Owning a Car

Auto Insurance | DMV

Your descision to own a car is a big one. Owning and operating a motor vehicle (car, truck, or motorcycle) carries serious responsibilities that should be considered before buying a car. Things you should know before deciding to buy and own a car:

• You must have a valid driver’s license. If you buy a car, your insurance company will probably require you to get a California driver’s license. If you move to a different state, you will probably have to get a license from that state.
• You must register your car and get license plates from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If you buy a new car, the car dealer will take care of this for you. If you buy a used car, you will need to take care of the paperwork yourself. You can get more information about this from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
• You must have automobile insurance. This is a state law. If you are stopped by the police or get in an accident, you must provide proof of insurance. If you do not have insurance, you will have to pay fines. Click here for information on automobile insurance. 
• The driver and all passengers must wear seatbelts. If you are stopped by the police and are not wearing a seatbelt, you will receive a ticket. Of course, wearing a seatbelt is always a wise and safe idea anyway.
• If you are in an accident, you must:
  *Leave your name and the name of your insurance company with the other driver(s).
  *Call the police and complete an accident report the damage or if anyone was hurt physically in the accident.
  *Never admit that an accident was your responsibility, and never sign any papers admitting responsibility at the time of the accident. You can take care of these things later.
• If you receive a traffic ticket for any reason: you can choose to accept it and pay the fine (which you can do by mail), or you can challenge (contest) the ticket. If you contest the ticket, you will have to go to court and tell your version of what happened. This may result in a reduction of your fine or there may be no charge at all.