Car Insurance
If you have ever been in a car accident you know that one of the first questions asked concerns your car insurance. It is also one of the first things a new driver learns as they start out in the world of driving is the need for insurance. Many newly licensed drivers wonder if they can drive without insurance. The answer is hot as simple as yes or no and will be explored in the information herein.
State Requirements
Most states have laws concerning car insurance that must be followed. In some states there are specific insurance types that every driver must have, typically liability. Some states may also have minimum coverage amounts in order to legally drive. If you live in these states then your answer would be yes, you do have to carry car insurance.
If you choose to drive in these states and do not have auto insurance you are leaving yourself open for legal and financial troubles. If you are stopped for any reason and you don’t have proof of insurance you will be fined and if you received multiple fines, your driving privileges can be suspended. Many states won’t issue a tag for an automobile if the owner doesn’t show proof of insurance when they register the car.
On the other hand, there are some states that have an alternative to car insurance. This alternative is a rather large fee that is paid to be able to legally drive without having to carry car insurance. However, if you are involved in an accident and you are at fault you will be in a financial nightmare.
Accidents and Insurance
Car insurance is designed to protect you in the event of an accident. If you are in an accident, there are many different financial obligations that having insurance can help with, including:
- Car: If your car is damaged and needs to be repaired, your insurance may cover the damages, if you have the right policy options, such as comprehensive. If the accident is your fault, your insurance will also cover the other parties car.
- Medical Bills: Many car accidents come with injuries, some quite extensive. The cost of medical car can be devastating; however, car insurance has medical coverage up to the amounts you specify when you purchase the policy.
- Lost Work Time
As you can see from these items, car insurance helps to cover the financial aspect of car accidents. If you choose not to have car insurance you can be sued and lose much more than the cost of an insurance policy.
Special Insurance
If you are asking about not having insurance because you think you can’t afford it, you should realize that you can’t afford not to have it. If you have special situations that make you a risky driver and you need help with affordable insurance, there are many agencies that specialize in risky drivers. Some of the scenarios that might warrant the need for a special auto agency include:
- DUI – Drivers with DUI’s on their driving record typically pay a much higher premium which often makes them simply driver without insurance. In an effort to help prevent this, there are many car insurance companies that specialize in DUI drivers and offer options for making them legal.
- Multiple Wrecks and Reckless Driving Records: Driving records that have gotten out of hand due to wrecks or speeding tickets can cause insurance costs to skyrocket. Rather than have drivers on the road that have no insurance, some companies have programs that help drivers with bad records obtain insurance.
Instead of trying to skirt the law and drive without insurance, you should do the necessary research and find options that will allow you to drive and be protected.
Budget for Insurance
Instead of having to ask if you can drive without insurance you should make sure that you have included it in your budget. You can find reasonable car insurance at many insurance companies and if you simply have to get the basics in the beginning, its still better than not having any insurance. The cost of not having insurance can be much more expensive than the insurance policy would be. If you look around, you can find companies that will allow you to make monthly payments and possibly even start out with no down payment.
Asking if car insurance is necessary should not ever be a question that is asked. If you choose to drive without car insurance you are putting your car, your home and your assets at risk. It only takes one accident to send a person into bankruptcy court if they don’t have insurance. If you think you are a great driver and you won’t have any accidents then you should still consider the other five million drivers on the road that can cause an accident. If they happen to not have insurance, the insurance you have will take care of your car and medical bills. Simply, put, why would you even consider driving without insurance?