Things happen. Sometimes we accidentally forget to pay the car insurance bill. We might have a tough month financially and just not be able to cover the bill. Whatever the reason is, the car insurance bill didn’t get paid and your auto insurance has lapsed. The question you’ve got now is what do I do if my car insurance lapses? What could happen? We’ll explain what you need to do and what the potential consequences could be.
What do I do if my car insurance lapses?
First of all, if you don’t have insurance, do not drive the car. Use a ride-share service, ask a friend for a ride, whatever you have to do, but try not to drive the vehicle.
The thing is that when your insurance lapses, you could be held liable (like personally liable) in the event of an accident. (We’ll explain more in a minute.) Also, you could face huge fines if you’re driving without insurance.
The next thing you have to do is call your insurance agent or your car insurance company. If you’re not too late, you might be able to reinstate your policy without too much trouble, especially if you have a good driving record and you’ve been generally good about paying for your insurance. If it’s just a one-time, “oops” kind of situation, you might be able to take care of it easily. You may end up facing a surcharge, though.
(Keep in mind that getting insurance in the future could be tricker. Cancellation due to nonpayment does not endear you to the insurance company, so you could face higher premiums.)
Anyways. Basically, if your car insurance lapses, you should call your insurance agent and see what your options are.
Pro tip: Set up automatic payments for your car insurance. That way the bill will automatically be taken out of your bank account every month and you won’t have to worry about forgetting to pay your bill.
Get a quick auto insurance quote today and save money on your car insurance.
What could happen if your car insurance lapses?
Like we said if your car insurance lapses you do not have coverage. The coverage stops when you miss your payment.
So here’s the thing:
Most states require you to carry auto insurance to legally drive your car on the roads – that have a state minimum level of car insurance. If you drive a car without insurance and you get pulled over, you would get in big trouble for having no auto insurance. It’s a big deal. Driving without insurance is illegal.
But that’s not the only thing you have to worry about:
If you don’t have car insurance and you’re at-fault in an accident, you could be responsible for paying for…
- The other driver’s medical bills.
- The repairs to the other driver’s car.
- The repairs to your car.
- Legal fees if the other driver sues.
- Whatever judgment the court determines you have to pay.
All of these expenses would be on your head. You’d have to cover them out of your own pocket, and those prices…well, they’ll probably be far more than your car insurance premium, we can tell you that. Remember, your insurance functions as a financial safety net so you don’t face a huge loss if you get into an accident.
Protect your car & save money. Get a quick auto insurance quote today.
Anyways, the moral of the story is try not to let your car insurance lapse. Yes, it might be expensive, but it’s also very important. Driving is dangerous, and you have to take care to protect yourself financially with the right insurance. If you’re worried about the price, talk to your agent about payment options, car insurance discounts, and coverage options.
You can also save money on car insurance by shopping around for multiple car insurance quotes. Our team of insurance professionals can help you get great insurance at a great rate, and we can help answer your pressing car insurance questions. Get started with your auto insurance quotes by filling out our online form or giving us a call today.
Source: