Driving without insurance is illegal in almost every state, and if you are caught, the penalties can include hefty fines, driver’s license suspension, jail time, and mandatory SR-22 filing with the state DMV. For repeat offenders, the consequences of driving without insurance are even more severe.
Common Penalties for Driving Without Insurance
- Fines up to $5,000
- Suspended driver’s license
- Suspended vehicle registration
- License and registration reinstatement fees
- SR-22 requirement
- Jail time
- Mandatory community service
- Vehicle impoundment
Furthermore, if you cause an accident while driving without insurance, you will be financially responsible for all of the damages. Allowing your car insurance coverage to lapse also classifies you as a high-risk driver, which will make coverage more expensive in the future.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance by State
| State | Fines | License Suspension | Other Consequences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | First offense: $500 Repeat offense: Up to $3,000 | First offense: Registration suspension with $200 reinstatement fee Repeat offense: License and registration suspension with $400 reinstatement fee | 3-6 months in jail SR-22 required for 1-3 years |
| Alaska | $500 for each offense | First offense: 90 days Repeat offense: 1 year If at-fault in an accident: 3 years | SR-22 required for 3 years after license reinstatement |
| Arizona | First offense: $500 Repeat offense: at least $750 | First offense: 3 months Repeat offense: 6-12 months | SR-22 required for two years |
| Arkansas | First offense: $50 - $250 Repeat offense: $250-$1,000 | Registration suspended until driver provides proof of insurance and pays $20 fee. | Up to 1 year in jail SR-22 required for three years |
| California | First offense: $100 - $200 plus penalty assessments Repeat offense: $200 - $500 plus penalty assessments | N/A | Car may be impounded SR-22 required for 3 years if driver causes a collision while uninsured |
| Colorado | First offense: $500 minimum Repeat offense: $1,000 minimum | First offense: Suspension until driver provides proof of insurance Repeat offense: 4-8 months | Driver may be sentenced to 40 hours of community service Up to 1 year in jail after multiple offenses SR-22 required for three years. |
| Connecticut | $100 - $1,000 | First offense: 1 month Repeat offense: 6 months | Up to 3 months in jail SR-22 required for three years. |
| Delaware | First offense: $1,500 - $2,000 Repeat offense: $3,000 - $4,000 | 6 months | N/A |
| District of Columbia | First offense: $500 - $2,500 Repeat offense: $700 – $2,500 | Registration suspended until proof of insurance provided First offense: License suspended for 30 days Repeat offense: License suspended for 60 days | SR-22 required for 3 years |
| Florida | First offense: $150 license reinstatement fee Repeat offense: $250 - $500 reinstatement fee | License and registration suspended for 3 years or until driver has proof of insurance | SR-22 required for three years |
| Georgia | $200 - $1,000 | First offense: 60 days Repeat offense: 90 days | Up to 1 year in jail SR-22 required for three years |
| Hawaii | First offense: $500 Repeat offense: $1,500 - $5,000 | First offense: 3 months Repeat offense: 1 year | Driver may request to perform community service in lieu of a fine. Can perform up to 100 hours for first offense or 275 hours for repeat offense. SR-22 required for three years |
| Idaho | First offense: $75 Repeat offense: Up to $1,000 | Suspension in place until driver provides proof of insurance | Up to 6 months in jail for a repeat offense SR-22 is required for 1 year after first offense or 3 years after repeat offense |
| Illinois | First offense: $500 - $1,000 (may be reduced to $100 if insurance is purchased prior to court date) Repeat offense: Up to $1,000 | License and registration suspended for up to 4 months | SR-22 is required for 3 years |
| Indiana | First offense: $250 license reinstatement fee Second offense: $500 reinstatement fee Repeat offense: $1,000 reinstatement fee | First offense: 90 days Repeat offense: 1 year | SR-22 is required for 3 years after a first or second offense SR-22 required for 5 years after third and subsequent offenses |
| Iowa | $250 (community service may be served instead) | N/A | SR-22 is required for 2 years Vehicle may be impounded |
| Kansas | First offense: $300 - $1,000 Repeat offense: $800 - $2,500 | First and second offense will lead to suspension until proof of insurance is provided. Third offense will lead to revocation of driving privileges for 3 years. | SR-22 is required for 1 year Up to 6 months in jail |
| Kentucky | First offense: $500 - $1,000 Repeat offense: $1,000 - $2,500 | Registration suspended for 1 year after the first and second offense, and for 2 years after every additional offense. License revoked for one year after first offense, and 2 years after subsequent violations. | Drivers may be imprisoned for 90 days after first offense and up to 180 days for repeat offenses. |
| Louisiana | $500 - $1,000 | Registration is suspended until proof of valid insurance is given and fees are paid. | Vehicle may be impounded SR-22 required for 3 years |
| Maine | $100 - $500 | License and registration suspended until driver provides proof of insurance. | SR-22 required or 3 years |
| Maryland | First offense: Up to $1,000 Repeat offense: Up to $2,000 | Registration suspended until proof of insurance is provided. | Up to 1 year in jail for first offense, and up to 2 years for repeat offense |
| Massachusetts | First offense: Up to $1,000 Repeat offense: $500 - $5,000 | First offense: 60 days Repeat offense: 1 year | Up to 1 year in jail |
| Michigan | $200 - $500 | License suspension for 30 days or until proof of insurance is submitted | Up to 1 year in jail |
| Minnesota | First and second offense: $200 - $1,000 Repeat offense: $200 - $3,000 Community service may be performed in lieu of fines. | License is suspended for at least 30 days but no more than 1 year. Registration suspended up to 1 year or until proof of insurance is provided. | Up to 1 year in jail after multiple offenses Vehicle may be impounded |
| Mississippi | $500, but can be reduced to $100 if proof of insurance is provided by court date. | License suspended for 1 year or until proof of insurance is provided. | SR-22 required for 3-5 years |
| Missouri | Not to exceed $500 | First offense: License, plates, and registration suspended until proof of insurance provided Second offense: 90 days Third offense: 1 year | Up to 15 days in jail SR-22 required for 2 years |
| Montana | First offense: $250 - $500 Second offense: $350 Third or subsequent offense: $500 | License suspended for 90 days after second offense | Drivers may be imprisoned for 10 days after first and second offense or 6 months after third conviction. SR-22 required for 3 years |
| Nebraska | License reinstatement fee: $50 Registration renewal fee: $50 | License suspended until driver provides proof of insurance and pays all fees. | SR-22 required for 3 years |
| Nevada | First offense: $250 - $1,000 Repeat offense: $500 - $1,000 | After first or second offense, registration is suspended until proof of insurance is provided. After third offense, license is suspended for 30 days. | SR-22 required for 3 years if coverage lapses for more than 90 days |
| New Hampshire* | License restoration fee: $100 Registration restoration fee: $25 | License and registration suspended until driver meets all requirements. | SR-22 required for 3 years |
| New Jersey | First offense: $300- $1,000 Repeat offense: Up to $5,000 | First offense: 1 year Repeat offense: 2 years | Drivers may be ordered to perform up to 30 days of community service. Up to 14 days in prison after repeat offense |
| New Mexico | First offense: No more than $300 Repeat offense: No more than $1,000 | Registration may be suspended | Drivers may be imprisoned for up to 90 days after first offense and 6 months after repeat offense |
| New York | $150 - $1,500 | If without insurance for 90 days, registration and license are suspended for a time equal to insurance lapse. | Drivers may be imprisoned for up to 15 days. Vehicle may be impounded. |
| North Carolina | First offense: $50 Second offense: $100 Third offense: $150 | Registration suspended for 30 days | N/A |
| North Dakota | First offense: $150 - $1,000 Repeat offense: $300 - $5,000 | License will be suspended until driver provides proof of insurance. | Up to 30 days in jail if second offense is committed within 1 year of the first. After second offense, car will be impounded until proof of insurance provided. SR-22 required for 1 year |
| Ohio | Registration/plate reinstatement fees: $160 - $660 | First offense: license suspended until all requirements met Second offense: 1 year suspension Third offense: 2 year suspension | SR-22 required for 3-5 years |
| Oklahoma | Up to $250 | License suspended until proof of insurance is provided and all fees are paid. | Up to 30 days in jail Vehicle may be impounded |
| Oregon | $130 - $1,000 | License and registration will be suspended. | SR-22 required for 3 years Vehicle may be impounded |
| Pennsylvania | $500 | License and registration suspended for 3 months. Registration suspension can be waived by paying a $500 fee | N/A |
| Rhode Island | First offense: $100 - $500 Repeat offense: $500 | First offense: license and registration suspended for 3 months Repeat offense: license and registration suspended for 6 months | N/A |
| South Carolina | $550 uninsured motorist fee First offense: $100 - $200 and $5 for every day without insurance Repeat offense: $200 and $5 for every day without insurance | License and registration suspended until owner pays reinstatement fee and provides proof of coverage | SR-22 required for 3 years |
| South Dakota | Up to $500 | License suspended for up to 1 year Registration suspended until driver provides proof of financial responsibility | Up to 30 days in jail SR-22 required for 3 years |
| Tennessee | Up to $300 | License suspended until driver re-takes license exam and provides proof of insurance. | SR-22 required for 3 years |
| Texas | First offense: $175 - $350 plus $250 surcharge for 3 years. Repeat offense: $350 - $1,000 plus $250 surcharge for 3 years. | After repeat offense, license and registration suspended for two years or until driver provides evidence of coverage. | After repeat offense, vehicle may be impounded for up 180 days, and driver will be charged fee of $15 per day. SR-22 required for 2 years. |
| Utah | First offense: $400 Repeat offense: $1,000 Courts may waive up to $300 of fines if owner obtains coverage prior to hearing. | License and registration suspended until driver provides proof of insurance. | SR-22 required for 3 years |
| Vermont | $250 - $500 | License is suspended until driver provides proof of insurance. | SR-22 required for 3 years |
| Virginia | $600 | License, registration, and plates suspended until driver pays fee and provides proof of coverage. | SR-22 required for 3 years |
| Washington | No more than $287 | N/A | SR-22 may be required for 3 years if uninsured driver causes accident |
| West Virginia | $200 - $5,000 | First and second offense: License and registration suspended for up to 30 days Repeat offense: License and registration suspended for 90 days | Up to 1 year in jail. Drivers on their first offense may avoid license suspension if they provide proof of coverage prior to the effective date. |
| Wisconsin | Up to $500 | License suspended until SR-22 is on file License and registration may be suspended for up to 3 years if you cause an accident while uninsured. | SR-22 required for 3 years |
| Wyoming | First offense: $250 - $750 Repeat offense: $500 - $1,500 | License and registration suspended until driver provides proof of coverage. | Up to 6 months in jail SR-22 required for 3 years |
* New Hampshire penalties only apply if a driver causes an accident while uninsured. Drivers are not legally required to carry car insurance.
The severity of the penalty you receive will depend on the situation in which you’re found to be driving without insurance. The following sections detail what penalties you can expect in common situations.
What Happens If You’re Caught Driving Without Proof of Insurance?
If you have insurance but cannot prove it when asked by a police officer, you are guilty of an “administrative violation,” similar to a seat-belt ticket. Providing proof later could waive the penalty, in states like California, Florida, Colorado, Kansas, Texas, and Mississippi, but it’s not guaranteed. That’s why it’s important to always have your proof of car insurance easily accessible, either with a hard copy of your insurance card or a digital copy on your phone.
What Happens If You Get Pulled Over Without Any Insurance?
If you are pulled over and you do not have insurance at all, your license will be suspended for a certain amount of time or until you provide proof of insurance, in most cases. You may also be fined, and the amount can reach up to $5,000 in some states. Additionally, you could face high car insurance premiums, as you will be considered a high-risk driver by insurers.
What Happens If You Cause a Car Accident Without Insurance?
If you cause an accident while driving without insurance, you can face more severe consequences compared to just getting pulled over without insurance, such as having your license or vehicle registration suspended for longer, getting your vehicle impounded, or being required to file an SR-22.
In addition to the penalties for driving without insurance, you will be responsible for covering or partially covering the cost of property damage and injuries out of pocket. This could be several thousand dollars or more. The other driver may even sue you for compensation.
Learn more about what happens if you get into an accident without insurance.
What Happens If You Have No Insurance But the Other Driver Was At Fault?
If the other driver is at fault for an accident but you have no insurance, you could still face penalties for driving without insurance, such as fines and license suspension. You could also be responsible for paying for your injuries and property damage out of pocket if the other driver lacks insurance too. Even if the at-fault driver has insurance, some states may limit the amount you can claim from the other driver for damages if you are uninsured.
How to Avoid the Consequences of Driving Without Insurance
Find an affordable car insurance provider.
Not letting your car insurance lapse protects your vehicle and your finances, in addition to helping you avoid penalties for driving without insurance. If your car insurance does lapse, the most important to thing to do is renew your coverage as soon as possible. The key to maintaining coverage is to find a policy that you know you can afford. To find the best rates, you should compare quotes from at least three different insurers. Many insurers offer quotes online, or you can get quotes over the phone or in person with an agent.
Keep your proof of insurance with you.
In a few states, your license can be suspended if you get pulled over and don’t have proof of insurance, even if you have an active insurance policy. In most other states, you will likely receive a minor traffic citation until you can prove you had insurance, and you may have to pay a small fine.
Don’t miss insurance payments.
A late insurance payment can cause your insurance company to cancel your policy.
Don’t allow a lapse when changing insurers.
You should not cancel your old insurance policy until you know your new policy has taken effect.
Don’t just stop making payments.
If you’re canceling a car insurance policy, let the insurance company know, or you could end up being responsible for late fees.
Don’t just drop insurance if you take a car off the road.
If your car is no longer being driven, don’t drop your insurance before checking with your state’s DMV to learn the rules for legally dropping insurance coverage. You may also want to look into car storage insurance, which will protect you against damage to the vehicle while it’s being stored.
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