I live in Pennsylvania, and I was wondering if I should still get coverage from my parents’ auto insurance policy even if I have my own car already.

Bettina

Pittsburgh, PA

Is the title of your car under your name? If it is, then you should get your own automobile insurance policy because owning a car entails presumed financial responsibilities. If you apply for auto insurance, the insurance company may require you to disclose the names of all the members of your household. Disclosing this information could protect you and the auto insurance company in case another household gets into an accident while driving your car. However, you may choose who you want to be covered by your policy so as to avoid overpayment in case you feel that an extended coverage is unnecessary.

If you are still living with your parents and still drive their cars, you may have to stay under the coverage of their policies. This is for the reason that the insurance policy only covers insured drivers (naturally). Since you are still driving their vehicles, you are considered as one of those drivers. However, if you decide to stop driving their car and still continue living in their house, the insurance agent may still suggest that you remain under the coverage of their insurance policies. Owning a car but still being a part of the household does not guarantee that you will no longer drive their car. Insurance companies would more likely prepare for the possibility that your own car will breakdown and you would drive your parents’ car as a resort.

If you feel that you need your own auto insurance policy, then you would also have to list your parents as members of the household even though they have their own auto insurance policies. This is for the same reason that they may need to drive your car, too.

If you think that both you and your parents’ being covered by each other’s policies seem financially burdening, then you may try contacting your auto insurance agent there at Pennsylvania to see which setup would work best for all of you.

Does getting insurance rate quotes affect your credit rating since the insurance providers check your credit record in Pittsburgh?

Cris

Pittsburgh, PA

Many insurance providers in Pittsburgh do check credit records when determining auto insurance rates. It is true that credit rating companies such as Trans Union, Experian and Equifax have been known to use inquiries towards your credit history to affect your credit score. Those information that affect your credit score are information for getting credit NOT inquiries that review your credit such as car insurance quote or use credit as a portion of your insurance score.

Usually developed credit scores recognize when a consumer is try to purchase for insurance and either ignore multiple questions or count them as only one question if they occur within a specific period of time.

I am a bit worried about what I see in the news. It seems that more and more cost of living is getting higher! I have asked each one of my family members to list down some ways on how we can save. I’m at a loss on how we can save on auto insurance. is there any way to get cheapest car insurance in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania PA?

Helen

Pittsburgh PA

How very smart, Helen! Yes, it’s true that times are getting tougher. And it is very smart of you to involve your whole family in this process of reviewing your expenses and finding ways to save. Sometimes the heavy task of saving or budgeting for the whole family is left with the mother and she ends up stressed and disappointed. Getting your family on board, including the kids, is very helpful since they would know that they are all responsible and that there is something they can do about it. Even a simple thing like unplugging the television helps!

Getting savings from auto insurance, however, requires more ingenuity and research.

First, you can look for the cheapest available auto insurance in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania PA. You can do this even from the comforts of your home by making use of online tools such as the space provided on this page. By simply entering your zip code, you can get up to 5 quotes while boiling eggs or doing the dishes. Just make sure that to be comparable, each quote should offer the same coverage. You can then take a trip to the company that gives the lowest quote.

The other way of saving on auto insurance is by installing safety features readily available in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania PA. You will be pleasantly surprised at how much your premiums will be reduced when you install features that minimize potential bodily harm during car accidents such as airbags, anti-lock brakes and automatic seatbelts. Discount on premiums are also given to those who make their car theft-proof, or at least attempt to. Usual practices are installing car alarms and etching your vehicle identification number on your windows.

Times are tough, Helen, but we will always be tougher.

My son is has a lien on the car in Frederick, Maryland and he can’t afford the car insurance that is being required by the lien holder. So if he does not carry the proper insurance that is being required of him to carry, what will happen legally to him? I am also wondering if the finance company will take the vehicle back for not carrying proper insurance?

Anna

Pittsburgh, PA

Until your son completed paying for the vehicle, the vehicle still belongs to the finance company. His lien holder is probably requiring him to carry collision and comprehensive coverages for the car.

These physical coverages of comprehensive and collision will help cover the automobile up to its ACV so they can recoup the value of the automobile if it is totaled in an accident. If your son does not have the collision and comprehensive coverages, the finance company will force him to carry their collision and comprehensive coverages (so they can protect their asset) at much higher rates. They can also take back the automobile which will affect your son’s credit negatively.

Can I put my girlfriend and her vehicle on my car insurance policy if we are live together? We live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Alfred

Pittsburgh, PA

You will need to discuss with your current insurance carrier to find out if they will permit you to add your girlfriend and her vehicle onto your insurance policy. Since you are both living in the same household in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania many insurance carriers would generally permit for both cars to be listed on one car insurance policy.

If you find an insurance carrier that finds this type of insurance policy acceptable, typically then a multi-car insurance policy will be cheaper than individuals that have separate car insurance policies on their own. A multi-driver or multi-vehicle discount may apply to your situation so ask the insurance company and also ask if there are any other car insurance discounts that you or your girlfriend may receive.

How can I be sure that the insurance companies in Pittsburgh, where I got my online car insurance quotes, are reliable?

George

Pittsburgh PA

Choosing your car insurance can be as tedious yet as worthwhile as purchasing your new car. It involves spending your hard-earned income so you have to make sure you’ve got the best deal. There are a lot of things to consider when choosing your car insurance policy, and one of these is the insurance company’s industry rating. Although the Internet will provide you with numerous car insurance quotes in one sitting, how can you assure that the insurance company where you’ll buy your car insurance will take care of your when the need arises?

There are some national rating organizations that rate insurance companies based on their financial stability. We have to be aware of the insurance company’s long-term financial strength because it will determine its ability to pay future benefits and claim. Insurance companies that are not stable are in the risk of closing down. So, as part of your assessment on various car insurance quotes, you should also take time to research about the Pittsburgh insurance company whom you’ll buy your insurance policy.

Two of the common institutions that provide insurance companies’ financial strength are Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s Ratings. Each has its own website where you can browse to learn more information.

You can also ask your friends regarding their experiences with certain insurance companies. Their comments will serve as testimonial for you to determine the reputation of those insurance companies. Furthermore, a good insurance agent will disclose the financial situation of their company when you ask for it.

It’s normal to question the financial stability of the insurance companies where you get your car insurance quotes from. Besides, it is your money that you will be spending. You have to make a well-informed financial decision before you finally choose the car insurance policy that will cover you and your car.

I don’t want to pay higher deductibles. But my friend says it’s going to save me more money. If I pay $500 worth of deductible and my insurance company in Pittsburgh pays for the rest, how is it going to save me money if I pay upfront of $1000?

Mark

Pittsburgh PA

Deductible would still be dependent on what your state requires. Your Pittsburgh auto insurance doesn’t really pay for everything in case of an event. You would also need to responsibly pay a part of that in the form of deductibles. What you’re friend was actually trying to say is that if you pay higher deductibles, your premium rates or the cost of your total annual coverage cost also decreases.

If you want to save more money, you need to evaluate several things, to consider whether $1000 deductible is worth than the $500 one. Decide on what you are able to pay and how often you’ll be making claims on auto insurance. Anyhow, you’ll be paying deductibles for every case that your insurance company needs to cover damages. If you want to pay less out from your personal pocket if any possible situation arrives, you would want a better auto insurance policy that has good coverage, which would also depend on what amount you’re paying on deductibles.

My 19-year-old daughter is a beginner driver. She just got her permit. We’re from Pennsylvania. Does the state require her to have car insurance coverage? Do you think I should get her one?

Michael

Pittsburgh, PA

The requirements for beginner drivers are different from state to state. I believe that in Pennsylvania, those with only a learner’s permit aren’t required to have a car insurance coverage. So, your daughter won’t need a car insurance coverage until she finally gets her driver’s license. She might not even have to be listed as a driver yet.

However, when on the road, she must always be accompanied by an adult who is a licensed driver. So in your case, I advise that you inform your car insurance provider about your concern and ask whether or not she can be covered. Getting her covered is really up to the car insurance company.

Commonly, parents have their kids listed under their policy. If she only has a learner’s permit, I hear some car insurance companies won’t even charge you for it. Some can also sell car insurance coverage to those with only a learner’s permit, provided that they obtain their driver’s license after a certain period of time, like 30 days or so.

When she finally gets her license, you have two options. You can purchase a separate car insurance policy for her or as mentioned earlier, you can include her in your car insurance coverage. But as of now, the fact that you have car insurance coverage might be enough. Just be sure to discuss this with your car insurance provider.

Tags: auto insurance, Beginner car insurance

I have a son who uses my car every now and then, and sometimes he sneaks out and takes the car with him. You know kids. Now, I want to ask if my son is covered by my insurance when he’s driving my car here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Ames

Pittsburgh, PA

Ames, that is tough. I also have a kid in his teenage years, and I can relate to what you are going through. The kids of this generation are just too difficult to handle. In any case, to answer your question, if you could check with your auto insurance carrier there in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I am pretty sure that they’ll give you very high premiums. You know, this is all about business and making money.

However, I believe it varies with every auto insurance company. For some, you will be covered as the holder of the policy unless another driver uses your vehicle. For others, if the driver involved in a car accident lives in your home, I think the company will add that driver into your policy regardless of who is at fault, but he shall be excluded from the policy in the future. If you check with some vehicle insurance companies, they initially ask the driver applying for the policy to declare all the drivers in their household. But I think there still are a number of factors to consider. If the policy covers only those drivers residing in the same household as the holder of the policy, in the event that a visitor arrives like a relative, and he uses the car and gets into a vehicular accident, is he not going to be covered by the policy? From what I know, most companies would ask the driver purchasing the policy to disclose all drivers that are frequently going to be using the car for accurate coverage. To put all of these to simpler words, only the listed drivers are going to be covered.

Tags: auto insurance, Student car insurance, teen insurance, Young driver car insurance

I am purchasing a used vehicle that is worth only a few hundred dollars and I am just wondering of I still need to insure it in Pittsburgh?

Harry

Pittsburgh, PA

Every state has financial responsibility laws requiring either auto insurance or the ability to pay for any injuries or damages while driving.

In all but two US states you will need to insure your car. The only two states that do not have compulsory insurance laws are New Hampshire and Wisconsin. Many states even require that you show proof of insurance before you register a vehicle.

An older car that does not have much value is typically not insured for physical damage (collision and comprehensive coverage), however you still need to carry liability coverage on the car in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Regardless of the insurance you get, you need to be financially responsible for any injuries to others or damages to your car that you may cause in an accident.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance cost