The best thing you can do is not let your car insurance expire, but if it does, you are still able to get car insurance after it expires. In the case that you do have expired car insurance, it is important to remember that if you continue to drive during this time, you will not be covered if you cause an accident or something happens to your vehicle.

Use your ZIP code to be able to compare car insurance quotes for companies in your local area.

Sometimes money is tight and you are able to hold off paying certain bills for a little bit without it having negative consequences. This is not the case with your car insurance. If you let your car insurance expire there may be a number of consequences associated with it, especially if you wait awhile to get new insurance.

What are the consequences of letting your car insurance expire?

Some type of car insurance is a requirement in pretty much every state, so it is not something that is optional.

The consequences for having expired car insurance vary. A lot of it depends on whether you are continuing to drive or not.

If you are still driving around and have expired insurance, you can get into a lot of trouble.

If you are pulled over by a police officer for any reason, he or she will always ask to see your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance. If you do not have even one of these, you will be penalized. If you cannot offer proof of car insurance or the card that you show them is expired, you will more than likely get a ticket. This ticket may be for $100 or it may be for more.

Along with getting a ticket, if you do not have proper insurance coverage, your car may be towed. This is an extra cost to you to get it out of the impound lot as well. In some instances, you will be reported to the DMV and this can affect you in a number of ways.

What happens if I am in an accident with car insurance that has expired?

An even bigger consequence of driving with expired car insurance is if you are in an accident. If you were not at fault for the accident, you won’t be penalized as much. However, more than likely they will find out that you are driving without insurance and you will be fined.

If you are in an accident that is your fault, you will be responsible for all of the damages to not only your car and passengers, but to the other car and its passengers as well. If the other driver has underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage you may not be responsible for their damage costs, but you are still responsible for yours. You may also be sued by the other driver.

Because car insurance is required by most states, there is a chance that your license will be revoked if you are caught driving with expired insurance. In some states jail time is required as well.

Requirements for penalties for expired insurance differ from state to state. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners can lead you to your state insurance department.

Where can I get car insurance once my policy has expired?

Depending on how long your insurance has been expired, you may be able to get your insurance reinstated by your last car insurance company. If your expired time was considered to be a lapse in coverage, you may need to pay late fees and even the premiums for the time your insurance was expired.

Your insurance company does not have to reinstate your insurance. If you have not been a very good customer, as in you filed a lot of claims or you paid your bills late, the company may see you as a high-risk driver and not grant you coverage.

If your last insurance company did not grant you a new policy, you will have to search for car insurance elsewhere. As you are looking around, if you would like to see if the insurance company is financially stable, you can visit the website of A.M. Best, an insurance industry ratings provider.

Many insurance companies will not view your lack of current coverage as a good thing. As a result, even if they grant you a new policy, you will probably end up paying more for your premiums.

You can compare car insurance rates right now just by filling in your ZIP code below.