Reader’s Question:

Can a law enforcement officer impound your vehicle because you fail to show proof that your vehicle is insured?

Mandy

Lorain, OH

In Ohio, it is illegal to operate a vehicle without insurance or any form of Financial Responsibility (FR) on the car that is accepted by the state. It is also illegal for any automobile owner to permit anyone else to operate the owner’s vehicle with Financial Responsibility proof. If you get caught driving without automobile insurance in Lorain Ohio, the penalties can include: driver’s license suspension for a minimum of ninety days and up to two years, impoundment of your license plates and/or vehicle plus court costs and fines.

If you get involved in an accident without automobile insurance, or other Financial Responsibility coverage, in Ohio additional penalties may apply. You may have a security suspension of your license for two years or more and a judgment suspension for an indefinite period, until injuries or damages are paid.

If you are driving without insurance then you have to be sure that you have proper proof of valid auto insurance in your car at all times. Normally proof of insurance is shown by providing a valid insurance card to police officer.

Tags: auto insurance, driving without insurance, traffic violation

Reader’s Question:

My vehicle is paid off and I only have a liability insurance in Cincinnati, OH. What if a hurricane hits and damages my vehicle, Will my insurance cover any damages? Thank you

Jennifer

Cincinnati, OH

Unfortunately no, your liability only auto insurance coverage in Cincinnati, OH will not cover your car if it is damaged from a hurricane.

Liability coverages as part of your car insurance only covers those that you may damage; this type of coverage provides no coverage to your car in any way. Bodily injury and Property Damage liability coverages are the minimum types of coverages that the state require.

With only liability insurance you don’t have any coverages that will protect your car, only those that you may harm when you are driving your vehicle. So your auto insurance carrier would not be able to accept a car insurance claim to repair your car after a hurricane caused damage to it.

Always remember that if a hurricane is on the way and your state is already under a storm warning then insurance carriers will not offer physical damage coverages to be bought during that time. If you want to have comprehensive on your car you will need to do so before the hurricane is approaching and your area in Cincinnati, Ohio is under a warning.

Tags: auto insurance claims, car insurance, comprehensive insurance coverage

Reader’s Question:

What happens when someone was gets cited for driving without car insurance and then the vehicle they were driving is no longer drivable? Does he still need to have insurance in Hamilton, Ohio since they do not have a car to insure?

Jen

Hamilton, OH

If the state mandates you to be financially responsible by carrying car insurance, typically through getting and maintaining an SR-22 insurance, then you will need to do so whether you have a vehicle to insure or not.

If your car is inoperable and you have taken off its registration and you have no other car in which to insure then you would still need to carry the mandated insurance, SR-22 insurance, and can do so with a non-owners insurance policy in Hamilton, Ohio.

Generally a non-owners SR-22 permits the named insure to drive any car that they are given permission to drive by the car owner, unless the car is owned by a household member. The difference between a normal SR-22 insurance and a Non-Owners SR-22 insurance is that with a Non-Owners SR-22 policy you do not own a car to directly insure. While with a SR-22 policy you own a car in which the insurance is place on.

Tags: auto insurance, non owners insurance, sr22 insurance

Reader’s Question:

My grandfather recently died and left the vehicle for me but I do not have the title yet. I was wondering if its possible to obtain car insurance without a title on Youngstown, Ohio?

Gary

Youngstown, OH

Yes, usually you can obtain auto insurance without the title, however you will have to show proof of ownership within 15 to 30 days to the insurance carrier. That means that you would be obtaining the title and you would be registering the car in your name within this time frame.

If you would like to comparison shop online for auto insurance on the vehicle your grandfather left you, you can start here to get free insurance quotes in Youngstown, Ohio.

Tags: auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

My roommate moved out and left her car at my house in Cincinnati, Ohio. I have told her a lot of time to come get it and she hasn’t. Can I insure and get the title under my name?

Allison

Cincinnati, OH

If your friend does not want the vehicle anymore then maybe you can meet her so that she can sign it over to you. If you can no longer contact her and either want the vehicle removed or titled under your name so you can drive it or sell it then you will need to contact your DMV and possibly police department to determine what steps you need to take.

According to the Cincinnati, Ohio clerk of the court, if you have a vehicle abandoned on your property you need to contact first your local law enforcement office, because each area has different rules on this. Some law enforcement agencies will come to your property and remove the car, some will say it is on your property and you will have to check who the owner is and contact them.

You may contact your your local court house or local Department of Motor Vehicles to check on how in your area you can get your former roommate’s abandoned car titled and insured in your name.

Tags: auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

If a friend is driving my vehicle, and my vehicle is not insured, am I going to be held liable if they get into an accident and cause damages? I live in Elyria Ohio.

Ricky

Elyria, OH

Normally in an accident auto insurance follows the vehicle first and motorist second, so you as the owner of the car, are primarily responsible. If the motorist causes an accident then both you as the car owner and the driver can be held responsible for the damages the driver caused while driving your car.

In Ohio, you can be ticketed for wrongful entrustment if you permit someone to drive your car without car insurance. If your car is uninsured in Elyria Ohio and you drive it on the roadway, either by driving it yourself or permitting your friend to do so, then you are placing yourself at risk for penalties by the state and financially if the vehicle is in an accident.

Tags: auto insurance, automobile

Reader’s Question:

In Ohio, how long will my DUI remain on my Motor Vehicle Record?

Kettering, OH

Being convicted of a 1st time DUI in Ohio comes with the following penalties:

• Administrative License Suspension (ALS) for a prohibited BAC;
• ALS for test refusal = one year license suspension;
• Jail - Minimum of three consecutive days or 3-day driver intervention program;
• Court License Suspension - 6 months to 3 years.
• Fine - Minimum $200 and not more than $1,000;

The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) states that there is no section of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) that states convictions ever removed of a driver history. However, an administrative decision is in effect that permits for Driver Abstracts to only reflect the last 3 years driver record activity.

So it would appear that a drunk driving conviction will stay on your OH driving record indefinitely but you can verify with the BMV to find out for sure.

Tags: auto insurance, drunk driving insurance, DUI insurance

Reader’s Question:

If I will be hired by a company and use a company car how far removed does my DUI have to be? I live in Lakewood, Ohio and it has almost been three years..

Jake

Lakewood, OH

The DUI in Lakewood, Ohio is listed at least six years on your driver’s record since it is noted by the OH Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) that it is considered a 1st DUI violation if you are found driving a car with a prohibited alcohol concentration or drug of abuse with no prior OVIs within the last six years on the driving history. It is considered a 2nd violation if you have at least one prior OMVI within the last six years on the driving history.

If you want to know how long exactly your DUI will stay on your driving history then check with the BMV. As for use of a company car, typically this is up to the individual company and their insurance company so you would have to speak with the hiring agent if the DUI on your driving record would keep you from using the company car or not.

Tags: auto insurance, drunk driving insurance, DUI insurance