Featured News 2012 The Penalties for Driving Without Insurance

The Penalties for Driving Without Insurance

If you don’t have insurance, then you shouldn’t be out on the road. The fact is, it is illegal to operate a vehicle if it is not insured. Every state has its own penalties for those who do not follow this rule and purchase insurance. While the penalties may vary, the fact is that driving without insurance will bring on some sort of punishment. You may hope that you will never get caught without insurance, but one driving mistake could give you away. If you are pulled over by the police, chances are that they will ask for your proof of insurance card. If you can’t produce it, it can lead to penalties. Also, if you are involved in an accident and don’t have insurance, you will have to pay all expenses out of pocket. There are times that the costs can be astronomical, and may even put you in the poor house.

If you are caught without insurance, you may have your driver’s license suspended. This means that you will need to rely on public transportation or others to get you to work and where you need to be. You may also receive a suspension on your vehicle registration. This means that you can no longer drive your vehicle. In addition to these two punishments, most people who don’t have insurance will receive a traffic ticket violation for no proof of insurance. This is normally issued in addition to any other tickets that you would receive for other traffic offenses that got you pulled over in the first place. If you have insurance, but failed to produce a valid proof of insurance card, the fine may be less than if you do not have any insurance at all.

In some states, you may be able to get your insurance ticket voided if you can head to the local law enforcement office and produce a proof of insurance card within a limited amount of time. This generally only applies if you really did have coverage at the time of the traffic and didn’t have your insurance card with you. You cannot try and apply for insurance after a confrontation and hope that this can reverse your punishments. In addition to this, you may need to meet the SR-22 requirements. This means that you may need to take a class or pay a fee in order to file an SR-22 and receive a restricted license to get to and from work. Some states only issue this penalty if you have been involved in a car accident without insurance.

The DMV says that you may also have to deal with hefty fines as a result of your mistake. You will have to pay to have your license and registration reinstated, which can cost hundreds of dollars. You will also have to pay traffic ticket fines, enrollment fees for any classes you have to take, and a variety of other costs. On top of all of this, you may need to pay for insurances, and will have to cover the cost of an accident out of pocket. If you were involved in a car accident and don’t have insurance, then you will want an attorney on your side if the driver takes the accident to court. You will need to argue that the accident was another driver’s fault if applicable, or come up with a strategy which will reduce the costs and penalties of driving without valid insurance. With a car accident lawyer on your side, you will be well-equipped to handle the bumps that may come your way. Get started by hiring a lawyer near you today!

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