Where Do I Get Teen Drunk Driver Insurance?
Reader’s Question:
Hello from Pennsylvania! Can anyone help me out here? My teenage son was caught drunk driving and got his insurance cut off. Now he wants to start driving again. Will we still be able to get insurance for him? Is there such a thing as drunk driver insurance?
Eric
Pittsburgh, PA
Hi there Eric. Uh-oh… Drunk driving is not good. Are you sure you want to let your son back on the road so soon? Anyway, there’s still hope for insurance although it will be trickier this time around.
You can also your auto insurance rates to go up because of your son’s tarnished driving record. If your son’s license and registration has been suspended, you will need to ask your automobile insurance company to file an SR-22 in your behalf. This is a legal document that will prove to the Pennsylvania’s Department of Motor Vehicle that you have the proper insurance coverage. This must be maintained for at least three years, and there will be reinstatement fees to be paid. I suggest you look for an insurance company that specializes in serving high-risk insurance drivers and SR-22 filings.
You may also want to look into companies that specialize in teen driving insurance. These companies will be able to provide affordable insurance rates even with your son’s record of drunk driving. How about going to online auto insurance companies websites? You can easily get cheap online auto insurance quotes from these websites free of charge! And please, next time he does go on the road, tell your son to drive safely.
Looking For New Driver Auto Insurance in Pennsylvania?
Reader’s Question:
Hello, wondering if anyone can offer advice here. I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and I just started working. I am a new driver and I plan to buy my first car soon. What basics should I look at first in getting car insurance? I do plan on having a long relationship with my car and treat it as a valued possession.
Matt
Pittsburgh, PA
Hello there, Matt and congratulations on your move. That is a fine idea you have there, practical and not wasteful. Based on my experience, you buy the automotive insurance based on what you plan to do and how you’ll use your car. I’ll also suggest checking state laws first, on what’s the bare minimum of auto insurance that a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania car owner should have. Also bear in mind that too little or too much insurance is bad. You can either get caught unprepared in an emergency situation or get caught stuck with payments you can’t afford.
Here is one basic tip that I think you should check out. If you are a new driver and looking at acquiring an expensive brand new car and you’re confident about dealing with deductibles, you can look at having collision and comprehensive coverage in your auto insurance. With collision coverage, you’ll be prepared for vehicular accidents on the road i.e. you hit another car or another car hits yours. With comprehensive coverage, your car is insured for damages that are not caused by other vehicles. Let’s say, by some freak event, a tree just drops on your car, the resulting damage to your car will be covered by your auto insurance
What is Minimum Coverage Auto Insurance Needed inPennsylvania?
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.
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.
