Car Insurance for Visiting Professors in the US: What You Need to Know

If you are a visiting professor who is coming to the US to teach or conduct research at a university, you may need car insurance to drive a car in the US. Car insurance is required by law in most states and can protect you from financial losses in case of an accident or damage to your vehicle.

According to the Institute of International Education, there were about 20,000 visiting professors who came to the US in 2019, mostly from China, India, Germany, Canada, and France. These visiting professors may face challenges when it comes to finding affordable and adequate car insurance in the US.

In this article, we will provide you with information and tips on how to get car insurance for visiting professors in the US. We will discuss the types of car insurance that visiting professors may need or want, the factors that influence car insurance rates for visiting professors, and the best ways to find the best car insurance policy for visiting professors.

Types of Car Insurance for Visiting Professors

Depending on your situation, you may need or want different types of car insurance when you drive a car in the US. Some of the common types of car insurance are:

• Liability coverage: This is the most basic type of car insurance that covers the damages or injuries that you cause to others in an accident. It is required by law in most states and has two components: bodily injury liability and property damage liability. Bodily injury liability covers the medical expenses or lost wages of the other party, while property damage liability covers the repair or replacement costs of their vehicle or property.
• Collision coverage: This is an optional type of car insurance that covers the damages to your own vehicle in an accident, regardless of who is at fault. It can help you pay for the repair or replacement costs of your vehicle if it is damaged by another vehicle, an object, or a rollover.
• Comprehensive coverage: This is another optional type of car insurance that covers the damages to your own vehicle caused by events other than an accident, such as theft, vandalism, fire, flood, hail, or animal collision. It can help you pay for the repair or replacement costs of your vehicle if it is stolen or damaged by these events.
• Personal injury protection (PIP): This is a type of car insurance that covers your own medical expenses or lost wages in an accident, regardless of who is at fault. It is required by law in some states and optional in others. It can help you pay for your hospital bills, doctor visits, rehabilitation costs, funeral expenses, or income loss if you are injured in an accident.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage: This is a type of car insurance that covers your damages or injuries caused by a driver who has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover your losses. It is required by law in some states and optional in others. It can help you pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, or vehicle damages if you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver.

The benefits and drawbacks of each type of car insurance are:

• Liability coverage: The benefit of liability coverage is that it can protect you from legal liability and financial losses if you cause an accident. The drawback of liability coverage is that it does not cover your own damages or injuries in an accident. You may have to pay out of pocket for these costs if you do not have other types of coverage.
• Collision coverage: The benefit of collision coverage is that it can protect your own vehicle from damages in an accident. The drawback of collision coverage is that it can be expensive and may not be worth it if your vehicle is old or has a low value.
• Comprehensive coverage: The benefit of comprehensive coverage is that it can protect your own vehicle from damages caused by events other than an accident. The drawback of comprehensive coverage is that it can also be expensive and may not be worth it if your vehicle is old or has a low value.
• Personal injury protection (PIP): The benefit of PIP is that it can protect your own health and income in an accident. The drawback of PIP is that it can be redundant if you have health insurance or disability insurance that covers these costs.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage: The benefit of UM/UIM coverage is that it can protect you from drivers who have no insurance or not enough insurance to cover your losses. The drawback of UM/UIM coverage is that it may not be available or affordable in some states or situations.

Factors That Influence Car Insurance Rates for Visiting Professors

Car insurance companies determine car insurance rates for visiting professors based on various factors that indicate their risk level and expected claims. Some of the factors that influence car insurance rates for visiting professors are:

• Driving history: Your driving history is one of the most important factors that affect your car insurance rates. If you have a good driving history, with no accidents, tickets, or violations, you may be able to get lower rates than if you have a bad driving history. However, if you have a bad driving history, you may have to pay higher rates or even be denied coverage by some insurers.
• Credit score: Your credit score is another factor that affects your car insurance rates. Many insurers use credit-based insurance scores to predict your likelihood of filing claims. If you have a good credit score, you may be able to get lower rates than if you have a bad credit score. However, if you have a bad credit score, you may have to pay higher rates or even be denied coverage by some insurers. The use of credit-based insurance scores is banned in some states, such as California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Michigan.
• Vehicle type: Your vehicle type is another factor that affects your car insurance rates. The make, model, year, value, and safety features of your vehicle can influence how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, the more expensive, rare, modified, or high-performance your vehicle is, the more you pay for car insurance. The safer and more reliable your vehicle is, the less you pay for car insurance.
• Location: Your location is another factor that affects your car insurance rates. The state, city, and ZIP code where you live and drive can influence how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, the more populated, urbanized, or crime-prone your area is, the more you pay for car insurance. The less populated, rural, or safe your area is, the less you pay for car insurance.
• Duration of stay: Your duration of stay is another factor that affects your car insurance rates. The length of time that you plan to stay and drive in the US can influence how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, the longer you stay and drive in the US, the more you pay for car insurance. The shorter you stay and drive in the US, the less you pay for car insurance.
• State regulations: Your state regulations are another factor that affect your car insurance rates. The minimum coverage requirements, rate-setting rules, and consumer protection laws of each state can influence how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, the higher the minimum coverage requirements, the more you pay for car insurance. The lower the minimum coverage requirements, the less you pay for car insurance.

Here are some examples of how different factors affect rates for visiting professors:

• Alice is a visiting professor from France who is coming to teach at a university in California for six months. She has a good driving history and a good credit score. She plans to rent a car with liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage included. She may be able to get lower rates than average because she has a good driving history and credit score, she is renting a safe and reliable vehicle, she is staying in a state that bans credit-based insurance scores and has low minimum coverage requirements.
• Bob is a visiting professor from China who is coming to conduct research at a university in Texas for one year. He has a bad driving history and a bad credit score. He plans to buy a used sports car with liability only coverage. He may have to pay higher rates than average because he has a bad driving history and credit score, he is buying an expensive and risky vehicle, he is staying in a state that allows credit-based insurance scores and has high minimum coverage requirements.

Tips and Recommendations for Finding the Best Car Insurance for Visiting Professors

Finding the best car insurance policy for visiting professors in the US can be challenging but not impossible. Here are some practical tips and recommendations to help you find the best car insurance policy for visiting professors in the US:

• Rent a car with insurance included: One of the easiest ways to get car insurance for visiting professors in the US is to rent a car with insurance included. Many rental car companies offer liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage as part of their rental agreement or as an optional add-on. This way, you don’t have to worry about buying a separate policy or meeting the state requirements. However, you may want to check the coverage limits and exclusions of the rental car insurance and compare them with your own needs and preferences.

• Buy a non-owner car insurance policy: Another way to get car insurance for visiting professors in the US is to buy a non-owner car insurance policy. This is a type of liability coverage that protects you when you drive someone else’s vehicle, such as a friend’s, a colleague’s, or a rental car. It can supplement the owner’s policy and provide extra protection in case of an accident. Non-owner car insurance is ideal for visiting professors who do not own a vehicle but still drive occasionally in the US. Non-owner car insurance can help you meet the state requirements and avoid a lapse in coverage that can affect your future rates.
• Get an international driver’s license: Another way to get car insurance for visiting professors in the US is to get an international driver’s license. This is a document that translates your foreign driver’s license into English and other languages and allows you to drive legally in the US and other countries. It can help you prove your identity and driving history to car insurance companies and get lower rates. However, you may still need to meet the state requirements and buy a separate policy or add-on coverage depending on your situation.
• Compare quotes from different insurers: Another way to get car insurance for visiting professors in the US is to compare quotes from different insurers. Different insurers may have different criteria and rates for visiting professors. You may be able to find an insurer that offers you lower rates than others despite your situation. You can use online tools, such as comparison websites, aggregators, or brokers, to compare rates and coverages from multiple insurers in one place. You can also ask for recommendations from your university, colleagues, friends, or family who have experience with car insurance in the US.
• Look for discounts and benefits: Another way to get car insurance for visiting professors in the US is to look for discounts and benefits that can lower your rate. Some of the discounts and benefits that can lower your rate are: good driver discount, good student discount, low mileage discount, defensive driving course discount, anti-theft device discount, loyalty discount, and accident forgiveness benefit. You may need to provide proof of eligibility or ask for these discounts and benefits when applying for a policy.

Conclusion

Car insurance for visiting professors in the US is important to protect yourself from financial losses and legal liability in case of an accident or damage to your vehicle. Depending on your situation, you may need or want different types of car insurance when you drive a car in the US.

In this article, we have provided you with information and tips on how to get car insurance for visiting professors in the US. We have discussed the types of car insurance that visiting professors may need or want, the factors that influence car insurance rates for visiting professors, and the best ways to find the best car insurance policy for visiting professors.

Having adequate car insurance coverage for visiting professors in the US is important for your financial security and peace of mind. Whether you decide to rent a car with insurance included, buy a non-owner car insurance policy, get an international driver’s license, or compare quotes from different insurers, make sure to choose the right coverage for your situation.

If you need more information or assistance with your car insurance needs, please contact us today. We are here to help you find the best car insurance for visiting professors in the US.