Reader’s Question:

My Chevy is now running faster and better with its new engine. I spent a fortune on this upgrade, should I worry about my auto insurance in Northwest Clackamas, Oregon?

Anne

Northwest Clackamas, Oregon

The rule of thumb for auto insurance policy owners: whenever in doubt, read your policy. As most insurance companies are infamous for their tricky wording, exclusions, and conditions, so it will be your responsibility to read your policy carefully.

You also need to find out immediately if they’re covered by viewing your insurance policy in Northwest Clackamas, Oregon.
An important point to remember is that even a new paint job can affect your insurance policy. You will have trouble getting reimbursed for aesthetic changes unless it is clearly in your policy.

So what if you have any trouble understanding your own insurance policy? You can quickly phone in your questions to your auto insurance agent and get the official word. If it’s regarding a major part of your insurance plan, get it in writing too so that everything is helped by a good documentation.

In most states, including Oregon OR, there are three basic types of car insurance available for you. Actual value insures the vehicle for its value at the time of the claim, agreed value lets the driver insure the car for more than its value, and stated value, which also lets the driver insure the car for than its value, less depreciation, which makes your modification reports essential.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance, auto insurance upgrade

Reader’s Question:

My husband and I own two cars that are being used by our two teen children. Do we need to insure both kids if each of them is already assigned to each car at a rate much higher than we’re previously paying? Is it legally necessary for us to insure them even if they don’t have their own cars yet?

Melinda

Salem, OR

Adding all licensed drivers in your household to your auto insurance policy is usually a requirement of most insurance companies and is NOT a state law. You have the option to exclude other drivers in your household from your policy but if that person did drive your car, even in an emergency situation, coverages would not be extended to them. Be sure to let your Salem, OR insurance agent know about your situation.

The reason for this requirement is that in rating of an auto insurance policy, an insurer consider all resident operators of an insured vehicle, including your children, as risk factors that can affect your rates.

Due to the fact that teen-age drivers are inexperienced and more likely to get involved in accidents, insurance rates are high. However, as they gain experience and mature as drivers, your children’s rates should go down. You can ask your insurance company if discounts are available to help balance out the higher rate from insuring your children on your policy. In OR, a good student discount may be available through your insurer for children under the age of 25 who have good grades in school.

If your teen-age children do not have their own cars yet, the OR Division of Insurance notes that you have to make sure your insurer understands which cars they will be driving and whether it will be occasional or princi­pal use.

Tags: car insurance quotes, car insurance rate, teen insurance

Reader’s Question:

Can I purchase insurance to cover any car that I might use in Oregon?

Marit

Beaverton, OR

When you purchase car insurance to cover your car it may also over you when you drive other cars, depending upon state laws and the terms of your car insurance policy.

Your insurance will normally provide you with coverage for liability and any optional coverages you put on your car when you are driving your vehicle. Most insurance policies will also extend this coverage to rental company cars as well, but again it varies according to the terms of your auto insurance policy.

If you do not own a vehicle but want a car insurance policy for yourself and to follow you no matter what vehicle you drive then you could get a non-owners policy. This non owners policy generally would cover you for a rental vehicle and it would be secondary or excess if you were driving your friend’s car.