Do I Need SR22 Insurance if my Driver’s License is Suspended?
Reader’s Question:
Is it required to have the sr-22 insurance on file and active if your drivers license has been suspended for an unrelated issue San Francisco CA?
Karen
San Francisco, CA
In San Francisco CA the SR-22 can be required for a different reasons including after a suspension of license for a DUI and for reinstating a driver’s license after a revocation for driving uninsured or another type of financial responsibility on your car.
You ask regarding your specific situation with the CA Department of Motor Vehicles. You can search the California DMV website or contact them at 1-800-777-0133 during normal business hours for information about your particular case. They can inform you to have your driver’s license number and any other information sent to you from Department of Motor Vehicle available.
Will my Auto Insurance Rate Go Up if I File a Claim?
Reader’s Question:
I have a vehicle which is under my mother’s name and my boyfriend drove my vehicle and ran a red light in San Diego. The intersection took pictures of my car and sent it to my mother. Will my car insurance rate go up if I claim I was the motorist?
Jeena
San Diego, CA
If you want to take responsibility for driving the vehicle at the time of the violation in San Diego, California your mother would fill out your information in Section D on the back of the citation. This would identify you as the actual motorist. The Section D in the form must be completely filled out and returned to the Traffic Violations Bureau, at least 10 days prior to the appearance date. The citation would then be re-issued to the correct offender, you instead of your mother as it currently is.
So to check if your car insurance rates will increase due to a red light photo ticket in your name, verify first with your States Department of Motor Vehicles to check how the ticket classified.
DWI Insurance – Penalties for Drunk Driving in California
Reader’s Question:
My driver’s license was revoked over 10 years now for DWI in Baldwin Park. I have never tried to reinstate my license and I want to get my license back now. What kind of penalties should I be expecting? I live in Baldwin Park California.
Danny
Baldwin Park, CA
When your license was revoked for the DUI it is likely that you received this from the CA Department of Motor Vehicles as an administrative action taken against your drivers license. There also could have been a revocation given to you from your court conviction for DUI.
According to the CA DMV your driver license will be returned to you at the end of the Driving under the influence or DUI revocation or suspension period, provided you pay a $125 reissue fee to the Department of Motor Vehicle and you file proof of financial responsibility or SR22.
Since it appears you had more than one drunk driving conviction and license revocation some ten years ago in Baldwin Park, you should verify with the California DMV to find out the exact steps you have to take in order to have your driver’s license reinstated. It will likely include proof of financial responsibility in the form of a SR-22 certificate and fees.
What Happens if you Don’t Pay your Fine for Speeding Ticket
Reader’s Question:
I am a Antioch, California resident and got recently a speeding ticket for driving 82 in 75 mile zone in ID. What will happen if I do not pay the fine?
Denver
Antioch, CA
Idaho and California are both members of the Drivers License Compact and this means that member states of the DLC are required to report tickets received by drivers to the state where they received a license to operate. So the ID courts or Transportation Department will inform the CA Department of Vehicles about this out of state traffic ticket.
If you ignore or do not take care of the traffic ticket that you received from a state in which your state has a reciprocal agreement, like Idaho and California have, you license will be suspended in the state in which you received the traffic ticket. Your Antioch California home state, will then likely be informed that you failed to take care of your traffic violation.
To make sure what CA does with regards to your driving record or license if you do not take care of out of state tickets you can contact the California DMV.
Driving With Suspended License in California
Reader’s Question:
When will driving on a suspended license taken off your driving record in San Francisco California?
Fred
San Francisco, CA
Driving with a suspended license in San Francisco California is a violation worth two points on your driving record. This violation of the law comes with other penalties such as vehicle impoundment, jail time, fines, and/or a longer license suspension time or the revocation of license.
The amount of time in which a violation remains on your California driving record depends on the severity of the violation. Most points for minor violations, such as an speeding, illegal turn, etc will remain on your record for three years. Violations and points of more serious offenses, such as a DUI or hit and run accident generally remain on your MVR for seven years.
To verify for sure if California terms your violation as a major or minor violation, and how long it will remain on your driving record, you may contact the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Do I Need Car Insurance for Non Operational Vehicle
Reader’s Question:
I receive a notice of non-operation for a financed vehicle, do I need car insurance for that vehicle in Bellflower, California?
John
Bellflower, CA
The state of California, defines non-operational to mean that the car will not be driven, towed, parked or stored on public roads or highways for the entire registration period.
Normally, filing a notice of non-operation with a state is done to save on registration fees. In CA they permit for a planned non-operation (PNO) fee to be paid instead of the regular registration cost, the non-operational status will stay until you decide to operate the car and pay full registration renewal fees.
If you have a financed vehicle in Bellflower California generally you need to continually have car insurance on it. Most finance paperworks would require this so even if you file a notice of non-operation with your state’s DMV and are not going to drive the car, you will definitely need to verify with your finance company before attempting to remove insurance. Even though the car is not going to be on a roadway does not mean that damages could not happen to it and the need for car insurance will not be there.
How Long Does DUI Stay in your California Record?
Reader’s Question:
I got a DUI in California four years ago. When will my insurance carrier in San Francisco CA not be able to use this against me? When will they lower my insurance rates? They said that my rates are so high because of this DUI but, a friend told me that they are no longer permitted to do this after three years. Is this correct?
Ben
San Francisco, CA
Many traffic violation convictions in California stay on your driving record for three years but the DUI is considered a harsher violation so it, along with hit and runs and reckless driving, stays on your record for seven years from the violation date. Failure to appear for a DUI violation will be reported for ten years.
Each insurance provider in San Francisco decides their auto insurance rates using many factors. To find out about your insurance carrier’s rating system you may contact the California Department of Insurance because the must file their rates with this entity.
What is a Low Cost Auto Insurance Program in California
Reader’s Question:
I am wondering who is eligible for the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program?
Jim
San Francisco, CA
California’s LCA Insurance Program is a pilot program for residents of the City and County of San Francisco and the the LA County ONLY.
To qualify for the Low Cost Automobile Program, the applicant who lives in either SF City/County or LA County will have to demonstrate their financial need as well as be a “good driver”. Other certain restrictions apply, such as, the current value of the car to be insured cannot exceed $12,000.
You may also visit the California Insurance Department for more specific information regarding this. It is possible that government regulation and intervention may increase the rates in California, instead of solving the problem of uninsured motorists in the state. When the government tries to segment a free marketplace or tries to add more unnecessary regulation typically insurance rates become higher for everyone.
Penalties for Driving Without Auto Insurance in California
Reader’s Question:
I live in San Francisco California and want to know what happens if you are cited for a traffic infraction and you do not have auto insurance yet and the police officer gives you a fixit ticket to go to court and show proof that you did have auto insurance when the violation happened? Will I be lose my license or pay fine? If so, how much will it be?
Lory
San Francisco, CA
If you get caught driving without car insurance, it could cost you twice as much as one year of a basic auto insurance policy. If you fail to establish proof of financial responsibility, an infraction of California Vehicle Code, may result in fines up to $500 and penalties, impoundment of the car (for which the owner must pay all tow charges and storage), and driver’s license suspension.
That being said when a police officer gives you a fix-it ticket typically it is also a notice to appear. So your best option is to buy insurance and show proof of the newly purchased car insurance policy to the court. At this point it will be up to the court to determine if they are content or if they will access you a suspension or a fine.
For more specific information you can visit the California Insurance Department.
Making Car Insurance Claim Under Comprehensive Coverage In California
Reader’s Question:
I live in San Francisco California and my vehicle was parked on the street outside my house and it was hit by somebody. Should I make a claim under my uninsured motorist coverage?
Renzo
San Francisco, CA
I believe this would be considered a comprehensive coverage claim in San Francisco. Comprehensive physical damage covers your car, and sometimes other cars you may be driving for losses resulting from incidents other than collision. For instance, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle if it is stolen; or damaged by fire, flood or animals or parked. It is important that you report this loss to your car insurance provider. A licensed claims adjuster will be able to determine how this loss will be covered.
I suggest that you speak or contact your car insurance company to get more information on your comprehensive coverage policy.