{"id":3063,"date":"2023-01-15T20:02:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-15T20:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/?p=3063"},"modified":"2023-09-22T14:29:53","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T14:29:53","slug":"driving-without-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/auto\/driving-without-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens if You are Stopped Driving Without Insurance?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Driving without car insurance<\/a> opens you up to some expensive trouble, including the cost of a ticket, fines and possibly the necessity of having to file an SR-22<\/a> certificate. A requirement for an SR-22 certificate typically translates into significantly higher auto insurance premiums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almost every state mandates that drivers have at the minimum some liability car insurance (there are only two that don\u2019t). Driving without insurance is not only illegal, but it also puts you and other drivers at risk. The penalties for driving without car insurance are steep and can include fines, tickets, possible license suspension and possible jail time for subsequent offenses, depending on the state. So, what happens if you are caught driving without insurance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are only two states that do not require car insurance, New Hampshire and Virginia, but both of those states have measures in place to protect motorists and the state. Always carry your proof of insurance with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the law, but car insurance can also help you financially if you are ever in an accident. Your car insurance may keep you from getting sued and having your assets seized in court if you cause an accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, there are a couple of occasions when you can legally drive without having your own insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driving Without Car Insurance Will Cost You Plenty<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The penalties for not having automobile insurance varies by state. Find your state below and you\u2019ll have an idea of what can happen if you drive without insurance. These possible penalties range in severity from first offense and second offense to third or more offenses. These actions do not include what happens if you get into a car accident while driving uninsured. In most states, you\u2019ll be heavily penalized if you get into an accident while driving without insurance \u2013 EVEN if you do not cause the accident! Those who get caught using fake or fraudulent car insurance cards <\/a>will face heavy penalties in every state. This is just some of what happens if you are caught driving without insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just as an aside, in most states, you\u2019ll be ordered to file an SR-22 certificate with the state if you are caught driving without insurance. The SR-22 is where this ordeal becomes really costly. Read below the table to find out why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think you cannot afford car insurance? You cannot afford to not have car insurance!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance by State<\/p>\n\n\n\n

State<\/strong><\/td>Driving Without Insurance Penalties<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Alabama<\/td>Fine from $500 to $1,000; possible DL & registration suspension for 180 days or more; possible 3-6 months in jail; $200 reinstatement fee; SR-22 certificate<\/td><\/tr>
Alaska<\/td>Fine from $500 to $1,000; possible DL suspension from 90 days to one year; possible vehicle impound; SR-22 certificate<\/td><\/tr>
Arizona<\/td>Fine from $500 to $1,000; possible DL, registration and license plate suspension for 3 or 6 months or 1 year; SR-22 certificate<\/td><\/tr>
Arkansas<\/td>Fine from $50 to $1,000; possible DL & registration suspended and license plates confiscated; possible jail time; possible vehicle impoundment<\/td><\/tr>
California<\/td>Fine from $100 ($260) to $500 ($1,300) (plus penalty assessments); possible vehicle impoundment; possible DL & registration suspension; possible SR-22 cert<\/td><\/tr>
Colorado<\/td>Fine from $500 to $1,000; DL suspension; 40-hours community service; SR-22<\/td><\/tr>
Connecticut<\/td>Fine from $100 to $1,000; possible DL & registration suspension; possible 3 months jail; possible SR-22 certificate<\/td><\/tr>
Delaware<\/td>Fine from $1,500 to $3,000; possible DL suspension<\/td><\/tr>
Florida<\/td>DL & license plates suspended; DL reinstatement fee of $500; possible SR-22 cert<\/td><\/tr>
Georgia<\/td>Fine up to $1,000; DL suspension; possible jail; license reinstatement fees; SR-22 certificate<\/td><\/tr>
Hawaii<\/td>Fine from $500 to $5,000; possible community service; DL & registration suspension; jail for repeats; SR-22 certificate<\/td><\/tr>
Idaho<\/td>Fine from $75 to $1,000; DL suspension & reinstatement fees; possible jail time; SR-22 certificate<\/td><\/tr>
Illinois<\/td>Fine from $500 to $1,000; DL & registration suspension; SR-22 certificate<\/td><\/tr>
Indiana<\/td>DL suspended for 90 days, one year for 2nd and subsequent; $1,000 reinstatement fee for 3ed or more; SR-22 for 305 years<\/td><\/tr>
Iowa<\/td>Fine of $250 or community service; possible confiscation of license plates; possible registration suspension; SR-22 certificate<\/td><\/tr>
Kansas<\/td>Fine from $300 to $2,500; possible jail from 6 month to 2 years; DL & registration suspended, revoked; reinstatement fees; SR-22 certificate for 3 years<\/td><\/tr>
Kentucky<\/td>Fine from $500 to $2,500; possible jail; DL suspended; reinstatement fees<\/td><\/tr>
Louisiana<\/td>Fine from $500 to $1,000; DL & registration suspended; license plates confiscated; barred from claiming losses in collision accidents; $50 to $500 reinstatement fees; possible SR-22 certificate<\/td><\/tr>
Maine<\/td>Fine from $100 to $2,000; DL & registration suspension; possible jail; SR-22<\/td><\/tr>
Maryland<\/td>Fine from $1,000 to $2,000; possible jail time; possible DL suspension<\/td><\/tr>
Massachusetts<\/td>Fine from $500 to $5,000; proof of an entire year of paid insurance; possible jail; DL & registration suspension then revoked; reinstatement fees of $500<\/td><\/tr>
Michigan<\/td>Fine from $200 to $500; possible jail for one year; DL & registration suspension; barred from claiming losses from an at-fault driver; possibly forced to pay the medical bills of anyone who is injured (even the at-fault driver); possibly pay lost wages for anyone in the accident, even the at-fault driver; possibly pay for vehicle repairs over and above the $3,000 limit<\/td><\/tr>
Minnesota<\/td>Fine of $200 to $1,000; up to 90 days in jail; DL & registration suspension; possible prepayment of 12 months of insurance<\/td><\/tr>
Mississippi<\/td>Fine of $500; possible DL & registration suspension<\/td><\/tr>
Missouri<\/td>Fine of up to $500; possible DL, registration & license plates suspended; reinstatement fees of up to $400; possible up to 15 days in jail<\/td><\/tr>
Montana<\/td>Fine from $250 to $500; possible jail time in lieu of fines; possible DL & registration suspended or revoked<\/td><\/tr>
Nebraska<\/td>DL automatically suspended; reinstatement fee of $50 and file SR-22 certificate for three years<\/td><\/tr>
Nevada<\/td>Fine from $250 to $1,000; DL suspended; reinstatement fee of $251 to $501; SR-22 certificate for 3 years<\/td><\/tr>
New Hampshire<\/td>No requirement to have car insurance, however, if you cause an accident and cannot pay for the damages, your DL & registration will be suspended until you do pay for it. After that, you\u2019ll need to file an SR-22 certificate for 3 years.<\/td><\/tr>
New Jersey<\/td>Fine from $300 to $5,000; DL suspension; community service; possible vehicle impoundment and jail;<\/td><\/tr>
New Mexico<\/td>Fine from $300 to $1,000; immediate suspension of DL & registration; possible jail; possible SR-22 certificate<\/td><\/tr>
New York<\/td>Fine from $150 to $1,500; possible vehicle impoundment; possible jail; DL & registration suspended<\/td><\/tr>
North Carolina<\/td>Fines of $50 to $150; probation or up to 45 days in jail; 30-day license suspension and vehicle suspension<\/td><\/tr>
North Dakota<\/td>Fines from $150 to $5,000; license suspension; SR-22 certificate for one year<\/td><\/tr>
Ohio<\/td>License reinstatement fees from $160 to $660; possible license surrender for up to 2 years; SR-22 for 3-5 years; third offense state can take your vehicle and sell it.<\/td><\/tr>
Oklahoma<\/td>Fines of $250; possible 30-days in jail; impounded vehicle; license suspension; $275 reinstatement fee<\/td><\/tr>
Oregon<\/td>Fines of $130 to $1,000; license & registration suspension; SR-22 for 3 years with monthly verification<\/td><\/tr>
Pennsylvania<\/td>Fines of $300 or more; license and registration suspension<\/td><\/tr>
Rhode Island<\/td>Fines of $100 to $1,000; license, registration & plates suspension; SR-22 for 1 year<\/td><\/tr>
South Carolina<\/td>Fines of $550 and up; possible imprisonment; suspension of license & registration; SR-22 certificate<\/td><\/tr>
South Dakota<\/td>Fines of $100 to $500; 30 days in jail; license suspension 30 days to 1 year; reinstatement fee of $50 to $200; SR-22 certificate for 3 years<\/td><\/tr>
Tennessee<\/td>Fine of $300; license & registration suspended (license exam retaken); SR-22 for 3 years<\/td><\/tr>
Texas<\/td>Fines of $175 to $1,000; possible vehicle impoundment; possible SR-22 certificate<\/td><\/tr>
Utah<\/td>Fines of $400 to $1,000; license suspended up to 1 year; SR-22 certificate for 3 years<\/td><\/tr>
Vermont<\/td>Fines of $100 to $500; possible license suspension; SR-22 certificate<\/td><\/tr>
Virginia<\/td>Fine of $500; license, registration & plates suspension; SR-22 certificate<\/td><\/tr>
Washington<\/td>Fines of at least $450; possible SR-22 certificate for 3 years<\/td><\/tr>
West Virginia<\/td>Fines of at least $200; possible suspension of license; possible jail time and possible SR-22 certificate<\/td><\/tr>
Wisconsin<\/td>Fine of up to $510; driving privileges suspended until an SR-22 certificate on file for 3 years<\/td><\/tr>
Wyoming<\/td>Fines of $250 to $1,500; possible imprisonment; license suspension; SR-22 certificate for 3 years<\/td><\/tr>
District of Columbia<\/td>Fines of $150 and up (50% for subsequent offenses); license suspension; SR-22 certificate for 3 years<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Kind of Car Insurance Do You Need?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Liability car insurance<\/a> is mandatory because it provides bodily injury and property damage coverage. This means it will cover another driver\u2019s medical bills and repairs if you hit them and it\u2019s the bare minimum you\u2019ll need to have to avoid legal trouble in your state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some states also require other minimum coverages, such as uninsured motorist coverage (UIM), personal injury protection (PIP) or medical coverage (MedPay). UIM is a great value for its cheap cost, providing protection for you if you get in an accident with a hit-and-run driver or someone who is driving an uninsured vehicle. PIP is typically required in no-fault states and, like MedPay, helps pay for hospital costs, lost wages and other expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re concerned about your own car, you can also add comprehensive car insurance<\/a> and collision auto insurance<\/a> to your policy for more protection. These are optional when it comes to state laws, but they\u2019re essential if you want to avoid costly repair bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car that\u2019s out of your control. For example, if a tree falls on your vehicle during a storm or you hit a deer while driving, this policy will cover repair costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collision insurance covers any damage to your vehicle if you\u2019re in an accident, regardless of who is at fault. It\u2019s useful when you cause an accident, or the other driver\u2019s insurance isn\u2019t enough to cover your damages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Penalties for Driving Without Required Insurance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We know fines are a big deal when you don\u2019t have insurance. In many cases, the fines total more than the original car insurance would have cost. Unfortunately, fines are just the bare minimum of what can happen to you. Additional penalties can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n