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Minimum Modesto Car Insurance is Bad

Written by Michele Wilmonen. Posted in Research Last Updated: 07/28/2014

Carrying the minimum amount of Modesto car insurance is really not something you should do.

modesto car insurance

Don’t get yourself in a prickly position by not having enough Modesto car insurance.

Most Modesto drivers assume that the State of California requires a Modesto car insurance with state minimum coverage be purchased before they are able to drive their vehicle.  This is only partially true.

The State of California does not require that a car insurance policy be purchased, but rather some form of Financial Responsibility to show that you can pay for the aftermath of a car accident that you cause. Just be aware that the minimums that are required by California aren’t even close to what a car accident can cost financially.

Proof of Financial Responsibility

As long as you have one of the following, the State of California will allow you to register your vehicle and drive:

  1. Motor vehicle liability insurance policy
  2. Cash deposit of $35,000 with DMV
  3. DMV-issued self-insurance certificate
  4. Surety bond for $35,000 from a company licensed to do business in California

Modesto Car Insurance Requirements

If you choose to go with having a motor vehicle liability insurance policy as your financial responsibility, it has to carry at least the following coverage:

  • $15,000 for injury/death to one person
  • $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person
  • $5,000 for damage to property

Minimum Requirements Not Enough

When was the last time you were able to buy a brand new car in Modesto for $5,000?

If you cause a car accident that ends up with the other person’s vehicle having to be totaled, you are on the hook for buying them a new car. Oh sure, your car insurance company will pay for the first $5,000 of it, but you will have to find a way to pay for the rest.

With the average price of a new car or truck being around $32,000 (Kelley Blue Book), that $5,000 payment from your Modesto car insurance company will still leave you with $27,000 to make up for.  If you can’t pay for that all at once, you might get lucky and they will allow you to make payments  and if you are still making payments on your car that will leave you making two car payments for a number of years. Can you afford to make two car payments?

So talk to your Modesto car insurance agent today about getting a decent amount of insurance coverage to protect you from financial distress in the future.

Lacking Des Moines Car Insurance

Written by Michele Wilmonen. Posted in Research Last Updated: 07/27/2014

Not having Des Moines car insurance is just one way to keep yourself off the road.

Des Moines car insurance

Don’t lose your driver’s license just because you don’t want Des Moines car insurance.

Driving is a privilege that most people think is a right. They believe that being able to drive is something that cannot be taken away from them, so they make stupid decisions when they are behind the wheel.

But, don’t think that your driver’s license is a right, because it can be taken away from you a lot easier than it was for you to get it in the first place.

Drive Sober

From the Iowa Department of Transportation’s website, the Operating While Intoxicated law says that you cannot operate a vehicle if:

  1. While under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or other drug or a combination of such substances.
  2. While having an alcohol concentration of .08 or more.
  3. While having any amount of a controlled substance in one’s body.

Iowa’s implied consent law means that any person who operates a motor vehicle in the state agrees to have a blood, breath and/or urine test performed to determine alcohol level or presence of drugs, whenever a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe the person is operating under the influence.

Violating this law will leave you lacking a regular driver’s license.

Drive Safe

  • You can also lose your license if you:
  • Are habitually reckless or negligent
  • Have 3 or more convictions for moving traffic violations within a year
  • Fail to pass an exam
  • Have a mental or physical condition that prevents you driving safely
  • Didn’t pay a fine, penalty or surcharge or court costs from a traffic ticket
  • Have been convicted for excessive speeding
  • Received a traffic violation that contributed to a fatality

Drive with Active Des Moines Car Insurance

Although driving without insurance may not seem like a dangerous act, the State of Iowa has deemed it dangerous enough to take away your driver’s license if you do. If you want to keep your driver’s license the following Des Moines insurance coverages need to be purchased:

  • $20,000 bodily injury liability coverage
  • $40,000 bodily injury liability coverage (per accident)
  • $15,000 property damage coverage

For more information on how you to keep your driver’s license with Des Moines car insurance, contact your local insurance agent.

Rochester Car Insurance Help

Written by Michele Wilmonen. Posted in Research Last Updated: 07/22/2014

A simple guide to Rochester car insurance.

Rochester car insurance car insurance can be confusing and can be the source of many questions. What are the minimum coverages you need to have to legally drive in the State of New York? How much does Rochester car insurance usually cost?

Do I really need Rochester car insurance?

Trusted Choice insurance agency has put together a great visual that can help to answer those questions and more. If you have specific questions about Rochester car insurance, contact your local agent.

Rochester car insurance

A Trusted Choice insurance agency on the basics of Rochester car insurance and all other parts of the State of New York.

Spokane Car Insurance and Traffic Laws

Written by Michele Wilmonen. Posted in Research Last Updated: 07/20/2014

Keep Your Spokane Car Insurance Down by Keeping Traffic Laws in Mind

spokane car insurance

Keep your Spokane car insurance rates beautiful by following traffic laws.

Nothing will raise your Spokane car insurance rates faster than racking up traffic violations on your motor vehicle report. The more violation points you get, the less your insurance company trusts your driving ability. This means that you have just given them the perfect (and legal) excuse to jack up your insurance rates.

Your best course of action is to keep your driving record clean, and for Spokane drivers here are a couple traffic violations to be aware of.

Red Light Means Stop

Spokane drivers are notorious for running red lights. This is a very dangerous driving practice which will not only earn you a traffic ticket and higher insurance rates; it is also a prime way to cause a very serious car accident.

So once that traffic signal turns yellow, slow down and prepare to stop for the upcoming red.  That yellow light is not there to give you a second chance to get through the intersection.

We aren’t all NASCAR drivers

In addition to running red lights, speeding is the next easiest way for Spokane divers to find themselves with higher car insurance rates. Getting to your destination a minute or two faster by driving over the speed limit cannot be possibly worth the fine you will have to pay for your traffic ticket, as well as the three years of elevated car insurance premiums that you will have to endure.

So keep it around the speed limit to keep that extra money in your wallet where it should be.

Spokane Car Insurance Laws

Spokane car insurance laws are created by the State of Washington, so they are the same whether you are in Spokane or Seattle. To be able to drive you have to have no less than the following coverages:

  • $25,000 for injuries or death to another person
  • $50,000 for injuries or death to all other people
  • $10,000 for damage to another person’s property

Without these coverages you are subject to traffic fines, higher insurance premiums once you do get Spokane car insurance and three fun-filled years of having to pay even more for your car insurance thanks to the SR-22 filing that you will now have to have.

So as you can see, keeping your Spokane car insurance rates where you can afford them is as easy as following the most basic of traffic laws.

100 Deadly Days of Teen Driving

Written by Michele Wilmonen. Posted in Research Last Updated: 07/17/2014

Summer + teen drivers = accidents and higher car insurance rates.

Teen drivers are more likely to get into a fatal car accident in the summer than during any other time of the year.  The National Safety Council has these awesome tips for parents to help keep their teen drivers safe and also keep their car insurance rates down.

The 100 deadliest days for teen drivers
Provided by Drive It Home

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