Reader’s Question:

Hi I’m Andre from Dallas, Texas. My mom has been pushing me to get collision insurance for my car. Personally, I’d rather not spend for more than I have to on something I may not use. Is he right to ask me to buy more insurance? Do I need this?

Andre

Dallas, TX

Hi Andre, I’m pretty sure your mom down in Sallas, Texas means well. I think to help you to decide, you will first need to understand what this type of automobile insurance is. We get insurance to protect ourselves, our family and the people around us. We also get insurance to protect our possessions that are of value to us. Now collision insurance, specifically covers our vehicle in cases of accidents that occur wherein the owner is found to be at fault. Meaning, if you bumped your own car either against another car or anything else, read: tree, fence, post, etc. In the event that this happens, your insurance will pay according to the fair market value of your car.

There will also be a deductible which is the share that will come from your personal stash to pay for the repairs. In case of a total wreck though, what the automobile insurance companies give may not always cover for the cost of replacing your car. You’re right, you don’t need to buy Collision Insurance as it is not a requirement by law. Although, if you bought your car through a dealership or used a loan to buy the car, these third parties may require you to get one. If this is still not the case, you may want to get this insurance if you have a relatively pricey vehicle that you may not be able to repair or replace on your own should something happen.

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance premium, collision insurance coverage

Reader’s Question:

If I am driving a Dallas Texas company car, do I still need car insurance?

John

Dallas TX

All automobiles on the road should have insurance by the car owner. Your company is responsible for ensuring that the company car that you will be driving has insurance.

In case of an accident, usually the insurance follows the automobile, so the car’s insurance is used as the primary ; your insurance will be used for secondary insurance if the damages exceed the limits of the automobile’s insurance. Typically if you do not own a car, you are not required to have your own auto insurance.

usually it is suggested that you carry a non-owners insurance policy so you will have coverage when you operate other people’s vehicles. This will provide you additional insurance in the event that the car owner’s policy limits are too low.

You need to contact your company’s insurance carrier in Dallas Texas to determine the specifics of the car insurance policy on the company car and how much coverage is provided for you when you operate the car.

Tags: auto insurance, non owners insurance

Reader’s Question:

I know someone who is disabled and lost his drivers license. Someone is driving for her with her own vehicle. How can she get car insurance on her vehicle in Dallas Texas if she does not have a license?

Morris

Dallas, TX

Obtaining car insurance for that individual may be hard if they have no plans to obtain a drivers license again. In most states it is illegal to insure a non-licensed motorist. Since the vehicle owner is disabled there might be helpful rules for them in obtaining car insurance without a drivers license in Dallas Texas. It is best to contact your state insurance regulator to know her consumer rights.

Once she knows her rights she may contact an insurance carrier in Dallas. If it is not possible for a person without a license to obtain car insurance it might be possible to have another person insure the car for her. There are insurance carrier that will permit somebody else to insure her car, even if they do not have an ‘insurable interest’ in it.

It would be better if both the driver and the car owner have their own auto insurance so they are protected in case of an accident.

Tags: auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

I was told recently that having a lien on my car will raise my insurance premiums in Dallas Texas. Is this true?

Billy

Dallas, TX

If a vehicle is purchased or paid for in full or if it is financed could be a rating factor that is applied to insurance provider’s rating system.

The rating factors that insurance companies normally consider include your the kind of car you operate, your age, your claims history, your driving history and in some states your credit record.

Many insurance carriers in Dallas Texas thus ask if you have a lien holder on the vehicle or have paid for it in full due to how they have filed their car insurance rates and/or to be sure that if the vehicle is financed you carry Physical Damage since it is most likely required by your lien holder. Typically it is not a rating factor that will raise your car insurance rates but just information an insurance company needs to properly quote you insurance rates on the type of coverage you will need on the car.

Comprehensive and collision are the type of physical damage coverage that is usually required if your car is leased or financed. Lien holders require these coverages normally on a car to protect their interest or collateral, the car.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance rate

Reader’s Question:

Will my insurance company in Dallas Texas increase my car insurance rates once I reach the age of 65?

Cooper

Dallas, TX

No, car insurance rates do not necessarily increases once you reach age 65. This will depend upon insurance carrier guidelines and state laws if car insurance rates will go up after a driver turns a certain age.

Some insurance providers in Dallas Texas offer lower car insurance rates to those between the age of 50 and 65, since this age group has lower accident rates. After the age 65 insurance rates typically do start to go up again though and people over age 70 may have a hard time finding an insurance carrier to accept them as a new policyholder since accidents for this age group tend to rise.

There are car insurance companies though that provide mature driver discounts for motorists of a certain age with good driving records or discounts to seniors who attend an approved driving class.

Tags: auto insurance, Car insurance discounts, car insurance rate, senior car insurance

Reader’s Question:

What will be the legal penalties for driving without car insurance in Dallas Texas?

Josh

Dallas, TX

There are harsh legal penalties for driving without insurance in Dallas Texas. There is a a fine between $175 up to $350 for the first offense. Subsequent violations could result in fines of $350 up to $1,000, driver’s license and registration suspension and impoundment of your motor vehicle. Driving without insurance in Texas is a misdemeanor, and therefore a criminal violation, but it is considered less serious in nature compared to felony violations such as felony DWI or vehicular homicide.

In addition, if a person was at fault in a car accident and were found to be driving without insurance then the state of Texas do require them to pay for the injuries or damages they caused.

Tags: auto insurance, driving without insurance

Reader’s Question:

I have a question about non owners policy. If the driver has a non-owners insurance policy and was at fault in an accident, which insurance coverage is considered primary for third party damage or liability?

Dallas, TX

According to the Texas Insurance Commissioner’s information sheet on the pros and cons of this non-owners insurance states that named non-owner policy is always in excess of the liability coverage purchased by the owner of the vehicle being driven. Therefore if you got involved in an accident, the car owner’s liability insurance pays first, up to the limits of the car owner’s policy. The non-owner policy comes into picture only if the cost of property damage and/or injuries goes over the limits of the car owner’s liability policy.

This may vary in other States but generally in Dallas the owner of the car’s insurance is primary and the driver’s insurance, non-owners or other type of insurance policy, is secondary or excess regarding third party liability or damage.

Tags: auto insurance, automobile, non owners insurance

Reader’s Question:

How long do you have to pay the surcharge in the state of Texas? Can you explain what the surcharge please.

Roy

Dallas, TX

Under the Points System Surcharge, points are evaluated to moving violations classified by Texas as class C misdemeanors. The TX Department of Public Safety will evaluate a surcharge when the motorist accumulates a total of six points or more on their driving record in a three year period. The motorist must pay a $100 surcharge for the first six points and $25 for each additional point.

The TX Department of Public Safety will do an annual assessment on the anniversary date of the original surcharge notice. This includes reviewing the driver’s record and determining if the motorist still meets surcharge requirement factor. If the record reflects the motorist had six or more points in the previous thirty six months, then the motorist must pay the surcharge again.

Tags: auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

How many points have to be on my MVR in the state of Texas before they will suspend my drivers license in Dallas?

Jim

Dallas, TX

In the state of Texas your drivers license will be suspended if you have what they call as “habitual traffic violator”. This means that a person who receives four or more moving infractions in a period of 12 months or has seven or more moving infractions in a period of months. If you are convicted of this many infractions you may expect that your drivers license will be suspended.

You can verify with Texas Department of Public Safety website at www.txdps.state.tx.us to check if there is also a point limit or just the number of infraction convictions.

Tags: auto insurance, autos

Reader’s Question:

When I was arrested last year, I was not made known of my rights by the policemen who charged me for a DWI arrest. Looking back, does that make my DWI arrest illegal in Texas?

Polly

Dallas, Texas

Nice question Polly. Most people are familiar with the so-called Miranda Rights, which include the right to remain silent and right to have appointed counsel present before you decide whether to answer any questions, once you are in police custody. However, the officers are not required to give Miranda warnings to every individual they caught for a DWI arrest unless they intend to question you once you are in custody. The requirement to give the Miranda warnings applies when the officer wishes to probe a person questions or interrogate them after they have been placed under arrest.

If the officers fail to give you your rights, after you are in custody, then any answers you give to questions can not be used against you in court. But that doesn’t make the arrest illegal. A skilled and experienced DWI defense attorney in Texas can determine whether a motion to exclude statements is warranted in your case.