Auto Insurance Discounts in Washington
Reader’s Question:
My name is Watson from Spokane, Washington. . I speak for every car owner here when I ask: How can we get ourselves a cheaper auto insurance premium? Discounts, discounts, discounts.
Watson
Spokane, WA
Spoken like a true Washingtonian. Sorry, just had to say that. Now that it’s out of my system, let’s go to your question.
How to get cheaper insurance premium? Most, if not all, insurance companies extend discounts for various reasons. If you have had no accidents listed in your insurance history in the last three to five years, you will get a discount. If you buy other policies (homeowners, renters) from the same company, you will get multiline discount. If you own more than one car and you get insurances from the same auto insurance company for all of them, that’s another discount for you (multi vehicle discount). Buy a very safe car, one with side airbags, for example, you get a discount for it. Some companies will look at what you do and give you discounts. They would offer discounts to teachers, engineers and scientists with good driving records. They have noticed that educators, scientists, and engineers are generally good drivers and that they tend to be meticulous and take care of their vehicles. Also, insurance companies are aware that some occupations have lower risks than others. Teaching and farming are at the top of the list of low risk jobs. In a nutshell, it’s still about risk factor. Insurance companies look at your risk factor, if it’s low, you’re okay.
Drunk Driving DUI Insurance in Washington
Reader’s Question:
What are the implications of DUI to my car insurance here in , Washington? I suppose it can’t be a good thing.
Bill
Spokane, WA
Since when has drunk driving been a good thing? I suppose you already know about the license suspension, lawyer fees and fines. I’m assuming here that you did get convicted of drunk driving. Well, in case you haven’t spent enough yet, on top of everything, you have to worry about higher premium prices for your vehicle insurance–that is if you are lucky. Some insurance companies will actually cancel your policy. And bet the top of your legs that you’re going to have a hard time looking for new automotive insurance. So, let’s say that your company decides to keep you, you lucky son of whatever, as one of their policy holders. You then will be branded as high risk. Your car insurance company is required to submit an SR-22 to your DMV there. It is a document that gives proof that you have the minimum required coverage, and more importantly, it reestablishes your driving privileges.
If you’re thinking that this is easy enough to handle, that it was all worth it since you had so much fun drinking, let me tell you now that not all insurance companies offer SR-22s. Check out your insurance laws there in Spokane, WA to find out. And one last thing, stop being an idiot. Don’t drink and drive.
What Available Auto Insurance Discounts In Washington?
Reader’s Question:
I am getting older each year…and I am quite happy and sad about it. Right now I am so worried about getting the feel of paying my own bills. Gone are the regular fun nights for I am almost skimping on anything I have. I will be turning 25 next year and I am hoping I’d get a discount on my auto insurance. Will that be likely for auto insurers in Bellevue, Washington?
Martina
Bellevue, WA
Twenty five can me a magic number for most auto insurers. It marks the age when drivers are considered to be ‘mature’ enough and transforms them into safer drivers.Notice how car rental rates are so much lower for people age 25 and over. The same will be true for most insurance companies in Washington who use every piece of available data to develop profiles of drivers.
Among other factors though that determines your realigned rates after your age are your location, what you do for a living, your gender, the make and model of your vehicle, your credit history (and most contest this, and that’s another story), and a multitude of other factors.
These indexes are compared against the profile of the perfect driver to determine how much of a risk you are to your insurance company in WA. The principle for your insurance premium rates rely on probability of you to be more at risk that you’ll get in an accident, file a claim, or cause someone else to file a claim against you.
Now, take not that it does not really follow that once you turn 25, your auto insurance premiums should drop. You have to also understand that there can be more factors to consider like incidence of you moving, switching vehicles, any recent accident claim, and other factors that you insurer in Bellevue, WA will take into account.
Washington Auto Insurance Rate
Reader’s Question:
I received a speeding ticket followed by an accident 30 days after in Washington State. How long will this affect my auto insurance rate?
Kevin
Bellevue, WA
Insurance providers in Washington may charge you more if you have been involved in an accident or have been convicted of one or more moving violations. This is referred to as surcharge. In addition to that, the more claims you file, the more likely your auto insurance rates will increase.
Since the Washington State insurance regulator does not provide any information that suggests the state has a restriction then it will be up to the individual insurance companies’ rating system to determine how long the citations and accident can affect your auto insurance rates. An insurance company will normally rate you on traffic violations and accidents for a period of 3, 5 or 7 years.
Basically the WA DOL ticket and the accident will both stay on your driving record for five years so it likely will be 3 or 5 years that your insurance company will rate you on these incidents. To find from your current insurance carrier and find out how long the speeding ticket and accident (plus claims if there were ones made) can affect your car insurance rates contact your agent.
Will a Speeding Ticket in Washington Increase My Car Insurance?
Reader’s Question:
I have a speeding ticket in the state of Washington. Will this increase my car insurance premium?
Melanie
Thank you for asking Melanie.
Individual insurance providers in the state of Washington determine their own insurance rates based on their own internal rating system. Their rate requests is submitted to the WA Insurance Commissioner for review. The request will be approved if the state agency is satisfied with the rates.
Insurance companies’ car insurance rates are based on different factors. The premium you pay consists of a base rate. The base rate depends on various factors like your age, marital status, driving pattern, sex, claims history, location, credit history, and the make, model and year of your car. You have to remember when you shop around that these companies uses different factors and rates.
Most insurers apply a surcharge to motorist who got involved in an accident or those who were convicted of multiple moving violations. In addition to that, your rates will likely increase because of your claims history. This means that the increase on your premiums will depend on the rating system of insurance companies.
To get more information on the rating system of your insurance company you may contact your insurance agent or the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner where they submitted their rates. Your agent will be able to tell you if one traffic violation will increase your premiums.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
