Yes. Alabama provides an alternative to car insurance, but it’s not cheap. To legally drive without car insurance in Alabama, you’re required to deposit at least $50,000 with the state, or file a Motor Vehicle Liability Bond for $50,000.
Nearly all states require registered drivers to carry specified minimum liability insurance. And if you’re financing or leasing your car, you could be required to buy additional collision and comprehensive coverage as part of your finance agreement.
What additional coverage can I get?
Since liability insurance doesn’t cover potential damages to your car or personal injuries, many drivers purchase additional coverage beyond the state minimums to protect themselves and their vehicles. Many insurance companies in the state of Alabama also offer:
- Comprehensive. Covers damage to your car caused by something other than a collision, like weather or vandalism. Comprehensive insurance is often especially important in areas with high crime rates.
- Collision. Helps pay for repairs if your car is damaged in an accident.
- Medical and funeral services. Helps cover medical bills or funeral services as a result of an accident.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorists. Protects you if you get into an accident with someone who doesn’t have insurance.
- Rental car. Assists in reimbursing you for any rental car rent if your car is damaged in an accident.
- Towing and labor. Provides reimbursement for towing or labor costs you may have incurred as a result of an accident.
Uninsured drivers in Alabama
Alabama requires all drivers to carry a minimum level of auto insurance, but there are always the occasional drivers who refuse or can’t afford to pay for coverage. No clear data is available about the number of uninsured drivers in Alabama, but estimates put it around the national average of 12%.
To protect yourself from extra liability if you’re in an accident with one of these drivers, consider adding uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance to your policy.
Can I buy temporary car insurance in Alabama?
Yes you can — and that might be a great option if you’re in need of insurance but don’t need a six-month or year long policy. Some examples of this might include renting a car, returning home on a break from college, or planning to sell your car within a few days or weeks of when your current policy expires.
Many traffic laws vary from state to state, so there are a few Alabama-specific things to know before driving through the Heart of Dixie.
- Tinting your vehicle windows is illegal in Alabama, except under certain conditions outlined by the state.
- Coasting down hills with your vehicle in neutral is illegal; your vehicle must be in gear if it’s moving.
- Driving over a laid fire hose is against the law.
- If a vehicle is believed to be abandoned in a public place for 5 days or more, a police officer has the authority to have it removed.
- Vehicles are required by law to have working windshield wipers.
Like all US states, Alabama has a few odd laws — one fine bit of Alabama legislation forbids you from driving while blindfolded — but most standard laws hold true in this state. Common laws you should observe include not wearing headphones while driving, never passing on the right or where there’s poor visibility of the road ahead, following speed limits and obeying all traffic signs and signals.
Laws concerning blood alcohol content (BAC) used to have some variance from state to state, but not anymore. No matter if you’re in Alabama or Wyoming, there are federal BAC laws that prevent you from driving above a certain limit.
It’s illegal to drive in Alabama, or any other state for that matter, with a BAC above 0.08%. Commercial drivers face even stricter rules with a BAC limit of only 0.04%. If you’re caught driving over the limit in Alabama, you’ll face hefty fines, a drivers license suspension and possibly even jail time.
State minimum requirements for car insurance vary by state. To fulfill car insurance laws in Alabama, you must carry liability insurance that includes at least: