Reader’s Question:

I received a parking ticket in Kentucky and I want to know if this affect insurance rates?

Jim

Louisville, KY

A parking ticket may or may not affect your car insurance rates and this depends on how your specific insurance provider assigns points to such violations. There are insurance providers that will not raise rates because of a single parking ticket but if there are multiple ones or unpaid tickets that lead to a driver’s license suspension your insurance rates would likely be affected.

You should speak with your insurance carrier rating system with your insurance broker or you can contact your state’s insurance regulatory body and find out about your company’s insurance rates that are filed with them.

Reader’s Question:

I was driving my friend’s car and got into a minor accident. Will this increase my friend and my own insurance rates?

Leo

Joliet, IL

Insurance providers determine your rate by looking at different factors or risk factor for a motorist or a car.

Yes, your insurance rates will be affected by this minor accident; insurance providers use your driving record as a risk factor for calculating your insurance rates.

Yes, your friend’s insurance rates can be affected IF their insurance provider had to pay a claim for this accident; insurance companies use claims history (or claims paid) as a risk factor for determining car insurance rates.

If either rate is affected, you should shop for new car insurance. There are insurers that do not use these items as the risk factors. The only way to find these insurance companies is to shop for car insurance.