Owing a classic car that you have purchased or rebuilt is reward enough for all the work and love you put into keeping it in great driving and show condition. If you are registering a classic car for the first time in Wheat Ridge, CO, the CO Insurance Specialist can help you with your registration and insurance questions. Make sure you know the value of your car so that you can cover it effectively.

What is a Classic Car?

In Colorado, an antique car is any vehicle manufactured at least 25 years ago. A street rod is any vehicle made before 1948. These are considered collector cars and additional information is needed to register them at the DMV. A custom-built car is one made from scratch to resemble this type of vehicle.

Registering a Classic Vehicle

Before you head out to register your pride and job at the Wheat Ridge CO Department of Motor Vehicles, make sure you have all the information you need to be prepared ahead of time. The first step is getting an inspection and having a VIN assigned by a certified Colorado law enforcement officer. Go to the county DMV to register a verification of the VIN. This takes some time, but once it’s complete, a Colorado State Police officer will contact you about an inspection. Here are the required registration documents.

• Title and Registration application
• Bill of sale for parts used in reconstruction
• Certificate of Title or manufacturer’s certificate of origin (if the car has a title already)
• Before and After photos of back and passenger side than the front and driver’s side
• Colorado Assigned VIN Declaration of Facts
• Appraisal
• Emissions test pass report

Take all the paperwork to the county motor vehicle office to apply for a title. Contact a CO Insurance Specialist for questions and quotes on insurance for your titled classic or re-built car. Don’t wait to get the paperwork done. Cars were made to drive and yours will look great on the highways and byways of Wheat Ridge, CO.

For those that might have an unlicensed car sitting around, the question is, do you have to hold an insurance policy on it? For those living in the Wheat Ridge, CO area, the agents with CO Insurance Specialist can help answer all your questions.

Long story short, you are only required by law to have an insurance policy on cars that are licensed and on the road. This means that if you have a car that has been totaled, that is not running, or that you are simply not driving, you do not have to have insurance on it by law. This means that if you have a car that has stopped running for instance and it is going to take you a great deal of time to get it road worthy again, you can take off the license plates and remove the insurance from the car.

If you do intend to drive it again however, you will need to make sure it is both licensed and insured properly. This is one way that people that work on cars or that have a car collection that is not driven can get away without having road insurance. You may want to wait a moment before you remove the car from your policy however. It is still going to cover things like some damage and even theft and vandalism.

It is always a difficult decision to determine if your car does or does not need insurance. If you are having trouble and need help, it is suggested that you take the time to talk with an agent to find out if your car needs insurance. For those in the Wheat Ridge, CO area, the agents with CO Insurance Specialist are ready and waiting to help you find the right policy for you.  

What was once a dream, may soon be a reality. Several autonomous vehicles are already available to purchase, and much more are expected to be rolled out in the coming years. Self-driving cars will have a major impact on all of our lives, whether you live in Wheat Ridge, CO or New York City, and they will forever change the automobile insurance industry. 

Here are a few of the ways these vehicles will alter automobile insurance: 

• More automakers, fewer drivers will need insurance. When you’re involved in a car accident, one of the first things you’re told to do is to obtain the other driver’s insurance information. Today, drivers’ insurance policies pay for vehicle repairs and medical care for the occupants of both vehicles. In the future, this may not be the case. If the drivers aren’t driving, the accidents likely will be the result of a computer error. The car manufacturers, not the drivers, will need insurance. Drivers may reduce the amount of coverage they have, or they may opt out of the market altogether. 
•  The auto insurance industry may shrink. While it’s not certain that this will happen, auto insurance companies may struggle to stay afloat as traditional cars are replaced with autonomous vehicles. 
• Liability will be more difficult to determine. Many self-driving vehicles can be driven manually or autonomously. Determining whether a car, person or combination of the two is responsible for the accident won’t be easy. 

If you need automobile insurance near Wheat Ridge, CO, call CO Insurance Specialist at 720-638-0850. Don’t wait, contact an insurance company you can trust. Reach out to CO Insurance Specialist today!

In the world of auto insurance, there are dozens upon dozens of discounts for things that are very obvious like not having an accident, to more policy specific discounts. It is important that when you set out to find your perfect policy, you understand some of the discounts you might be eligible for. For those in the Wheat Ridge, CO area, the agents with CO Insurance Specialist can help you determine which discounts you qualify for.

One of the most common discounts is going to be safe driver discounts. This means that you get a discounted rate on your policy premiums for not getting into an accident. So why would a company offer this type of discount? The longer you go without an accident the more money they save. It is the goal of the insurance company to have insured drivers that do not file accident claims.

In many cases, the discount only takes place after a specified amount of time without an accident. The space of time might be as short as a few months or as long as a year. Some call this a loyalty discount but for the most part they are simply rewarding you for not filing claims against your insurance. So who qualifies? Any driver that has had the policy for the specified amount of time with no accident can qualify for the discount to help save money each month.

For those that live in the Wheat Ridge, CO area, the agents with CO Insurance Specialist can help you determine which discounts you are eligible for and can help you go through a wide range of options when it comes to your policy and how you are covered. No matter what discount you ultimately get, your agent can help clear up any questions.  

Snow Birds And The Like Living In Two States Can Get Tricky

We all know someone who lives in a colder weather state, like Wheat Ridge, CO during the spring and summer seasons only to hightail it to Florida when it gets too cold for their exotic feathers. Aside from keeping warmer, there are financial and accountability items that you have to ponder if you make two states your permanent domicile.   

The first thing you would consider if you live in two states simultaneously would concern your tax accountability. It matters how many months you reside in either state. Another factor is where your business is primarily conducted if you are self-employed. While your accountant is the best person to speak with when it comes to your tax questions, your agent at CO Insurance Specialist will be able to assist you with the queries you may have regarding your insurance liability and other insurance questions.

Where Do You Park Your Car? 

Managing your car insurance if you live in two states begins the same way a normal one state dweller would approach their policy. What do you do with your car? Do you use it for work? How many miles are you driving in a normal day? Are you using your car for work in both states or is one domicile primarily used for recreation?   

If you are located in the Wheat Ridge, CO area, please feel free to stop in to discuss this insurance issue or any other questions you may have regarding your insurance policy. The insurance specialists at CO Insurance Specialist agency will set your mind at ease so that you can enjoy your double dwelling status or simply have clarity in your insurance matters.       

Buying auto insurance can be challenging without an experienced insurance agent, especially if you are a new driver or have just purchased a new car. Unfortunately, far too many drivers without adequate knowledge of motor vehicle laws and insurance requirements purchase their automobile coverage online and simply take their chances that they are covering all their bases.

There is a better way! Did you realize that it does not cost a single dollar to speak with a CO Insurance Specialist and get their recommendations for your coverage? Knowing that you bought the right types of coverage in the right amounts will give you peace of mind. And, if the worst happens and your car is stolen in the middle of the night, or you’re involved in a vehicle accident, you’ll know that things are going to be alright. 

In Colorado, auto insurance liability coverage requirements are $25,000/$50,000/$15,000. These coverage limits mean that your insurance company would pay up to $25,000 per person for injuries as the result of a crash, and $50,000 total for bodily injury for an accident, as well $15,000 for damage that you do to someone else’s property. 

We’d like to point out the minimum required limits are pretty low. If you are involved in an accident and total another driver’s new vehicle, it will probably cost more than $15,000. Additionally, even though the state does not require uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, it helps by covering medical and other expenses if you are hit by someone without good insurance coverage. 

For expert advice and guidance on automobile insurance in Wheat Ridge, CO, we recommend contacting CO Insurance Specialist, LLC at 720-638-0850.  

Maybe you were in a hurry to pick your kids up from school, maybe you were running late for an appointment or maybe you just did not realize how fast you were driving. Regardless of why you were speeding, when the red and blue lights flash behind you and the officer writes you a ticket, you may immediately wonder how this will affect your auto insurance. Here is some information you should know if you are facing this situation.

A First Ticket May Not Affect You That Much

In some states, you can participate in driving school every two to five years to have one traffic ticket erased from your record. While Colorado is not one of these states, many insurers may overlook your ticket or reduce the amount of a ticket increase if you participate in traffic school after you get a ticket. This may limit the effects that a rare speeding ticket has on you.

When You Will See an Increase in Your Policy Amount

If your insurer will not allow you to take traffic school to reduce your rates, or you have multiple traffic tickets, you can expect your rates to rise when your current policy period ends. The amount of the increase will vary from company to company and depends on your record. Someone with two tickets will not see as big an increase as someone with an accident and two tickets, for example.

If you have a speeding ticket and your insurance rates have increased, you may be looking to price out insurance policies without companies. Call CO Insurance Specialist serving Wheat Ridge, CO today for a free price quote today. We offer affordable rates, even if you have an accident or ticket on your driving record.

Every winter there are news stories about folks who were trapped in the car during a snow storm. Whether you live in Wheat Ridge CO or another part of the country, would you know how to survive being stranded in your car during a snow storm? Preparation is one of the main sources for survival, but you should also know what to do while you are in the vehicle. Here are a few tips to help you survive being stranded.

Be Prepared

There are several things you can do now that will be extremely helpful should you find yourself stranded during a snow storm. How to be prepared:

• You should always have a minimum of ¾ of a tank of gas when driving during the winter. If there is an emergency, you will need gas for heat.
• Pack an emergency bag for the car that includes a fleece blanket or sleeping bag, a first aid kit, non-perishable snacks and water. You should also have a container, such as a bucket that can be used to collect snow in case you run out of water.
• Before Traveling don’t forget to check with CO Insurance Specialist to make sure your automobile policy is up to date.

How to Survive Being Stranded

Should you become stranded, the first thing to do is to remain calm, do not panic. You should also be prepared to not rely on technology, such as a GPS or cell phone because these devices often lose service in this type of situation. Do not leave your car. If people are looking for you, it will be for them to find your car than you. You also have a better chance of survival when you stay in your car as opposed to trying to walk to safety. However, if you are familiar with your surroundings, your can is in an unsafe spot and you can safely walk to a building, then it would be safer to exit the car. While in the car:

• Wear your seat belt at all times. When the roads are snow covered, it is easy for another driver to slide into a stranded car.
• Make sure to slightly crack the window to prevent carbon monoxide fumes from getting in the vehicle while it is running. Make sure to check the tailpipe occasionally to remove any snow that may have blown around it (this will help prevent carbon monoxide from entering the car).
• Only run the motor for 10 minutes every hour. This will give you an opportunity to heat the car up and melt the snow as well as help to conserve your gas.

If you are certain you are stuck and can’t be freed, turn the car off right away. The car has most likely warmed up while you were driving, so turning the motor off first thing will allow you to conserve the battery and gas. Try your cell phone, if it doesn’t work, keep it on in case someone trying to call you is able to get through. Remember to stay calm, bundle up and know that help will be along soon.

Residents of Wheat Ridge, CO should contact CO Insurance Specialist to review their current automobile insurance policy or to upgrade their current policy.