Penalty for Driving Without Insurance Can Exceed $1,500
Clearsurance.com recently released a report on car insurance and whether or not a police officer can check driver insurance status. The report shared that driving without insurance could result in fines as high as $1,500.
The question is whether a driver can get away with having no insurance without a police officer finding out.
Drivers Must Carry Proof of Insurance
State laws differ regarding what form of proof is required. Some states require physical proof, usually an insurance card, which people often keep in their glove box.
Other states allow digital proof, usually through an insurance card on a driver’s insurance app. As long as a driver can access their insurance account online, they should be able to access a digital copy of their insurance.
Law Enforcement Access to Information
Almost all law enforcement officers patrolling the streets can access databases showing a driver’s insurance status. Most officers can access information through computers in their cars. A few still need to have dispatch check insurance status.
Even though law enforcement can access this information, drivers are still required to carry proof of insurance.
According to Clearsurance.com, some law enforcement vehicles are equipped with cameras that automatically scan license plates and can identify uninsured cars with 97% accuracy.
One reason drivers must carry proof is that if they are involved in an accident, they can exchange insurance information. The general public does not have access to others’ insurance status.
State Laws Concerning Uninsured Drivers
In most states, uninsured driving is a secondary offense. In other words, a driver can’t be pulled over solely because they don’t have insurance. However, if they are pulled over for another reason, they can receive a citation for driving without insurance.
Some states allow law enforcement to set up insurance checkpoints, similar to DUI checkpoints. At these stops, all drivers must stop and show proof of insurance. If someone is driving without insurance, they’ll be cited and face penalties.
The Efficacy of Fake Insurance Cards
There used to be a market for fake insurance cards. Like counterfeit IDs, a good reproduction was good enough to help a driver get by a law enforcement check.
Now that law enforcement can check insurance, there’s no longer a significant market for fake insurance cards.
Melanie Musson, a nationally recognized car insurance expert, recommends that drivers “don’t bother with getting fake insurance. The money paid would be better spent on getting a legitimate car insurance policy. Minimum policies are usually quite affordable.”
Providing fraudulent information to law enforcement can result in ever higher fines and more severe penalties than simply not having insurance.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance
According to Clearsurance.com, the following are potential penalties for driving without insurance:
- Jail time of up to five years
- Fines of up to $1,500
- A suspended driver’s license for up to three years
- A suspended vehicle registration for up to three years
- Fees to reinstate a driver’s license and registration
With penalties as severe as listed above, drivers without insurance should start shopping for an affordable policy to avoid getting caught without insurance.
Benefits of Electronic Scanning for Insurance
Electronic insurance scanning can help drivers in general for several reasons.
First, scanning for up-to-date insurance can help get uninsured drivers off the road and encourage them to get coverage. The more people drive uninsured, the higher the premiums for those who carry insurance.
Second, if a driver is stopped for a traffic violation, electric scanning for insurance can help the entire traffic stop take less time so drivers can get back on the road sooner.
Driving Without Insurance Is Risky
Driving without insurance is so risky that it shouldn’t be considered. Instead of taking on the risk of penalties and assuming liability for an accident’s costs out of pocket, drivers should look for ways to save money on car insurance and get coverage that will adequately protect them.
Read Clearsurance.com’s entire report here: Do cops know if a car has insurance?