Free DUI Lawyer In California

Reader’s Question:

Back in 2006, I was convicted for DUI in New Jersey and I moved here in California just recently. How long will my DUI in NJ remain on my driving record and influence my auto insurance premiums here in CA?

Garrett

Berkeley, CA

Your DUI conviction in 2006 would be a part of your permanent Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driving record. Because you are now residing in California, you have to verify with the California DMV to determine if they have put your DUI or other traffic violations that were part of your New Jersey driving record on your new driving record as a resident of California.

In 2007, the reporting period for DUI violations became 10 years for all public requestors, which include auto insurance carriers. Before that, DUI violations stay on CA driving record for seven years. Under this new legislation, you might not be eligible for a good driver discount again until 10 years after you committed your DUI offense. Before 2007, a DUI may have been weighed up by auto insurance carriers for premium add-ons for seven years but currently, it could be taken into account for 10 years.

Because your DUI offense happened out of state, you can get in touch with the insurance regulator for CA which is the CA Department of Insurance to determine how long an auto insurance provider in CA can consider your DUI conviction in NJ from 2006. You can also get in touch with an auto insurance agent if you have any further questions about your auto insurance costs.

Reader’s Question:

What is a California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program? Who are eligible?

Marge

San Francisco CA

The California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program is a way to address the problem of uninsured drivers in California, proposing the theory that most uninsured motorists go without car insurance due to the cost, and that if affordable coverage was available, many motorists would buy it.

The program is administered by the CA Automobile Assigned Risk Plan and policies are written by California Insurers.

Qualified applicants should:

• be at least 19 years of age or older and a continuously licensed motorist for the past 3 years.
• qualify as a good driver.
• have a car currently valued for $20,000 or less
• meet Income eligibility requirements.

If you want to know more information regarding CA Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program contact California Insurance Department.

Reader’s Question:

We are planning to give our son a car for his graduation but we are worried that it may double our financial responsibilities if we get him a car especially we need also to give him a car Insurance as well. Is there anything in California that can help us lower, if not decrease, our financial responsibility if adding another car and car insurance?

Wyatt

Carson, CA

Car Insurance policy for our young driver is a necessity just like having a car here in California. But this doesn’t mean that you are going to double your financial responsibilities for there are ways how to make it lower than the double.

Usually, parents in California don’t avail a single Car Insurance for their son; instead they add them to their car insurance policy. Adding the children to the parents’ car insurance will add more payment but then again it is way cheaper than availing another for the child. Parents might as well read their policy again to know if their policy requires all drivers to be named for coverage to apply. If you have this kind of policy, it is very necessary to list all members to the policy especially if the child has reached driver’s age. If your child will go to another location, you might as well inform your insurers since the car insurance rates usually based from where the driver is driving which needs adjusting your premium. If for example you haven’t listed all the drivers in your policy and have learned just a while ago the company will bill your for the extra premium that you should have paid.

Reader’s Question:

Since I have never gotten into an accident, I’d like to know if I need to inform my auto insurance company in case I encounter one. Am I obligated by law here in California to report any accident to my auto insurance company?

Aditya

San Francisco, CA

Although car insurance providers demand that they would like to know even the least accident you are involved with, you are not obligated by law in California to tell them about this accident. If it is obvious that the deductible that you agreed to pay is higher than the cost of the repairs on your vehicle, it would be better to pay the expenses by yourself and not report any claim to your car insurance provider. Keep in mind that all of your claims, even so if the damage would be less than your deductible, it will be on your insurance history. However, although the absence of an accident report to your insurance provider will not make you a criminal, majority of auto insurance policies state that the insurance provider has no responsibility to give coverage if you fail to report the accident quickly.

It would be reasonable not to file a claim if the repair expenses are less than your deductible. What they always advise to pick a higher deductible will be applied to this instance. You can keep the money that you save for having cheaper auto insurance premiums or you can even deposit it into a bank account. In case of an auto accident, you are financially ready to repair the damage even if the charge will be a little higher than your deductible.

Reader’s Question:

Is having a DUI conviction here in California be a ground for my auto insurance company to nonrenew my policy?

Margie

Burbank, CA

Auto insurance company could nonrenew your policy only when it comes up for renewal, and state laws don’t always spell out the offenses for which an auto insurance company can nonrenew insurance policies. Nonrenewal simply means that your auto insurance company no longer wishes to sell you insurance. This is generally due to having too many claims for at-fault accidents, having a conviction for driving under the influence or DUI or receiving too many traffic citations during the last three to five years.

Because of your DUI conviction there in California, your auto insurance company may nonrenew your auto insurance policy. They may decide to keep you but it’s no doubt that they will raise your insurance premium. If you get a new auto insurance policy from another company, they may also charge you higher premiums. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get a policy for a lesser price. You can try out for yourself and get an online rate quote from this website for your auto insurance.