New York law says that everyone must have car insurance, and it is illegal to drive without it. Under New York law, people are required to purchase a car insurance policy with the following minimums:
While most drivers comply with this requirement, there are still some who fail to do so. If you are pulled over for a traffic violation, the police officer may ask to see proof of your insurance. If you don’t have your insurance card, you could be fined up to $1,500, have your license taken away, and have to pay another $750 to the DMV to get it back if it was taken away. You could even go to jail.
When you buy car insurance in New York, the company will send you an electronic file while you wait for a hard copy of your insurance card to keep with you while you drive. As a matter of fact, you should always drive with your insurance card, driver’s license, and car registration with you. You shouldn’t leave your license in the car, but you can leave the other two inside at all times. It’s usually a good idea to keep them in your glove compartment.
Getting pulled over is never a fun experience. But it can be especially stressful if you get stopped while driving a car that doesn’t belong to you. Even more troubling is if the car you’re driving doesn’t have insurance. Now you’re looking at a big fine, points on your license, and possibly having the car impounded.
This tricky situation leaves many questions unanswered:
- Whose insurance will cover the ticket?
- Will the ticket affect the owner’s rates?
- What should you say to the police officer?
- How can you get the car back from impound?
I’ve been in this uneasy position before. And I want to share what I’ve learned to help you properly handle getting pulled over in a borrowed car without insurance. Follow this guide so you can minimize penalties and avoid extra complications.
Remain Calm and Cooperate with Police
Getting pulled over causes anxiety for most drivers. Your heart races and you start sweating while hoping for just a warning. Now add the stress of driving someone else’s uninsured car.
It’s essential to keep calm in this interaction. Any attitude or lack of cooperation makes the situation worse.
Be respectful and provide the documentation the officer requests like license registration and proof of insurance. Explain that the car belongs to a friend and you thought it was insured.
Apologizing shows you understand the seriousness of driving uninsured. It also indicates you want to remedy the situation. This cooperative demeanor gives the officer no reason to suspect other problems.
Be Honest About the Insurance Status
There’s no use trying to fib your way out of this one. The officer will quickly verify the insurance status through their database.
Immediately admit that the car does not have active insurance coverage. Take responsibility for not confirming beforehand.
Giving false information will only lead to additional charges. It’s better to be truthful upfront and accept the consequences.
You’re Responsible for the Ticket
Because you chose to drive the uninsured vehicle, the ticket will be issued in your name. Fines for uninsured motorists range from $150-$1500 depending on the state. You’ll also get points added to your license.
The owner of the car won’t receive a ticket directly But they may face penalties from their insurance company for letting an uninsured driver operate the vehicle
It’s your duty to pay the ticket fee and increased insurance premiums from the incident. The offense goes on your motor vehicle record – not the car owner’s.
The Car Can Potentially Get Towed
One of the biggest concerns with driving uninsured is getting the car impounded. Police have the right to tow away a vehicle that’s not properly insured.
Whether or not it gets towed depends on factors like:
- State and local laws
- Officer discretion
- Prior offenses
If the car does get impounded, you’ll need to contact the tow company to get it released back to the owner. Expect to pay hefty impound fees and fines in addition to your traffic ticket.
Contact the Owner ASAP
Once you get through the traffic stop, immediately call the car’s owner. Explain exactly what happened and how you plan to make it right.
Offer to pay the ticket cost, higher insurance rates, and any fees to retrieve the car from impound. This shows you take full responsibility.
Apologize sincerely and let the owner know you’ll confirm insurance coverage next time. They may be disappointed, but honesty goes a long way.
Consult a Traffic Lawyer
Getting an uninsured motorist ticket causes major headaches. But a traffic lawyer can help minimize the damage to your wallet and driving record.
An attorney knows how to negotiate with the court to reduce fines, lower points, and avoid license suspension. They look for errors in procedure or violations of your rights.
You may also be able to get the ticket dismissed by showing proof you added insurance immediately after the incident. This demonstrates you corrected the issue.
Traffic lawyers understand exactly how to defend against these types of violations. It’s wise to have an expert in your corner.
How to Avoid This Situation in the Future
Let this experience remind you to take preventative steps going forward:
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Ask to see the insurance card – Don’t drive a borrowed car until you verify current proof of insurance.
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Inspect the insurance status yourself – Don’t rely on verbal confirmation. Physically look at the card to check dates and coverage.
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Discuss insurance with the owner – Have an open conversation about who pays deductibles in case of an accident.
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Get added as a driver – See if they can add you to the policy, even temporarily, to allow you to drive legally.
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Only drive your own insured vehicles – It’s always safest to only operate cars that you know are properly insured.
Driving someone else’s car without insurance is a big risk. But following these tips will help you move past the incident with minimal impact. Be honest, take accountability, and consult a lawyer to potentially save money and your license. And take steps to avoid another stressful pullover.
Getting pulled over without proper insurance leads to big fines, points on your license, and possibly losing the car to impound. Cooperate politely with officers at the traffic stop. Explain the car belongs to a friend and admit it’s uninsured. Take full responsibility for the ticket and fees. Notify the owner right away and have a plan to make it right. Consulting with a traffic lawyer can help reduce penalties. Learn from this lesson and take preventative actions in the future before driving another person’s vehicle. With the right approach, you can move past this headache smoothly. Just stay calm, accept the consequences, and handle the matter legally and properly.
Fines for a Lapsed Insurance Policy
Whatever the reason is for your insurance policy not being valid for a certain amount of time, you will have to pay a fine:
- 1–30 days: $8 per day; up to $240
- 31–60 days: $10 per day; up to $300
- 61–90 days: $12 per day; up to $360
- 90 days: $900
People who can’t pay the above fine can give up their license plates and registration while they are being suspended. If you don’t pay the fee or give up your license plates and registration, the DMV will also take away your driver’s license and registration. To get them back, you’ll have to pay a fee. Simply put, if your insurance expires and you are caught driving without insurance in New York, you could have to pay up to $2,400.
What if You Let Someone Else Drive Your Uninsured Vehicle?
Another punishment is letting someone else drive your car without having auto insurance for it. You could get a fine, have your car towed away, lose your driver’s license and registration, or go to jail for up to 15 days.
As we already said, you can pay the DMV $750 to get your license back. However, if it has been more than 91 days since your insurance expired or if you have already paid a civil penalty in the last three years, you will have to serve the suspension instead of being able to get your license back right away.
Your chances of getting insurance again may go down if it’s been more than 91 days since your last policy. You may have to find an insurer that is willing to work with a higher-risk driver. If your insurance has expired, your insurance company will let the DMV know. The DMV will then take away your license and registration and fine you every day until your coverage is reinstated.
What happens if you get caught without insurance
What happens if you get a ticket in someone else’s car?
It will follow you, meaning you will be required to pay your ticket. Your insurance rates may increase as well. Typically, getting a ticket in someone else’s car only results in insurance penalties for the ticketed driver — the person who is responsible — rather than the owner of the vehicle. The same rule applies to driver’s license points.
What happens if you get caught driving without insurance?
If you’re caught driving without insurance, especially if you’re involved in an accident, a court could order your vehicle to be impounded and your license and registration to be revoked. In most states you will not be able to drive the vehicle again until you submit valid proof of insurance to your state’s DMV, typically an SR-22.
Is driving without insurance illegal?
Driving without insurance is illegal in almost every state. If you are pulled over or in an accident, you will face tickets, fines and other penalties. You must have a car insurance policy with specific liability minimums in nearly every state. One example of an exception is New Hampshire.
What happens if you don’t have car insurance?
You must have an auto insurance policy that meets your state’s required liability insurance minimums; otherwise, you could be subject to fines ranging from $20-1,500 for a first offense, loss of license and car registration and even jail time.