Driving Uninsured in Comparision With Utah Auto Insurance Laws
Car operators in Utah and in all of America must always have their Cars insured. It is their choice of how much coverage to have, but there is a minimum established by Utah auto Insurance laws, and the DMV of every state. The minimums for most states have been set at $25,000/$50,000 and $10,000. This means that if you get in an accident, each person in the other car is covered up to $25,000 with the maximum payout being $50,000, and property damages are covered up to $10,000.
When you are in an accident, as long as your policy is current and hasn’t lapsed your insurance company covers the expenses of the accident up to your level of coverage. However, if the insured has a lapse in coverage due to non-payment or for any other reason the insurance company is not responsible and the driver is 100% liable for the expenses of the accident.
Because of the problems that occur when an uninsured driver gets in a wreck, the government goes to great lengths to make sure drivers have valid insurance. There are stiff fines and punishments in almost every state for driving uninsured, even if you haven’t been in a wreck. What could happen if you are caught without insurance? It is different for every state.
If you are a resident of Utah, you are forced to pay 100% of the damages, and your license is revoked until you do so. You license can be taken away for up to six years while you are paying for damages. Can you go six years without driving? If you live in Michigan and get in a wreck while insured, you are only liable for $500 in damages. But if you are not insured, you are required to pay for all of it, no matter how much it is.
Perhaps the stiffest punishments are in Texas. In order to get a driver’s license in Texas, proof of insurance is required. If you are caught at any time uninsured you are hit with an initial fine of $350. On only the second offense you can be fined upwards of $1000 and your vehicle can be impounded for up to six months.
The limits of coverage are much lower in California, but this doesn’t mean you can drive without insurance. If you are caught driving without insurance your driver’s license will probably be taken away for at least a year. They also revoke registration on the car until it can be proved that you have insurance. Just like in all other states, you are responsible for paying for all of the expenses of the wreck if you are uninsured.
It is vital that you do not let your insurance coverage get cancelled. Even though it can be kind of expensive to have insurance on your vehicle, the penalties for driving uninsured are always worse. Make sure you get in contact with your Insurance Agent to make sure there is no problem with your insurance. Also when buying a car, consult with your agent to make sure you have enough coverage on your new car and that you can afford it.