Author: Emissions

Oregon Car Insurance

Last updated on April 26th, 2018

For auto insurance purposes the state of Oregon is considered to be a no-fault state, meaning that regardless of who is at fault in an accident each driver will be financially responsible for any injuries or damage they receive. However, like every other no-fault state in the country Oregon is really a hybrid of the two types of insurance systems due to the fact that it requires various types of coverage that are generally seen in no-fault and at-fault states. Liability insurance is one of the types of coverage required by Oregon car insurance law and it easily the most common type of insurance that is legally required in all of the 50 states. In Oregon, carrying liability insurance is compulsory for every vehicle registered with the state and certain amounts of liability insurance must be purchased in order to meet state requirements. These minimum amounts of liability insurance required included $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage and $20,000 in property damage coverage, all three of which are meant to protect the property and health of other drivers. Additionally, Oregon State law requires that every vehicle liability policy include personal injury protection and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage which, unlike liability coverage, cover the injuries sustained by the policy holder and any passengers in the insured vehicle.  Also like liability coverage Oregon requires that certain amounts of these types of insurance, known as no-fault coverage, be maintained in order to meet state requirements. The minimum amount of personal injury protection required in Oregon is $15,000 while the minimum amount of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage required is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Most Oregon motorists have the option to purchase liability and no-fault coverage in amounts greater than what the state requires, thus reducing their financial risk of being involved in an accident.

While Oregon requires a variety of different types of car insurance there are a few types of coverage that are offered by most Oregon car insurance companies but are not required by law to be purchased as part of a policy. One of the most commonly purchased types of coverage is comprehensive and collision coverage, which serves to financially protect the vehicle owner from physical damage to their vehicle, whether it is from an accident or from an act of nature. Comprehensive and collision coverage is often purchased because it is a required by most lenders on a vehicle that was purchased with financing. Most insurance companies also offer their customers a variety of minor or supplemental forms of coverage, such as road side assistance should the vehicle break down, or out of work insurance in case injuries from an accident cause the policy holder or any passengers to miss time from work.

In order to make sure state residents are meeting Oregon’s car insurance standards the state has set up a system that allows it to monitor compliance through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Every month the DMV will select a number of vehicles at random every month and requests the name of the insurance carrier and the policy number from the vehicle owner. The DMV then verifies the information provided by the vehicle owner with the insurance company in order to make sure that the vehicle in question satisfies Oregon auto insurance requirements. If a driver is asked to supply their car insurance information and fails to do so they will have their driving privileges suspended by the DMV. If a vehicle owner makes a false claim of insurance to the DMV they will be required to prove compliance with Oregon’s financial responsibility law by filing an AR-22 for up to three years. Failing to show compliance with an SR-22 will also result in the suspension of the vehicle owners driving privileges. In addition to failing to meet the random compliancy checks conducted by the DMV Oregon drivers can also get in trouble for not having auto insurance if they are pulled over or are involved in an accident. If an Oregon resident is caught driving without car insurance they can be charged with a misdemeanor as allowed by state law and will face all penalties that such an offense carrier. Most often these penalties come in the form of a fine or suspension of driving privileges though as a misdemeanor driving without insurance can also be punished with up to three days in jail. A conviction of driving without insurance will result in a compulsory sentence of three days in jail in addition to any other fines or suspension that the court and DMV decide to hand out. Drivers that are involved in an accident but cannot show proof of insurance are susceptible to all of the above mentioned penalties in addition to the state requirement that they maintain future proof of financial responsibility in the form of an SR-22.

Filed under: Oregon, Articles, Car Insurance

Idaho Car Insurance

Last updated on April 26th, 2018

Idaho is one of many states that have a financial responsibility law regarding car insurance. This law dictates that the owner of every vehicle must prove that they have the ability to be financially responsible should they be involved in an accident that is their fault. In most cases the easiest way for Idaho residents to satisfy the financial responsibility law is to purchase car insurance that meets state requirements.  All vehicles that are registered in the state of Idaho are required by state law to carry a certain amount of liability coverage in order to satisfy the financial responsibility law. The state has set these amounts at a minimum of $25,000 per person in bodily injury coverage, $50,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage in addition to $15,000 in property damage coverage. These three forms of liability coverage are meant to protect a driver if they are involved in n accident for which they are liable. Instead of having to pay for property damage and medical bills out of pocket the driver can allow their insurance company to take on the financial burden. However, if the cost of an accident in Idaho exceeds the amount of insurance that a driver has they are still financially responsible and could potentially be taken to court and ordered to pay the difference between the total damages and what the insurance company is willing to cover. If a driver does not wish to maintain liability insurance on their vehicle in order to satisfy the requirements of the financial responsibility law they always have the option to post an indemnity body with the Idaho Department of Insurance. This bond must be in the amount of $50,000, which is the minimum bodily injury coverage required by state law. When a driver registers a vehicle in Idaho they must also sign a statement certifying that the vehicle being registered meets the requirements set forth in Idaho’s financial responsibility law. In rare cases, a vehicle owner that owns more than 25 vehicles and has a net worth over $500,000 can choose to self insure the vehicle based on their accumulated wealth.

In most states uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is considered to be optional and may be purchased by the driver on their own prerogative but the state of Idaho requires that the purchase of uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage be mandatory when any sort of auto insurance policy is issued. Both uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage must meet the minimum coverage levels established for individual liability coverage by the state. Additionally, while most non-highway vehicles do not have to be insured in most states Idaho requires that any non-highway vehicle must meet state insurance requirements any time it travels on a public road; this includes dirt roads and any road on federal or state land. If a dirt bike is pulled over on a dirt road the driver will legally face the same penalties as the driver of an SUV or truck that is pulled over on the highway if they do not have the required proof of insurance for their vehicle.

In addition to meeting the minimum coverage requirements drivers in Idaho must also obey a few other state laws that deal with auto insurance. All drivers for instance are required to carry proof of insurance at all times while in the vehicle. Law enforcement officer in Idaho may request to see a driver’s proof of insurance at any time during a traffic stop or after an accident. This proof of car insurance requirement can be satisfied with an up to date insurance card issued by the insurance company or even the policy itself. If the driver opted to purchase an indemnity bond instead of liability insurance they are required to carry proof of the bond provide by the broker or DMV. In Idaho car insurance companies are also required to report any lapses in coverage to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Driver’s that are not able to provide proof of insurance will receive a fine of $75 for the first infraction and will be required to provide proof of insurance for one year. Subsequent infractions by Idaho residents will be treated as a misdemeanor in the eyes of the law and the offending driver could be punished with a fine up to $1,000 or even six months in jail. Idaho drivers that are caught without car insurance more than once in a five year period are also required to show proof of insurance for three years in advance in addition to any required fines. A license suspension can, and in many cases is, added to the penalties incurred by most drivers that are found to be driving without insurance. Driving without insurance will also result in a negative mark on the driver’s driving record which will increase the amount that they have to pay in insurance premiums when purchasing a car insurance policy in Idaho.

Filed under: Idaho, Articles, Car Insurance

Exemptions for Arizona Residents

Last updated on April 26th, 2018

If you are active in the military, stationed outside of Arizona, you could qualify for an exemption from emissions testing. If the vehicle is going to be used by someone else, you will need to use the original Out of State Exemption.

In order to apply for the exemption, you need to complete and sign the application form and have your commanding officer sign it as well. The application must be made within 90 days before the expiration of your vehicles current registration.

Arizona will exempt emissions testing on vehicles that are of the newest model in the last five years. In 2014, the majority of 2010 and models newer will be exempt from emissions testing.

Most vehicles registered outside of the vehicle emissions control area, Phoenix and Tucson, will be exempt from testing, based on the person’s area code. The list of zip codes below are considered partial, this means that some are exempt and others are not.

*Partial Zip Codes in the Vehicle Emissions Control Areas (effective July 2009):

 

Phoenix Metro Area – Area A:

85218/85118, 85226, 85232/85132, 85239/85139, 85242/85142, 85243/85143, 85244, 85262, 85263, 85290/85190, 85322, 85326, 85332, 85337, 85339, 85342, 85354, 85390

(Zip Codes separated by a slash (/) are in the process of being changed by the U.S. Postal Service)

Tucson Metro Area – Area B:

85629, 85641, 85653, 85654, 85658, 85735, 85736, 85739, 85743, 85746, 85747

Vehicle owners who reside in a partial zip code will be identified as “emissions test required” on their vehicle registration renewal form.

Vehicles may be granted an Out of Area exemption if the vehicle is registered in a partial zip code and out of the emission control area boundary. If the vehicle is going to be used to travel into the emissions testing boundary areas for employment or school, the vehicle will have to go through emissions testing.

 

 

Filed under: Arizona, Articles, State Emissions Testing

Massachusetts – Emissions Failures and Retests

Last updated on April 26th, 2018

If you have your vehicle’s emissions tested and your vehicle fails the emissions test then there are a few steps you need to follow so that you can get your vehicle repaired and retested within sixty days from the date you failed the inspection as that is the requirement.

After your initial emissions test is complete you will receive a vehicle inspection report from the emissions inspector which will give you the result of the emissions test and put notes on what areas of the test your vehicle has failed.  When you go to get your car repaired you need to bring this vehicle inspection report with you so that you can give it to the repair technician.  This will allow them to pinpoint the area(s) of your vehicle that they need to look further into and will save you time.   If you lost your vehicle inspection report you can reprint the report out from the Massachusetts state website page which you can visit here.

The emissions inspection may have also given you a repair form.  If you received this form you will need to bring it when you are getting your vehicle repairs completed and have the technician complete this form for you and give it back to you.  You will need to submit this form to the emissions inspector when you get your vehicle retested.  The repair technician is able to complete this form online and submit it online.  If they do not give you a paper copy to bring with you, you should ensure that they submitted it online.

You should also hold onto the receipt from your emissions repair work that was done and bring that to your followup inspection also.  There are times when the repair work you have done did not fix the problem.  If the vehicle repair estimated cost is very high upon failure there is a chance you could still pass the test. Or if you got your vehicle repaired and it still fails and you bring all the paperwork and the repair was done by a registered emissions repair tech there is a chance you can have the failure waived and your vehicle will be passed.

If you would like to apply for either an extension or a waiver for your vehicle you will need to bring the following to a Motorist Assistance Center:  your vehicle, the emissions inspection report, and the repair form with receipt.  At this point you will either receive the waiver or extension or you will be informed why you are not receiving the waiver or extension.

The first time you get your vehicle retested it is done free of charge if you go to the same emissions testing station.  If you do not go to the original station but to a new station you will need to repay the $29 fee to get the retest done.

Filed under: Massachusets, Articles, State Emissions Testing

Idaho – Emissions Testing Locations

Last updated on April 26th, 2018

If you live in Ada county you are required to take part in the Idaho emissions inspection program.  The emissions inspection can be done at one of a number of places.  Below you will find a list of places that offer emissions inspection in Idaho.  It is recommended that you call ahead to verify that they are still participating in the emissions program and testing vehicles and to find out their specific schedule and hours and see if they allow you to set up a scheduled appointment for your emissions test.

R & S Emissions, 1601 S. Meridian Rd
Paul’s Stinker, 110 E. 1st
Broadway Chevron, 1784 Broadway
Emissions Testing, Cole & Ustick
M & L Emissions Testing, Cole & Ustick
Idaho Air, 5 Mile & Fairview
Quick Test, 8400 Franklin
Emission Testing Center, 7000 Overland
Emissions Testing Center, Texaco Sta., 5 Mile & Overland
Emission Testing Center, Fred Meyer’s Shopping Center
Airport Chevron, 2828 Airport Way
Idaho Air, POJO’s- Fairview
Idaho Air, Pojo’s Shopping Center
R&M Fabrication, 1661 N. Amber
Don’s Meridian Shell, 2740 W Franklin
Emissions Testing, Albertson’s off Cole
M & L Emissions Testing, 5800 Fairview
T.E.S.T., Locust Grove & Fairview
Clean Test Emission, 3353 Federal Way
M & L Emission Testing, 3700 Overland
Emissions Testing, Overland & 5 Mile Plaza
Idaho Air, Glenwood & Riverside
Mountain Air, 1375 E Fairview
R & S Emissions, at the Stinker Station, Victory and Cole
Ada Air, 6633A Overland Rd
A&J Emissions, K-Mart Parking Lot
Aires LLC, Cloverdale & Fairview
Buddy’s Emissions Testing, at MegaWash, Linder and Cherry Lane
Meridian Auto Machine, 505 N. Main St.
Stop ‘N’ Go, 4860 W. Emerald
Emission Test Stations, 2550 Apple
Idaho Air, 4925 Glenwood
High Desert Air Emissions, 4702 Federal Way
Aires LLC, 5 Mile and Ustick
Broadway Emissions System
Jiffy Lube, 1206 Broadway
In & Out Emissions, 5824 W. Franklin
Jiffy Lube, 5007 Overland Rd.
Valley Air Testing, 1651 W. Franklin
Jiffy Lube, 1645 S. Spring Valley
Jiffy Lube, 3606 W. State St.
Jiffy Lube, Overland and  Weidman
Bodra Group, 6630 W. State St.
Rocky Mt Collision Repair, 225 East Fairview
Jackson’s Emissions Test, 2602 S Vista Rd
Emissions Testing Center, Apple & Boise Ave.

 

Filed under: Idaho, Articles, State Emissions Testing

Georgia – Emissions Failures and Retests

Last updated on April 26th, 2018

If your vehicle fails the Georgia emissions testing inspection you will be required to get your vehicle repaired and retested.  The state of Georgia takes into consideration how old your vehicle is as well as the emissions components that were available when your vehicle was manufactured when they set their emissions testing standards.

You will have a period of thirty days from the date you failed the inspection to get your vehicle repaired and retested if you want the retest to be free.  If you take longer than thirty days to get your vehicle retested you will be required to pay the emissions testing fee again.

You may be eligible for a vehicle repair waiver if you meet the following requirements:

REPAIR WAIVER REQUIREMENTS
• The vehicle does not pass the initial inspection. The initial inspection cannot be
more than one year old (12 months) or associated with a previous Repair Waiver or
registration renewal.
• Emission-related repairs must meet or exceed the Repair Waiver limit amount of
$819.
• The retested vehicle must show improvement in all the areas it failed on the first
test as well as pass the areas it passed on the first.
• Emission-related repairs can be performed up to 60 days prior to the initial
inspection.
• Repair receipts from each emission-related repair attempt can be considered toward
a Repair Waiver as long as each receipt is dated 60 days before or after the
corresponding failed emission test.
• Repair receipts must be from a repair facility possessing a valid business license.
– All emission-related repairs, including a diagnostic analysis, parts, and labor
can be used toward the Repair Waiver limit amount.
– Labor costs from a company not possessing a business license will not count
toward the Repair Waiver limit amount.
– If required, the repair facility’s business license must be obtainable.
– If repairs are performed by the owner, only the cost of parts will be
considered toward the Repair Waiver limit amount.
• Repairs and parts must be itemized and identifiable for consideration.
• Receipts must identify the vehicle (VIN, year, make and model OR tag number,
make and model).

If you have questions concerning the waiver process you can reach customer service at 1-800.449.2471

Filed under: Georgia, Articles, State Emissions Testing

North Carolina Car Insurance

Last updated on April 26th, 2018

All drivers in the state of North Carolina are required by law to maintain a minimum amount of liability coverage on their vehicle in order for it to be legally driven on a public road. The state of North Carolina currently has these minimums set at $30,000 in individual bodily injury coverage, $60,000 in total bodily injury coverage and $25,000 in property damage coverage. Vehicle owners in North Carolina are free to purchase liability coverage that exceeds the above mentioned amounts, typically up to $1,000,000, but they cannot purchase less than the minimum amounts and still satisfy North Carolina car insurance requirements. As of January 1st, 2009 North Carolina residents are also required to maintain uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in the same minimum amounts established for liability coverage. North Carolina is one of the few states in the country that operates under an at-fault car insurance system and still requires residents to purchase uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage as part of their car insurance policy. Like liability coverage, motorists generally have the option to purchase more uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage than the state requires though according to state car insurance law drivers cannot purchase more uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage than liability coverage.  There are also a variety of optional types of auto insurance that are available to most drivers in the state, though not every insurance company will offer them all, and some insurance companies may only offer one or two. Personal injury protection is one of the forms of optional coverage that is generally offered by most auto insurance companies in North Carolina; though each company is allowed to determine just how much coverage they want to offer their customers. Personal injury protection functions in much the same way as bodily injury liability coverage except that it applies to the policy holder and passengers in the insured vehicle and not other parties involved in an accident. As a tort state the at-fault driver is supposed to be held financially responsible for any injuries sustained in an accident, which makes personal injury protection unnecessary in many cases, but personal injury protection can still be useful as a stop gap measure until fault is established or until the other insurance company steps forward to pay medical bills and it can also be used in an accident involving an at-fault driver that has no insurance.

Like a handful of other states North Carolina maintains an electronic database that allows them to monitor the auto insurance status of every vehicle registered in the state. Every time a policy is issued, renewed or terminated by an insurance company in North Carolina the company is required by law to immediately notify the state of such a change. This allows the state to proactively catch uninsured drivers as soon as they enter the system instead of waiting for them to be pulled over or involved in an accident. If a North Carolina resident is reported to the DMV for cancelling their policy or having their policy terminated they will receive a notice in the mail requesting verification of their insurance status. If the driver has indeed allowed their coverage to lapse they will be required to recertify with the DMV and pay a $50 fee within 10 days of receipt of the notice. If the insurance did not lapse the driver can simple fill out the form provided, known as a FS 5-7, with the correct insurance information and send it back to the DMV for processing. If a driver fails to reply to this notice altogether they will have their license and registration suspended for no less than 30 days and will be required to pay numerous fees in order to have their driving privileges reinstated.

In order to reduce the number of uninsured drivers on the state’s roads North Carolina law spells out exactly what will happen to a driver if they are caught driving without mandatory levels of liability coverage. The first time a driver is caught without insurance in North Carolina they will have their registration suspended or a minimum of 30 days. In order to have this suspension lifted and the license plates reinstated the vehicle owner will have to provide the DMV with proof of insurance on the vehicle and pay any necessary fees. Drivers that are found to be driving uninsured also run the risk of having their driving license suspended, which will also require the payment of numerous fees before it can be reinstated. North Carolina often places three pints on a driver’s license if they are found to be driving without insurance. Not only can the accumulation of points result in the suspension of the driver’s license but depending on the way an auto insurance company calculates its rates the driver may also see a corresponding hike in their monthly premium.

Filed under: North Carolina, Articles, Car Insurance

New Mexico – General Emissions Information

Last updated on April 26th, 2018

All motor vehicles in New Mexico that are more than four years old and are driven into, operated, or are otherwise present in Bernalillo county for 60 or more days per year but are registered in another county or state shall comply.

All 1980 and newer motor vehicles up to 10,000 lbs. GVW must pass an emission test every two years and at the change of ownership.

Beginning January 1, 2013, all 1998 and newer diesel motor vehicles must pass emissions.

Exemptions

There are exemptions for the New Mexico emission testing and you will not need to have one done if your vehicle is older than 1975, if your new vehicle is under four years old, if you have a motorhome, or if your vehicle weighs more than 10,001 pounds.

Vehicles that do not need to have an air care certificate.

All new motor vehicles for four years following initial registration from the date of the manufacturer’s certificate of origin (MCO);

Vehicles that are fueled by a mixture of gasoline and oil for purposes of lubrication;

Motor vehicles that are used for legally sanctioned competition and not operated on public streets and highways;

Implements of husbandry, or road machinery not regularly operated on public streets and highways;

Other vehicles that are not regularly operated on public streets and highways after providing satisfactory proof to the program manager;

vehicles leased by a leasing company whose place of business is Bernalillo county to a person who resides outside of Bernalillo county; however, an exemption shall not be granted if the person resides in an area, that has an EPA-required vehicle inspection program;

Vehicles that are 35 years old or older;

Vehicles sold between licensed dealers;

Vehicles with a GVW of 10,001 lbs. or more; and

Dedicated electric vehicles;

Existing electric hybrid vehicles which were exempted from 20.11.100 NMAC as of the effective date of 20.11.100.2 NMAC, until such time that a change of ownership of the vehicle occurred.

Validity

In New Mexico and emissions test is valid for 90 days and is required when you are looking to reinstate a suspended registration or to complete an original or renewal registration. If you purchase a vehicle from a used car dealer, they are required to provide you with a New Mexico emissions test, but you are required to receive it yourself if you purchase it from a private owner.

 

Failures

You must have your vehicle repaired if it fails the New Mexico emissions test and then you are required to have an emissions re-test after it has been repaired. You can repair the vehicle either at the station or at another location and the re-inspection will need to be conducted at the vehicle pollution management headquarters. There is no cost for a re-inspection.

Conclusion

There are nearly 120 air care stations located in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Los Lunas, and Sandia Park. You may also be able to find auto dealers and auto shops that conduct inspections as well as inspectors who are certified by vehicle pollution management. These usually range between $15 and $20.

It is possible to receive an extension if you are currently out-of-state or if your vehicle is unavailable for inspection. You will need to file an affidavit of the vehicle unavailability and submitted to the vehicle pollution management office in order to receive this extension.

In order to keep our air quality and roads safe, it is important that we have our vehicles tested and maintained regularly. In order to do this the state of New Mexico has set up requirements in regards to inspections on vehicles that must be completed in a timely manner. It is your responsibility to have this testing completed before the expiration date.

Filed under: New Mexico, Articles, State Emissions Testing

North Dakota Car Insurance

Last updated on April 26th, 2018

Although it has its own auto insurance laws, the state of North Dakota is not all that different from most other no-fault states when it comes to the types of insurance that is required and the minimum amounts of coverage that must be obtained. Like every other no-fault state the core of North Dakota’s car insurance laws are based on certain types of required coverage, such as personal injury protection. Personal injury protection is a type of coverage required by every state that uses a no-fault insurance system and even a few that operate under the more common at-fault, or tort, auto insurance systems. Personal injury protection functions to financially protect the policy holder and passengers from injuries sustained in a car accident. No matter who is at fault, if a driver has personal injury protection and they or one of their passengers are injured in an accident the personal injury protection will cover their medical bills up to the amount of coverage purchased by the policy holder. The state of North Dakota requires that every vehicle registered with the North Dakota Department of Motor Vehicles be covered with at least $30,000 in personal injury protection. As is common with other no-fault states, North Dakota also requires that residents purchase uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for their car insurance policies as well. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage typically protects a policy holder and passengers from injuries sustained in an accident with an uninsured and underinsured motorist. If a driver does not have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and is involved in an accident caused by a driver without insurance they risk having to pay for their injuries out of pocket even though the accident was not their fault. North Dakota car insurance law stipulates that every vehicle should have a minimum of $25,000 in per person bodily injury uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and $50,000 in per accident bodily injury uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

Every time a car insurance policy is purchased in North Dakota the insurance company that wrote the policy is required to send their new customer proof of insurance in the form of an insurance ID card. According to state law, this insurance ID card should be kept in the insured vehicle at all times and should be readily presentable to a law enforcement officer upon request. The insurance ID coverage is the main form of proof of insurance carried by most North Dakota residents and it can often mean the difference between getting hit with severe penalties for driving without insurance or not being penalized at all. A driver that is found to be driving without proof of insurance will most likely receive a citation and may face more penalties if they cannot provide proof of insurance by the time their court date comes around. Drivers that are found to be guilty of driving without insurance in North Dakota will be punished with a fine up to $150 and could have as many as 12 points placed on their driving record. The accumulation of too many points will result in the suspension of their license. A subsequent offense within a period of 18 months will be punished with up to a $300 fine and the addition of at least 6, but no more than 12, points to the driver’s license. Drivers that are caught driving without car insurance multiple times within an 18 month period will also be required to maintain an SR-22 as proof of insurance for a period of up to 3 years. Failing to maintain an up to date SR-22 at any time during the designated period will result in the immediate suspension of the driver’s license. Drivers caught without car insurance in North Dakota will also often have their vehicle’s registration suspended until such a time when they are able to provide adequate proof of insurance and pay any necessary reinstatement fees.

Despite the fact that no-fault insurance systems are meant to reduce the amount of lawsuits over car insurance related matters the state of North Dakota still allows fault to be placed on a driver responsible for an accident and if the cost of the accident exceeds $2,500 for any other driver involved they will have the legal right to sue the at-fault driver for any excessive costs. In many cases a driver’s insurance company will pay out benefits relating to personal injury protection or uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and then attempt to recoup their money from the at-fault driver by taking them to court. A no-fault car insurance system like the one ran in North Dakota does not mean that fault is not placed on a driver for an accident; it just means that fault does not have to be established in order for an insurance company to provide benefits to their policy holders.

Filed under: North Dakota, Articles, Car Insurance

Minnesota Car Insurance

Last updated on April 26th, 2018

Although Minnesota is labeled as a no-fault state for insurance purposes, like every other no-fault state in the U.S. Minnesota’s no fault status only applies to medical payments and injuries sustained in an accident, meaning that the at-fault driver can still be found liable for the financial cost of an accident. Since Minnesota car insurance law is based on both no-fault and tort principals Minnesota and other “no-fault” states are often referred to as hybrid states. Because Minnesota’s no-fault laws only require insurance companies to pay for their customers injuries related to an accident Minnesota drivers are still required to maintain liability coverage on their vehicles. In order to satisfy the no-fault portion of Minnesota car insurance law residents of the state are required to maintain at least $40,000 in personal injury protection. Personal injury protection is the coverage that is will pay for any medical bills and lost wages that result from injuries sustained in an accident. The minimum $40,000 in coverage established by the state includes $20,000 for medical payments and $20,000 for lost wages.

In order to satisfy the tort based portion of Minnesota State car insurance law residents are also required cover their vehicle with liability insurance. Like personal injury protection, the minimum amount of liability insurance a car must have is set by the state and currently stands at $30,000 for injuries to a single individual, $60,000 or injuries to multiple people and $10,000 in property damage liability coverage. Unlike Personal injury protection, which is paid to the policy holder, liability coverage only insures the driver involved in an accident that the policy holder caused. Although fault does not have to be established for personal injury protection insurance to be paid out, liability insurance will not be rewarded until a driver is found at fault in the accident. Residents of Minnesota are also required by law to carry minimum levels of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on any vehicle that they own. The current minimum levels of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage required by the state sit at $25,000 for an injury to a single person and $50,000 for injury to two or more people. The levels of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage are the same and must be purchased in the same amounts when buying a car insurance policy in Minnesota. Every type of coverage required by Minnesota car insurance law can be purchased in greater amounts than the minimum limits set by the state. Additionally, there are also a few types of coverage which are optional for residents and are not required to be a part of an auto insurance policy. Minnesota, like most other states, allows collision and comprehensive coverage to be purchased by residents on a voluntarily basis; though the state does recommend certain amounts of each type of coverage be purchased as part of an insurance policy. Despite the fact that Minnesota requires so many different forms of coverage to be maintained on a vehicle the state as a whole still ranks 25th out of 50 in terms of car insurance premiums, with Minnesota residents paying an average of $753 a year for car insurance.

The car insurance required by the state of Minnesota can function a bit differently than in other states, primarily because there are so many types of coverage required. In Minnesota, some forms of car insurance are applied to the policy holder and not the actual vehicle. Personal injury protection for instance covers the policy holder no matter which vehicle they are driving. If a driver borrows a car from a friend in Minnesota and is involved in a car accident the driver’s personal injury protection will be responsible for their medical bills if they are injured but the vehicle owner’s policy will still be responsible for any other costs associated with the accident.

Minnesota law also requires that residents carry proof of insurance with them at all times and must be able to provide it if pulled over by a law enforcement officer. Residents of Minnesota that drive without insurance on their vehicle are committing a misdemeanor according to state law and if caught could face a series of penalties that are much more costly than an insurance policy. A driver that is caught without insurance in Minnesota will generally be issued a citation and may be required to appear in court. If a driver cannot provide proof of insurance by the court date they will likely receive a fine ranging from $250 to $1,000 and could even face as many as 90 days in jail. Any subsequent offenses within a 10 year period of a driver’s first offense are considered by state law to be gross misdemeanors and are punished much more harshly. In some localities a driver may be able to obtain a lesser penalty if they purchase an insurance policy that meets state requirements before they have to appear in court.

Filed under: Minnesota, Articles, Car Insurance