Cheap SR22 Insurance in SC

SC SR22 Requirements
It is against the law in South Carolina to operate a vehicle if the driver has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. The limits are lower for drivers under the age of 21 and commercial drivers. In addition to alcohol, it is also against the law to drive under the influence of controlled substances such as cocaine, marijuana, and any other intoxicants.

South Carolina has an implied consent law that means that you agree to submit to a chemical test of your breath, urine or blood if you have been stopped by a law enforcement officer and he suspects that you are driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If a driver refuses to submit to this test, the driver’s license will immediately be suspended for at least 90 days.

Multiple convictions for DUI may result in a court ordered installation of an ignition interlock device. This device would be installed on the vehicle of the convicted driver and at his expense.

DUI fines and penalties vary according to the blood alcohol content (BAC) of the driver when he’s arrested:

• with a BAC under .10
  - license suspension of 6 months
  - fine of $400
  - jail time minimum of 48 hours to a maximum of 30 days, or
  - 48 hours of public service
• with a BAC of .10 and under .16
  - license suspension 6 months
  - fine of $500
  - jail time minimum of 72 hours to a maximum of 30 days, or
  - 72 hours of public service
• With a BAC above .16
  - license suspension of 6 months
  - fine of $1,000
  - jail time minimum of 30 days to a maximum of 90 days, or
  - 30 days of public service

In addition to filing the SR 22, a reinstatement fee of $100.00 must be paid and the driver must complete a certified Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program (ADSAP). The enrollment in ADSAP must be on file with the DMV before the driving privileges can be restored.

The minimum insurance coverage required is as follows:

• $25,000 for bodily injury for each person
• $50,000 for bodily injury for all persons in an accident
• $25,00 for property damage
• Uninsured/Underinsured motorist bodily injury of $25,000/$50,000
• Uninsured/Underinsured motorist property damage of $25,000

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The information contained in the above article is intended as informational and does not constitute legal or insurance advice.  Insurance requirements in the State of South Carolina are subject to change.  If you have questions or want more information visit the South Carolina Department of Insurance at http://doi.sc.gov/Pages/default.aspx  or the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles at  http://www.scdmvonline.com/DMVNew/default.aspx.

Have you had a DUI, DWI, or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Stricter DUI Law in OK Goes into Effect

A tougher DUI law has gone into effect in the state of Oklahoma. Anyone who blows a .15 BAC on their first DUI must have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle for 18 months. For a second offense they will have to have the interlock device installed for 4 years if they blow a .08 or higher.

An interlock device measures the amount of alcohol in the driver’s breath. The driver has to blow into the device before he can start the car, and then periodically while driving. State governments are hoping that this additional measure will deter drivers from driving after drinking. The devices are expensive and must be paid for by the offender.

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Have you had a DUI, DWI, or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Cheap SR22 Insurance in IN

IN SR22/SR50 Requirements
Some traffic violations, including DUI, may cause the BMV to have you file an SR22 form to show proof of financial responsibility. Drivers who are required to file an SR22 must maintain financial responsibility for 3 years. If financial responsibility is being maintained by having a liability insurance policy, then that policy must be in force for 3 years. If the policy lapses financial responsibility also lapses, and your driver’s license will be suspended.

If your driver’s license is suspended for any reason, the BMV will require you to file an SR50 to show proof of current insurance on your vehicle. The SR50 is used to reinstate your driver’s license after suspension and after paying the reinstatement fee. The SR50 is completed by your insurance company and sent back to the BMV.

The State of Indiana prohibits a driver to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. There are stricter laws for drivers of commercial vehicles, BAC of .04, and also for drivers under the age of 21 the BAC limit is .02. A conviction for a DUI in Indiana is a Class C misdemeanor for a first time offense. First time DUI offenses can cost the driver up to $5,000 in addition to other penalties and costs.

In Indiana penalties for a first time DUI are as follows:

• 30 days minimum up to 60 days in jail
• If the BAC is .15 or higher, jail time can be up to 1 year
• Up to $300 fine
• Up to $5,000 fine if the BAC is .15 or higher
• License suspension for 6 months up to 2 years
• Court fee of $300 or more
• 2 years probation

Other possible penalties include:

• Ignition interlock device at driver’s expense
• Community service time
• Substance abuse education
• Attend a victim impact panel
• Submit to further urine testing

Indiana has an implied consent law which means that you have given your consent to be tested to determine the alcohol or drug content of your blood, breath or urine if stopped by an officer and he suspects that you are under the influence. First refusal to submit to the test will result in your driver’s license being suspended for a period of 1 year.

The minimum required liability insurance coverage is as follows:

• $25,000 for Bodily Injury Liability per injured person
• $50,000 for Bodily Injury Liability per accident
• $10,000 for Property Damage Liability for damage to property

In addition the insurance liability policy must include coverage for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage unless the policyholder rejects this coverage in writing. The minimum limits for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is:

• Uninsured Motorists Bodily Injury of $25,000/$50,000
• Uninsured Motorists Property Damage Liability of $10,000
• Underinsured Motorists Bodily Injury of $50,000 if UM is selected

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The information contained in the above article is intended as informational and does not constitute legal or insurance advice.  Insurance requirements in the state of Indiana are subject to change.  Visit the Indiana Department of Insurance at  http://www.in.gov/idoi/ or the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles at http://www.in.gov/bmv/  for current information.

Have you had a DUI, DWI, or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Lower Liability Limits in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin state legislature recently passed new legislation which lowers the state minimum liability insurance coverage. The new law was signed by the Governor and went into effect on November 1, 2011. The new bill reverses the changes made in 2009 which raised the minimum coverage required and was fairly costly to insurance customers. The lower coverage requirements will take effect on all new business written after November 1, 2011 or on policies which renew after November 1, 2011.

Wisconsin car insurance customers should expect to receive a letter in the mail from their insurance company or insurance agent detailing the changes made by the legislature. Insured’s will receive a notification up to 60 days prior to their policy renewing.

Under the new law the insured has 3 options:

1. Keep their current limits as is. No action is required.
2. Revise their limits and coverage at their next renewal after November 1, 2011, or mid-term after their policy renewal after November 1, 2011.
3. Rewrite their policy if lower limits are desired prior to their renewal date after November 1, 2011. This will require a new application and down-payment.

Check with your insurance company or insurance agent for further information about this change.

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Are you getting car insurance for the first time or have an insurance requirement for SR-22 filing? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer affordable auto insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

A DUI Will Hurt You in the Wallet

Getting a DUI is embarrassing, is a hassle due to all the hoops you have to jump through and it impacts your freedom to drive for a period of time. It can also be very expensive!

This article will deal with just some of the most obvious costs associated with a DUI. Let’s start with the first financial impact following the arrest for a DUI. Most states will send a DUI offender to jail for at least 24 hours. In order to be released you’ll have to get a bail-bondsman to submit the assigned bail to the court. The cost of bail varies with the city and state but can run from $100 to as high as $2,000. Let’s be conservative and say the average is $450.00.

You’ll probably need an attorney to go before the court on your behalf to plead the DUI. If you plead guilty, the cost for the attorney might be between $200 and $400. If you plead not guilty, then the sky is the limit for the attorney cost. For the sake of this article, let’s say the average is $300 for the attorney’s time.

In most states your vehicle will be towed to a storage yard following your arrest. Cost for towing can vary from $100 to over $1,000 in some cities. Storage can run from $50 to over $200 per day, so in order to retrieve your car once released, it could cost you an average of $500.00 for towing and storage costs.

If you are insured with a preferred insurance company, it is likely that they will drop you once they find out you’ve had a DUI. Now you’ll need to find an insurance company that will write you a policy and perhaps have to file an SR22 for you. Those rates can double or even triple what you were used to paying. Also, the DUI will stay on your record for a minimum of 3 years so you’ll be paying higher rates for the 3-year period. Let’s say the average is $4,000 additional dollars for the 3-year period.

The average costs for these items is over $5,000!

We haven’t even talked about probable costs for alcohol treatment classes that might be required by the court, or any additional fines that the court might impose on you due to the DUI. There might be an additional $1,000-$2,000 involved if these are required as well.

Needles to say, your wallet has been impacted to the tune of over $5,000 and your life impacted as well.

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Have you had a DUI, DWI, or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Cheap SR22 Insurance in UT

UT SR22 Requirements
The State of Utah has a drunk driving law that prohibits a driver from operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Utah has lower BAC limits (.04) for drivers of commercial vehicles and a zero tolerance law for drivers under the age of 21. The DUI law for Utah also prohibits the driver to operate a vehicle if under the influence of other controlled substances such as marijuana, cocaine, inhalants and other intoxicants.

In Utah the first conviction for a DUI carries the following penalties:

• 48 hours minimum in jail or 48 hours in a Work Service Program
• Home confinement
• A minimum $700 fine
• A suspension of your license for 120 days

Other possible penalties include the following:

• Home confinement through the use of electronic monitoring
• Participation in an Alcohol/Drug Screening process
• Alcohol/Drug Assessment participation
• Substance abuse education
• Participation in substance abuse treatment

Subsequent DUI convictions cause the penalties to increase up to a fine of $1,500.00, jail time of 1,500 hours, license suspension of 2 years, and the installation of an ignition control device.

Utah has an implied consent law which means that you have given your consent to be tested to determine the alcohol or drug content of your blood, breath or urine if stopped by an officer and he suspects that you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs even if the drugs are prescription. Refusal to submit to the test will result in your driver’s license being suspended for a period of 18 months for the first offense and up to 2 years for subsequent refusals.

The minimum required insurance coverage is as follows:

• $25,000 for Bodily Injury Liability per person
• $65,000 for Bodily Injury Liability per accident
• $15,000 for Property Damage Liability for damage to property
• $3,000 for Personal Injury Protection (medical payment coverage)

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The information contained in the above article is intended as informational and does not constitute legal or insurance advice.  Insurance requirements in the state of Utah are subject to change.  Visit the Utah Insurance Department at http://www.insurance.utah.gov/ or the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles at http://dmv.utah.gov/ for current information.

Have you had a DUI, DWI, or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Law Enforcement in AZ Increase DUI Emphasis Patrols

Law enforcement agencies in Arizona are ramping up their DUI patrols for the holiday season. Drivers need to take basic steps to drive safe and keep from being arrested for a DUI in Arizona.

Using a designated driver is the most logical step to take when attending family or company holiday parties. Find one of your family or friends who will commit to not drink during the event and get you all home safely.

Another way to keep from having a problem with the law is to either arrange to stay at the home of the party host, or use a taxi-cab to get you back home. There is no need to risk getting caught after consuming alcohol at a party, no matter how much.

Drivers who get arrested for a DUI in Arizona can go to jail for up to 10 days, and face several thousand dollars in fines, plus lose their driver’s license. In addition, an interlock device can be required once the driver’s license has been reinstated and that is very expensive.

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Have you had a DUI or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Insurance Coverage for Less Expensive Cars

The least expensive cars to insure are generally four-door sedans and mini-vans. However some entry–level sedans like Toyotas and Hondas might not fit that description because they are purchased by the younger drivers with less experience and that factors into their insurance rates.

Mini-vans, small SUV’s and sedans manufactured by American and Japanese car companies are usually the least expensive to insure. A Chrysler Town & Country mini-van costs an average of about $1,000.00 to $1,200.00 per year to insure. A small Toyota SUV is around $1,100.00 to $1,300.00 per year to insure.

Insurance rates vary by state of course and depending on where you live will make a difference on your insurance. For example, the states of Michigan, Oklahoma and Louisiana are the top three states with the most expensive insurance rates. However the mini-van and small SUV will still be the most desirable automobiles in these states if you’re looking for cheaper insurance.

Be sure to get an insurance quote from your agent or broker when considering the purchase of a different vehicle. The price of the insurance may help you with the decision.

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Are you getting car insurance for the first time or have an insurance requirement for SR-22 filing? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer affordable auto insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Cheap SR22 Insurance in DE

DE SR22 Requirements
In Delaware you can be arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) if you are driving, operating, or in actual physical control of a vehicle (including motorcycles), an off-road vehicle, or a moped while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The state of Delaware does not require the filing of an SR22 for DUI offenses in Delaware. However if you have an SR-22 filing in another state, and then move to Delaware, you must maintain your SR22 in the state where it is required.

In the state of Delaware it is illegal to drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, or to have the presence of any drug, prescription or illegal if it is sufficient for a DUI conviction. You may be arrested for a DUI with a chemical test greater than .05%. At the time of a DUI arrest, a police officer will take your Delaware driver’s license and issue a 15-day temporary license. A DUI sentence is carried on your motor vehicle driving record for a minimum of 5 years. Penalties for a first-time DUI in Delaware are as follows:

• Up to a maximum of 6 months in jail
• A fine from $500 to $1,500
• License suspension for 12 months if the BAC is .08 but less than .15
• License suspension for 18 months if the BAC is .15 to less than .19
• License suspension for 24 months if the BAC is higher than .20
• An ignition interlock device is possible
• Complete Courses of Instruction or other programs

Additional convictions for DUI cause the penalties to increase. For example, for a seventh drunk driving conviction, the offense is classified as a Class C felony which carries a fine of not less than $10,000 and imprisonment of not less than 10 years.

If you are convicted for your first DUI in Delaware you may choose to enroll in the first-offender program. Enrollment in this program requires that you do not have any previous DUI convictions on your driving record. This program allows the convicted driver to apply for an Ignition Interlock Device license. The driver must remain on the program for a minimum of 5 months from the date of receiving the interlock device.

Delaware has an implied consent law which means that you have given your consent to submit to a chemical test of your blood, breath or urine if stopped by a law enforcement officer and he suspects that you are driving impaired. If you refuse a field sobriety test, the officer may attempt to take reasonable steps to conduct the test without your consent. Your driver’s license will be automatically revoked for refusing to take the field sobriety test.

The minimum required insurance coverage is as follows:

• $15,000 for Bodily Injury Liability for injury of one person
• $30,000 for Bodily Injury Liability for all persons in an accident
• $10,000 for Property Damage Liability for property damage
• $15,000 for Personal Injury Protection per person per accident
• $30,000 for Personal Injury Protection for all people involved in an accident

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The information contained in the above article is intended as informational and does not constitute legal or insurance advice.  Insurance requirements in the state of Delaware are subject to change.  Visit the Delaware Insurance Department at http://www.delawareinsurance.gov/ or the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles at http://www.dmv.de.gov/ for current information.

Have you had a DUI or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

DUI Emphasis Patrols in WA

Fall and early winter see an increase in the number of DUI accidents and arrests. Some of this is caused by the Thanksgiving holiday weekend followed by the Christmas holiday whether it falls on a weekend or not. Both of these holidays see increased driving for vacation or to see family and friends. Of course there is then an increase in the amount of alcohol consumed while enjoying these holiday breaks and too many people decide to drive home before the alcohol has worn off. There’s also an increase at this time of year due to snow sports and while at the ski facility, there is some amount of drinking that can impair the driver when he decides to go home after a day on the hill.

Washington State is going to have multiple law enforcement agencies joining forces during this period to have more patrols visible on the roads and freeways looking for drunk or impaired drivers. These emphasis patrols are going to be in effect from Thanksgiving and on in to January. You can expect to see more arrests for DUI as these patrols look specifically for drivers under the influence.

Also in Washington State, there has been a new law passed by the legislature that allows the law enforcement agency to impound the car of a drunk driver when arrested. This adds additional costs for the impoundment along with the ticket and fines for the DUI.

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Have you had a DUI, DWI, or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.