| Bless your heart if you fall into a high | | | | quit making any money. They have to |
| risk category of the car insurance | | | | reissue policies or reinstate old |
| world. High risk means that you are a | | | | policies. Best bet - pay your bills and |
| high risk to the insurance company and | | | | pay your insurance on time. |
| this could be for various reasons. Let | | | | One option that is under your control is |
| me give you some idea so you can decide | | | | the type of vehicle you drive. If you |
| if you can afford to be in the high risk | | | | buy a new corvette with 505 hp and |
| category. | | | | expect to get the same cost insurance as |
| Accidents almost always put you in the | | | | if you were driving a Ford Explorer then |
| higher category unless you have a clean | | | | you are too goofy to be driving a |
| record and this is your first accident. | | | | corvette. If the car you chose even has |
| Then, you might be spared. Otherwise, | | | | a hint of being "sporty", then you might |
| you'll be in for an expensive insurance | | | | be bumped into the high-risk group. It |
| payment for the next 3 years until these | | | | is all about statistics and cost of |
| accidents are cleared off your record. | | | | repairs. I'm sure smashing up a big |
| DUI or DWI. Unfortunately, these | | | | money corvette will cost more to repair |
| charges hang around for a while and even | | | | than a Toyota corolla. |
| if you have a one time offense and | | | | How can I lower the rates? Don't have |
| otherwise clean record, you still may be | | | | an accident. Don't buy the new |
| penalized and put in the high risk | | | | corvette. Buy an old heavy car that's |
| group. Best bet - if you drink, don't | | | | less likely to be stolen and for |
| drive. Hello? McFly? | | | | goodness sake, don't drink and drive. |
| Always pay your insurance. If you miss | | | | If you have already fallen into one of |
| payments or decide not to carry | | | | these categories, you might still be |
| insurance for a while, then you have | | | | able to lower your insurance. Ask you |
| created a gap. Insurance companies know | | | | agent about raising the deductible or |
| when you have gaps in coverage. This is | | | | other advice - put the monkey on his |
| an indication that you won't pay them on | | | | back and see what he can do to get your |
| time and puts you in a higher category. | | | | rates to a manageable level. |
| Why? Well, you quit paying and they | | | | |