Reader’s Question:

My father and I just leased a vehicle in North Dakota. When we went to the dealership, I had a revoked driver’s license but my father is fine. Now, they would like me to get excluded, but the insurance carrier will not exclude me. What is the reason for that?

Jack

Fargo, ND

Most insurance carriers in North Dakota will not exclude the ‘named insured.’ (If the policy is under your name, you are the ‘named insured.’) The car insurance policy will most likely need to be in your father’s name - if you are going to be excluded. But, if you are excluded, you will not be covered to operate the car. Your best bet is to obtain your license reinstated if you can. Although the dealership wants you to be excluded, you will need to verify with the leasing company to be sure it is ‘ok’ for you to be excluded.

Reader’s Question:

I have an accident from a different country which is my fault, will I maintain my low cost auto insurance if I inform my insurance carrier at home my home state in North Dakota? Am I required legally to tell my insurance company?

Patty

Fargo, ND

Yes, you should inform them all of accidents, infractions or claims regardless of scope or location.

Many auto insurance policies require the policyholder to inform them of any accidents.

So the terms of your insurance policy in North Dakota may require you to inform your insurance provider of any accidents you are involved in, including those that may have happened out of the country. You are required legally to answer all the questions in their auto insurance contract truthfully before you sign your name to the document.

If this accident that happened out of the country or your current driving record causes your auto insurance premiums to increase you can shop online for low cost auto insurance in North Dakota.

Reader’s Question:

If I purchase car in Fargo, North Dakota is it necessary to have auto insurance? I cannot afford auto insurance right now.

William

Fargo, ND

North Dakota state law requires that all cars registered and operated in the state must carry certain minimum insurance coverages

In North Dakota driving without liability car insurance is a class B misdemeanor and is punishable by a mandatory at least $150 fine. In addition to that, if you get involved in any accident, the state will assess 14 points against your driver’s license, and this will result in a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license.

When a motorist has been convicted of driving without liability insurance, the law requires that the person show proof of liability insurance to the North Dakota Drivers License Division of The Department of Transportation for a period of three years. Insurance providers can file with state using the Certificate of Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance form published by the Drivers License Division for this purpose. The state does not require that an insurance provider use an SR-22 form for this purpose.

Reader’s Question:

Does they have to fix it if they file a claim on the fender bender or can the individual keep the money?

Gerald

Thank you for asking Gerald.

If you own the car and do not have a lien holder you may be able to keep the money and not make the repair depending upon your state’s laws. According to the ND Insurance Department site, the North Dakota Department of Insurance states that the policy provisions for loss settlement will dictate the basis a company will use to settle a claim.

In addition to the, the ND Insurance Department goes on to say that : most policies currently do not include a provision for a cash settlement. In these situations, the company is obligated to settle (pay) based upon the cost of repair. Some policies, however, may go further and allow the company to negotiate a cash settlement. If they do, it is reasonable for the company to deduct labor, overhead costs and sales tax if you are not going to repair the vehicle (according to ND laws, other states may differ).

You may check with the ND insurance department to get more information regarding cash settlements instead of a check to the repair shop for the damages to your vehicle to be fixed.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

I just received a speeding ticket in North Dakota but I am registered in Minnesota. Will my insurance rates go up a lot in MN?

Janice

Thank you for asking Janice.

North Dakota and Minnesota are both members of the Drivers License Compact (DLC). The ND courts will report to the Minnesota Driver and Vehicles Services (DVS) division of the Department of Public Safety the conviction and the violation (speeding ticket for 8 mph over the limit).

According to the MN driver’s manual, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) maintains your driving record, which contains information about driving and licensing violations in Minnesota and other states. It looks like that the North Dakota violation conviction will be placed on your privilege or restrictions on where, when, and what types of vehicle you may drive.

Since the ND speeding citation should make it onto your MN driving record your insurance company will likely see it and it could make an affect your rate of insurance. It will actually depend upon your insurance provider’s rating system if it will or not.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

What happens if get caught driving without insurance and my vehicle is not registered?? I live in North Dakota.

Kristine

Thank you for asking Kristine.

Driving without liability insurance is a class B misdemeanor and is punishable by a mandatory fine of at least $150. In addition to that, if you are involved in any accident, the state will assess 14 points against your driver’s license, resulting in a suspension of your license.

Driving without registration is also a class B misdemeanor that comes with a fine. It states this under Section 39-04-37 of the North Dakota Century Code (NDCC). According to the ND law it is unlawful for any person to operate, or for the owner thereof knowingly to permit anyone to operate, upon a highway any vehicle the registration of which has been canceled or revoked, or for which the registration fees required in this title have not been paid, or which does not have attached thereto and displayed thereon a number plate, plates, or validation tabs assigned thereto by the director for the current registration period, subject to the exemptions allowed in this title.

So if you were cited for driving without insurance in a car that was without registration you will need to face penalties. The court listed on a citation could tell you more.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

I live in North Dakota. I do not have an insurance and my car was hit by this person. Will his insurance cover this and my medical bills?

Hannah

Thank you for asking Hannah.

Driving without liability insurance is a class B misdemeanor and is punishable by a mandatory fine of at least $150. The state will assess 14 points against your driver’s license, resulting in a suspension of your license if you get involve in an accident.

According to the ND Insurance Department , when a driver has been convicted of driving without liability insurance, the law requires that the individual show proof of liability insurance to the ND Drivers License Division of The Department of Transportation for a period of 3 years.

Normally medical expenses would go through your own no-fault (PIP) coverages though if you did have the required insurance that North Dakota mandates motorist have. It is likely your damages and injuries will be covered by their policy if the other driver’s insurance company finds their policyholder to be at fault and liable.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

What is the minimum liability insurance coverage required in North Dakota?

Patrick

Thank you for asking Patrick.

North Dakota state law requires that all motor vehicles registered and operated in the state carry certain minimum insurance coverages. The coverages and minimum limits mandated by law are:

* Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person (the maximum amount payable to one person)/$50,000 per accident (the maximum amount payable to all people injured in one accident).
* Property Damage Liability: $25,000 per accident.
* Uninsured Motorist Coverage: $25,000 per person/ $50,000 per accident.
* Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Underinsured motorist coverage must be equal to the uninsured motorist coverage. Underinsured motorist provides you coverage for a bodily injury claim you would have against another driver whose liability coverage is less than your underinsured coverage.
* Basic No-Fault: $30,000 per person. Basic no-fault provides you coverage for economic loss (such as medical expenses and work loss) as a result of an accidental injury in your auto- without regard to fault. No-fault is also known as Personal Injury Protection or PIP.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

I just want to know how long does points stay on my record? I live in North Dakota.

Manuel

Thank you for asking Manuel.

According to the ND DOT North Dakota has a violation point system to improve its awareness of those drivers who constantly violate traffic laws. The website goes on to say that each traffic violation under North Dakota is assigned a certain amount of points. The more serious the offense, the higher its point value.

So it will depend upon which method you use to get your points taken off your North Dakota driving record as to how long it will take. For instance if you were cited of a speeding ticket for 11 - 15 mph over the limit in a speed zone of less than 70 mph this comes with 1 point being assessed to your driver’s license. If you do not get cited and convicted for another point offense in the next 3 months after this point was added it appears from the ND DOT information above that your 1 point would be removed.

You can contact the North Dakota Department of Transportation to verify this information and to get more information on your driving record.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

How long do I have to carry an sr22 if I have a DUI three years ago? I live in ND.

Dexter

Thank you for asking Dexter.

There are two separate penalties involved under the DUI law. One is an administrative license penalty, the other is a court conviction penalty. Your driving license may be suspended or revoked through either or both processes. By law, if you are arrested for DUI, under the administrative penalty, the arresting officer will take your operator’s license then and there.

You also face mandatory fines and jail sentences.

* First conviction—$250 fine.
* Second conviction within five years—$500 fine and five days in jail or 30 days community service work.
* Third conviction within five years—$1,000 fine and 60 days in jail.
* Fourth conviction within seven years—$1,000 fine and 180 days in jail.

Also if convicted of a DUI, the law requires you to show proof of financial responsibility (SR 22 insurance coverage). The North Dakota Insurance Department site states that the ND Drivers License Division of the Department of Transportation requires those that have been convicted of certain violations, such as a DUI, to show proof of future financial responsibility for a period of one year.

You make contact the ND DOT to verify this information.

Goodluck!

MariCAR