Reader’s Question:

Is my car covered if my auto insurance lapses in South Bend, Indiana? How long is it covered for?

Larry

South Bend, IN

With car insurance, there is no grace period. Normally if you do not pay then your car insurance policy will cancel at 12:01 AM of the day listed on your payment notice or expiration date from your automobile insurance carrier. If you do not pay and your car insurance lapses you do not have any insurance coverage. There is no grace period for you to be covered for you to obtain a new car insurance policy or reinstate your insurance policy.

If you let your auto insurance lapse and your insurance company reports this to your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles, which is required in many states, then you can face fines and penalties for disregarding car insurance laws. In most states you need to turn in your license plates and registration if you cancel or have a lapse in car insurance. If you do not do so then your driver’s license and registration can be suspended for a period of time. Some states just require you to pay a fee and show proof of car insurance after a lapse.

Do not let your car insurance lapse in South Bend, Indiana as much as possible. If it does and you are caught driving without car insurance or even worse at-fault in an accident you will face penalties for driving uninsured and be held personally liable for the damages you have caused since you did not have any auto insurance in effect.

Tags: auto insurance lapse, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

Do I have to have auto insurance on a vehicle in Terre Haute even if I do not use it?

Jean

Terre Haute, IN

Normally if you have registration on your vehicle then most all states require you to continue to have insurance coverage on the car, even if you are not operating it.

If you do not want to insure a vehicle in Terre Haute, IN and it is off the public highways then verify with your state what steps to take. It will usually include turning in your license plates and registration on the car. If this is done then you can take car insurance off of the car normally without receiving penalties.

To verify what your state’s laws are regarding this contact your Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Tags: auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

We are from Elkhart, Indiana. My daughter is about to turn sixteen. She has never taken any driver education course and doesn’t have a learners permit. Can she still get her drivers license when she turns sixteen?

Dana

Elkhart, IN

You cannot obtain a license at just sixteen years of age in Elkhart, Indiana, you must have a learner’s permit first. Once your daughter have carried the learners permit for a certain amount of time she can apply for a driver’s license. If your daughter carries only a learner’s permit then she would have to wait until he is at least sixteen years old and 180 days old to obtain a driver’s license. If she would have started with an education learner’s permit then she could apply for a driver’s license when she is at least sixteen years and thirty days old.

To get more information about the licensing process in the state of Indiana you may contact the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Make certain that when your daughter does start driving with a permit that you tell your insurance provider. Many insurers will allow you to wait until she is fully licensed to add her as a driver to the insurance policy but insurance guidelines differ and you will want to be certain that she is covered by your auto insurance when driving.

Tags: auto insurance, Beginner car insurance, teen insurance, Young driver car insurance