11 Reasons you should Never Drive without Insurance

If you’re regularly driving without insurance, you may not understand the problem. Unfortunately, uninsured drivers are more of a problem every day. Because of insurance costs, more drivers are choosing to go without an auto insurance policy. However, the risks of not having insurance are numerous. Here a few reasons why you should never drive without having an insurance policy.

1. You will be Driving Illegally

This is a concern for many people and with good reason. If you are driving without insurance, you’re acting illegally. Even if you don’t get pulled over, police officers can scan your car plates and find out if you have active insurance or not. To avoid high fines or even worse, you’ll want to make sure that your insurance is active.

2. You’ll Pay if you’re in a Car Accident

Did you know that if you’re in a car accident, you will face a fine and be penalized for not having insurance? State requirements can vary, but even if the accident is not your fault, you will still face penalties. Additionally, the point of having insurance is so that if you are in an accident, you will be protected. The number of unsafe drivers on the road is high. Even if you’re safe, you’re still running the risk of being in a fender bender every time you get behind the wheel. If you find yourself in a car crash, you can learn more here.

3. You Pay more when People aren’t Insured

Unfortunately, having a large number of uninsured motorists can cost insured drivers more. In fact, reports show that insured motorists have to pay billions of dollars to make up for people who don’t have car insurance. If more drivers purchase car insurance, then the cost of having an active policy will be lower for everyone.

4. You are Driving a Dangerous Vehicle

Although cars are considered to be safe today, they can still be dangerous, which is why it’s important to be protected. A car weighs approximately two tons and reaches speeds of 70 mph or more. If you’ve never thought about a vehicle this way, consider how much damage can be done in a crash. You need to protect yourself and other drivers when you own or drive a vehicle.

5. You can Harm your Future

If you’re caught driving without car insurance or if you cause an accident without insurance, then you can harm your future. You will lose your driver’s registration and may even have a judgment against you. If this happens, you won’t be able to get a driver’s license again until you pay off the accident damages.

Additionally, you may have to carry additional insurance, and insurance companies may not want to insure you. Even if you can get a policy, you will end up paying more for it.

6. You May have to Show Up in Court

If you get caught driving without a license, you will have to spend a day in court. In addition to hearing a lecture from a judge, you will probably have to miss a day of work. Your car may also be impounded, depending on your area. Court fees and fines are high, which will set you back even further.

7. You’ll have to Rely on Public Transportation

If you can’t afford insurance, you may want to drive to avoid taking the bus. However, if you’re caught driving without insurance, you won’t have any other options. Having your license suspended means that you have to rely on public transportation, friends, or family. Taking public transportation can be a hassle but it’s well worth the effort if you simply can’t afford a policy. Save up until you can afford to drive.

8. You May have Lawyer Fees

If you do have to show up in court due to not having a license, then you may need to hire a lawyer. Although it’s probably in your best interest to not fight a legal case, having a lawyer represent you can provide some benefits. However, lawyers cost hundreds of dollars an hour and will cost you more than not having a policy in the first place.

9. Technology is Catching Uninsured Drivers

In the early days of the car, it was more up to chance whether you were caught driving uninsured. However, some states such as Alabama have new laws and ways to catch uninsured motorists. Alabama has an online verification system to check drivers are insured at routine points such as a traffic stop or getting a license. Also, there are random checks on drivers throughout the state. More states are getting on board, so it won’t be as easy to go unnoticed.

10. Uninsured Motorists are Reported

The biggest complaint by insured drivers is uninsured ones. Since more people are reporting uninsured drivers on the road, you are at risk even if you rarely drive. States take these complaints seriously and you can be reported at any time for not having insurance.

11. You can Damage your Permanent Record

In some states, such as Georgia, driving without insurance is classified as a misdemeanor. In this state, it will be on your permanent record. Anyone who performs a background check such as potential employers will see that you have driven without car insurance. If you have a commercial license, it will be suspended and you may not be able to get it back. Even if your job doesn’t require driving, employers won’t want to hire anyone who has a mark on their permanent record. Driving without a license could hurt your plans for getting a future job and may harm your earning potential.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many reasons why driving without insurance is a bad idea. From costly fines to hurting your future, you face a variety of risks without having car insurance. This is why many drivers choose a minimum policy to protect themselves and drive with fewer concerns on a daily basis.

 

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