smooth

I haven't read through the entire thread, but in California, how long someone's been driving means everything. That's what rates are based on now.

I pay a little less than $300 per 6 months for 2 cars (in Orange County). You'll either get discounts for being over 25 or being married, but not both. That is, after a while you will max out on your discounts--multiple car, age, marital status, and most important in California, how long you've been driving. You need to provide proof that you've been insured for at least 5 consecutive years to obtain the best rate (repeat: do NOT let your insurance lapse--I just got fucked, btw).

Oh yeah, and I wanted to add: read your insurance carefully and choose accordingly. The legal limit is 15K for liability. In San Jose, you smack a Beamer on the bumper and you've just gotten started. If your new hubby-to-be has rights to things like software or other assets, the remainder is going to come out of your ass in court. It's one thing when you're poor, maybe the rich person's insurance will eat it. But if you even look like you have something going after, expect that someone will try.

Moral of the story, pay the extra $20 per month and get a 30K liability along with uninsured motorist. But I don't know exactly where you're at--look around and see what kind of cars you'll be smacking within a 5 mile radius of your home. If they are Beamers, Mercedes, and Lexus, like the college students drive around here, then you _know_ 15K won't get you very far.

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