Transporting Students without Car Insurance Coverage
Reader’s Question:
Is it fine to transport students to and from school regularly in South Davis, or even on field trips, as a school employee, without any specific car insurance coverage?
Carlos
South Davis, UT
You will need to contact your car insurance provider in South Davis UT about how you frequently transport school age students in your personal car during your work hours. Whether you will need specific auto insurance coverage is up to the person’s policy, so once you inform your insurance carrier of what you do with your personal car they should be able to tell you if your current auto insurance policy is enough or if you need to make any changes.
If you have question about certain areas of coverage this should be specified , likely it is bodily injury liability coverage that you want to cover damages if you are at fault in an accident.
Car Insurance Question in Utah
Reader’s Question:
The person who was part of the car wash drove a stranger’s Mercedes Benz into my vehicle in Layton UT. The motorist had no insurance. Is the church car wash liable for using an uninsured motorist to drive a vehicle? Is it solely the motorist’s fault? If the car owner of the Mercedes told the uninsured driver to drive the vehicle, is it the fault of the Mercedes’ owner – and his insurance cover the damage?
Tom
Layton, UT
If the car owner of the Mercedes gave permission to the driver, then the driver will be covered under that insurance policy. If that insurance policy has ‘property damage liability’ coverage, you will need to access it to fix your vehicle. If the insurance policy of the Mercedes Benz has ‘collision’ coverage, that will be used to fix any damage to that car. There may be a deductible that may apply that the motorist may be held responsible. If the church had bought some sort of liability insurance for the car wash that may be useable; but, I do not know if the church can be held accountable for this. (You will need to seek out legal advice regarding this.) Basically, the driver and the car owner of the Mercedes (if that person gave permission to the driver to drive the car) are at fault for this accident in Layton.
Can a Car Insurance Company Cancel a Policy After Inception Date
Reader’s Question:
Is it possible for car insurance company to cancel or non-renew a policy after its inception date? What are usually the reasons for insurance companies to do this? I got my car insurance in Provo, UT.
Tara
Provo, UT
Yes. There are cases that insurance companies cancel a policyholder’s insurance after it has been issued. Many state insurance regulators have set restrictions on when and why an insurance policy can be canceled after its inception date. For example, in the state of California, there are only three reasons an automobile policy can be canceled/non-renewed once it is issued. (1) Fraud or material representation; (2) Non-payment of premium; and (3) Substantial increase against hazard.
Cancellation notices should be mailed to you at your last known address stating the reason at least ten (10) days prior to the cancellation’s date effectivity for nonpayment of premium, and twenty (20) days for all other reasons. As for nonrenewal, notices must be forwarded to you at least thirty days (30) before expiration. Upon your written request, the company will give you the reason for your policy’s nonrenewal and this should be stated on the nonrenewal notice. These notices also serve as a reminder for the policyholder and give him an opportunity to pay the past due premium and keep the policy in force (if nonpayment is the issue) or to secure other insurance. I would suggest contacting your Provo, UT insurance agent to find out more information on regulations regarding auto insurance cancellations and nonrenewals.
You may contact you car insurance company in Provo to get more information on car insurance cancellation.
Should I Add my Teenager to my Car Insurance Policy?
Reader’s Question:
I am divorced and my teenage son stays with his dad every other weekend. In a couple of months, he is going to get his driver’s license. Is there a law regarding adding him to my policy? He will be using one of my cars which has insurance on my name. Do I need to list him on my policy? What about him being added to his dad’s policy since he occasionally drives one of his cars. I live in North Davis, Utah if that matters.
Louisa
North Davis, UT
Majority of car insurance companies would want to have information about other household members who have regular access to your cars. They would ask you to either list that person as ‘eligible’ to drive or ‘excluded’ from driving. If you want your son to be covered in cases of accidents, then you will need to inform your insurance company when he obtains his license (or permit). Most likely, your insurance company will require you to place him as an eligible driver on the policy.
It may seem confusing as to which parent’s auto insurance policy would children of divorced parents be included. Usually, the parent who has custody of the child should add the child to his or her policy as what many insurance providers suggest. In some cases, a parent has custody of the teen when the child is attending school. It would be wise to ask your insurance agent about the specific policy guidelines.
The teen will normally be covered by both parents’ policies if both parents are insured by the same company regardless of whether the child is listed as a driver on either policy. This is because some insurance policies define “an insured” as a person related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption who is a resident of your household. You will need to read through your policy language and/or contact North Davis, UT insurance agent for details since not all policies are the same.
Can I Get Gap Auto Insurance for a Car?
Reader’s Question:
Can I obtain gap insurance in Provo if I had bought my vehicle 6 months ago? I live in Provo, UT.
David
Provo, UT
Yes, normally you can still buy GAP insurance for a motor vehicle in Provo even though it has been 6 months since you have bought it. You can buy GAP insurance at anytime as long as the GAP policy requirements are met.
During the early years of your vehicle’s life GAP insurance can provide valuable protection. If a covered loss happens (total loss in a collision, theft, etc.), GAP insurance will pay for the difference between the actual cash value (ACV) of the car and the current outstanding balance on your lease or loan.
Business Auto Insurance Vs Personal Car Insurance
Reader’s Question:
When should I consider buying personal car insurance instead of commercial car insurance? I live in Utah.
Terrence
Provo, UT
When you use your car in business you need to inform the insurance carrier in Utah. In some cases it is better to have a “regular” personal auto insurance policy with a business endorsement and in some scenarios you need “commercial auto insurance”. There are a few different types of insurance policies to consider. You can either buy a Commercial Auto Policy (Business Auto Policy) or Personal Auto Policy.
For a Personal Auto Policy with some insurance companies you can add a business endorsement.
The commercial car insurance quote specialists will be able to assist you determine your needs when you request a commercial car insurance quote online or when you get a personal auto insurance policy quote.
Getting Full Car Insurance Coverage
Reader’s Question:
I am 19 and am looking for auto insurance in Salt Lake City. Is it true that I have to have full coverage on my car or can I get collision only. My car is a 91 acura integra.
Phil
Salt Lake City, UT
Collision and comprehensive insurance coverage is optional in virtually every state. The collision and comprehensive section of your insurance policy covers physical damage to your own car resulting from collisions and different other causes (e.g., fire, falling objects or theft). But, your vehicle’s value plays a big part in evaluating your need for this type of coverage. It is more economical usually to transfer the risk of your new car to the insurance provider. Basically, it would cost less to insure it than it would to have to replace it out of your pocket. If you are leasing or financing the car then you are required to carry collision and comprehensive coverage. The lease or lender company will require that you provide proof of this coverage. If you do not do this then they may force to put the coverage for you and add the cost of it to your loan balance. If you do not have a loan on the car and are only asking about buying Collision coverage without Comprehensive, then you may be able to find an insurance provider in Salt Lake City to assist you.
Buying Car Insurance in Utah
Reader’s Question:
Do I insure the vehicle or the motorist in Utah? Does every person must have car insurance or is the car insurance enough?
Dean
Provo, UT
Car insurance is needed for the vehicle but the motorist will need to show proof that there is valid insurance on the car if stopped by law enforcement officer. If you own a vehicle you insure your car but you and any other licensed household members should be listed as drivers.
If you give permission to a friend that is not a member of your household to borrow the vehicle then normally they will be covered under your car insurance, but some insurance policies have exclusions in them so it is best to check with your auto insurance provider to be certain that your friend is covered by your policy before allowing a friend to drive it.
Make sure not drive your vehicle without insurance or permit someone that would not be covered by your insurance policy to do so because if an individual is convicted in a court or found through a Department of Public Safety (DPS) administrative hearing to have been driving a car without insurance, the DMV may suspend the uninsured vehicle’s registration.
Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance in Utah
Reader’s Question:
My teenage brother was cited for driving without car insurance in Salt Lake City, Utah. What penalty should he expecting?
Mark
Salt Lake City, UT
In Utah, the law requires drivers to carry proof of insurance and present it to any police officer upon request. In addition to that, for many years, Utah has compared its car registration file with a database of insurance policies written to Utah residents. When the computer program finds out a Utah-registered vehicle does not have a corresponding insurance policy, a letter will be sent to the car’s registered owner, requiring the owner to provide proof of insurance.
If the owner of the car fails to provide satisfactory proof of insurance after receipt of the letter, that information will be provided to the Tax Commission’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and state and local law enforcement.
If an individual is convicted for failure to insure a car, the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) is required to suspend the person’s driver license. DPS may not issue or renew a driver license to the individual until the person gives the agency operator’s security or proof of owner’s and pays a reinstatement fee.DPS also will notify DMV upon receipt of such proof.
Mandatory Liability Car Insurance in Utah
Reader’s Question:
I need to get car insurance on my vehicle and I just want to get the minimum that is required by the Department of Motor Vehicle in Utah. What is the minimum liability coverage in Utah?
Richard
Salt Lake City, UT
No-fault insurance in Utah must be maintained on all passenger cars throughout the vehicle’s registration period if: the owner/operator, you are a resident in Utah or if the owner/operator operates a car that has been in Utah for 90 days or more during the preceding 365 days. All drivers must carry proof of insurance and present it to any law enforcement officer upon request.
Utah law requires liability limits of 25/50/15 and these numbers stand for bodily injury of $25,000 per person for bodily injury up to $50,000 per accident and $15,000 per accident for property damage.
Also the no-fault law of Utah requires drivers to purchase a minimum of $3,000 in personal protection injury (PIP). Basically this coverage will pay for your medical expenses in case of an accident.
To help protect you and your passengers against damages by an uninsured motorist, Utah state law requires a minimum Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for any bodily injury caused by an uninsured motorist.
