The Gem State welcomes you; just make sure you have Idaho car insurance if you drive within our borders.

Don’t let having no Idaho car insurance lead to a license suspension for you.

The official state nickname of Idaho is the “Gem State”, but most people don’t know that as they know Idaho as the “Potato State” instead. So as an Idaho resident, let me clear up one thing for all of you that read this, we don’t all grow potatoes.

What happened was that the potato farmers were very good in getting the Idaho spud into the national market and created a reputation for the state. In fact, only a very small part of Idaho even grows potatoes, everyone just thinks that the whole state does. Just like in insurance where the crooked ethics of a few bad insurance companies create a bad reputation for the whole industry.

There are trustworthy insurance companies out there, but you probably don’t know that because of the blanket reputation that the whole industry has now. Just like you didn’t know that Idaho’s largest agricultural commodity is actually dairy products.

Now that you have learned a little about Idaho economics, let’s learn about Idaho car insurance requirements. Because you never know when you will want to escape to a more laidback lifestyle and become an Idahoan.

Idaho Car Insurance Minimum Requirements

To be able to drive in the state of Idaho you have to carry at least 25/50/15 liability limits with your Idaho car insurance. This means $25,000 in injury liability for one person and $50,000 in total injury liability for injuries to two or more people. Finally, the 15 is for the $15,000 in property damage liability for any damages that you may cause to another person’s property.

Idaho car insurance limits are about average as compared to other states. But, like the rest of the states the minimum liability required for the property damage with Idaho car insurance may not be enough coverage to fully protect you.

Penalties for No Idaho Car Insurance

First offenders of having no Idaho car insurance are subject to a $75.00 fine and a license suspension. The suspension is completely up to the discretion of the Idaho Transportation Department and the judge you face in court.

Second time offenders (within 5 years of the first offense), can be fined up to $1000. They can also face up to 6 months in jail and again a license suspension.

If you are an out-of-state driver and you are caught without insurance, Idaho will send that information to your home state if they are part of the interstate compact. The compact is an agreement between states, to report infractions earned in the states you drive in back to your home state. Your penalty will then depend on your own state’s “no insurance” laws.

No Idaho Car Insurance and No Driver’s License Now

If you are one of those that carry a large sense of entitlement when it comes to your driver’s license, you may be in more trouble than you know. Once your license is suspended for driving without Idaho car insurance this means that you cannot drive. Let me repeat that: YOU CANNOT DRIVE!

You are not entitled to a driver’s license it is something that is a convenience and a privilege and can be taken away if you don’t follow the rules. If you have been suspended and you still think you can drive, in Idaho you face mandatory jail time.

In fact, a minimum of two days and up to 6 months of jail time if you are caught driving with a suspended license. Also, you get a fine of up to $500 and an additional 6 months tacked on to the end of your current suspension from having no Idaho car insurance.

Cheap car insurance is the treasure chest at the end of a treasure hunt.

There is no special company to go to that you are absolutely guaranteed to get the cheapest car insurance in your area. First, each car insurance company has different rates that they charge and they fluctuate.

For example, you could get a quote from State Farm for one rate and then give the same exact information to Progressive and get a different rate. Call them again a year later with the same information and the one that gave you the cheaper rates last year could be the expensive one this year.

Second, each driver has different driving information that will affect where they find the cheapest car insurance. So as you can see there is no set place that you could be sent to for the cheapest car insurance.

The only thing that you can do to find the cheapest car insurance for yourself is to call around and get quotes from different car insurance companies and agencies.

Not even the magic State Farm jingle can save this commercial from being bad.

Summary

Commercial opens up with two young men sitting in a car. The young man in a yellow hat has a burger in his hands. His hat has “Big Buffalo” on it and one could actually assume that he is eating a buffalo burger. He is talking to another young man in a black jacket who is the driver of the vehicle.

Passenger: Have you tried on of these ‘cause it’s so good.

Driver: Man, I can’t believe we haven’t done this before.

The camera pans back and we see the car is parked on a road next to a herd of buffalo. One of the buffalo is starting to approach the vehicle.

Driver: Oh wow, look at that.

Passenger: Want a bite?

Something hits the car and a black airbag goes off. Camera goes to the outside of the vehicle and we see that a buffalo has hit the driver’s side of the car head-on. Guys in car panic and we see that the windows are rolled down on both sides of the vehicle.

Passenger: Uh, uh, uh, your agent! D-d-d-do the jingle! Do the jingle!

Driver: Like a good neighbor State Farm is there!

Smiling insurance agent magically appears in the backseat of the vehicle.

Agent: Hey guys.

Driver and passenger: Buffalo!

Agent: Uh! Do it again, do it again!

Driver: Like a good neighbor State Farm is there!

Agent: In my office!

Buffalo: grunt

The agent, driver and passenger appear in a State Farm office hugging each other.

Agent: I think we’re good.

Driver and passenger celebrate with a knuckle bump.

Announcer: State Farm agents are there when you need them.

Screen goes to red with the State Farm logo and Facebook address. Also “Click Here For More Info”

Point of the Commercial

This commercial is directed to the 25 and under crowd, specifically the ones that watch and enjoy the shows that have people doing stupid stunts. Not only is the nature of the commercial directed at the younger drivers, State Farm directs viewers to visit their Facebook page as their ending contact information. This also looks to be an internet commercial with the “Click Here For More Info” at the end of the commercial.

The Facebook page and also watching internet videos are things that this age group is more likely to do than any other age group of drivers.

What They Want you to Do

They want the young drivers that view this commercial online to visit their Facebook page. I am not sure what happens if you click the “Click Here For More Info” as the screen moves too fast for me to get a click on it.

The 25 and under age group can be a very profitable group for insurance companies due to the high premiums. I would imagine with being parked in the middle of the road next to a herd of buffalo that this driver’s insurance premium is pretty high if he employs this type of thinking to his everyday driving.

My Opinion

Everyone has their own opinion about commercials and I really can’t think of anything good to say about this one. Actually I take that back, a buffalo burger sounds good for lunch.

Thumbs down, in fact two thumbs down.

Even with ridiculously low liability requirement, Pennsylvania isn’t playing around when it comes to requiring Pennsylvania car insurance.

Don’t be caught without Pennsylvania car insurance or you will lose your driving liberties.

Pennsylvania car insurance requirements are so low that one wonders why they are even required. But, it isn’t recommended to go without the required Pennsylvania car insurance, even once. When it comes to penalties for violating the Pennsylvania car insurance requirements, they are one of the least forgiving states in the nation.

Scarily Low Pennsylvania Car Insurance Requirements

Pennsylvania car insurance requirements are partially one of lowest in the nation. To be able to drive in the state legally you must carry at least $15,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for a single person and $30,000 in bodily injury coverage for the accident total. But, you only have to carry $5,000 in liability coverage for property damage to be able to drive.

5,000 dollars! That’s all!

That amount would barely buy you a clunker, let alone having to try and fix a decent vehicle with it. What would you do if you totaled the other parties’ vehicle and it was a high-end model that was worth $35,000 at the time of the accident?

I will tell you exactly what will happen. Your insurance company will pay the $5000 that they are responsible for. That leaves you with a $30,000 bill that the other insurance company is going to make sure that you pay.

May we offer the suggestion to purchase more than the state minimum requirements when it comes to property damage liability coverage?

Reporting Pennsylvania Car Insurance

Pennsylvania doesn’t have an electronic reporting system to keep track of your new insurance like California does. Instead, it sends out letters to vehicle owners that they are required to respond to. The letter requests information on insurance that should be in place, about any lapses in coverage and the status of the vehicle if the person no longer owns it.

It also requires that a “Statement of Non-Operation of Vehicle” be signed by the owner if there was a lapse in coverage for less than 30 days. This is for the owner to legally state that they did not drive the vehicle in that time period. If the state finds out that you did, you are in trouble.

On the flip side, Pennsylvania car insurance companies are required to report to the state whenever an insurance policy is cancelled. So don’t bother trying to lie in the letter that you have insurance, they already know that you don’t.

Don’t Go Without your Pennsylvania Car Insurance

If you drive without Pennsylvania car insurance not only is your vehicle registration suspended, your driver’s license is also. There is no first time “teaching you a lesson” in Pennsylvania, it goes straight to a 3 month suspension of both your registration and your license. Plus you could see a fine of at least $300 if you are caught driving without insurance.

Also keep in mind that your suspension does not officially begin until you have surrendered your driver’s license, your vehicle’s plate, sticker and registration card. If you fail to turn these in, you could be suspended indefinitely.

To get your license and registration back, you have to pay a $50 restoration fee for both your license and registration ($100 total) and provide proof that you now have Pennsylvania car insurance.

Thanksgiving Day driving can be filled with distractions and difficulties that are usually spread out over multiple days during the rest of the year.

Wishing you and your family a safe Thanksgiving!

“Over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go……..”

We all know the song and most of us will be acting out our own version of it this Thanksgiving Day as we travel to be with friends and family for the holiday. There are so many things that can go wrong during Thanksgiving Day driving that we at Car Insurance Guidebook wanted to remind you to drive safe and undistracted this Thanksgiving Day.

Bad Roads for Thanksgiving Day Driving

Like it or not we have started the winter driving season. This means snow and ice on the roadways for your Thanksgiving Day driving. To make sure that you get to your destination safely, always give yourself enough of a time cushion in case you have to drive slower than normal for bad road conditions. It is better to get to your Thanksgiving Day driving destination early and in one piece than never get there at all.

Also make sure that you have enough insurance coverage on your car in case something does go wrong. Sitting down and talking to your insurance agent to make sure you have enough coverage should be on your pre-Thanksgiving Day driving list.

Thanksgiving Day Driving with Wandering Deer

Don’t forget that November is deer breeding season, which means they may be wandering across a road during your Thanksgiving Day driving. Stay vigilant after you have driven over the river and are now in the woods. If you see a deer next to the road, slowdown in case they or their travelling partner decide to jump out in front of you.

If you don’t already have it, adding comprehensive coverage to your insurance policy in case you hit a deer may be a good idea. This is especially true if you plan on doing any major Thanksgiving Day driving.

Thanksgiving Day Driving with Hot Food

Hot food is just one of the many distractions that you may have during your Thanksgiving Day driving to your dinner destination. Hot food that is not secured properly can spill all over the place distracting you when it first spills. Then again if you try to clean it up while you are driving. Distractions lead to car accidents.

To prevent this, see if it is possible to make your dish where you will be having dinner instead. This will allow you to just bring the unprepared ingredients, decreasing your risk of spilling. If you have to have the dish already prepared, try to put it in a container large enough that it can move around without spilling out. Also a container with a lid, not just tinfoil, will be best to keep the contents in the container.

Lastly, place the container on the floor with a towel under it. The floor is the flattest surface in your vehicle and will decrease the chance of the food sliding around. The towels will soak up anything that may spill out.

Sleepy Thanksgiving Day Driving

Falling asleep at the wheel is a major cause of accidents every year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that there are about 100,000 accidents each year as a result of driver’s falling asleep at the wheel.

Unfortunately, Thanksgiving Day feasts create the perfect combination of food and atmosphere to make you sleepy. No, it’s not the turkey that is the key culprit as you may have been told. But, it is the combination of fatty food, alcohol, overeating and being relaxed with friends and family that slows your body down. When your body slows down, sleepiness kicks in.

So before you laugh at Uncle Ned for conking out in the recliner during the football game, you may actually want to join him. A nice nap after dinner may keep you from having an accident on Thanksgiving Day driving home from grandmother’s house.