Driving without proof of insurance is a serious offense in most states, resulting in moving violations and fines. When you choose to operate your vehicle, you are required by law to prove that your vehicle has at least the state minimum required coverage. Failing to have proof of insurance in the event of an accident can also result in severe consequences.
By Hearst Autos Research Updated: May 18, 2021 Save Article AngiePhotos | Getty ImagesDriving without proof of insurance is a serious offense in most states, resulting in moving violations and fines. When you choose to operate your vehicle, you are required by law to prove that your vehicle has at least the state minimum required coverage. Failing to have proof of insurance in the event of an accident can also result in severe consequences.
Depending on the state where you receive the violation, you will pay different amounts in fees for receiving a ticket.
As you can see by the stiff penalties you face, it is often cheaper to maintain the minimum liability insurance than to pay the fines for being caught without it.
While fines and an increase in insurance premiums are two possible penalties for being caught without insurance, there are more severe consequences that you can face if you continue to drive without insurance or you are involved in a more severe moving violation and caught without it.
If you have previously been cited for driving without proof of insurance and are caught driving again without gaining the required minimums, you do run the risk of having your license suspended. The length of your suspension can vary from state to state. Once suspended, as mentioned by Value Penguin, you may be required to file an SR-22 for reinstatement.
Not only does the length of suspension vary from state to state but also the circumstances that may lead to suspension. In some states, your driving privileges may be revoked if you can't prove financial responsibility.
Once your license has been suspended, you will probably have to pay fines and reinstatement fees in the hundreds of dollars. In many cases, the cost to reinstate may be as much as it would have been to carry insurance in the first place. On top of that, you may have difficulty obtaining insurance or be quoted significantly larger premium rates to obtain insurance after a suspension.
Your license may not be affected in some cases, but your ability to drive your vehicle may still be hindered, as stated in The Zebra. If you are caught driving without insurance, especially if you were involved in an accident with the vehicle, the car can be impounded, or the registration on the vehicle can be revoked. While you can pay the fines and fees to retrieve your vehicle from the impound lot, you will probably have to submit proof of insurance to be able to have your registration reinstated.
For example, in the state of New Jersey, failure to provide proper proof of insurance within 24 hours of receiving a citation may result in the impounding of your car, along with the stripping of your registration. Some states may even require a 30-day impounding, which can limit your ability to drive for an even longer period of time.
According to Direct Auto, driving without proof of insurance is considered a misdemeanor offense in most states. Jail time can be given in some instances. Typically, the first offense won't result in any jail time unless you were involved in a major accident without insurance, though repeated offenses can result in a jail sentence.
Jail time varies depending on the severity of the offense and how many offenses you have had, but it will often range between a few days to a few weeks. Some states have more severe penalties, such as Michigan, where repeat offenders could be sentenced for up to a year.
There are also many possible financial consequences to being caught driving without proof of insurance. Fines are one of the most common forms of punishment for this type of citation and can range from $150 up to $5000 for the first offense alone.
If you are in an accident without insurance, you can face even more severe financial consequences, as you will have to pay the damage and medical bills for the other driver. Sometimes this amount can put you in debt or even into bankruptcy.
According to Insurance Panda, in most accidents involving an injury involved, costs can range from the tens of thousands to the hundreds of thousands of dollars between the repair and hospital bills. If you are at fault, you will probably be financially responsible for all of this and still can run the risk of being sued by the driver for such other things as lost wages.
Most often, the cost to carry insurance will be significantly less overall than the costs you pay if you are caught without it. Below you will see the average six-month premium rate for most states by some of the top insurance carriers in the country.
Emerald City Law Group says that if you are pulled over without proof of insurance, a court will assume that you are not insured or don't have the proper coverage. If you do have insurance but were unable to provide proof at the time, you should appeal your ticket and provide your proof. In some cases, you will be able to have your ticket completely dismissed.
Driving without proof of insurance can lead to fines, suspensions, impounding, and even jail time. The good news is, you can often obtain the state minimum requirements for less than it would cost for a citation.
Check this out if you need additional information, resources, or guidance on car insurance.
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Hearst Autos Research, produced independently of the Car and Driver Editorial staff, provides articles about cars and the automotive industry to help readers make informed purchasing choices.
