Driving Without Car Insurance in Arizona
Reader’s Question:
Is it illegal to drive without insurance in Arizona? I live in Glendale Arizona.
Sarah
Glendale, AZ
Almost every state requires every individual to have car liability insurance. All states have financial responsibility laws also. This means that even in a state that does not require auto liability insurance, you need to have sufficient assets to pay the claims if you get involved in an accident. If you don’t have enough assets, you must buy at least the state’s minimum amount of insurance.
In Arizona, the required coverages are Bodily Injury and Property Damage. The minimum required limits are $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for Bodily Injury and $10,000 Property Damage per accident. This requirement does not apply to motorcycles though.
Driving Without Insurance – What Happens if your Get in an Accident
Reader’s Question:
My wife unknowingly drove without a insurance and license in Arizona. She was hit by another vehicle that ran a red light, driven by a young driver without a seat-belt. What should she expect?
Andy
Glendale, AZ
Typically even without having insurance on your vehicle, your wife should be able to make a claim against the at-fault party’s car insurance policy for the damages to your car.
Typically, if you operate a car without having your license then it is a traffic violation with limited fines ($35 to $150, depending on the state). As for the penalties for driving without a insurance or license, they are usually quite serious in the state of Arizona. Operating a vehicle without a license is a class 1 misdemeanor and penalties can include the vehicle being impounded, a court imposed fine of $300 or more, and 48 hours in jail .
If at the time of that accident you had car insurance but did not have proof of it in the car so were cited, you can show proof of valid insurance for that time period and have the charges dismissed. But if you do not show proof of insurance, the judge may issue a fine in addition to any action taken by the MVD.
