If you get involved in an accident without being insured, the penalties can be severe. Not only could you incur expensive fines; your driver’s license and registration could also be at stake.
Even though the federal individual mandate penalty has been removed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), many states still require residents to report health insurance coverage on their state tax returns; they also impose penalties against individuals who don’t comply.
Fines
As most people understand the costs associated with speeding tickets and other traffic violations, many don’t realize they could also incur substantial fines if caught driving without insurance. Depending on your state of residence, your vehicle could also be impounded and/or your driver’s license and registration taken away; you may even have to pay an reinstatement fee before having driving privileges restored.
If you are caught driving without insurance, fines of up to $1,500 will likely be issued as penalties for this violation. Some states also suspend your drivers’ license if there is a second offense. Involvement in an accident while uninsured can increase penalties even further: in addition to paying a large fine and any associated medical bills or vehicle repairs yourself out of pocket may have to be covered as well as fees paid directly to DMV to reinstate license.
Are You Uninsured and Without Health Coverage?? Getting caught without health coverage can be devastating, particularly if you have a preexisting medical condition or live on a fixed income. While the federal government repealed individual mandate penalties in 2018, most states continue to impose their own fines that typically consist of either a flat amount or percentage of household income depending on your state of residence.
If caught driving without auto insurance in New York, your license will likely be suspended for at least a year and reinstatement fees of $750 may also apply to reinstate your driving privileges.
Avoiding penalties by maintaining continuous coverage is achievable; just make sure your policy stays current, and do not leave gaps when switching companies. Bear in mind that premiums will increase after any coverage gaps have occurred so finding an affordable plan within your budget should also be prioritized. If you can’t do that yet, apply for hardship waiver.
Suspension of License and Registration
If your auto insurance has lapsed and has been discovered by law enforcement or you owe a civil penalty for failing to carry coverage, the DMV will suspend your registration up to 90 days later; after which time they may suspend both driver’s licenses as well.
Driving without car insurance could become even more serious if you become involved in an accident with another vehicle or person, leading to much heavier fines and jail sentences; your car could even be impounded – all penalties that would only increase with each incident that takes place.
Avoid some of the more severe penalties associated with driving without insurance by enrolling in a New York state-approved course to lower your driving record points and bring down insurance rates. The costs associated with taking such a course far outweigh those associated with traffic violations – in particular suspension of driver’s license and registration suspension.
If your registration has been suspended, driving your vehicle will not be permitted unless you provide proof that it’s being used solely to transport someone related to you by blood or marriage who resides with you and lives within its vicinity. Your local DMV office will determine whether or not this statement is legitimate.
If the registration of your vehicle has been suspended, you cannot sell it; however, you may give it away to someone with your same last name and who resides at your address. In that event, proof of insurance must be provided as proof of sale to whomever receives it and that person should wait to drive it until your registration has been reinstated; otherwise they will have to return its plates and driver’s licenses.
Jail Time
If you own and drive an uninsured vehicle, fines and jail sentences could await. Furthermore, any accidents you cause while operating it uninsured could result in damages being awarded against you and medical bills being filed for; additionally your car could even be impounded and eventually impounded as well.
Penalties for driving without insurance vary between states; some may be more lenient than others. No state allows anyone to operate without proof of financial responsibility; being caught can be both expensive and embarrassing, with imprisonment often following suit (ranging from a few days up to an entire year of time in jail).
Once you drive without insurance, even once or twice, a fine may be levied against you depending on how often this has happened in the past, as well as whether accidents occurred and caused damages or injuries to other parties.
An absence of insurance coverage may lead to suspension of both license and registration. This suspension typically lasts until you provide evidence of having insurance again or file an SR-22 form, which serves as proof that you possess the minimum level of coverage required in your state.
New York law specifies a maximum jail sentence of 15 days if caught driving without insurance or allowing someone else to operate it uninsured vehicle. You could also face fines, impoundment and the suspension of both your driver’s license and registration.
To avoid all these penalties, the key to having proper insurance is having the correct policy in place. Your policy doesn’t need to be the most expensive but should at least cover accident and liability coverage. If your current coverage lapses unexpectedly, buying new coverage as soon as possible could save a considerable amount in long run savings and may even allow for finding more affordable policies than before your lapse occurred – don’t wait any longer before purchasing car insurance that meets state regulations!
Impoundment of Vehicle
If you get pulled over while driving without car insurance and the police officer discovers this fact, they may give a warning, issue a citation or even impound your vehicle – in which case storage fees will likely apply per day the car sits there. Furthermore, most state departments of motor vehicles will revoke both your license and registration if you fail to provide evidence of coverage within an acceptable timeframe following your violation, forcing you to pay reinstatement fees to reinstate both. Eventually this could affect auto insurance premiums as well.
Police typically have reason to impound a vehicle when it contains evidence of crime or is used as part of a criminal act, such as being used as a getaway car in a robbery. Impoundment can also occur if a driver has been found guilty of DUI/DWI offenses or driving on a suspended license.
An officer must exhaust all possible alternative approaches to impounding a vehicle before impounding it legally, such as legal parking or locking. They should attempt to contact its registered owner and check whether their policy covers it; in case this cannot be accomplished, an officer should prepare a notarized letter of authorization on letterhead naming someone to collect their car from impound lot with copies of title/registration/es and state ID or drivers license as proof.
Avoid all penalties by maintaining adequate car coverage at all times. Make sure to renew your policy prior to its expiration, cancel it appropriately if switching insurers, and save a copy of any cancellation letter for your records. In the event of a gap in coverage, contact your insurer immediately and report it; then shop around for the most competitive rates available to you.
