What if I choose not to get car insurance?

It might cost you more in the long run!

• You could be ticketed and fined between $500 and $1,000.

• Your vehicle registration could be suspended.

• Your driver’s license could be suspended.

• Your vehicle could be impounded.

• If you cause an accident, you or your parents could be sued.

• When you finally want coverage, you’ll find most insurers charge higher rates for previously uninsured drivers.

How much insurance do I need to drive?

If you just want to meet legal requirements, you need to buy minimum liability coverage—(Sample: Amounts Vary per State) “15/30/10”. If you cause or contribute to an accident, the most this coverage will pay per accident is:

• $15,000 for medical expenses per person injured;

• $30,000 maximum for medical expenses of all those you injure in any one accident; and

• $10,000 toward fixing the damage you cause to someone else’s vehicle or personal property (fence, signs, etc.).

Be aware that minimum liability limits may not be enough to repay someone you injure, or whose property you damage, in

an accident and you could be obligated to make up the difference.

What’s missing?

The law does not require you to buy insurance to cover damage to or theft of your own vehicle (however, if you owe

money on a car loan, the bank or lienholder might require it). If you want coverage for your own vehicle, you need to

buy:

Collision and Comprehensive coverages.

If your car is stolen, or damaged in an accident that is your fault (or if the at-fault driver is uninsured), this insurance

coverage will help you repair or replace your vehicle.

How can I lower the cost of auto insurance?

• Drive safely! Avoid tickets and accidents. Your driving record has a huge impact on what you pay for insurance.

• Drive a safe, reliable vehicle. Sports cars and high profile vehicles contribute to increased injuries, which means they cost more to insure.

• Get good grades! Many insurers offer a good student discount for a “B” or better grade average.

• Ask your insurance representative about a higher deductible (if you buy Comprehensive and Collision coverage). Your deductible is how much you pay out of pocket for a claim for damage to your car.

• Ask about discounts for driver education classes.

• Shop around! There are lots of insurance companies and there’s a wide range in what each charges for insurance.

• Don’t drink and drive.

The law requires it.

Without it, you pay, from your own pocket, for injuries and property damage that you cause to others.

• The risk of an accident per mile driven among 16 to 19 year olds is four times the risk of older drivers.

• Risk is highest at age 16, with the crash rate per mile driven almost three times as high as the risk among 18-19 yearolds.

• Car accidents are the number one cause of death among 16-19 year olds.

• Other driver’s name

• Address and phone number

• Driver license number and state

• Insurance company name (look at their insurance card)

• Policy number

• Agent name and phone number