I was told that I need to get SR22 auto insurance coverage. What are the possible penalties for drunk driving in New York?

Mark

New York

Hello Mark! Below are some of the possible penalties for DUI according to the degree of the offense.

For the first offense the penalties are as follows:

• Up to 1 Year jail time
• $500 to $1,000 fine
• 6 Month Minimum license suspension
• Mandatory Surcharge fee
• Mandatory Alcohol Screening and/or Alcohol Evaluation
• Mandatory installation of Ignition Interlock Device
• completion of Driver Responsibility Assessment

For the 2nd offense, the possible penalties are as follows:

• 5 Days to 4 Years jail time; or
• 30 Days community service
• $1,000 to $5,000 fine
• 1 Year Minimum suspension of license
• mandatory installation of Ignition Interlock Device

For the 3rd offense, the possible penalties are as follows:

• 10 Days to  7 Years jail time or;
• 60 Days community service
• $2,000 to $10,000 fine
• 1 Year Minimum suspension of license
• mandatory installation of Ignition Interlock Device
• Alcohol Assessment
• Mandatory Surcharge fee

Are you required to get SR22 car insurance in New York automatically if you are convicted of driving under the influence?

Paul

Manhattan, NY

Since the laws in all States differ, the answer would NO. It is not always a requirement to get SR22 when you get convicted of DUI. In most states an SR22 car insurance is required to have your license reinstated and not as part of your penalties for DUI conviction. So if you get convicted of DUI and your license is suspended, you may be required to obtain an SR22 car insurance as part of your reinstatement process.

The following states does not require SR22 car insurance:

• Delaware
• Kentucky
• Minnesota
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• New York (does not require SR22 filings)
• North Carolina (does not require SR22 filings)

Instead of SR22 car insurance, there is also an FR44 that is similar with SR22 that is required after DUI convictions. This FR44 has higher liability limits compared to SR22 and used in Florida and Virginia.

Check with the Department of Motor Vehicle in your state to know if DUI conviction will require an SR22 car insurance.

My family is on a tight budget but we have to buy a car insurance for my young daughter here in New York. What are ways to get a cheap car insurance for young women?

Susie

Manhattan NY

You can find cheap car insurance for young women in New York when you do comparison shopping. By comparing at least three car insurance quotes, you will be able to find the cheapest car insurance policy with the best insurance coverage.

The Internet can provide you with the car insurance quotes you need to find the cheap car insurance for young women that you want. There are available insurance web sites where you can submit your request for car insurance quotes. With advanced software that these web sites have, you will have your car insurance quotes from many companies in a matter of minutes after you submit your request. In this way, you make effective use of your time because you are able to achieve a lot of things in one sitting.

You can also acquire a cheap car insurance for young women in New York when your daughter can assure car insurance companies that she can drive safely no matter what the road or weather conditions are. Naturally, car insurance companies see a greater risk in young people due to a preconceived idea that they are fairly new to the road and are more prone to road accidents. Thus, car insurance for young people are fairly more expensive than ordinary ones. By proving that your daughter can drive safely, she break this preconceived idea and thus, will earn her discount in car insurance.

There are more practical ways to get a cheaper car insurance policy for your daughter. Among these are:

• Getting a car with small engine,
• Owning a car that belongs to the low insurable category,
• Naming yourself as co-drivers to your daughter’s car,
• Reminding your daughter to avoid modifications to the car, and
• Inquiring to your car insurance agent about the possibility of a discount if the car has safety and anti-theft features such as safety bags, locks and immobilizer.

Hi. I would like to know how much will a speeding ticket affect my car insurance rate?

Kelly

Buffalo, NY

If this is your first ticket, it is possible that you will not see any change with your car insurance premium. However, there are other factors that is being considered so it is difficult to say.

States vary regarding car insurance laws. Typically insurance companies are not allowed to increase your car insurance rates after just one speeding ticket.

Different insurers have different guidelines regarding to raising car insurance rate. Some insurers will consider the severity of your citation and increase your premium accordingly. Also, some insurance companies will raise rates after a specific amount per violation.

Since there are various factors being considered , on the average the increase would be $50 more a year.

If you have discount on your car insurance, it is possible that that single ticket can remove the discount and may increase your base rate by two percent.

How do I find the best SR22 insurance company in New York?

Janice

Buffalo NY

What you need to do first to find the best SR22 insurance company is to obtain several quotes. It is important to remember that the cost of SR22 insurance policy is not everything you should be searching for. Once you have a list of SR22 insurance quotes, you’re going to have to take a few more steps beyond that.

First, ask yourself if the insurance company that you chose sell SR22 insurance policy. The first thing you want to ask yourself here is whether or not the insurer is licensed to do business in New York.. Check the New York Department of Insurance website to find out. You also need to know if they will have the money to pay your insurance claim if you must file one that is why you need to find out the stability of the company. You can find this out by getting their financial rating from the websites of Standard and Poor’s or A.M. Best.

Another thing that you have to remember is you have to be sure that the company that you will be dealing with is quick to respond to claims. Call them up and ask a few questions. Check out their website. Is it helpful? You may also ask your local repair shop how their dealings with that car insurance providers have been. With this information, combined with your SR22 insurance quotes, you will know which is the best insurance provide in the market today.

Hi, I am an exchange student and I have been in Amherst for ten months now. My dad wants me to have my own car but he worries about me not getting a student auto insurance in New York for some reason. As a foreign national, can I get student auto insurance in New York?

Jose

Amherst, New York

If you are carrying an International Driver’s permit, you can drive a car in the US for one year. Using the same permit that you have, you can purchase a student auto insurance in New York. There are a few things that you have to do to make sure that you are doing the right thing though.

Check with your university. If you came with a visa given to exchange students and an International driver’s permit, then your university can give you a comprehensive insurance policy so that you can register and drive a car.

If you want to save money and you think you don’t really need to drive a car every day, then think of renting a car instead. You can always use your International driver’s license. If you still want a student auto insurance in New York even for just renting a car, then there are a lot of insurance brokers who can give you a non-owner’s policy. Try asking the car rental if they can give you student auto insurance in New York too.

One easy thing to do and which will save you money as well is to get a guardian through your universities “adopt a student” program. Once you get a guardian, then you can add your name to your guardians insurance policy.

I am planning to purchase vehicle insurance from someone who offers the cheapest rate. My husband however says I should try to look for other firms which are more stable here in the New York area. Is he right?

Kylie

Amherst, NY

The usual thinking most car owners have is that the insurance company offering the cheapest insurance rates is the best and thus, the company they should purchase vehicle insurance from. If you are on a budget, this makes sense. However, not all vehicle insurance companies offering the cheapest rates are considered good insurance providers.

If you are looking for a dependable vehicle insurance company New York, you should not just look into the rates they are offering. You should also look into their financial standing. A good vehicle insurance company New York is financially stable and rated highly by credit rating agencies. This means that the vehicle insurance company can pay you in case you make claims.

A good vehicle insurance company New York should also have good customer support. Their customer service team should be dependable enough especially when you call them regarding your concerns about your insurance policy. You do not want to be with an insurance company that gives you a hard time when you make claims.

I know that it is required by law, but what are the other advantages of getting a business vehicle insurance here in NY? Thank you.

Marcus

Rochester, NY

Business vehicle insurance is a must for every vehicle used in any enterprise. You, as the owner, should be responsible enough to give your car a business vehicle insurance New York. Your vehicle is helping you in your livelihood, thus you have to protect it against any damages that it may incur in the future.

Having a business vehicle insurance New York will protect your business from accidents that can harm your source of livelihood. Imagine if one of your vehicles gets damaged in a car collision. Your business will certainly be affected by the damage your vehicle incurs. You may not be able to deliver your goods on time because you are lacking one vehicle to transport your commodities. In turn, you are risking losing profits for your business. In the long run, you may even lose the confidence of your business partners and clients.

Business vehicle insurance New York will also protect your business from incurring any financial losses. Imagine how much your business will have to spend if your vehicle gets involved in a traffic collision. Your balance sheets will be negatively affected because you had to shell out a significant amount for an unforeseen expense.

I received a parking ticket here in New York. Will it affect my car insurance premiums?

Ian

Albany, NY

In most cases, getting a parking ticket will not be considered by car insurance companies as a demerit earned on your insurance points. This is because moving violations, especially if a driver gets convicted for them, are the ones that the insurance carriers take into consideration when raising premiums. However, if you failed to address a parking ticket, like paying the fine, this would eventually lead to the suspension of your driver’s license, and then the suspension will be put against your driver’s motor vehicle record (MVR). The State of New York’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will then notify your auto insurance provider about the suspension. That is why it is very important to remember to address any traffic citation, even ones as seemingly harmless as a parking ticket as soon as possible. When you get a parking ticket, remember not to lose it in the glove compartment along with your loose change and ATM receipts.

In the State of New York, non-criminal tickets will be addressed by the local town or village criminal courts. However, you will need to face the Department of Motor Vehicles Traffic Violations Bureau since you are from Albany, New York. Instead of appearing before a judge, a DMV administrative law judge who has the authority to set penalties and fines will try your case. Bear in mind that it is easier to avoid getting a ticket than dealing with the consequences of it afterwards. Just make it a habit to follow traffic laws and practice safe driving.

How much car insurance coverage do I need to purchase in New York?

Jeff

Buffalo, NY

The State of New York is a no-fault state. This means that in the event of an accident, you will need to file a claim against your own car insurance company through your no-fault insurance policy. The minimum amount of no-fault insurance as part of personal passenger car insurance policy in New York is fifty thousand dollars. The minimum liability insurance that you must purchase is referred to as the 25/50/10 coverage. This type of coverage will assist with $25,000 for bodily injuries to one person, $50,000 for bodily injuries to all persons, and $10,000 for destroyed property in any one accident. The no-fault insurance policy is also known as the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) policy, and it is there to financially assist a policyholder’s medical costs. Additionally, PIP is devised to pay promptly regardless of who was at fault in the accident. This is to cut back on lengthy court litigations and provide necessary financial help right away. Due to the no-fault law, cases against car accidents can be tried only for losses that go beyond the no-fault insurance limits. A case can also be brought to the court for non-economic damages such as suffering and pain sustained from a serious injury.