Auto insurance (car registration, insurance, transfer)

[algia]

Hi,

Is auto insurance through the roof there too? when we lived in Orlando our insurance was very cheap, however here in Tampa it is through the roof! people do drive like crazy here and have no clue they have turning signals etc......so I was wondering how is this over there?

Thank you much,
Alex

[Charley]

"Through the roof" is a relative term. I'm be relocating from New York and the estimate my company has given me suggests that I will be paying about 30% less than what I am paying in New York.

[algia]

hmm, that's good right?

[Charley]

Originally Posted by algia

hmm, that's good right?

For me to pay 30% less? Yes, I'd say that for me, that's good. Coming from New York, almost everything I will pay in Delaware (other than residential water service and cable service) will be less.

[elizamary]

coming from Philadelphia, it is hard for us to pin point an exact amount.. We had so many changes to our policy. DD was on before we moved. plus I'm not good with the technical figures.
I think our policy was roughly $20 less a month than what we were paying.
Not bad but the clincher is getting new tags. DH and I went to DMV after living in DE for a few months.
Quite interesting actually. They do everything there, even inspection.
When our transactions were almost finalized.......The clerk say that will be $650. I"m still in shock.
Of course this is for 5 years. Covers inspection and everything. We were told depends on how old your car is too.
The newer the car.......the more money you will pay.
Anyway......that is done for 5 years. Well.........3 now. Been here 2 already.

[algia]

Charley, What do you mean about the residential water and cable?

Elizamary, so in DE you cannot update your tag information online? you have to go to DMV office? we've been updating everything online so far.....our car insurance doesn't have an office, it is online only and when I switched vehicles they found me a car shop that does inspections and it is free, then fax that to them........do we have to change that there to a company that is DMV approved? I didn't get that.........?

$650 for the license plates? do you have optional license plates there? or just one kind like in NY? we have about 1000 to choose from here............

[from PA]

We have been with Geico for +20 years. When we moved from the Philly burbs to DE, our automobile premiums dropped dramatically. However, we paid considerably more to transfer our car registration to DE. If you factor in the fact that state inspections are included, I guess registration fees net out to be about the same.

[Charley]

Originally Posted by algia

Charley, What do you mean about the residential water and cable?

I know it's slightly off-topic, but just to answer - everything will be cheaper for me in Delaware than it is in New York except for my water bill (Tidewater has higher rates than United Water) and cable (Comcast is more expensive than Cablevision). Other than that, all other costs, including auto insurance (to bring us back on topic) will be cheaper in Delaware.

[from PA]

Originally Posted by algia

Charley, What do you mean about the residential water and cable?

Elizamary, so in DE you cannot update your tag information online? you have to go to DMV office? we've been updating everything online so far.....our car insurance doesn't have an office, it is online only and when I switched vehicles they found me a car shop that does inspections and it is free, then fax that to them........do we have to change that there to a company that is DMV approved? I didn't get that.........?

$650 for the license plates? do you have optional license plates there? or just one kind like in NY? we have about 1000 to choose from here............

Here's the scoop on DE car registration and licencing fees. Unfortunately, your out of state vehicle will be taxed again upon registration in DE. That is why initally, the fees are so high. State of Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles - Motor Vehicle Fees

Hope this helps. Charley is correct on everything else being more reasonable and he really does his homework too.

[Charley]

Originally Posted by from PA

Here's the scoop on DE car registration and licencing fees. Unfortunately, your out of state vehicle will be taxed again upon registration in DE. That is why initally, the fees are so high. State of Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles - Motor Vehicle Fees

Hope this helps. Charley is correct on everything else being more reasonable and he really does his homework too.

Thanks so much.

The out-of-state vehicle tax amount is based in part on the age and value of the car, which is why we are hoping to make both our current cars last until we get there ... and then some.