Naturally, no one in their right mind would invest in a person who encounters accidents once or twice every two weeks. You’d have to pay more to your insurers if your driving record is poor and you constantly receive tickets for breakneck driving. Insurance companies generally seek individuals that have clear records. You won’t look like an ideal candidate if your record shows that you were involved in breaking rules or were convicted in the past.
Insurance companies cannot pull your complete MVR (Motor Vehicle Record) but can track your lastest accidents, traffic signal violations, tickets, etc. A motor vehicle report is generally generated in between 3 to 5 years, but it can also be longer than this.
Certain key points to keep in mind:
- A driver’s experience is taken into account while drafting a policy. The past incidents are thoroughly reviewed by the insurers. Hence, if you are planning to opt for an insurance policy, ascertain that your previous driving record is clean. If your record is NOT clean, then it’s better to look for companies that accommodate drivers who have poor driving history.
- You’ll end up paying more if you have a bad driving history. However, if you haven’t had any bad driving experiences in the past, you’ll have to pay less to the insurers. Insurers generally welcome clients that have a clean record and offer them multiple discounts and advantages.
- A moving vehicle report (MVR) generally states a summary of traffic violations and accidents. You can work upon it by enhancing your driving skills. It gets better but requires time.
How do insurers evaluate potential candidates or applicants?
When you apply for car insurance, the company generally conducts multiple tests to assess the candidates and determine potential risks. It’s part of the process, to be honest. Once the applicant is selected, the individual goes through multiple tests and is evaluated based upon their previous record.
The best and easiest way to assess or evaluate an applicant is by reviewing their previous driving record or MVR. The record generally includes everything – traffic light violations, accidents, faults, etc. The company can determine the level of insurance risk based upon the regularity and severity of driving violations and accidents.
If a person was involved in a large number of accidents or violations, then he is not an ideal candidate for insurance as similar incidents can occur in the future. It only indicates that the company would have added liability by insuring their car. Moreover, they will make multiple, expensive insurance claims. As a result, the insurance company may consider the driver too risky to insure or may demand a massive chunk of money.
What precisely is MVR (moving vehicle report/registry)?
MVR is a detailed summary of all the past incidents you encountered on the road. For example, accidents, traffic light violations, speeding, etc. Moreover, it also includes details about your criminal convictions related to driving, such as DUIs and any occurrences in which you failed to appear at a court hearing.
MVR also provides insurance companies with all the significant and relevant information related to the license restrictions. For example, some people are not allowed to drive at night due to poor eyesight. All of these details are mentioned in MVR and are forwarded to car insurance companies.
An unclean record can harm your profile:
Rest assured, your evaluation is not permanent. It constantly changes as the insurance companies keep a close eye on their customers. All you have to do is work upon your MVR and make it better. For example, if your preferred insurance company has a lookback period of 3 years, they won’t count it against you once those 3 years are over. If you have paid an exorbitant amount because your MVR was not up to the par in the past, do not worry. You can try after 3 or 4 years and once the lookback period is over, the company will no longer consider an accident or mishap that occurred in 2016 or 2017.
Please keep in mind that insurers generally refrain from offering the candidates who have a poor driving history. You might want to work on that. Once you have sufficient record to prove that you’re clean and haven’t encountered any accidents in the past 3 to 4 years, you’re good to go.
How do I check my driving record?
You need to have a look at your driving record if you are planning to opt for car insurance. Assessing your MVR will also help you rectify any inaccuracies that it may have. Moreover, obtaining a copy of your MVR is quite simple. You can seek help from your state’s DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). Each state has its own set of rules and charges a small amount for the motor vehicle report (MVR).
Conclusion:
It’s okay to stumble upon a few unfortunate incidents but being consistent can ultimately cause you harm. The moving vehicle report (MVR) is based upon your overall performance as a driver. I would not suggest driving recklessly or without caution. The insurance companies will not insure your car if you have an irredeemable record. Once your MVR is clear, the insurers won’t charge you extra bucks and the process, in general, will become simple for you.
Moreover, opt for companies that are flexible when it comes to MVR. You may want to have a detailed discussion with one of their representatives to fully understand their evaluation system. Insurance companies are generally nice and would try and accommodate you. However, make sure to raise your concerns and let them know your thoughts. It’s mandatory for your record to be clean and clear; as stated above, your MVR changes in every three to four years.
As far as paying extra is concerned, once your MVR gets better, they’d cut down your insurance expenses. Again, maintaining the MVR is the key. You need to focus on your driving skills and drive with extreme care. I’d recommend taking classes if you think your driving is not up to the par. Encountering accidents can cost you your life.
