Reader’s Question:

Hi, I’m from California. I have a car in my parking lot and is never moved or turned on. Can I keep this car until I purchase a car insurance? I live in Berkeley, CA

Frank

Berkeley, CA

Generally speaking, the state requires all vehicles to be registered and thus insured. However, it depends on the state whether you can or cannot keep an unregistered and uninsured vehicle in a parking lot. It may be possible to store the car there until you obtain a registration and purchase an insurance. It may also be illegal and may be towed if the
vehicle is found to be without registration or to have expired registration

It may also depend upon where the car is parked. If the vehicle is parked in public, registration and insurance are probably to be required. If it is in private, it would likely depend upon signage that there is at the lot of the owner and also the law of the state.

If your car is inoperable, you may get a special status from the DMV. In California, the state’s law requires vehicles to have current registration if they are stored, driven, towed, parked on public roads or highways or parked in an off-street public parking facility. If your car is inoperable and would not be in any of the mentioned status, you could get an application for non-operational status and pay a non-operation (PNO) fee. Once the non-operational status is on your vehicle’s record, this will remain until you decide to operate the vehicle and pay the full registration renewal fees.

You can also check with your state’s DMV to learn what the state allows for in your situation.

Tags: auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

If I choose to lower my deductible, what will happen to my car insurance premium in Aurora, Illinois?

Viktor

Aurora, IL

Normally if you choose to lower your deductible amount your insurance premium will increase in Aurora, Illinois. If you increase your deductible amount on the other hand your car insurance rates would go down.

If you have Physical Damage coverages of comprehensive and collision coverage on your car insurance you can request higher deductibles for your Comprehensive and Collision coverage. The amount of money you have to pay before your insurance carrier starts paying the rest is your deductible.

If you choose to lower your deductible and it increases your car insurance cost then be sure you talk with your auto insurance agent to be sure you are obtaining all the car insurance discounts available to you. If you are obtaining new car insurance discounts for safety features, theft deterrent devices, etc this may help balance out the increase to the car insurance policy you are incurring from lowering your deductible amount and getting cheap car insurance.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance cost, car insurance quotes, car insurance rate

Reader’s Question:

I was driving my friend’s car and got into a minor accident. Will this increase my friend and my own insurance rates?

Leo

Joliet, IL

Insurance providers determine your rate by looking at different factors or risk factor for a motorist or a car.

Yes, your insurance rates will be affected by this minor accident; insurance providers use your driving record as a risk factor for calculating your insurance rates.

Yes, your friend’s insurance rates can be affected IF their insurance provider had to pay a claim for this accident; insurance companies use claims history (or claims paid) as a risk factor for determining car insurance rates.

If either rate is affected, you should shop for new car insurance. There are insurers that do not use these items as the risk factors. The only way to find these insurance companies is to shop for car insurance.

Reader’s Question:

Can I just have an sr22 and not purchase an insurance in my car?

Reena

Thank you for asking Reena.

Most states mandates vehicle owners to purchase a minimum liability coverage of bodily injury and property damage insurance before they can legally operate their vehicles in public roads. The financial responsibility law vary in different states. Those people who got involved in a car accident will be mandated to provide proof of financial responsibility or sr22 up to certain minimum liability insurance limits. Almost all drivers acquire car liability insurance to be able to comply with the financial responsibility law.

If you do not have a car you can purchase a non-owners liability SR22 policy, otherwise, you can make an SR22 filing in conjunction with your present or new car insurance policy.

Goodluck!

MariCAR