Auto Insurance Policy Rates Montana MT
Reader’s Question:
I got a ticket for overspeeding while I was on vacation in Montana. How would this affect my California driver’s record? Would this violation also affect my auto insurance policy rates?
Alvin
Billings, MT
Both California and Montana are members of the Driver License Compact (DLC). The DLC is an agreement that is signed by 46 member states. This agreement covers the “one driver record” concept, which requires a driver’s record to be maintained completely– stating the up-to-date data on the driver’s eligibility in the home state and all the traffic rule violations and license suspensions received (whether it is in the home state or in another state). The violations that are committed in another state will be treated as if they were committed in the home state.
Based on California’s Department of Motor Vehicles, if you get an out-of-state speeding ticket, this will be counted as a one-point demerit in your California driving record. Therefore, you must be careful when driving in other states because any violation you commit will always be translated to your driver’s record.
Since your violation is also recorded in your California driver’s record, and your auto insurance carrier gets an update of your driving history, it is possible that your auto insurance policy rate with them would go up. However, you may try attending a driving program approved by the court of Montana to ease the weight of your violation. You may talk to your auto insurance agent, too, and explain to him about your attendance to this program. It is possible that they would consider your petition for unaffected auto insurance policy rate because of this program. However, if they don’t consider it, you may have to wait for a few years before your record becomes clean again (assuming that you don’t violate any rule from then on).
Tags: auto insurance policy, car insurance rate, traffic violation
Car Insurance Company Billings Montana MT
Reader’s Question:
I got into an accident a few months ago here in Montana and my car was deemed a total wreck by my insurance company. My friends and I are planning to restore the car but I’m not sure if my car insurance would still cover it, after having been “totaled.” Is it possible to have my car insured after being restored?
Allen
Billings, MT
If your car insurance company assessed your car and considered it as a total loss, it would be more difficult for you to have it insured. A vehicle that is re-used after an accident may carry different titles, depending on the state where you’re in. In your case, since your car was declared a total loss before you had it fixed, it would probably have a “salvage” title. A salvage title is given to those vehicles that were once damaged and considered as a total loss. Most often than not, automobile insurance companies don’t give insurance to salvage vehicles for the reason that it is no longer considered as a “safe” vehicle for the driver, and an unsafe vehicle poses more risks than those vehicles that were not deemed as a total loss. However, there may be instances wherein an insurance company would give insurance to the salvaged car depending on certain scenarios, such as if the car is an old model or if the repair made the car ready for operation. Otherwise, the car insurance company may consider the car reusable but only for its body parts, and for this matter an insurance is no longer needed. If you car is considered as “rebuildable,” you may want to try asking around Montana to see if there are any insurance companies who would consider giving you an insurance. Just make sure that your premium is reliable because your status now would be “high risk” with the kind of vehicle you’re driving.
Tags: auto insurance, Car Insurance Company
Car Insurance Company Billings, Montana MT
Reader’s Question:
I live and work in Billings, Montana, and as most of you know, there are, give or take, 10 golf courses in Billings. My windshield has been smashed once, the hood dented once and God knows what else could happen in the future. On both instances, I tried to get the golf courses to cover the expenses but to no avail. How can I get them to pay for the damages?
Dorothy
Billings, Montana
Why, of course, you can definitely go after the golf courses and demand for payment. It’s your right, and not to mention, the golfer’s fault that the ball flew off the nets and hit your car. But whose golfer’s ball? Reality is, no one can tell. This will be perhaps the golf course management’s same line of reasoning. Did anybody see it when it happened? Can you come up with proof that what smashed your windshield or dented your hood was a ball coming from the golf course? You see, what you want to happen is very difficult, unless, of course, there is a new law in the United States of America that requires golf players to put a name on every golf ball that they use. Otherwise, no one can really tell whose ball that was, anyway. Plus, I think you should try considering looking for other routes to take when driving around. I suppose that’s not the only road that is convenient for you. I mean, I think you have to accept that you’re not very lucky when it comes to avoiding golf courses. Also, have you tried inquiring about this from your car insurance provider? Because maybe you’re barking up the wrong tree. The golf course may not take accountability but maybe your car insurance company will.