How Long Does DUI Conviction Stay on My Record in Pennsylvania?
Reader’s Question:
I was convicted of DUI in Pennsylvania. How long does it stay on my record?
George
Bethlehem, PA
It’s terrible to be convicted with DUI and unfortunately, a DUI in Pennsylvania stays on your driving record for 7 years. Pennsylvania started enforcing a new Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Law in 2003. The new law just created a tiered approach toward DUI enforcement and treatment, by including many changes to the terms of suspension, fines, penalties, and other requirements. This new law focuses on treatment for first-time DUI offenders rather than suspension and punishment.
Strictly speaking, licensing requirements and penalties are determined by the combination of an individual’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level and prior offenses. There are three levels of DUI in Pennsylvania: General Impairment (.08 to .099% BAC), High BAC (.10 to .159% BAC), and Highest BAC (.16% and higher).
You see, under this new law on DUI, school vehicle or bus drivers, commercial drivers, minors, and offenders involved in an accident that causes property damage or injures someone may be subject to the high BAC penalties even if their BAC is not in the high category.
It might be best for you to check on the latest legislation about Pennsylvania to verify the duration your DUI stays on your record since laws on DUI have become more stringent in PA in the last few years.
Will My Car Insurance Rate in Pennsylvania Increase if I Commute
Reader’s Question:
Why do insurance carriers ask Pennsylvania (PA) residents if they commute or work in NJ or NY? Does that increase your insurance rate?
Allan
Erie, PA
Insurance providers differ in their rating systems so it is possible that some insurance companies within Pennsylvania include usage of the vehicle, meaning in this example commuting out of state into NY and NJ for work, could be used as a rating factor.
It is likely that driving into New Jersey and New York on a regular basis may find you to be a higher risk driver to an insurance provider since those states may have higher statistics of uninsured motorists and/or accidents. Risk analysis is what insurance carriers use when determining your car insurance premiums. Risk is probability; the probability that you will get involved in an accident and the probability of the severity of the incident.
It look like the PA laws permit usage of the vehicle, such as commuting into NJ and NY can be used to help assess your insurance rate. Whether it will increase your car insurance rate or not will depend upon the individual insurance carrier’s rating system so you can ask if working in or commuting to New Jersey or New York will affect the cost of your insurance.
I Live In New York Can I Register My Car in Pennsylvania?
Reader’s Question:
My brother lives in New York and wants to insure her vehicle under my insurance policy in Pennsylvania. Her vehicle is registered in New York. Is this possible?
Helen
Philadelphia, PA
No, normally this would not be possible for a few reasons.
One reason is that likely your insurance provider would not permit you to insure an out of state car that is not garaged at your home, not driven by a member of your household and not registered in PA. If you did not give your insurance provider the information that it was your brother’s car registered, driven and garaged in NY when adding the vehicle, nor have your brother listed as a driver on your insurance policy then this could be determined to be misrepresentation, a form of insurance fraud.
Another reason that you cannot insure your brother’s NYS registered car with PA car insurance is that New York laws require vehicles to be insured with NYS insurance.
What is Minimum Coverage Auto Insurance Needed in Pennsylvania?
Reader’s Question:
What is the minimum coverage I need for on a vehicle that is financed in the state of Pennsylvania?
Ralph
Pittsburgh, PA
Your state Pennsylvania, like most, only requires liability coverage on cars but your finance company is not likely to agree. Finance companies typically require you to carry collision and comprehensive coverages on the car since until you pay for the car in full they have a financial stake in it.
Comprehensive and Collision coverages will help cover the car up to its actual cash value so they can recoup the value of the car if it is a total loss in an accident.
Is Teen Required To Be Added To Parent Car Insurance Policy?
Reader’s Question:
Is my 16 year old teenage son required to be added to my insurance policy simply because he has his license, or can he just borrow my insured car until she gets his own car? What are the ramifications (if any) if I didn’t add him and there was an accident? We live in PA.
Carrie
Allentown, PA
Pennsylvania insurance providers guidelines vary but in general insurance companies will require you to list all licensed motorists in your household on your insurance policy. Since you son has received his license your car insurance company should be notified and they will tell you if you are required to add him or not, most likely you will need to add him in order for his to have coverage.
If you do not inform your Pennsylvania insurance provider about your son being licensed and he is not added to the policy then he may not be covered if in case of an accident. Or we have heard of situations in which the teenager would be covered for the accident but only after you have paid the premiums that should have been paid for your teenage son to be on the policy and properly covered.
Can I Transfer My Car Insurance Policy To Parent Name?
Reader’s Question:
If the vehicle I drive is under my name and Im a resident in New Jersey, can I have it transferred to my parents name, who live in PA, and have Pennsylvania insurance?
Phyllis
Pittsburgh, PA
If you are planning on giving your car to your parents for them to operate in Pennsylvania, you should have no problem transferring the title over to them and permitting them to buy Pennsylvania auto insurance for it.
If instead you want to change the car over to your parents name and obtain Pennsylvania insurance but continue to be the primary driver and have the vehicle reside with you in New Jersey, this will likely not be proper.
Having the vehicle registered and insured in one state but the car staying in another, if not told to the insurance provider, could be considered misrepresentation or insurance fraud in some states.
What Happens If I Drive Without Insurance And Driver License?
Reader’s Question:
If I got involved in a car accident without insurance and driver’s license in Pennsylvania however it is not my fault. Could I be charged with a crime if someone got killed in the accident?
Fred
Pittsburgh, PA
Operating a vehicle without insurance and without a valid license are both against the law in the state of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania laws states that every car that is required to be registered should be covered by financial responsibility (FR). Most motorists choose to get Financial Responsibility in the way of auto insurance.
The penalties for not having auto insurance, or another form of FR, can include:
1. A three month suspension of your driver’s license
2. A minimum of $300 fine
3. $50 reinstatement fee to restore your driver’s license
4. A three month suspension of your vehicle registration
5. $50 reinstatement fee to restore your vehicle registration
6. That the car may not be driven by anyone while the registration is revoked or suspended.
Since you were driving without the required state insurance and without a valid license you will likely received some of the penalties above if you were convicted by the responding law enforcement officer. There might be other penalties too if you get involved in an accident and if a death occurred.
Loading ...