Thats right, you read the title.  California drivers are required to have liability insurance.   How important is car insurance?  Well, its right up there with food. 

If you don’t have car insurance, you can’t get to work, the store, the doctor or anywhere.  If you can’t get to work, you don’t have a pay-check to pay rent, utilities, food and car insurance.  Well, you get the point, you need car insurance if you own a car.

In the past, some people would buy an auto policy, pay the down payment and never pay any more premiums.  They would let the policy terminate for non-payment.  These people didn’t care, they had their proof of insurance I.D. card.  They thought, “I have a proof of insurance card to show police if I’m pulled over”.  Well, that won’t work anymore, as now police can check instantly without asking you for the I.D. card.

Well, those people are getting a big shock.  If they try that little trick now, they will be fined, have their registration suspended and may loose their vehicle if they are caught driving an unregistered, uninsured vehicle.

California has finally got smart on uninsured drivers, as of January 1, 2006, all insurance companies were required to report insurance status to the DMV for private use vehicles.

That means if you own a vehicle, you must insure it, it is mandatory.

As of July 1, 2006, the police and courts have access to DMV records to verify that your California registered vehicle is currently insured.

Again, this is big brother saying, “you can run, but you can’t hide”.  The paper I.D. card won’t work anymore if the DMV has reported to the police that your insurance has cancelled.

Do you think this is a bad idea?  I think not, we need to get uninsured drivers off the streets, which in turn will lower our uninsured motorists rates. 

Effective October 1, 2006, your vehicle registration is subject to suspension if the liability insurance is cancelled, or if your insurance company has not electronically transfered evidence of insurance to the DMV.  You must provide evidence of insurance when you purchase or register your vehicle.

This is the law for California drivers. 

And always remember, you must carry proof of insurance in your vehicle at all times.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact www.starkquote.com or call our toll-free number

                             1 800-654-4003.

We are the experts for home and car insurance in California.