Can You Go to Jail for Driving Without Insurance in Florida? (2024)

FAQs

Can You Go to Jail for Driving Without Insurance in Florida? ›

it is illegal to drive without insurance in Florida. If you are caught driving without insurance, you could be facing serious consequences, including fines, license suspension, and even imprisonment.

Otherwise, the FLHSMV can suspend your driver's license, your registration and your vehicle tags for up to three years, or until you take out a policy — whichever is shorter. You can also be fined between $150 and $500 for driving uninsured.

If you are caught driving without insurance, your license can be suspended for up to three years, until you pay $150 and show proof of insurance to get back your license. If this occurs a second time within three years, you'll be charged $250. If it happens three times within three years, the fee goes up to $500.

You will face serious legal ramifications if you can't produce proof of coverage. After your license is suspended, your reinstatement fee could range from $150 to $500, depending on if you have any prior insurance lapses. Unlike other states, you won't face criminal penalties for failure to keep insurance.

Penalties. You must maintain required insurance coverage throughout the registration period or your driving privilege and license plate may be suspended for up to three years. There are no provisions for a temporary or hardship driver license for insurance-related suspensions.

Collecting damages from uninsured drivers

Florida is a no-fault state. This means your auto insurance company should pay the majority of your auto accident claim, up to a $10,000 limit. If the other driver is at fault, that driver's insurance company will cover the remaining 20 percent.

It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle without insurance in the state of Florida, but insurance companies are not required to go after uninsured drivers unless you have uninsured motorist coverage as part of your insurance policy.

Drivers in Florida must maintain proof of continuous insurance throughout the registration period. If you are caught driving without insurance in Florida, you will face penalties including fines and a loss of driving privileges for up to three years unless proof of insurance is provided in time.

In Florida, 'No Valid Driver's License' is classified as a second degree misdemeanor, with penalties of up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Although the majority of cases will not result in a jail sentence, the principal consequence of a No Valid License conviction is that it will create a permanent criminal record.

If you are caught driving uninsured in Florida, you may be required to file an SR-22 with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). You may also face other penalties, including the suspension of your driver's license and registration as well as a reinstatement fee of up to $500.

What happens if I let my car insurance lapse in Florida? ›

It is possible to incur a license or registration suspension for lapsed insurance. Such penalties run the gamut. For instance, a first lapse in Florida will cost approximately $150 license and registration reinstatement penalty.

State Farm offers the cheapest car insurance rates in Florida. On average, you can expect the rates from the company to be $650 per year for minimum liability policies and $1,813 per year for full coverage plans.

627.453 Grace period. —Every insurance contract shall provide that the insured is entitled to a grace period of not less than 30 days within which payment of any premium after the first may be made.

Dismissing Failure to Show Proof of Insurance Cases

Most cases of failure to provide proof of insurance are easy to get dismissed. One simply has to bring proof of insurance to traffic court on the date indicated on the citation.

At a traffic stop, the first documents an officer typically requests are your driver's license and proof of insurance. Today, police use electronic systems connected directly to state DMV records, enabling them to check if your auto insurance is valid almost instantaneously.