Car Insurance Rate Iowa IO

Reader’s Question:

How come it takes auto insurance providers three years to even consider lowering your auto insurance rate premium in Iowa?

Naomi

Davenport, IA

Each infraction such as traffic violations, at-fault accidents, parking tickets, or driving under the influence, is assigned a certain point value in Iowa. If you are found guilty in any of these violations, the appropriate number of points is added to your driver’s license. If you have more points, the worse your driving history will be. Each insurance provider has its own method of assessing applicants, so the points on your driving record may or may not have a direct impact on the car insurance rates you pay for car insurance.

Your car insurance policy may be surcharged if you have some of these infractions. Many insurance providers will consider your driving record for the past 3 years as this is a more accurate reflection of your infraction history. You could say that it’s a look at the ‘big picture’.

 

Tags: advice, autos, car insurance rate

Auto Insurance Des Moines Iowa IA

Reader’s Question:

I am just wondering if adding upgrades to my car like new sound systems, pinstriping, or a DVD player, mean additional claim payments with my car insurance policy in Des Moines, IA.

Cynthia

Des Moines, IA

In some cases, your upgrades won’t be covered if you haven’t reported them to your auto insurer and paid extra car insurance premiums. You need to remember that car insurance coverage is based on actual cash value. Many policyholders think that they’ll get a dollar-for-dollar reimbursement after and they forget about depreciation. Anything you do to your vehicle is going to depreciate its value.

But you may argue that you should get credit for any investments you’ve made in your car since that means its value in the marketplace is improved. The best thing to do is to contact your Des Moines, Iowa insurance agent or your auto insurance company and tell them what you’ve done to the car. Your insurance company can then decide if the company needs to increase your coverage and your car insurance rate premium. You’ll want to let your insurance company know, and back up the value with your receipts if you’ve done some heavy investing in upgrading the car, or if you’ve done something like put in a new engine on an older car. So, don’t forget to save the receipts for your car upgrades.

However if the work you’ve done on the car was simply to keep the vehicle in good running condition, you won’t get any additional claim payment. It would just be considered part of the normal vehicle maintenance.

Tags: auto insurance

Car Insurance Quote Ames Iowa IA

Reader’s Question:

I am from Ames, Iowa and have a license and my car is registered in that state.. I am going to college in tha state of Texas and I was wondering if I am looking for auto insurance, do I get a quote from my residence in Iowa or should I want to insure my car from where I am living at school in the state of Texas?

James

Ames, IA

This will actually depend to the individual insurance provider, however if your residence is in Ames Iowa, you may be able to use the Iowa residence and zip code to get a quote – since you will going to be away in college in Texas and not a resident there.

Some insurance carriers will permit an insurance policy for a vehicle that is away at school in a different state, which in your case is in Texas, while other insurance provider’s guidelines may not permit for this since the vehicle will be mainly driven and garaged in another state.

 

Tags: auto insurance, car, car insurance quotes, quote

Car Insurance Rate Waterloo Iowa IA

Reader’s Question:

A friend of mine was driving my car the last week and we got pulled over by a police officer. My friend who was driving of my car received a DUI. Since it was my vehicle will my car insurance rate go up? Will this be reported to my car insurance carrier? I was in the vehicle with him. We live in Waterloo, IA.

Samuel

Waterloo, IA

If a ticket is written to a motorist only and not against the car, it is the driver’s record that will be affected. If this is the case and your friend received the citation under his name only then it would usually be his drivers license and car insurance rates that would be affected by this citation.

The state Iowa has serious laws against driving under the influence or DUI of either alcohol or drugs. A court conviction of an Iowa operating while intoxicated, OWI, includes penalties such as a course for drinking drivers and substance abuse evaluation or treatment , 48 hour jail sentence for a first offense, etc. This is conviction charge also comes with a fine up of to $1000.

 

Tags: autos, car insurance rate, drunk driving insurance, DUI insurance, DWI insurance