Monday, January 12, 2009

Tickets: Decoding A Car Insurance Estimate Of Risk

By John Brennan

Many people will experience that sinking feeling when they see a police car in their mirror and realize they're well over the speed limit. You're not alone; but after you've paid the fine, how much will you have to pay to your insurance company for that moment of carelessness?

The good news is that insurance companies don't lump all speeders together. A driver with a long and clean history up until the ticket may well not be punished too much by higher premiums. But don't expect that to be true if you've only held your insurance for a couple of months.

Age also plays a strong role, with younger drivers taking a hit in overall cost, even if they abide by all the rules of the road. A young driver with a ticket clearly indicates to the insurance company that they are a bad risk.

Likewise, someone who was clocked at 60 in a 30mph zone will be viewed in a different way to someone clocked at 35. Speeding tickets are common, and many good drivers will make a mistake during their lives behind the wheel. But some transgressions are obviously more serious than others.

For instance, did your bad driving result in a car wreck? If so, expect your insurance to go up dramatically regardless of how good a record you had in the past. You insurer has just had to dip into his own pocket to pay for your carelessness, and he'll now want to make back the money he just lost.

On the other hand, it is a relatively little known fact that tickets can be dismissed and excluded from your driving record by a court. Courts often dismiss tickets for smaller violations, with the driver only having to pay court costs. Check out the exact situation in your state.

If you are one of the many Americans without car insurance, it is in your best interest to obtain insurance as soon as possible. . Insurance companies like Allstate and Progressive Direct offer a car insurance estimate online or over the phone. Make sure the information you give while obtaining a car insurance estimate is accurate. Also, check with many companies for a car insurance estimate to ensure you are getting the best deal.

Getting your first ticket is never a fun experience. However, it does not necessarily mean your automobile insurance will rise to an astronomical rate. The best thing to do is find out how your insurance companies handles traffic tickets before taking out a policy with them, so you are not hit with another surprise after the sirens drive away. - 2368

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