| The point system is carried out by the state's | | | | The point system is carried out by the state's |
| Department of Licensing. It is wherein each infraction | | | | Department of Licensing. It is wherein each infraction |
| has its own designated point. If one has accumulated | | | | has its own designated point. If one has accumulated |
| excess points, his or her driving license may be | | | | excess points, his or her driving license may be |
| suspended. However, the ways in which the points | | | | suspended. However, the ways in which the points |
| are assessed differ from one auto insurance | | | | are assessed differ from one auto insurance |
| company to another. | | | | company to another. Some large insurance providers |
| Some large insurance providers have different state | | | | have different state systems to consider and deal |
| systems to consider and deal with. Oftentimes, they | | | | with. Oftentimes, they do not differentiate the |
| do not differentiate the number of points an offense | | | | number of points an offense warrants, meaning, they |
| warrants, meaning, they disregard the assigned value | | | | disregard the assigned value for each infraction. |
| for each infraction. Instead, they just count the | | | | Instead, they just count the actual number of |
| actual number of violations or offenses. | | | | violations or offenses. An increase in your insurance |
| An increase in your insurance rates is almost certain if | | | | rates is almost certain if you have a recent violation, |
| you have a recent violation, not unless your insurance | | | | not unless your insurance provider offers amnesty |
| provider offers amnesty program. For example, a | | | | program. For example, a certain company may |
| certain company may forgive you for one accident | | | | forgive you for one accident or forgive you for an |
| or forgive you for an offense if you took and pass a | | | | offense if you took and pass a defensive driving |
| defensive driving course. | | | | course. |
| The point system is very crucial in relation to your | | | | The point system is very crucial in relation to your |
| auto insurance premiums. How they use this | | | | auto insurance premiums. How they use this |
| information to compute rates, however, are strictly | | | | information to compute rates, however, are strictly |
| guarded. In fact, there are companies that would ask | | | | guarded. In fact, there are companies that would ask |
| you a lot of information so that their competitors | | | | you a lot of information so that their competitors |
| would not know their formula. This is a major way | | | | would not know their formula. This is a major way |
| that insurance companies remain competitive. | | | | that insurance companies remain competitive. The |
| The best course of action that you may want to | | | | best course of action that you may want to take is |
| take is to contact your auto insurance provider and | | | | to contact your auto insurance provider and ask for |
| ask for their policies. You may want to find out if | | | | their policies. You may want to find out if they offer |
| they offer ways to reduce the effect of accidents | | | | ways to reduce the effect of accidents or amnesty |
| or amnesty programs. And if you need to renew | | | | programs. And if you need to renew your insurance, |
| your insurance, you may want to shop around first | | | | you may want to shop around first to help you |
| to help you decide if you should switch companies. | | | | decide if you should switch companies. |