Archive for July, 2008

Car was struck by another car who was a car jacker and police were chasing. Police shot and killed him and my insurance company said I have to pay my deductible. Is this correct? I was not at fault for this accident.

Yes, your deductible amount would normally be due if you are using your own insurance coverages to claim the damage to your vehicle. Fault has nothing to do with if a deductible is due usually. If your vehicle was hit by another car which was driven by a carjacker then you wou…

My son will be attending college out of state (AZ). He has found a car in Arizona that he would like to buy. Can we keep the AZ registration for his car and still insure him under our California policy?

You will need to change over to Arizona insurance and not be able to place your son’s AZ registered car on your California insurance policy. This is for a couple of reasons. One is that your California insurance provider will not likely allow you to insure a car that is registe…

In the state of California, is it necessary for a car dealership to make sure you have insurance before you drive the vehicle off the lot? Is it the same for a used car dealership? The vehicle was purchased on a Sunday and was in a hit and run on Monday before insurance was purchased. The vehicle was financed. Thank you.

The California Department of Insurance states that CA legislature passed a law requiring motorists to produce proof of insurance before the DMV renews the vehicle registration. The new legislation also requires motorists to display proof of insurance when they are stopped by a…

Are demerit points transferred between Quebec and British Columbia or to the other province of Canada?

If you are cited and convicted of a moving violation / traffic offense in British Columbia, another Canadian province or in certain states within the United States then yes, you can receive demerit points on your driving record in Quebec. The SAAQ states that an equivalent t…

Who is considered a family member under VA law? Does this include cousins? This is in regard to the passenger restrictions for teen drivers until they are 18. Can my 16 year old have 2 cousins and a brother in the car?

As you mentioned one of the teen restrictions in place in the state of Virginia is a limitation on the amount of passengers the teenager driver can have in the vehicle with him or her. Under Virginia law if you are under age 18, you may carry only one passenger under age 18 du…

I live in Alberta. Can I get my Class 5 if I have my Learners Permit, but not for a year, but I am over the age of 18?

Alberta has a graduated licensing system in place for all new drivers, regardless of age. It appears that you currently have a learner’s license (Class 7). According to Service Alberta one must hold a Learner’s License (Class 7) for at least one year to be eligible to move to …

Do I have to pay taxes after my car was totaled. I live in Los Angeles and the other party is paying. Thank you!

You may owe taxes on the auto insurance settlement you receive after the total loss of a vehicle depending upon your personal situation. We would advise you to consult with a tax accountant or with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to see if you will owe taxes on the settleme…

A car was considered a total loss by an insurance company. The car has a new owner and different insurance company. The car was in an accident and someone else was at fault. Can the car be considered a total loss again by the different insurance company? If not, how do they figure how much to pay for your damages.

Yes, a car can be found to be a total loss more than once. If the car was repaired and found to be roadworthy and was allowed back on the roadway by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles and then was in another accident where the repairs cost more than the value of the vehi…

Question about your auto insurance. How good is the coverage in the state of Florida?

CarInsurance.com, Inc. based in Florida and our auto insurance marketplace enables consumers to instantly buy competitive auto insurance directly from insurance companies including: Progressive Esurance Safeco Direct General Unitrin Direct Travelers The Ha…

I received a traffic ticket in NYC for talking on my cell phone, I hold a CT license - will I get points on my CT license for this moving violation?

New York and Connecticut are both members of the Drivers License Compact (DLC) meaning that once you are convicted of the driving while talking on a cell phone offense by the NYC courts they will inform the CT Department of Motor Vehicles. As you should be aware operation of a …