VIRGINIA AUTO INSURANCE

REQUIREMENTS FOR ACQUIRING AUTO INSURANCE

SafeAuto wants to help you get the lowest possible auto insurance rates. Being familiar with your state's financial responsibility requirements is an easy way to start. Here is the most recent information for Virginia:

The minimum amount of liability insurance coverage required to satisfy Virginia's Financial Responsibility law is25,000/50,000/20,000. This means that your insurance policy must insure you against loss in an accident where you have been determined to be at-fault for a minimum of:

• Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) because of bodily injury to or death of 

one (1) person in any one (1) accident

• Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) because of bodily injury to or death of two (2) or
•  more persons in any one (1) accident, subject to the twenty-five thousand dollars

 ($25,000) per person limit

• Twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) because of injury to or destruction of property of others in

an accident

PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH VIRGINIA'S FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Every person applying for registration of a motor vehicle and declaring it to be an insured vehicle,
 faces stiff penalties if the motor vehicle is subsequently found to be uninsured. The Virginia DMV
may suspend the driver's license and registration certificates and license plates issued to the owner
 of the motor vehicle. These items are suspended until the person pays a $500 statutory fee,
 furnishes and maintains proof of financial responsibility (form SR-22) for three years and pays a
 reinstatement fee, if applicable. [Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-706]

CERTIFICATE OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (SR-22) OR (FR-44):

An SR-22 or an FR-44 is a certification of future proof of Financial Responsibility issued by your insurance company to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) providing proof that you purchased liability insurance. The following circumstances may require a person to have an SR-22:

• Unsatisfied judgments
• Driver's license suspension as a result of a conviction for:
  • Voluntary or involuntary manslaughter resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle
  • Perjury, making a false affidavit to the DMV regarding the registration of motor vehicles, or

 making a false statement on any driver's license application

• • Any crime punishable as a felony under the motor vehicle law or any felony in the commission

 of which a motor vehicle is used

• • Failure of a driver of a motor vehicle, involved in an accident resulting in death or injury

 to another person, to stop and disclose his identity at the scene of the accident

• Operating or permitting the operation, for a second time, of a passenger automobile 

for transportation of passengers for rent or for hire, without a license

• Uninsured motor vehicle suspension
• Failure to provide proof of insurance associated with insurance monitoring
• Falsifying insurance certification

FR-44 certification is required for the following convictions:

• Maiming while under the influence
• Driving while under the influence of intoxicants or drugs
• Driving while the driver's license has been forfeited for a conviction, or finding of not

 innocent in the case of a juvenile

• Violation of the provisions of any federal law or law of any other state or any valid

 local ordinance similar to the above

SafeAuto will only issue a Virginia SR-22 or FR-44 to Virginia residents.  An FR-44 is available only to existing policy holders, and – like the SR-22 – must be issued immediately upon request.  If an FR-44 is issued, appropriate follow-up underwriting action will be taken, consistent with Virginia law.

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES:

http://www.dmv.state.va.us/

If you have any further auto insurance questions please visit the FAQ page or contact the SafeAuto Customer Service Department at CSD@safeauto.com.

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Auto Insurance Requirements in North Carolina

All vehicles registered in North Carolina are required to carry liability insurance. The standards below indicate the minimum coverage required under law in North Carolina. Naturally, higher coverage can be acquired for policyholders concerned about liability.

$30,000	This is the maximum amount per person paid for bodily injury (“BI”) injuries.
$60,000	This the total amount paid by the policy for all bodily injury to all persons. Therefore if several people are injured, those who file first would receive payment as defined above, and once the total payment was reached, the remaining parties must pursue the policyholder for any sums over these amounts.
$25,000	This is the total amount paid for property damage (“PD”).

SR-22 is Not Required in North Carolina

SR-22 (the “SR” stands for “safety responsibility”) is a document that verifies that someone has automobile insurance. The SR-22 is prepared by an insurance company and then filed (by the insurance company) with the department of motor vehicles (DMV).  The SR-22 is not an insurance policy. It is evidence that you have a policy. North Carolina does not require an SR-22 forDUI offenses. However if you have an SR-22 filing in another state, and move to North Carolina, you must maintain your SR22 in the state where it is required.

What if you’re involved in an accident in a state other than North Carolina?

The good news is that most policies will increase to match the minimum requirements of the state in which the accident occurred. The 12 states with no-fault insurance systems require that your insurer pay for your damages (as if you had a no-fault policy).

How are premiums determined?

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An insurance company takes many factors into consideration when determining your insurance rates (premiums).  Some factors may seem unfair. For example, drivers with higher education or who are married will generally receive better rates than a driver with a similar driving record. Below are the major factors affecting rates

• Driving record and accidents. Moving violations, DUIs, and accident claims trigger higher rates.
• Credit score. Bad credit scores trigger higher rates.
• Miles driven.  Drive less, pay less.
• Occupation. Jobs involving driving or heavy commutes may trigger higher rates.
• Location. Higher crime rates in your neighborhood or a density of population (cities) will cause rates to rise.
• Age. Drivers under 25 pay more; drivers between 50 and 65 pay less.
• Gender and marital status. Women have fewer accidents and pay less than men. A married person is considered more stable and will receive a lower rate than a driver with a similar record.
• Type of car. The more powerful or expensive, the higher premium because high performance cars attract riskier drivers and expensive cars are more costly to repair.

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Car Insurance in Florida

Florida Car Insurance

Florida law requires residents of FL to have car insurance. You must purchase the minimum coverage amounts for both personal injury protection (PIP) insurance and property damage liability (PDL) car insurance.

Luckily, Florida offsets this coverage requirement by offering some of the lowest car insurance coverage minimums in the country.

Learn more about Florida’s car insurance requirements, the effects of traffic violations on premium costs, and how to get the best quotes on car insurance available.

FL Auto Insurance Requirements

Florida is a no-fault insurance state. If you are injured in an accident, your car insurance will pay your medical costs up to your policy’s limits, regardless of who caused the accident.

The minimum limits for Florida car insurance coverage are:

• $10,000 of no-fault or personal injury protection (PIP) insurance.
• $10,000 of property damage liability (PDL) insurance.

Personal Injury Protection

In addition to covering your part of any medical expenses and income loss that result from a car accident, your Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, insurance will also cover:

• Your child and other members of your household.
• Your child (when he or she is riding on a school bus).
• You (when you are a pedestrian or bicyclist involved in a car accident.)
• Passengers in your car who do not have their own PIP insurance and do not own a car.

Anyone in your car who has PIP car insurance will be covered by his or her own policy if you get in a car accident. Likewise, your PIP car insurance will cover you while you are a passenger in someone else’s car.

Property Damage Liability

Property Damage Liability (PDL) auto insurance in Florida will cover you for damages you cause in a car accident to someone else’s property, such as homes or buildings.

Violation Penalties and Fines

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) requires your insurance company to electronically notify them if there is a cancellation of your insurance policy.

If the DHSMV has no record of your current car insurance policy, you will be notified by mail. The notification will give you a date of suspension. If you are not ableto provide the DHSMV a proof of insurance before the suspension date, your driver’s license, plates, and registration will all be suspended.

To reinstate these, you will have to provide proof of Florida insurance and pay a fee of:

• $150 for your first offense.
• $250 for your second offense.
• $500 for each offense after.

If you are able to provide proof of insurance to the DHSMV before the date of suspension, you will not face any penalties.

You can provide your proof of insurance:

• Online at the DHSMV website.
• In person at a driver license office.
• By phone at (850) 617-2000.

If you no longer own the car, surrender your plates and registration to the Florida DHSMV to avoid suspension of your FL driver’s license.

Optional Car Insurance in Florida

While Florida law mandates the minimum amounts of coverage you must purchase, you always have the option of purchasing higher amounts of coverage on your property injury protection and property damage liability coverage.

Also, for those looking for more comprehensive coverage, most Florida car insurance companies will offer the following types of optional coverage:

• Comprehensive – This coverage will pay for damages to your car that do not result from accidents, e.g., scratches to your car’s paint due to vandalism.
• Collision – This coverage will pay for accident-related damages to your car.
• Towing and labor.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist – This coverage will pay for damages incurred by incidents with drivers who do not have insurance.
• Rental car coverage.

NOTE: While comprehensive and collision coverage policies are not required by Florida law, your lender will require you to purchase both if you are financing your car.

Bodily Injury Liability

One of the major reasons that Florida requires no-fault car insurance is to protect FL drivers from being sued after an accident. However, if you get into an accident, there’s still a chance the victim(s) will sue you, especially if one or more victims suffers severe injury or if there is a fatality.

To help cover you in these cases, you can get Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) car insurance in Florida. If you have BIL coverage and you are found responsible for an accident, this coverage helps to pay for injuries to the victims of that accident, up to the coverage limits of the policy.

Bodily injury liability coverage will even help pay for the cost of a lawyer if you are sued after an accident.

Insurance Penalties: SR-22 and FR-44

In Florida, you may be required to purchase additional car insurance if you’ve been in a car accident or you’ve had certain traffic violation convictions.

SR-22 in Florida

Certain incidents or violations may require you to carry an SR-22 certification, whichmandates that you purchase bodily injury liability, or BIL, car insurance on top of the basic Florida car insurance requirements.

You will have to carry an SR-22 for 3 years IF:

• You are involved in a car accident that causes injuries or property damage.
• You have had your driver’s license suspended due to excessive traffic violation points.
• Your driver’s license has been habitually revoked.

If you are found guilty of driving without car insurance, you may have to carry a 6-month non-cancelable SR-22 for up to 2 years. A 6-month non-cancelable SR-22 requires you to pay your entire premium up front each time you renew your policy.

FR-44 in Florida

If you are convicted of a DUI in Florida, you may be required to purchase additional insurance and file an FR-44 form as proof of that coverage. FR-44 certificates are required when a driver has been convicted of a DUI and did not hold the following amounts of coverage for bodily injury liability and property damage liability insurance on the date of the arrest:

• $100,000 for injuries to any one person.
• $300,000 for injuries to all people in one accident.
• $50,000 for property damage liability (PDL).

If you are subject to the FR-44 requirement, you will need to add BIL and PDL coverage to your policy, with the minimums shown above.

You must have your FR-44 for at least 3 years from the date of suspension.

Driving under the influence is not only dangerous, but it can also be extremely costly. Stay safe and keep your car insurance premiums down.

The Most Stolen Cars In Florida

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Driving a car that is known to be a target for car theft may increase your car insurance premium.

The following is a list of 2013's most stolen cars in Florida according to www.nicb.org:

1. Ford Pickup (Full Size).
2. Honda Civic.
3. Honda Accord.
4. Nissan Altima.
5. Toyota Camry.
6. Toyota Corolla.
7. Nissan Maxima.
8. Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size).
9. Dodge Pickup (Full Size).
10. Dodge Caravan.

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Car Insurance in Colorado

In Colorado, car insurance is mandatory for all drivers. Auto insurance regulations are enforced by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Insurance.

Until 2003, Colorado was a “no-fault” state, but changed the law in order to help reduce the cost of insurance premiums and help prevent claims abuses.

Colorado car insurance now operates as a tort system, meaning that fault must be established before an insurance company will pay a claim.

Required Car Insurance

Colorado drivers must have liability insurance, which covers only the other car and/or driver when an accident is your fault.

Colorado drivers must have liability coverage at the following minimums:

• $25,000 per person for bodily injury.
• $50,000 per accident for bodily injury.
• $15,000 per accident for property damage.

All other car insurance is optional.

Optional Car Insurance

Colorado auto insurance providers also offer a variety of optional coverage types:

• Collision coverage: Helps cover damages to your car caused by hitting other objects, including another car.
• Comprehensive coverage: Covers damages to your car caused by non-accident-related incidents or factors, such as theft, extreme weather, and wildlife.
• Medical payment (“med pay”) coverage: Must be offered as part of any Colorado car insurance policy.
  • It is offered in increments of $1,000 towards accidental injuries.
  • You can opt out of med-pay coverage or purchase higher coverage limits if offered by your car insurance company.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Helps cover expenses if you are involved in an accident with a driver who has no insurance or too little insurance.
• Rental car coverage.
• Loan/lease gap coverage.
• Roadside assistance/towing coverage.

NOTE: Finance and leasing vendors require you to have collision and comprehensive car insurance on any financed vehicle.

CO Car Insurance & Registration

The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires you to show proof of auto insurance to register your car or renew your registration.

The DMV will accept any of the following as proof of insurance:

• Insurance card.
• Copy of car insurance policy.
• Printout or fax of insurance policy.
• Image of auto insurance card on a cellular phone.
• E-mail from insurer.

NOTE: Failure to register your vehicle can lead to penalties or fines.

Violations of CO Car Insurance Laws

Colorado imposes various penalties for violations of insurance laws such as failure to provide proof of insurance during a stop or failure to purchase the minimum required insurance. Read below to learn about the specific penalties.

Failure to Hold Insurance

Failure to have minimum liability insurance results in the following penalties and fines:

• 4 points on your driver’s license.
• $500 minimum fine.
• License suspension.
  • For the first offense, it will be suspended until you can show proof of insurance.
  • For additional offenses, it will be suspended for up to 8 months.
• Required community service.

Not only do you risk fines and penalties if you do not have minimum liability insurance, but you are also likely to have much higher rates when you re-apply for insurance after letting it lapse.

Always keep at least the required insurance minimums to ensure low-cost insurance rates long-term.

Failing to Carry Proof of Insurance

You must show proof of car insurance if you are stopped by a police officer or if you are involved in a traffic accident.

If you can’t show proof of insurance during a stop, the officer can check the Colorado car insurance database to see if you have valid insurance. However, even if you have insurance, you may still be issued a ticket for failing to carry proof.

SR-22

You may be legally required to file an SR-22 form (also known as SR22 insurance) from your insurance provider if your license:

• Has been suspended (or is in danger of suspension).
• Has been revoked.

SR-22 requirements vary by type of offense and number of offenses and may be required for a specific period of time.

An SR-22 is not insurance; rather, it is a certification filed by your insurance company stating that you will maintain the minimum liability insurance for a predetermined amount of time.

Failure to maintain your insurance policy with a current SR-22 will result in another suspension of your driver’s license. Essentially, the insurance company notifies the DMV that you are no longer keeping your SR-22 current and the DMV penalizes you.

If you decide that you want a new insurance provider, you have to get your new agent to file an SR-22 BEFORE canceling your current policy and SR-22.

Alternative Insurance for High-Risk Drivers

If you’ve had certain traffic violations, you may be deemed a “high-risk driver” by insurance companies. If you are having a hard time finding an insurance carrier because of this status, you do have options.

Colorado participates in the Western Association of Automobile Insurance Plans (WAAIP), which helps high-risk drivers find car insurance.

Under the Colorado Motor Vehicle Insurance Plan, high-risk drivers are insured by a specific company found through WAAIP, but the risk is shared among all insurance companies operating in CO.

To seek coverage through WAAIP, ask an insurance agent to help you apply.

Policies obtained through the WAAIP tend to have much higher rates, so it’s a good idea to shop around for car insurance quotes from multiple companies through the standard market before choosing this route.

Insurance Fraud

Insurance fraud can be committed by anyone and can take many forms, including:

• False claims.
• Forged proof of insurance or other documents.
• Business performed by unlicensed insurance agents or brokers.

If you suspect an individual or business of auto insurance fraud, you can file a complaint with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which will submit your report to your state agency through an online fraud reporting system.

Car insurance fraud costs insurance companies money and can lead to higher rates for all consumers, so it is important to report suspected fraud.

Insurance Questions

If you have a question about a car insurance policy, claim, or provider, you can contact the Colorado Division of Insurance:

• By phone at (303) 894-7490.
• By e-mail to insurance@dora.state.co.us.
• By completing the Online Request for Assistance.

The Division of Insurance can answer your questions about car insurance policies, consumer rights, and car insurance agents.

Determining Your Car Insurance Rate

Colorado auto insurance rates are based on several factors, including your credit report.

Car insurance companies can also use your:

• Driving history.
• Age & gender.
• Marital status.
• Neighborhood or city’s safety.
• Car make and model.

Points on your driver’s license for traffic violations, including DUI and DWI violations,can raise your insurance rates.

Discounts on Colorado Car Insurance

Many CO car insurance companies offer discounts to drivers to help you save money on your rates.

Savings and availability may vary by agent and can include rate discounts for:

• Driver education or training.
• Good or safe driver history.
• Good student record.
• Vehicle safety.
• Multiple policies.

Since most Colorado auto insurance companies offer discounts for safe driving and driver education, the best way to get the cheapest car insurance rate is to follow the rules of the road and maintain at least the minimum required coverage at all times.

Most Cars Stolen in Colorado 

Driving a car that is known to be a target for theft can increase your car insurance rates.

The following is a list of the most stolen cars in Colorado for 2013, according to www.nicb.org:

1. Honda Accord.
2. Honda Civic.
3. Ford Pickup (Full Size).
4. Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee.
5. Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size).
6. Toyota Camry.
7. Dodge Pickup (Full Size).
8. Acura Integra.
9. Ford Explorer.
10. Chevrolet Pickup (Small Size). 

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