Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Oklahoma
If the state catches you driving without car insurance, you could be subject to fines and fees exceeding $850 in addition to having your license and registration suspended. You could even get jail time.
There are a few ways the state can identify someone without car insurance. Police officers will ask for proof of insurance during traffic stops, and the Uninsured Vehicle Enforcement Diversion Program has cameras installed around the state to flag cars that don’t match up with a policy in the Oklahoma Insurance Verification System. Furthermore, if you are uninsured and in a collision, you may face additional penalties.
How much car insurance do I need in Oklahoma?
The state requires that you have at least the following minimum liability coverage:
- $25,000 for bodily injuries per person
- $50,000 for bodily injuries per accident
- $25,000 for property damage
Penalties for driving uninsured in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, driving without insurance is a misdemeanor. All drivers are required to have the minimum amount of coverage and carry proof with them while driving. If you don't have your insurance ID card or have allowed your coverage to lapse, you'll face steep penalties. And if you're convicted of driving without insurance when involved in an accident, you may have to cover any resulting medical bills and property damage costs.
Type of penalty | Driving without insurance in an accident | Driving without insurance at a checkpoint |
|---|---|---|
|
Fine | Up to $250 | Up to $250 |
|
Imprisonment | Not more than 30 days or both fine and imprisonment | Not more than 30 days or both fine and imprisonment |
|
Driving privileges | License and registration suspension until proof of current financial responsibility is provided; vehicle impoundment | Immediate license plate confiscation; license and registration suspension after 10 days of not complying |
|
Reinstatement requirements | Proof of insurance; $300 reinstatement fee; $125 administrative fee; $175 modified driver's license fee | Proof of insurance; $300 reinstatement fee; $125 administrative fee |
Fines and suspensions after an accident
If you're convicted of driving without insurance after an accident, you'll need to pay a $250 fine or serve jail time of up to 30 days — on top of paying for costs related to the accident. The state will suspend your license and registration for a year and may impound your vehicle.
You may get your driving privileges reinstated once you've served the jail time and/or paid the fines. You can request a $175 modified driver's license from the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) so you can continue driving to work while your license is suspended. But if you accept a modified driver's license, you’ll waive your rights to a hearing to dispute the suspension.
To have your driving privileges reinstated after the suspension period, you must also pay a $300 reinstatement fee and a $125 administrative fee to the sheriff's office. And finally, you must show the court a current auto insurance policy with the state's minimum liability requirements. You won't need an SR-22 form on file, though.
Fines and suspensions at a checkpoint
In Oklahoma, insurance carriers must report lapsed policies to the state, where the information is stored in an electronic database. If you drive through any of Oklahoma's checkpoints, officers can feed your license plate information into the system and verify your insurance status.
If you don't have adequate insurance coverage, then you'll be on the hook for a $250 fine and a license suspension. But instead of having your motor vehicle towed, the officer may confiscate your license plates. Your citation will then function as temporary license plates for 10 days.
If you hope to reinstate your license and retrieve your plates, you’ll have to get an insurance policy within 10 days. You must pay the $300 reinstatement fee and the $125 administrative fee.
If 10 days pass and you have not submitted an active insurance policy to the DPS, you'll be charged with a misdemeanor, face jail time of up to 30 days and surrender your driving privileges for one year. If 90 days pass after your conviction and you still haven't provided proof of financial responsibility, the state will dispose of your license plates.
Reapplying for auto insurance in Oklahoma
Driving without insurance is considered a misdemeanor that will remain on your driving record and may hurt your chances of getting insurance in Oklahoma. Insurance companies can deny coverage if they think you are a high-risk driver. If you run into this dilemma, you may be able to get an insurance policy through Oklahoma's Automobile Insurance Plan.