Driving without car insurance may sound like a good way to save a little money. However, in the long run, driving without car insurance can get costly if you’re caught. Driving without car insurance can not only cost money in hefty fines and penalties, but it can be extremely costly in terms of time and convenience.

When you think about the time lost due to driving without car insurance — making court appearances, and the cost of alternate transportation during the time period you may be without your license or registration, etc. — driving without car insurance is probably not worth the risk.

If you do lose your license and or registration due to driving without car insurance, there is also the inconvenience of having to arrange for alternate transportation in advance and having to allow additional time for unforeseen events due to the driving being out of your control.

As if those potential consequences are not reason enough to avoid driving without car insurance, there is the tremendous guilt that comes from having to continuously ask friends and family for rides if there is no public transportation in your area. The article below from DMV.org reviews some of the penalties for driving without car insurance.

Penalties For Driving Without Insurance

Just as every state varies on its liability insurance or other financial responsibility requirements for drivers, every state also varies on its penalties for driving without meeting those requirements.

However, one thing’s for certain: Driving without insurance or proof that you’ve met your state’s financial responsibility requirements brings steep and pricey repercussions.

Common Penalties for Driving Without Insurance

As stated above, penalties for driving without insurance vary from state to state; however, a few of the most common penalties include:

• Having your driver’s license suspended.
• Having your vehicle registration suspended.
• Receiving a traffic ticket for a no insurance violation. This is in addition to the traffic ticket(s) you receive for the original reason you were pulled over. Depending on the officer and where you receive the ticket, you might be able to have the ticket dismissed if you can show proof of insurance within a certain time period following the date of the citation; however, this generally only applies if you really did have coverage at the time of the traffic stop and just happened―for whatever reason―to not have your insurance card with you.
• Meeting SR-22 requirements. Some states might only impose this if you cause an accident while driving without insurance; others may impose it simply for driving uninsured.
• Hefty fines. In addition to meeting other requirements, you’ll have to pay to have your license and registration reinstated. Plus, you’ll have to cover the traffic ticket fines.

Keep in mind, these are just a few of the most common penalties. Check with your state’s DMV for specific details.

Tips for Keeping Your Car Insurance Policy Current

You can avoid the hassle and financial burden of being caught without insurance if you avoid allowing your car insurance policy to lapse. The most obvious way to do this is to pay your premium on time.

However, some tips to keep in mind include:

• If you pay your premiums annually, rather than monthly, you don’t have to worry about making payments for an entire year.
• If your provider allows them, automatic debit card, credit card, or electronic funds transfers (EFTs) are great options if you’re afraid you won’t remember to make your payment each month.

No matter how you choose to pay your premiums, be sure to understand your car insurance provider’s policy on late payments. Some companies offer a grace period (which could range from 24 hours to 30 days), and others stop your coverage as soon as your payment becomes late.

Canceling Your Auto Insurance Policy

If you want to cancel your auto insurance―due to selling your car, having a seasonal vehicle, or switching providers―then cancel it. And, be sure to tell the DMV.

The worst thing you can do is just stop making payments and hope your provider takes the hint. Some states require insurance companies to notify the DMV when a policyholder no longer has coverage with them, and if this happens before you notify the DMV yourself, all the penalties of having no insurance for a registered vehicle could come crashing down on you.

While driving without car insurance and having your license suspended as a result can be a logistical and financial nightmare during the specified period of time without driving privileges, there is yet a bigger cost associated with getting your license back.

In the state of Massachusetts, for three years after a license suspension – any suspension including from driving without car insurance — you are required to maintain what is called sr22 insurance. Until you’re covered by an sr22 policy, you cannot legally start driving again. The costs for an sr22 insurance policy can vary some between insurance carriers, but in all instances, they can be very high due to the liability left uncovered from previously driving without car insurance.

So before you choose to drive without car insurance, you might want to give some serious thought to the possible consequences of doing so. There is much more at stake than you may have initially realized.

Contact TJ Woods Insurance Agency in Worcester, Massachusetts, to discuss the costs and benefits of purchasing car insurance. And if, unfortunately, you’ve already had your license suspended for driving without car insurance, our agents are here to help you work out an sr22 insurance policy so that you may get yourself back on the road.