Driving without insurance is a violation of traffic law in many countries and parts of the world. The majority of modernized nations have rules on mandatory auto insurance for drivers in order to deal with the costs and liabilities of traffic accidents. Drivers who operate a vehicle without insurance may end up owing vast amounts of money that they can never pay to victims of injuries or those with property damage resulting from an auto collision or other accident.
In order to make sure that drivers in a certain jurisdiction are complying with requirements for auto insurance, law enforcement has to actively review insurance information for motorists during patrols or other activity. Some law enforcement departments now have modern research methods for figuring out whether a driver has applicable car insurance. Different kinds of car insurance apply to vehicles driven by the owner, rental vehicles, and other situations like leasing or financing of vehicles.
Each nation and government has its own rules about mandatory auto insurance. For example, in the United States, car insurance laws are set by each state separately. Each of the 50 states has its own requirements for minimum liability insurance, so that victims of car accidents can be paid without bankrupting those who are found to be at fault. In the U.S. and elsewhere in the world, laws on driving without insurance are constantly changing to keep up with the real risks and cost factors in a given traffic environment.
Those who are charged with driving without insurance may have only this single charge brought against them. In other cases, a charge of driving without insurance is part of a greater traffic violation charge such as a DUI/DWI or other violations regarding reckless or risky behavior. Defendants in a DUI or similar case may seek out professional defense lawyers to help them minimize the consequences of the charge, which may be extremely damaging to their financial livelihood, for example, if the person needs to drive to get to a job.
To find out specific rules about driving without insurance, residents of a given community must access current information from their local government office, local insurance bureau, or other applicable authority. Knowing more about the traffic laws where a driver lives will help him or her to comply with current rules and regulations and avoid costly prosecution, but it is just as important to also check the laws for other areas when traveling. Safe driving and compliance with traffic law helps make the road safer for everyone.