Can You Take Defensive Driving For a DWI in Florida
Reader’s Question:
My sister received a traffic conviction for a DWI arrest and she’s only a teenager, just 17 years old. Can she take a traffic school course online for the state of Florida?
Jess
Orlando, FL
Great question Jess. The state of Florida requires that all new drivers attend a first time driver traffic law and substance abuse course. In addition, every teenage drivers under 18 years old must possess a Learner’s License for one year. There are no exceptions in this law.If a person under 18 years old receives a citation, he/she may attend a state certified traffic school or online course to avoid a conviction or points. Each court independently decides whether a juvenile can or cannot take a traffic school course. If your sister wasn’t specifically permitted by the court, she may have to ask the court’s permission before beginning the course.
Also, if a minor is convicted with a traffic offense such as a DWI while possessing a Learner’s License, the one year period required to hold their Learner’s License will be extended for one year from the date of the conviction or until he/she turns 18 years old, or whichever happens first. If a minor receive 6 points on his/her driving record in a 12 month period, their driving privileges will automatically be restricted to work purposes only for 12 months or until they’re 18. Please keep in mind that additional restrictions may also be applied.
If a minor receives additional points during this restricted period, the restriction is extended 90 days for each additional point. If they have a blood alcohol level of .02% or more (applies to those under age 21), an administrative suspension of six months will follow. If the minor neglect to attend the traffic school, the driving privilege is suspended until a proof is provided of attend ding school for 30 consecutive days.
Really Cheap Car Insurance In Jacksonville Florida
Reader’s Question:
I need pointers on how to get really cheap car insurance in Jacksonville Florida.
Gareth
Jacksonville FL
To be able to shave off a few hundreds on your coverage payment and ultimately get a really cheap car insurance in Jacksonville, here are some tips that will help you achieve your goal. Buy an inexpensive car, something that is made late 90s or early 2000 as these vehicles already have the safety devices that are required under the law.
At the same time, they won’t be expensive to insure since their market value are already quite low, which implies that insurers’ exposure to risk in the event of theft is low. Another advantage to choosing an inexpensive and old car is that you can be happy with only the minimum required coverage since your car’s value is low. In Florida, the minimum liability coverage is only $10,000/$20,000/$10,000, which is among the lowest. Getting a third party will ensure that you get a really cheap car insurance in Jacksonville .
Ask for discounts, you never know what you might be able to get and how much you can save by asking. Some popular discounts can be given for:
1. Military personnel
2. Good grade students
3. Union membership and bank member affiliations
4. Safe drivers with no claims in last 7 years
5. Defensive driving school attendance
6. Clean credit history – used by many carriers to determine payment risk
Another way of lowering your insurance is to buy online.
Car insurers are likely to offer substantial discounts to coverages bought online. What you should do is to search online for a really cheap car insurance before deciding which company to buy from. Shopping will give you a wide range of choices from among the discounted offers from online sites.
Florida College Students and Out of State Car Insurance
Reader’s Question:
I am a freshman in college. My car is registered in Florida where I originally live, but I am currently in another state attending college. Do I have to keep my Florida car insurance?
Robert
Jacksonville, FL
Hi, Robert. First things first. Florida law dictates that if you own a vehicle and had it registered in the state of Florida, then you must carry with you a corresponding car insurance coverage that is likewise from Florida. You failed to mention, however, if the car is lying in your garage in Florida or if you brought it along with you to school. Given that you just left it to gather dust in your garage, you would very much still need the Florida car insurance coverage. The mere fact that it still has the official Florida vehicle tag means that it must have a Florida car insurance coverage.
Now, if you brought it with you to another state, you might want to consider other options. One is you go and talk to your car insurance agent about your dilemma. Ask the car insurance agent if he or she can suggest a better alternative for you. Most car insurance companies would not pay for your expenses should an accident happen if they found out that you are not maintaining your car where it has been registered. If you’re spending the next couple of years in another state, might as well have it registered there. Plus who knows? Your car insurance provider could have a branch in the state where you are currently residing, so you might even get discounts. So, ask your agent now.
How Much Auto Insurance Coverage Do I Need in Florida
Reader’s Question:
How much car insurance coverage do I need in Hialeah, Florida?
Clayton
Hialeah, FL
Before you buy any type of car insurance coverage, make sure you research other insurance policies so that you will not end up paying extra or something you have coverage for already. If you have a good health insurance policy then you may not need to obtain PIP, Uninsured Motorist or Medical Payment. Some medical insurance providers specifically exclude injuries resulting from a car accident in their car insurance policy so check your health insurance thoroughly before removing or adding car insurance coverages that would cover your medical bills. Always remember that health insurance will not pay for pain and suffering while some auto insurance medical coverages would, so choose what you feel is essential with regards to this concern.
It depends upon your personal financial situation, and health issues etc if you think you need to add or remove auto insurance than what the insurance industry requires. Keep in mind to buy as much as you can afford so that you are not left paying thousands out of your own pocket from damages sustained in a vehicle accident or placing your personal assets at risk.
My Car Insurance Rate Went Up in Florida!
Reader’s Question:
My car insurance rate in Miami went up. I did not have any accident claim or traffic violations. What could be the reason?
Ariel
Miami FL
It is possible that your insurance carrier in Miami has filed their rates with your state’s insurance regulator that is why they raised your car insurance rates. Every year, some states file new fees as well. The state of Florida has a Hurricane fee that is placed onto every person’s rate premium.
When a state permits insurance carriers to increase their car insurance rates will definitely affect your premium. In addition to that you cannot control that car cost more to repair than the year before and that medical bills increase. Insurance carrier do routinely increase car insurance rates for all policyholders to cover these increasing costs the insurance carrier pay out.
To know exactly why your car insurance rates went up, speak with your insurance company. When car insurance rates increased or have change for some reason then your insurance policy renewal notification will show on there the reason.
Ask for discounts, you never know what you might be able to get and how much you can save by asking. Some popular discounts can be given for:
1. Military personnel
2. Good grade students
3. Union membership and bank member affiliations
4. Safe drivers with no claims in last 7 years
5. Defensive driving school attendance
6. Clean credit history – used by many carriers to determine payment risk
Get Cheap Young Driver Car Insurance in Florida
Reader’s Question:
I live in Coral Springs, Florida. I am 18 years old, still live with my parents and I would like to know if need to be covered under my parents car insurance policy. Is it possible for me to get cheaper car insurance on my own so I can be taken off from my parent’s car insurance. I will not be driving their vehicles because I have my own car. Can I do that?
Rey
Coral Springs FL
You may be able to buy your own auto insurance if you register your vehicle under your own name. Usually, car insurance carriers would want to add all licensed drivers in the household on your parent’s car insurance policy.
If you will be driving your own cars and the vehicles of your parents it is likely that all of you need to be listed on each other’s car insurance policies. I suggest that you contact your car insurance company to get more information regarding this. They will be able to tell you if you can get your own car insurance policy and be taken off from your parent’s insurance while still living with your parents. If you are looking for a cheap car insurance quote, it would be cheaper if you stay on your parent’s car insurance policy than getting a separate car insurance policy. You can just share payments with your parent’s car insurance cost.
If you have decided that you wanted to get separate car insurance in Coral Springs, Florida, you can get car insurance quotes here on this page to determine how much car insurance quotes you can expect if you get your own car insurance policy.
Do I Need a Florida Drivers License Before Getting Car Insurance
Reader’s Question:
Are you required to get Florida drivers license before you can obtain car insurance on a car registered in Florida?
Helen
Melbourne, FL
Insurance carrier’s rules and guidelines varies however most insurance carriers in Melbourne, Florida allow you to obtain car insurance in a car registered in the Florida without having Florida drivers license. However, if you live in the state of Florida and would want to get insurance in a Florida registered vehicle, normally you will be required to get a Florida drivers license.
There are some situations wherein you have your vehicle registered in the state of Florida but you have an out of state license. For example, if you are a college student who plans to study in the state of Florida and purchased a vehicle in the state of Florida but they are licensed from out of state or those who has a vacation home in the state of Florida while having their permanent address from out of state.
SR22 Insurance Requirements in Florida
Reader’s Question:
I need information about SR22 insurance requirements in Florida. Can you help?
Rhoda
Tallahassee, FL
Surely Rhoda!
Let me just remind you first that not everyone is required to get SR22 insurance Florida. In general, a driver whose license was suspended is the one who needs this kind of insurance to have his or her license reinstated.
In most cases, these are the traffic violations that need to get SR22 insurance Florida:
- Getting involved in a vehicular accident without car insurance
- Drunk driving activity
- Several traffic violations in a year that exceeded what is set by the law
- Failure to obey the Florida Department of Safety Highway and Motor Vehicles rules
It’s also important to remember that you cannot get SR22 insurance without purchasing car insurance policy first. The reason is that SR22 insurance is simply a document that will be filed by your car insurance company to the FL Department of Safety Highway and Motor Vehicles. This document proves that you have met the required car insurance policy in the state of Florida.
For you to get SR22 insurance, you need to get first auto insurance policy to cover all the vehicles that you have. If you do not own any vehicles, you can still get non-owners car insurance policy.
To avoid getting involved in a serious traffic offense or to avoid maintaining SR22 insurance for a minimum period of three years (that’s depending by the way on the severity of your violation) it’s best to avoid driving without car insurance, or even drive when you are drunk.
For more information about SR22 insurance and car insurance policy, you may ask your car insurance agent. You can also check with the Florida Department of Safety Highway and Motor Vehicles.
Auto Insurance Company Raising Rates in Miami Florida
Reader’s Question:
After giving my car insurance company my down payment and payment for the first month of coverage do they have the rights to raise your car insurance premium quote??
Janice
Miami, FL
Depending on your state laws if your car insurance carrier has the right to increase your car insurance rate premium after accepting your down payment. It is possible that after accepting your car insurance payment the insurance provider just finished its checking of your driving record, etc and found something that should raise up your car insurance premium according to their rating rules. This can happen, especially when you are changing insurance providers and they are still getting your personal information even after providing you a car insurance quote.
Since you live in Miami Florida and this happens you can either pay the increase and cancel it within ten days or do not pay and the insurance carrier will cancel you for nonpayment. Typically the last option is not a good choice since it will show up on later when you try to find car insurance quote with another car insurance company and would appear negative on your side.
Penalty For Letting a Teen Drive Illegally in Florida
Reader’s Question:
I know someone in Hollywood, Florida who let his 14 year old son drive their car? What will be the penalties for that if his son gets caught?
Henry
Hollywood, FL
The Florida laws states that an individual may not operate any automobile upon the roadways unless such individual has a valid driver’s license. .
According to the Florida Statute no person shall knowingly permit his or her teenage child under the age of eighteen to operate a car on roadways when such minor is not authorized by the provisions of this Florida statute. According to the Florida driver’s manual you can be made to pay a fine or put to jail for permitting an unlicensed teen to drive your vehicle.
If you are a minor caught driving without a drivers license the individual who let you drive their car may also get in trouble depending upon state laws.
So, in Florida, both the licensed driver who permits the teen minor that does not yet hold a learner’s permit and the unlicensed minor can both face penalties including jail time and fines. If you were cited for these offenses in Hollywood, Florida or elsewhere, find out for sure what the fines and penalties are by calling the court listed on your citation ticket and/or your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
