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Driving without insurance is a serious offense in many states across the U.S., with penalties that can vary significantly. Thompson Law provides the penalties by state for driving without insurance.
The penalties for driving without insurance vary significantly across different states in the U.S. Each state has established its own laws and regulations pertaining to uninsured motorists, resulting in a broad spectrum of penalties that can include fines, license suspensions, vehicle impoundments, and additional surcharges.
For example, while states like California impose relatively lower fines for first-time offenders, others like New York can levy much higher fines depending on the number of offenses. Additionally, some states like Texas implement a point system that affect a driver’s record, while others focus primarily on monetary penalties. This inconsistency underscores the importance of understanding local insurance requirements to avoid severe repercussions or penalties.
Below is a breakdown of the laws for every state in the United States related to penalties for driving a vehicle without adequate or no insurance coverage.
| State | Summary of State Laws | Links to State Law |
| Alabama | Motorists are subject to a civil penalty if involved in a motor vehicle incident, the vehicle you are operating is not covered by the state’s mandatory liability insurance. Drivers can expect a first offense fine of $200, $300 for the second offense, and $400 for a third offense. | Section 32-7A-16 |
| Alaska | Subjects in violation of the law can face the following penalties: $500 fine for each occurrence. Drivers license suspension between 90 days and one year (longer with each offense). | Alaska Statute and Penalty Section 28.22.101 |
| Arizona | Failure to maintain proper insurance could lead to the suspension of your vehicle registration and/or driver license. To reinstate these privileges, fees and future proof of financial responsibility must be filed with MVD. The future proof requirement is most commonly an SR22 form from an insurance company. This can be expensive to the vehicle owner, especially since the law requires the owner to carry the SR22 for three years from the date of suspension. | Section 28-4135 |
| Arkansas | Any person who operates a motor vehicle within this state without carrying the minimum liability insurance is in violation and shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and imprisoned for not less than three (3) days, and driving privileges shall be suspended for one (1) year. | Arkansas Code 27-22-103 |
| California | Driving without insurance in California once typically results in a fine between $100 and $200. Penalty assessments may be added on top of this fine, which could bring the total closer to $400. | Ca. Code 16029 |
| Colorado | Driving without proof of insurance means steep penalties with four points against your driver license. First offense: minimum $500 fine, and license suspension until you can show proof to the Division of Motor Vehicles that you are insured. | Co. Statute 42-4-1409 |
| Connecticut | That violation is considered a Class C misdemeanor. The penalties are a $500 fine, a jail term of not more than three months or a combination of both. The DMV will suspend your registration and driver’s license for a month on your first conviction. | CGS § 14-213b |
| Delaware | You will be fined no less than $1,500 for the first offense and $3000 for each subsequent offense occurring within 3 years of a former offense. Driving license and/or privileges will also be suspended for 6 months. | Delaware Code 2701 |
| District of Columbia | If you fail to maintain continuous, valid insurance on a vehicle registered in the District, your DC DMV vehicle registration or reciprocity sticker will be suspended. You will be assessed fines that will increase over time. | DC Code § 31–2413 (2023) |
| Florida | Your license can be suspended for up to three years, until you pay $150 and show proof of insurance to get back your license. If this occurs a second time within three years, you’ll be charged $250. If it happens three times within three years, the fee goes up to $500. | Florida Statutes § 627.7407 |
| Georgia | A person convicted will be charged with a misdemeanor. Misdemeanor convictions in Georgia come with a penalty of up to 12 months in jail, a fine between $200 and $1,000, or both. | O.C.G.A. §40-6-10 |
| Hawaii | First offense with no coverage: License suspension, 75 to 100 hours of community service, an SR-22 and a $500 fine. Repeat offense with no coverage: License suspension, 200 to 275 hours of community service, an SR-22 and a $1,500 – $5000 fine. | Hawaii 431-10C-117 |
| Idaho | The penalties for failure to maintain liability insurance range anywhere from a $75 fine all the way up to a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. A first-time offense within a five-year period is an infraction in Idaho. | Idaho Sec. 49-1232 |
| Illinois | A first conviction of this offense will subject the driver to a three-month driver’s license suspension by the Illinois Secretary of State with a minimum mandatory $500 fine (maximum fine of $1,000) plus court costs, and a $100 reinstatement fee. | 625 ILCS 5/3-707 |
| Indiana | Driver’s license will be suspended for at least 90 days, and you’ll have to pay a fee of $250 to get it back. If you’re found to be operating without insurance, you’ll be required to provide proof of future financial responsibility (an SR-22 certificate) for 180 days. | In. Code § 9-25-8-2 |
| Iowa | To get your driving privileges back after a suspension, you’ll need to buy an insurance policy, ask your insurer to file an SR-22 form on your behalf and pay a $15 administrative fee. The consequences increase if you cause an accident while uninsured. If the property damage and medical expenses from the accident exceed $1,500 and you can’t provide proof of insurance, the state will automatically suspend your license and registration for up to 12 months. | Iowa 321.20B |
| Kansas | If you drive without insurance in Kansas, you can be charged with a misdemeanor. Fines range from $300 to $2,500, depending on how many times you’ve been caught driving uninsured. Penalties include suspension of your license and registration and can also include imprisonment. | Kansas Statute 40-3104 |
| Kentucky | An owner who fails to maintain insurance on his vehicle shall have his vehicle registration revoked. In addition, the vehicle owner and driver are subject to a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both. | Kentucky 304.99-060 |
| Louisiana | The penalties for driving without insurance in Louisiana can include a fine of $100, the impoundment of your car, the revocation of your registration, and the confiscation of your license plate. Penalties for repeat offenses may be even harsher, including fines up to $500. | La: RS 22-1295 |
| Maine | In Maine, driving without proof of financial responsibility is a traffic infraction that can cost you up to $500 in fines and an indefinite suspension of your driving privileges. | Title 29-A-Ch 13-§1601 |
| Maryland | A driver can face jail time, a fine or even points on one’s license. The maximum penalty for driving without insurance is one year of incarceration, $500 fine and 5 points on your driver’s license. | Maryland DOT |
| Massachusetts | The penalties attached to a conviction under this section are a fine of not less than $500 (no more than $5,000), or imprisonment for no more than 1 year in a house of correction, or both such fine and imprisonment. | M.G.L. c. 90, § 34J. |
| Michigan | If you are convicted of driving without insurance in Michigan, you “shall be fined not less than $200.00 nor more than $500.00” and/or sent to jail. | MCL 500.3102(2) |
| Minnesota | The maximum penalty is 90 days jail and $1,000 fine. If convicted, the court will also “certify” the conviction to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. | MN Section 169: 791 |
| Mississippi | Driving in Mississippi without car insurance could result in a minimum fine of $100 and suspension of driving privileges for up to a year. | Section 63-16-13 |
| Missouri | It is not illegal to not have car insurance in Missouri as long as you do not drive at all or do not own a registered vehicle. Driving without insurance in Missouri is against the law, though, and the potential penalties include driver’s license suspension and license reinstatement fees up to $400. | Sections 303.042-044 |
| Montana | Driving without car insurance in Montana is a misdemeanor. The penalty for a no-insurance citation is between $250 and $500 or up to 10 days in jail for a first offense. | Sec. 61-6-304 |
| Nebraska | Your operator’s license and/or operating privileges will be automatically suspended when you have been convicted/found guilty of a citation for No Proof of Insurance. | Nebraska Law 60-3167 |
| Nevada | Driving without car insurance will result in a fine ranging from $250 to $1,000, along with a license reinstatement fee of up to $750. | Revised Statutes § 482.557 |
| New Hampshire | The penalties for driving without insurance in New Hampshire can include fines up to $125. New Hampshire has no mandatory insurance law. Penalties for repeat offenses may be even harsher. | N.H. – SR-22 |
| New Jersey | The penalties for driving without insurance in NJ are severe. For a first-time violation (driving without liability insurance), one can be fined between $300 and $1,000, as well as community service, and a mandatory license suspension, among others. | N.J.S.A. 39:6B-2 (Assembly No. 649) |
| New Mexico | The penalty for driving without insurance is a fine of up to $300, up to 90 days of jail time, or a combination. | N.M. § 66-5-301 |
| New York | Driving without insurance only constitutes a violation, however, the penalties are severe. A conviction for driving without proper insurance has a maximum penalty of 15 days in jail, a fine of $1,500.00, and the loss of one’s driver’s license for an entire year. | N.Y. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 15 § 35.4 |
| North Carolina | Drivers will pay a $50 civil penalty, $50 reinstatement fee, and could be sentenced to probation for between 1 and 45 days. In addition, your registration and license plates could be suspended for 30 days. Second offense. The civil penalty is increased to $100. | N.C. Article 13 § 20-311-(b) |
| North Dakota | Drivers who are caught driving without insurance in North Dakota can face up to 30 days in jail after the second and subsequent offenses, in addition to consequences such as suspension of registration and fines up to $5,000. | N.D. Century Code § 39-08-20 |
| Ohio | Drivers can expect to face a fine of up to $500 and a license suspension for up to 90 days. You may also be required to obtain SR-22 insurance for a certain period of time, which can be costly. | Ohio Section 4509.101-2 |
| Oklahoma | Drivers can expect to pay a fine of no more than $250, or imprisonment of up to 30 days or both. | Ok. Title §47-7-606 |
| Oregon | Drivers can expect to pay a fine of $135 to $1,000 and have driving privileges suspended and/or vehicle impounded. Drivers must also submit a SR-22 for three years and pay a fee of $75. | ORS 806.010 |
| Pennsylvania | A minimum of $500 fine for driving uninsured. A three-month suspension of your vehicle registration. A three-month suspension of your driver’s license. | PA Section 1786-(d) |
| Rhode Island | Drivers can expect to be fined between $100 and $500 for a first offense. The fine increases to a minimum of $500 for second offense and $1,000 for a third offense. Drivers can also have their license, registration and plates suspended for 3 months on first offense, 6 months for second and up to a year for third offense. | RI Gen. Laws § 31-47-9 |
| South Carolina | Drivers must pay an uninsured motor vehicle fee and have their license suspended. Drivers are subject to a $100-$200 fine or imprisonment for up to 30 days on the first offense. | S.C. Code Section 56-10-520 |
| South Dakota | Violating this law can cost you more than $500 in fines and reinstatement fees, up to one year of driver’s license suspension and possibly even 30 days in jail. | S.D. Codified Law 32-35 |
| Tennessee | Driving without insurance in Tennessee is against the law and the potential penalties include fines up to $300 and driver’s license suspension. | Tennessee DIFD-8,14 |
| Texas | Drivers will pay a fine of up to $500 or be imprisoned for up to 90 days or suffer both. Go to Thompson Law’s insurance guide to understand car insurance coverage in Texas and its laws of minimum liability. | TX Sec. 601.008 |
| Utah | Drivers will likely face a fine of at least $400 and lose their driving privileges and be required to maintain an SR-22. | Utah Code Part 31A-22-3 |
| Vermont | Drivers are subject to a fine of up to $500. | Title 23: Chapter 11 -(b) |
| Virginia | Drivers face a noncompliance fee of $600 and suspension of license for a period of 180 days. | Code of Virginia § 46.2-707 |
| Washington | A person found to have committed a traffic infraction shall be assessed a monetary penalty. No penalty may exceed $250 for each offense unless authorized by this chapter or title. | RCW 46.63.110 |
| West Virginia | Drivers will be fined no less than $200 nor more than $5,000; and upon a second or subsequent conviction, shall be fined not less than $200 nor more than $5,000, or confined in the county or regional jail for not less than fifteen days nor more than one year, or both. | §17D-2A-4 |
| Wisconsin | Drivers may have to pay a fine of up to $500. | 344.65 |
| Wyoming | Drivers will pay a fine not to exceed $750. | Section 31-4-104-Page 113 |
Driving without insurance or with inadequate coverage can lead to severe consequences, both legally and financially. First and foremost, it is illegal in most states to operate a vehicle without at least minimum insurance coverage, which can result in hefty fines, license suspension, and possible criminal charges.
Additionally, without adequate insurance, a driver is personally liable for any damages or injuries resulting from an accident. This could mean paying out-of-pocket for repairs to another vehicle, medical expenses for injured parties, and legal fees if a lawsuit is filed. The financial burden can be overwhelming, potentially leading to significant debt or bankruptcy.
Moreover, driving uninsured can have long-lasting impacts on one’s driving record and insurance premiums, making it difficult to obtain coverage in the future or resulting in higher rates. Overall, the risks of driving without proper insurance far outweigh any perceived savings on premium costs.
When it comes to car insurance, the required minimum auto insurance coverage varies by state in the United States. Generally, most states mandate that drivers carry liability insurance, which covers bodily injury and property damage to others in the event of an accident for which you are at fault.
The minimum liability limits can differ significantly; for instance, Texas requires $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $10,000 for property damage. Other states have different minimum limits and may also require underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage. It’s essential for drivers to check their specific state requirements to ensure compliance and protection on the road.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence our Texas personal injury lawyers can help you understand your options and your rights. Call us at today for a FREE CONSULTATION. There’s never a fee unless we win your case.
Thompson Law receives an attorney fee and you pay no legal fees as our client unless we pay you. Thompson Law has 350 years of combined experience in legal representation and has won over $1.8 billion dollars in cash settlements for our clients. We master the art of managing client cases with empathy, compassion, respect and, of course, prodigious skill. Contact us today for a free, risk-free consultation to discuss your accident and your options.
State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an auto accident. If you have been injured in an accident, call now to get the help you need.
