Archive for June, 2009

In the State of Alabama can a 15 year old with a driver’s permit have any other passengers in the vehicle with him other than a licensed driver? Thank you

The Alabama Department of Public Safety (DPS) does not mention any passenger restrictions for those ages 15 or older with a learner’s permit. So it is our understanding an AL permit holder can carry other passengers with him or her in the vehicle along with their supervising dri…

What defines someone as a household member for car insurance purposes?

The definition of a household member for auto insurance companies can vary from one insurance company to another depending upon the underwriting guidelines of insurance companies. Also state laws and the language (terms) of an auto insurance policy help to define who is a hous…

My son wants to move to Eugene, OR for a year to be with his girlfriend. He will be working. Does he need to change his drivers license and car registration to Oregon for that year?

Yes, if your son moves to Oregon to work and live he will be considered a resident and thus will need to register, title and insure his car in Oregon as well as obtain a driver’s’ license there. Residency is establish in various ways but a few are listed in Oregon Revised Statu…

I live in Maryland. I just moved to a different address, within Maryland. I would like to know if it is required that I change the street address on my car registration?

Yes, you need to inform the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) of your change of address within the state so that your registration address can be correctly in their system. If you have moved you must notify the MVA of your new address since the address they have on f…

In North Carolina what is the penalty if someone is caught driving my car without a license? What is the penalty for them and myself if the car is in my name?

We are not legal experts so if you allowed someone to drive your vehicle knowing they were unlicensed and both the driver and you, the car owner, were cited by North Carolina law enforcement you should contact the court listed on the ticket for information and then perhaps a l…

If I am required to have SR22 in one state but move to another, do I still have to keep the SR-22 in the state I moved too?

Yes, normally if you move from one state to another state when you are in the period of time that your previous state required you to carry a SR-22 than you will need to continue to carry the SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility, even in your new state. Your new stat…

In Connecticut if I get a ticket for passing a stopped school bus, how will this affect my insurance? What penalties could I be facing in terms of fines, suspension of license or points, jail, etc?

As the Connecticut driver’s manual notes, as a driver you must stop for a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing whether it is on your side of the road, the opposite side of the road, or at an intersection you are approaching. You are not required to stop if t…

I live in New Jersey, and I was hit by a driver who had no insurance. I was told that I can file an uninsured motorist claim. According to the body shop, there is a law in NJ that prevents the insurance company from raising my rates. According to the insurance company, my premium will go up if the claim is paid. Which one is right?

We contacted the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI), the insurance regulator for NJ, to clarify if your insurance company could possibly raise your rates due to you making an Uninsured Motorist claim. The NJ DOBI stated that under New Jersey’s tier rating l…

In Florida, can you drive alone on a learner’s permit at the age of 16 to get to work or school?

No, with just a Florida learner’s permit you cannot drive alone anywhere including to school or work. You can only drive with a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and occupies the front passenger seat AT ALL TIMES. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor…

I am 16 and I have my G1 drivers license in Ontario. I am going to Prince Edward Island (PEI) this summer for a vacation, and wanted to know if I could drive there with my G1 license, accompanied with an experienced driver of 4 years of course.

A representative for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) told us that the G1 license is a learner’s permit and as such, only meant for practice driving in Ontario with a licensed accompanying driver present at all times. A novice license is not considered to be fully …