Reader’s Question:

Is it illegal to drive without insurance in AZ?

Zoe

Thank you for asking Zoe.

Almost all state requires you to have car liability insurance. All states also have financial responsibility laws. This means that even in a state that does not require liability insurance, you will still need to have sufficient assets to pay claims if you get involved in an accident and caused damage to others in an accident. If you don’t have enough assets, you must get at least the state minimum amount of insurance.

The required coverages in Arizona are Bodily Injury and Property Damage. The minimum required limits are $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for Bodily Injury and $10,000 per accident for Property Damage. This requirement does not apply to motorcycles.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

What is the minimum liability insurance required in the state of Arizona?

Jay

Thank you for asking Jay

Arizona requires that every motor vehicle operated on the public roadways to be covered by one of the statutory forms of financial responsibility, more commonly called liability insurance. You should get this from a carrier that is authorized to do business in Arizona. This includes golf carts, motorcycles and mopeds.

As of August 2006, minimum levels of financial responsibility are:

* $15,000 bodily injury liability for one person and $30,000 for two or more persons
* $10,000 property damage liability

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

My sister is using a car registered in the name of our father. She lives in Ohio and moved to AZ. How will she be able to insure and register the car under her name? The car also has a lien on it. Thanks.

Paolo

Thank you for asking Paolo

The Arizona DOT states that an out-of-state title with a loan recorded against the motor vehicle, so that the title is being held by a lender in another state, the individual must give registration from the former state though the title may not be required. This does not help if your sister was not part of the registration or title in Ohio. If with the loan it is possible for your father to put your sister on the title as a co-owner I believe this would make the transfer process easier.

As for insurance Arizona state law requires that the insurance providers and the owner provide proof of Arizona car insurance within 30 days after initial registration. Your sister should contact Arizona’s DOT Motor Vehicle Division to get more information if and how he can register and insure the vehicle.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

Is it illegal to drive a motorcycle without insurance in AZ?

Mike

Thank you for asking Mike.

It is not legal to operate a motorcycle in Arizona without insurance. Arizona requires that every motor vehicle, including motorcycles, operating on their roads must be covered by one of the statutory forms of financial responsibility through an insurance company that is authorized to do business in the state of Arizona. Arizona requires minimum levels of $15,000/$30,000 for bodily injury liability and $10,000 for property damage liability.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

My vehicle is licensed in the state of California but my sister is using it in the state of AZ. Can I get insurance in AZ and list my sister as an authorized driver?

Duke.

Thank you for asking Duke.

Typically you will need to insure the vehicle in the state in which it is registered and has its license plates in. If you are living in California and your sister drives it and garaged in Arizona it would not be easy to get AZ insurance on it if it still registered in California. Most insurance carriers will not want to insure vehicles from more than one household, meaning the owner living in one place and the car residing at a different place.

There is a difference in required car insurance between the two states as well. California’s mandatory liability insurance is 15/30/5 while Arizona requires 15/30/10.

It seems that in your case, to get the car properly insured in Arizona it would need to be registered in AZ. To get more information on how to do so you can contact the AZ DOT.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

I live in MI and planning to go to AZ to stay there and go back to Michigan. How long do I have to change insurance and registration?

Albert

Thank you for asking Albert.

It will depend on how long you plan to stay in Arizona and what you plan on doing your time there if you will need to register your vehicle and get an AZ driver’s license. Arizona residency laws states that you will need to immediately get a state driver’s license and registration if you plan to work in the state, place children in school there, plans to have a business in AZ or remain in Arizona for 7 months or more during any calendar year, regardless of where you might have permanent residence.

All motor vehicle operated on Arizona public roadways must be covered under one of the statutory forms of financial responsibility, commonly known as liability insurance, through a provider that is authorized to do business in Arizona.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

I have two license, one is in Indiana and he other one is in Arizona. I got a DUI in Arizona and I just want to know if I the law officer will be able to see my Arizona DUI if I get pulled over for traffic violation and presented my Indiana license?

Ferdinand

Thank you for asking Ferdinand.

Generally you are not allowed you to have driver’s licenses from more than one state at the same time. Indiana requires when you obtain an IN driver’s license, for you to forfeit the license from the previous US state in which you had lived. Arizona likely has a similar rule, so having 2 licenses at the same time could get you in trouble.

If both license from the two states are valid, both Indiana and Arizona are members of the Drivers License Compact so that means out of state violations would be reported to your “home” state’s licensing authority.

Your DUI is also very likely listed is the National Driver Register (NDR), which all states provide information to. The NDR is a central database of information on all problem drivers with traffic violations. Problem drivers here are defined as though whose license has been suspended, revoked, canceled or denied or have been convicted of a serious traffic related offense (such as driving under the influence).

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

I was required from my previous state AZ to carry an sr22 but Im already living in Michigan, do I have to continue it?

Jonas

Thank you for asking Jonas.

Yes,

Michigan like Arizona require a motorist to maintain an SR-22 for different reasons. If you are required by your previous state of Arizona that you hold and maintain and continue to carry a SR-22 for a certain period of time and that time period is not up then you will need to continue your SR-22 coverage in MI when you change over your driver’s license to an AL license.

SR-22s guidelines differ so what is required in one state may not apply in another state. When you move to MI, you will need to keep the Arizona mandated limits.

If you currently carry an SR-22 in one state but transfer and decided to reside to another state, you must fulfill the SR-22 filing period for your former state, even though you no longer live there. Your insurance policy for your new state must have liability limits which meet the minimums required by law in your former (SR-22) state.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

I was required to have an sr22 because they said thres a lapse on my car insurance. I thought sr22 are for DUIs? I live in AZ.

Kelly

Thank you for asking Kelly.

It is possible to need a sr22 for insurance lapse in the state of Arizona. Usually, the sr22 is required as a by-product of a DUI or multiple moving violations. But, in Arizona, the state is notified by your old insurance provider if your insurance policy is no longer active. At that point, the state will send you a noticification for you to give them proof of your car insurance. Failure to provide this proof Arizona will suspend your driver’s license and/or your plate registration. To reinstate these items, Arizona will require you to maintain an sr22 form for a period of three years from your suspension date. To get more information regarding this, you may contact the Arizona Department of Insurance.

Goodluck!

MariCAR