DUI In California

Reader’s Question:

As much as possible, I want to have the best coverage for my auto insurance here in California. What optional coverage can I get for my car which I loan from a finance company?

Nasir

Perris Valley, CA

According to the Council of Better Business Bureaus (BBB), motorists who have car insurance coverage could have protection for more than they assume they have. For instance, even though a lot of motorists have coverage for a stand-in rental vehicle, they may not be aware that they have it since this optional coverage is included in their policy at such a minimal cost. This discretionary coverage on your car insurance in California may just be a couple of dollars extra on your monthly premiums. This type of coverage will give instant access to a rental vehicle which will serve as a substitute while the damage on your own vehicle is being fixed, or until your auto insurance company allows you to buy a new vehicle.

One other optional coverage that you can get for your auto insurance would be the gap insurance since you have a loan on your vehicle. Your auto insurance may not be able to cover the whole balance on your financed car since it can only pay up to the fair market value of your vehicle. The gap insurance will be the one to pay for the balance that you owe from the finance company once your vehicle is declared as total loss after an accident. If you don’t have gap insurance, you have to pay the rest of your loan from the finance company even if your vehicle has been declared a total loss.

Reader’s Question:

I’ve been told that I should get an Umbrella Policy for my car here in California. What is it and why do I need it?

Marion

Anaheim, CA

There are lost of benefits for choosing to get an Umbrella Insurance Policy. First, Umbrella Insurance is another type of additional insurance option where you can get a relatively large amount of financial coverage in case you are sued and is obligated to pay for compensation for causing a car accident. Surprisingly, you actually only have to pay a small amount in terms of monthly or regular premiums for this type of coverage but the amount of coverage you can get can reach up to a million to a couple of million dollars in total liability protection.

In the event of a claim filed against you in an accident, the only time an Umbrella Insurance Policy will take effect is once the regular liability coverage limits stated under your policy has been exhausted and is still not enough to cover for the whole monetary obligation you are required to pay for in damages or liabilities. Umbrella Policy will take care of the rest. It may be interesting to note that the state minimum liability amounts there in California is pegged at 15/30/5, that’s $15,000 total minimum for payment per injured person per accident, $30,000 total minimum limit for payment liability for all injured individuals per accident and $5,000 to cover for property damages. As you can imagine, car accident costs can amount to much larger sums hence the practicality of an Umbrella Policy.

Reader’s Question:

As much as possible, I want to have cheaper car insurance because I think I am overpaying for my premiums. Is there a way that I can reduce the premiums that I pay for my car insurance here in California?

Nico

San Diego, CA

There is definitely a way that you can have cheaper car insurance in  California; all you have to do is to know and understand the right questions to ask and to follow some steps. The first thing that you could do if you have two or more cars is to insure them with one insurance provider so that you may have multi-car discount. You may also inquire about multi-line discount if you could have your life and home insurance under the same provider. Also, if you have older car, you can think about cancelling your collision and comprehensive coverage.

Installation of security devices such as anti-theft, as well as airbags and anti-lock brakes can have discounts on your premium rates. You may also increase your deductible or at least choose the highest possible deductible you could afford. Also, if you have younger drivers in the household, be sure that they take driving courses and have them use less valuable car. You can also get ‘good student discount’ if your young driver has an average of ‘B’ or above in school.

Reader’s Question:

Hi, I’m a 19-year old college student here in California and I just got my own car. They say that teen car insurance is very costly especially if you are not under your parent’s policy. Is there a way out of paying more for my car insurance if I don’t get on my parent’s policy?

Thelma

Florence-Graham, CA

Even if you just got your own car, you know too well that it would be against the law to be on the road unless you have the proper car insurance. What you heard about getting teen car insurance can be too costly is right. Car insurance providers based their premium rates for teen car insurance on statistics that have been there for years. These statistics show that people with the same age range as yours have had a lot of accidents with their vehicles. Those who are between 16 and 19 years old are said to be three times more likely to get into an accident for every mile they drive than those who are between 65 and 69 years old.

For you to have the most affordable teen car insurance in California you have to get on your parent’s policy. However, if you can’t do that, you can still lower your car insurance rates. At the very least, all you have to do is to compare the premiums of all the car insurance providers that you can by getting quotes from them. You would see that the rates could differ a little from company to company.

Reader’s Question:

I was required to get an SR22 insurance because of my DUI conviction here in California. Do I need to get it from another company or will my current auto insurance provider have that for me?

Kaleena

Elsinore Valley, CA

You would have to get an SR22 insurance because of your DUI conviction in  California. This is a form that would be a proof of your financial responsibility and this says that you have the right amount of insurance that the state of California orders you to have. Your auto insurance provider could file the SR22 insurance for you but make sure that you check with them for their standard procedure. In case they don’t offer SR22, you can always get it from someone who offers it and you can find it from this website so get a free quote now.

You may have to maintain the SR22 for a number of years, depending on your specific case. The length of time an SR22 stays active would depend on your state and the details of your DUI. Getting an SR22 would often make you in the higher risk category for auto insurance providers and that means that your premiums could increase and stay higher for a number of years after you got your DUI. It is not the end of the world after your DUI but you have to pay for it for at least a few years- especially if it is with regard to your auto insurance.

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.

Reader’s Question:

What possible reasons for my DWI case in California be dismissed?

Paul

San Francisco CA

Thank you for asking Paul.

Dismissal of all DWI charges is a procedure when the defendant plea bargains for a reduced charge, such as alcohol related reckless driving, also known as “wet reckless”. If this happens, all drunk driving charges are dismissed and the client pleads guilty to the freshly added lesser charge.

If a DWI attorney claims that drunk driving charges have often been dismissed for his or her clients, ask if those clients were convicted of anything else instead. A wet reckless for first offenders offense is nearly as bad as a drunk driving offense. This counts as a prior offense if you’re arrested again later, and much of the penalty is the same as for drunk driving. Car Insurance companies know what it is, and will increase premiums accordingly, you will be in assigned risk category. It can still be a good deal for some clients, especially those who already have prior offenses on their driving records. This is because there’s no increased penalty for reckless driving based upon previous convictions of drunk driving. However, you don’t hire a good lawyer to get a wet reckless for a first offense, at least not when you have a good case.

MariCAR