What Is the Punishment for Not Maintaining Auto Insurance in Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reports that more than 8 million licensed Pennsylvania drivers drove the state's roadways during 2009. In this, the Insurance Research Council reports that about 9 percent of the drivers had no auto insurance. To reduce and control the number of uninsured drivers on the road, the State of Pennsylvania views the noncompliance of its insurance regulations as a punishable offense and enforces those punishments regularly.
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Requirements
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To comply with Pennsylvania's auto insurance regulations, all licensed drivers of private passenger vehicles must maintain continuous auto insurance coverage, or coverage with no lapses. Though drivers can always carry higher limits, every Pennsylvania driver must carry liability limits of at least $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident and $5,000 in property damage, or 15/30/5, along with tort coverage. Pennsylvania allows its drivers to select between full tort coverage and limited tort coverage.
Suspension
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Drivers that are non-compliant with Pennsylvania's auto insurance requirements are subject to suspensions of their driver's license and vehicle registration. Each suspension that results from insurance noncompliance will last at least 30 days, or longer if ordered by the court. During the suspension, the driver is not permitted to drive for any reason and the vehicle must remain stationary. The suspended vehicle cannot be driven, even by a driver with valid license and insurance.
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Penalties
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Along with the reinstatement costs for your driver's license and vehicle registration restoration, non-compliant drivers are also subject to fines and penalties. The monetary penalty resulting from a lapse in auto insurance is $300. Additional court costs and fines may also apply.
Insurance
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Pennsylvania drivers must show proof of valid auto insurance in order to restore their driving and registration privileges. This is in addition to settling all fines and fees, and completing the suspension period. Since the driving suspension and lapse of coverage is reported to the DMV driving report, the lapse may cause non-compliant drivers to see an increase in their auto insurance premiums.
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