Will auto insurance companies cover an accident with a suspended driver’s license?
If you’re driving with a suspended license
Let’s get one thing straight: you cannot legally drive without a current and valid driver’s license. Not only can it put yourself and others at risk but driving with a suspended license can leave you stuck with steep fines, an even longer suspension period, misdemeanor or felony charges, jail time, and other costly penalties—it’s just not worth the risk.
That being said, to find out whether your car insurance coverage remains intact after a driver’s license suspension, contact your insurance agent or check your policy details for an exclusionary clause that mentions consequences for a license suspension.
Some policies may require you to notify your car insurance provider within a certain period of time if one of the named drivers on your policy has had their license suspended.
If you have other licensed drivers on your policy but you’re the primary policyholder, you may need to have one of your other drivers listed as the primary driver instead.
Insurance companies have cancellation rules that limit their ability to cancel a policy in the middle of a policy period, so having your license suspended doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll lose your car insurance coverage right away. Still, your provider may choose not to renew your policy when it ends.
If you’re hit by an unlicensed driver
If you get in a car accident and the other driver has a suspended driver’s license, you can still file a claim against them—but the process can take longer than filing through your own insurance company.
You could claim through your collision coverage and permit your insurer to recover the costs from the other driver’s insurer once the claim is paid, which is a process called subrogation. In this situation, you wouldn’t need to wait for the other insurance company to investigate the claim.
Do you need car insurance if you have a suspended license?
Even though you won’t be driving for a while, it’s still a good idea to keep your car insurance coverage active throughout the suspension period.
How to get car insurance coverage when your driver’s license is suspended
In some cases, you may need to apply for a restricted or hardship license before you can get SR-22 insurance—procedures will vary from state to state.
Shopping around for insurance quotes from a few different providers can help you find the best possible auto insurance rate, despite the circumstances.
