Hi! I’ve been driving for barely a year now. Now that I am about to buy my own car, I am also concerned about my vehicle insurance. Any tips you can share with me in getting an affordable auto insurance in New Mexico?

Tommy

Albuquerque, NM

You have to understand that car insurance for new drivers can be very expensive. Car insurance new driver New Mexico is not cheap because new drivers like you are more prone to making mistakes on the road, which can translate to car collisions and accidents. Car insurance companies rate new drivers as high risks because of the lack of experience of new drivers like you, so naturally you have to shell out a significant amount every month for your insurance premiums.

You can make your car insurance new driver New Mexico more affordable though if you enroll in a driving school. You may have learned how to drive on your own or through the help of another person, but you have no proof that you are good enough to be left on the road. By enrolling in a driving school, you can prove to any insurer that you have good enough driving skills and thus can be rated as a low risk driver.

You can also snag a cheap auto insurance quote by showing a good credit history. Car insurers will give you discount if you have a good credit standing because it means you know how to pay your obligations on time, such as your car insurance premiums.

My driver’s license was suspended in North Carolina. I moved to New Mexico recently. Is there a way I can get a driver’s license and car insurance here? What are the New Mexico auto insurance requirements?

James

Albuquerque, NM

Hello, James. I do not mince words, so let me get straight to the point here. You are asking if you can get yourself a driver’s license and car insurance in New Mexico in spite of the fact that your driver’s license had been previously suspended in North Carolina? The answer to that is a NO.

I think you have to know this: The United States of America has a centralized system. And although we have our local offices, we also have a national office. So, if you think you can dupe the Department of Motor Vehicles in New Mexico, there is no chance on Earth that you can get yourself a new driver’s license because once your application goes through the National Drivers Registry, they will find out about your suspended license. You have to accept that there is no running away from the truth here.

Then, to answer your other question on car insurance, I think it is odd, if not outright outlandish, that someone with a suspended driver’s license be given car insurance coverage. And since we have already established that there is no way you are getting another license, let’s drop the car insurance.

Here’s what you do. Wait it out until your license is eligible for renewal. Then that’s the time you could apply for a driver’s license in New Mexico. And definitely, there will be many car insurance companies waiting for you.

My auto insurance coverage is going to expire soon, and I’m planning to change my auto insurance company here in New Mexico. I plan to do some online inquiry. Is it safe to purchase auto insurance online?

Matt

Albuquerque, NM

Hey, Matt. A lot of things are already available from the net. Although some people are still wary of online transactions, especially the ones involving money, purchasing auto insurance online is actually safe. You would have to check the web site or the auto insurance company you’re going to do business first, of course as there bogus web sites out there, too. Reputable auto insurance companies, though, make sure and work hard to keep their web sites free of any scams. They would safeguard their reputation, as any good company would.

You mentioned that you also plan to do some online inquiry, online window shopping. That’s a good plan. Ask around first. That’s one great benefit of doing you auto insurance shopping online, you get to have several quotations in the comfort of your favorite chair at home. By having several quotations from several reputable auto insurance web sites, you get to choose the one with the best offer. You don’t have to drive around New Mexico to have these quotations. Doing this online makes the whole thing fast, aside from the convenience that I mentioned already.

Again, choose reputable  insurance companies and check the website for New Mexico auto insurance quotes.

I will be lending my vehicle to a friend for a few weeks or so since he will be taking a trip to his hometown for a vacation. Should I have him get a short term car insurance policy? I live here in New Mexico. I need help getting a New Mexico auto insurance quote.

David

Santa Fe NM

If you want to make sure that your friend and your car will be financially protected in case they get into a road accident, then by all means, have him get a short term car insurance policy. You don’t just only give yourself a peace of mind from worrying about having your car returned with damages, you also save your friend the financial trouble of having to pay for the injuries and damages that he might cause to other people during a car accident.

The difference with a short term car insurance policy to the regular car insurance policy is the duration or length of time that the policy is in effect. Thus, you save on money by not having to be bound to an annual car insurance policy when all you needed was to drive someone’s car for a short duration of time. As the name suggest, the short term car insurance policy should only be bought for temporary needs, a few days or weeks perhaps. Longer than that, you may have to consider getting a regular car insurance policy if it is cost-effective.

Basically, the coverage offered in a short term car insurance policy is the same as those offered by a regular car insurance policy. Your friend will have the state-mandated liabilities coverage in his short term car insurance, which will be used to pay for the damages and the injuries that he will cause to the other party in case of an accident.

Your friend will also have the option to purchase a collision insurance coverage that will pay up for any repairs to the damages made to your car due to a collision incident with something or a reckless driver.

Although not offered in some states, your friend can also avail of the medical insurance coverage that can pay for medical bills he and his passengers will incur in case of an accident involving your car.

Not only you protect your car with a short term car insurance, you also save your friend from the many responsibilities he’ll face in case of an accident with your vehicle.

It is important to ask your car insurance company if this is offered since car insurance rules and regulation differ.