Last Updated on November 23, 2019 by Marie Bautista
There are many reasons people delay getting car insurance, but none of the reasons are based upon California law. If you put off buying a policy, there can be, and likely will be, financial repercussions. The following are only a few observations about not carrying insurance on your vehicle.
If you don’t drive your car, you still need insurance
You may be under the mistaken belief that you do not need to have your car insured if you are not driving it, but the truth is that regardless of whether you choose to use the car or not, it still must be insured. In fact, if you let your registration lapse as well as your insurance and you park your car on the street, your car may be towed. Remember, unless your car is inoperable, you will need to have it registered and therefore, insured. However, if it is inoperable, you will still need to keep it off the public streets.
The penalties for not having insurance are severe
If you are found to not have insurance, whether you are driving the car or not, you will be ticketed. A ticket will apply if a police officer discovers your car is not insured. However, if you had insurance and let it lapse, the Department of Motor Vehicles will likely be informed by your insurance company, and your registration will be suspended. You will need to pay a fine to get your registration reinstated and prove that you have the car insured.
It is easy to get insurance
You can go online, where auto insurance quotes california are readily available. You won’t have to pay for the entire policy, but only a fraction of the policy, and then make monthly payments thereafter. Proof of insurance can be emailed or faxed to you, so you will have an insurance card you can carry in your car while you are driving. Keep in mind, although insurance is mandatory, it is only a minimum amount of liability and property damage that you need coverage for on your car. This is to protect other drivers in case of an accident.
There is no reason not to have your car insured here. If you think you can’t afford insurance, then you can’t afford to own and operate a vehicle. However, you may be surprised to find out exactly how cheap a car insurance policy can be.
