Driving without car insurance in most states is illegal and breaking this rule can result in expensive fines or the suspension or cancellation of your license or registration. Furthermore, you’ll be held accountable for any property damage and medical costs caused by accidents caused by you or your vehicle.
At times, individuals need to temporarily stop paying their car insurance policy; can they do that legally?
Getting Caught Driving Without Insurance
Accident costs total over $340 billion annually, making driving without coverage an expensive mistake. Most states now prohibit it as it’s both costly and stupid – that’s why having car insurance, even just minimum coverage, should always be part of your plans – even if a missed payment means cancelling it – you could likely still restore it at some point within an acceptable timeframe without incurring extra penalties to your credit rating or losing coverage!
Most states will issue tickets if you drive without car insurance, while some will take further measures. New York requires car owners to carry at least a minimum liability coverage amount; should your premium or policy lapse or be cancelled, your insurance provider typically notifies the DMV and they typically suspend both driver’s licenses and registration until you provide evidence of coverage again.
New York state penalties for driving without insurance can include fines of up to $1,000 and license suspension for up to one year; should this happen again, penalties will only become more severe.
Keep your insurance card handy at all times so that if you are ever pulled over or involved in an auto accident, the authorities can easily verify your coverage right away.
At minimum, every car owner should carry at least the legal minimum car insurance coverage; however, we highly advise a comprehensive or collision policy as well. Such coverage helps cover repair and medical bills in case of an accident; additionally uninsured motorist coverage provides uninsured driver protection should there be any uninsured drivers involved.
Store a copy of your insurance card in the glove box so that it’s easily accessible if police ever need to present it as evidence. And as long as you drive responsibly, there should never be a gap in coverage!
Getting into an Accident
Engaging in a car accident while driving without adequate coverage is one of the worst mistakes anyone can make, not only is it illegal in most states but you could end up responsible for paying thousands in damage and medical costs out-of-pocket – especially true in New York, which has stringent requirements regarding car insurance coverage requiring at least minimum coverage levels for drivers.
No matter how minor your accident may be, it’s essential that you contact your insurance provider right away to avoid lapses in coverage that could incur fines and higher premiums later on.
At the scene of an accident, it’s advisable to have all relevant information ready, such as your policy number and name/phone number of your insurance professional. Take pictures of both vehicles involved in the collision; speak with witnesses; and write down everything that happened, which could prove invaluable should the incident end up in court.
If you are uninsured and involved in a car accident, it is critical that you contact 911 immediately and seek immediate medical care. Even if it seems that injuries may only be minor at first, such as internal bleeding or traumatic brain injuries may take days or longer before symptoms emerge – even though you think you’ve only sustained minor trauma.
Accidents while driving without insurance can have serious repercussions, with your license and registration likely being taken away for at least a year. In New York specifically, the Department of Motor Vehicles may revoke your registration immediately upon being involved in an incident with uninsured drivers; later restoration fees must be paid in order to restore these privileges.
Avoid these issues by always carrying the minimum car insurance required in your state, along with personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, if possible. Compare quotes to find an ideal policy to fit both your needs and budget.
Getting Your License Suspended
If you let your insurance lapse, the state may suspend both your driver’s license and registration. In certain states, this constitutes a misdemeanor punishable by fines and surcharges; furthermore, getting new car insurance in the future could prove difficult; insurance companies tend to cancel policies held by drivers with suspended or revoked licenses; additionally driving during this suspension period may result in criminal charges being laid against you as well. It’s wise not to go without coverage.
Most states provide drivers with 30 to 90 days grace period during which to pay any civil penalties, show proof that they purchased insurance and reinstate their license and registration with the DMV. It may require surrendering plates during this time.
Regaining your license after it has been suspended may take both time and money. To do so, you will have to address the cause of its suspension while also paying any court- or DMV-imposed fees; possibly hiring a lawyer might help as well.
Additionally, to reinstate your driver’s license and vehicle registration you may be subject to a reinstatement fee that varies based on the cause of its suspension; these can often be substantial and in more serious or repeat offenses may even lead to permanent suspension.
Permanent suspension prevents drivers from legally driving in the US and makes it impossible to purchase new car insurance or renew existing policies. You’ll also have to surrender registration and plates.
Permanent license suspension typically lasts several years. In some instances, however, lifetime suspension can be issued by the DMV in response to serious or repeat violations such as driving under the influence. Such suspension will appear on your record when applying for new license or insurance policies in red letters.
Getting Your License Revoked
No state allows drivers without car insurance to drive anywhere, and doing so could cost them both fines and/or license suspension for infractions of this sort. Even more serious offenses could see your license revoked for violating laws against fraud; typically with steep fees and possible jail time attached. It will likely take more effort and expense to reinstate it; you’d likely require legal assistance when doing so.
Revoking your license usually occurs when involved in an accident while driving without proper coverage and/or have been caught multiple times by police for driving without coverage. Your license may also be taken away for various other reasons, such as traffic convictions or failing to pay court fines and restitution. In such instances, reinstatement may be possible after providing evidence that you now possess insurance policy again – this typically requires filing an SR-22 form with your state’s DMV as evidence that minimum liability coverage exists and you are considered high-risk by insurers.
In some states, your insurance provider must notify the DMV electronically when you buy new coverage or cancel an existing policy, otherwise your license and registration could be suspended and fees assessed against your vehicle plate in order to retrieve them from storage.
If someone else drives your car and causes an accident, the DMV may revoke both license and registration even if they were at fault for it. Furthermore, if your car is stolen without being reported back to authorities then likely also the DMV will take action to revoke both.
Always consult the DMV of your state to understand its specific rules and regulations, but generally speaking you can avoid coverage gaps by keeping your policy updated and not leaving it sitting idle for too long.