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Texas Auto Insurance FAQ

February 3rd, 2010 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

Whether you are new to Texas, or have lived here your entire live, the chances are good you are going to need to ask some questions about auto insurance in Texas. Is it required?and if so, how much is required? When will you need to show proof of insurance? What happens if I get into an accident that is not my fault, but the other driver has no insurance?

Clearly these are all important issues about auto insurance in Texas. Here at Texas Auto & Home Insurance, we are here to help get you the answers to these and other Frequently Asked Questions.

Is Texas Auto Insurance absolutely required by law?

Yes, auto insurance in Texas is most definitely required for all drivers. Texas law requires all drivers to at least carry liability insurance. Often called 20/40/15 coverage, this minimum policy covers up to %20,000 per injured person, %40,000 for everyone hurt in the accident, and %15,000 for property damage. Note that this type of auto insurance in Texas does not cover you, it only covers the victims of the accidents you cause.

If the medical and/or property damage associated with an accident that you caused exceeds these amounts, you will be responsible for the additional costs. If you cannot afford to pay, you may e sued. In most cases, one can avoid this situation by purchasing additional coverage beyond that required by law.

When will I need auto insurance in Texas?

Obviously you will need to show proof of coverage when you are in an accident. The other driver will want to take down your information and may choose to file a claim with your insurance company.

Other scenarios in which you may be required to show proof of auto insurance in Texas include:

1. A law enforcement officer asks you for it.

If you are pulled over by a police officer for any reason, the first question he/she will ask is to show your license and proof of insurance. If you do not have proof of auto insurance in Texas when a police officer asks, you will immediately be issued a ticket.

2. Register your car or renew its registration.

One way in which mandatory auto insurance in Texas is enforced is by requiring drivers to show proof of insurance when registering your car or renewing your registration. If you do not have it, your registration sticker will expire and you may be pulled over and receive two tickets?one for expired registration, and another for not having proof of insurance.

3. Obtain or renew your driver?s license.

Another way auto insurance in Texas is enforced is by requiring drivers to show proof of insurance when you first obtain, or renew your driver?s license. Without having insurance, you literally cannot drive legally.

4. Get your car inspected.

Finally, you cannot get your car inspected without showing proof of auto insurance in Texas. Like your registration sticker, your inspection sticker and date of expiration are clearly visible on your cars windshield. If it expires, you may be pulled over and asked to show proof of auto insurance.

Clearly, there is just no way to get around having auto insurance in Texas, and State Law has built in several different ways that its proof and currency will be constantly checked.

Ultimately, however, this is a good thing. What should happen if you were to get into an accident that was the other drivers fault, and learned that he/she did not have insurance?

The only way you will be able to recover damages, if the person is not willing or able to pay, is through a civil suit. However, by purchasing additional coverage through your insurance agent, you can be sure that you are protected in these situations.

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How To Get Cheap Automobile Insurance Online In New Hampshire

November 8th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

You may not have to buy automobile insurance at all. If you live in the state of New Hampshire and you have a clean driving record the state of New Hampshire does not require that you purchase automobile insurance.

Of course, if you finance your vehicle then the company that loans you the money for your purchase will certainly require that you buy full automobile insurance coverage. And if you have less than a stellar driving record you will also be required to purchase automobile insurance by the state.

What are some of the reasons that the state of New Hampshire will require that you purchase automobile insurance?

If you are convicted of DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or if you are convicted of DWI (driving While Intoxicated) you will automatically be forced to purchase automobile insurance for a minimum of 3 years before you?re allowed back on the roads of New Hampshire. If you are convicted of either offense a second time you?re looking at a mandatory 5 years of purchasing automobile insurance.

If you collect too many ?points? you can also be forced to buy automobile insurance. Points are ?earned? by such things as running stop signs, speeding, failing to follow the orders of a police officer, even such things as driving on a sidewalk. You get the picture.

The number of points you need to earn before the state forces you to buy automobile insurance depends on your age.

So even though the state of New Hampshire may not require their good drivers to carry automobile insurance, the fact remains that a large portion of New Hampshire driver do need to buy car insurance and many of them want to get cheap automobile insurance online.

Before you jump online and start filling out forms there are a few simple things you may be able to do that will help keep your rates their absolute lowest.

Obviously having a clean driving record is important. DWIs and DUIs and speeding tickets will force your automobile insurance rates through the roof.

Believe it or not, your credit rating can even affect how much you pay for car insurance, so do everything you can to keep your credit rating excellent.

Purchasing different types of insurance, such as medical and homeowner?s insurance from the same insurance company can also result in lower monthly automobile insurance premiums through what are commonly called Multi-Policy Discounts.

If you?re in school stay there and work hard to get at least a ?B? grade point average. Most automobile insurance companies offer a Good Student Discount on car insurance.

Older drivers should ask their insurance company if they can take a Driver?s Refresher Course. Not all companies offer such a course, but those that do provide a nice premium discount for drivers who take the test and pass.

If you drive an older car consider dropping any collision or comprehensive coverage you might have. If your car has little or no Kelly Blue Book value then your insurance company won?t pay to repair it even if you are paying for the insurance.

Finally consider raising your deductible. Work out how much you could afford to pay from your own pocket if you were involved in an accident. The more you can pay ? the higher your deductible ? then the less your insurance company will charge you in monthly premiums.

Now it?s time to get online and find the very best rates you can possibly find. Be sure to take the extra time to fill out forms on at least 3 different sites so that you can be assured of comparing as many different companies in New Hampshire as you possibly can.

Once you have taken the time to check three different sites then you can sleep easy at night knowing that you have gotten the cheapest automobile insurance that you possibly can anywhere in the state of New Hampshire.

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How To Get The Best Rates On Automobile Insurance In New Hampshire

September 12th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

As a resident of New Hampshire, you live in one of just a handful of states that does not require its citizens to purchase automobile insurance. At least, the state of New Hampshire does not require its good drivers to purchase automobile insurance.

While the state of New Hampshire may not require that you purchase automobile insurance, if you finance your automobile then your lender will demand that you do purchase full automobile insurance coverage in order to protect their investment.

Also, while the state of New Hampshire is rather lenient in its demand that its citizens purchase automobile insurance, the state?s generosity does have its limits.

For example, if you have a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) conviction, you will be required to purchase automobile insurance for a full three years. A second such offense and you will be required to purchase automobile insurance for five full years.

New Hampshire has also initiated a policy of ?points? which may be accumulated by each driver ? too many points (based on an age formula) and you will be required to purchase automobile insurance.

Negative points can be accumulated on your driving record for such things as failure to follow the orders of a police officer, driving on a sidewalk, running a stop sign, speeding and so on. Accumulate too many points and you will be required to purchase automobile insurance.

If you do have to purchase automobile insurance there are several steps you can take to help keep your monthly premiums down.

First, always drive safely and within the law. Tickets for speeding, or any DUI or DWI conviction will send your automobile insurance rates through the roof.

Young drivers are considered a special risk and their premiums generally reflect that fact. However, drivers who remain in school through age 25 and who maintain at least a ?B? grade point average can qualify for a Good Student Discount with most insurance companies.

Similarly, drivers 55 and over can often qualify for a discount on their monthly premium if they take and pass a special driver?s refresher course. Not all insurance companies offer such a program for older drivers, so check with your company to see if you might qualify.

One of the quickest ways of lowering your monthly insurance premium is to increase the deductible on your policy. When you increase your deductible you are agreeing to pay a larger portion of the cost to repair your vehicle if there should be a claim. If you agree to pay a larger part of the repair costs associated with a claim, your insurance company will reduce your monthly premium payment.

So now that you have the facts it?s time for you get online and start comparing different policies from different insurance companies side-by-side until you find just the right policy at the lowest price you can find. If you take the extra time to make comparisons on more than one website you will be more likely to have gotten comparisons from every insurance company in New Hampshire and you can then feel confident that you have gotten the best rates on automobile insurance that you are ever likely to find in New Hampshire.

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