Birmingham car insurance can be expensive, but so can not having it.

Drive without Birmingham car insurance and your wallet could end up as empty as these streets.

The State of Alabama requires that all of its drivers carry mandatory liability insurance. This insurance makes sure that you are able to pay for any damages that you may cause to another person’s property or any injuries you may cause to another person.

Specifically, you are required to carry 25/50/25 limits for this Birmingham car insurance coverage. These numbers mean the following:

• 25 = $25,000 in coverage for the medical expenses of one injured person
• 50 = $50,000 in total coverage for the medical expenses of two or more injured people
• 25 = $25,000 in coverage to pay for damage to another person’s property

If you try to get out of paying for this mandatory insurance, you will find that it will end up costing you a lot more money than just getting the insurance in the first place.

Going Without Birmingham Car Insurance

The price to go without Birmingham car insurance is $500 for the first time you are caught without it and $1,000 for each time after that. Think about this, how many of you out there pay that amount for your mandatory liability insurance? And these fines don’t do anything for you. So save yourself some money and just pay for the car insurance.

In addition to the fine, you can lose your driver’s license for up to 6 months. So don’t forget to add in taxi or bus fare when you are trying to figure out if it is cheaper to get the Birmingham car insurance or go without it.

Let’s Compare

While driving without Birmingham car insurance is not as stupid as driving drunk, it is still stupid, and the State of Alabama thinks so also. The jail time and license suspension is a lot harsher with a DUI (and it should be) than with getting caught without car insurance, but the fines are comparable.

For your first DUI, the fine can range from $500 to $2,000. The fine for getting caught without car insurance for the first time is $500.

For your second DUI, the fine can range from $1,000 to $5,000. The fine for getting caught without car insurance for the first time is $1,000.

So the fines for driving without car insurance are the same as the minimum fines for DUI convictions; which shows you how serious the state is about insurance.

So save yourself money and contact a Birmingham car insurance agent today to get the mandatory liability coverage if you don’t already have it.

(Source Alabama.gov)

San Bernardino car insurance may feel like a financial burden, but here’s why you need it.

Before you hit this historic highway, you need San Bernardino car insurance.

Paying for San Bernardino car insurance can sometimes feel like you are paying something for nothing. Unless you have to use it, you really have nothing to show for the money that you keep handing over to the insurance companies month after month.

But, if you ever do need it you will be very grateful that you have it.

Reason #1: San Bernardino Injury/Fatality Statistics

Per the California Office of Traffic Safety, San Bernardino County had 11,627 people killed or injured in car accidents in 2011. The City of San Bernardino alone saw 978 injuries/fatalities.  If you or a family member is ever injured or killed in a car accident, you may think that you can get away with not having San Bernardino car insurance coverage because you have health insurance.

However, your health insurance company will balk at paying your medical bills until they have investigated as to whether or not there is a car insurance policy that is responsible for paying your medical bills; which could delay your care. Your health insurance also does not cover lost wages or funeral expenses in the event that you or a family member is killed in a car accident.

And if you cause the injury or fatality of someone in another car, your health insurance would never cover it.

Reason #2: Outside Factors

You may think that you will never get into a car accident, so you really don’t need San Bernardino car insurance. You may be correct in this thinking, and then again, you never really know when a car accident may happen. It could be a stormy night when you can’t see very well or there is little traction on the road. It could happen when you experience a medical emergency while you are driving. It could even happen when you let someone else borrow your vehicle.

In other words, there are many times when it can happen due to circumstances beyond your capable driving abilities.

Reason #3: California Requirement

In the end, you need San Bernardino car insurance because the State of California requires it. You don’t have to have all of the coverages that are available, only liability coverage. More specifically, you have to have these coverages:

• $15,000 for injury/death to one person
• $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person
• $5,000 for damage caused to another person’s property

Again, these are just liability coverages, so keep in mind that they will not cover any damages to your vehicle or injuries to those in your car. For coverages that will meet both the California requirements and protect your vehicle and those in your car, contact your San Bernardino car insurance agent.

All of us at Car Insurance Guidebook wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July.

Have a great Fourth of July!

Fourth of July is one of the highlights of the summer. The barbeques, getting together with friends and family, and celebrating our nation’s independence with fireworks all make for one fun-filled day. But while you celebrating tomorrow; don’t forget about your safety and the safety of those around you.

Skip the Drinking and Driving This Fourth of July

Between the already increased level of distractions that you face as a driver on this day and the increase in officers patrolling the streets for drunks, this would be a really good day to have a designated driver selected in advance. If you don’t have the luxury of a designated driver, then this would be an excellent day to indulge in non-alcoholic beverages.

Because if you get caught driving drunk or you cause a fatal car accident while you are driving drunk, not only are you going to see higher car insurance premiums you could also be celebrating next Fourth of July in jail.

Fourth of July Road Hazards

As a driver your attention level has to be running on all cylinders while you drive on the Fourth of July because of the increase in road hazards. Between kids running around at barbeques, intoxicated revelers, and people lighting fireworks off in the street you just never know what obstacles you will be met with when you turn the corner.

Stop and Enjoy the Fourth of July Show

Never ever try to drive and watch a fireworks show at the same time, you are just asking for trouble.  Not only is it never a good thing to try and multi-task while you are driving, the element of awe that fireworks have make it impossible to be able to do something else at the same time. And you may quickly find that the driver in front of you is having the same distraction issues when they slam on their brakes while you aren’t paying attention.

So, if you find yourself on the road when the main firework display from your city has started, pull over and just enjoy it. If you can’t stop or you don’t want to stop then roll up the windows, turn up the stereo and keep your eyes on the road to keep yourself and everyone else safe this Fourth of July.

It’s the season for long drives, parades, and Richmond car insurance.

Keep your summer peaceful, by keeping your Richmond car insurance active.

Road trips and parades are two of the non-food staples of summer. And to keep yourself enjoying both this summer, make sure that you keep both the Richmond car insurance laws and Richmond parade laws in mind.

Forgetting one or the other could lead to you finding yourself without your car for the rest of the summer.

Richmond Parade Laws

With the upcoming summer holidays, it would be good to refresh your memory on the parade laws that Richmond has:

“Sec. 102-509. Public conduct during parades, demonstrations and assemblies.

(a)Interference. No person shall unreasonably hamper, obstruct, impede or interfere with any parade, demonstration or assembly or with any person, vehicle or animal participating or used in a parade, demonstration or assembly for which a written permit has been issued in accordance with the provisions of this article.

(b)Driving through parades. No driver of a vehicle shall drive between the vehicles, persons or animals comprising a parade, demonstration or assembly except when otherwise directed by a police officer. This shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles such as fire apparatus, ambulances and police vehicles.

(c)Parking on parade, demonstration or assembly route. The chief of police, or his designee, shall have the authority, when reasonably necessary, to prohibit or restrict the parking of vehicles along the public streets or public rights-of-way constituting a part of the route of a parade, demonstration or assembly. The chief of police, or his designee, shall ensure that signs are posted to such effect, and it shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave unattended any vehicle in violation thereof. No person shall be liable for parking on a street unposted in violation of this article.”

(Richmond Municipal Code)

Richmond Car Insurance

The State of Virginia creates the insurance requirements for every city in the state. So the car insurance requirements for your Richmond car insurance are exactly the same as it is for people that live in Norfolk.

These requirements include:

• Bodily injury/death of one person $25,000
• Bodily injury/death of two or more persons $50,000
• Property damage $20,000

If you don’t want to carry insurance, you can always opt for the other option on the Virginia DMV website:

The $500 Uninsured Motor Vehicle (UMV) fee, which is paid to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), does not provide any insurance; it only allows you to drive an uninsured vehicle at your own risk.It expires with your registration and must be paid at renewal.

For more insurance options, talk to your Richmond car insurance agent.

Boise car insurance is one driving basic not to forget.

Simple, just like your Boise car insurance requirements.

Idaho is known for its simple lifestyle, low population, and basic way of life. Driving is very basic as to get from one place to the other as most long distance travel is done on a simple highway. From one state line to the other there are few off-ramps to navigate, and even fewer freeways in the state.

The most complicated driving is in the Boise area, and even that isn’t much of a challenge compared to the major cities in other states.

In the spirit of Idaho simplicity, let’s keep it simple today and stick with the basics.

Driving Basics

Just in case you were wondering if the obvious basics are on the Boise law books, they are:

“Section 10-10-07 Passing Vehicles Proceeding in Opposite Direction

Drivers of vehicles proceeding in the opposite directions shall ass each other on the right. Upon roadways having the width for not more than one lane of traffic in each direction, each driver shall give at least one-half (1/2) of the main-traveled portion of the roadway as nearly as possible.” (http://cityclerk.cityofboise.org)

Comprehensive Coverage Basics

Idaho is pretty full of wildlife, and even drivers around Boise are aware that sometimes they have to share the road with critters of all sizes. If you end up hitting one of these guys, the basic rule is that it is covered under your comprehensive coverage on your Boise car insurance policy. If you are only carrying the basic Boise car insurance coverage that is required by the State of Idaho, you are going to be paying for the damage out of your pocket.

Also, don’t forget about this little law:

“25-2118. Animals on open range — No duty to keep from highway. No person owning, or controlling the possession of, any domestic animal running on open range, shall have the duty to keep such animal off any highway on such range, and shall not be liable for damage to any vehicle or for injury to any person riding therein, caused by a collision between the vehicle and the animal. “Open range” means all uninclosed lands outside of cities, villages and herd districts, upon which cattle by custom, license, lease, or permit, are grazed or permitted to roam.” (State of Idaho Legislature – Idaho Statutes)

Same coverage rules apply to hitting an animal that is protected under the Open Range law. In some cases, you may even be responsible for reimbursing the owner the value of the animal you hit if it dies.

Boise Car Insurance Basics

Just like with every other state, Idaho requires that you carry car insurance to drive. To meet the legal requirements you must carry the combination of 25/50/15 in liability coverages on your Boise car insurance.

For more information, contact your Boise car insurance agent.