Expert Advice for Penalties
All Articles on Penalties
All About Allstate’s Grace Periods
If you miss a payment with Allstate, you’ll have a grace period of 30 days before your policy is canceled.
James Ellaby
All About Bristol West's Grace Periods
Bristol West typically gives between 10 and 30 days to submit a payment before canceling your coverage.
Jessica Gibson
All About Liberty Mutual’s Grace Periods
Liberty Mutual has a grace period of 10 to 14 business days for payments, with specific timeframes varying based on state law.
Jacqulyn Graber
All About Dairyland’s Grace Periods
If you miss an insurance payment with Dairyland, you’ll have 10-15 days to make the payment before your policy is canceled.
Andrea Barrett
All About Nationwide’s Grace Periods
Nationwide has a three-day grace period from the payment due date before a late fee is applied, but with no payment after 25 days, your policy can be canceled.
Mary Cahill
All About GEICO’s Grace Periods
Generally, you will have a grace period of nine days if you miss a payment with GEICO.
Shannon Fitzgerald
What You Should Know About National General's Grace Periods
National General gives customers a grace period of 10 days before a missed payment leads to a canceled policy. Learn more here!
Macy Fouse
All About Metromile’s Grace Periods
If you miss a payment with Metromile, you have a few days to pay the amount owing before your coverage lapses.
Thidas Senanayaka
All About Direct Auto’s Grace Periods
Direct Auto’s grace period varies from state to state, but you are typically allowed at least 11 days to make a past-due payment and keep your insurance coverage.
Melanie Johnson
All About Farmers Insurance’s Grace Periods
If you miss a payment with Farmers Insurance, the grace period is 30 days—that’s how long you have to make the payment and pay any late fees.
Thidas Senanayaka
All About Safeco’s Grace Periods
If you miss a payment with Safeco, you’ll have a grace period of up to 25 days before your policy is canceled.
Claire Beaney
All About Gainsco’s Grace Periods
If you miss a payment with Gainsco, you might have a grace period to make a late payment and keep your policy active, but it depends on where you live.
Mary Alice Morris
All About AAA’s Grace Periods
Except in states where grace periods are mandated by law, AAA does not offer grace periods for missed car insurance payments.
Jason Tushinski
All About Progressive’s Grace Periods
If you miss a payment with Progressive, you’ll have a grace period of 10 to 20 days before your policy is canceled.
R.E. Fulton
Can Passengers Drink Alcohol in a Car in Virginia?
Can passengers drink alcohol in a car in Virginia? Technically, yes, but the driver could risk a maximum fine of $2,500.
Andrea Barrett
Can Passengers Drink Alcohol in a Car in Florida?
Can passengers drink alcohol in a car in Florida? Neither passenger nor driver can consume alcohol, which could lead to a $90 fine for the driver.
Andrea Barrett
Can Passengers Drink Alcohol in a Car in Texas?
Generally, passengers are not allowed to drink alcohol while riding in a car in Texas, though there are a couple of exceptions.
Nathan Porceng
Can Passengers Drink Alcohol in a Car in California?
California passengers cannot drink alcohol in a moving vehicle—unless they’re riding in a limo or private bus.
Jacqulyn Graber
How Much You'll Have to Pay if You Don't Have Car Insurance
If you think car insurance is expensive, just wait until you find out how much you'll have to pay for driving without coverage.
Cheryl Knight
All Questions on Penalties
How long does reckless driving affect insurance?
Last year, I was cited for reckless driving, and had to pay a large fine, do community service, and take some driving courses. After my violation, my insurance rates jumped up quite a bit, and they still haven’t fallen back down. How much longer will my reckless driving violation impact my insurance rate?
Samuel Todd
Can I buy a car with a suspended license?
I’m currently in the middle of a 90-day license suspension. I’ve been looking for a new car for the last few months, and I finally found the exact car I want (at a great price, too). I want to lock it down before it’s too late—am I allowed to buy a car while my license is suspended?
Samuel Todd
Do I need a lawyer for driving without a license?
I forgot to grab my wallet on the way out the door and I was pulled over by the police, who ticketed me for driving without a license. Do I need a lawyer to fight this ticket?
Jason Tushinski
Will I lose my license for reckless driving?
I need my car to commute to work and to drive my kids around to all their activities. I was recently charged with reckless driving and I’m nervous that my license could be suspended. Will I lose my license for reckless driving?
Rob Shapiro
What’s the difference between careless and dangerous driving?
I recently got pulled over. I was eating while I was driving. The police officer made a comment that it was a good thing I wasn’t speeding because I would’ve gotten a dangerous driving ticket. What’s the difference between that and careless driving?
Kaitlin May
What record does a reckless driving conviction go on?
Does a reckless driving conviction go on your criminal record or just your traffic record?
Liz Jenson
What happens if you buy a stolen car without realizing it?
I’m buying a car next week, but the seller is being kind of shady. He says the car doesn’t have a title and wants me to pay in cash. I suspect it might be stolen. What happens if you buy a stolen car without realizing it?
Melanie Johnson
How much extra is it to pay off a car loan early?
My wife and I just got married a few weeks ago, and now that we’re back from our honeymoon, we are opening all our gifts and reviewing our finances. We are using a sum of money to pay off debts, and we want to pay off my car loan fully, but how much extra is it to pay off a car loan early?
Jack Walsh
How many demerit points will I get for reckless driving?
My friends and I were out having some fun—or being stupid, as my mom says—and got cited for reckless driving. I know I’ve got fines to pay and stuff, but will this put points on my license?
Sarah Gray
How long does a repossession stay on my credit report?
I recently ran into some hard times financially and had my car repossessed. Changing my spending habits has been challenging, but I think I’m making progress. I know I'm facing an uphill battle but how long will a repo stay on my credit report?
Drew Waterstreet
How many demerit points will I get for driving on the shoulder?
My girlfriend and I were stuck in a massive traffic jam the other day, and I just hopped over on the shoulder to drive up to the next exit. My girl freaked, and tried to tell me this is illegal, but I figured a little fine was better than sitting in that mess for hours. I mean, it’s not like I’m going to get points on my license, right?
Sarah Gray
How can you lose your driving privileges?
I had a really close call the other day and almost drifted into opposing traffic while I was checking my phone. Thankfully, the other driver honked their horn. It was a wake-up call; I realized I wasn’t really being serious about traffic laws and consequences and that I’d really hate it if I couldn’t drive. What could make me lose my driving privileges?
Jasmine Kanter
How do I retrieve my car from the impound?
I accidentally parked my car in a fire lane and when I came back, it was gone. How do I get my car out of the impound?
Eric Schad
Is reckless driving a criminal offense in Florida?
I just got a ticket for reckless driving. I live in Florida and was speeding on the highway (and weaving through other cars). Now I’m trying to learn more about what to expect from the ticket. Is reckless driving a criminal offense?
Samuel Todd
Should I pay more than the monthly payment each month on my car loan?
I want to get rid of my car loan as fast as possible. Is it a smart move to put more money toward the monthly payment each month to get out of debt?
Eric Schad
How long do points stay on your license in Michigan?
I just got a ticket for careless driving, and I received three points on my license. I’m worried about accumulating too many points or having the ticket increase my car insurance. How long will these points stay on my license if I live in Michigan?
Eric Schad
Are you allowed to drive with weed in your car in Utah?
I’m traveling to Utah to visit some friends and want to bring a little weed along to enjoy. I know Utah has some pretty strict laws. Can I travel with weed in my car in Utah?
Melanie Johnson
What percentage do you have to pay for a prepayment penalty?
I want to pay off my car loan, but I'm afraid I might have a prepayment penalty. How much do these penalties typically cost?
Eric Schad
What speed is considered reckless driving in Michigan?
I recently moved to Michigan, and I have a long commute to my new job. I tend to drive a few miles over the speed limit here and there. What speed would result in a reckless driving ticket?
Kaitlin May
How long do car penalty points last?
I wasn't the best at driving when I first got my license. I kept getting pulled over for speeding, and now I have several points on my license. I know it's impacting my car insurance rates. How long do penalty points last?
Emily Maracle
What are the consequences of reckless driving?
What consequences will I face for reckless driving? I got pulled over for speeding and the cop called it reckless driving, but I’m not sure what that means for me. Will the fine just be bigger, or will I have other consequences too?
Liz Jenson
How much are repossession fees?
Times have been tough for me financially as of late. My car payment is due at the end of the month and I’m concerned that I’m not going to be able to afford it. If they repossess my car, what will I need to pay?
Drew Waterstreet
How many points is a reckless driving charge in PA?
Will I get a lot of points on my driving record if I’m charged with reckless driving in Pennsylvania? I’ve never gotten a charge like this before and I’m worried about the kind of impact that it could have on my record.
Liz Jenson
How do you expunge a driving record in Illinois?
Can I expunge my driving record in the state of Illinois? If so, how? I want to get as many of the charges taken off as I can, but I don’t really know where to start.
Liz Jenson
Are there points for careless driving in New Jersey?
My daughter is always driving around with her phone in her hand, despite the fact that she has a car with Bluetooth and hands-free texting and music. I’ve told her it’s dangerous, but she keeps doing it. To act as a deterrent, I want to tell her about how points on a license can lead to a license suspension. How many points do you get for careless driving in NJ?
Eric Schad
Can you pay on the principal of a car loan?
I want to pay my car loan off early. However, I’m not sure exactly how to do it. I’ve read that you can double up on monthly payments, but I think paying toward the principal is the better move. Can I pay on the principal of my car loan?
Eric Schad
How do I report a car without insurance?
I'd like to know how to report a car without insurance. I overheard my neighbor saying his son is uninsured, and he drives like a maniac through the neighborhood. How can I report his car if he doesn’t have insurance?
Matthew Macgugan
What’s jaywalking?
What does it mean if someone is jaywalking? I’ve heard the term before but I don’t really know what it means. Is it illegal?
Liz Jenson
Does a police report go on your driving record?
What kind of police reports go on your driving record? I’ve been in a few minor accidents (one wasn’t my fault!), and am looking to get new insurance soon. Will *all* the police reports show up on my driving record?
Amber Reed
How can police prove you’re texting while driving?
I know that texting and driving is incredibly dangerous, but how do the authorities know you're doing it? Is it possible for the police to legally prove that you were texting and driving?
Amber Reed
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