Out-of-State Citation Raises Insurance Premiums Texas TX

Reader’s Question:

I am from Texas but was ticketed for speeding in Oklahoma. Will my car insurance premium increase even if I did not commit the citation in the state where I have my car insurance policy?

Martin
Austin, TX

It is possible that your car insurance premiums will be increased due to out-of-state traffic citations. If your premiums will be increased because of violation out of state, then it will depend on a number of things. These may include your insurance provider’s rating system, or how your state government deals with traffic infractions received outside of the state jurisdiction.

All states in America except Georgia, Tennessee, Michigan, Massachusetts and Wisconsin, are members of the Driver’s License Compact (DLC). The DLC requires its members to report any traffic citation conviction received by a driver to the state government in which that driver is licensed. Although the other five states are not members of the DLC, some still have agreements with the other states regarding sharing this kind of information. Some states may decide to put out-of-state tickets on your driving record and assess corresponding points to these violations while others do not.

In Texas, some violations do not incur points such as seat-belt violations or speeding less than ten percent over the posted limits. If the government of Texas decides to put that speeding ticket you got in Oklahoma in your driving record, then your car insurance provider will definitely see this the next time they pull your motor vehicle record (MVR) for assessment. To know whether a particular out-of-state violation will be placed in your driving record, contact the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). To know more about your insurance provider’s rating system, call your local car insurance agent.

Tags: auto insurance premium, DMV, traffic violation

 

Female Auto Insurance in Austin Texas

Reader’s Question:

I am 21 female college student transferring school from a university in Texas to a university in New York. What will happen to my car insurance policy once I move?

Zeny

Austin, Texas

Zeny, it really depends on your car insurance company because a lot of factors come into play, like if you are transferring to a place with more traffic and/or increased rates of vehicles being stolen . Considering you are transferring from Texas to New York, a place with a higher crime rate, then definitely your policy will be affected. To be sure, you should talk to your car insurance agent about what factors will have an impact on your policy or premium.

The usual procedure is that you have to tell the car insurance company of your intention to transfer to another place. You have to give them the address and city where you would be living. After one half of the year has passed, then the car insurance agent or the insurance company will reassess your policy. Here, you have the option of retaining the old company, or finding a new one, especially if you will be charged higher rates.

Take note that it is important to shop around until you find a good insurance deal. There are a lot of low budget insurance companies in New York, so it is very tempting to take it. But car insurance is not something you should take lightly. Canvass, look around. You have a couple of months. You can also get estimates online. Once you get the policy you want, then you can terminate the old one.