Reader’s Question:
I’ve been hearing stories going around here in Washington of people being victimized in car insurance scams. How do I recognize this and is there anything I can do to protect myself?
Bertrand
Kent, WA
Car insurance scams have become a very serious matter today. Not only do car insurance scammers make a living out of conning people, costing them their car and their money while putting their livelihood and even lives in great danger. The more you become aware of how these people operate their scams and fraud business the better prepared you’ll be to recognize this, avoid it and protecting yourself from ending up in a hospital, with violations against your driving records, an escalated insurance rate and a badly damaged vehicle.
Scammers are very creative; they can stage a car accident and make it look genuine, without you knowing you’re already an unwilling participant. There’s a scam that will involve a car accident with another vehicle that would look really damaged, hence the higher payout for them, but what you won’t know is that the said car has already been inflicted with damage before the staged accident takes place.
There are also those who will cause you to have a rear-end crash, making it look like it’s your fault, either by suddenly breaking in front of you so you won’t have enough time to stop or weave you into the path of another accomplice vehicle, causing you to collide with it.
It is important that you take the necessary steps in preparing for these scenarios. The best way would be to enroll in accredited defensive driving schools there in Kent, Washington. These classes will educate you on how to avoid being a victim of car insurance fraud and also has the added perk of qualifying you for discounts with your car insurance for being a safer driver.
Reader’s Question:
I have a daughter who is already in college. Last holiday she came home and had requested for a car. I don’t have any problem with that but buying a car means getting another car insurance. What are the possibilities that I will be able to get a cheaper car insurance here in Seattle, Washington for my daughter? Are there any ways of availing the cheapest one?
Lila
Seattle, WA
In most cities, including Seattle, Washington, there are actually many ways of availing cheap car insurance for your children who is already in the right age to drive. Availing insurance in the name of your child is far more expensive. You might as well check the insurance requirement of the city where her university is located to ensure if your policy is compatible with the State law.
One way of getting a cheaper insurance is, when your child is an A student. If the child is able to maintain a desirable average, you can lower your premium. You can also check your insurance company all the ways to get a lower car insurance but protects your child well in case of accidents. You can also ask for roadside assistance that will assist your child if ever they are going out on the road everytime they are having their breaks from school. If there’s a chance that your child is leaving her car at home you can expect to have a lower premium, since you are going to lessen the drivers on the road. You have to make sure that either in your name or your child’s, you have to get them car insurance.
Reader’s Question:
I have an older car model which is already used when I purchased it and I think that I pay too much for my car insurance here in Washington. Does the age and value of the car have a bearing on my car insurance rates?
Talan
Enumclaw Plateau, WA
Yes, of course, the age and value of the car that you drive have an influence on the premiums of your car insurance in Enumclaw Plateau, Washington. Since you purchased a used and older car model, its value might be lower than on its better days. In this case, you don’t need to pay for very expensive car insurance and you may consider dropping your comprehensive coverage.
One good suggestion that is wise to follow is to multiply your car insurance rates by 10 and compare it with the value of your car. So if for instance you are paying $1000 for your auto insurance and your vehicle is worth less than $10,000, you may want to weigh over if comprehensive coverage represents good value.
If you cancel your collision coverage and/or comprehensive coverage, you may be able to get a lot of savings on your car insurance. Also, think about it real hard that the whole idea of having a used and older car model is to save you a lot of money.
Reader’s Question:
I’m originally from Canberra Australia but have recently moved to East Seattle Washington to work. My problem is, I learned to drive on the other side of the road and am worried I might get into an accident while learning to drive the American way. What kind of auto insurance coverage is available here?
Ethan
East Seattle Washington WA
Hi Mate! Welcome to East Seattle Washington WA. I hope your work works out and that you enjoy your stay here enough to stay.
Now, to answer your question: there are at least six types of coverage you can get when you buy auto insurance. Among these, liability coverage would be the first thing you’ll require. I believe you already know how to drive fairly well, except that you need to adjust to driving on the other side of the road. Liability coverage will allow you to feel some level of security that in case of an accident, your insurance will cover property damage as well as bodily injury. Furthermore, liability coverage will take care of legal fees in case the accident is your fault. The limit of coverage for each of these items will be indicated in your auto insurance policy as a set of three numbers. For instance, 25/50/20 means (a) $25,000 for bodily injury (BI) for each person up to a total of $50,000; and (b) $20,000 for damage to property (PD) will be covered per accident. Note that BI includes medical bills and lost wages, as well, while PD covers repair and/or replacement of property that was damaged.
Should you wish to know more about other types of auto insurance coverage as well as the approximate cost of premiums in East Seattle Washington WA, just key in your zip code in the box on this page. Don’t hesitate to write again if you need more information. Cheers, Mate!
Reader’s Question:
My mom agreed to buy me a car for my 18th birthday but she told me that I’d have to pay for the insurance. Do I really need to get auto insurance here in Washington ?
Michael
Kent WA
Wow! Michael, you’re quite lucky your mom just offered to buy you a car when I turned 18 – I had to save up to buy my own AND pay for the insurance as well.
So, as you may have already guessed, yes, you need to at least have liability insurance – it’s a social responsibility. In case you get into an accident, liability insurance will cover injuries, damage to property and even legal fees, if the accident is your fault.
As a first-time car owner and a teenager, to boot, your insurance premiums in are likely to be high. The insurance market dictates the highest prices for first time driver’s car insurance as well as teenage car insurance because research show that a lot of serious auto accidents in the US involve first time drivers and teenagers. But don’t fret, there are things you can do to cut down on the costs of premiums in Kent Washington. For instance, you can probably avail of first time drivers car insurance discounts offered upon completion of divers’ education programs. Premiums will also be cheaper for small and sensible cars rather than the flashy fast cars we all want to have. Finally, even if you may have to pay high premiums at the onset, a good driving record will lower your premiums in future auto insurance policies – so drive safely!
So you know how much need to start saving to get auto insurance in Kent Washington, you can request for free quotes right away on this site – just enter your zip code on the blank box
Reader’s Question:
I had this terrifying accident a couple of weeks ago with my wife and two children here in Vancouver, Washington. A van hit us in full impact because it was running to fast. My wife has the most impact that until now she is still under recovery. Do we need to use our own insurance or the other driver’s insurance?
Todd
Vancouver, WA
There is a law here in Washington known as the Tort System of Insurance whereas the driver who is at fault is the one going to pay for it. He will have to use his own Car Insurance to pay for the damage he had caused. He will use his’ for the physical damage and of all medical expenses you and your family has suffered.
Washington Law also includes a minimum requirement for the Bodily Injury Liability is $25,000 for each person who has suffered in the accident up to $50,000 per accident. The law also includes a minimum of $10,000 for the Property Injury Liability. Other Insurance Company in Vancouver, Washington will propose you to get a Personal Injury Protection but it would be better not to accept this since Washington Law does not require it but it is also helpful in paying for the damage you have suffered in an accident. There is also another policy that Washington doesn’t require but it will help you if you got yourself involved in an accident to an uninsured driver or those who has no enough coverage for the accident. There are Insurance Companies that offers you the most reasonable policy nobody can ever imagine even if with a driving record.
Reader’s Question:
I’m a busy career woman and I want to look for cheaper Car Insurance here in Seattle, Washington but the problem is, I don’t have any means on how to, Is there any way that I can shop a Car Insurance through the internet?
Lila
Seattle, WA
With this century, yes, you can already do shopping online not only for clothes, appliances and other technologies but also insurances—life insurance and definitely car insurance. The good thing with this is, it’s just like a marketplace where you can choose the best one for you for there are many varieties. There are online car insurance companies and agents that have reasonable rates for you. And I assure that car insurance shopping online can give you dependable and rapid service that is reasonable enough for you.
There are Car Insurance Companies that are also online in Seattle, Washington that offers all the citizens of every city in the state. You just have to request quotes from the Car Insurance Website you have searched. You can also see that there has been a change in the Car Insurance rates as years pass by here in Washington. As for 2003, Car Insurance rates have increased for 18%. But you can see a decrease of O.5% in 2007. This was the first time that Car Insurance has decreased. Other Insurance Companies are doing the best they can to make the Car Insurance to be affordable to everyone. Save money and time, get online and request for quotes now.
Reader’s Question:
I want to add my 16-year old son to my car insurance policy here in Lakewood, Washington but I am afraid it will cost me too much. Is there a way that I can still have affordable car insurance with a teenage driver included in it?
Oswald
Lakewood, WA
Driving is one of the most aggressive things that a teenager desires to do. As a responsible parent, you have to take the necessary safety measures in terms of purchasing car insurance for a teen driver. You may talk to your insurance agent in Lakewood, Washington about adding your teen driver to your current car insurance policy. A driver needs to be 18 years of age before they could have their own car insurance so this would be the only way to insure your son. However, be prepared to pay higher insurance rates as much as 50% no matter what the driving history of your son is.
You may think about purchasing an umbrella insurance policy with extra liability. Request your car insurance agent to give you more details about having comprehensive coverage. You may also seek advice from the agent as to how you can reduce your insurance rates and also how to get some discounts. Every insurance provider has different regulations for discounts as well. Most importantly, you need to remind your teenage son that he needs to do well in school. You can have discounts on you insurance rates if his grades are high.
Reader’s Question:
I need to save money so I may have to cut down on my other expenses. How can I be able to save or lessen the payment for my auto insurance here in Washington?
Niko
Bellingham, WA
The very first thing that you would have to do to save on your auto insurance in Bellingham, Washington is to compare auto insurance from different providers. You may go online and use consumer guides from the state of Washington’s insurance department. These guidelines would give you information on the coverage you need and give you sample auto insurance rates, generally from the largest providers. You need to obtain at least three auto insurance quotes from different companies. Also, in buying a car, consider a low-profile car because cars that cost too much to repair or those which have higher theft rate have higher insurance rates as well.
Asking for higher deductibles could also lower you annual or monthly insurance payments. If in case you file a claim, the deductible is the amount of money that you pay before the auto insurance provider pays for the rest of the damage. If you have higher deductibles, that means you would have lower insurance premium rates. An example is that if you increase you deductible from $200 to $500 on comprehensive and collision coverage, that may lessen your premium by 15 to 30%.
Reader’s Question:
Do I have to consider the kind of car that I will purchase here in Everett, Washington if I’d like to have lower car insurance rates?
Tavion
Everett, WA
Yes, you have to take into consideration the kind of car that you will purchase in Everett, Washington if you would like to pay lower rates on your car insurance. Low profile vehicles usually are those that have lower car insurance rates. If the type of car that you have is in the higher risk of being stolen, then most likely, your rates will be higher than the rates of an average driver. Most car insurance companies take a look at the type of vehicle that are stolen frequently and necessarily adjust their rates.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the average number of vehicles being stolen has been dropping in the previous years because of increased surveillance and more security devices being installed. This is great news for every driver but it still essential to recognize the type of car you drive and to figure out that risk it has of being stolen. Although theft has been going down, the type of vehicles that are most stolen are still the same kinds of vehicle in general.