Do I Need Car Insurance For a Parked Car I Do Not Drive?

Reader’s Question:

I live in Antioch, California. I have a vehicle here that I do not use and did not place insurance on it. It is parked in the streets. I am just wondering if somebody drive that car and got cited for being uninsured, will the ticket go on my record or to the driver operating the car? I currently live in New Jersey.

John

Antioch, CA

According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles financial responsibility must be acquired and must be carried on any car operated or parked on CA roadways. So if your vehicle is going to be parked on a streets you would need to put car insurance on the car.

According to the California Department of Insurance all CA motorist and vehicle owners must have at least the statutory limits of minimum liability insurance or an approved alternative way to pay for property or injury damage they may cause to others. Penalties are very harsh for those who do not comply on this law.

So if you are the owner of the vehicle in Antioch, California and you are planning to parked on the street you would have to have auto insurance on the vehicle and be responsible, if someone operated it while it was without mandatory liability insurance . The fact that you are living out of state in New Jersey will not make a difference to police officer if you permit others to operate an car that that you own without insurance.

Car Repair Cost More Than My Insurance Company Estimate – Help!

Reader’s Question:

My wife just had her first accident, thank God nobody is hurt. At first I thought it was just a minor accident and the cost of damage for the repair is not that much. But now, I am thinking the other way around, after the repair shop in Chandler, Arizona  send us the quote it was such a price and the insurance adjuster provided lesser amount telling us that this is only the collision coverage can cover for. Whew! Any idea, what else can we do?

Rob

Chandler, AZ

Let me start first with your Collision auto insurance coverage.  It is a part of your total comprehensive auto insurance package. Now in your policy, if you can review it. It is agreed in there that the insurance company will carry all the damages and repairs but this is limited to the vehicle. There are times that the value of the vehicle is less than the cost of repair to the vehicle. Collision auto insurance covers the cost of damage and repairs but it doesn’t mean guarantee for replacement or replacement value.

The insurance adjuster only received the description of the damage of your car, he then seek for an estimate for repair of the said damage. Only that, it appears the estimates he had is lesser than the cost of repairs the shop provided to you. I think the amount that the insurance adjuster offered was correct.

The collision auto insurance coverage provided options for you. First, you can accept the offered amount go for the repair and shoulder the excess amount. Second, you can negotiate with your insurance adjuster, but if you are still unhappy with the outcome you can go to the third option. Third, file your complaint at the state insurance agency in Arizona. This agency will review your collision auto coverage and evaluate it with your insurance provider. Try to research online too for auto insurance options in your area. Insurance sites like this one will be able to route you to auto insurance rates comparison in your area.

SR22 Auto Insurance Certificate Houston,Texas TX

Reader’s Question:

My daughter has SR-22 insurance in Houston,Texas. I would like know what we have to do to take it off her record.

Jason

Houston, TX

An SR-22 is a certificate of insurance in the state of Texas that show proof of automobile insurance with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) for the future, as required by law.

The insurance carrier notifies the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) if the car insurance policy is cancelled, terminated, or lapses thus if that happens appropriate enforcement action may be taken. The driving privilege or the drivers license will be suspended if a person is required to obtain an SR22 and there is no SR22 on file.

The form called the SR26 is filed by the company to cancel the SR22. So if your daughter is no longer required to carry an SR22 or the time period to carry this financial responsibility certificate is up already in Houston,Texas, she must inform her insurance company that she no longer needs to carry an SR22 so that it will be removed. Her insurance carrier will probably be needing some documentation that shows that she no longer needs to carry an SR22 insurance.She may be able to get this from the Department of Public Safety and show it to he insurance company so they can file a SR26.