Temecula Car Insurance

Temecula may be a sought-after tourist destination and one of the more affordable cities in California to live in. If you're a resident in Temecula or you've decided to move there after experiencing places like the Santa Rosa Plateau, you're bound by California law to carry auto insurance. So before you travel down the 15 freeway, be sure you have the right coverage.

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Under California Vehicle Code, it states that anyone who resides in the state and owns a private passenger vehicle must prove they're financially responsible when they register their car and at any time thereafter. It's your duty as a vehicle owner to learn all aspects of the law including how much insurance you must carry. Here's what you need to know before you compare premiums.

Are you required to buy auto insurance in California?

Insurance laws are enforced statewide and don't vary from city to city. If you live in Temecula, it's important to know just what the California Financial Responsibility law says.

Unlike other states that have mandatory auto insurance legislation, California has a more flexible law that's referred to as a compulsory financial responsibility law.

The code says that anyone who owns a vehicle registered in the state must provide evidence of financial responsibility at all times. The most popular way to demonstrate they you're financially responsible is to buy auto insurance. With this being said, there are alternative forms of proof that could eliminate the legal need to buy coverage.

How can you prove you're financially responsible enough to legally drive your car?

The most popular method of complying with the law is to buy third-party liability insurance from an insurer that's authorized and licensed to do business in California. If you're wondering when it's acceptable to drive without auto insurance, here the acceptable methods of proving that you have the financial resources to cover damages that you're liable for:

• File a surety bond in the amount of $35,000 with the Department of Motor Vehicles treasurer from a company licensed to sell bonds in California
• Deposit no less than $35,000 in cash with the Department
• File a self-insurance certificate with the DMV issued by your employer

Is there a minimum amount of insurance that you must have?

If you don't have the money or any property in Temecula that you want to put up as collateral for a surety bond, the only option left is to buy auto insurance. Choosing to comply with the law by buying auto insurance is the smartest option to protect your hard-earned money. This way, you don't have to use your money to pay for claims.

Choosing to comply with the law by buying auto insurance is the smartest option to protect your hard-earned money, this way, you don't have to use your money to pay for claims.

The only thing that you must carry in California is third-party liability insurance. The state doesn't require you to buy first-party protection but it is available at an additional cost. The third-party coverage will pay for damages that others sustain but not for your own. Here's how the coverage requirements are listed on a quote or policy:

• Bodily Injury Liability: Bodily Injury pays the expenses that are accrued both other parties when a pedestrian or someone in another vehicle dies or is injured in a crash. The coverage consists of two different limits. In Temecula, you can carry no less than $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident (15/30) to pay for the medical bills you're liable for.

• Property Damage Liability: Property Damage pays the expenses that are accrued to repair a damaged vehicle or to replace a totaled vehicle that's owned by someone else. Your insurer will only pay up to the property's Actual Cash Value when settling a claim. In Temecula, you're only required to have a $5000 (5) Property Damage limit. The limits are written 15/30/5.

How much will auto insurance cost?

If you're shopping for coverage, it can be helpful to get an idea of how much you should expect to pay for your policy.

Unfortunately, auto insurance premiums are very personalized and not everyone pays the same expense.

Since there are so many different factors that go into calculating a premium, you're never guaranteed to pay the average expenditure.

What is the average insurance expenditure?

If you're still interested in seeing where your quotes stack up, there are studies that show how much the average consumer pays throughout the state of California. Based on the most recent surveys, the average expenditure for coverage is $782.63 per year statewide. This average includes liability and physical damage with $500 deductibles.

What rating factors are used to determine your premium?

A lot of your personal factors can affect your insurance rates. Some of the factors might drive premiums down and others could drive you out of the standard market all together. Knowing what the companies are looking at to give you a rate quote or qualify you for coverage will help you assess quotes. Here are common rate factors used today:

• Credit-based insurance score
• Gender and age
• How many years of licensing experience you have
• Marital status
• Profession
• Where you live (could pay more at 92591 than 92592)
• Driving history
• Citations in the past 3 years
• Vehicle type
• Driving habits and annual mileage
• Coverage options and limits selected

Can you buy protection for you and your family?

It's a bit shocking to learn that the auto insurance that's required by law only pays for the bills of occupants in the other vehicles. If you're interested in a policy with more expansive coverage that extends to you, you have the option to add on optional first-party coverage like Uninsured Motorist, Medical Payments, Comprehensive, and Collision.

Is Uninsured Motorist Protection really important?

It's a bit frustrating to know that you have to buy insurance that pays you when someone makes the choice not to carry insurance. Unfortunately, around 14.7 percent of drivers on the road in California don't have any insurance at all. Since Temecula has a population of 106,780 residents, there are nearly 16,000 uninsured drivers in the area. This creates a major need for Uninsured Motorist Protection.

UM pays for your medical-related expenses much like Bodily Injury does. It only kicks in to pay when someone doesn't have BI or when they don't have high limits that pay for all of your bills. While you're not required to carry it, all carriers doing business in California must offer you the coverage. This is why the coverage must be rejected in writing.

Is Medical Payments needed when you have medical insurance?

There's a common misconception that only drivers who don't have health insurance need to carry medical payments on their auto insurance policies. While this does create a larger need to carry Med Pay, there are other scenarios where it can really help you out. You can reject Medical Payments in writing but must be offered $1000 in coverage.

Med Pay pays out for immediate health costs accrued to seek treatment after an accident, it doesn't matter who's at fault for the accident or where the accident occurred.

Experts recommend that everyone gets Medical Payments who have large deductibles. It's also helpful if you have a health plan with restrictions of chiropractic care or others types of auto-related treatment.

Is physical damage coverage a must?

You're never required under California law to buy comprehensive or collision coverage. While it's not a legal requirement, you could be under contract to buy physical damage coverage if you have a loan on the car or if it's leased. Be sure to read through your contract to see if you must have a specific deductible so that you don't get penalized.

What are the penalties for driving without proof of financial responsibility?

If you don't have acceptable proof of financial responsibility, you're guilty of a misdemeanor. Failing to furnish proof or maintain proof at all times could land you in hot water with the police or even the DMV. Here's some penalties that show you how serious the law is:

• A fine between $100 and $500
• Suspension of registration and reinstatement fee
• Vehicle impound
• License suspension and SR-22 requirement
• Jail time of up to 1 year for multiple offenses

It's not worth it to break the law. If you've been driving without any coverage, it's time to shop around. Make sure that you compare insurers first to find reputable players in the marketplace. After you do research, compare Temecula insurance premium quotes by using a rate comparison tool online. Compare the instant quotes and bind the best one as soon as possible.

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