Driving Without Automobile Insurance Massachusetts MA
Reader’s Question:
I am a college student in Massachusetts who has just been involved in a car collision which resulted in, luckily, only minor damage to my car. At the time of the accident, I didn’t have the car insurance policy inside the car. The police officer who was there told me I am really screwed. What do you think will be my legal problems?
Vince
Boston, MA
I hate to state the obvious, but you really are screwed. According to Massachusetts law, you are required to bring the insurance or certificate from the car insurance company at all times with you (it should be easily accessible), or else it will be prima facie evidence that you have not maintained your car insurance as required by law.
I advise you to jot down all the details and circumstances about the accident. Get the contact numbers of the driver (or drivers) involved in the car collision. It would be wise also to get the contact number and information from any witnesses on the scene. (Wait. The accident has already happened, so if you didn’t get the contact info of the important people, then you are really really screwed.) In any case, call your car insurance agent and give the details of your vehicular accident. Not having your proof of car insurance may be used as presumption of not possessing car insurance, but of course this may be rebutted. In a worst case scenario, get a good lawyer.
If you are a nonresident of Boston, I hope you had filed a nonresident driver statement (this is required for nonresident students) with the law enforcement agency in your school’s vicinity. Not doing so will earn you a fine of $200 and above. The school or college you are attending is also obliged by Massachusetts law to inform you of this requirement. In fact they will be fined for not complying with this law.
Good luck, Vince!
Tags: auto insurance policy, car insurance, car insurance law, driving without insurance
Tickets and Car Insurance Rates New Jersey NJ
Reader’s Question:
I got a couple of tickets for speeding here in New Jersey. Would that affect my car insurance rates?
Jimmy
Bayonne, NJ
There are certain factors that would affect your car insurance rates, and that includes rating systems of different insurance companies as well as state laws and guidelines. These state laws and insurance guidelines will definitely have an effect on the prices of your car insurance rates. Some insurance companies will let a speeding ticket slide, and there are some who will consider cancelling your policy. But these factors vary from company to company and from state to state, so be sure to contact your insurance provider to get some more details.
You have to know that most insurance companies there in New Jersey are going to look into your driving record in assessing your rates. The duration of your offense is also critical in deciding your premiums–for example, the number of speeding tickets you had in a certain span of time. If those speeding tickets occurred within ten or more years, then your insurance provider might not increase your rates. But if the speeding offenses happened in the span of only five years or less, you might be considered as a high-risk driver, which could mean higher rates for your car insurance. And if you get speeding convictions within only a year or even less, then that could result in skyrocketing policy rates for you and possibly the cancellation of your driver’s license.
Remember that a clean driving record will always be the key factor in determining your policy rates, so drive safely to avoid accidents. A couple of speeding tickets will likely result in your rates going up, and if you’re not careful enough on the road, then more speeding tickets may lead to your policy being cancelled altogether.
Different insurance companies have varying ways and guidelines in assessing your rates, so be sure to check it with your insurance provider. You can also gather information regarding this matter in your state’s insurance department. Or try going online for more answers to your car insurance query.
Tags: car insurance law, car insurance rate, high risk insurance, traffic violation
Cheap Automobile Insurance Rate Trenton New Jersey NJ
Filed under: DMV issues, SR22, SR22 Bond, SR22 auto insurance
Reader’s Question:
I’m planning to buy a car. I’d like to be practical about things. I am looking for cheap insurance rates. Can you tell me which cars would fetch cheap auto insurance premium? My name is Kevin, and I’m in Trenton, NJ.
Kevin
Trenton, NJ
Hi, Kevin. I’m Rainier, and I’m also in Trenton, NJ. It’s really not just the car that affects the premium rate . The owner has a lot to do with a lot of things. But, yes, the car has an effect on the rate, too. There are certain types of cars that would guarantee a high premium rate. Car types and makes that are statistically proven to be theft prone would fall under that type. If a car is stacked with high tech gears, repair price would be expensive and premium rate will be high. A powerful car would also fall under this category. The faster, more powerful it is, the higher the premium. A mustang, for example, would fetch a high premium as it is a powerful car. The cheapest to insure are small sedans with the most safety features. Bear in mind that cheap cars do not automatically mean that the insurance will be cheap. And also, just because a car is expensive doesn’t mean that the premium will be, too. Safe cars fetch lower premium rates.
Your driving habit and history contributes to the whole premium thing. If you are not a high- risk driver, premium will be lower. Safe car, safe driving history and habits make cheap premiums.
Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance premium, car insurance cost, car insurance rate, cheap auto insurance
Vehicle Insurance Lapse Greenville, South Carolina SC
Reader’s Question:
I still have the plates on my vehicle and I do not have auto insurance in my vehicle in Greenville, South Carolina. I want to trade it in. I am just wondering what the penalties will be for still having the license plates on my vehicle?
George
Greenville, SC
You are required in Greenville, South Carolina to carry 15/30/10 car liability insurance on your vehicle. If your automobile insurance lapses or cancels you need to return your car license plates and registration to the Department of Motor Vehicle or reinstate your car insurance coverage.
If you want to reinstate your license you will be subjected to is $200 fee and a $5 penalty for each day the car was not insured or the license plates were not turned in. The maximum penalty fee for the first violation would be $400 per automobile.
In addition, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicle should have been informed by your auto insurance carrier when your auto insurance lapsed or canceled so your car registration and driving privileges might have been suspended. You will have to verify with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicle to check what the penalties are for your specific concern.
Tags: auto insurance
Cheap High Risk Car Insurance Loveland Colorado CO
Reader’s Question:
I receive a ticket for intoxicated driving. I am 20 years old and I was wondering how much my auto insurance in Loveland, Colorado will increase because of this?
Green
Loveland, CO
If you are convicted of intoxicated driving which is a type of DUI offense then your car insurance rates are likely to increase a decent amount. Certain violations may cause an insurance company to turn down the policyholder for insurance coverage or to pay high-risk insurance rates.
According to the Department of Transportation in Colorado, your car insurance could go up 30 % on average if you have a DUI offense on your motor vehicle record. With a driving under the influence conviction car insurance rates tend to increase and you will likely be now classified as a high risk driver.
The best way to find the cheapest car insurance rates after you have been convicted of a DUI is to shop around. Make sure you ask for any discounts available to you. This can be for safety features on your vehicle, driver improvement or traffic class, anti-theft devices, etc.
Tags: auto insurance, Car insurance discounts, DUI
Driving Without Insurance Owensboro Kentucky KY
Reader’s Question:
I was in a car accident and my insurance had been canceled. I live in Owensboro Kentucky. What will happen to me?
Rick
Owensboro, KY
There are penalties in KY for driving uninsured. For a 1st offense you are cited to go to court and can be fined between $500 up to $1000 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days or both.
Your Kentucky license plates and vehicle registration can be suspended for 1 year or until proof of insurance is presented. It is also possible that you will lose your license for up to one year. For each subsequent violation of being uninsured the penalties increase.
It was best to get auto insurance in Owensboro Kentucky now before going to court since this might help your situation. There might be penalties other than the ones I have mentioned since you were involved in an accident while driving without insurance.
If you caused the accident you will likely need to call the other party so that you can reimburse them for the damages caused to their car. Remember that it is essential to have continual insurance coverage on your vehicle.
Tags: auto insurance, driving without insurance
Virginia VA SR22 Form Insurance
Reader’s Question:
I had an accident recently but I do not have car insurance. The DMV in Virginia wants an SR-22 certificate sent to them. What questions are on that SR22 form? Am I gonna have to pay for that accident?
Janice
Virginia Beach, VA
The SR-22 is simply a form of financial responsibility proving that you are carrying a certain type of liability coverage. It is not a form with questions that you have fill out but it is the one that your insurance company would fill out and file for you with the state of Virginia showing you had the required insurance coverages.
Normally if you were at fault in the accident you would be held personally liable for the damages the vehicle and driver sustained. If you did not pay the other party on your own the other driver could seek a judgment in court against you. If the other driver had insurance to take care of their damages their insurance company could come after you (subrogate with you) for the monies they paid out for the accident you caused.
DMV Car Insurance SR22
Reader’s Question:
I got DUI conviction by the DMV but the court dismissed the charges of a DUI. How am I going to clean my record? How much is it going to be to get an SR22? I’m in Anaheim, California.
Anne
Anaheim, CA
To be able to remove a moving or traffic violation from your driving record, you will need to contact CA Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The California Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) should be able to advise you if you are required to carry an SR22. The CA DMV will be able to inform you as well on how to go about cleaning your driving record. If you will still require an SR22 in California, you should be able to buy an SR22 from an insurance company licensed to do business in California. You may ask any car insurance representative on the cost of getting an SR22 car insurance policy.
DMV sr22 insurance
Reader’s Question:
What happens if I cancel the sr22 before the required period?
Peter
Thank you for asking Peter.
State laws differ so I would sugges that you check with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or other state agency that is mandating you to obtain an SR-22 to get more information on what will happen if you terminate it before the end of your required time period.
In most states if you have your SR-22 cancelled, terminated or just decided to not carry it for the full period of time you were supposed to have it, your license will be suspended or revoked.
Acquiring and maintaining an sr-22 is required in many states to have your license reinstated. If you do not keep up the SR22 then your driving privileges will be suspended or taken away.
Since the penalty for canceling a SR-22 before the time period varies by state your DMV will be able to give you the the information that you need.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
insurance DMV after a SR-22
Reader’s Question:
How do I remove the sr22 from my policy?
Betty
Thank you for asking Betty.
State’s procedures differ but generally if your time period required by the state to carry your SR-22 is completed you should notify your insurance company so that it can be remove from your policy.
Before you contact your insurance cmpany to get the SR22 removed from your policy you may want to contact the department of motor vehicles (DMV) first, to make sure it is okay to cancel your SR-22 insurance. The DMV might need to send you documentation which you would need to show your insurance provider so that they would know that it is now okay to take off this sr22 or financial responsibility certificate/form from your insurance policy.
In most states the insurance provider will send the state a SR-26 when you cancel your SR-22 coverage. This form shows the cancellation of SR-22 or financial responsibility certificate insurance.
Goodluck!
MariCAR