Reader’s Question:

The insurance coverage on my car has lapsed. It is not not insured at all currently. My friend has a non-owners auto insurance policy with the sr-22. Can my friend drive my vehicle legally with only the non-owners insurance, or is my car required to have its own insurance policy if it is to be driven? I’m in Amarillo, Texas.

James

Amarillo, TX

According to Texas state law, which is the same to most states, every owner and driver of a vehicle must maintain financial responsibility (insurance). If your friend got involve in an accident that was their fault the car’s insurance (thus you as the owner) would be primary. If the car did not have insurance the individual hit could go after you, the owner, personally for the cost of repairs, medical, etc.

Your friend’s non-owner SR22 will be secondary on whatever car he or she drives. So your friend will have to make sure that the car has auto insurance on it as well.

Tags: auto insurance, non owners insurance, sr22 car insurance

Reader’s Question:

Hi, Im from Odessa, Texas. Am I covered under the car insurance policy for natural disasters? Are there exceptions to the car insurance policies?

Joey

Odessa, TX

In Texas, most catastrophes are covered under the 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).

Reader’s Question:

Is it considered a car insurance fraud if someone adds a car to their car insurance policy that is registered to 2 other non-related individual in the state of Texas?

Phil

Dallas, TX

If somebody adds a car to their car insurance policy without being forthcoming about the real reason that the vehicle is being added to the car insurance policy or whom the registered owners are, it can likely permit the insurance carrier to not cover the vehicle for claims.

If you or anyone you know wants to insure a car that they do not own, and thus have no insurable interest in, they should explain that to their insurance company when trying to add the car to the insurance policy. If you are not sure if you are able to insure a car, you may ask the insurance carrier and find out instead of doing something possibly illegal. Being upfront and honest will allow you to obtain an accurate insurance quote and to be properly covered.

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.

Reader’s Question:

Where do I acquire an SR-22 certificate in Texas? Does my insurance carrier already have copies?

Sara

El Paso, TX

When you get at least the minimum auto insurance coverage that the state of Texas is requiring of you to get and maintain then the insurance provider will fill out the SR-22 form and file it with the state on your behalf. Not all insurance providers file the SR22, form of financial responsibility, so you will need to be sure the insurance carrier you obtain your car insurance policy with does offer the filing of the SR22.

An insurance agent in Texas can provide you the actual SR22 form, or it will be mailed to you with your policy documents. Each state has various form requirements, typically though it is a pink form that has your name, policy number, etc. It is used in the drivers license office to show proof that you have the state’s minimum liability insurance. The insurance company will also manually or electronically file with the DMV an acknowledgment that you have the SR-22. If you are shopping for auto insurance and need to file an SR-22 with the state be sure to tell any insurance company you get quotes with so you can verify they do offer this SR22 service.

Reader’s Question:

If the guy from the auto shop drove your vehicle and got into an accident, whose 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.

Reader’s Question:

I found out that my license is suspended because of driving without insurance. How much will it cost me to get it back? I live in Arlington, TX.

Ben

Arlington, TX

You may have your driver’s license suspended for a second or subsequent ticket for no liability insurance in Texas. If a individual is convicted of a second offense for no-liability car insurance, the person is subject to license suspension or revocation. This is according to Texas Transportation Code 601.231, and 37 Texas Administrative Code 25.19.

A reinstatement fee due prior to the renewal/issuance of a driver’s license must be needed to reinstate your license after a suspension for no insurance there is. You must also get a certain proof of insurance (form SR-22) from an insurance provider and submit it to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). The SR-22 is required for 2 years from date of conviction.

Reader’s Question:

My friend got pulled over and the officer then asked for insurance which he provides which is in my name only. The officer then gives him a ticket for no insurance. This happened before and he was not questioned about it that time. Is my insurance enough to show to the court as a proof of insurance?

Jenna

Thank you for asking Jenna.

It looks like that the police officer cited your friend for not having proof of insurance so the auto insurance you have on the vehicle would not be sufficient. If the citation was against the motor vehicle then your proof probably would be enough. It looks like the first time your friend got pulled over that either the officer let him off because there was insurance on the car or just did not notice the friend was not listed on the insurance policy.

Your friend should contact the courthouse in Texas and get information what he needs to do regarding his ticket. In Teas the penalties for this type of violation would be license suspension, fine, and be required to get an SR22 or more.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

How far can an insurance company go back to check the driving record for DUI or DWI in Texas?

Jared

Thank you for asking Jared.

The Texas Department of Public Safety states that traffic violations appear on a driver record for a period of five years with the exception of serious offenses.

According to the Texas Department of Insurance also that a clean driving record can save you money. If you got involved in an accidents or tickets on your driving record, It will likely be placed in a nonstandard company, which charges higher insurance rates.

Additionally, insurance providers can add penalties - called surcharges - to your insurance premium for serious driving offenses, like DWI, DUI, and accidents resulting in property damage of $1,000 or more. Surcharges are mandatory for rate-regulated providers and remain on your premium for 3 years.

So since the DWI will stay on a individual’s TX driving record indefinitely the surcharge given to a motorist for this violation remains normally for 3 years. Typically, the longest amount of time a carrier will go back is 10 years, but that is rare. Five years is the average period of time that companies review the record.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

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