A bad driving record means that it can be challenging to get the best rates available for your car insurance. Even though it can be possible to lower some rates with the help of a spouse who has a better driving record, you will still need to keep your name on a policy if you plan to drive the car.

Driving Without Coverage

Buying a new policy for your car under the name of your spouse may lower insurance rates due to the better driving record, but it also means that you cannot drive the car unless you also add yourself to the policy. The impact on the rates if you are listed as a secondary driver may not be enough to make it worth the effort of changing your current plan.

Driving without coverage for yourself may make your policy invalid since you live in the same house as the primary driver on the policy.

Listing as a Secondary Driver

Even though it is necessary to list your name on the policy as a secondary driver if you plan to drive the car, putting your spouse as the primary driver can help lower your rates, particularly if you do not drive regularly and the other individual has an excellent driving record.

As a driver who is listed on the policy, you will still have coverage if you are in an accident, but the amount that you pay may be reasonable.

A good driving record is essential if you want to have the best rates on your auto policy. Contact us to talk to an agent to learn more about reducing the cost of coverage and the options that are available.

When you get behind the wheel of your car and venture out onto the streets of Newark, NJ, you must always be in control of your vehicle. If you are driving in bad weather, you should slow down so you can maintain control of your vehicle. You should also make sure that your brakes are good and you can see out of your windows.

When you learned to drive, your instructor probably went over the importance of being a safe driver. You may not be able to control what other drivers do, but if you have control of your vehicle, you can avoid many dangerous situations. If someone cuts you off and you are alert and in control, you can avoid an accident.

Your car insurance rates may go up if you get into an accident and are cited for failure to avoid collision. When the police officer gives you a ticket, it is an indication that you may have been responsible for causing the accident. Of course, you have the absolute right to go to court and fight the ticket. At the same time, when you file a claim with your insurance company, they will investigate and come to a conclusion about who is liable for the accident.

A number of factors go into the decision by your car insurance company to raise your rates. If you have been a long-time customer and the accident was a minor one, they may not hit you with a higher premium. Being issued a failure to avoid collision citation is never a good thing. It can add points to your driver’s license and also indicate that you are not a safe driver. When you present a greater insurance risk, your car insurance rates may go up.

If you get the opportunity to borrow a friend’s car, chances are you don’t give a lot of thought to insurance. You have insurance, your friend has insurance–the car is covered, right? Well, it would be wise to familiarize yourself with some of the details of how automobile insurance works before you risk getting into a car accident with your friend’s car.

As a general rule, automobile insurance stays with the car, not the driver, so when you borrow your friend’s car, you’re driving on his insurance. This sounds great until a car accident occurs, then you have to start to worry about things like whether or not your own injuries are covered, how much the deductible is, and how long you may wait for a claim to be settled. In any case, your own insurance will be considered "secondary insurance" and may be used to cover any of the shortcomings of the insurance on your friend’s car.

There are some circumstances wherein your friend’s insurance won’t cover you at all. For instance, if you took your friend’s car without permission, it will be your car insurance that is on the line for damages from a car accident, not your friend’s. Similarly, if your friend considered you to be a questionable driver and specifically listed you as an exclusion on his policy (in states where this is allowed), you may not be covered by that policy and your own auto insurance would become primary.

If you borrow a friend’s car, their insurance is likely to be your primary coverage, but it’s best to have your own coverage just in case. If you have questions about your insurance or are in the market for new coverage, call us today. As your independent agent, we can give you the facts about car insurance and help you to find the right coverage and the best price.