How many people here drive/have driven without insurance?

[DainBramaged]

I've *always* had at least bare minimum insurance on my car, but I was talking to this guy the other day and he said that he hasn't had insurance for three years. He photoshops Geico insurance cards in case he gets pulled over. I was shocked. He seemed like a fairly decent guy. Just made me wonder how many seemingly responsible people don't have it.

 

[RossMAN]

When I first started I drove without insurance until I got busted. Fortunately I got busted without incident, got insurance and the judge reduced the ticket from $470 to $98 or so. I would have gladly paid the entire $470 if it didn't require an SR22 filing for three LONG years. Damn that sucked. Liability only was around $180.

About a decade later, I'm married and it's around $50/mo for full coverage insurance

[Neo]

Whoa!

I guess it's been more than a decade. I got that ticket when I was 17 and my 32nd birthday is 4 weeks 3 days away.

[/Neo]

 

[Vette73]

Yea when I was in college, early years, I was unable to pay for insurance for a while as money was tight to the point I was barely making enough to pay basic rent and school. 10+ bags of oodles and noodles for $1 was a great sale for me back then.

I rarely drove unless I had to and was more careful. It was dumb but if I was in the same situation I would probable do it again.

 

[brtspears2]

I drove my new car for a day uninsured. Most likely my current carrier would have covered it, but that is the biggest risk I have taken.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: brtspears2
I drove my new car for a day uninsured. Most likely my current carrier would have covered it, but that is the biggest risk I have taken.

Yep you're automatically covered for 30 days, so you would have been fine if something happened.

 

[DainBramaged]

I guess I can understand if money was that tight. It would just scare the sh!t out of me.

 

[Baked]

I would never have imagined RossMAN to be so young. I always figured he's in his late 40s or early 50s.

Never. I got my insurance first, then registered the car at DMV.

 

[iamaelephant]

I used to drive uninsured when I was a teenager. Stupid idea, but nothing bad ever happened.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Baked
I would never have imagined RossMAN to be so young. I always figured he's in his late 40s or early 50s.

I get that a lot. I've asked a few AT'ers how old they think I am?

45 is the most common answer

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged
I've *always* had at least bare minimum insurance on my car, but I was talking to this guy the other day and he said that he hasn't had insurance for three years. He photoshops Geico insurance cards in case he gets pulled over. I was shocked. He seemed like a fairly decent guy. Just made me wonder how many seemingly responsible people don't have it.

It's one thing to drive uninsured...but I'm pretty sure forging insurance papers is at least a misdemeanor. :Q

What good would it do anyway to have fake papers? As soon as the cop gets your DL, registration, and proof of insurance in the event of a traffic stop, it probably wouldn't take him long to figure out that you're FOS. And you're just a complete dumbshit if you bust out fake insurance papers on an accident scene where cops show up...

 

[SampSon]

Insurance shminsurance, it's for people who can't drive!

 

[GeekDrew]

Never have. I let my insurance lapse one time because I didn't have the money to pay for it... and didn't drive a single time until I had it reinstated. That was the closest risk I took, since you legally have to have insurance on all vehicles, regardless of whether you drive.

Oh, and always full coverage.

 

[probzy]

Me

 

[CTrain]

I have in the past not have insurance for years.
Never got in trouble yet.
In fact I have 2 cars now and 1 of the car is not covered and I drive it alot.

 

[Stumps]

I only have 3rd party insurance on my car....it's not worth enough to be covered by a comprehensive policy.

I have driven cars before with out any insurance and even back in 1998 had an accident while uninsured...I paid for it big time in late 2002.

 

[badmouse]

When i started driving, back in the 60's, in Ohio it wasn't required to have insurance. I'm sure that's changed, though.

This summer, I got the bill for the year's policy. I picked up the phone to call and pay and I must have gotten distracted, because I forgot to finish paying. I noticed some mail from the insurance co., but didn't think about it because I knew I'd already paid. Finally I had a call from the insurance agency asking about my dropped policy. Oops.

Got a new policy right away - and saved 4 months of insurance premiums. Thank goodness I didn't have any accidents!

 

[Regs]

Well...in NJ it's like a 500-1000k fine, automatic 6 months license suspension, a 1-2k surcharge on insurance for the next 3 years and possible imprisonment.

That's if I don't get into an accident and get sued.

So let me weigh this situation out.... 100-200 dollars a month or 800-1,200 a month with all my assets and credit frozen. Hmm. Toughy.

 

[mcvickj]

I just found out 3 week my younger brother was driving around without insurance. Took a lot of restraint not to beat the living crap out of him. Especially when he has a 3 year old son that he gets every other weekend and drives around with. He gave me some BS answer that he couldn't afford it. Instead of cancelling the cell phone he let his insurance lapse. He just got a better paying job and his insurance has been reinstated. If my parents knew they would have flipped. He is 21 but still a very bone head move.

 

[Raduque]

Insurance is a government-mandated scam. I fully believe we are in need of insurance reform. Insurance should not be required by law, it should be optional, and it should ONLY cover your vehicle and vehicle's occupants. If you get into an accident and don't have insurance, you pay out of pocket to fix your car, or you drive a wrecked vehicle. It should also be illegal for an insurance company to raise your premium by the huge percentages they do, or drop you, for a single claim.

Down with insurance laws! Up with reform and optionality!


edit: PS, I do have insurance.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

i pay $1600 for the legal minimum. i'm 20 years old, no acciedents or citations and drive a sh!tbox. if i don't have insurance my registration will be revoked.

rates are set by the state board of insuracnce. its a good thing they set the rates or some company may try and rip me off.......:disgust:

 

[Smartazz]

I think you need auto insurance here in NJ, is that the case in any of your states?

 

[chambersc]

This is why I'll always call the police if I'm in an auto accident.

 

[Atheus]

Wasn't a legal requirement where I grew up, and why should it be? If someone crashes and they don't have insurance, then they just pay out of their pocket, who cares?

 

[chambersc]

Originally posted by: Atheus
Wasn't a legal requirement where I grew up, and why should it be? If someone crashes and they don't have insurance, then they just pay out of their pocket, who cares?

Because more often than not people without insurance drive away or can't afford the fees.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: Raduque
Insurance is a government-mandated scam. I fully believe we are in need of insurance reform. Insurance should not be required by law, it should be optional, and it should ONLY cover your vehicle and vehicle's occupants. If you get into an accident and don't have insurance, you pay out of pocket to fix your car, or you drive a wrecked vehicle. It should also be illegal for an insurance company to raise your premium by the huge percentages they do, or drop you, for a single claim.

Down with insurance laws! Up with reform and optionality!


edit: PS, I do have insurance.

So....
Who pays for damage to other peoples property when it's your fault? And by property, I don't mean just their car.
If you can't pay out of pocket to fix other peoples stuff, they are the ones who get screwed, not you. By making you have insurance, they are covered. Most basic insurance policies cover 3rd party. That means NOT you.

The Act [UK traffic act] requires all motorists to be insured against their liability for injuries to others (including passengers) and for damage to other persons' property resulting from use of a vehicle on a public road or in other public places. This is called Third Party Insurance. It is an offence to drive your car, or allow others to drive it, without at least Third Party insurance.