Driving Without Car Insurance in Maryland
Reader’s Question:
I borrowed my friend’s car here in Maryland, but his car doesn’t have insurance. Is it unlawful to drive it?
Brennan
Baltimore, MD
Yes, Brennan, it is definitely unlawful to drive a car that doesn’t have car insurance. You should know that most states require drivers and car owners to have at least the minimum car insurance coverage mandated by state laws. Your car insurance should be valid, and of course you should also have a valid registration. So, if the car you’re driving is not insured, it could mean that the car’s registration has been suspended.
And even though you have insurance, your policy is attached to your own car, which covers you or possibly your other licensed family members. So, if you drive an uninsured car and you get into an accident, your car insurance policy may not be able to cover you–unless the car that you drove was listed on your insurance policy as an additional vehicle. But otherwise, if you get caught driving an uninsured car by traffic police, you will be charged with Driving Without Insurance. So, just to be on the safe side, if you really need to drive a friend’s car because of whatever valid reason you may have, just make sure that you are listed on the car owner’s policy as a secondary or additional driver for that particular car so that when accidents happen, or if you get pulled over by cops, there will not be too much of a problem.
Try calling your local insurer there in Maryland, so you can clarify the details of your policy And drive safe!
How To Get Budget Automobile Insurance Quotes in Maryland
Reader’s Question:
Do you have any tips for getting budget automobile insurance quotes in Maryland?
Derek
Baltimore, MD
Hi, Derek. I’m sure a lot of people from Arizona are asking the same thing! The costs of automobile insurance quotes have risen steadily throughout the years. There are some things within your control that can contribute to the automobile insurance quotes that you get.
Your driving record is the best among these. If you can keep a clean driving record, this can help to lower your future premiums. Most insurers will also offer discounts for vehicles with safety features in place. This would be your airbags, seatbelts, and etcetera.
You also control the coverage amount that you wish to get. Of course, you should never go below the insurance limits that your state requires. However, you can choose not to get other insurance types that your agent offers for optional coverage. If you still wish to get optional coverage for comprehensive insurance and collision insurance, you may opt to pay for higher deductibles. This is the amount that you will have to pay out of your own money if an accident should happen. Please make sure that you can afford the deductible if you choose to raise it, otherwise the insurance company will not cover this cost.
If you’re out shopping for a new car, it will be good to know that the type of vehicle that you own also affects your auto insurance rates. Try getting a vehicle with a high safety rating. The best way to get the best rates for insurance is to do your homework and shop online. Tons of websites out there offer instant automobile insurance quotes within your budget with no strings attached.
How to Save On Auto Insurance Cost in Maryland
Reader’s Question:
I haven’t really been in an accident or made any traffic violations and I feel that I am just spending too much on my insurance policy. I don’t really want to stop paying my insurance but as much as possible I want to save money. Is there a way where I could cut my costs and still keep my insurance?
Lesly
Baltimore, MD
You may think that you don’t really need automotive insurance because you haven’t been in any accident but the thing is you get car insurance for the basic reason that you cannot foresee the future and you want to protect yourself from financial liabilities in case you get into an accident. It’s all about the future and the possibility of getting into a big accident, never mind bumps or scrapes or scratches. If you want to save, you may want to consider eliminating certain coverage that you no longer need. Consider comprehensive and collision insurance for old cars that you declared but currently have low value and are no longer being financed. There have been instances where cars such as these were dropped by their automotive insurance companies although these vehicles still have significant value. It turned out that when one of the vehicles got wrecked, the person sustained a heavy amount of loss, which translates to bigger claims made to the car insurance company.
So be careful when you assess your car’s value and when deciding whether to drop the coverage or not. You could also take advantage of discounts offered by your vehicle insurance company there in Baltimore, Maryland. In some cases, insurance companies give out different discounts to their good risk clients such as those with accident-free records, with multiple vehicles, low mileage, those with safety or security devices, etc. Try asking your insurance agent about these pre-scheduled discounts so you don’t miss the chance of getting them especially if it’s applicable to you.
