Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in North Dakota
In North Dakota, the law is clear: Driving without the minimum required amount of liability insurance is a class B misdemeanor.
Those who are convicted of driving without insurance may have to pay a fine of up to $1,500, serve jail time and surrender their driver's license.
Penalties for driving uninsured in North Dakota
In North Dakota, all drivers must have a car insurance policy with at least these state-mandated coverage minimums[/link]:
- $25,000 for bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 for bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 for property damage per accident
- $25,000 uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage per person
- $50,000 uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage per accident
- $30,000 personal injury protection
Before hitting the road, make sure you carry proof of that coverage in the form of a digital or paper insurance card, a policy binder or an application of insurance with your policy number. Police officers may ask for that proof at a traffic stop. If you're caught without it, you will have to provide proof to the prosecutor's office that you were covered at the time. If you can't provide proof or simply don't have the required coverage, you'll face a number of penalties.
Type of penalty | First offense | Next offenses within 1 year |
|---|---|---|
|
Fine | $150 to $1,000 | $300 to $1,500 |
|
Imprisonment | N/A | 30 days |
|
License suspension | Suspended until proof of insurance is shown | Suspended until proof of insurance is shown |
|
License plates | N/A | Removal of plates |
|
License reinstatement fee | $50 | $50 |
|
Other fees | $10 total for retaking the driver's license test | $10 total for retaking the driver's license test; $20 court fee |
|
SR-22 | 1 year | 1 year |
Plus, when you do buy car insurance in North Dakota after being convicted of driving without insurance, the policy might be more expensive, because you'll be seen as a higher risk.
First offense
For your first offense, you can be charged a fine ranging from $150 to $1,000. The state will suspend your license until you meet all the requirements to reinstate it.
Second and subsequent offenses
If you violate the law again within a year of your previous offense, the penalties get more severe. The state may charge a fine of $300–$1,500, order jail time of 30 days and suspend your license indefinitely, until you meet all the requirements to reinstate it.
Requirements to reinstate your license
The state will keep your license until you go to court and show proof of insurance coverage, pay any fine assessed and serve any jail time. Plus, your insurer will need to file an SR-22 form on your behalf.
Insurers often see an SR-22 requirement as increased risk, so you might see your premiums increase. You will need to keep the SR-22 attached to your insurance coverage for one year.
There are a few fees involved, too. You'll pay a $50 license reinstatement fee. If your license plates were impounded, you'll have to pay a $20 court fee. In some cases the state may ask you to retake a driving knowledge test and skills test before reinstating your license. Each costs $5.
Restricted license after suspension for no proof of insurance
Depending on the type of SR-22 certificate your insurer filed for you, your newly reinstated license may only be valid for driving the particular vehicle listed/covered on the policy. This kind of policy is usually referred to as an "owner policy," which follows the car and provides coverage for the car owner and whoever drives it with the owner's permission.
If you are expecting to drive more than one vehicle, you should purchase an operator policy instead. This covers you if you typically drive other people's cars. When your SR-22 shows that you have an operator policy, there will be no restriction on the reinstated license in terms of what vehicles you are allowed to drive.
Reapplying for auto insurance in North Dakota
Having a misdemeanor conviction for driving without insurance coverage appears on your driving record. When insurers see that, they can label you as high risk. Insurers licensed in North Dakota have the right to reject coverage for high-risk drivers.
If that happens to you, try reaching out to the North Dakota Automobile Insurance Plan (ND AIP). The ND AIP will place drivers into North Dakota's residual auto insurance market, where insurers are required to provide coverage.