For any driver trying to navigate the automotive system in Washington, things can accept a little hairy. With the different regulations about insurance, registration, licensing and even drunk driving, it’s easy to glance why so many drivers may be ill-informed of their rights and responsibilities. But, with a little anguish, any driver can become the most knowledgeable consumer.
In Washington, there are minimum insurance requirement for all drivers. In order to operate a motor vehicle, a driver must purchase at least $25,000 worth of coverage for bodily injury or death per person per accident, $50,000 for two or more people, and $10,000 for property damage.
Drivers must also carry with them official proof of insurance. Insurance cards should list the driver’s name, policy number, effective dates, name of the insurance company and year, build and model of the vehicle. If you are caught without your card, you could face fines and penalties. If you are caught driving without any insurance, there is a mandatory ravishing of at least $450. If a driver gave a police officer false insurance information to avoid that fine, he could be hit with something even worse: a misdemeanor charge.
When it comes to auto accidents, Washington follows the Tort system. This means that if you do find yourself involved in an accident, either you or another driver must be found at fault. The at-fault driver is responsible for compensating all parties for any injuries, death or damage to vehicles and other property. Claims and compensation are handled through the offending party’s insurance company, which is why it is so important to have auto insurance in Washington. Because it is a Tort state, most companies recommend drivers purchase more than the minimum requirements.
Although the cost of insurance can run the gamut of costs depending on things like credit history, gender or location, Washingtonians in general enjoy good rates for car insurance. At approximately $839 for a year of insurance, the cost hovers right around the national average of $817 a year.
Washington takes its insurance regulations seriously, but it considers drunk driving even more deeply because of the grave consequences. You can be considered driving under the influence in the state when using alcohol, any number of illicit drugs, and even prescription medications. Like many other states, Washington operates under an implied consent law, meaning that if you drive a vehicle on any road in the state you are consenting to a chemical test to determine if you are under the influence.
The Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) limit for the state is .08%. The penalties become even more harsh with a BAC over .15%. For minors, the BAC limit is .02%. If you are caught driving under the influence, your license will be immediately suspended pending your trial.
A conviction for a first time offender can carry with it a jail sentence anywhere from one month to one year, and a minimum radiant of $350 that could go up to $5,000. All DUI convictions require the installation of an interlock system at the driver’s expense. An interlock is a device that is installed in the ignition that can detect the presence of alcohol in a driver. If it detects alcohol, it will prevent the car from starting and report the finding to the authorities, resulting in even more penalties.
Two thirds of all teen deaths in the situation are caused by car crashes, and so in an effort to reduce the number of deaths and affirm safer drivers, Washington has employed its believe version of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system. Under the system, a teen must be at least 15 ½ years of age to acquire a learner’s permit. During the minimum six months of the learner’s permit phase, a teen must complete at least 50 hours of practice driving with a parent or guardian, ten hours of which must be at night. After six months, a teen can apply to take the driver’s road test and upon passing, he will be rewarded with his intermediate license. If a teen does not violate any restrictions, such a driving with other teenage passenger for the first six months or driving between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. during the first year, he will be rewarded with an unrestricted license.
Resources:
Washington Auto Insurance – minimum coverage requirements, average monthly premiums, info on recent rate trends, and more.
Washington DUI Laws – info on Blood Alcohol Advise restrictions, penalties and fines, and more.
Filed under Eastwood Auto Insurance by on Feb 24th, 2011. Comment. 
Many senior citizens have been loyal to their auto insurance companies for years, often decades. Having the same sterling insurance agent and company is comforting. But the auto insurance industry has become more competitive, actively vying for the senior citizen market. It makes sense for senior citizens to collect information to compare their current rates, especially at the time of auto insurance renewal.
Getting quotes for auto insurance is an easy process. With just a few clicks on the computer or toll-free telephone calls, anyone can gather a list that compares auto insurance by services and rates. For senior citizens, who often are on fixed incomes, this can be a very cost-effective exercise, possibly saving them hundreds of dollars during an insured period.
Finding Comparable Rates
Buying auto insurance is like any other important, long-term purchase. The key is to take time to research and shop for the best deal with reliable auto insurance companies.
The following is a sample of insurance companies and insurance brokers offering auto insurance quotes on the Internet. Many have specific marketing programs targeting senior citizens.
AARP: www.aarp.thehartford.com.
AARP is an advocacy organization for seniors that promotes the interests of people over 50 years old. They offer auto insurance to members through The Hartford.
Allstate: www.allstate.com.
Allstate is a well known insurance company. Quotes can be gathered at the above website or local agents can be found in the telephone book and are available to support in preparing a free quote.
Farmers Insurance Group: http://www.farmersinsurance.com.
Online or in person, a Farmers insurance agent can review auto insurance coverage, encourage identify potential gaps, and include any qualifying Farmers Auto insurance discounts.
Progressive Insurance: www.progressive.com.
Progressive will provide a quote for their company along with comparables of other auto insurance companies for easy comparisons.
Geico Insurance: www.geico.com.
This company can be accessed online or at one of their many offices. It is easy to get a quote; they offer flexible payment options and competitive rates.
Costco: www.costco.com.
Costco offers membership insurance through Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance.
Autoinsure: www.autoinsure.org.
Autoinsure has a page with helpful insurance information for senior citizens. They can provide quotes from all the major auto insurance companies.
Esurance: www.esurance.com.
A rising star among insurance companies that bewitch pride in stating: “Esurance doesn’t just offer splendid insurance coverage, we also believe in educating consumers.” Their online quote process is easy to navigate.
US Insurance: www.usinsuranceonline.com
They will provide multiple auto insurance quotes tailored to specific needs within minutes of filling out their simple short form. It’s easy then to compare them side by side to find the best prices and coverage.
Car Insurance Rates: www.carinsurancerates.com
Their network of companies and brokers offer a variety of car insurances: Farmers, Allstate, AIG, Nationwide, AARP, Safeco Insurance, Liberty Mutual, MetLife and Mercury.
Every insurance rate: www.everyinsurancerate.com
EveryInsuranceCompany.com is a handy Internet directory to find local insurance companies, insurance quotes and discount insurance rates.
Quote Scout: www.quotescout.com.
This website will provide quotes from a long list of auto insurance companies – literally from “A” to “Z”.
Insurance.com: http://www.insurance.com.
Insurance.com works directly with 15 highly rated car insurance companies in 46 states: 21st Century, Electric Insurance, Esurance Auto Insurance, The Hartford, Infinity, Liberty Mutual, Meritplan Insurance, MetLife Auto Insurance, Newport Insurance, Permanent General Assurance Corporation (The General), Progressive, QBE Insurance, Safeco, Travelers Insurance, and Unitrin Express.
Keeping Auto Insurance Rates Down
There are ways that senior citizens can hold responsibility to control their auto insurance rates. Here are a few suggestions.
According to seniorjournal.com, most of the major auto insurance agencies provide a 5% – 10% discount to drivers beginning at the ages of 50 or 55. However, as a group, drivers 75 and older have one of the highest rates of fatal daytime accidents. Because of this, it’s important that senior drivers stay proactive and involved in keeping their driving skills sharp.
Many states offer an auto insurance discount for mature drivers if a person meets a given age criteria and has taken an approved mature driver safety course. Local colleges and senior centers are great resources to learn about the classes. AARP has local and on-line access to the course. Costco offers its members an online drivers’ safety training course through FirstNet: www.firstnetlearning.com.
Another way to keep auto insurance rates down is to drive a low-profile car, one that as part of a group has a lower rate due to minimum repair costs, considered safer and less likely to be stolen. Check the Highway Loss Data Institute, www.iihs.org, for the latest related data.
Examine unique auto insurance needs and requirements. Changing to higher deductibles or dropping collision or comprehensive coverage for older cars may make sense.
Always ask about discounts when purchasing or renewing auto insurance.
And finally, the best long-term advice: Always drive defensively, stay alert and follow the driving laws. Maintaining a satisfactory driving record is the best way to keep auto insurance rates down.
Filed under Eastwood Auto Insurance by on Feb 17th, 2011. Comment.
If you own or operate a business organisation that relies on cellular servicing units, ask your self this question- Was I prepared for the overhead fees of operating cell fleet units If your answer was no, then please read further for alot more information and facts on how to manage your overhead prices and spending This is a practical secret employed by all profitable business organization owners and entrepreneurs- GPS Car or truck Monitoring Techniques Perhaps you’ve been approached a few occasions in the past, to introduce the concept, but it was most likely too expensive Contemplate this- in the Winds of Change in today’s economic system, can you afford not to employ this wealth saving system Investing your wealth into GPS will prove to have a great number of a good deal more positive aspects and benefits, than disadvantages, if any at all You will also have a good deal more authority and top quality manage more than your work force, with out having to hire extra employees to do this for you Here is a compilation of all the advantages you can expect from your GPS Monitoring Machine Investment:
Increased ProductionIf you’ve recently noticed that you’ve been paying overages in employee’s wages, then you’re wasting dollars on overtime How do you know that your employee is being productive, rather than milking the clock With the GPS installed into every auto, you can now keep track of- Time spent per service call, response time per service call, efficient routing facts (saves gas and response time, particularly in today’s economic system and the fluctuating costs of fuel, break occasions vs idle time, pace monitoring feature (helps promote safe driving, and in most instances, serves as witness in case your auto gets caught in a pace trap), and save income on tire charges.Coverage and Tax BreaksVehicle insurance protection providers supply reward incentives for employing safety measures and devices into your business vehicles Incentives range from discounted premiums and up to 35 AAA Insurance policy, Liberty Mutual, AIG Insurance policy, Mercury Policies, Allstate An insurance policy (CA, TX, NY, FL), Nationwide Insurance protection (CA), ALFA Insurance policy (AL), Progressive Insurance cover, Farmers Insurance policies, Safeco Coverage, Fireman’s Fund, USAA Insurance protection, GEICO, 21st Century Insurance policies, and Georgia Farm Bureau Health care insurance (GA).Also, if you operate your venture in any of these states, Anti-theft Machine Discounts are state mandated: Illinois, New Mexico, Kentucky, New York, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Texas, and New Jersey.Note:Prior to you sign up for any insurance policy plans or premiums, be positive that you realize the terms and agreement for coverage, just before committing to the service.Under the 2008 Federal Economic Stimulus Act, companies that buy GPS monitoring devices might qualify for tax breaks Be certain to check with your tax agent about qualifying your opportunity Once you make the choice to equip GPS motor vehicle monitoring methods into your cell fleet, your investment really should enhance earnings a good number of occasions more than Also, you will be pleased at how straightforward it is to maintain and keep track of your home business, virtually at the convenience of your PC desktop or laptop personal computer .
Filed under Eastwood Auto Insurance by on Nov 10th, 2010. Comment.
