What Happens if You Drive Without Insurance?
Driving without insurance in states that require it can result in fines, license suspension, community service, and even jail time.
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Buying car insurance is a necessary part of being a responsible driver. Most states require car insurance, and driving without it can result in fines, license and registration suspension, community service, jail time, or a combination of all four, depending on the state.
Here’s what can happen if you drive without insurance, and the importance of having enough coverage on the road.
Quick Facts
Causing a car accident without auto insurance means you’ll pay for the other parties’ damages and injuries out of pocket.
New Hampshire is the only state that doesn’t require car insurance coverage.[?]
A significant lapse in coverage can make it difficult to find affordable car insurance in the future.
What if you get into an accident without insurance?
Causing an accident without insurance is a costly mistake with many legal consequences. As the at-fault driver, you’re responsible for the other parties’ injuries and property damages.
If you don’t have insurance, you pay for those injuries and damages out of your own pocket.[?] If the other driver has uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, their policy may pay for their expenses, but you won’t have any coverage for your own repair or medical costs.
Furthermore, many states impose penalties for people who drive without insurance. Not only could your state fine you or sentence you to jail, but you could lose your driving privileges.
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Consequences of driving without insurance by state
About 1 in every 8 drivers didn’t have auto insurance in 2019, according to data from the Insurance Research Council (IRC). Uninsured drivers cost insured drivers $13 billion in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in 2016.[?]
Many states require drivers with coverage lapses to file SR-22 insurance forms, which confirm that your policy meets the state minimum requirements.
Here are the fines and penalties states impose on drivers who don’t purchase and maintain state-minimum car insurance coverage.
State  | Fine | Jail Time | License/Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $500–$1,000 | Three–six months | Six-month registration and license suspension |
| Alaska | N/A | N/A | License suspension of 90 days to one year |
| Arizona | $500–$1,000 | N/A | License suspension of three months to one year |
| Arkansas | $100 | N/A | Registration suspension until you show proof of insurance |
| California | $100–$200 | N/A | Registration suspension and one-year license suspension (then three years of SR-22) |
| Colorado | $500–$1,000 | N/A | Up to eight-month license suspension |
| Connecticut | $100–$1,000 | Up to three months |
License and registration suspension of one to six months |
| Delaware | $1,500–$2,000 | N/A | Six-month license suspension |
| Florida | Up to $500 license reinstatement | N/A | Up to three-year license and registration suspension |
| Georgia | $500 | Up to 12 months | 60-day license suspension and registration suspension |
| Hawaii | $500–$1,500 | N/A | License suspension of three months to one year |
| Idaho | $75 | N/A | License suspension until you show proof of insurance |
| Illinois | $500–$1,000 | N/A | Up to four-month plate suspension |
| Indiana | $250–$500 | N/A | License suspension of 90 days to one year |
| Iowa | $250 | N/A | Registration suspension and possible vehicle impoundment |
| Kansas | $100–$300 | In lieu of paying the fee, six months of jail time | Registration and license suspension until you show proof of insurance |
| Kentucky | $500– $1,000 | Up to 90 days | Registration and license suspension |
| Louisiana | $100–$500 | N/A | Registration suspension and possible impoundment until you provide proof of insurance |
| Maine | $100–$500 | N/A | Registration and license suspension until you show proof of insurance |
| Maryland | $150 for first 30 days without insurance, then $7 per day | N/A | Registration suspension until you show proof of insurance |
| Massachusetts | $500, or one year of high-risk insurance premiums | Up to one year | License suspension of 60 days to one year |
| Michigan | Up to $1,000 | Up to one year | License suspension |
| Minnesota | $200–$1,000 | Up to 90 days | Up to 12-month registration and license suspension |
| Mississippi | $1,000 | N/A | One-year license suspension, or until driver provides proof of insurance |
| Missouri | $20–$300 reinstatement | N/A | Up to one-year registration and license suspension |
| Montana | $250–$500 | Up to 10 days | Registration and license suspension on second offense |
| Nebraska | $50 license reinstatement, $50 registration reinstatement | N/A | License and registration suspension until you pay fees and provide proof of insurance |
| Nevada | $250–$1,000 | N/A | Registration and license suspension |
| New Hampshire | N/A | N/A | License suspension |
| New Jersey | $300–$1,000; up to $5,000 on subsequent offenses | 14 days on subsequent offenses | License suspension of one to two years |
| New Mexico | Up to $300 | Up to 90 days | Registration suspension |
| New York | $150–$1,500 | Up to 15 days | License and registration suspension |
| North Carolina | $50–$150 | N/A | 30-day registration suspension |
| North Dakota | Up to $1,000 | Up to 30 days | License suspension |
| Ohio | $100–$600 | N/A | Up to two-year license suspension |
| Oklahoma | Up to $250 | Up to 30 days | Car impoundment or registration suspension |
| Oregon | $135–$1,000 | N/A | Registration and license suspension |
| Pennsylvania | $300 | N/A | Three-month registration and license suspension |
| Rhode Island | $100– $1,000 | N/A | License and registration suspension of three months to one year |
| South Carolina | Up to $600 | N/A | Registration and license suspension until you pay fees and file SR-22 |
| South Dakota | Up to $500 | Up to 30 days | Registration and license suspension |
| Tennessee | $100 | N/A | Registration suspension |
| Texas | $175–$350 | N/A | License suspension and vehicle impoundment on subsequent offenses |
| Utah | $400–$1,000 | N/A | License suspension |
| Vermont | Up to $500 | N/A | License suspension until you provide proof of insurance |
| Virginia | $600 | N/A | Registration and license suspension until you provide proof of insurance |
| Washington | $550 minimum | N/A | Possible license suspension |
| Washington, D.C. | $500 for first offense; 50% increase in civil fine for subsequent offenses | N/A | Registration and license suspension |
| West Virginia | $200– $5,000 | 15 days to one year | Registration and license suspension |
| Wisconsin | Up to $500 | N/A | N/A |
| Wyoming | Up to $750 | Up to six months | N/A |
How to get car insurance when you’re uninsured
It may be more difficult to get affordable car insurance after a lapse in coverage. You can typically compare quotes from multiple companies to find the cheapest car insurance for your situation, but some companies may not cover you if you have a significant lapse.
If insurance companies in the voluntary market deny you coverage, you may have to get insurance through your state’s assigned risk pool.[?]
Here’s how to join your state’s risk pool:
Look for your state’s assigned risk pool website. It’s usually called an automobile insurance plan or through a state partnership with AIPSO.
Check the plan’s eligibility requirements. You may have to prove that you’ve tried to purchase coverage through the voluntary market in the previous 60 days but one or more insurance companies denied you coverage.
Apply for coverage. Fill out the necessary forms and choose any additional coverages that you may want. The assigned risk pool matches you with an insurance company that underwrites your policy, but your premiums may be expensive compared to non-assigned policies.
Good to Know
You may be able to get a car insurance policy through a company that specializes in non-standard coverage for high-risk drivers. These insurers may also offer more coverage options than what you find through your state’s assigned risk pool.
Driving without insurance FAQs
Check out Insurify’s guide on temporary car insurance coverage, and read the answers to common questions about driving without insurance below.
How many points do you get for driving without insurance?
If you drive without insurance, states will usually suspend your license and vehicle registration instead of assigning points to your license.
What’s the penalty for driving without insurance in California?
California will suspend your vehicle registration for failure to show proof of insurance and fine you $100–$200 for your first offense and $200–$500 for subsequent offenses.[?]
What’s the penalty for driving without insurance in Ohio?
Ohio will impose a fine of up to $600, suspend your license and registration for one to two years, and require you to file an SR-22 insurance form with the state for three or five years.[?]
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