Cheap Short Term Car Insurance Texas TX
Reader’s Question:
I am just borrowing a friend’s car for a few days for a vacation trip but people constantly remind me that I need car insurance for it. Is there something like a cheap short term car insurance available for my case here in Texas?
Cindy
Houston TX
Many people thought that car insurance policies will only provide coverage for at least 6 months to a year. However, there are policies that can cover you for a few days, depending on how long you’ll drive the car. This is called short term car insurance, which is also known as temporary car insurance.
Short term car insurance is recommended to those who are renting or borrowing a car from a friend and for those who are have just bought their new car and needed to drive while still unable to find a good annual car insurance policy. If you are lending a car to a friend or if you need to add a temporary driver, purchasing a short term car insurance is recommended. In this way, when your friend or the additional driver gets into an accident with your car, claims will not be taken against your personal car insurance policy but against the short term car insurance.
By purchasing short term car insurance before you drive your car, you are also saving yourself the financial trouble in case you will get into an accident with the car. With this type of insurance policy, you don’t have to pay for the medical costs that the other parties incurred and for property damages made to their cars during the accident.
You can find cheap short term car insurance in Texas by approaching your nearest car insurance companies specializing on short term policies. These are the car insurance companies that has found a niche in providing short term insurance policies to people who uses cars on a temporary basis. The Internet can also direct you to car insurance companies that can provide you with cheap short term car insurance policies. Doing your search through the Internet can further save you time, money and energy.
A cheap short term car insurance do not need to be permanently part of an insurance policy. Take note however that short term car insurance policies are only good for a few days or a month only. If you plan to constantly use a car to drive, it may be more cost-effective to get an annual policy.
Short Term Car Insurance Coverage for Borrowed Car
Reader’s Question:
Do I need to buy short term car insurance coverage for my friend who will borrow my car for a number of days?
Pearl
Nashville, TN
Yes, in this matter, if your friend does not have his own car insurance policy, then it would be better to obtain short term car insurance coverage just to be on the safe side. Although he may be covered under your car’s coverage, if he gets into an accident, then the claims will be put against your own car insurance record. And this will be very bad for you especially if you are enjoying the no-claims bonus from your insurer.
This is exactly one of the situations that have led car insurance companies to come up with short term car insurance coverage for their customers. This type of coverage provides insurance to additional temporary drivers and can cover even an overseas visitor. It can also give much needed financial protection for additional cars that you will be driving temporarily. This can even be obtained if you have just bought a car, so that you can immediately drive home the vehicle. Just be reminded that this type of insurance requires the driver to have a full and valid license. And in most cases, the driver has to be 24 years old or older before he or she can be allowed to buy this coverage. Speak with your car insurance agent about this just to be sure of the rules and regulations regarding short term car insurance coverage.
Short Term Car Insurance Texas TX
Reader’s Question:
Will a Texas driver’s license be honored in Mexico? Will I need to purchase short term car insurance just in case I get into an accident in that country?
Cassandra
Houston, TX
Your Texas driver’s license will be recognized in Mexico. However, your current US car insurance won’t be. You then have to purchase separate Mexico short term car insurance, just long enough to cover you during your stay. This can be done prior to crossing over to Mexico.
There are a number of car insurance companies in Texas that actually sell Mexico insurance. You may also buy from Mexico border towns or cities. If you do not have Mexico car insurance and are held liable for a traffic accident there, the police could put you in jail until they are able to establish your capacity to pay for the damages sustained. If there were serious injuries, fatalities and/or considerable damage to public and/or private property, the Mexican government may file criminal charges against you. It is also important to note that Mexican law enforcement authorities typically jail individuals involved in any road accident until they determine who is to be held accountable for the accident. Driving while intoxicated in this country is prohibited, so be sure to remember that.
If you will be renting a vehicle, it would be best to obtain minimum liability insurance coverage similar to what you have in Texas since most Mexico car rental liability insurance have very low coverage and may not be enough to cover for medical and repair costs resulting from an accident where you were determined to be at fault. Also highly advisable to obtain is collision and comprehensive coverage for the rental vehicle, so that you won’t have to foot the bill for any damages sustained by the rented vehicle. These types of coverage may or may not be included in a Mexican short term car insurance policy, so if you have to choose go with one that has minimum liability.
Tags: auto insurance, car insurance, liability insurance, rental car insurance
Save Money On Your Teen Car Insurance Texas TX
Reader’s Question:
Hi! I’m Walter. My wife and I decided to buy our son a car as a gift on his 19th birthday. Is it true that getting a vehicle insured these days can get costly? If yes, can you tell us some pointers in order for us parents to save some money on insurance cost?
Walter
Odessa, Texas
Well, there will be a time for us parents that our little ones will get to a stage where they will learn to drive and get their driving license. It is also important for them to get auto insurance. Of course, we need to consider our budget because getting your teen to your auto insurance policy will surely increase your premium. And in your case, you’re trying to add your son to your auto insurance policy therefore you should expect an even higher increase in premium. But we will give you pointers on what things you need to consider before getting insurance for your teenage driver.
First on the list is the type of vehicle. There are vehicles which are expensive to insure than the other. For example, your son might get embarrassed if you buy him a minivan but it will cost less to insure. On the other hand, if your son begs for a sporty type of car, be ready to pay more since these types of car are more likely to be stolen or can be very expensive to repair. Whichever vehicle you might buy for him, make sure you equip it with safety features as many companies give discounts on safer cars.
Your sons’ grade will also make an impact on his auto insurance cost. Most auto insurance companies give discounts on teenage drivers with good grades. Insurance companies know that these drivers who have good grades tend to be more responsible driver. If you got your sons’ vehicle insured, make sure you let him know that it is necessary to keep his driving record free of violations. Auto insurance companies do keep records of driving violations and will surely increase if your son gets into one.
Tags: auto insurance premium, Car Insurance Company, car insurance quotes, auto insurance policy, auto insurance policy
Car Insurance and Going Outside the US California CA
Reader’s Question:
Can a California driver’s license be used outside the country? Will my car insurance coverage take effect abroad, as well?
Elizabeth
Los Angeles, CA
Having a California driver’s license does not really give you the privilege to drive in public roads outside the United States. If you plan on driving in another country, you should obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) before you leave. Remember to get your IDP from legitimate agencies. Only the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) and the American Automobile Association (AAA) are authorized to issue IDPs in America. Always bear this in mind as there are a lot of illegal and unscrupulous entities out there looking to rip off over-eager tourists.
Regarding your car insurance concern, your current insurance coverage may not cover you abroad. This is only typically allowed when driving in countries neighboring America. But inquire from your car insurance agent, anyway. You may also want to ask if there are any possible programs you may avail of to have your coverage be temporarily suspended without having a dangerous insurance gap while you are out of the country. If you will not be covered in other countries, your options would be to obtain short-term non-owners insurance policy in the country you are visiting. If you will be renting cars abroad, you may also obtain car rental insurance from the same company that provides the rental car service.
Tags: auto insurance coverage, non owners insurance, rental car insurance