Driving without insurance

What happens if you’re caught driving without insurance? Being insured is a requirement when driving a vehicle in almost every state, so getting caught driving without insurance coverage can leave you vulnerable to financial loss and penalties by law

Driving without car insurance coverage could be a costly choice

Car insurance protects you as a driver, as well as others you encounter on the road. You may choose to forego auto insurance in hopes of getting away with temporary savings. But you could wind up paying thousands of dollars if you get caught or have an accident. Before you consider driving without insurance, we want to help you understand the risks—and help you choose more wisely.

What are the penalties for driving without proof of insurance?

Penalties for driving without insurance vary from state to state. Depending on where you drive, you could face any of the following if you’re pulled over and don’t have insurance:

• Fines
• Driver’s license suspension
• Vehicle impoundment
• Jail time

Regardless of the state you drive in, you’re likely to have harsher consequences for repeated offenses. Bottom line: getting caught driving without insurance will almost always come with consequences.

Is car insurance required?

It’s the law in all states—except Virginia (if you pay the uninsured motorist fee) and New Hampshire. This helps protect you, your passengers, and those you encounter on the road. Each state has minimum car insurance requirements on the coverages you must have. Most individuals who own or drive a vehicle need the following car insurance coverages:

Bodily injury liability This coverage applies when you cause an accident while you’re operating your vehicle and helps pay for bodily injuries to others.

Property damage liability This helps pay damage costs for another person’s property in an accident you cause.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist protection If you’re hurt in an accident involving an at-fault driver who doesn’t have any or enough insurance, this helps pay for your injuries. Many states allow you to opt out or reject this coverage.

What are the associated costs of driving without insurance?

Financially speaking, driving without insurance can be costly, even beyond the costs insurance would’ve paid for. If you’re pulled over and can’t provide proof of valid car insurance, you could end up paying:

Fines

Fines are state-specific and can range from very nominal to thousands of dollars. Here are some examples:

• Delaware: The fine for your first offense is $1,500 for driving without insurance and $3,000 for repeat offenses.*
• Illinois: Fines start at a $500 minimum for driving uninsured and go up to $1,000 for a previous driving without insurance violation.*
• Texas: There can be a fine from $175-$350 for a first offense and $350-$1,000 for subsequent violations.*
• Florida: Floridians caught driving without insurance pay a $150 fine for a first offense, $250 for a second offense within three years, and $500 if convicted three times within three years.*

Driver’s license and registration reinstatement fees

Some states may have harsher consequences, such as suspending your driver’s license and registration and requiring you to pay higher fees to reinstate them. Let’s review some state-specific examples:

• Missouri Depending on how many times your license was suspended for driving without insurance, you can pay as little as $20 or as much as $400 to reinstate your license in Missouri.*
• Arizona In the state of Arizona, drivers who have their license suspended for violating car insurance laws pay a $10 reinstatement fee and $10-$25 for a license reinstatement application fee.*
• Pennsylvania Facing a three-month suspension of your driver’s license and registration in Pennsylvania for driving without insurance can leave you with a fee of $94 to restore your license and $98 to restore registration.*

Impoundment and towing fees

Many states give police the right to impound your vehicle if you can’t provide proof of insurance, leaving you responsible for towing fees and other associated costs.

Bail money

While it’s unlikely for a first offense, you could face jail time for driving without insurance. In Michigan, persons convicted of driving uninsured can face up to one year in jail, a $500 fine, or both.* These costs add up quickly.

 What happens if you get into an accident with no insurance?

If you cause the crash, you could:

• Be held liable for any bodily injuries and property damage
• Pay fines
• Have your license suspended
• Have your vehicle impounded

If you’re not at fault, the law and subsequent penalties vary by state and accident. When fault is unclear, you may be responsible for handling communication with the other party’s car insurance company, which can be time consuming and frustrating. It may also reduce your chances of receiving compensation.

Can you drive someone else’s car without insurance?

  In many cases you may drive a friend’s car—with their permission—and their car remains insured. Because each policy and insurance provider are different, it’s still important to review the insured’s policy details to help ensure coverage applies to your specific situation.

For example, if you live with someone who owns an insured car, their insurance provider may require you to be listed on the policy. If you borrow their car, are found at-fault in an accident, and aren’t listed or are excluded from the policy, you may run into issues receiving compensation to cover the damages.

Can you lose points for driving without insurance?

Instead of losing points, you’d likely have your license suspended altogether. First, not every state has a point system for violations. For example, the state of Louisiana records driving violations on your driving record, but not with a point system. Second, states that do utilize a point system typically track moving/traffic violations as point deductions, whereas a driving without insurance penalty is a suspended license and registration—most commonly after a second or third offense.

Is driving without insurance a misdemeanor or a felony?

In most states if you’re caught breaking auto insurance laws, the conviction is considered a misdemeanor. While misdemeanors are less serious than felonies, they can require jail time depending on the degree of infraction. Typically, a first-time driving without insurance offence wouldn’t fall under a misdemeanor classification. You can expect to see that for a second or third driving uninsured conviction, and in a state like New Mexico, can leave you imprisoned up to six months.

Can a cop tell if you don’t have insurance?

Yes, the police can tell whether you have valid auto insurance. Here are a couple of ways it’s determined:

Proof of insurance requests

When a driver is pulled over, police request to review proof of insurance in addition to a driver’s license and vehicle registration. Expired insurance, failure to present proof of insurance, and fraudulent coverage lead to insurance law infractions.

Law enforcement data bases

In most states, police officers use in-car technology to see if a driver has auto insurance before they even pull you over. Although this information is accessible to law enforcement, stopping a driver for the sole purpose of a driving without insurance violation isn’t likely. As a secondary violation, driving uninsured is typically charged in conjunction with other violations like:

• Vehicle equipment malfunction
• Speeding
• Texting and driving
• Tailgating Expired license plates

These are just some examples among many other violations. Regardless of the reason you could be stopped, having valid car insurance and keeping it on-hand in your vehicle will help save you from additional, and often expensive, consequences.

Can you drive home from the dealership without insurance?

No. Car insurance is required in almost every state. So, if you don’t already have auto insurance when buying your brand-new car or for driving a new-to-you vehicle off of a used car lot, consider the following:

Plan ahead

If you’re able to plan ahead in your car purchasing process, it’s best to shop around for car insurance before buying a car. Planning can help you understand:

• How much money you could save
• Which coverages you’ll want
• Who you’ll be contacting to help finalize your insurance once you select a car

Get instant insurance

Although planning ahead to find out which insurance company is the best for you and your car, it’s not always possible. That’s why most insurance providers offer instant online quotes, discounts, and coverages. While you’re at the dealership, you’ll be able to set up your insurance before starting your vehicle.

Review dealership finance plans

If you’re planning to receive financing through your dealership, the dealer will require that you have car insurance in place before you drive off the lot. While it’s the law to insure your car, purchasing insurance is also a contingency to receiving financing.

What happens when police seize your car for no insurance?

In most states, if your car is seized by police due to driving without insurance, it’s towed to an impound. If you’re unsure where your car was towed, you can search using your car’s VIN and then follow these steps to get your towed vehicle back.

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