Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in California
Driving without insurance in California carries penalties including fees up to $720 or more, possible vehicle impoundment, and even license suspension.
Fines: California imposes base fines of $100 to $500 for driving without insurance, depending on the number of prior offenses and whether or not a car accident was involved.
Penalty assessments: California’s fines aren’t very steep—but they come with penalty assessments that can more than double the overall cost of an infraction.
Vehicle impoundment: Vehicle impoundment is not a mandatory punishment for driving without insurance, but either a police officer or the court may order it.
License suspension: Your California driver’s license can’t be suspended for driving without insurance in a regular traffic stop, but if you’re involved in an accident without insurance, you’ll lose your license for at least one year.
SR-22 filing: Drivers who are in an accident without liability insurance in California must maintain proof of financial responsibility by filing and maintaining
with the Department of Motor Vehicles (CA DMV) for at least three years.
In addition to these official legal penalties, uninsured drivers in California face further consequences for failing to meet the state’s insurance requirements:
Increased premiums after a coverage lapse: If you’ve got a gap in your insurance history, you can expect insurance providers to charge higher rates for at least six months.
High-risk car insurance rates: Driving without car insurance will show up as an infraction on your California driving record, marking you as a high-risk driver.
The best California insurance companies after a coverage lapse
We reviewed over 34,000 quotes from real customers to find the cheapest car insurance providers in California for drivers without a prior insurance policy:
Insurance company
Average annual premium for drivers with no prior insurance
Embark General Incline
$652
Direct Auto
$679
Gainsco
$796
Infinity
$799
Progressive
$822
Dairyland
$937
MAPFRE
$937
National General
$970
Aspire Insurance
$996
Allstate
$1,506
Safeco
$1,824
If it’s your first offense (no accident)
The first time you’re unable to provide proof of insurance during a traffic stop, you’ll face the minimum penalties for driving without insurance: fines from $100 to $200 (plus penalty assessments), and the possible impoundment of your vehicle at the officer’s discretion. You’ll keep your driving privileges.
The average cost of a first infraction for driving without insurance is between $360 and $720.
Subsequent offenses (no accident)
If you’re pulled over again and can’t show an insurance card or other evidence of financial responsibility, you’ll face fines of $200 to $500 (plus penalty assessments). The police can still choose to impound your vehicle, but you won’t lose your license.
The average cost of a second (or subsequent) infraction for driving without insurance in California is between $720 and $1,800.
requires all drivers to provide proof of insurance coverage for any collision that causes at least $750 in property damage, or any accident that causes injuries or death.
If you can’t provide proof of insurance—regardless of whether or not you were at fault—you’ll be subject to the following penalties on top of the fines outlined above:
Mandatory suspension of your California driver’s license for one year (for a first offense) to four years (subsequent offenses)
If you’re in a car accident without insurance but not at fault in California, you’ll be able to file a bodily injury liability or property damage claim with the other driver’s insurance company.
However, you won’t be able to file or sue for non-economic damages (e.g. pain and suffering). California’s no pay, no play law—
How to appeal a ticket for driving without insurance in California
If you had an insurance policy that met California’s minimum insurance requirements at the time you were pulled over, but didn’t have the proof on hand, you can appeal your ticket by appearing in court with proof of insurance.
Insurance can’t apply retroactively: Even if you bought insurance online immediately after receiving your ticket, it won’t undo your charge for driving without insurance. You can only make a successful appeal by proving that you had insurance when you were pulled over.
Keep in mind: You will still need to pay certain administrative and legal fees if you choose to appeal your ticket.
What counts as proof of insurance in California?
California allows drivers to use physical or digital
. In most cases, you should keep the physical insurance card you received when you opened your policy in your car at all times. However, most major insurers also offer a digital insurance card that you can access through your provider’s mobile app.
What if I can’t afford my California car insurance premiums?
If you can’t afford the minimum liability insurance required by California law, driving uninsured will only add to your problems. Instead, look into the following solutions for low-income California drivers:
California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program (CLCA): The
from dozens of California’s best car insurance companies in under a minute.
FAQs
What happens if you drive without insurance in California?
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If you drive without insurance in California and get pulled over by law enforcement, you can be fined up to $200 for a first offense, with additional penalty assessments as high as $520. Police can also choose to impound for vehicle.
If you’re in an accident without insurance in California, you’ll face the same fines and possible vehicle impoundment, but your license will also be suspended for one to four years, and you will need to file an SR-22 certificate of insurance to get it back.
Can you go to jail for driving without insurance in California?
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No, you can’t go to jail for driving without insurance in California. The steepest penalty for driving without insurance in California includes fines, penalty assessments, vehicle impoundment, and a four-year license suspension.
If it’s your first offense and you weren’t in an accident while uninsured, you’ll only have to pay a fine and possible costs from vehicle impoundment.
Can your license be suspended for not having insurance in California?
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Yes, your license can be suspended for not having insurance in California if you’re involved in a collision while uninsured. An accident while uninsured comes with a mandatory one-year license suspension for a first offense and four years for a second offense. However, if you’re pulled over and can’t provide proof of insurance, your license cannot be suspended.
What are the minimum requirements for car insurance in California?
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California requires all drivers to purchase minimum liability insurance with policy limits of at least $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage and $5,000 per accident of property damage liability coverage.
How long can you go without driving before your insurance lapses in California?
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It’s illegal to drive without insurance in the state of California—but if you have a current insurance policy, you have a grace period of up to 30 days in most cases to update your insurance after purchasing a vehicle.
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