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Our content is backed by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed . Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
The offers that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within the listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity and other home lending products. But this compensation does not influence the information we publish, or the reviews that you see on this site. We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be available to you.
Written by
Mandy Sleight
Mandy Sleight has been a licensed insurance agent since 2005. She has three years of experience writing for insurance websites such as Bankrate, MoneyGeek and The Simple Dollar. Mandy writes about auto, homeowners, renters, life insurance, disability and supplemental insurance products.
Edited by
Maggie Kempken
Maggie Kempken is an insurance editor for Bankrate. She helps manage the creation of insurance content that meets the highest quality standards for accuracy and clarity to help Bankrate readers navigate complex information about home, auto and life insurance. She also focuses on ensuring that Bankrate’s insurance content represents and adheres to the Bankrate brand.
Bankrate logoAt Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of how we make money . Our content is backed by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our Insurance Disclosure .
Bankrate logoFounded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices. We’ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the financial decision-making process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next.
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Bankrate logoYou have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey.
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Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity and other home lending products. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range, can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service.
Bankrate logoCoverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
You may wonder if you need insurance to register a car. In most states in the U.S., the answer is yes. Where the states differ is in whether you need car insurance or registration first, as well as what coverage types and levels you need to drive legally. In all but seven states, you will need to show proof of insurance when you apply for registration. In a handful of states, however, you only need to prove you are insured in order to drive legally; they do not require proof of insurance to register your car.
It depends. The state you live in is what will determine whether you need car insurance before registering your car or whether you can get a car insurance policy after registration. In some states, you can get a license plate without insurance, but you cannot drive the car until it is insured. However, most states require you to get insurance before registration.
In every state except for New Hampshire, you must have minimum amounts of liability insurance to drive your car. Some states also require other coverages, which can include medical payments, personal injury protection and uninsured motorist insurance.
In New Hampshire, you can provide proof of financial responsibility, which means you have the funds to pay for the injuries and property damage you cause in an accident. This requires a deposit of money or securities with the New Hampshire Bureau of Financial Responsibility. If you cannot provide proof of financial responsibility, you will need minimum liability insurance, just like other states. In New Hampshire, the minimum coverage required is:
There are seven states that do not require proof of insurance when registering your car. Those states are Arizona, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin. The rest of the states expect you to show proof of insurance that meets or exceeds the state minimum coverage before you can register your car.
| State | When proof of insurance is required |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Before registering |
| Alaska | Before registering |
| Arizona | Before driving |
| Arkansas | Before registering |
| California | Before registering |
| Colorado | Before registering |
| Connecticut | Before registering |
| Delaware | Before registering |
| Florida | Before registering |
| Georgia | Before registering |
| Hawaii | Before registering |
| Idaho | Before registering |
| Illinois | Before registering |
| Indiana | Before registering |
| Iowa | Before registering |
| Kansas | Before registering |
| Kentucky | Before registering |
| Louisiana | Before registering |
| Maine | Before registering |
| Maryland | Before registering |
| Massachusetts | Before registering |
| Michigan | Before registering |
| Minnesota | Before registering |
| Mississippi | Before driving |
| Missouri | Before registering |
| Montana | Before registering |
| Nebraska | Before registering |
| Nevada | Before registering |
| New Hampshire | Before driving |
| New Jersey | Before registering |
| New Mexico | Before registering |
| New York | Before registering |
| North Carolina | Before registering |
| North Dakota | Before driving |
| Ohio | Before registering |
| Oklahoma | Before registering |
| Oregon | Before registering |
| Pennsylvania | Before registering |
| Rhode Island | Before registering |
| South Carolina | Before registering |
| South Dakota | Before registering |
| Tennessee | Before driving |
| Texas | Before registering |
| Utah | Before registering |
| Vermont | Before registering |
| Virginia | Before registering |
| Washington | Before driving |
| Washington, D.C. | Before registering |
| West Virginia | Before registering |
| Wisconsin | Before driving |
| Wyoming | Before registering |
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This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
RATE INCREASE ALERTCosts will continue to rise through 2022. Shop for a better rate before you renew your current policy.
Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
If your insurance expires, your car registration may be suspended. If this happens, you will have to provide proof of insurance to renew your registration and may have to pay a fine or fee to reinstate the registration. The amount you have to pay and the process to reinstate your car registration varies by state.
Most states offer online registration systems to make it easier to maintain valid car registration. If there is an electronic filing system, it is likely connected to the insurance company, which will send an automated alert to the motor vehicle administration. When this occurs, you may receive a notice from your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles to provide proof of insurance. While some states allow you to do this yourself, others require proof of insurance to be provided directly from the insurance company.
If your insurance expires and you do not correct the situation, you may be required to purchase SR-22 insurance. Despite the name, SR-22 is not a type of insurance itself, but is, rather, a certificate that is created by your insurance company that verifies that you carry the appropriate minimum amount of coverage for your state. An SR-22 is reserved for high-risk drivers, which can include drivers who allow their car insurance to lapse. Being considered a high-risk driver can also increase your auto insurance premiums well above the costs of a standard car insurance policy.
What you need to have in place before driving your car varies slightly from state to state. You will be responsible for knowing what your state requires and ensuring that you’ve done everything needed to be on the road legally. Here are examples of what you are likely to need before getting behind the wheel:
Other than New Hampshire and Virginia, it is not legal to drive in any state without having car insurance coverage that fulfills at least the minimum requirements set by the state. In Virginia, you will need to pay an annual uninsured motorist fee in lieu of car insurance.Should you be caught driving without active car insurance coverage, you could face penalties, which vary by state. Most financial experts recommend purchasing car insurance coverage even if you aren’t required to; the financial consequences if you cause a car accident without insurance can be devastating.
Yes, you need car insurance to drive a car you just bought. In fact, most dealers will require you to show proof of insurance before you have the vehicle released to you. If you already have car insurance, check with your agent as your current policy will typically extend to a newly purchased vehicle for a short amount of time.If you finance the car, your lender will almost certainly require you to show proof of full coverage car insurance (which includes coverage that pays for damages to your own vehicle if you cause an accident or for other covered incidents) after you purchase the car and at each renewal to prove you are keeping continuous insurance coverage on the vehicle.
Non-owner car insurance is basically what the name suggests: car insurance to cover you if you are not the owner of the car you drive. For example, if you do not own a car but occasionally drive a friend’s car, you might want to consider this coverage. If you are in an at-fault accident while driving their car, non-owner insurance would cover you if you exceed the limits of their insurance policy. It is, however, not the correct type of insurance if you live with the car’s owner. In that case, you will want to be added as a driver to the owner’s insurance policy. Non-owner insurance does not cover damages to the car; it often only provides liability coverage. Talk with a licensed insurance agent to see if this type of coverage is right for you.
