Car insurance is mandatory in nearly every state. If you are caught driving without insurance, you can face fines, license suspension, registration suspension and even jail time. Show
Be sure to find an insurance policy right away if you own a car and are currently uninsured. Coverage can be expensive, but a lapse in coverage can be more expensive in the long run. Most drivers can find reasonable rates by shopping around and comparing quotes for car insurance online. Use the tool above to compare quotes from several of the best car insurance companies in your area. Is car insurance required?Car insurance is required in every state with the exception of Virginia and New Hampshire. In these states, the car insurance requirement can be waived if you are able to provide proof of financial responsibility. This means that you have enough assets to pay for a certain amount of damage should you be sued after an accident that you cause. Do I need insurance to drive someone else’s car?Car insurance is tied to the vehicle, not the individual. This means that if you have permission to drive someone else’s car, that person’s insurance will cover any accident that may occur. If you live in the same household as the person whose car you borrow, you may need to be listed on that person’s insurance policy. Do I need insurance for a rental car?Most rental car companies provide the state minimum insurance with their rental vehicles. You are not required to purchase extra insurance, but it could be a good idea if you don’t already have coverage through your regular auto insurance policy (or another source like your credit card company). State minimum requirements typically only include coverage for other parties’ damages after an accident you cause, not your own car. This means that you’ll be on the hook for repair or replacement costs for the rental if you don’t have extra insurance. Keep in mind that your personal auto policy still applies in most cases when you are driving a rental car. State penalties for driving without insuranceThe penalty for driving without insurance is different in each state. The table below describes penalties for first-time offenses by state. Some state governments will even imprison people for driving without insurance.
Fines and penalties for subsequent offenses can be higher and include additional jail time in some states. There are also often reinstatement fees to be paid to get your license and registration re-validated. Minimum car insurance requirements by stateAs with penalties for driving without insurance, car insurance requirements vary by state. Some require very little coverage, while others require more comprehensive policies. The most common types of required insurance coverage are bodily injury liability, property damage liability, personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured motorist coverage. Liability car insurance limits are often written as a series of three numbers, which represent the limits for each type of coverage. For example, liability limits for car insurance in Texas may be written as 30/60/25. This means that the state requires drivers to hold at least:
If you want cheap car insurance, you may consider only purchasing your state’s minimum required coverage. However, keep in mind that if an accident you cause results in damage that exceeds these limits, you’ll have to pay the difference out of pocket. Also, liability insurance only covers other parties’ damaged property and medical bills. If you want coverage for your own vehicle, you’ll need to buy collision insurance. Our recommendations for car insuranceIf you’re in the market for a new insurance policy, you’ll want to secure the best possible rates. Because car insurance costs can vary by individual, there is no single best provider for every driver. That’s why the only way to find the right policy for you is to shop around and compare offers. Use the tool above to compare free car insurance quotes from several top providers in your area. Geico: Editor’s ChoiceGeico is one of the best-known insurers in the country, and for good reason. The company offers competitive rates paired with high-quality service. Geico has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and scored well in all regions in the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Satisfaction StudySM. Geico offers the six standard types of auto insurance, which include liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist, medical payments and personal injury protection. Additionally, Geico offers the following add-on coverage options:
Progressive: Low Rates for High-Risk DriversProgressive is another well-known provider. While it doesn’t have quite the customer service reputation that Geico does, it is still a good choice for many drivers. Drivers with a history of traffic violations or a DUI on record typically see higher rates from insurers, but according to our cost research, Progressive offers good rates for high-risk drivers. In addition to the standard types of auto insurance, Progressive offers:
Our methodologyBecause consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list. Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
*Data accurate at time of publication. What happens if you drive without insurance in Colorado?First offense: minimum $500 fine, and license suspension until you can show proof to the Division of Motor Vehicles that you are insured. Second offense: minimum $1,000 fine and license suspension for four months. Third and subsequent offenses: minimum $1,000 fine and license suspension for eight months.
What happens if you drive without insurance in South Carolina?The following are the penalties for driving uninsured in South Carolina: First offense – Uninsured motorist fee of $550, a fine of up to $200, a $5 fine per day for lapse in required coverage, driver's license suspension, $200 reinstatement fee (SR-22), and/or a maximum jail sentence of 30 days.
What happens if you drive without insurance in Missouri?Depending on the circumstance, you could incur serious penalties if you're caught driving without the required insurance in Missouri. You could lose your driving privileges for an entire year and be forced to pay a $400 reinstatement fee, on top of a $500 fine and/or 15 days in jail.
What happens if you drive without insurance in Arizona?Arizona requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of car insurance. If you're caught driving without it, the state may suspend your driving privileges for up to a year, charge a fine of up to $1,000 and require you to file an SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility.
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