How Do I Protect Myself Against Uninsured Drivers?
Reader’s Question:
I have recently moved to Nevada for a one-year work assignment. What do I need to know about car insurance laws in this state in regards to uninsured motorist?
Bobbie
Carson City, NV
Nevada’s only requirement to its motorists is to have a minimum liability insurance coverage. Minimum coverage means the car insurance company will shoulder the medical expense and repair cost incurred following an accident that you caused.
Medical payments insurance covers 15 thousand dollars for a single driver’s treatment of bodily injury, or up to a total of 30 thousand dollars for all the passengers in the car involved in the unfortunate accident. A maximum 10 thousand dollars is assigned to cover repairs and/or replacement of the other motorist’s car.
But despite laws obligating Americans to have auto insurance, people still drive around without or with not enough coverage. This is why purchasing the Uninsured/Underinsured Driver’s Insurance is always a smart move. This type of insurance protects you and your family members from those kinds of drivers.
Uninsured/Underinsured coverage in your policy pays for medical expense incurred for treatment of bodily injury resulting from an accident where a driver with not enough liability coverage or having no auto insurance of any kind is at fault. This coverage also pays for medical treatment if you were injured by a hit-and-run driver. Remember, though, that for this type of auto insurance to kick in, the other motorist has to be declared at fault.
Will Auto Insurance Pay Medical and Car Repair Expenses?
Reader’s Question:
Hi. I’m between policies, I got hit by a car that was insured. Is it possible to charge my medical expenses and the repair of my car? This happened in Davenport, Iowa.
Dolores
Davenport, IA
What a lucky lady! You know what, Dolores, you should thank your stars you’re from Davenport, Iowa. Had you come from other states, you would have had a bigger problem. So, right now your one and only problem is if it is possible for the driver at fault who is fortunately insured to cover all your medical expenses and all the costs that the repair of the damages to your car will incur? That is an interesting question. First, I know that your apprehension is that the insurance policy of the driver that hit your car will not cover all your expenses because you are not insured yourself. Well, because you’re from Iowa, the state’s law protects you because it is not mandatory in Iowa to have a vehicular insurance. However,
I really hope you have liability coverage for bodily injuries and property damages because that’s the only requirement that the state of Iowa asks of its residents. As a matter of fact, even if it appears that you are at the losing end because of the absence of an insurance at the time of this accident, you sure can claim liability from the offending driver’s insurance policy because that’s how insurance works in general.
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.
SR22 Auto Insurance Certificate Houston,Texas TX
Filed under: SR22 financial responsibilty, SR22-costs, Why get SR22 insurance
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.
Is It Mandatory Suspension For Driving Without Insurance?
Reader’s Question:
I would like to know if there is a mandatory suspension for driving without insurance or is it up to the court system and county’s judge? I live in New Jersey.
Martin
Camden, NJ
Driving uninsured is a serious violation in most areas. The penalty for this violation differs from state to state but can include large fines, impounding of your car (and payment of towing and storage charges incurred), license suspension or revocation, community service or jail time. In most states, such as New Jersey, the mandatory penalties for an individual found driving without insurance are even greater than those for an individual receiving a DUI citation for the first time.
This is regulated by each state.
Also, it is likely you will have to comply with the state’s financial responsibility laws by obtaining an SR22 or SR16.
Tags: auto insurance, driving without insurance, sr22 insurance
Can I Operate Any Car With My SR22 Insurance Coverage?
Reader’s Question:
Can I operate any car with SR22 insurance with permission?
James
Baltimore, MD
Under most state and with most insurance company guidelines, yes, you can drive any car with permission as long as no exclusion applies even with an SR22.
But, if you have a non-owners SR22 then coverage is limited to your personal operation of a car not owned by you or any family member in the household.
You can shop around online for a quote on SR22 financial responsibility certificate.
For you to be able to obtain the general price for an SR22 financial responsibility certificate you need to get a quote. An SR22 generally costs an additional $15-$30 filing fee above and beyond your auto insurance premium rate.
Financial Responsibility and SR22 Auto Insurance
Reader’s Question:
What other financial responsibility that may be used other than sr22 insurance?
Roger
Thank you for asking Roger.
Most states permit at least one of these following to be used as financial responsibility:
1. A surety bond issued from surety company.
2. Your car insurance policy.
3. A State Motor Vehicle Department bond secured by real estate equity of a set amount
4. A State Motor Vehicle Department certificate for money or government bonds for a set amount on deposit with the State Treasurer
5. A certificate of proof of financial responsibility signed by an insurance agent on a form prescribed by your state’s Motor Vehicle Department.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
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