What is a Suspended License?
A suspended driver’s license means the insured driver has temporarily lost their driving privileges. Each States DMV handles what specific circumstances will determine a driver’s license suspension differently depending on their specific state laws.
Here’s what may result in a suspended license consistently throughout the country:
- Driving with no car insurance - Regularly operating a vehicle without your state’s minimum required auto insurance can result in a suspended license.
- DUI - Driving under the influence , also known as DUI or DWI, will usually result in temporary license suspension. Repeat DUI offenders may lose it permanently. Underage drinking and refusing to take a breathalyzer can also suspend your driver’s license.
- Reckless driving - A history of reckless driving may give the Department of Motor Vehicles, or DMV all they need for license revocation. Fleeing the scene of an accident, speeding, too many traffic violations, and vandalization of property are some violations that could get your driver’s license suspended as well.
- Failure to pay taxes - Falling behind on your taxes or child support may result in a loss of driving privileges. Failure to file an accident report to the DMV at the time a car accident may also result in license suspension.
- Special cases - A special case of license suspension will be applied if you’ve developed or have a medical condition that could impair your ability to drive. Additionally, not showing up to traffic court or your court-ordered driving safety course are also grounds for license suspension from the DMV and possible jail time.
Do I Need Insurance With a Suspended License?
You should keep your car insurance active even if your license is suspended. Cancelling your car insurance may seem like a cost saver but can end up costing you more in the long run.
A lapse in coverage means you’ll pay significantly more when you go to get car insurance in the future. In fact, drivers with gaps in coverage due to an insurance lapse can pay up to 30% more than those with continuous coverage.
Many states also require vehicle owners to have minimum liability insurance coverage on registered vehicles. Not complying with these legal requirements can mean longer suspension periods and fines.
Can You Car Insurance with a Suspended License?
Due to a traffic violation, ticket, or falling behind on important payments, your driver’s license may be temporarily suspended. You’re now prohibited from driving for a certain period of time until you can take the necessary steps to reinstate your driver’s license. At the same time, you may be wondering what will happen to your car insurance coverage if your driver’s license were to be suspended.
So, How Can You Get Car Insurance with a Suspended License? Finding new or continuing your existing auto insurance policy with a suspended driver’s license isn’t impossible or overly complex. It’s just a matter of knowing what to do and the order of doing it.
Often, the difficulty depends on the circumstances of the driver’s license suspension or any accompanying at-fault accidents. States require drivers to carry both liability insurance and a valid driver’s license. Here’s how to stay insured in the event your driver’s license is suspended.
How to get Affordable Car Insurance with a Suspended License
Car insurance may be a requirement in your state, even if you’re not legally a driver anymore. It also plays a role in reinstating your license with the DMV.
There are a couple of reasons why you should keep your auto insurance coverage and stay insured until your license is no longer suspended.
Listed below are some strategies to get car insurance with a suspended license.
Apply for a Restricted or Conditional License
Sometimes called an occupational, hardship license, a restricted license allows those with a suspended license limited driving privileges for essential purposes usually after being arrested for a DUI or DWI offense.
A restricted license, hardship license, or conditional license covers drives to:
- Work. If your license is suspended and you’re without transport to your job, daily drives to your workplace are covered by a restricted license, hardship license or conditional license.
- Doctors’ appointment. Any other medical appointment or check-up is essential and covered by a restricted license, hardship license or conditional license.
- Court. While showing up in court to have your license reinstated, you’d be entitled to drive a vehicle under your name there.
- Transport dependents. If you managed a carpool to your workplace and others relied on you for transportation, you may still drive them.
Keep in mind that restricted licenses, hardship licenses or conditional licenses are entirely based on the case and severity of your suspended license. They are also at your DMV’s discretion. Your DMV driving record, suspension, and the reason why you would need a work license are all part of the application.
SR-22 or FR-44 Insurance
Getting an SR-22 (Certificate of Financial Responsibility) or FR-44 insurance can help you get auto insurance if your license is suspended. These are not standalone policies but proof of insurance coverage. States require SR-22 or FR-44 filings after serious offenses like DUIs, reckless driving or license suspensions. When filed, these will show compliance with states minimum liability insurance requirements.
SR-22 filing is an average of $15 to $25 but you may pay more for your liability insurance because you’re a high risk driver. FR-44 which applies to states like Florida and Virginia is similar to an SR-22 requirement but requires higher coverage limits for more severe violations. Both will help reinstate your driver’s license and show financial responsibility.
Get Coverage from High-Risk Insurers
High-risk insurers cover drivers with bad driving records including those with a suspended license. These auto insurance companies offer specialized coverage options often with more flexible policy terms but higher premiums because of the higher risk. To get started:
- Research auto insurance providers that cover drivers with suspended licenses.
- Gather your documents to make the initial application process easier.
- Make sure the policy meets all coverage requirements including liability, property damage or lease obligations.
High-risk auto insurance companies can offer custom solutions to help you get affordable insurance coverage and meet state minimum insurance requirements.
Non-Owner Car Insurance
A non-owner car insurance policy is for individuals who don’t own a vehicle but need car insurance coverage. This is perfect for those with suspended licenses trying to get their driving privileges back. It offers liability coverage for bodily injury liability and property damage liability when driving a borrowed or rented car. But it doesn’t cover physical damage to the vehicle which remains the owner’s responsibility.
Non-owner policies can include SR-22 filings to show proof of financial responsibility. If you don’t have a vehicle this type of car insurance policy will show compliance and help you get your license back. After your suspension is over it will also provide the coverage to drive legally.
Named Driver Policy
A named driver policy allows you to name another person as the primary driver of your vehicle so you can have continuous coverage during your suspension. This will prevent insurance coverage gaps and help you meet your financial obligations. To set up a named driver policy:
- Choose someone with a valid license and clean driving record.
- Inform your insurance company about your license suspension and need to assign a new primary driver.
- Make sure the named driver understands their responsibilities with their insurance policy.
This will also keep your vehicle insured which may be required for lease or loan agreements.
Fix Your Driving Record
Improving your driving record reduces your financial risk and can lower your car insurance premiums over time. To do this, take defensive driving courses, avoid new violations and follow any restrictions on your suspension. A clean driving record shows responsibility and gets you better car insurance rates.
Raise Your Credit Score
Insurance companies use credit scores to calculate insurance premium rates. Raising your credit score will lower your car insurance costs indirectly. Pay your bills on time, reduce debt and monitor your credit report for errors. Small improvements in your credit will get affordable rates on your car insurance policy.
How Much is Auto Insurance for a Driver with a Suspended License?
Getting suspended license insurance is more expensive because insurers consider drivers with suspended licenses as high risk. According to research, car insurance for suspended drivers can increase by up to 67% on average, depending on the state. In states like Florida and Texas, the cost can go even higher because of stricter car insurance requirements and risk assessment.
To keep insurance coverage during a suspension, drivers are often required to file an SR-22 or FR-44 form which is proof of meeting the state’s minimum liability insurance requirements. Filing these forms will also increase your car insurance premiums. For example, top insurance companies like Insurance Navy offer SR-22 for suspended drivers, with rates starting at $51 to $67 a month depending on the insurance carrier and individual risk.
You can also get car insurance discounts if you bundle insurance policies or have a clean record after reinstatement. Compare quotes from multiple insurance companies because the rate for high risk policies can vary a lot.
Can Auto Insurance Companies See If Your License Is Suspended?
Your suspended license will be brought to your auto insurance company’s attention when they look over your motor vehicle report (MVR) at the time your insurance policy is up for renewal.
In most cases, the car insurance company will choose not to renew your policy. If an insured driver with a suspended license wants to apply, it’s a red flag due to high risk for the insurers. They’re not only aware of the legality of driving unlicensed but also the risk of filing a claim for an unlicensed driver. Doing that is incredibly expensive for the car insurance company, and most insurers try to avoid it.
When it comes to car insurance coverage, for the time being, suspended license holders are better off with a high-risk, local car insurance company. Unless there are other people on your car’s policy, your car insurance company may opt not to renew.
If a driver with a valid license was to do something to have their license suspended like a hit and run, DUI or DWI, then they could expect their car insurance rates to increase and pay more money for their insurance premiums.
The average insurance premium increase for a suspended license would be 67% for up to 3 years. This is assuming that you’ve also received a traffic ticket from the police for a specific traffic violation like a hit and run, DUI or DWI. That rate from your current insurer can increase anywhere from $200 to $500 per year for some of the largest car insurance companies.
How to Reinstate a Suspended License
The first step to reinstating your suspended license is to pay any associated DMV fees and complete any driving courses that may be required. From there, you must:
- Have a clean driving record. If you have safe driving habits, then now is not the time to change them. A clean driving record with the DMV shows you’re making the changes to be a safe driver.
- Meet with a Secretary of State or DMV hearing officer. Informal hearings at the DMV are mandatory for drivers with suspended licenses with no injuries or fatalities. Formal hearings at the DMV are required for more serious cases. These would be the court appearances.
- Have proof of financial responsibility. As required by state law, you’ll need to provide financial responsibility for the minimum required car insurance to your DMV. Auto Insurance companies file what is known as SR-22 Insurance which certifies just that. An SR-22 form may also be called a Certificate of Liability Insurance or an FR-44 in some states.
- Pay a reinstatement fee. The money you pay to the DMV to receive your reinstated driver’s license depends on the state you live in. The amount of money it costs can range anywhere from $70 to $1,000 depending on your DMV. It also depends on the traffic offense number and severity.
Can You Rent a Car with a Suspended License?
You can’t rent a car with a suspended license. Most major car rental companies like Avis, Budget and Dollar can do an electronic DMV check to verify your driving record and make sure your license isn’t suspended or revoked. Some rental agencies may also deny rental requests from drivers with recent traffic violations including DUIs.
Can You Buy a Car with a Suspended License?
While you don’t need a valid driver’s license to buy a car, you need to provide proof of insurance to register the vehicle. So while it is technically possible to buy a car and get the title in your name with a suspended license, you’ll need to get car insurance before you can register the vehicle.
If you’re going to finance the vehicle, getting an auto loan will be even tougher with a suspended license. Lenders will likely deny your application.
Can You Register A Car with a Suspended License?
It is not a requirement to have your license in hand when registering your vehicle with the DMV. However, you will need proof of car insurance and the appropriate documents to the DMV to get a license plate for your vehicle.
To start off with this process without any hassle at all, there are ways such as applying for hardship licenses or getting SR-22 coverage which might be more suited depending on different circumstances. Once these steps are done you can get your license plates, however, registration can happen through your motor vehicles office or DMV just like before!
Do you Need Car Insurance with a Suspended License? We Can Help!
A final word of advice would be to not cancel your car insurance policy in the event of a license suspension. For reasons we’ve just gone over, auto insurance is a requirement in reinstating a driver’s license.
To avoid high car insurance rates and save money, consider placing the car in storage with comprehensive coverage or applying for a restricted license. Meanwhile, take all the steps you just learned for drivers license reinstatement.
Is your license currently suspended and you’re looking to get back on the road? No problem! We specialize in getting automobile insurance for drivers with suspended licenses. We offer superior coverage at the lowest rate.
Give us a call at 888-949-6289 to speak with our licensed insurance agents or get free online cheap car insurance quotes today!
