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What happens if I stop paying for car insurance?

I’ve been having trouble keeping up with my finances and, honestly, I’m not too happy with my car insurance company’s customer service recently. What happens if I stop paying my insurance premium?

avatar
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Your car insurance company will eventually have no choice but to
cancel your policy if you stop paying your premium
. You will first receive a notice of cancelation with a final date to pay before the policy lapses for non-payment.
Refusing to pay for
car insurance
 carries the following legal and financial consequences:
  • Insurance lapse: You’ll face a
    lapse in insurance coverage
     once you miss your payment. This will result in much higher car insurance rates in the future.
  • Uninsured driving: Driving with a lapsed or canceled policy is the equivalent of
    driving without an insurance policy
    . This can lead to fines, license suspension, and potential jail time in most states.
Keep in mind: Withholding car insurance payments will hurt you more than it hurts your insurance company. If your current policy is too expensive for your budget, you may want to consider
switching providers to get a lower rate
.
Compare new
car insurance quotes
 from at least three to five providers to find the best offer for your unique driver profile. To make things easier, use the
Jerry
 app to compare competitive quotes from 50+ providers straight from your phone.
MORE:
Why people switch car insurance companies, explained
Car InsuranceCar Insurance Premiums
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