Grade Point Average and Teen Auto Insurance Discounts in Kentucky

Reader’s Question:

What grade point average does a teen have to maintain here in Kentucky in order to be eligible for auto insurance discounts?

Melissa

Louisville, KY

There is no law in Kentucky that says one must pass a certain grade point average in order to be eligible for driving. However, there is what they call No Pass, No Drive law that is stated under the KRS 186.400 administration law. This law states that participating schools must notify Kentucky’s Transportation Cabinet about minors who abandon school or are academically unsatisfactory. These students may be evaluated and may have their driver’s licenses dismissed if found to be school dropouts.

However, a driver who was given a driver’s permit while still under the age of 18 should take a driver education program. The driver must pass a written test before being subject to further evaluation for unrestricted license eligibility.

If the teen already has a learner’s permit, he must be able to get auto insurance. However, if he gets into trouble before getting his auto insurance and gets his license dismissed, he may have a hard time getting insurance. This is because auto insurance companies need to make sure that the person they are insuring is eligible to drive (with a driver’s license). If he has a dismissed license or drives without any license, chances are the auto insurance company would be paying for a bigger amount and would make them consider the driver as a high-risk.

My Car Caught On Fire and My Auto Insurance is Claim Was Denied?

Reader’s Question:

I have full coverage on my car in Kentucky and a few weeks ago my car was caught on fire however when the claims adjuster checked my vehicle in a few days he said that all of my aftermarket parts such as amplifier, CD, etc. made hot leads to the battery and that is where the fire originated which was according to the fire department so the claim will be denied?

James

Louisville, KY

Insurance carriers in Louisville, Kentucky vary on their guidelines with regards to aftermarket parts or the customizing of automobiles. Usually your auto insurance carrier would need to be informed about the performance parts beforehand for these to be covered under your car insurance policy. Most insurance providers want to do an endorsement for these non-factory parts to be covered under your car insurance policy.

You will have to speak to your car claims adjuster regarding the custom parts to check if those will be covered.If you have the receipts, it will be useful if your car insurance carrier will permit your car insurance claim. Keep in mind to always let your insurance carrier be informed about any addition to your car so you will be sure your car insurance policy will cover these parts.

You can always shop around for auto insurance company in  Kentucky that will permit customized parts and get auto insurance quote for your vehicle.

Will Out of State Speeding Ticket Affect Car Insurance in Kentucky?

Reader’s Question:

My daughter received a speeding ticket in Indiana and I am licensed in the Owensboro Kentucky. I would like to know if the state of Kentucky will be able to know about this? Will this affect her car insurance rate?

Jenny

Owensboro, KY

Kentucky and Indiana are both part of the Drivers License Compact which requires member states to report any offenses for other traffic violations back to the home state in which the individual was issued their license. Therefore the IN Bureau of Motor Vehicles or the court should notify the Transportation Cabinet of the speeding violation you received from a different state.

According to the Kentucky driver’s manual the Division of Driver Licensing keeps a record of all traffic violations on each driver licensed in KY. These driving records are based on traffic convictions reports, payment of fine, forfeiture of bail, with or without court appearances, which are forwarded to the Division of Driver Licensing by the courts throughout the US.

Your daughter may contact her auto insurance company to find out if this speeding ticket will increase her auto insurance rate.

Should I Accept My Auto Insurance Company Settlement Offer?

Reader’s Question:

I’m Gayle from Fayette, KY and had a recent car accident. I want to know what actions must I take after a car accident? Do I need to accept a settlement offer from the insurance company?

Gayle

Fayette, KY

Hi Gayle. Under the Kentucky law (KRS 189.635) you are required to call the police to report the accident if someone is harmed or injured; or one of the cars is rendered inoperable. If no police investigation is made and either the car suffers $500 or more in damage expense you must report the incident to the State Police within 10 days. Next, your car insurance company requires you to report the accident to your insurance company and fill out the appropriate forms.

As for your second question, the answer can be a Yes or a No. Car insurance companies in Fayette, KY are notorious for offering settlements that are far less than the injured party deserves. However, if the car insurance company is offering what you feel the car is worth, then you can accept it. It will also be advantageous if you consult an experienced lawyer that is knowledgeable on car accident laws. By contacting an auto accident injury lawyer you may be able to receive a much larger settlement than the car insurance company has offered.

How Many Traffic Tickets Can I Have Before My Auto Insurance Increases?

Q: How many speeding tickets will it take before my auto insurance premium is affected?

A: It depends both on your position with your auto insurance company, your history with them, your history concerning tickets, as well as the severity of the ticket itself.

If you have been with a car insurance company for a long time, then many times they will have an option for you to bypass any rate raises which come from an accident or a ticket. If you are already getting auto insurance, then it’s possible that you have already used this up if it was ever available to you, although some car insurance companies will allow you to do this as many as two times. You might see similar results if you are considered a preferred customer in your company. A preferred customer is someone with an impeccable record who has almost no chance of filing a car insurance claim. In many companies, it is difficult to have this status taken away from you once you have it.

Some tickets will be more likely to raise your rate than others, especially if you have auto insurance. Running a red light and driving over 15 miles over the speed limit are almost guaranteed, but driving with an expired registration sticker might not have any effect at all.

SR22 Auto Insurance – Cancellation or Non Renewal?

Q: What is the difference between cancellation and non-renewal of SR22 auto insurance?

A: Cancellation of your SR22 auto insurance is something which can be done any time, and is not restricted to simply the end of your policy period. However, some legal restrictions surround cancellation, and your policy can only be canceled if you don’t make a payment, your license is suspended, you misrepresent yourself or omit information, or continuing to insure you would violate the law in some way. If your company cancels you for a reason other than this, then you can file a complaint.

As for non-renewal, it can be done for any reason, but is also subject to a few restrictions. For example, your policy cannot be non-renewed simply because you are part of a protected category–that is to say, it cannot be non-renewed on the basis of your race, disability, gender, ethnicity, and so on. Your SR22 auto insurance company is not allowed to deny you coverage because you have no credit/bad credit, but it can charge you more for these two reasons. Also, your car insurance company can choose not to renew your policy for risk reasons or because you have not paid.