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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March 6, 2024
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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.
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.2 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.
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 2016.3
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.
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.4
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.
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.5
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.6
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