The average cost of a car accident runs about $1,659,000 for each death, $96,200 for a disabling injury, and $4,500 for property damage, according to the National Safety Council. And if you are among the one in eight people who are uninsured — nearly 13% of drivers — you can expect to pay for these costs out of pocket. In addition to paying thousands or even millions of dollars in damages, failing to acquire the proper insurance coverage for your car can also result in higher premiums, the loss of your license, and jail time.
What exactly can you expect to pay if you get caught driving without car insurance? Read on to find out.
The Financial Cost of Driving Without Car Insurance
Monetary costs of getting caught driving without insurance range from dollar fines to increased insurance premiums. If you get caught driving uninsured, you can expect to pay anywhere from $90 to $500 for the first offense, depending on the state you live in. You can also expect to have to perform community service as part of your punishment.
For second or third offenses, the fine increases to as much as $1,000, and you might even get some jail time. In addition, when you’re caught driving without insurance, some law enforcement agencies impound your car. Your vehicle sits in the impound yard until you can prove you have insurance on it. Meanwhile, the car racks up impound fees, and the impound lot can even auction it off if it sits there long enough.
The Penalties of Driving Without Car Insurance
Other penalties associated with getting caught driving without car insurance include a suspended driver’s license or vehicle registration, a ticket, and even the requirement for you to file a SR-22. A SR-22 drastically raises your car insurance premiums, as it places you in a high-risk category and stays on your record for at least three years.
Just as most state DMVs require you to file a SR-22 when you get a DUI, they also impose this requirement on people who have an accident while driving without insurance. Known as a “certificate of financial responsibility,” the SR-22 verifies that you plan on maintaining the minimum car insurance coverage as required by the state where you file it. Even if you move to a state that requires less liability coverage, you must maintain the amount from the state where the SR-22 was issued until it comes off your driving record.
How Much Car Insurance Do You Need?
Unless you borrow money from a lender to buy a car, then most often you only need the appropriate amount of liability coverage. Drivers only need to get other insurance coverages, such as comprehensive and collision, if they owe money on the vehicle. The amount of liability insurance required depends on the state you live in. The following table shows the minimum amount of liability required by each state:
| Coverage Requirements By State | |
|---|---|
| State | Body Injury Liability Per Person / Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident / Property Damage Coverage Requirements |
| Alabama | $25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000 |
| Alaska | $50,000 / 100,000 / 25,000 |
| Arizona | $15,000 / 30,000 / 10,000 |
| Arkansas | $25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000 |
| California | $15,000 / 30,000 / 5,000 |
| Colorado | $25,000 / 40,000 / 10,000 |
| Connecticut | $20,000 / 40,000 / 10,000 |
| Delaware | $15,000 / 30,000 / 10,000 |
| District of Columbia | $25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000 |
| Florida | $10,000 / 20,000 / 10,000 |
| Georgia | $25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000 |
| Hawaii | $20,000 / 40,000 / 10,000 |
| Idaho | $25,000 / 50,000 / 15,000 |
| Illinois | $20,000 / 40,000 / 15,000 |
| Indiana | $25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000 |
| Iowa | $20,000 / 40,000 / 15,000 |
| Kansas | $25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000 |
| Kentucky | $25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000 |
| Louisiana | $15,000 / 30,000 / 25,000 |
| Maine | $15,000 / 30,000 / 10,000 |
| Maryland | $30,000 / 60,000 / 15,000 |
| Massachusetts | $30,000 / 60,000 / 15,000 |
| Michigan | $20,000 / 40,000 / 10,000 |
| Minnesota | $20,000 / 40,000 / 10,000 |
| Mississippi | $25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000 |
| Missouri | $25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000 |
| Montana | $25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000 |
| Nebraska | $25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000 |
| Nevada | $15,000 / 30,000 / 5,000 |
| New Hampshire | $25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000 |
| New Jersey | $15,000 / 30,000 / 5,000 |
| New Mexico | $25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000 |
| New York | $25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000 |
| North Carolina | $30,000 / 60,000 / 25,000 |
| North Dakota | $25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000 |
| Ohio | $12,500 / 25,000 / 7,500 |
| Oklahoma | $25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000 |
| Oregon | $25,000 / 50,000 / 20,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $15,000 / 30,000 / 5,000 |
| Rhode Island | $25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000 |
| South Carolina | $25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000 |
| South Dakota | $25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000 |
| Tennessee | $25,000 / 50,000 / 15,000 |
| Texas | $30,000 / 60,000 / 25,000 |
| Utah | $25,000 / 65,000 / 15,000 |
| Vermont | $25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000 |
| Virginia | $25,000 / 50,000 / 20,000 |
| Washington | $25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000 |
| West Virginia | $25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000 |
| Wisconsin | $25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000 |
| Wyoming | $25,000 / 50,000 / 20,000 |
The downside of getting caught driving without car insurance includes monetary fines, the loss of your vehicle and license, and possible jail time. It’s worth it to find affordable car insurance and avoid the headache of getting caught without it.