I live in Delaware and have full coverage with a $500 deductible. My windshield is cracked and needs to be replaced and I heard that insurance companies are supposed to cover broken windshields if you have full coverage, due to state law.

In Oklahoma are insurance companies for motor vehicles required to give a grace period on paying premiums and if so, how long is the grace period?

In Oklahoma auto insurance companies are not required to give a grace period on paying premiums.  The Oklahoma Insurance Department specifically notes on their site that there is no grace period if your premium payment is late to your car insurance company.

There may be times when an auto insurance company will reinstate a policy once the overdue payment has been made, but if you have had a loss during that period, there most likely will be no coverage. 

Oklahoma state law requires minimum Bodily Injury Liability coverage of $10,000 per injured person up to a total of $20,000 per accident, and Property Damage Liability coverage with a minimum limit of $10,000. This basic coverage is often referred to as 10/20/10 coverage and is required to be in place.

Oklahoma Motor Vehicle section 7-606 is the state law for failure to maintain security on a motor vehicle. Here it states that an owner or operator who fails to comply with the Compulsory Insurance Law of OK shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject to a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00), or imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, and in addition thereto, shall be subject to suspension of license and registration.

When an insurance company sends out a renewal notice it can also count as notice of cancellation since it has listed on it the date and time your policy will cancel if you do not pay.  Oklahoma Insurance Law (O.R. 365: 15-1-14) deals with cancellation notices and non-renewal notices. Here it states:

Unless otherwise provided, insurers shall give at least ten (10) days notice prior to the date of cancellation and twenty (20) days notice prior to the date of non-renewal of the insurance policy. If notice is given by mail, said notice shall be deemed to have been given on the day said notice is mailed. Proof of mailing of the notice of cancellation or non-renewal to the named insured at the address shown in the policy, shall be sufficient proof of notice.

As we mentioned a cancellation notice of this type may be done by insurance companies mailing bills to policyholders, at least 10 days before the due date, advising that the policy will cancel on a specific date and time (usually 12:01 AM) unless the premium is paid. These companies may then cancel the policy of those who fail to send payments on time.

Without a grace period if you do not pay before your car insurance payment's due date your policy will be cancelled and there will be no coverage.  You may be able to get your policy reinstated if you contact your insurer and make your payment however that would be up to their guidelines. 

If you have had a lapse of coverage and are looking for auto insurance in Oklahoma CarInsurance.com can help you get the coverage you need.  Get instant car insurance quotes and buy your policy online.

I am traveling to Ireland on vacation and will be renting a car. Can I use my driver's license from the state of Texas in the USA to be able to drive a rental car in Ireland from Dublin to North Ireland Belfast to Londonderry?

I have a G2. Can I drive with it in Miami, FL, USA?

Yes, you should be able to drive in Miami, Florida using your G2 license from Ontario, Canada.

We contacted the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (HSMV) and the representative stated that you can indeed drive in FL with an out of state learner's permit or junior license such as your G2. You must have a fully licensed supervising adult over the age of 21 in the passenger seat though at all times if you have only a permit and follow the restrictions with your type of GDL license or permit.

The FL Highway Patrol also stated that they will honor your Canadian G2 Driver license. This Florida law enforcement agency noted that if there are any restrictions impacting your Canadian License, they would apply in Florida as well.

If you want to get more specific information about what restrictions you may have on you to drive in Florida with your G2 from Ontario, Canada check with the FL HSMV directly.

Before driving in Miami, Florida or any other area of the United States make sure that your Canadian car insurance will cover you or if you are borrowing a car that the insurance of the owner will extend to you as a driver.

In Connecticut what will happen if I get pulled over because I haven't renewed my registration? I do have a valid license and insurance.

If you get pulled over and cited for expired registration in Connecticut you typically get fined.

Connecticut General Statute section 14-12(a) states that no motor vehicle shall be operated or towed on any highway, except as otherwise expressly provided, unless it is registered with the commissioner... (2) a resident of this state who operates a motor vehicle he owns with marker plates issued by another state shall be fined not less than one hundred fifty dollars nor more than three hundred dollars. If the owner of a motor vehicle previously registered on an annual or biennial basis, the registration of which expired not more than thirty days previously, operates or allows the operation of such a motor vehicle, he shall be fined the amount designated for the infraction of failure to renew a registration, but his right to retain his operator's license shall not be affected. No operator other than the owner shall be subject to penalty for the operation of such a previously registered motor vehicle.

The usual fine for driving without registration thus appears to be between $150 and $300 however if you just have not renewed your registration within 30 days of it expiring than it is an infraction that comes with a lesser fine. From the last infraction fine schedule we saw for CT it listed this offense as being $93.

If you were cited for driving in Connecticut with expired registration you should contact the court listed on your ticket to find out what exactly your penalties will be. The $93 might be the fine amount you'll pay or it could be a base fine which court costs, etc are added to. Also if your registration was expired for over 30 days this may come with a heftier fine amount.

Get free auto insurance quotes through CarInsurance.com and buy your policy online...anytime!

In Florida, how many points are put on your license for a seat belt ticket?

A driver or passenger ticket for a Florida seat belt violation does not come with points however if the ticket is for a child restraint offense it comes with 3 points.

Since June 2009 not wearing a seat belt has been a primary offense in Florida per Section 316.614 of the Florida Statutes. If you do not buckle up you can be ticketed for this violation as a primary offense instead of a secondary offense.

Florida's previous safety belt law made not wearing a seat belt a non-moving violation. This type of law is considered a secondary seat belt law because officers may not stop a vehicle solely for a seat belt violation; rather, officers may only ticket those in violation of the law if the motor vehicle was stopped for a moving violation, such as speeding.

The state of Florida now has a primary seat belt law. Florida's new safety belt law removes the requirement that failure to wear seat belts cannot be the basis for an officer to make a traffic stop. Florida will no longer have a secondary seat belt law; this means officers may stop motor vehicles for failing to wear a seat belt and not need to stop the driver for a separate offense.

We have read that under the new primary FL safety belt law, fines for violation will remain the same, a $30 fine for adults and a $60 fine for children. However the ticket tends to run with administrative fees, court costs, etc around $115 or more from what we have seen.

The seat belt violation does go on your FL driving record but there are no points assigned for a driver or passenger who receives a seat belt violation. If however you have a child restraint violation ticket it is 3 points on your license. You can find out more about the penalties and points associated with a Florida seat belt ticket by checking with the FL Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (HSMV).

You can shop with CarInsurance.com for the best car insurance rates in Florida.

Is there a difference between a certificate holder and loss payee when it comes to auto insurance?

Yes, with auto insurance there is a difference between a loss payee and a certificate holder.

A loss payee is a person or entity with a legally secured insurable interest in another's property, usually a financial institution that loaned money to buy a car. The car is the loan collateral. If the auto is damaged in an accident, loss payments will be made to you (the policyholder) and to the loss payee on your policy.

With a certificate holder the certificate states in writing to the certificate holder that the Named Insured (you, the policyholder) has the specific coverage and limits listed on the certificate. It does not grant insurance coverage to the certificate holder. It only states that you have the specified coverages.

Being a certificate holder entitles that entity to receive notices of any changes in the policy.  A certificate of insurance itself bestows no rights upon the holder. It is merely for informational purposes.  The certificate of insurance usually lists the type of insurance, amount of insurance, the insuring company and contact information.

A certificate of insurance holder is not the same as someone designated as an additional insured or loss payee.  An additional insured means the person or entity has been added to the original policy and with the loss payee payments by the insurer are made out to the named insured and loss payee.  The certificate holder is just advised of the insurance that is on the vehicle and if any changes are made.

If your agent is not able to explain you these type of insurance terms or fulfill your car insurance needs, contact a CarInsurance.com agent and they can explain not only insurance terms but also tell you how they get you the best rates.