Driving Without Insurance in New York

If you drive without insurance in New York State, you risk being ticketed or arrested, and your car could be impounded. Your vehicle registration will be suspended, and you’ll be required to turn in your license plates to the NYS DMV.

The registration suspension will last the same number of days as you didn’t have insurance without turning in your plates. For example, if you didn’t have insurance (without turning in your plates) for 100 days, your registration suspension will last 100 days. If you have a registered, uninsured car for more than 90 days, you will also face license suspension, and you’ll have to pay a $50 fee to reinstate it once the registration suspension ends.²

If you’ve been driving without insurance for under 90 days, you may be able to pay a civil penalty instead of sending in your license plates and having your registration suspended. The civil penalty rates are as follows based on the length of your insurance lapse:

If you are in an accident without valid insurance, you’ll be fined up to $1,500, and your license and registration will be revoked for at least one year. You’ll then need to pay the DMV $750 to reinstate your license.

What Happens if I Don’t Have Proof of Insurance?

If you’re pulled over and don’t have proof of insurance to show to the law enforcement officer, you may face a fine for driving without insurance — even if you actually do have insurance. You must carry proof of insurance with you at all times while driving to be able to provide it if needed, such as if you get into an accident.

New York State does not require SR-22s or FR-44s following driving violations. If you’re convicted of driving without insurance, you’ll need to serve your registration — and potentially license — suspension period or pay the civil penalty if you’re eligible.

Your insurance rates may increase following a lapse in insurance coverage, and it may be more difficult to find coverage in general because you may be considered high-risk to insure. However, it’s still possible to find affordable car insurance in New York as a high-risk driver.

Shop Around

Always get quotes from multiple companies when shopping for insurance, particularly if you’re a high-risk driver. If you had a short lapse in insurance, you can start by asking your previous insurer to reinstate your policy. If you have a history of lapses or violations and your insurer declines to cover you, look for the cheapest rate you can get from another New York company.

Consider the New York Automobile Insurance Plan (NYAIP)

This program, also called the ​​Auto Plan or Assigned Risk Plan, is provided under New York State law and is designed to ensure that all state residents can find auto insurance coverage. Most licensed insurance agents and brokers in the state are able to provide nonstandard policies under this plan.

If you need help finding insurance, you can contact the NYAIP directly at 212-943-5100 or via their website.⁵ These agents will be able to assist you in getting a policy from an insurer that specializes in nonstandard insurance for high-risk drivers.

If you were fined for driving without insurance because you weren’t able to provide proof, but you actually have insurance coverage, you can plead not guilty and appear in court to show the judge proof of insurance. Keep in mind that the effective date must be on or before the date you were fined. While doing so will prevent penalties from escalating, you may still be required to pay a fine or other court fees.

Here are the basic laws you should be aware of when driving in New York.

Minimum Coverage

New York requires at least the following coverages for every driver in the state:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability and $50,000 liability for death per person
• $50,000 bodily injury liability and $100,000 liability for death per accident
• $10,000 property damage liability per accident
• $25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person
• $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per accident
• $50,000 personal injury protection

Registration

You are required by law to have NYS-issued car insurance to register a car in the state, and you must register it within 180 days of the effective date of your insurance. Once you have insurance, you’ll need to submit an application and payment to the DMV.

The exact documents you need to send with your application depend on the type of vehicle you’re registering and your county of residence. You can use the DMV Registration Guide to find out what you’ll need.⁶ Once your registration is approved, you’ll need to get a state inspection within 10 days, and every year after that.

In order to legally drive in New York State, you must have at least the state-mandated minimum liability coverage, which includes uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection. If you’re caught driving without insurance, you could have your registration and license suspended and need to pay hefty fines.

Following a lapse in coverage, you may see your rates increase because you may be considered a high-risk driver, making it more difficult to find insurance. Luckily, New York has a state-mandated program, the NYAIP, that helps drivers in these situations find adequate coverage.