Driving Without Insurance in Nebraska

Let’s look at what could happen if you drive without car insurance in Nebraska.

What Happens If You Drive Without Proof of Insurance?

If you’re convicted of not having proof of insurance, the state will suspend your license automatically, as you will have committed a Class II misdemeanor. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will also revoke your registration and suspend your license plate until you show proof of insurance. You will even face up to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, or both.

However, if you show proof of your policy or financial responsibility within 10 days of your violation, the citation will be dismissed and you won’t have to pay the fine. The state will return your license plate and reinstate your registration once you pay a $50 fee and provide proof of insurance for three years. You can pay this fee via:

• Cashier’s check or money order made payable to the Department of Motor Vehicles
• Online at https://www.nebraska.gov/dmv/reinstatements/client.cgi
• Mail, with the following information:
  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • License or Social Security number
  • Current mailing address¹

What Proof Is Required?

Your proof of financial responsibility can be any of the following:

• An SR-22 form that your insurance company will file with the state’s DMV stating that you have minimum coverage
• A $75,000 bond of a surety company or a bond with at least two individual sureties that own real estate in Nebraska
• A $75,000 cash bond through a bank draft, money order, or certified check
• A self-insurance certificate, which you can get from the state’s Department of Insurance

Mail your proof to the following mailing address:

• Department of Motor Vehicles
• 301 Centennial Mall South
• P.O. Box 94877
• Lincoln, NE 68509-4877

Or fax it to 402-471-8288.

There are two ways to appeal your fine, but one is significantly more desirable if you’re eligible for it.

Plead Not Guilty

The first option is to plead not guilty and appear in court. However, if the judge declares you’re guilty, you’ll have to face the penalties regardless.

Take a Driving Safety Class

The better option is to take a Safety Training Option Program (STOP) class if you’re within its service area.

STOP is a four-hour online class that you can take whenever you want. If you complete this class, you won’t have to pay the fine, appear in court, or get points on your driving record. To find out if you’re eligible, contact:

• Law enforcement
• Prosecutor’s office
• The Nebraska Safety Council by either calling 402-483-2511 or emailing nesc@nesafetycouncil.org²

Register for the class online via https://stop.nesafetycouncil.org/Stop/stop-reg.php.

If you truly didn’t have auto insurance, now is certainly the time to get it. Finding an auto insurance company that will cover you after a lapse in coverage is possible; however, it will be more difficult, as insurers will consider you to be higher risk compared to someone with continuous coverage.

The easiest option is to call AutoInsurance.com. We’ll find an insurance provider willing to cover you, one that caters to what the industry calls substandard, or high risk, drivers. Otherwise, you’ll be forced to request quotes from multiple companies without being sure they even want you as a customer. Either way, a good resource to check out is our page on the best auto insurance for high-risk drivers.

Keep reading for additional essential information all Nebraskan drivers should know.

Minimum Auto Insurance Coverage

The minimum car insurance coverage that Nebraska requires is:

• $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $50,000 per accident
• $25,000 in property damage liability coverage per accident
• $25,000 in underinsured motorist coverage and uninsured motorist coverage per person, $50,000 per accident³

Vehicle Registration

You need proof of insurance before you can register a vehicle in the state of Nebraska. A new registration costs $15, and you can obtain them either in person at a DMV location or through the mail. Along with an original document proving you have insurance, you’ll also need proof that you’ve paid the sale or excise tax, as well as a copy of a signed lease agreement, if applicable. Find the nearest DMV at https://dmv.nebraska.gov/locations/county-treasurers.

You can renew your registration either through the mail, in person, or online at https://www.nebraska.gov/dmv/vtr/start.cgi. For renewals, you’ll need original proof of insurance again as well as the vehicle’s original registration document.

The average cost of auto insurance in Nebraska was only $796 annually the last time the National Association of Insurance Commissioners released such data, representing the 13th-lowest rate in the U.S.⁴ Perhaps that’s why only 9 percent of Nebraskan drivers lack insurance; nationally, 12 percent of drivers are uninsured.⁵

Make sure to carry proof of insurance any time you drive. That way, you can avoid the headache of entering a plea, going to court, and paying fines, or taking a four-hour online driving class.

If you lack auto insurance, we recommend getting full coverage, not only to avoid penalties, but also to protect yourself financially if you cause an accident or have other damages. At around $66 per month on average, car insurance is a sound investment to prevent financial losses.