Penalties for Driving without Insurance in Michigan
Michigan requires every driver to carry car insurance with personal injury and property protection as well as bodily injury and property damage liability coverage.
If you're caught driving without insurance in Michigan, you may have to pay a fine, surrender your license for up to 30 days or even serve jail time — or a combination of the three. In the meantime, your insurer may decide to increase your premiums.
You're also on the hook for any medical costs or car repair bills for both yourself and the other driver if you cause an accident while uninsured.
Penalties for driving without insurance
Driving without insurance is considered a misdemeanor in Michigan. If convicted, you may have to pay a fine up to $500, face up to one year in jail and surrender your driver's license for 30 days or until you have coverage, whichever is later. You'll also have to pay a service fee of at least $125 to reinstate your license.
If your license is suspended, you may need to have your insurer submit an to the Secretary of State, proving you have the required minimum insurance coverage.
Penalties for driving without proof of insurance
If you have insurance but can’t provide proof during a traffic stop, you can submit proof to the court before your court date. You won't receive a fine or points on your license, but you may have to pay a $25 service fee.
Getting auto insurance after a lapse in coverage
Insurers tend to increase rates for drivers with a lapse in coverage because you're seen as riskier to insure. And some insurers might refuse to cover you at all. You'll need to find an insurer that's willing to cover you, and you may need to file an SR-22, as well. But you can shop around to find the best deal even if you have SR-22 insurance.
Should you have trouble finding insurance coverage, check out the Michigan Automobile Insurance Facility as your last resort. You'll need at least the state's minimum coverage requirements. That includes coverage with the following limits:
Required coverage | Required limits |
|---|---|
| Personal injury protection | $250,000 or opt-out |
| Property protection insurance | $1 million per accident |
| Bodily injury liability | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 per accident |
Consequences of driving without insurance in an accident
If you get into an accident while uninsured in Michigan, the consequences can be severe. You'll need to pay for your own injuries and property damage out of pocket. If the accident was the other driver's fault, you lose out on compensation for pain and suffering, vehicle damage and lost wages. As an uninsured driver, you might have to pay for the other driver's lost income, medical costs, pain and suffering, vehicle damage and more.
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