There may be several circumstances in which you would want to know if you could still drive an automobile even though it isn’t insured. Also, not every vehicle is bought to be driven on the roads immediately. Some people may buy them as investments or it may not even be in working condition. It may be your next project to build or get it fixed to a roadworthy standard.
There is a different answer for every situation. The key point is that you need to have insurance before you can take a vehicle on the road and drive. Actually, you need coverage to keep it on the public roads. It is a different story when it is kept on private property but there are still conditions to be met so that you are not pestered by authorities.
Some people may be under the impression that companies would offer a grace period for late premium payments or renewals. That is why they may think that they have more time to arrange the coverage than they actually have. Grace periods aren’t necessarily regulated by states and usually up to car insurers to offer or not. It is best not to rely on them and assume that you will not have coverage if you don’t renew it timely or don’t make the premium payments.
Also, people may need to buy a new vehicle and are not sure if they can just take home and then find the best quote, rather than having to buy an expensive or not suitable plan in a hurry. Only if you have already got a policy in place for another vehicle your carrier may insure the new auto for several days. If you have no coverage at all, there is nothing to fall back to. That should make you think twice before getting behind the steering wheel of an unprotected auto because you can pay dearly for something that may appear to be a simple oversight.
Can You Drive without Insurance?
This isn’t really one of those grey areas on which we can debate about. There has to be a policy in place before an automobile can be operated. Usage is the key here. The answer is simple;
You cannot drive uninsured even for one yard or for a minute. It is a crime to operate a motor vehicle without it. And you will face serious consequences if you get caught on the road, including suspension of your license.
Circumstances may be different if you have a car that is just sitting in the garage. It is not a crime to keep an uninsured vehicle as long as it is off the road. However, DMV would want an explanation as to why it isn’t covered. Unless you fill the appropriate forms to confirm that is off the road and not driven you may keep getting fines from DMV.
For most motorists it is unimaginable not to protect their cars. It is not because they are law-abiding citizens. Rather, they know the possible damages they may have to face on their own if they get involved in an accident. Potentially, they may lose thousands of dollars in damages to their own vehicle and they may be sued for damages to others’ property and injuries.
It isn’t really worth taking a chance when it comes to renewing and making payments. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Even if you borrow someone else’s vehicle you should make sure that it has coverage. You should also make sure that your auto insurance policy includes whoever operates it. As the owner, it is your responsibility to make sure.
You may think that it will cost a fortune to arrange a decent plan, especially if it is your first time. You may have had one or two expensive quotes already. Nevertheless, you should keep looking for a policy you can afford before foregoing a valuable protection. You can get the ball rolling by getting several quotes online and see if you can find a package that meets the requirements and isn’t over-budget.