Reader’s Question:

I am 16 and will soon have my car. Will I need to have my name listed under my parents’ insurance policy to have the car registered here in Illinois?

Michelle

Chicago, IL

There are a number of requirements before teenagers are finally allowed to legally drive in the public roads of Illinois. Since you are just 16 years old, you have to take the driver’s education program first. There are public and private high schools that offer this. Local colleges in your community may also be offering this course.

After successfully completing the program, you need to get a provisional permit, so that you can do the required 50 hours of supervised practice behind the wheel. 10 hours of driving in total darkness will be part of this practical exam. Once completed, you may now get your initial license.

In the meantime, your parents will have to inform their local insurance agent that a new driver will be added to their car insurance policy. Typically, adding you, their teenage daughter, in their policy will increase their car insurance premiums up to 50%. If you will buy your own car, then before it can be registered, it has to be insured. It can be insured under the current policy of your parents. It can also have a separate car insurance policy. This may be a little more expensive than just adding your car to their coverage; however, this way, your parents will most likely get multiple vehicle discounts from their insurer.

Tags: auto insurance policy, auto insurance premium, driving school, teen, teen insurance

Reader’s Question:

I’m a single mother of two kids living here in Florida. I’m having so much trouble making the payment for all my insurance bills. How can I save money especially on my car insurance coverage?

Mary

Miami, FL

So many people have the same woes, Mary. Unfortunately, insurance is one of the things we can’t quite do without. But you should know how to keep your payments to the minimum.

Are you also paying for house insurance? One way to keep your insurance costs low is to get different types of insurance from the same company there in Florida. Combining car and home insurance have been known to save families some money.

If you’re more concerned about your car insurance policy, you should be driving a cheaper car. A car insurance company will naturally insure a car at greater costs if it is also costly to repair in case of accidents. Some insurance companies can even give you an estimate before you purchase the vehicle.

Another important thing is, of course, keeping your record as a driver spic-and-span. Bad drivers are viewed as great risks and are hence charged more for premium. Finishing an approved course on driving can create an impression to car insurance companies that you are a good driver, especially if you have good grades. Keep your car safe by purchasing alarms. Try not to file too many claims as much as possible especially if they are quite petty. Everybody wants to make the most of everything they pay for, but this really doesn’t help. Some people who do this too much find their car insurance companies unwilling to renew their car insurance coverage.

Tags: auto insurance claims, auto insurance coverage, auto insurance premium, Car Insurance Company, car insurance cost