» Tips to lower car insurance

Insurance Risk Factors

admin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:22:20 +0000

What factors affect your monthly payments? To get the lowest auto insurance rates in Missoula you must understand the risk factors that determine your premiums. Some risk factors affect the pricing more than others. Here is a list of the most common factors.

Driving Accidents and Violations Insurance companies focus a lot on accidents: a significant number of accidents or moving violations equals a greater accident risk. Insurance Providers penalize drivers with a bad record, which usually lasts for a number of years. Bottom line is, the more driving violations you have, the higher the premium. If you want your premiums to decrease, keep your record clean. Vehicle Type People who own the latest, most expensive models usually get insurance with better coverage, which means higher premiums. Less expensive or used cars cost less to insure because you have the option to disregard certain types of coverage that are not applicable. Occupation No, they don’t check your income. Not yet, at least. A significant relationship exists between the business use of your vehicle and the premium you must pay. If your spend a lot of time in your car for job related driving then you can expect a higher premium. Missoula has a high number jobs than require you to use your own car so keep this in mind. Credit Rating A better credit rating will save some drivers from higher premiums since many insurance companies believe that poor credit history is susceptible to higher risks. If you have no idea what your credit rating is then you can check it for free on several internet website. Location Your physical address can also dictate your insurance premiums. Living in high crime neighborhood, specifically those with a high number of vehicle thefts, also increases premiums. Missoula Montana has a fairly low crime rate, but there are areas that are at higher risk than others. Education Drivers with higher educational attainment are charged with lower premiums. If you haven’t graduated high school then you will have higher rates. With the University of Montana in town Missoula has the added benefit of slightly lower rates. Others Years of driving experience, lower miles driven each year, theft protection devices and multiple cars and drivers also offer opportunity for premium discounts.

Missoula Car Insurance

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:04:46 +0000

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Think About This

Prices vary from company to company, so it pays to shop around. Get at least three price quotes. Don’t shop price alone. Ask friends and relatives for their recommendations on local Missoula car insurance agents. Contact your state insurance department to find out whether they provide information on consumer complaints by company. For Montana Office of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance website click here. State insurance department phone numbers and Web sites click here

9 Things You Should Know About Insurance

1. We purchase insurance to protect our property and our assets. Only YOU can determine what amount of coverage is right for you. 2. Read your policy contract. The time to find out what you are covered for and what you are not is BEFORE you have a loss! 3. Your credit history / credit score CAN have a direct impact on the amount of premiums you pay for insurance—home, auto, or business. 4.Consider higher deductibles. This can save you premium dollars as well as eliminate problems arising from submitting numerous small claims to your insurer. 5. Become familiar with your policy exclusions. All insurance policies contain a list of things that are specifically excluded from coverage. 6. If you are shopping for insurance, be sure you compare “apples to apples” or get quotes for the same limits and coverage. 7. Talk to your Agent. Take a few minutes to discuss with him/her your expectations for your insurance policy. 8. Review your coverage often. Our lives change and so do our insurance needs. Try to keep up-to-date with your insurance coverage. This will avoid situations where you need more coverage than you did a few years ago or where you’re paying for coverage you no longer need. 9. If it sounds too good to be true – it probably is!

Teen Car Insurance

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:02:12 +0000

Insurance for teenagers in Missoula is always going to be high. Statistically speaking teens have a high accident rate in Montana. We also can assume that teens are more likely to become distracted behind the wheel by loud music, cell phones, texting and looking at themselves in the mirror. This makes for what the auto insurance companies call a “high risk” policy. Accept it, rates are going to be high, but there are a few things you can do to minimize the costs. Here are some tips for parents: Tips to lower car insurance rates for Teenagers in Missoula 1. Keep teens on your current policy. You are more likely to get better rates by adding new drivers to a current policy by taking advantage of the multiple car discount. If a high school or college student were to attain their own policy the rates would be significantly higher. 2. Always inform your care insurance company if your teen is going away to college. If they are going college and leaving the care at home they will not be driving as much. This should drastically lower your monthly payments. 3. The car they drive is a key aspect of coverage. Depending on the make and model, you could cut the rates in half. Cars to avoid when looking for a discounted rate are sports cars, convertibles, muscle cars, older cars without safety features, trucks and SUV’s. Some companies even charge more for red cars as they are more likely to be targeted by traffic police. Stick with a basic sedan that has great safety ratings and features. 4. What about discounts? Your teenager will need to maintain a grade point average of a B or better to qualify. Typically you will need to provide proof via report cards or official letters from school faculty. Many companies require periodic updates throughout the length of policy to ensure grades are still standing at a B level. Most insurance companies also offer teenagers a discount on the auto insurance if they take a driver improvement course or similar classes. Check with the local DMV for more information. 5. Shop around. You would be amazed to see how different premiums can vary from provider to provider. Make sure you find the most teenager friendly company.

Montana Government New Teen Driver Information

I copied and pasted the following information from the government website:

Montana Department of Justice · Driver Services

It gives complete information on drivers license policies and procedures for teens in Missoula. New Drivers Individuals wishing to obtain a Montana driver license must:

provide parental consent and complete the graduated driver licensing process if they are under 18
pass written, vision and driving tests
provide the required documents
- proof of identity
- proof of Montana residency
- proof of authorized presence

Learner’s License (All Classes)

A learner’s license:

allows an individual to operate a vehicle when accompanied by a driver who has a valid license of the same class and type as that of the vehicle being driven
valid for up to one year from the date of issuance

A Traffic Education Learner’s License (TELL) allows minors to operate a motor vehicle when their licensed parent or legal guardian is in the seat beside them. Individuals with a learner’s license from another state can drive in Montana for 60 days with a licensed driver.

Graduated Driver Licensing

Montana’s graduated driver licensing law creates a three-step program that allows new drivers under the age of 18 years to safely develop and improve their driving skills. Each step progressively increases the privileges and responsibilities of a new driver in an effort to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes involving minors.

Step 1: Permit Period

Age and Permits
- Teenagers may obtain a Traffic Education Learner’s License (TELL) as early as age 14½ years old only if they are in a state-approved traffic education program.
- Teenagers may get a Learner’s License from a driver exam station if they meet all of the following criteria:
  - are 15 years old and successfully complete a state-approved traffic education program, or are 16 years or older
  - pass the required driver license tests
  - turn in any other driver licenses
  - do not have a license suspended, revoked or denied in any other state or jurisdiction
  - pass the medical requirements for the type of driver license desired
  - have not been found by a court to be mentally incompetent, alcoholic and/or a habitual user of illegal drugs
Length of Permit
- A teenager must hold a permit for a minimum of six consecutive months before applying for a First-Year Restricted License.
- The permit is valid for up to one year.
Conditions During Permit Stage
- Teen drivers must acquire at least 50 hours of supervised driving experience, including 10 hours at night.
- A driver with a TELL permit must be supervised by a licensed parent or guardian.
- A driver with a Learner’s License must be supervised by a licensed parent or guardian, or a licensed driver age 18 years or older who is authorized by the parent or guardian.
- Everyone in the vehicle must wear a seatbelt.
- The teen driver must not get any traffic violations for alcohol or drug offenses in the six-month period before advancing to Step 2.

Step 2: First-Year Restricted License

When teens have satisfied all Step 1 requirements, they may apply for a First-Year Restricted License at a driver exam station. They must:

pay the associated fees
bring all required documents
- proof of identity
- proof of Montana residency
- proof of authorized presence
- a completed Graduated Driver Licensing Parent/Legal Guardian Certification form

Initially, the driver license will show a restriction code on the front and back. This restriction remains in effect for one year. During this period, the following restrictions apply:

Everyone in the vehicle must wear a seatbelt.
Teenage drivers may not drive between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., with some exceptions.
- These exceptions including emergencies, farm-related activities, travel to and from school, church or work, and specific parent-authorized purposes.
- Law enforcement officials may contact the parent or guardian of a teen driver to verify the purpose for which the teen is authorized to drive between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
For the first six months, unless supervised by a licensed driver age 18 or older, a teenage driver may have only one unrelated passenger under age 18 in the vehicle.
For the second six months, unless supervised by a licensed driver age 18 or older, a teenage driver may have three unrelated passengers under age 18 in the vehicle.

Penalties for violating the Step 2 license restrictions are:

First Offense – between 20 and 60 hours of community service
Second Offense – suspension of the teen’s driver license for six months

Step 3: Full Privilege Driver License

First-Year Restricted License restrictions automatically end on the date indicated on the back of the driver license, or when the individual turns 18, whichever occurs first. Once the teenager reaches Step 3, the driver license confers full privileges. For more information on graduated driver licensing, go to the Graduated Driver License Law page on the Office of Public Instruction website.