What are my options?

[ProVibe]

I have in the last year been found liable for three motor vehicle citations (speeding, red light, etc.). Each one of those bumping my insurance up by $344 thats a grand total of $1032. $1032 is not pocket change for me by any means. The main reason for such a high surcharge, other then Massachusetts highway robbery, is because the bank owns my Vibe so I must have full cover. My payments went from $119 p/m to $214 in less then 5 months. And right now I'm looking down the barrel of another citation. I have appealed it but it doesn't look good. At this rate I will not be able to afford a car. Car Payment = $405 + Ins = $619 + pendind surcharge = Too Much.So I'm looking for options.1. Can I trade my vibe in and get a cheaper car, therefore a lower car payment.2. Can I switch to a lower insurance, which I doubt with the way insurance is handled here in MA.3. Any other options would be great.ThanksSammy

[jimincalif]

1 - start obeying traffic laws - seriously. 2 - can you cut your insurance by increasing your deductible, eliminating unnecessary coverage (such as towing, rental car)?3 - keep your liability, medical & uninsured motorist coverage as much as you can afford.4 - of course you can switch insurance - if you can get another company to underwrite you. Sounds like you are lucky you haven't been dropped.5 - sell the car (are you upside down on the loan or not?) Buy a used beater for $1500 or so (no car loan) and carry no collision or comprehensive coverage (still need liability).6 - sell the car, take the bus.7 - obey traffic laws.

[ProVibe]

Thanks for the input but other then the red light I am obeying traffic laws. I had not gotten a ticket in 6 years and then all of a sudden since I got this car I've gotten four in less then a year. I seriously think it has something to do with the fact that it's red. It's statistically proven to be true,

[Houston]

Quote, originally posted by ProVibe »I seriously think it has something to do with the fact that it's red. It's statistically proven to be true,That's an old wives' tale. I've had only red cars for many years and no tickets since 1971.As was said above, obey the driving laws and you have nothing to worry about.

[ProVibe]

Quote, originally posted by Houston »That's an old wives' tale. I've had only red cars for many years and no tickets since 1971.As was said above, obey the driving laws and you have nothing to worry about.Then why no tickets before now?

[jwalcik]

Quote, originally posted by ProVibe »Thanks for the input but other then the red light I am obeying traffic laws.no offense, but speeding is also a violation of a traffic law. granted, i'm not aware of the situation (bad radar gun, etc). i'd re-emphasize the above, especially the idea of a cheaper car for a couple of years. i know in texas that moving violations older than 35 months are ignored by your insurance company. not sure if there's a similar time limit elsewhere.also, maybe routes/habits to avoid any particularly troublesome traffic areas. like if you're always getting a ticket on the way to work, consider other options if practical (walking, biking, bus, etc).

[jimincalif]

Quote, originally posted by ProVibe » I seriously think it has something to do with the fact that it's red. It's statistically proven to be true,From you signature, looks like it is salsa? My Vibe GT is salsa also, I've had it since June 2003, no tickets yet. Sounds like you've had a run of bad luck.

[sk8r78]

True that your car is a shade of red, it is not the "arrest me red" that is much more vivid and significantly more eye catching. I think you are on a bad luck streak and you continue to drive in the manner that has gotten you the unwanted attention, you cannot get caught doing something, if you are not doing it . If you honestly believe that the color of the car is the cause of your dilema, then sell it, or trade it in for a different color, or different car,but generally all cars are capable of exceding the speed limit, and all are able to run red lights, so I think regardless of color you would be right back in the boat you are in now. I've heard of some great deals on Yugo's tho,(pun intended) that could be the ticket to solving your poblems. Good luck

[ProVibe]

If it is a run of bad luck it could not have come at a worst time in my life. I'm getting married in ten months and I'mt trying to save money. This really sucks.How can I get rid of my car without messing up my credit? I'd like to get a cheaper car. I have no idea what to do right now.

[jimincalif]

How much do you owe on your car? Next, look up the car's current market value on edmunds.com and kbb.com. If your car is worth more than the loan, you simply sell it and pay off the loan with the sales proceeds. That won't mess up your credit.If you are upside down, you will have to come out of pocket for the difference to pay off the loan when you sell the car. Either way, if the loan gets paid off in full, you won't hurt your credit.Of course you then have to figure out what you are going to do to haul yourself around. You really have to look at used cars to save any serious coin over what you already have. Less money to buy, lower tax, less to insure. Did you buy your car insurance through an insurance agent? Ask him/her for recommendations on how to save on your insurance. (probably tell you to obey traffic laws - sorry, couldn't resist.) Find out the cheapest cars to insure.

[sk8r78]

Usually private party sale is what will get you the most for your car, use the above mentioned sources to find the value, place an add in your local or higher profile paper, place the car in prospective buyer locations and stand firmly flexible on what you want for it versus what you'll take for it. Paying off a loan will help your credit not hurt it. Make sure that you don't have a penalty for an early pay off.

[slvrvibes]

Take defensive driving. Avoid any other violations.A new car may not solve your problem if it is just bad luck you are having. It can continue even with a change of cars.

[drunkenmaxx]

i would suggest calling around to traffic lawyers, they can work wonders. had you done this with the previous tickets you got, they might not even have ended up on your record, thus not affecting your insurance.

[ProVibe]

Not really sure about the ethics on this idea but I'll throw it out there.What if I find someone who lives in South Hadley, town near my home, and is willing, payed or otherwise, to let me use there address if it where my own. Then I would be able to notify the insurance that I moved and save over $800.I wouldn't live there per say but I would probably be paying for the address. I think PO Boxes are not accepted so that is not a viable option.EDIT:If I sound desperate, I am.

[zionzr2]

hopefully getting married will lower your insurance rates. It did for me but then my record is clean.But yeah take it real easy from now on. Also it will get lower by droping all but required covereages and increasing your deductable.

[zionzr2]

Quote, originally posted by ProVibe »Not really sure about the ethics on this idea but I'll throw it out there.What if I find someone who lives in South Hadley, town near my home, and is willing, payed or otherwise, to let me use there address if it where my own. Then I would be able to notify the insurance that I moved and save over $800.I wouldn't live there per say but I would probably be paying for the address. I think PO Boxes are not accepted so that is not a viable option.EDIT:If I sound desperate, I am.THIS Sounds LIKE INSURANCE FRAUD!! You could get bigger fines and possible jail time. I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU NOT DO THIS!!!

[jimincalif]

Quote, originally posted by zionzr2 »THIS Sounds LIKE INSURANCE FRAUD!! You could get bigger fines and possible jail time. I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU NOT DO THIS!!!Exactly right. Do not do this under any circumstances! Even if you don't get prosecuted criminally, it would give the insurance company grounds to void the policy and deny a claim should you need to make one. That could get you prosecuted for driving without insurance!If you need to save money, you are on the right track to get a cheaper car, or maybe save money on something else that you can cut back on. Can you work more and make some more money? Also, all those traffic tickets have to be costing fines, not just insurance. Slow down and quit getting those and you will be saving the money you are paying in fines.Again, I recommend getting on the horn with your insurance agent and calmly discuss the situation and ask for suggestions.

[ProVibe]

Quote, originally posted by jimincalif »Again, I recommend getting on the horn with your insurance agent and calmly discuss the situation and ask for suggestions. I actually did and I am at the lowest possible insurance policy, I have the highest deductible and the only two things that could lower it a bit more was having an anti theft system (Save $32) which I do and being enrolled in AAA (Save $120) which I signed up for today which costs me $51. So I will have saved a total of 101. Not too bad but it's a start. My fiance has also volunteered to help. So I guess I will do fine until we get married. I will be looking for an apartment before the wedding at least a few months before so I'll be definately looking to move out of my hometown to somewhere where I will save money on my insurance.

[jimincalif]

Quote, originally posted by ProVibe »So I will have saved a total of 101. Not too bad but it's a start. My fiance has also volunteered to help. That's a good start. Congrats. You'll also save money on gas now that prices are dropping (and you'll get better mileage now that you are driving the speed limit )Maybe someone can get you this book or a similar one as an early Christmas present: http://www.amazon.com/Fight-Yo...93115 Good luck.

[Tubaryan12]

I have a few suggestions:1. Yellow means STOP!2. Use cruise control if you have it and set it to the speed limit and not one tick faster.3. Take a safe driving course (that will lower your rates in most states)4. Part time job until rates go down (it doesn't take long to earn a couple of hundred dollars a month).

[CAN-AWD-VIBE]

I had to drop my collision coverage for 3 years after my "string of bad luck" (aka- period of leadfootitus). You would be supprised at how your driving changes when you are told your if you crash your car and it's your fault or no fault your car is your problem to repair. But it also drops the price of your policy by quite a bit.not an option for you howeverYou would be amazed at the attention a speeding car gets... regardless of colour.I would call around and get as many quotes are you can. Maybe you are getting screwed?oh and fight every ticket you get... you will come away better off almost everytimeCAN-AWD-VIBE

[cmhj2000]

Salsa Vibe here and no tickets.

[Dj_kulture]

Wow, shop around... I get at least one speeding ticket (small) every 2 years... for the past 10 years... and I have full (lib/comp/collision) on my vibe from Geico and it is only $410 / 6 months.Progressive was $660/6 months..I save by maxing my deductible ($1,000)and the only claim i've made so far was this week for a cracked windshield (S.C. law is no deductible libility for glass only claims, so it didn't cost me a dime)I guess it is cheaper in S.C.Try Geico, i'm happy with their rates and service so far.

[chemrebel]

runs of bad luck suck. well, for what it's worth, have you looked into diversion programs thru traffic court? you have to bite the bullet and pay the ticket BUT you make a deal by keeping your nose clean for a year, the traffic cops don't report it to insurance, and if all goes well your ins co is none the wiser. although it's a bit later for that now seemingly. but if you are tight on money, shop around ins cos definitely. if you have to, get out of the vibe and get a cheaper car. there is no shame in that. until i got my vibe this april i drove a 95 olds ciera for several years. i paid like 3500 for the ciera when i got it in 2000. i didn't happen to catch your age, and that can really affect your ins rates. i think the magic age is 26 or something. also, getting married will decrease the rates, but that's a while off for you yet. sorry i can't offer anything else, just do what you have to do, figure out your priorities and make them work regardless of whatcha gotta do. gawd i sound like my mom...