Is There An Age Limit To Buy a Car With Financing
Reader’s Question:
Is there an age restriction when purchasing a car with auto financing? I live in Alabama
Tommy
Thank you for asking Tommy.
I didn’t find any information from the Alabama Department of Revenue website that states any law regarding minimum age requirement to own a car.
The state of Alabama does not have limitations on the age one must be to purchase a vehicle. A dealership and financing company will probably have extra requirements if you are a minor. For registration, financing and insurance contracts or legal documents will be signed and if you are a under 18 then usually they will require you to have a parent or guardian sign on the forms with you.
If you are looking to purchase a vehicle as a minor then you may verify with the dealership you wish to buy the vehicle from to see what rules they follow.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
Who Do I List As Drivers On My Auto Insurance Policy
Reader’s Question:
I live in Alabama and I just want to know If I am required to list everyone in my household on my policy?
Jim
Thank you for asking Jim.
Insurance company’s guidelines differ so if it depends on your insurance company’s policy you are required to list everyone in your household as a motorist. A state’s insurance regulator will allows car insurance providers all resident drivers of an insured vehicle in rating of a car insurance policy. It would still include a teenager in the household even if they only have learner’s permit.
An insurance company usually will require you to list all of your household’s licensed drivers on your policy. They will likely be operating the vehicles listed on the insurance policy so the motorists need to have car insurance coverage on them. Some insurance providers may also permit you to not include drivers in your household however that person would not have insurance coverage if they did operate your car and got involved in an accident.
You can contact the AL Department of Insurance or your insurance company to get more information about car insurance.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
Can 17 Year Old Teenager Get Auto Insurance In Alabama
Reader’s Question:
Im only 17 and I just want to know if I can get car insurance in Alabama on my own.
Rica
Thank you for asking Rica
A minor of under 18 typically would need to get a parent or guardian to sign on with their car insurance policy with them. Once you turn 18 you can acquire your own insurance policy.
Insurance provider’s rules and guidelines varies for a teenage drivers so I would suggest that you may shop around for coverage. You should be able to get car insurance in Alabama for a car you own at age 18.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
Alabama Auto Insurance With Medical Coverage
Reader’s Question:
My husband got involved in an accident but he was not at fault. He received some minor injuries. What do we need to do to cover the medical expenses? We live in Alabama.
Mylene
Thank you for asking Mylene.
It is best to contact the at fault party’s insurance carrier first about making a claim for these that are related to the bodily injuries caused in the accident. The medical expenses were paid for by another entity but it does not necessarily mean that the at fault party is not to pay for other kind of damages caused by the accident.
Generally, there are no set amounts for certain injuries or damages in which there are no medical costs associated since insurance providers are the ones who determine settlements on a several factors using their own internal guidelines that adhere to state laws.
If you need more information regarding the claim after you have placed it with the at-fault’s insurance provider you may try to contact the AL Department of Insurance for help. You may also consult with a lawyer to better understand the Alabama laws regarding your situation.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
Are Auto Insurance Companies Required To Pay For Minor Damage
Reader’s Question:
I just want to know if the law requires the insurance providers to pay for minor damage? I live in Alabama.
Harry
Thank you for asking Harry.
According to the Alabama Department of Revenue website “no person shall operate, register or maintain registration of, and no owner shall permit another person to operate, register or maintain registration of, a motor vehicle designed to be used on a public highway unless the motor vehicle is covered by a liability insurance policy”
The Alabama Department of Revenue goes on to say that the type of liability insurance required in Alabama is Bodily Injury (BI) and Property Damage (PD). The minimum amounts required are $20,000 for injury liability for one person in an accident, $40,000 for all injuries in an accident, and $10,000 for property damage in an accident. The policy must be issued by an insurance company qualified to issue motor vehicle liability insurance in Alabama.
The law requires a driver to carry liability insurance, not pay a certain amount if you get rear-ended and have whiplash. It be best to place an insurance claim against the at-fault party’s bodily injury policy. You then would obtain a settlement that would be based on what your medical bills are and other damages. Depending upon how high your medical expenses are from the accident, you could be paid up to the limits of the other party’s BI limits.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
Alabama Drivers License Suspended For Too Many Traffic Tickets
Reader’s Question:
My teenager son’s license got suspended due to receiving too many tickets. The suspension is for 60 days. Will he still be able to get an insurance? We live in Alabama.
Kim
Thank you for asking Kim.
If your teenager son is already on your insurance policy or has his own auto insurance, the insurance company may permit the current insurance policy to stay in effect or active through his suspension or revocation since it is only for 60 months If he does not currently have car insurance or his insurance provider has declined him because of the suspension, or bad driving record, then it possible that he will have a hard time obtaining car insurance during his suspension period.
Since insurance providers rules and guidelines are different your son may need to contact different insurance carriers and shop around for insurance company that will accept him and provide his needs. If he cannot find a company to insure him, due to the suspension or being a high risk, he may contact the Alabama Department of Insurance.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
Does Alabama Speeding Ticket Report Back To My Home State
Reader’s Question:
I received a speeding ticket in Alabama. I am licensed in SC. Will this be reported back to my home state?
Ria
Thank you for asking Ria.
Alabama and South Carolina are both members of the Drivers License Compact. This means that the Alabama should report your speeding violation back to your home state or the state in which you are licensed.
In Alabama speeding in excess of posted limits is a 2 point offense. Since you live in South Carolina and do not have an Alabama license, normally it would be your home state which is the South Carolina that would assign points to your driving record.
According to Title 56 of the Motor Vehicle division of the SC Code of Law, traffic offenses for an out of state violation would be a violation in South Carolina as well can be recorded against the driver in SC.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
Penalty For Driving Witout Auto Insurance In Alabama
Reader’s Question:
What will be the penalty if you drive without insurance in Alabama?
George
Thank you for asking George.
When you are convicted for driving without insurance violation in the state of Alabama, the court will forward the information and notify the department of revenue and this state agency will issue a suspension on your driver’s license.
For a first time driving privilege suspension in Alabama you can get it reinstated immediately if you pay a reinstatement fee of $100 and show current proof of insurance. If it is your second offense or subsequent time with a license suspension there will be a 4 month suspension. In addition to that, there is a reinstatement fee of $200 and you will still need to show proof of insurance.
Beyond the registration suspension, any owner or operator of a motor vehicle convicted driving without insurance offense may be fined up to $500 for the first offense. If convicted a second or subsequent time the fine may be up to $1,000 or a 6 month driver’s license suspension or both.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
I Had a Car Accident With No Insurance – What Penalties Are There
Reader’s Question:
I got involved in a minor accident and I didn’t stop. I was driving an uninsured vehicle. What penalties should I be expecting?
Manny
Thank you for asking Manny.
The minimum auto insurance requirements in Alabama is 20/40/10. This stands for liability limits of $20,000 of bodily injury coverage for one person, $40,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
The penalty for motorist found driving without insurance in AL may vary but fines typically range from a $500 and possible license suspension for the first offense up to a $1,000 fine and license revocation for multiple offenses. Since you said you did not stop after the accident which this could be considered a hit and run and could come with grave penalties of its own if the other driver got your license plate and reported it to the authorities.
You should have an insurance in your vehicle before driving in roads in the state of Alabama.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
Will My Auto Insurance Pay For My Broken Windshield
Reader’s Question:
My windshield broke and I have a full coverage and I was informed that my windshield is subject to a deductible. I didn’t pay for the deductible before from my previous insurance company. Can they just charge me for this? I live in Alabama.
Jenny
Thank you for asking Jenny.
Some states, such as Florida, have a statue or law which permit a deductible to not be applied when having a windshield replaced. I didn’t find such law for Alabama but to make make sure you can contact the Alabama department of insurance to get more information about your situation.
It could be that your other previous insurance providers waived the deductible for your comprehensive coverage that covers windshield damage. You could ask your current insurance company to do so as well, but it would be up to their discretion without there being a state law to mandate it.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
