It didn’t seem like a big deal. You needed to save money, so you said goodbye to your auto insurance.

Next thing you know, you’re watching your car get towed away from the back of a police vehicle.

It might sound dramatic, but there are serious consequences of driving without insurance. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most common and severe punishments you can expect to face.

So if you’re thinking of skipping car insurance, make sure to keep reading to find out why you’ll want to think twice.

Penalties

One of the biggest reasons for driving a car without insurance is the high cost of auto insurance. And honestly, that’s understandable.

Around 1/3 of people have less than $1,000 in their savings account, meaning one missed paycheck is all it takes for them to miss rent. But driving without insurance can lead to far more costly fees than what you’d pay for insurance.

Each state has its own laws and regulations surrounding the fine for driving without insurance, ranging from $50 to several thousand dollars for first-time offenders. Meanwhile, repeat offenders can expect to pay at least $1,000.

License Suspension

It’s bad enough to deal with financial penalties. But you could also lose your license.

Not only will this keep you from driving for pleasure, but it can impact your ability to work, as well.

When you stop to think about it, a suspended license is far more severe than it seems. You could lose your job, and thus your livelihood.

Trust us, it’s so much easier to just get car insurance. To find out how you can obtain affordable insurance, check out this guide.

Vehicle Impoundment

So what happens if you get caught driving without insurance and the officer takes your license?

Depending on your state of residence (as well as how nice the officer is feeling that day), you could lose your vehicle. At least, temporarily.

Getting your car back from an impound lot is a frustrating endeavor, too. Once you locate your vehicle, you’ll have to provide proof of ownership, as well as verifiable proof of insurance and your license.

Finally, get ready to pay some serious fines.

If you don’t have your license, don’t worry, you can still retrieve your vehicle. However, you’ll have to go with whoever picks up your vehicle and prove that you’re the owner.

Your best bet is to call ahead and let the lot owners know that someone else will drive the vehicle home.

Jail Time

In more extreme cases, such as repeat offenses or outstanding warrants, your penalty for driving without insurance might lead to jail time. Again, this depends on the circumstances at play, as well as the state where the incident takes place.

As for how long your sentence will last, the standard rate is between 60 days to one year.

Avoid the Consequences of Driving Without Insurance

Now that you’ve found out about the consequences of driving without insurance, make sure you have proof of insurance with you at all times.

And if you don’t currently have auto insurance, take a few minutes out of your day to get a quote. It could just keep you out of prison.

For more legal tips, be sure to check out the rest of our blog!