Auto Insurance Company Raising Rates in Miami Florida
Reader’s Question:
After giving my car insurance company my down payment and payment for the first month of coverage do they have the rights to raise your car insurance premium quote??
Janice
Miami, FL
Depending on your state laws if your car insurance carrier has the right to increase your car insurance rate premium after accepting your down payment. It is possible that after accepting your car insurance payment the insurance provider just finished its checking of your driving record, etc and found something that should raise up your car insurance premium according to their rating rules. This can happen, especially when you are changing insurance providers and they are still getting your personal information even after providing you a car insurance quote.
Since you live in Miami Florida and this happens you can either pay the increase and cancel it within ten days or do not pay and the insurance carrier will cancel you for nonpayment. Typically the last option is not a good choice since it will show up on later when you try to find car insurance quote with another car insurance company and would appear negative on your side.
Penalty For Letting a Teen Drive Illegally in Florida
Reader’s Question:
I know someone in Hollywood, Florida who let his 14 year old son drive their car? What will be the penalties for that if his son gets caught?
Henry
Hollywood, FL
The Florida laws states that an individual may not operate any automobile upon the roadways unless such individual has a valid driver’s license. .
According to the Florida Statute no person shall knowingly permit his or her teenage child under the age of eighteen to operate a car on roadways when such minor is not authorized by the provisions of this Florida statute. According to the Florida driver’s manual you can be made to pay a fine or put to jail for permitting an unlicensed teen to drive your vehicle.
If you are a minor caught driving without a drivers license the individual who let you drive their car may also get in trouble depending upon state laws.
So, in Florida, both the licensed driver who permits the teen minor that does not yet hold a learner’s permit and the unlicensed minor can both face penalties including jail time and fines. If you were cited for these offenses in Hollywood, Florida or elsewhere, find out for sure what the fines and penalties are by calling the court listed on your citation ticket and/or your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
Driving With Revoked or Suspended Drivers License in Florida
Reader’s Question:
My drivers license is revoked in the state of Florida, can I operate a car in Florida with my Canadian license?
Justin
Coral Springs, FL
You will need to verify with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (HSMV) to check if it is legal or not to operate a vehicle in Coral Springs or in any part in Florida with your Canadian driver’s license after your FL drivers license have been revoked.
It is likely that you will not be able to drive a car in the state of Florida legally with your foreign license while your FL license is under revocation. When your Florida driver’s license has been suspended or revoked normally it means that all your driving privileges in Florida have been taken away.
Are Those Who Borrow my Car Covered on my Car Insurance in Florida
Reader’s Question:
If my teenage son and daughter, come to visit us here in Clearwater, Florida and we give them permission to drive our cars, are they covered if they get in an accident?
Alice
Clearwater, FL
Normally if you permit a friend or relative that does not live in your household to borrow or use your car on an infrequent basis then your insurance coverages will extend to them and therefore the car will be covered if they are in an accident.
Insurance carriers guidelines and terms of insurance policies can vary though so you should read through your insurance policy as well as speak to your insurance agent regarding the issue to be certain your insurance policy does not have exclusions for lending your car to your teenage children when they come to visit you. Your car insurance agent should also be able to tell you which of your coverages are extended to those that you give permission to operate your car but who are not listed as a driver on the insurance policy.
Car Insurance For Leased Cars in Florida
Reader’s Question:
If you have one vehicle that you leased and another vehicle that you financed, is it in the law that you have to have the same coverage on both vehicles? Or can you have different have car insurance coverage on both cars?
Frances
Delray Beach, FL
the Florida state law requires minimum coverage of $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 for property damage liability (PDL) and if you have been involved in an accident, or convicted of certain violations, you may be required to buy bodily injury liability coverage (BIL).
For financed and leased vehicles the insurance coverage required by the finance company (lien holder) or leasing company goes beyond the state minimum so to include physical damage by means of collision and comprehensive coverage. In your lease and loan agreements you typically agree to carry these coverages on the cars. The coverages you need to have on your leased and financed vehicles, above the state’s required coverage, will depend on the agreements you signed and by Florida state law. Typically a lease will require 100/300/50 for Bodily Injury Liability and Property Damage Liability. This coverage is a policy level coverage and all cars on the policy will have to have this level of liability coverage, even if they aren’t both leased.
If according to the loan and leasing documents you have different requirements you can therefore carry different coverages on each car.
Non Owners Car Insurance in Florida
Reader’s Question:
I live in my father’s house in Brandon, Florida, but I hardly ever use his vehicle. If I have to drive his car, can I receive a ticket for failure to maintain financial responsibility even though the vehicle has auto insurance, I am not in the car insurance policy, and I am not a regular motorist.
Paul
Brandon, FL
Generally, the owner of the car is responsible to properly insure the car. However, as a motorist, you can be held accountable for not carrying enough car insurance to meet Florida financial responsibility law. So, on a separate issue, if you live with your father and you drive your father’s car – even once – you need to be listed on his insurance policy as a motorist. If your father fails to list you as a driver, he runs the risk of having his insurance carrier deny a claim for an accident that involves you.
Therefore, if you are not going to be added as a driver on his policy in Brandon Florida and you are concerned about meeting your state’s financial responsibility laws, you can buy a “non owner” policy. Many insurance carriers offer a “non owner policy to those who drives occasionally but doesn’t own his/her own car. A “non owner” policy typically includes liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages and medical payments.
Minimum Personal Injury Protection Car Insurance Coverage in Florida
Reader’s Question:
Is there a minimum coverage that you are required for PIP in Florida?
Ariel
Orlando FL
The state of Florida has a minimum set limit amount of personal injury protection (PIP) car insurance a driver needs to carry. The minimum amount is $10,000 of PIP. The state also requires $10,000 of property damage liability (PDL) if you own a car in the state of Florida.
This PIP auto insurance coverage pays damage to you while driving your own or other people’s car. If you get involved in a crash in Florida, personal injury protection will cover you and members of your household who do not own a car, certain passengers who lack PIP, and certain licensed motorist who drive your vehicle with your permission.
If you get involve in an accident out of state, the PIP portion of your policy will cover only you and household members.
Cheap Car Insurance Rate In Orlando Florida
Reader’s Question:
Is car insurance in Orlando more affordable compared to other areas in Florida, and how can I get a cheap rate? Many thanks.
Carrey
Orlando, FL
There’s no certainty if car insurance in Orlando is cheaper compared to other parts of Florida. While it can be said that Orlando has one of the busiest cosmopolitan areas in the state and thus is more likely to incur more traffic accidents, generally car insurance in the city is the same as other areas of Florida.
If you are looking for cheap car insurance in Orlando, then you need to convince car insurers that you are a defensive and low-risk driver. Showing a driving history with minimal traffic violations can be a good start. Car insurers prefer to give significant discounts to car owners who follow traffic rules and violations.
Ask for discounts, you never know what you might be able to get and how much you can save by asking. Some popular discounts can be given for:
1. Military personnel
2. Good grade students
3. Union membership and bank member affiliations
4. Safe drivers with no claims in last 7 years
5. Defensive driving school attendance
6. Clean credit history – used by many carriers to determine payment risk
You can also get good vehicle insurance rates in Orlando by making your vehicle secure. Installing it with a good brake system and immobilizer will convince car insurers that your vehicle has less risk of being stolen.
Another key to getting good vehicle insurance rates in Orlando is to ask your insurance company holding your other insurance policies to give your discounts on vehicle insurance. This is a practice that most insurers give to their loyal policy holders.
Business Car Insurance Discounts in Miami Florida
Reader’s Question:
My brother and I are thinking of starting a limousine service business here in Miami, Florida. With the money left to us by our father, we were wondering if we should know anything about auto insurance that may help us push through with our plans. Does anyone here know anything about this?
Alec
Miami, FL
Awesome there, dude. A limousine service?! Your father must have been rich, leaving all that money for you and your brother. Okay, I am going to give you some information, but you will have to promise me that I may be able to get some discount when I need a limo. Anyway, there are actually a couple of things you need to be reminded of if you are going to start this limousine service business there in Miami, Florida.
First, you could get a fleet discount if you have five or more than five limos. A good record with no claims and good drivers will definitely make you have discount on auto insurance rates. The driving background and education of your drivers may also get you some discounts if they have finished a defensive driving course or if your chauffeurs keep up with the standards of the industry through keeping up with updated education programs. Remember that if the chauffeurs are considered safe and educated, it is most likely and almost always that you become eligible for a discount.
You might also want to check out the different types of limousines out there in the market. You must buy those limos that are modified with a heavy duty package. This modification compensates for the added length of the limo which compromises the steering, the braking and the suspension. If your limos are safer, the more you will cut your costs when it comes to insurance premiums. Just check out the different insurance carriers to know more about the discounts you could get and to compare prices. I hope I was of some help. Good luck with the business.
What is SR22 Insurance In Florida
Reader’s Question:
I just recently moved here in Florida. There are a lot of things I still don’t know about car insurance laws here. One thing that I’m quite confused about is the SR22 insurance. I know someone close to me who was involved in a car accident and he does not have car insurance. From what I heard he needs SR22 insurance. What is SR22 auto insurance in Florida?
Benny
Fort Lauderdale, FL
I am sorry to hear that. I hope that someone is doing much better now.
As to your question on what is SR22 auto insurance in Florida, it is a car insurance document that needs to be submitted by your auto insurance company to the Bureau of Financial Responsibility to have your license reinstated or to avoid any suspension of your driving privileges.
The best thing to do if you get involved in an accident and you don’t have car insurance coverage is to purchase auto insurance policy that includes full liability insurance coverage the soonest possible time. Then it’s very important to inform your car insurance company that you were involved in a car accident and you maybe in need of SR22 auto insurance.
It’s also important to negotiate with the aggrieved party for their losses that you’ve caused. If it’s impossible on your part to pay for the damages in full, you can also consider paying on an installment basis.
For additional information about what is SR22 auto insurance in Florida is, you can also ask your car insurance agent. Also, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles offers useful information about SR22 insurance.
