Automobile Insurance – A Legal Requirement

By: Elizabeth Newberry


Every state in America makes having some form of automobileinsurance or proof of financial responsibility a legal requirement, and each state has its own minimum requirements when it comes to the amount of automobile insurance or proof of financial responsibility a driver must have. Most law abiding citizens comply with the legal requirement of having a minimum amount of automobile insurance or proof of financial responsibility; however, there are still drivers out there who don’t have automobile insurance, or who haven’t shown proof of financial responsibility in the event of an automobile accident.

Even though many states are cracking down by requiring drivers to show proof that they hold the state’s minimum automobile insurance or financial responsibility before they can register their vehicles, there are still drivers who are slipping by. Why would a driver choose not to insure himself and his automobile? Many drivers feel that by purchasing automobile insurance, or by forking out the minimum amount of money to cover the financial responsibility requirements of their state, they are spending money they’ll never see again. Plus, this money they feel “they’ll never see again” is usually money they feel they can’t afford. However, should these drivers find themselves in an automobile accident without at least the minimum automobile insurance or financial responsibility requirements of their state, the legal mess will most likely cost much more than the automobile insurance payments or financial responsibility would have cost.

If you’re thinking about “slipping by” without purchasing the minimum automobile insurance or showing the minimum financial responsibility required by your state, don’t. You may think you’re an excellent driver who will never cause an accident, but your state has made automobile insurance or financial responsibility a legal requirement for a reason and it’s not just to protect drivers who may be involved in an accident in which you are at fault – it’s also a legal requirement that will protect you.