New Car Insurance

Reader’s Question:

I sometimes take my newly purchased car for a quick drive to the grocery store here in Illinois. I haven’t purchased car insurance for it yet. Is it really necessary?

Nicole

Springfield, IL

Whether you use your car for a quick drive to the store or use it to get to and from the office, having car insurance is necessary. Illinois and all the other states each have their own financial responsibility laws. Some are stricter, and others are more lenient. But one basic fact remains, a person must have the capacity to be financially responsible for any damages or bodily injuries he or she may cause while operating a motor vehicle on the public roads. Simply put, that means every driver must have car insurance.

As the different states have varying degrees of severity in their financial responsibility laws, the penalties for driving without car insurance also vary. In some states, it could be suspension of driver’s license for a certain period of time. In others, it could be suspension of the vehicle’s registration. In other states, it could amount to imprisonment. Still in others, it could be as light as simply paying a fine.

In Illinois, first time offenders get their driver’s license suspended and are fined a minimum of $500. If following the law or the consequences of violating it is not enough motivation for you to purchase car insurance, then think about your personal assets. By not having coverage you’re putting them at grave risk. You never can tell when you’ll get into an accident, and you can’t predict how bad the damages are going to turn out, either. Without auto insurance coverage, you’re going to have to dig deep into your pockets to pay for the resulting expenses.

Tags: auto insurance coverage, car insurance law, driving without insurance