Reader’s Question:

I am a Swedish national who is based in Hong Kong but is right now living in Detroit, Michigan, for a consulting project which will go on for a year. I would like to buy a car and be able to drive my wife and son around for us to see the country. Is this even remotely possible?

Bjorn

Detroit, MI

We welcome you and your family to the United States of America, Bjorn. And what a fitting question about cars when you are currently in the birthplace and the center of the American automotive industry. Now about buying a car. My answer might sound vague so please bear with me. You did not say a lot about you, whether you have state issued driver’s license or just your license from Hong Kong. Just my two cents’ worth, it is likely that you be allowed to purchase a car while living here for a year. But first and foremost, you must get yourself a license in order for you to get car insurance. Now, just an unsolicited advice here, all right? Have you thought of looking into car rentals instead of buying one yourself? Unless you’re planning to bring the car back to Hong Kong when your work here is done, then go ahead. But if your objective is just for mobility just so you can drive around the place, I would advise that you visit the nearest car rental companies in Detroit, Michigan because these people offer great packages for long-term rentals. When you’ve done that, go to an auto insurance firm so that you can choose which premium you’d like to take. Enjoy Detroit!

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

What will happen if I get pulled over with an expired insurance in St. Clair Shores City, Michigan?

Paula

St. Clair Shores, MI

Hi, Paula! If you get pulled over with an expired car insurance in St. Clair Shores City, MI, you would likely be cited for either driving without insurance or not showing proof of insurance.

If you were insured at the time of the ticket, but you do not have the current insurance card on you, then you must show proof of this to the court and pay an administrative fee to have the ticket dismissed. To be sure, just contact the court listed on your citation to see what penalties you could be facing.

Michigan residents who own passenger vehicles, light trucks and vans must have a Michigan no-fault insurance before registering their vehicle, according to the Michigan Secretary of State (SOS). Michigan decrees necessitate that you keep your no-fault insurance certificate and carry it with you whenever you go driving. And if you’re unable to show proof of insurance to a police officer, the court may order the Secretary of State to suspend your driver’s license. Also, your vehicle’s license plate will not be renewed, transferred or replaced until you can provide proof of insurance. A $500 fine plus a jail term is also possible if you get convicted of driving without the mandatory MI car insurance.

But these are just a few of the possible penalties for driving with an expired insurance. So to be doubly sure, I suggest that you contact the court listed on your ticket to find out more about your specific situation and what penalties you may be facing in court.

Tags: auto insurance, driving without insurance

Reader’s Question:

I’m thinking of buying a used car, and I’m afraid that the car’s previous owner might not be telling me the whole truth about everything the car gone through. He’s planning on moving to the West Coast, and I live here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, so there’s no way of reaching him if anything happens. Is there any way to get his car insurance records? I just want to make sure.

Herbert

Grand Rapids, MI

I’m sure that trying to get a person’s insurance records would constitute an illegal act according to state and federal laws. I wouldn’t want anybody trying to get information about me. I’m sure you wouldn’t that, too. I would consider that an invasion of my privacy. Besides, even if you call the previous owner’s auto insurance company, they’d have no valid reason to give it to you because their obligation is to the previous owner, not to you. As soon as he sells his car, the car insurance company’s responsibility already ends there. But if he’s planning to move to the West Coast, chances are is he may have already terminated his car insurance policy before selling it to you. Some car insurance companies may be able to help you, though, if you explain thoroughly the reason why you want the records. Yours is a legitimate reason, I think. If you are lucky, you may be able to have the previous owner’s coverage and whatever claims he may have made photocopied. Just make sure you ask for information about the car that you’re going to buy and not any other cars that the previous owner may have owned when he was still living there in Grand Rapids, MI.

Tags: auto insurance, Car Insurance Company

Reader’s Question:

I live in Detroit, Michigan, Last night somebody burned my car and it was a total loss, I just want to know if it is true that I can get five hundred dollars from my car insurance company with mini tort?

James

Detroit, MI

The mini-tort or the limited property damage liability, provision of the no-fault law creates another case in which you can sue or be sued. If you are 50% or more at fault in a crash and damages to the other party’s vehicle are not completely covered by his or her auto insurance, then under the mini tort you may be sued and may have to pay up to $500 in damages- meaning you may sue the other motorist for damages to your vehicle which are not covered by your car insurance if the other motorist is 50% or more at fault.

Since your vehicle was burned and not damaged in a vehicular accident where there is another motorist to be found at-fault, and therefore no one to sue for the mini-tort amount of $500.

For your vehicle to be covered by your insurance company at all you would need comprehensive coverage on your car insurance policy. Your vehicle being burned should fall under this comprehensive coverage to cover your vehicle for vandalism and fire.

Tags: auto insurance claims, comprehensive insurance coverage

Reader’s Question:

I am planning to move to Michigan from Arizona and I would like to know if my car insurance will be cheaper in Grand Rapids, Michigan?

Harold

Grand Rapids, MI

Auto insurance coverages are different in Arizona and Michigan. Lets start with the state of Arizona.

Arizona law requires that all automobiles driven in roadways needs to be covered with liability insurance with an insurance carrier licensed to do business in the state of Arizona. The minimum liability insurance in the state of Arizona is 15/30/10 and this means $15,000 for bodily injury liability per person up to $30,000 per accident and $10,000 for property damage liability.

In the state of Michigan, the car insurance coverage that needs to be purchased are Personal Injury Protection (PIP), Property Protection (PPI) and Residual Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Insurance (BI/PD). The Residual bodily injury and property damage liability (BI/PD) pays if you are found at fault, for any damages caused by a car accident up to the limits of your car insurance policy.

In Michigan, the minimum liability limits that needs to be purchased is 20/40/10. This coverage means $20,000 per person up to $40,000 per accident and $10,000 for property damage liability. You have the option to purchase Residual bodily injury and property damage liability (BI/PD) for additional coverage.

It will still depend on different factors whether your car insurance rate is cheaper in Grand Rapids, Michigan than in Arizona. You can get car insurance quote here to have an idea what your car insurance rate will be when you move to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Good luck!

Tags: car insurance, cheap auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

I was rear ended in Livonia, Michigan (where I also live) last week it was not really my fault. I do not have collision coverage and I suffered neck and back pains and my vehicle has been totaled. What should I do now? The other driver’s insurance provider is offering to pay me only $500 for the damages. Is this all I can get?

Gary

Livonia, MI

The same thing happened to me a few years ago. We had to go into a settlement negotiation. Here is what you need to remember:

1) Negotiate. Do not take their initial offer to pay for the damages. In my my case, they end up paying for doctor, and all medical bills.

2) Do not take the $500 amount that is being offered to you yet. Insurance providers will try to settle immediately, by offering a lump sum and having you shoulder any future damages.

3) It may be a rear end collision that would seem to have not much damages but it is possible that the injuries or damages will take about a week or two to become evident. In my case it took about a week before I felt back pain that lingered for two months, missed days of work and had to go through therapies. You must wait until you have a good idea of how much damage becomes evident like I said.

4) Make sure you document everything including all the medical expenses specific details of your pain you are experiencing. This would help you strengthen your position when you file for car insurance claim..

5) You probably should consider seeking legal help and ask an attorney before you negotiate a settlement, if this develops into a significant amount of money. Get advise from a lawyer on how to approach the negotiation.

6) Lastly speak to your own car insurance carrier in Livonia, Michigan, who may act on your behalf during negotiations.

Tags: auto insurance claims, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

I got involved in an accident , I got rear ended and I just felt the pain in my neck and back a week later. Can I still make a car insurance claim for this in Pontiac, Michigan?

Al

Pontiac, MI

Generally, if there are injuries associated with car accident was just discovered days or weeks after the incident you can still make a car insurance claim for them. Typically you will have to get proof that the back or neck pain was caused by the car accident in that you got involved in. Usually this is done with a medical diagnosis from a doctor.

With the no fault laws in Pontiac, Michigan these injuries typically would be reported and claimed through your own car insurance company, even though it was not your fault in this accident since you were rear-ended. In Michigan normally your insurance provider will pay for all necessary medical bills and the insurance claim must be made within a year from the date of the accident.

You may contact your insurance provider or the other driver’s insurance company if you are feeling back and neck pain so they may be aware of your injuries and also get medical attention.

Tags: auto insurance claims, car insurance cost

Reader’s Question:

I will be staying in Clinton, Michigan, will I be needing US drivers license to insure my vehicle for just three to six months? Can I use my international drivers license to drive in Michigan?

Robert

Clinton, MI

If you are going to purchase an insurance policy in Clinton Michigan you should expect to have an US driver’s license or obtain one for you to be be insured in the US.

It may be possible auto insurance companies that will sell you a policy you in the United States using your international drivers license, but many insurance carriers would require you to get a drivers license in the state you live in, (in your case, in Michigan) before buying car insurance or within thirty days after getting insurance coverage.

I am not aware of any specific insurance company that allow this but when getting a car insurance quote online (you can begin here by typing your zip code! it is free!) and check if there is an option to list if you have an international license or you can shop around in Clinton Michigan for insurance carriers that allow this.

Some insurance carriers will likely require you to have a drivers license or in the process of getting a US drivers license. It is wise to start getting car insurance quotes now so you may know how much car insurance you should expect to pay when you get here and purchase insurance.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance cost, car insurance quotes

Reader’s Question:

Will my auto insurance rate be expensive as a new driver even though I am a twenty five years old female, can I shop around for a free auto insurance quote in Grand Rapids, Michigan?

Adrian

Grand Rapids, MI

Insurance carriers in most states are permitted to have their own rating system. These insurance companies typically look at many factors when determining a car insurance rate and driving experience of the driver can be one such factor. Age may also be a rating factor and typically at around age twenty five auto insurance premiums will drop compared to a driver who is 16 to 24 years of age.

If you are a newly licensed motorist at age of twenty five then your car insurance rates in Grand Rapids, Michigan will be higher than others that have been driving for nearly ten years but may not be as high as a newly licensed driver at the age of sixteen, since you may be thought of as more mature. The car insurance rates will likely though still be higher than another twenty five year old female that has been driving for a more years because this individual has a driving record for the insurance carrier to check.

The best thing to do is as new driver is to shop around for auto insurance rates since different insurance providers have different rating factors.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance quotes, car insurance rate

Reader’s Question:

How long does an OWI remain on my driving record to my insurance company in Flint, Michigan?

Murphy

Flint, MI

The Michigan Financial and Insurance services Insurance Eligibility fact sheet states that insurance carriers can turn you down for car insurance if within the past three years you have been found guilty of DUI or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohols.

Since your OWI should be on your Michigan driving history for a minimum of ten years if an insurance carrier asks you about violations in on your motor vehicle record or if you have been convicted of such an offense then you will need to tell your insurance company of your OWI conviction. If you fail to do so and they later see it on your MVR then the car insurance quote amount you were given will likely be inaccurate since you did not provide them all the information they need to give you an accurate insurance rate quote.

Tags: car insurance cost, car insurance quotes, car insurance rate, DUI