Why Is It Important That Police Can Tell If You Have Insurance By Running Your Plates
It is important that police can tell if you have insurance by running your plates because it motivates drivers to purchase and maintain the auto insurance that is required under Michigan law and, thus, avoid the severe criminal and financial penalties that Michigan imposes for driving without auto insurance.
Those penalties could include: being found guilty of a misdemeanor a fine between $200 and $500 a year in jail suspension of your drivers license inability to renew your vehicle registration being disqualified from suing for pain and suffering compensation and/or No-Fault benefits if you are injured in a crash and being held financially liable for the medical bills and lost wages of anyone else injured in a crash that you are involved in even if you were 100% not at-fault for the auto accident.
What Are The Penalties For Driving Without Insurance
In every state, it is a crime to drive without insurance. While states like Virginia and New Hampshire do not mandate auto insurance, they still require proof of some form of insurance, such as a surety bond.
First-time offenders who are caught driving without insurance face a monetary penalty. In most states, the first offense is punishable by a fine of $500 to $1,000, although some states impose fines of up to $5,000. DMV reinstatement fees may also cost you hundreds of dollars.
In the future, you may have to pay more in insurance premiums. Insurers consider you a risky driver if you are caught driving without insurance. A high-risk driver may have to pay much more than a low-risk driver if he or she decides to purchase auto insurance. Driving without insurance is considered a higher risk because you have a history of doing so.
Obviously, if youre involved in an accident and dont have insurance, youll have to foot the bill yourself. Uninsured drivers are still responsible for any medical expenses and vehicle damage they cause in an accident. Normally, these expenses would be covered by the policyholders auto insurance.
These costs are yours to bear as an uninsured driver. After an at-fault accident, that could mean paying the other driver thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. Driving without insurance is certainly something you should avoid at all costs.
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Does Comprehensive Insurance Insure Me To Drive Any Vehicle
While DOC cover is included in many comprehensive policies, its always subject to terms and conditions, including age and experience, so its always best to check your policy details first.
Many people have fallen foul of the law in the belief that their comprehensive insurance covers them to drive another vehicle owned by someone else.
The owner of the car has also committed an offence if theyve allowed their vehicle to be used by an uninsured driver, and you may both receive points and a fine.
Can Law Enforcement Verify That You Have Active Car Insurance Coverage
Years ago, driving without insurance was not as risky as it is today. The only time that drivers would really have to worry about their choice would be if they were involved in an accident.
It was not out of the ordinary for someone with no insurance to carry around an ID card that was not actually valid to present as proof of insurance to police officers. Insurance companies and officers had no way of stopping someone from doing this. The insurance card would show when the policy binder was issued and approximately how long it was supposed to be active. But the card would look exactly the same if you cancelled early.
For months, an uninsured driver could pose as if they were insured without being questioned.
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Factors That Determine The Cost Of Your Insurance
Insurance companies will consider the following factors in calculating thecost of your premium:
Experience. In general, the less experience you have as adriver, the higher your premium is likely to be. Whether you are driving on afull or provisional licence makes a huge difference to the cost of your motorinsurance premium. If you only have a provisional licence, you can expect topay hundreds of euro extra on your premium.
Claims history. All insurance companies will ask if youhave ever had insurance in your own name before. If not, they will ask if youhave ever driven under someone else’s insurance without incident. This will betaken into account when calculating a premium. Insurance becomes less expensivewith experience and a clean driving record.
Where you live. Those living in a major city, particularlyDublin, will normally have a loading imposed. Some companies will also impose aloading if the vehicle is not kept in a garage or driveway at night.
Size of your vehicle. The larger your vehicles engine,the more expensive it will be to insure. This owes to the fact that,statistically, the faster and more powerful your vehicle is, the more likely itis to be involved in an accident.
Age of your vehicle. The older your vehicle, the moredifficult it can be to insure.
Your age. The young and the old are considered by insurancecompanies to represent high-risk categories of driver and are consequently madeto pay higher premiums.
Renewing Your Motor Insurance
In most cases, you will need to renew your insurance policy every 12 months.This can generally be done online, in person or over the phone. Be aware thatpremiums frequently change at the point of renewal so it pays to shop aroundand get quotes from different companies before renewing your policy with thesame insurer.
Your motor insurance company must issue your insurance renewal notice atleast 20 working days before the date of expiry of your insurance policy. Yourno claims discount certificate also be included with the renewal notice. Youwill need this certificate if you want to renew your motor insurance with adifferent insurance company.
When your insurance is due for renewal, your insurance provider must giveyou:
- Details of the premium paid for motor insurance in the previous year
- Quotations for all the policy options available to you, such as comprehensive, third party fire and theft, and third party only
- Information in Plain English, so that you can make an informed decision
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Caught Driving With No Insurance
The Magistrates Court treats driving uninsured very seriously. This is because of the implications were you to have an accident without having a valid insurance policy in place to cover third parties.
All the prosecution need to prove therefore, for you to be found guilty of driving with no insurance, is that you were driving a motor vehicle and were on a public road when the alleged offence occurred.
The burden of proof passes to the Defendant to prove that you were insured at the time you were driving. Because this is a documentary offence, you are expected to be able to make your policy documentation available.
It would be virtually impossible for the prosecution to prove that you were driving with no insurance.
This is because, they would have to contact every policy provider in the country. Additionally, they would need to use their insurance database in order to establish that there was no valid car insurance policy of cover in place.
Driving without insurance is one of the only road traffic offences where the defendant has to prove anything.
What Are The Penalties For Driving Without The Required Insurance
North Carolina uses a complicated sentencing system that factors in the persons prior criminal record when he is convicted of committing a misdemeanor offense. If you are charged with driving without the required auto insurance, the penalty you could face will depend on the number of times you have been convicted of this offense. Here are some potential punishments:
- First offense. You will have to pay a $50 civil penalty, $50 reinstatement fee, and could be sentenced to probation for between 1 and 45 days. In addition, your registration and license plates could be suspended for 30 days.
- Second offense. The civil penalty is increased to $100. In addition, the judge could sentence you to jail or probation for up to 45 days. The other penalties are the same as those for a first offense.
- Third offense. The civil penalty for a third and subsequent violation increases to $150. All other penalties are the same as for a second offense conviction.
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Coverage For Police Officers
As a police officer, you know that accidents can happen to anyone at any time. Car insurance is designed to protect your finances if an accident does happen.
Although you likely do not have a choice about the coverage on your squad car, as those are dependent on law enforcement agencies, you can choose the coverage on your personal vehicles.
Like anyone else, you need coverage for yourself and those in your household who share your insured vehicle, whether its a spouse, partner or child. Getting in an accident without insurance can have serious ramifications. In addition to the risk of incurring state fines for driving uninsured , there may be out-of-pocket costs to repair either your vehicle or the other drivers vehicle. If there are injuries, medical expenses can place a tremendous strain on your finances and run into the thousands.
In addition to minimum coverage, which is focused on liability insurance, there are a number of optional coverage types commonly available to you. These include collision and comprehensive, uninsured motorist coverage and gap coverage. An independent insurance agent can help you understand how these coverage types work in more depth so that you can build a robust and effective policy.
Q What Is ‘operation Tutelage’
Operation Tutelage is a national policing initiative working to reduce the levels of uninsured driving on our roads. Advisory letters are sent to the registered keepers of vehicles seen on the road in circumstances where the current insurance status of the vehicle is unclear. The letter encourages the registered keeper to identify if there is a problem with the insurance for the vehicle, and to put things right. Because this is a national scheme, uninsured vehicles may be identified in other parts of the country, not just this force area.
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How Can Police Tell If A Vehicle Is Uninsured
The Motor Insurance Database records the details of all insured cars in the UK and shares the information with all UK police forces. Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras can tell if a vehicle is insured in a matter of seconds.
If your vehicle is shown as taxed on DVLA records but doesnt appear on the database, youll receive an Insurance Advisory Letter indicating that your vehicle is not recorded as insured.
If you receive an IAL, you must make sure you have valid insurance and that your insurance provider has added you to the MID.
If youve taken out a SORN and you receive an IAL, contact the DVLA to confirm that your SORN is being processed. It could be that your details have yet to be updated on the DVLAs database.
Police officers also have access to the MIB Police Helpline, which can be used to check the validity of a vehicle and the drivers insurance. If a vehicle is stopped, helpline operatives have direct contact with insurance companies, who can clarify if a driver and vehicle are insured or not.
So theres really no place to hide. If youre driving without insurance, the police will find you.
What Happens If The Police Discover Youre Driving Without Insurance
Unless you live in New Hampshire the only state that allows drivers to be uninsured if they can prove theyre wealthy enough to pay for damages out of pocket you cannot legally drive in the United States without liability auto insurance.
Even for a first offense, the penalties for driving without car insurance can put you at risk of:
- Jail time of up to 5 years
- Fines of up to $1,500
- A suspended driver license for up to 3 years
- A suspended vehicle registration for up to 3 years
- Fees to reinstate your driver license and registration
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How Much Does Car Insurance Cost For Police Officers
The average cost of car insurance in the U.S. is $1,771 annually for full coverage, which includes liability as well as optional collision and comprehensive. Minimum coverage, which includes liability-only, costs an average of $545 per year. Police officers who insure their personal vehicles for off-duty use may find that their premium differs from the national average, as your motor vehicle record, cars age and model, insurance claim history and more all play a role in determining your rate.
Police officers are often perceived as safer drivers by insurance companies. Its typically assumed that as a police officer, you understand the law and know whats allowed and whats prohibited when behind the wheel. Additionally, you may spend considerably more time behind the wheel due to the nature of your job, meaning youre likely to have more driving experience than the average driver. Each of these factors may place you in a lower-risk category, and thus earn you a lower premium rate.
Insurers use statistical models to determine the risks they incur by taking on each policyholder. A driver whos been in several at-fault accidents in the past, for example, will usually pay more for their policy than someone with a clean driving record due to posing a higher risk for future accidents and claims.
Can You Ask The Officer Not To Tow Your Car
You can always try and see if the officer will let you voluntarily tow your car to your home. If you live in a state where tows arent a requirement, then the officer might be apt to help you out, but dont expect it to go your way if you have multiple offenses.
You cant legally drive or park a car thats not insured in a public place. This is why parking an uninsured car on a public street in hopes of it not being towed isnt a solution. If your car is parked and parking enforcement discovers it, it will be towed.
Losing your car will change your whole way of life. Youll have to find a new way to work or even a new job. Youll also have to pay to get insurance before you pay to get your car back.
Get insurance now before your car is towed by getting instant quotes online, and then you can avoid having to deal with this major headache.
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Can Police Tell If You Have Car Insurance In Ontario
Many of our clients charged with Driving with No Insurance Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act, Section ask us if the Police actually checked their insurance before they got the $5,000 fine at the roadside.
Im writing this to tell you that Yes, police can check the insurance status of your vehicle by running your plate on MTO. If you dont have insurance it will show up on the computer as UNCONFIRMED in big red letters. The system is usually correct, in our experience. We rarely get a case where the client was actually insured.
How do the Police have access to my insurance information?
Ontarios IVP database houses the vehicle identification number and mandatory coverage status of each insured vehicle. IBC maintains this database on behalf of the insurance industry.
In the spring of 2011, MTO extended access to the IVP database so Ontario law enforcement agencies can validate insurance. Now police officers can confirm mandatory insurance coverage right from their vehicles.
I thought my insurance was valid, but the Police also charged me with providing false information
Many times, our clients are convinced they had a valid insurance policy. However, when they are pulled over at roadside, not only do they get charged with a No Insurance charge for $5,000, but they also get a False information charge, that can result in an additional fine of $5,000 or more. This happens as a result of not having valid insurance, yet you provided the police with an insurance slip.
Your Car May Be Impounded For Suspended Plates
If impounding the car isnt mandatory in your state, it still could happen. In many states, the DMV will actually suspend your license plates for failing to respond to a letter asking for proof of your insurance.
If this happens, a simple traffic stop could turn into a long encounter with the police.
In most cases, your car will be towed away to the police station, or an impound lot when you dont have valid tags. You cant immediately go and pick up the car because youll have to straighten everything out with your car first.
This means that you need to get insurance and then reinstate your plates.
If you need insurance to comply with the law, you need to act now. Get online quotes via the World Wide Web and you can instantly compare quotes from several carriers at the same time.
Make sure to choose the right coverage options and thoroughly review each quote to bind the best coverage through the best carrier. Get started right now!
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