Penalties Of Driving Without Insurance In Your State

The consequences of driving without the minimum amount of car insurance coverage aren’t worth the risk. Penalties vary by state and can be serious.

Invalid Zip Code

Compare Rates

Key Points:

A first offense of driving without insurance can cost you $1,000 or more depending on what state you live in.
Many states require you to pay a license reinstatement fee on top of any fines for driving without insurance.
You can expect your car insurance premiums to rise after you’ve been caught driving without coverage, even if it was your first time.

Compare Car Insurance Rates

Enter your zip code to shop for the best rates in your area

Check Availability

Throughout most of the United States, driving without insurance is illegal. Drivers can face serious consequences if they’re unprotected, which can range from a fine to losing your driving privileges or even jail time depending on where you live. Read on to learn about the penalties in your state and why you should never drive uninsured.

Check out our review of the best car insurance companies in America when you’re searching for your next auto insurance policy. You can start getting free quotes for policies in your area using the tool above.

2024 State Penalties And Fines For Driving Without Insurance

Below is an overview of the consequences you can expect for your first offense of driving without insurance in each state. Contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to find more detailed information.

State	First Offense Fine
Alabama	$500
Alaska	$500
Arizona	$500
Arkansas	$50 to $250
California	$100 to $200
Colorado	$500 to $1,000
Connecticut	$100 to $1,000
Delaware	$1,500 to $2,000
District of Columbia*	$500
Florida	$150
Georgia	$200 to $1,000
Hawaii	$500
Idaho	$75
Illinois	$500 to $1,000
Indiana	At least $100
Iowa	$250
Kansas	$300 to 1,000
Kentucky	$500 to $1,000
Louisiana	$500 to $1,000
Montana	$250 to $500
Maine	$100 to $500
Maryland	$150 to $2,500
Massachusetts	$500
Michigan	$200 to $500
Minnesota	$200 to $1,000
Mississippi	$1,000
Missouri	Up to $500
Nebraska	None ($50 license reinstatement fee)
Nevada	$250 to $1,000
New Hampshire	None
New Jersey	$300 to 1,000
New Mexico	Up to $300
New York	$150 to $1,500
North Carolina	$50 (plus $50 license reinstatement fee)
North Dakota	$150
Ohio	None ($100 license reinstatement fee)
Oklahoma	Up to $250
Oregon	$130 to $1,000
Pennsylvania	$300
Rhode Island	$100 to $500
South Carolina	Up to $200
South Dakota	Up to $500
Tennessee	Up to $300
Texas	$175 to $350
Utah	At least $400
Vermont	Up to $500
Virginia	$600
Washington	$550
West Virginia	$200
Wisconsin	Up to $500
Wyoming	Up to $750

*In Washington, D.C., there are different violations for owning and registering an uninsured vehicle, as well as operating an uninsured vehicle. These are the penalties for operating an uninsured vehicle.

Additional First-Offense Penalties

Depending on the state, you may receive one or more additional first offense penalties for driving without insurance. In most states, you’ll receive a license suspension for at least 30 days. Suspensions can extend up to one year in some states. Other penalties include:

Community service
Vehicle impoundment
Imprisonment
Penalty assessments
Probation
SR-22 requirement
Completion of a driver’s license exam

Keep in mind that, in most states, repeat offenders get harsher penalties. Subsequent offenses could result in higher fines or longer jail time.

Is Driving Without Insurance Illegal?

In most states, driving without auto insurance is illegal, and drivers will face stiff penalties for doing so. All states except New Hampshire and Virginia (until July 2024) require at least bodily injury liability and property damage liability auto insurance for vehicle registration.

New Hampshire and Virginia don't require liability coverage as long as you have proof of financial responsibility when it comes to covering at-fault damages.

No-fault states like Michigan also require personal injury protection (PIP), which covers medical expenses regardless of who causes the accident.

Auto insurance protects drivers if they ever get into an accident. Damages to cars and property, as well as medical bills, can pile up when paying out of pocket. If you’re driving without insurance and you’re at fault in an accident, it can be devastating trying to cover these costs on your own.

Minimum car insurance requirements include liability coverage along with personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage depending on the state. States don’t require comprehensive or collision or comprehensive car insurance.

What Happens If You’re In An Accident And Don’t Have Insurance?

After an accident, the at-fault driver is responsible for covering the costs of hospital bills, property damage, car repairs for their own and the other drivers’ cars, and other losses. Without insurance, you’ll either have to pay out of pocket or face a civil lawsuit from the other party.

If you’re at fault:

You can’t purchase insurance to cover an accident in the past.
You must pay for damages out of pocket unless the other driver has uninsured motorist coverage.
You may be sued for damages if you can’t pay.
You’ll pay license reinstatement fees and fines for driving without insurance.
You’ll be required to file an SR-22 if you seriously injure or kill someone in the accident.

If you are not at fault and don’t have insurance, there may be a limit to how much you can sue the at-fault driver for.

In “no pay, no play” states (Arkansas, California, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Oregon), uninsured drivers are unable to sue for damages that can’t be quantified with a dollar amount. This includes things like emotional distress and physical pain. They may also have to pay a large deductible for repairs before they can sue for the costs of property damage.

In a “no-fault” state (Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Utah), each driver will use his or her own insurance to cover the costs of any losses, no matter who causes the accident. In some states, other drivers may not be able to sue you for medical costs unless injuries are severe.

Driving Without Insurance: Our Take

Driving without insurance is not recommended. Not only could you suffer penalties from your state’s legislature–but you could also be subject to heavy expenses if you’re in an accident. Thankfully, getting car insurance doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Keep reading to check out our top providers from our industry-wide research.

Our Recommendations For Cheap Car Insurance

Your specific car insurance premiums will depend on many factors, like the state you live in and how long you’ve had a lapse in coverage. To find out how to get cheap auto insurance, you can check out our article on comparing car insurance rates. You can also read on to learn more about two of our recommended insurance providers.

State Farm: 4.7 Stars

State Farm has an industry reputation for above-average customer service, including from helpful local agents across the U.S. It offers affordable options for a variety of coverage, including rideshare coverage and roadside assistance plans. State Farm also has a handful of discounts available for things like safe driving and having safety features installed in your car, and it’s one of the best companies to work with if you have teenage drivers.

Progressive: 4.5 Stars

Progressive provides standard liability insurance, as well as coverage like rental car reimbursement and medical payments coverage. You can get coverage immediately, which is helpful if you’ve been without insurance for a period of time. The insurer also offers many discounts to help drivers save money, including safe driver and bundling discounts. Plus, it has the Name Your Price^® tool, which allows you to choose how much you want to pay for your auto insurance policy.

Driving Without Insurance: FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions about driving without insurance:

What happens if you don’t have insurance and get pulled over?

Drivers who get pulled over and can’t provide proof of insurance may face different repercussions depending on the state. You may have to pay a fine for the infraction and pay to reinstate your license.

How much is a ticket for driving without insurance?

Tickets can be a few hundred dollars, but fines up to $5,000 can follow a simple traffic ticket in some states.

How long can you drive uninsured?

You can’t drive uninsured in any state except New Hampshire, Virginia (until July 2024), and some parts of Alaska. However, even in those states, it’s beneficial to carry insurance, as it protects you from the high costs of getting into a car accident.

Do you need insurance to drive someone else’s car?

As long as you have permission to drive another person’s car, you should be covered under the vehicle’s policy. However, if you get into an accident and the policy doesn’t cover the full amount of losses, you may be financially responsible. Non-owner insurance can help if you’re going without a car for a while but may still drive someone else’s car.

How We Rate Auto Insurers

Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
Pricing: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer a smooth experience.
Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.

Dash Lewis Content Writer