Auto Insurance for College Students Out Of State?
Reader’s Question:
I am an 18-year-old California resident who has a vehicle registered here, but I will be attending college in Hawaii. Do I have to obtain a California automobile insurance for my car? Obviously, I won’t be bringing my car to college.
Kelly
San Jose, CA
Kelly, it’s too bad you can’t drive your car all the way to Hawaii . Yes, you do have to have to obtain a California automobile insurance even if you are not using it most of the time. Under the Compulsory Financial Responsibility Law in your state, vehicle owners have a financial responsibility to face if an accident wherein an injury or death arises (which is around $15,000; it can climb up to $30,000 if many are injured because of that mishap). Nonconformity with this law would result in very severe punishment.
By the way, all insurance companies in California are obligated to give reports for all automobiles to the Department of Motor Vehicles, which can be accessed by state personnel, whether they are from the court or from law enforcement. So it’s very easy for the state to know whether you’ve obtained insurance for your car or not.
There is really no choice. Maybe it would help if you know the factors that go into the price of auto insurance in California. Being 18 won’t help lower the cost. Teen drivers generally have higher premiums. Gender (I’m not sure if you’re a girl or boy because of your name) and academic performance (having A’s or B’s) will matter for most auto insurance companies.
Since you are a college student, I’m assuming you will be leaving the car under the care of your parents or guardian. A better idea would be to insure the car under your parent’s or guardian’s name. Hopefully, that would make auto insurance for your car more affordable.
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.
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