Best Auto Insurance Companies That Don’t Penalize for a Lapse in Coverage (2024)
The best auto insurance companies that don't penalize you for a lapse in coverage include Geico and Progressive, allowing no extra costs or rate increases. Some companies may raise your monthly auto insurance rate as much as 25% after a lapse in coverage. Coverage lapses may expose you to the risk of illegal driving.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Sep 28, 2023
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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Sep 28, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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- Lapses in auto insurance can cause more than just an inconvenience
- A lapse in insurance coverage puts you at risk of driving illegally, your premiums going up the next time you attempt to open a policy, and fines or penalties by the DMV
- Any time a car is registered to your name, a certain amount of insurance coverage will be associated with you as the owner of the vehicle
Auto insurance is there to protect everyone, but do you really need it for that old car you never drive that’s just sitting in your garage?
Some people will be surprised to learn that a failure to renew your insurance policy due to nonuse or nonpayment can still negatively impact you, even if your vehicle never moves an inch off your driveway.
A lapse in auto insurance coverage is a timeframe of between 30 and 60 days in which you don’t have insurance coverage. Lapses in coverage can result from expired coverage, missing a couple of payments, or various other reasons.
Unfortunately, a lapse in coverage will often cost you. When you reinstate your auto insurance after a lapse in coverage, most insurance companies will increase your rates (often significantly) because driving without insurance is usually considered high-risk behavior.
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Are there companies that don’t charge you after a lapse in coverage?
Unfortunately, auto insurance companies that do charge you for a lapse in coverage are much more common than those that do not. Most (if not all) companies charge you after a lapse in coverage because of the increase in your perceived risk.
Companies like Geico, Progressive, and others offer a grace period for a lapse in coverage (usually applies in the case of a late payment), during which you’ll be able to renew your coverage without any extra charges or rate increases.
However, this grace period depends on the company, where you live (state law can dictate how long the grace period is, what qualifies, etc.), the reason for the lapse in coverage, how long your coverage has lapsed, and your personal history with the company.
By contrast, while companies like Safe Auto and The General may still penalize you for a lapse in coverage, they focus specifically on insuring high-risk drivers and, as a result, sometimes offer better rates than companies focusing on more standard insurance needs.
What happens if you have a lapse in auto insurance?
Even though you might not be driving a car regularly, a lapse in car insurance could end up costing you in the long run.
How Letting Your Insurance Expire Could Affect Your Rates
| Company | Monthly Rate With No Lapse | Monthly Rate With Lapse | Rate Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $147 | $150.17 | 2.15% |
| Geico | $121.70 | $131.15 | 7.77% |
| Farmers | $162.47 | $181.80 | 11.9% |
| Liberty Mutual | $116 | $135 | 13.1% |
| Nationwide | $108.53 | $122.75 | 16.38% |
Here’s how it all works. The worst-case scenario would be if you forgot to renew your policy or make regular payments and then got into an accident that was your fault and had no coverage.
What does a lapse in coverage mean?
Any time you have a registered car but no auto insurance, that is considered a lapse in coverage. Any time you go without auto insurance, even for a single day, is considered a lapse. Some insurers, though, might not penalize you for a brief lapse of fewer than two weeks.
You might experience a lapse for several reasons:
- Your policy expired
- Your policy was canceled because you missed a payment
- You stopped driving
- You were deployed on active-duty military service
The best thing you can do is work with your insurance company to avoid a lapse in auto coverage.
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Is there a grace period for auto insurance?
Whether your plan has expired or you haven’t set one up yet, you should never drive without auto insurance, as it’s illegal in every state except for New Hampshire.
What do I do if my auto insurance lapses?
Call your insurance provider as soon as you suspect you will miss or have already missed a car insurance payment. Doing so informs them of the circumstance and helps them determine what to do next. The options you have will depend on how long it has been since you have paid your auto insurance bill in full, the policies of your insurance provider, and the regulations in your state.
But regardless of the specifics of your circumstance, you must get in touch with your insurance provider to work out a solution. Ignoring or postponing the problem will only make it worse.
Is it bad to have a lapse in auto insurance?
The short answer is yes. Except for New Hampshire, all U.S. states prohibit driving without insurance. Driving without insurance can result in penalties that range from simple warnings to steep fines and even jail time. Penalties can be extremely harsh for repeat offenders and in extreme circumstances.
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How long does an insurance lapse stay on your record?
Every time your auto insurance expires, it may have a potentially negative effect on your driving record. How long your insurance was inactive for and whether your prior policy was canceled or simply not renewed will determine how long the lapse is reflected on your record.
For at least six months after reinstating their insurance policy or obtaining a new one, car owners who have experienced a lapse in coverage typically pay higher rates.
If you don’t have insurance for a while, your monthly rate could go up by about 25%, but the standard increase depends on your plan, provider, and personal circumstances. In some cases, it could go up even more.
However, if your new insurance policy goes into effect without a hitch and your credit and driving records are clean, your offered rate might eventually drop to what it was before.
Which states impose a penalty for a lapse in coverage?
If you’ve let your insurance lapse, you might need to file an SR-22 with your state for three years to demonstrate that you have at least the minimum amount of required auto insurance.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance by State
| State | First Offense |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Fine: Up to $500; registration suspension with $200 reinstatement fee |
| Alaska | License suspension for 90 days |
| Arizona | Fine: $500 (or more); license/registration/license plate suspension for three months |
| Arkansas | Fine: $50 to $250; suspended registration/no plates until proof of coverage plus $20 reinstatement fee; court may order impoundment |
| California | Fine: $100-$200 plus penalty assessments. Court may order impoundment |
| Colorado | Fine: $500 minimum fine; 4 points against your license; license suspension until you can show proof to the DMV that you are insured. Courts may add up to 40 hours community service |
| Connecticut | Fine: $100-$1000; suspended registration/license for one month (show proof of insurance) with $175 reinstatement fee |
| Delaware | Fine: $1500 minimum fine; license/privilege suspension for six months |
| Florida | Suspension of license and registration until reinstatement fee is paid and non-cancelable coverage is secured; $150 fee for first reinstatement |
| Georgia | Suspended registration with $25 lapse fee and $60 reinstatement fee. Pay any other registration fees and vehicle ad valorem taxes due |
| Hawaii | Fine: $500 fine or community service granted by judge. Either license suspension for three months or a required nonrefundable insurance policy in force for six months |
| Idaho | Fine: $75; license suspension until financial proof. No reinstatement fee. |
| Illinois | Fine: minimum of $500; License plate suspension until $100 reinstatement fee and insurance proof |
| Indiana | License/registration suspension for 90 days to one year |
| Iowa | Fine: $500 if in accident; Otherwise, fine: $250; community service in lieu of fine. Possible citation/warning if pulled over plus removal of plates and registration possible when pulled over without insurance and reissued upon payment of fine or completed community service, proof of insurance, and $15 fee; possible impoundment when pulled over |
| Kansas | Fine: $300 to $1000 and/or confinement in jail up to six months; license/registration suspension; reinstatement fee: $100 |
| Kentucky | Fine: $500 to $1000 fine and/or sentenced up to 90 days in jail; license plates and registration revoked for one year or until proof of insurance is shown |
| Louisiana | Fine: $500 to $1000; If in car accident, fine plus registration revoked and driving privileges suspended for 180 days |
| Maine | Fine: $100 to $500; suspension of license and registration until proof of insurance |
| Maryland | Lose license plates and vehicle registration privileges; pay uninsured motorist penalty fees for each lapse of insurance — $150 for the first 30 days, $7 for each day thereafter; Pay a restoration fee of up to $25 for a vehicle's registration |
| Massachusetts | Fine: $500 to $5000 fine and/or imprisonment for one year or less |
| Michigan | Fine: $200 to $500 fine and/or imprisonment for one year or less; license suspension for 30 days or until proof of insurance; $25 service fee to Secretary of State |
| Minnesota | Fine: $200 to $1000 (or community service) and/or imprisonment for up to 90 days; License and registration revoked for no more than 12 months |
| Mississippi | Fine: $1000; driving privileges suspended for one year or until proof of insurance |
| Missouri | Four points against driving record; driver may be supervised; suspended until proof of insurance with $20 reinstatement fee |
| Montana | Fine: $250 to $500 fine and/or imprisonment for no more than 10 days |
| Nebraska | License and registration suspension; reinstatement fee of $50 for each; proof of insurance to remain on file for three years |
| Nevada | Fine: $250 to $1,000 depending on length of lapse; registration suspension — until payment of reinstatement fee and, depending on circumstances, an SR-22 (proof of financial responsiblity) if lapsed more than 90 days; reinstatement fee: $250 |
| New Hampshire | Not a mandatory insurance state. Proof of insurance may be required as the result of a conviction, crash involvement, or administrative action. If you are required to file proof of insurance and vehicles are registered in your name, you will be required to file an Owner’s SR-22 Certificate of Insurance. |
| New Jersey | Fine: $300 to $1000; license suspension for one year; pay surcharges for three years in the amount of $250 per year |
| New Mexico | Fine: up to $300 and/or imprisoned for 90 days; license suspension |
| New York | Fine: up to $1500 if involved in accident plus $750 civil penalty; license and registration suspension – revoked for one year; suspension of license if without insurance for 90 days; suspension lasts as long as registration suspension; Suspension of registration: equal to time without insurance or pays $8/day up to thirty days for which financial security was not in effect, $10/day from the thirty-first to the sixtieth day $12/day from the sixtieth to the ninetieth day and proof of security is provided. Or for the same time as the vehicle was operated without insurance. |
| North Carolina | Fine: $50; registration suspension until proof of financial responsibility but 30-day suspension if in car accident or knowingly driving without insurance; $50 restoration fee plus license plate fee |
| North Dakota | Fine: up to $1500 and/or 30 days in prison; 14 points against license plus suspension; Proof of insurance must be provided for one year; license with a notation requiring that person keep proof of liability insurance on file with the department. The fee for this license is $50, and the fee to remove this notation is $50. |
| Ohio | License/plates/registration suspension until requirements are met and $100 reinstatement fee is paid; maintain special high-risk coverage on file with the BMV for three to five years; If involved in accident without insurance: all above penalties and a security suspension for two plus years and an indefinite judgment suspension (until all damages are satisfied) |
| Oklahoma | Fine: $250; jail time up to 30 days; license suspension with $275 reinstatement fee. Police can seize license plates and assign temporary plates and liability insurance — in effect for 10 days and can also impound the vehicle. The cost of the temporary coverage is added to the administrative fee and any fines paid for plates to be returned. If car impounded, owner must also pay towing and storage fees. |
| Oregon | Fine: $130-$1000 ($260 is the presumptive fine); If involved in accident — at least a one year license suspension; proof of financial responsibility required for three years |
| Pennsylvania | Registration suspended for three months (unless lapse was for less than 31 days and vehicle not operated during that time); $88 restoration fee plus proof of insurance required to get it back; $500 civil penalty fee is optional in lieu of registration suspension plus $88 restoration fee — can only use this option once within a 12-month period |
| Rhode Island | Fine: $100 to $500; license and registration suspension up to three months; reinstatement fee: $30 to $50 |
| South Carolina | Fine: $100-$200 or 30-day imprisonment; failure to surrender registration and plates when insurance lapses; license/registration suspended until proof of insurance plus $200 reinstatement fee |
| South Dakota | Fine: $100 and/or 30 days imprisonment; license suspension for 30 days to one year; filing proof of insurance (SR-22) with the state for three years from date of conviction. Failure to file proof will result in suspension of vehicle registration, license plates, and driver license. |
| Tennessee | Pay $25 coverage failure fee within 30 days of notice; if not paid, then an additional $100 coverage failure fee with suspension or revocation of registration plus reinstatement fee of no more than $25 |
| Texas | Fine: $175 to $350 fine; plus, pay up to a $250 surcharge every year for three years (may be reduced with certain requirements) |
| Utah | Fine: $400; license suspension until proof of insurance (maintained for three years) and $100 reinstatement fee |
| Vermont | Fine: up to $500; license suspended until proof of insurance |
| Virginia | Fine: may pay $500 Uninsured Motorists Vehicle fee to drive without insurance at your own risk. If this fee is not paid in lieu of insurance, all driving and vehicle registration privileges will be suspended until a $500 statutory fee is paid, proof of insurance is filed for three years, and a reinstatement fee (if applicable) is paid |
| Washington | Fine: Up to $250 or more |
| West Virginia | Fine: $200 to $5000; license suspended for 30 days with reinstatement fees, unless there's proof of insurance and $200 penalty fee |
| Wisconsin | Fine: up to $500 |
| Wyoming | Fine: up to $750 fine and up to six months in jail |
Even if you have a clean driving record, a coverage gap could cause insurance companies to view you as a high-risk driver.
It might also affect how much you pay for auto insurance in the future. Maintaining continuous coverage is one of the best ways to get the best car insurance rate and ensure you are covered in case of an accident.
How Insurers Find Out if Your Insurance Lapses
To keep up-to-date databases of who has auto insurance and when they have it, car insurers collaborate with state DMVs. Therefore, even though you might be able to get a lower quote by lying about having a lapse in insurance, your insurer will eventually find out.
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What happens if you let your auto insurance lapse and you have an accident?
You are personally responsible for the damages if your auto insurance expires and you were involved in an accident. You must pay for your damages out of pocket even though the insurance policy could have covered your losses.
Additionally, if the opposing party has a claim against you, they might look to your personal assets rather than the insurance policy for payment. However, the conventional laws of car accident fault and liability continue to apply even if your auto insurance expires and you are involved in an accident.
You can contest your liability for the accident and even make a third party compensate you.
The Bottom Line on Auto Insurance Lapses
Allowing your insurance policy to lapse due to nonpayment, even if you’re not actively operating a motor vehicle, can increase your insurance premiums if you decide to get car insurance in the future. Experts advise not to allow insurance lapses if you can help it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does auto insurance lapse?
There are many potential causes for lapsed auto insurance. These are some of the more frequent causes for insurance to lapse, even for a brief period.
- Several payments were missed
- Inadequate funds to cover the bill
- Overpaid for the premium
- Not renewing the insurance
- The policy was canceled
Can I suspend my auto insurance?
You might think about suspending your auto insurance if there are times when you won’t need to drive for a while, for instance, if you are residing or being deployed abroad.
Customers can suspend their insurance while traveling with some companies, including Geico, USAA, and Esurance. Since this is not a lapse, it has no impact on their rates. To suspend your insurance, you must obtain an affidavit from the DMV confirming that you will not operate the vehicle while your insurance is suspended.
Suspension of coverage is not always an option, and there are some circumstances in which it is not possible. For instance, you typically cannot discontinue coverage for a leased vehicle or one for which you still owe money on a loan.
What is a lapse in auto insurance?
Any time you have a registered car but no insurance, even if you aren’t driving, that is considered to be a lapse in coverage. Regardless of whether the car is even operable, the DMV may also seek to impose a fine and yearly registration fees on top of insurance companies penalizing you on future policies.
Will my premiums be affected if I switch to an auto insurance company that doesn’t penalize for a lapse in coverage?
Switching to an auto insurance company that doesn’t penalize for a lapse in coverage may or may not have an impact on your premiums. Premiums are determined based on various factors, such as your driving history, vehicle type, location, and more. It’s advisable to obtain quotes from different insurers and compare them to see the potential impact on your premiums.
How can I avoid a lapse in coverage altogether?
To avoid a lapse in coverage, it’s essential to stay proactive. Ensure you pay your premiums on time, renew your policy before it expires, and promptly notify your insurer of any changes or updates to your contact information. Additionally, setting up automatic payments or reminders can help you stay on track with your insurance coverage.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.