Low-cost auto insurance for Napa drivers

By NATALIE HOFFMAN
Register Staff Writer

Every day, millions of California drivers illegally hit the road without car insurance coverage. To help alleviate this problem locally, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is proposing to bring a state-run reduced cost car insurance program to Napa County.

Representatives from Community Action Napa Valley, the Calistoga Family Center and Queen of the Valley Medical Center attended a public meeting Monday to discuss who will qualify for the program and when it will be implemented.

Roberta Goodin, executive director of Napa Lit, a literacy support organization, said many Napa residents who cannot afford to purchase auto insurance at regular rates regularly drive to work without automobile insurance.

“Many must break the law in order to support their families and we must change that,” said Goodin.

Darcie Chapman, consumer education outreach coordinator for state Department of Insurance, said qualifying applicants must be at least 19 years old, licensed to drive for three continuous years and have a good driving record. In addition, she said, eligible individuals cannot have convictions in violation of the state vehicle code and the value of insured automobiles must be $20,000 or less.

Napa applicants must also meet low-income requirements, not to exceed 250 percent of the federal poverty level, according to a press release.

Sandra Kane, a family services coordinator for the Calistoga Family Center, a health and family services group, attended Monday’s meeting in support of the program scheduled to launch in nine other California counties.

“It will help the many laborers we have in Napa County. Many are required to work on weekends and there is no public transportation on Sundays or on weekdays after 6 (p.m.),” she said.

The California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program, created in 1999, has been implemented in nearly two dozen California counties.

Chapman said although approximately 83 percent of applicants are uninsured, those who qualify for the program but currently have insurance can also apply. There are about 30,000 statewide policies under the program so far, she said; some qualified applicants can acquire policies for less than $400 per year.

Richard Robinson, deputy insurance commissioner, said the service is slated to be launched in September. “(This program) helps those who can’t afford regular insurance to afford insurance at a discounted rate and it will help bring insurance premiums down for everybody. ... It operates with no loss to taxpayers,” he said, adding that government funding cannot be used for the program.

Robinson said the self-sustaining operation is carried out by the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan — a system created by the state legislature — and policies are distributed by commercial insurance companies.

Napans’ commercial car insurance premiums will cover program costs, Chapman said.

Qualifications

• Applicants must be at least 19 years old, licensed to drive for three continuous years and have a good driving record.

• Applicants cannot have convictions in violation of the state vehicle code and the value of applicants’ automobiles must be $20,000 or less.

• Applicants must also meet low-income requirements, not to exceed 250 percent of the federal poverty level.

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