When most people think of car insurance, what comes to mind is usually basic information that's not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there's a lot more to car insurance than just the basics.
There are many, many reasons for a driver to be out on the road without an auto insurance policy. Their coverage may have lapsed without anyone realizing it. They may not have been able to afford their premiums any longer. They may have just decided that the amount of money they were paying in premiums wasn't justified by the value of their car. Whatever the case, there are plenty of people out there driving without auto insurance. The question is, what happens when they get caught?
There are many, many reasons for a driver to be out on the road without an auto insurance policy. Their coverage may have lapsed without anyone realizing it. They may not have been able to afford their premiums any longer. They may have just decided that the amount of money they were paying in premiums wasn't justified by the value of their car. Whatever the case, there are plenty of people out there driving without auto insurance. The question is, what happens when they get caught?
If you live in a state that requires you to have an auto insurance policy (and off the top of my head I can't think of one that doesn't) the police can ask you to display proof of insurance at any time. That means any time they want they can ask you to pull out an insurance card, and if it's not current you're going to be paying the price. And that price is not a pretty one.
The penalties for driving without auto insurance vary from state to state, so you'd have to check out your state laws to confirm. As a general rule, however, it looks something like this:
Step 1: The police officer that pulls you over asks you to display proof of insurance.
Step 2: You can't provide proof. The officer tickets you for driving without a current insurance policy, as well as whatever traffic violation he pulled you over for in the first place. (If you're busted driving without an auto insurance policy you can forget trying to wriggle out of anything else.)
Step 3: You appear in court. The judge finds you guilty of driving without insurance, something that's really just a formality at this point.
Step 4: The judge takes away your license. This can also happen if your car insurance carrier reports to the DMV that your policy has lapsed, by the way. The length of time that your license will be gone will vary from state to state. New York's policies are one year, other states may be different.
If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole car insurance story from informed sources.
Step 5: You pay your tickets, including the one for driving without insurance.
Step 6: You spend a year hopping the bus and hitching rides.
Step 7: One year later you can reapply for your license. Not only do you have to pay an application fee, you may also have to pay a civil fee and retake your written exam, depending on your state's policies.
Step 8: You get your license back, and with a much emptier bank account you promise never, ever to drive without auto insurance again.
Getting busted for driving without insurance isn't fun. There's nothing even mildly amusing about it, especially if you live in an area where public transportation and/or alternate means of transport aren't easy to come by. The best thing you can do for yourself, your bank account and everyone out there on the roads is make sure you keep your car properly insured every time you hit the highway.
Clifford F. Berman is the CEO of QuoteScout.com. For more information about your car insurance pay them a visit at http://www.QuoteScout.com
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If you've picked some pointers about car insurance that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won't really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don't use it.