100+ Uninsured Motorists Statistics

min read
Published:
Written by
Lacey Jackson-Matsushima
On this page Open

No one likes to see blue and red lights in their rearview mirror. It gets worse, still, when your car insurance goes up for each ticket you receive. For some, it might be worth considering driving without insurance. But how many people are considered uninsured motorists in each state?

This page will provide key statistics around uninsured motorists, particularly things like state requirements for insurance coverage, penalties for driving without insurance, and how many people do it anyway.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninsured motorists went from 11.6% in 2017 to 14.2% in 2021 with many people citing the pandemic as the reason they decided to forgo insurance.

  • Washington D.C. has the highest rates of uninsured motorists, at 25.2% of drivers.

  • Several dozen states now require drivers to maintain uninsured motorist (UM) coverage as part of their policies to mitigate the risk of accidents involving drivers without insurance.

  • The average annual cost of UM is $136.

How Many People Drive Without Insurance?

According to the Insurance Research Council, 1 in 7 drivers, or 14%, of the total population is without insurance. This increase in uninsured motorists was the direct result of COVID-19. Prior to the pandemic there was a decline for uninsured motorists across the entire United States but between 2020 and 2022 those numbers began to increase as motorists stopped paying for insurance.

Uninsured Motorist Rates By State

The table below provides estimated percentage of uninsured motorists by state:

State Percentage of Uninsured Motorists
Alabama 14.2%
Alaska 11.3%
Arizona 11.9%
Arkansas 15.1%
California 17.0%
Colorado 17.5%
Connecticut 10.4%
Delaware 18.1%
Florida 15.9%
Georgia 18.1%
Hawaii 10.9%
Idaho 6.2%
Illinois 16.3%
Indiana 13.9%
Iowa 9.9%
Kansas 8.0%
Kentucky 18.7%
Louisiana 13.7%
Maine 6.2%
Maryland 15.1%
Massachusetts 8.8%
Michigan 19.6%
Minnesota 8.7%
Mississippi 22.2%
Missouri 16.0%
Montana 8.8%
Nebraska 7.8%
Nevada 8.8%
New Hampshire 7.8%
New Jersey 10.9%
New Mexico 24.9%
New York 10.8%
North Carolina 10.3%
North Dakota 7.9%
Ohio 17.1%
Oklahoma 11.8%
Oregon 12.3%
Pennsylvania 9.6%
Rhode Island 15.6%
South Carolina 12.3%
South Dakota 8.0%
Tennessee 20.9%
Texas 13.8%
Utah 7.3%
Vermont 9.7%
Virginia 12.1%
Washington 16.5%
West Virginia 8.9%
Wisconsin 15.1%
Wyoming 5.9%

Highest Number States

Several states have very high numbers of uninsured motorists including Washington D.C., New Mexico, and Mississippi all of which have rates between 20% and 30% of their population.

  • 2%: Washington D.C. has the highest rates of uninsured motorists, at 25.2% of drivers.
  • 9%: New Mexico has the second highest rate of uninsured motorists, at 24.9% of drivers.
  • 2%: Mississippi is ranked third for uninsured motorists, at 22.2%.
  • 9%: Tennessee comes in fourth for the highest rates of uninsured motorists at 20.9% of drivers.
  • 6%: Michigan is in fifth place for the highest rates of uninsured drivers, at 19.6%.
  • 7%: Kentucky has the sixth highest levels of uninsured drivers, with 18.7% of their population driving without insurance.
  • 1%: Georgia is seventh across the US for uninsured drivers, at 18.1%.
  • 1%: Delaware is in eighth place, tied with Georgia for the percentage of uninsured motorists at 18.1%.
  • 5%: Colorado is ninth among the top ten states for uninsured drivers, at 17.5%.
  • 1%: Ohio has the tenth highest rate of uninsured drivers at 17.1%.

Lowest Number States

  • 9%: Wyoming has the lowest rate of uninsured drivers at only 5.9%.
  • 2%: Maine is tied for second place with only 6.2% of drivers considered uninsured motorists.
  • 2%: Idaho is the third lowest in terms of uninsured motorists, at only 6.2% of drivers.
  • 3%: Utah has the fourth lowest percentage of uninsured motorists at 7.3%.
  • 8%: New Hampshire is in 5th place as the fifth lowest percentage of uninsured motorists, at 7.8%.
  • 8%: Nebraska ties with New Hampshire for 5th and 6th place with only 5.7% of drivers without insurance.
  • 9%: North Dakota has the sixth lowest percentage of uninsured motorists at 7.9%.
  • 8%: Kansas has the seventh lowest number of uninsured drivers at only 8%.
  • 8%: South Dakota is in 9th place with only 8% of drivers on the road without proper insurance.
  • 7%: Minnesota comes in 10th place with only 8.7% of drivers considered uninsured.

National Uninsured Motorist Rates By Year

When you look at the national average for uninsured motorist rates by year, there was a steady decline for several years leading up to the pandemic after which there was a steep increase of 19% which remained relatively stable during the pandemic and immediately after.

  • 11.6%: 11.6% of drivers in 2017 were considered uninsured motorists.
  • 11.5%: 11.5% of drivers in 2018 were considered uninsured motorists.
  • 11.1%: 11.1% of drivers in 2019 did not have insurance.
  • 13.9%: 13.9% of drivers in 2020 at the start of the pandemic did not have insurance.
  • 14.2%: 14.2% of drivers in 2021 were considered uninsured motorists.
  • 14%: 14.0% of drivers in 2022 were considered uninsured motorists.

Penalties For Driving Without Insurance

If you are caught driving without insurance, most of the time you will receive a ticket and have your license suspended. how long your license is suspended is contingent upon the state. Some states will reinstate your license with a small fee after you show proof of insurance but the circumstances that lead to you being caught driving without insurance will also affect what other penalties you incur.

Penalties for driving without insurance can include:

  • Tickets
  • Fees
  • License suspension
  • Reinstatement fees for licensed
  • Registration suspension
  • Reinstatement fees for registration
  • Vehicle impoundment
  • SR-22 requirements
  • Increased insurance costs
  • Jail time

For many states, especially if you are in an accident, you will have your license and registration revoked. In most cases you can have it reinstated once you show proof of insurance but some states will impound your vehicle, sometimes up to 30 days.

In many states driving without insurance is considered a misdemeanor but if you are involved in an accident and you don’t have insurance it can lead to jail time anywhere between a few weeks and a few months. Subsequent offenses can result in much higher prison sentences.

Legal fines can range between $150 and $5,000 for your first offense but if you are in an accident it can cost significantly more especially if you are responsible for property damage or personal injury to the other drivers.

  • Massachusetts suspends your driver’s license for 60 days if you are caught without insurance.
  • Wisconsin suspends your driver’s license and registration until you file an SR_22 and prove that you have minimum insurance requirements.
  • California will revoke your license if you are involved in a car accident but they do not revoke your license automatically if you are an uninsured motorist at a routine traffic stop; instead you will still receive a citation and have to get insurance within the given time frame.
  • New Jersey will impound your car and revoke registration if you do not submit proof of insurance within 24 hours of receiving a citation as an uninsured motorist.
  • Delaware has the highest fines for a first offense starting at $1,500.
  • Connecticut has the highest jail time with up to 5 years.
  • Alabama has the highest reinstatement fee for a first offense at $200 for registration reinstatement.
  • Florida has the highest penalty for license and registration suspension for a first offense, up to 3 years.

The penalties change based on which offense it is and where the offense takes place. The table below breaks down the average penalties for each state for a first offense:

State Fines Additional Penalties Jail Time
Alabama $500 Registration suspension with $200 reinstatement fee None
Alaska $500 License suspension for 90 days None
Arizona $500 License and registration suspension for 90 days None
Arkansas $50 Registration suspension with a $20 reinstatement fee Up to one year
California $100 None None
Colorado $500 License suspension until proof of insurance is provided None
Connecticut $100 License and registration suspension for 6 months Up to five years
Delaware $1,500 License suspension for 6 months None
DC $150 License suspension for 30 days None
Florida $150 License and registration suspension up to 3 years None
Georgia $85 License and registration suspension for 60 days Up to one year
Hawaii $500 License suspension until proof of insurance is provided None
Idaho $75 None None
Illinois $500 License suspension up to 3 months None
Indiana $250 License suspension up to 90 days None
Iowa $250 None None
Kansas $300 License and registration suspension until proof of insurance is provided Up to six months
Kentucky $500 Registration suspension up to 1 year Up to 90 days
Louisiana $500 None None
Maine $100 License and registration suspension until proof of insurance is provided None
Maryland $1,000 None Up to one year
Massachusetts $500 License and registration suspension for 60 days Up to one year
Michigan $200 License suspension up to 30 days Up to one year
Minnesota $200 License and registration suspension up to 30 days None
Mississippi $500 License suspension up to 1 year None
Missouri $20 License suspension until proof of insurance is provided None
Montana $250 None None
Nebraska $100 License suspension until proof of insurance is provided None
Nevada $250 License suspension until proof of insurance is provided None
New Hampshire $125 License and registration suspension until proof of insurance is provided None
New Jersey $300 License suspension up to 1 year None
New Mexico $300 License and registration suspension until proof of insurance is provided Up to 90 days
New York $150 License and registration suspension until proof of insurance is provided Up to 15 days
North Carolina $50 License suspension until proof of insurance is provided None
North Dakota $150 License suspension until proof of insurance is provided None
Ohio Varies License suspension until proof of insurance is provided None
Oklahoma $250 License suspension until proof of insurance is provided Up to 30 days
Oregon $260 License and registration suspension until proof of insurance is provided None
Pennsylvania $300 License and registration suspension for 3 months None
Rhode Island $100 License and registration suspension for 3 months None
South Carolina $550 License suspension for 30 days None
South Dakota $100 License suspension up to 1 year Up to 30 days
Tennessee $25 License suspension until proof of insurance is provided None
Texas $175 None None
Utah $400 License suspension until proof of insurance is provided None
Vermont $250 License suspension until proof of insurance is provided None
Virginia $500 License suspension until proof of insurance is provided None
Washington $550 None None
West Virginia $200 License suspension up to 30 days Up to one year
Wisconsin $500 None None
Wyoming $250 License suspension until proof of insurance is provided Up to six months

Let’s look at some examples from one state to the next for additional penalties compared to the first offense.

Arizona

In the state of Arizona, uninsured motorists risk having their license suspended as well as suspension on their license plates and registrations for up to a year. Reinstatement comes at a hefty fee plus fines.

During any traffic stop or if you are involved in a car accident you will have to provide proof of insurance. If you don’t have insurance, you might get a ticket for not having insurance proof with you but if you don’t have any insurance, then there could be additional fines or penalties.

The table below breaks down the potential fines and penalties in the state of Arizona based on first, second, and third offenses.

Offense Penalties Fines Additional Risks
1st ●     Driver’s license, registration and license plates suspended for 3 months

●     $50 to reinstate registration

●     $20–$35 to reinstate driver’s license

$500 Risk of SR-22 for 3 years*
2nd ●     Driver’s license, registration and license plates suspended for 3 months

●     $50 to reinstate registration

●     $20–$35 to reinstate driver’s license

$750 Risk of SR-22 for 3 years
3rd ●     Driver’s license, registration and license plates suspended for 3 months

●     $50 to reinstate registration

●     $20–$35 to reinstate driver’s license

$1,000 Risk of SR-22 for 3 years

*SR-22 is a requirement as part of a court order that creates an immediate, one-time expense from your insurance provider to file the document. After that you’ll have to file every year to prove that you have coverage which could come at an additional cost or an increased premium. Bear in mind that some insurance providers will not offer coverage if this is a requirement.

Kentucky

The table below breaks down the potential fines and penalties in the state of Kentucky based on first, second, and third offenses.

Offense Penalties Fines Additional Risks
1st ●     Registration suspension for 1 year, or until proof of insurance is submitted

●     Court fees

●     Cost to reinstate registration

$500 – $1,000 90 days in jail, or a combination of fine and jail time
2nd ●     Registration suspension for 1 year

●     Driver’s license revocation for 1 year

●     $40 reinstatement fee for driver’s license

●     Court fees

●     Cost to reinstate registration

●     Retake driving exams if your license remains suspended 1 year or longer

$1,000 – $2,500 180 days in jail, or a combination of fine and jail time
3rd ●     Registration suspension for 1 year

●     Driver’s license revocation for 1 year

●     $40 reinstatement fee for driver’s license

●     Court fees

●     Cost to reinstate registration

●     Retake driving exams if your license remains suspended 1 year or longer

$1,000 – $2,500 180 days in jail, or a combination of fine and jail time

Oregon

Oregon requires drivers to have uninsured motorist coverage for bodily injury as part of all car insurance policies.  if you are pulled over at a checkpoint or if you get in a car accident, you’ll have to provide proof of insurance and failure to do so can give you a traffic violation. Oregon requires one of the following:

  • Current insurance card
  • Current liability insurance binder
  • Or a signed letter from your insurance provider verifying coverage

The table below breaks down the potential fines and penalties in the state of Oregon based on first, second, and third offenses.

Offense Penalties Fines Additional Risks
1st ●     Registration suspension

●     License suspension

●     Possible impoundment

●     $75 reinstatement fee

●     Proof of insurance compliance for 3 years

 

$265 fine; $135–1,000 for court fees SR-22 for 3 years
2nd ●     Registration suspension

●     License suspension

●     Possible impoundment

●     $75 reinstatement fee

●     Proof of insurance compliance for 3 years

$265 fine; $135–1,000 for court fees SR-22 for 3 years
3rd ●     Registration suspension

●     License suspension

●     Possible impoundment

●     $75 reinstatement fee

●     Proof of insurance compliance for 3 years

$265 fine; $135–1,000 for court fees SR-22 for 3 years

Texas

Texas delineates in terms of penalties, fines, and additional risks between those who are caught without insurance at a regular traffic stop versus those who are caught because of involvement in a car accident. Involvement in a car accident comes with significantly more severe penalties.

The table below breaks down the potential fines and penalties in the state of Texas based on first, second, and third offenses.

Offense Penalties Fines Additional Risks
1st ●     Registration suspension

●     License suspension

●     Possible impoundment

●     Reinstatement fees

 

$175–$350 plus fines or fees if involved in an accident** ●     If involved in an accident, your registration and license are suspended for up to two years

●     Car can be impounded for 180 days until you provide proof of insurance; daily fees apply.

●     SR-22 required for 3 years

●     If you caused an accident, you are 100% liable for physical injuries and property damage of others involved in the accident

2nd ●     Registration suspension

●     License suspension

●     Possible impoundment

●     Reinstatement fees

$350–$1,000 plus fines or fees if involved in an accident Same as above
3rd ●     Registration suspension

●     License suspension

●     Possible impoundment

●     Reinstatement fees

$350–$1,000 plus fines or fees if involved in an accident

 

Same as above

**If you caused an accident which resulted in serious injuries to others or death, you can face fines of $4,000 maximum and up to one year in jail

State Policies To Lower The Rate Of Uninsured Motorists

Several states are attempting to incorporate policies that lower the rate of uninsured motorists.

“No Pay, No Play” Laws

Several states are implementing policies called “No pay, no play” which mean if you are an uninsured motorist, you have a limit on how much you can sue another driver for noneconomic damages, like pain and suffering or emotional anguish. The idea behind these policies is that only drivers who pay into legal requirements for insurance are able to benefit from certain compensation afforded through insurance.

States that have implemented these policies include:

  1. Alaska
  2. California
  3. Indiana
  4. Iowa
  5. Kansas
  6. Louisiana
  7. Michigan
  8. Missouri
  9. New Jersey
  10. North Dakota
  11. Oregon

Insurance Verification Systems

Other state policies to lower the rate of uninsured motorists include Insurance verification systems which require car insurance companies to notify state transportation departments or the DMV in each state when a car insurance policy is canceled or lapses. This, in theory, makes it easier for officers to identify drivers on the road who do not have proper insurance.

States that have implemented these policies include:

  1. Alabama
  2. Connecticut
  3. Georgia
  4. Louisiana
  5. Idaho
  6. Ohio
  7. Mississippi
  8. Montana
  9. Nevada
  10. Oklahoma
  11. South Carolina
  12. Tennessee
  13. Rhode Island
  14. Texas
  15. West Virginia
  16. Wyoming
  17. Utah

Texas has very high fines especially if you are involved in a car accident and you don’t have insurance. They have also implemented insurance verification systems and yet they remain on the list of the top 10 highest rates of uninsured motorists per state.

None of the states with the “no pay, no play” laws are on the top 10 for lowest percentage of uninsured motorists, and only a few like Utah and Idaho which have insurance verification systems are on the list for the top 10 states with the lowest percentage.

Uninsured Motorist Requirements By State

Several states have changed policies to require Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. This is part of your insurance policy which pays for injuries and damage to you, your passengers, and your vehicle in the event that you get into a car accident with another driver who does not have insurance.

There are two main types of coverage for uninsured motorists or underinsured motorists:

  • Bodily injury
  • Property damage

Each state has different minimum requirements, some requiring Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage as well which applies to situations where you are involved in a car accident with someone who does not have insurance.

  • South Dakota: South Dakota only requires, for example, that drivers have bodily injury coverage for uninsured motorists.
  • New Hampshire and Virginia: New Hampshire and Virginia require uninsured motorist coverage if you purchase any car insurance policy.
  • Rhode Island: Rhode Island requires uninsured motorist coverage if you have a liability coverage limit that is more than the state minimum.
  • New Jersey: New Jersey requires uninsured motorist coverage if you have a standard auto insurance policy but not a basic policy.
  • Washington D.C.: Washington DC requires uninsured motorist coverage for bodily injury and property damage.
  • Virginia: In Virginia, it is a requirement that drivers have UM coverage as part of their regular policies or pay a fee to the DMV.
  • $136: The average annual cost of UM is $136.
  • $90: Underinsured motorist coverage only for bodily injury costs an average of $90 per year.
  • $36: Uninsured motorist coverage specifically for property damage costs an average of $36 per year.
  • $46: Underinsured motorist coverage for property damage costs an average of $46 per year.

UM Insurance Requirements By State

Bodily Injury (BI) and Property Damage (PD) refer to basic coverage that apply to injuries sustained by other people if you get into an accident (not yourself) and the damage inflicted on other vehicles or property (not your car).

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) applies to your injuries, damages, or lost wages. UM and UIM cover damages if another driver is uninsured or underinsured.

The table below provides information on the insurance requirements for each state:

State Insurance requirements Uninsured Motorist (UM) required?
Alabama BI & PD Liability
Alaska BI & PD Liability
Arizona BI & PD Liability
Arkansas BI & PD Liability, PIP
California BI & PD Liability
Colorado BI & PD Liability
Connecticut BI & PD Liability, UM, UIM Yes
Delaware BI & PD Liability, PIP
DC BI & PD Liability, UM Yes
Florida PD Liability, PIP
Georgia BI & PD Liability
Hawaii BI & PD Liability, PIP
Idaho BI & PD Liability
Illinois BI & PD Liability, UM, UIM Yes
Indiana BI & PD Liability
Iowa BI & PD Liability
Kansas BI & PD Liability, PIP, UM, UIM Yes
Kentucky BI & PD Liability, PIP
Louisiana BI & PD Liability
Maine BI & PD Liability, MED, UM, UIM Yes
Maryland BI & PD Liability, PIP, UM, UIM Yes
Massachusetts BI & PD Liability, PIP, UM Yes
Michigan BI & PD Liability, PIP
Minnesota BI & PD Liability, PIP, UM, UIM Yes
Mississippi BI & PD Liability
Missouri BI & PD Liability, UM Yes
Montana BI & PD Liability
Nebraska BI & PD Liability, UM, UIM Yes
Nevada BI & PD Liability
New Hampshire FR Only
New Jersey BI & PD Liability, PIP, UM, UIM Yes
New Mexico BI & PD Liability
New York BI & PD Liability, PIP, UM, UIM Yes
North Carolina BI & PD Liability, UM, UIM Yes
North Dakota BI & PD Liability, PIP, UM, UIM Yes
Ohio BI & PD Liability
Oklahoma BI & PD Liability
Oregon BI & PD Liability, PIP, UM, UIM Yes
Pennsylvania BI & PD Liability, PIP
Rhode Island BI & PD Liability
South Carolina BI & PD Liability, UM Yes
South Dakota BI & PD Liability, UM, UIM Yes
Tennessee BI & PD Liability
Texas BI & PD Liability
Utah BI & PD Liability, PIP
Vermont BI & PD Liability, UM, UIM Yes
Virginia BI & PD Liability, UM, UIM Yes
Washington BI & PD Liability
West Virginia BI & PD Liability, UM Yes
Wisconsin BI & PD Liability, UM Yes
Wyoming BI & PD Liability
 

Go back to top