What are some penalties for driving while uninsured?

Motor vehicle insurance is required by law in Maryland. Your insurance must cover $30,000 for bodily injury and $60,000 for two or more people. It also must cover up to $15,000 in property damage.

There are many possible penalties that can be imposed for each lapse of insurance, both by the Department of Motor Vehicles and by the court. Here are just of a few of those penalties that the DMV might impose each time someone’s insurance lapses.

— You could lose your license plates privileges.

— You could lose your vehicle registration privileges.

— You could be required to pay a penalty of $150 for the first 30 days that you do not have insurance. You could also face a penalty of $7 a day for each day after that.

— You could be required to pay a $25 fee to restore your vehicle’s registration.

— Your license plates could be confiscated.

— If you provided false vehicle insurance, you could face up to a year in jail and/or up to a $1,000 fine.

— You could be prohibited from registering another vehicle until all of your insurance violations have been taken care of.

Not having vehicle insurance may seem minor, but if you are in an accident, that insurance could be a safety net against high medical expenses, replacement vehicle costs, repair costs and lawsuits from others involved in the accident.

If you are facing a charge of driving without insurance, the advice of an experienced attorney is highly recommended. He or she may be able to help get your charge or the possible penalties mitigated.

Source: Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration, “Uninsured Vehicle Owners Could:,” accessed May 06, 2016