Vermont Auto Insurance

Under Vermont law, insurance companies may exclude a driver in your household from inclusion on your auto insurance policy.  In fact, the auto insurance company may make this request for persons with a poor driving history which pose a higher risk.  A college student who lives away from home and does not have access to a vehicle may be excluded.  If a driver is excluded from the policy, they have no liability coverage but you still have the liability exposure if they drive one of your vehicles and get in an accident. All exclusions must be either stated in the policy or on an endorsement.  They can be found under the exclusion section of your policy.  You should read this section carefully before signing the policy to make sure you understand what the insurance company will not cover.

If you have an auto policy or have had one in the past, you must provide the name of the company, the dates of coverage, and the amount of liability coverage it provided.  Some insurance companies will give you better rates if you insure for more than the state mandatory minimums.  Lack of prior insurance coverage due to never owning a car cannot be held against you as long as you have never violated the Vermont laws governing the minimum mandatory auto liability insurance coverage.

The state of Vermont allows insurance companies to check your credit history when they set your premiums determine your rates and payment periods, and create an insurance risk score.  The company may ask you to explain any bankruptcies, judgments, or credit problems.  The insurance company will also use other criteria such as your driving record, age, type of vehicle you drive, gender and the area where you live to determine your premium rates.

Vermont is a tort state which means you can be personally sued for injuries, deaths, and damages beyond the amounts your insurance policy covers if you are found to be the cause of the accident.  The average insurance premium in Vermont averages about $687.00 and has the 32nd most expensive auto insurance premiums in the nation as of 2006.  There are 16 major insurance companies which have met the qualifications to sell auto insurance in the state of Delaware. They are Allstate Property and Casualty Company, American International Group, Co-operative Insurance Companies, Concord Group Insurance Companies, General Insurance Company of America (GEICO), Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company, MMG Insurance (Maine Mutual Group), Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Progressive Northern Insurance Company, Safeco, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Travelers Property Casualty Insurance Company, and Union Mutual of Vermont Companies.

Some things you can do to reduce your premiums are to maintain a clean driving record, and drive a vehicle with a good safety rating.  Other things that can affect your insurance are the area where you live and work and the traffic volume in that area.  If you have a teenage driver, it may be less expensive to include them on the family policy.  Stress with them the importance of maintaining good grades and a clean driving record as these will help to defray the cost of premiums.  Your age, the age of your car as well as its condition and the type of vehicle you drive, your gender, and your marital status will play a factor in the cost of your auto insurance premiums.  Being aware of the prime targets for car thieves may also help reduce your insurance premiums.  The list below includes the top ten cars targeted by thieves in Vermont as of 2006.

1. 1996 Chevrolet S-10 Pickup
2. 1994 Ford Taurus
3. 1999 Suburban Legacy
4. 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
5. 1999 Toyota Camry
6. 1993 Ford Ranger
7. 1993 Saturn SL
8. 1989 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
9. 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
10. 1993 Ford Explorer