Driver’s License Suspension and Car Insurance in Texas
Reader’s Question:
My son is 16 and has a driver’s license and is listed under my car insurance policy. He sometimes takes the car without my permission and drives around town with friends. Can I request for cancellation of his driver’s license here in Texas?
Jill
Houston, TX
Having your son listed under your car insurance policy means that at any time your son gets involved in an accident, and is found to be at fault, your car insurance shoulders the cost of treatment of bodily injury and repairs to property damage resulting from the accident, provided that you have sufficient liability coverage in your policy.
Your son’s tendency to take your car out for a drive without permission may result in a number of headaches for you. Although it may seem like an extreme measure, canceling his driver’s license is one way of lowering the risk of your son getting involved in an unfortunate accident. As a parent, you signed the Financial Responsibility Statement. This actually gives you the authority to request for driver’s license cancellation at any time until your son turns 18. If you’re really set on doing that, what you need to do is accomplish the Minor Affidavit (DLD-38) form and present it together with your son’s driver’s license at the DMV office in Texas. Your son’s license will be surrendered. Always keep in mind that parents will always be held responsible for any financial obligation if they knowingly and willfully allow an underage driver drive without a license.
Driver’s License Suspension in Texas
What Happens if My Car Is Totaled in an Accident?
Reader’s Question:
My name is Angela and I live in Texas. What would happen if my car gets totaled because of a road accident?
Angela
Houston, TX
When your car gets totaled, and I hope nobody gets hurt, it means that the auto insurance company has decided or has found out that repairing your car will be costlier than buying the same car with the same condition as before the accident. Meaning, it would be cheaper to replace it with a second-hand car of the same make and model in Texas. The original value of your car minus depreciation is called actual cash value, and that’s what the auto insurance company will consider.
Now, how do auto insurance companies reach an actual value of your wrecked car? Your car will be compared by the auto insurance company to the value of existing cars with similar condition. Your auto insurance company will be getting input from local auto dealers, parts dealer and other private parties not connected to the auto insurance company. The company will also look at the value of your car in the second-hand car market. Furthermore, the actual price of your car will be adjusted according to the condition and the mileage of the car. The trade-in value of your car would be the value that could best approximate the amount that you will get when your car gets totaled in an accident, that and a few adjustments depending on the actual condition of the car.
What Happens if My Car Is Totaled in an Accident?
Does Auto Insurance Cover Natural Disasters
Reader’s Question:
Hi, I’m from Texas. Am I covered under my car insurance policy for natural disasters? Are there exceptions to the car insurance policies?
Joey
Odessa, TX
In Texas, most catastrophes are covered under your car insurance policy. However, earthquake and flood damage, are not covered by a standard policy and both are more common than many people realize. Check with your car insurance agent about special catastrophic policies for normally excluded conditions like floods and earthquakes. There may be exceptions listed and defined in your policy such as neglect, intentional loss, “earth movement,” general power failure and even damage caused by war. If you fail to take care or neglect your property, you may not be covered. Generally, if you intend to lose an object or damage your own property, there is no coverage.
One other exception that can be costly is the Ordinance or Law exclusion. Building codes established by governmental bodies that drive up the cost of rebuilding or repairing after a loss occurs may not be covered under your car insurance policy. So if you discover that current law demands higher grade or more expensive materials than the original ones being replaced when replacing damaged property, the new materials may not be covered for the full cost. Comprehensive insurance that covers you for fire and theft, generally covers you against damage by flood, earthquake, hail and other natural disasters, except when your car is overturned (which is considered a collision).
Does Auto Insurance Cover Natural Disasters
Houston Texas Auto Insurance Policy
Reader’s Question:
Can you have more than one car insurance policy on one car in Houston, Texas?
Marla
Houston Texas
Yes, it is possible to have more than one car insurance policy in Houston TX on one car if there are two different person that want to buy insurance for one vehicle. But, finding insurance carriers that would permit this “duplicate” coverage will likely be not easy.
Insurance guidelines vary so you would have to verify with different insurance carriers to check if you can find one that allows what you want. This type of double insurance on a car is not typically necessary and may go against insurer underwriting guidelines, since hopefully one policy would be able to cover all the motorists of the car.
So while it might be possible to have more than one motor vehicle insurance policy on a car in Texas it might be hard to find an insurance company or insurance carriers that would permit this since normally one auto insurance policy is typically all that is needed to cover a car and its drivers.
Houston Texas Auto Insurance Policy
Is My Car Mechanic Covered on My Auto Insurance
Reader’s Question:
If the guy from the auto shop drove your vehicle and got into an accident, whose auto insurance carrier covers the damages or pays for the car if it is totaled? I live in Houston Texas
Ben
Houston, TX
If a repair shop or mechanic drove your vehicle and had an accident you should check to see first if they have car insurance to cover the accident. The auto repair shop might have a business insurance policy to cover their mechanics when they are operating customer’s cars.
The car garage might instead say that you will need to put accident through your own personal car insurance policy. If so, you may check with your insurance carrier about making a claim. To check your consumer rights in a situation like this in Texas check with the TX Department of Insurance.
Texas Insurance is like most other states in that insurance typically follows the car first and driver second. For instance, liability coverage in Texas normally covers you, your family members and other person driving your vehicle with your permission thus if a friend operates your car with permission and is at-fault in an accident your insurance would be used as primary and the friend’s secondary.
Is My Car Mechanic Covered on My Auto Insurance
Car Insurance Coverage In Texas
Reader’s Question:
I’m tight on money, but I still want to keep my car well insured. How do I lower my insurance premiums without compromising car insurance coverage in Texas?
Harold
Abilene, TX
It’s a bit difficult to lower car insurance, especially since Texas increased the minimum insurance coverage from 20/40/15 to 25/50/25 in April last year. However, there are some ways for you to get a lower your insurance premium while keeping vehicle insurance coverage in Texas at a decent level:
• Increase deductibles
This is the easiest way to reduce your monthly bills on insurance premiums. Just make sure your bank account is healthy and well-fed if you plan to raise your deductibles, otherwise you may find yourself in a seriously problematic situation when you do get into an accident.
• Shop around for Texas car insurance quotes
Another grueling but effective way to get lower premiums for the vehicle insurance coverage you desire is to shop around town and surf the ‘net. This is where corporate competition works to your advantage: just drop a hint that another specific company offers a lower premium, and they’ll drop their rates to match their competitors.
• Stick to one car insurance company
One other alternative available to you is to sign up all your insurance needs with one company: from medical coverage to car insurance coverage. They’ll often offer discounts to ‘loyal’ customers, so check if they have these discounts and sign up with one company.
• Review your Texas car insurance policy
Just because you need to keep your car well insured doesn’t mean you’ll need all the possible coverage that an insurance company offers. Some coverage in your policy may be unnecessary, and may not even apply to your situation.
Car Insurance Coverage In Texas
Is It Cheaper to Insure a 2WD or 4WD Truck?
Reader’s Question:
I just want to know if its cheaper to insure two wheel drive truck that the four wheel drive. I live in Texas.
Tim
Thank you for asking Tim.
Guidelines and rating systems of insurance carriers varies. Generally a two wheel drive truck’s insurance rates will be cheaper than a four wheel drive truck. This is because of the fact that normally a four wheel drive motor vehicle cost more and its parts if damaged can be more expensive to repair.
Your location may also make a difference on the cost of insurance for a 4 wheel drive truck. Since you live in Texas, auto insurance for this type of truck may not be much more than a two wheel drive truck since four wheel trucks are so prevalent that parts and mechanics for them are easier to find then say if you live in New Jersey.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
Is It Cheaper to Insure a 2WD or 4WD Truck?
Can I Get a Copy Of The Points on My Car Insurance?
Reader’s Question:
I want to know how I will be able to get a copy my points in my driving record. I live in TX.
Mitch
Thank you for asking Mitch.
I would suggest that you contact the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to get a copy of your driving history which should show the traffic violations you have been convicted of and the points you have accumulated on your driving record.
You may also call the Driver Records Bureau at 512-424-2600 for inquiries about how you can get a copy of your driver record. Normally they cannot give you information about your points total over the phone because there is a fee that you will need to pay that is associated with acquiring your driving record.
According to the DPS website, to get information regarding your convictions, a copy of your driving history may be purchased by completing an application form that is available on their website and mailing it to the Department with the appropriate fee, or visiting their online service.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
Can I Get a Copy Of The Points on My Car Insurance?
Unsafe Vehicle Citation – Points On Insurance?
Reader’s Question:
I just want to know if unsafe vehicle citation is considered a violation? Will points be assessed? I live in Texas.
Gene
Thank you for asking Gene.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety chart of moving infractions, motor vehicle without required equipment or in not safe condition as a moving infraction that will have driver responsibility points assessed to the individual’s drivers license if they are convicted of this violation. Driving a not safe car is also listed as a moving violation in which points are assigned.
A citation in Texas though for specific defective equipment on a vehicle would be a non-moving violation. For instance defective head lamps, tail lights, etc would be considered an equipment ticket for a non-moving violation. It is still on the discretion of the police officer or court to decide if a defective equipment ticket will be a fix-it ticket or not.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
Unsafe Vehicle Citation – Points On Insurance?
Car Insurance in Texas With Speeding Tickets
Reader’s Question:
I received speeding ticket in Texas but I want to fight it in court so my insurance rate will not go up. What do I need to do?
Julie
Thank you for asking Julie.
An individual found to have committed a traffic violation shall be assessed a monetary penalty that is ordered by the Washington supreme court. According to the current monetary schedule no penalty for traffic violations shall exceed $250.
If you want to fight the citation in court you may need to contact the entity listed on the back of the ticket and get information on how to do so. You might be able to reduce or dismiss the charge by taking traffic school.
According to the Department of Insurance, car insurance carriers can charge a surcharge to motorist convicted of serious moving violations so if the traffic violation ends up making it onto your driving record then it is likely that your insurance rates could go up , depending on your insurance company’s rating system.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
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