Car and driver insurance requirements

Reba

Reba

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I started this thread so if there are any comments about car and driver insurance (or lack of) we can post them here instead of randomly in other threads.
 
Bottom Line - please don't drive unlicensed and/or uninsured. If you know somebody who is doing that, please do your best to stop him/her from driving.
 
Jiro said:
Bottom Line - please don't drive unlicensed and/or uninsured. If you know somebody who is doing that, please do your best to stop him/her from driving.
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Oh yea.....easier said than done, tho'. Where I live (my city), we have a massive lay-off of police officers due to the budget cuts....reporting that someone is driving without insurance, even a license may be our civic duty...but the police have to "see" that person driving first. And due to the crime rate here, something like that is the least on their minds...they simply take it with a grain of salt, and that's the truth!

It was that way even before the massive lay-offs of Officers. I've reported that someone was driving, on drugs and alcohol...right recently!...And was told..."well, we have to see that person driving first."....And that person lived right down the street, their truck was parked in front of their house.
 
That's not how it's done in SC. We can't even buy or register a car without proof of insurance. Same for motorcycles. Before TCS bought his, he had to get proof of insurance to show the seller. Also, you can't take a driver's test, get a license or renew a license with proof of insurance.

Of course, people can break the law by not registering their cars, driving without plates, and driving without a license.

The car that hit mine was a hit and run, and had a stolen tag on it. Fortunately, I had uninsured driver's coverage on my insurance, so everything was covered without paying any deductible.

For drivers who don't have medical insurance, having auto insurance is definitely a must and life saver.
 
This is what confuses me - how do you get car insurance if you don't have a car and how do you get a car if you don't have car insurance?
 
DeafCaroline said:
This is what confuses me - how do you get car insurance if you don't have a car and how do you get a car if you don't have car insurance?
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First, you get insurance as a driver. You don't need to own a car in order to be a driver. The driver's insurance covers liability; that is, injuring others or damaging the property of others.

Then, if you are in the process of buying a vehicle, you give your insurance agent the information, and he adds that to your policy. The premium and coverage will be adjusted to fit the vehicle. You can also add more coverage to the vehicle, in addition to liability, to cover the vehicle itself. That can cover repairs to the vehicle, road service (such as towing), rental car coverage, and coverage if your vehicle is totaled.

When you buy a vehicle, then you have to register it at the DMV to get a tag. That's when you have to show proof of insurance, and bill of sale. Sometimes the car dealers take care of the paperwork for the customer.
 
I've known people buy a one-month insurance policy in order to get a car and plates, then they let the policy expire.
It sucks.
 
Ok, and you wrote that one couldn't get a driver's license without insurance so how do you get insurance as a driver if you don't have your driver's license?
 
DeafCaroline said:
Ok, and you wrote that one couldn't get a driver's license without insurance so how do you get insurance as a driver if you don't have your driver's license?
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Eh? One can get a drivers license without insurance.
 
Beowulf said:
I've known people buy a one-month insurance policy in order to get a car and plates, then they let the policy expire.
It sucks.
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I don't think that's allowed here. The minimum insurance policy and premium is six months, at least until you've become a long-term customer. If you let it lapse, the insurance company automatically informs DMV.

But that doesn't stop the drivers from driving until there's an accident. :(
 
DeafCaroline said:
Reba wrote: "Also, you can't take a driver's test, get a license or renew a license with proof of insurance."

That is what I was responding to.
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Reba said:
I don't think that's allowed here. The minimum insurance policy and premium is six months, at least until you've become a long-term customer. If you let it lapse, the insurance company automatically informs DMV.

But that doesn't stop the drivers from driving until there's an accident. :(
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Different states have different requirements, apparently.
 
Beowulf said:
Eh? One can get a drivers license without insurance.
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Not in South Carolina.

Insurance Requirements
SC Insurance Requirements
Current South Carolina law requires that at the time a driver's license is issued for the first time and a driver's license is renewed, drivers must certify on the driver's license application (DL 447) that they are insured by an automobile liability policy. If an applicant does not own a vehicle or a vehicle is not in the household of the applicant, the applicant can check off on the application accordingly. The applicant declaring liability insurance certifies personal automobile liability insurance and not liability insurance of an employer.

Owners are required to provide proof that the vehicle being operated is insured. The first time you register your vehicle in South Carolina and each time your vehicle registration is renewed, you must provide the name of your insurance company. SCDMV will verify your coverage electronically. If the insurance policy cannot be verified, your driver's license and vehicle registration may be suspended. If you are a new resident in South Carolina and have an automobile policy with a national insurance company, be sure to change your address with your insurance company before you register your vehicle in South Carolina.

If you are stopped by a law enforcement officer and unable to provide proof that the vehicle you are operating is insured, you may be issued a citation and be subject to a fine or imprisonment.

If issued a citation, you will be required to provide proof of insurance for the vehicle that you were operating at the time within thirty (30) days to avoid an indefinite suspension of your driver’s license.

Presently, the minimum limits for SC are "25/50/25".

At the time of an accident, South Carolina Law requires that the investigating officer issue a Notice of Requirement (Form FR-10) to verify that liability insurance was in effect at the time of an accident. When the investigating officer issues the form, the owner is responsible for providing proof (via insurance company) that the vehicle involved in the accident was insured. Failure to provide insurance verification to the department within fifteen (15) days from the date of the accident may result in suspension of the owner's driver’s license and/or registration privileges.

South Carolina Law requires that insurance companies notify the department when a liability insurance policy is cancelled. The Notice of Cancellation of Policy (Form FR-4) is forwarded to the department and then forwarded to the owner. The owner is required to update the department with current insurance information or surrender the vehicle plate/registration. Failure of the owner to submit verification that the vehicle is currently insured or advise the department of the current disposition will result in the suspension of your driver license and the vehicle plate/registration. If suspended, the owner may be required to pay a reinstatement fee up to $400.00.
 
It's not hard to just pay the insurance premium for one month, break the payments up...then after 1 month, let the insurance lapse. That's what a lot of people do...Takes awhile for the Insurance co. to notify DMV. If the car is paid for..just liability is required...some even let that lapse.

There's many many instances to where people resort to peeling off the tag sticker of another car, or even defacing their own to drive...

Some people drive with an expired sticker and not getting caught for months, or just driving out of the way (back roads, etc.).
 
rockin'robin said:
It's not hard to just pay the insurance premium for one month, break the payments up...then after 1 month, let the insurance lapse. That's what a lot of people do...
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That's not allowed with our insurance. You have to pay at least six months worth up front (if you have a good record). Otherwise, you have to pay one year in advance. There's no such thing as monthly insurance here.
 
rockin'robin said:
...Takes awhile for the Insurance co. to notify DMV.
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It's automatic and electronic here. I think it's like the next business day.

There's many many instances to where people resort to peeling off the tag sticker of another car, or even defacing their own to drive...
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I know people can steal tags off other cars. If they deface their own, they can be pulled over. Defaced or obscured plates, no plate lights, etc., get pulled over all the time. Stolen ones are a little trickier.
 
Reba said:
That's not allowed with our insurance. You have to pay at least six months worth up front (if you have a good record). Otherwise, you have to pay one year in advance. There's no such thing as monthly insurance here.
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We get that. But there are plenty of other states that do.
 
Beowulf said:
Even the conservatives who screech against more government? :giggle:
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It's up to each state.

If they don't want to drive, they don't need to get insurance. Even when they do get insurance, only liability insurance is required. That's to protect other people and property. If they don't want to protect their own lives and property, that's up to them. No one is forced to insure themselves.
 
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