Will My Insurance Cover Me if My License Is Suspended?

Your car insurance may not drop you immediately after a license suspension, but it’s important to know what your own policy says about the consequences.
Written by Melanie Krieps Mergen
Reviewed by Georgina Grant
If your driver’s license is suspended, you likely won’t lose your
car insurance
coverage immediately, but your insurance provider may choose not to renew the policy in the future. Often, you will be required to notify your insurance provider if any of the named drivers on your policy face a license suspension.
  • Check your auto insurance policy details to find out what happens to your coverage after your driver’s license gets suspended.
  • Your insurance provider probably won’t cancel your policy immediately, which could help other licensed drivers on your policy remain covered.
  • Keeping a car insurance policy while your license is suspended will help you avoid a lapse in coverage, and proof of insurance may be required for license reinstatement.

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. 
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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.
First of all, proof of car insurance is often a requirement for
getting your driver’s license reinstated
.
Plus, having a
lapse in coverage
now can make your car insurance rate even higher in the future. Of course, having a license suspension on your driving record won’t do you any favors when it comes to finding cheap car insurance, but a lapse in coverage could make your premium increase even more down the road. 

How to get car insurance coverage when your driver’s license is suspended

We won’t lie—finding car insurance coverage while your driver’s license is suspended can be a real challenge since you will be considered a
high-risk driver
. But it’s not impossible!
In order to have your driver’s license reinstated in most states, you’ll need to
submit an SR-22 certificate
, which is a certificate of financial responsibility that proves to the DMV that you meet your state’s insurance requirements.
GEICO
,
Progressive
,
AAA
, and
Allstate
are all examples of major providers that offer SR-22 insurance, but availability can vary from state to state.
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.
“I saw an ad for
Jerry
on Instagram and decided to give it a try. I have a terrible driving record, but Nathan still helped me. Before, almost no one wanted to insure me. Now, I have a great policy and save $200/month. I’m one happy gal!” —Terri C. 
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FAQs

A license suspension can last anywhere from a few weeks to several years. The length of your suspension depends on both the reason for the suspension and your state laws.
The penalties will depend on your state laws—you could be subject to additional fines, misdemeanor or felony charges, jail time, and SR-22 requirements to have your license reinstated at a later date.
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