Driving Without Proof Of Insurance: Potential Risks (2025)

Can You Drive Without Insurance?

Generally, the answer is no. Most states require you to have liability insurance coverage. This is coverage that pays for the other driver’s medical expenses and car repair bills if you cause an accident.

Almost all states require you to have liability insurance. Those that do not call for insurance instead ask you to prove that you have sufficient assets to be financially responsible for any accidents you cause.

What Are the Consequences of Driving Without Insurance?

If you’ve been driving without proof of insurance for quite some time, it’s easy to develop a false sense of security. But it only takes getting pulled over once to be charged. If you’re found guilty of driving without proof of insurance, you may face penalties like these:

Fines

When you’re caught driving without insurance, there’s a high likelihood that you’ll face a fine. On the low end, the fine for driving without insurance may be a hundred or so dollars. However, some states will assess a fine of up to $5,000 for driving with no insurance.

License Suspension

In many cases, your license will be suspended if you’re caught driving with no proof of insurance. Suspensions are often brief for first-time offenders, but they may increase in duration if you’re caught without insurance again.

Jail Time

First-time offenders are rarely sentenced to jail time. If you are repeatedly cited for driving with no proof of insurance, though, you may be sentenced to time in jail.

Other Penalties for Driving Without Insurance

After getting a ticket or citation for driving without insurance, your rates may be higher when you purchase insurance again. In some jurisdictions, you may be required to get SR-22 insurance.

With an SR-22 policy, your insurer must notify the state if your policy lapses or you cancel. SR-22 insurance is often considerably more expensive than traditional car insurance.

What Happens if You Get Pulled Over Without Insurance?

Usually, when a police officer pulls you over, they will ask for your license and proof of insurance. But what happens if you don’t have it? The exact penalties vary. In some instances, you may receive a ticket that will be dismissed if you obtain proof of insurance by your court date.

If you’re caught driving without insurance and have already been arrested or ticketed for it before, you might face more serious penalties.

What Happens if You Get Into an Accident Without Insurance?

There are two main ways uninsured drivers tend to get caught — being pulled over and getting into accidents. If you get pulled over for a traffic violation, the police officer will likely discover you have no insurance during the stop.

Similarly, if you get into an accident without insurance, the police may discover this while gathering information for a report. Each involved driver’s insurance status is included on accident reports in most jurisdictions. Even if you didn’t cause the accident, you can get a ticket for driving without proper insurance.

So what happens if you have no insurance but the other driver was at fault? In this situation, the other driver may not be able to sue you for damages, but that doesn’t mean you won’t face problems. You can generally file an insurance claim against the other driver, but if you live in a state with “pay to play” insurance laws, your right to recover damages may be limited if you are not insured yourself.

Additionally, if you’re at fault for an accident and you have no insurance, you could potentially be looking at major financial consequences. If the other driver files a car accident lawsuit against you in an attempt to recover what they spent on medical bills and car repair, you could be held personally liable.

Typically, your car insurance company pays for your legal representation if you are sued after a crash. This means that if you’re uninsured, you could be responsible for paying for your own lawyer, too.

How to Get Car Insurance When You Are Uninsured

You will want to do your best to get car insurance as soon as possible if you are currently uninsured. Keep in mind that if you were previously insured and your policy has lapsed, your rates may be somewhat higher than someone who has been continuously insured.

Likewise, if you have no car insurance history whatsoever, your rates may be high. Before committing, make sure to obtain quotes from several insurers to find the best rates.

Do All States Require Auto Insurance?

Are you wondering, “How much car insurance do I need?” That depends on where you live. Almost every state requires you to carry liability insurance, with the one exception being New Hampshire.

However, New Hampshire still takes steps to ensure every driver on the road can cover expenses if they cause an accident. If you don’t want to buy insurance, you must provide proof that you have at least $100,000 in a bank account or securities account. This amount covers bodily injury and property damage liability in the event of an accident.

Not Sure How to Choose the Right Insurance?

If you’ve been driving without proof of insurance, don’t put yourself at risk any longer. The right car insurance can protect you, your car and others on the road — as well as give you priceless peace of mind.

The ConsumerShield team believes in the importance of empowering consumers to choose the right type of insurance coverage. Have questions about what kinds of coverage you may need? Fill out our form below and get in touch today.