I am planning to buy car insurance in PA but I would like to know if I need to get drivers license first to purchase insurance? What auto insurance companies in Pennsylvania are the easiest to work with and have the best rates?

Lee

Philadelphia, PA

No, you do not need to get drivers license to get Pennsylvania automobile insurance.

Although you can buy automobile insurance without your drivers license, if you just moved in PA you will need to get drivers license to register and title your vehicle.

The minimum liability limits required in the state of Pennsylvania are:

• $15,000 for injury or death of one person in an accident
• $30,000 for injury or death of more than one person in an accident
• $5,000 for damage to property of another person

This insurance is usually referred to as 15/30/5 and it is better to get higher limits to better protect yourself and your assets.

If you are leasing your car, your lien holder may require you to get physical damage liability of collision and comprehensive coverage.

My daughter had her license suspended in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She has a about three months left on the suspension. She just graduated from the university and started getting a new job. How does she get a special license so she may be able to work and back?

Allison

Bethlehem, PA

Your daughter will need to contact the PA Driver and Vehicle Services division of the Department of Transportation to check if she qualifies for a limited or conditional license that will permit her to operate a vehicle to and from work and perhaps home and college.

The information on the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code states that it is permitted for a person with a suspended license to apply for a restricted license. This includes either a occupational limited license or a probationary license.

An occupational limited license may be issued to a person whose driving privileges have been suspended. To get this type of license, a petition must be filed that listed the reasons the individual needs to drive a car.

My son is in a military academy and He will spend about a total of 1 month at home during the year for visits. I just want to know if in Erie, Pennsylvania do I need to keep my son on my auto insurance, if his drivers license address is still at our address? If not what will happen if he got involve in an accident while driving my vehicle? Can he get a military discount on car insurance?

Gina

Erie, PA

Insurance provider guidelines in PA vary so you will need to contact your insurance company’s agent to check if they will require you to keep your son in your policy or not, that is away at the military academy for most of the year.

Since he is only going to be at home for a month in a year your insurance provider may permit you to take him off as a driver for the present time period. If they do then your insurance company will probably let you to inform them when he does come in for visits. While he is in using the vehicle they may require you to add or re-instate him as a an additional driver.

In Pennsylvania how many points have to be on your driving record before they will suspend your drivers license? I live in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Angel

Reading, PA

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) maintains a driving record for every licensed motorist in Pennsylvania and points are added to this driving record when a motorist is found guilty of certain driving traffic violations.

Upon the 1st accumulation of six points, a motorist will receive a written notice to take special written point examination. The motorist has thirty days to successfully pass the exam otherwise the license will be suspended until the exam is passed. If the exam is passed within the thirty days, two points will be removed from the driving record.

If the motorist is under the age of eighteen the rules are different. PennDOT will suspend the drivers license when the motorist accumulate only six points or are convicted of driving 26 or more mph over the posted speed limit.

What happen if the person with the revoked license was caught driving with a 6 year old child in the car along with them? This person told me that he was caught a lot of times, and the law enforcement officer have let him go. He is not due to have his license back for another five years in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Miranda

Reading, PA

The vehicle code calls for the 2nd or any subsequent violation of driving while your operating privilege is revoked or suspended to pay a fine of not less than $200 but not more than $1000 or imprisonment for not more than six months or both. If you get caught driving with a revoked license 6 or more time times the penalty is a fine of not less than $1000 and imprisonment for not less than thirty days but not more than six months. A habitual violator of driving with a revoked license commits a misdemeanor in the 2nd degree.

The penalties should not change if the motorist with the revoked license has a child in the car, unless the child is not safe in a proper child safety seat for which the motorist should be ticketed for. If you are concerned for the child or about this motorist in Reading, PA being on the road without having a valid drivers license you can contact the Pennsylvania Driver and Vehicles Service or PENNDOT and make a complaint.