Uh oh! What happens when you drive without insurance?

One in eight—that’s how many drivers were reported as uninsured in 2019, according to an

Insurance Research Council (IRC) study. If you ask us, that’s one too many risks to add to everyday driving challenges.

Why? We’ll fill you in. 

What happens when you get caught driving without insurance

Countless road scenarios require proof of insurance, like getting pulled over by authorities for a burnt out taillight. Or if you were in an accident and needed to provide insurance information to involved drivers.

Say a scenario like this happens, and you don’t have insurance. What happens? Well, for starters, it’s illegal to drive without insurance in many states. And although the consequences of driving without insurance vary from state to state, generally speaking, you’ll likely be faced with fines and fees that cost more than most car insurance premiums. 

What else can happen if you get caught driving without insurance? Beyond fines and fees, most people don’t realize that you could face a registration or license suspension and possibly even jail time.

For example, in Arizona, for a first-time offense, a driver will be fined $500 and have their license suspended for three months. Future crimes can result in more significant fines (up to $1K) and longer license suspensions (up to a year).

You aren’t really saving money driving without car insurance

Contrary to what you may think, driving without insurance isn’t a wiser financial decision to make. According to Forbes, here are a few financial consequences that can hit your wallet hard. 

• Increased insurance rate. If you drive without insurance, you have a coverage gap. A coverage gap is seen as a higher risk to insure, which means you may pay higher rates once you decide to purchase a policy.

• Fixing your (or others) car. If you cause an accident, uninsured, you’ll have zero coverage for car repair bills. Not to mention, if you were to cause damage to someone else’s property (car, landscaping, etc)—you’re on the hook for that too.

• Medical bills. If you were to cause an accident that resulted in injuries, you could be responsible for the medical expenses for those injured and yourself. 

So as much as you’d like to think you’re saving some extra pennies by not having insurance, the reality is you’re taking in significant financial risk. At HiRoad, we want auto insurance to be uncomplicated and rewarding for you. With our insurance, you can save up to 50%—every month, making it easier to fit into your budget.

Do you need car insurance? Yes.

Let’s reiterate—it is illegal to drive without insurance in many states. However, an auto insurance policy can help protect you, your loved ones, others on the road and your/their property. Driving mindfully on the road is what we’re big on at HiRoad, and we think you should be rewarded for it through your car insurance. Sounds pretty cool, right?

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with HiRoad®. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. HiRoad is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. HiRoad makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.