be revoked, fines or even jail time. In California this is a serious offense as it is in most states.

Once your suspension is lifted you must provide proof of financial responsibility.

Tags: auto insurance, automobile