What would happen if you get pulled over and...

[Aurora63]

...your insurance card is expired?

I'll explain...yesterday, I was driving, and a state trooper flew up behind me really fast and then passed me. He then pulled the guy over who was in front of me. Scared the you know what out of me. So when I got to the mall, I checked out my own insurance card, and it just happened to have expired about a week and a half ago! We renewed, but this is not the current card. Would I have been in major trouble if a cop asked for my insurance card and that is all I had??

 

[NMAmy]

Usually, they'll write you a ticket for no proof of insurance and if you take proof in to the courthouse before a certain date, the ticket will be waived. It may vary from state to state, though. If you did not have insurance coverage on the date of the ticket, though, you'd have to pay for the ticket.

 

[Nickunited]

each state has different rules but if you have it renewed you should be able to beat it!

 

[ziggystardust]

depends on the officer too... the one and only time I got pulled over at the ripe old age of 18 I was driving my mother's car and she never throws out old insurance cards, just adds the new one. So me being terrified just started handing over these dozens of cards to the officer, he took pity on me and let me go. I guess he knew that the new one was probably in there somewhere.

My Dbf on the other hand got pulled over 1 day after the card had expired and got a huge ticket for it. All he had to do though was show proof of insurance for the ticket to be waived, the moving violation he got that day was a different story

 

[Aurora63]

Thanks! I was envisioning being thrown in jail. I feel much better now.

 

[ilovejack02]

Here is Louisiana, you will get a big HUGE pink sticker stuck on the back on your windshield and license tags pulled off also a big fine and so many days to correct the situation.

 

[leafette]

In Georgia now, it's all computerized, so the insurance info comes up when they run your tag. They often don't even ask for the insurance card anymore, as it can be a false way of identifying whether someone is actually insured (i.e. I pay montly for my car insurance, but my card is good through May. So if I stop paying tomorrow, I still have a "valid" card through May).

 

[kelleigh1]

In Massachusetts we don't have insurance cards either. I've actually gotten into arguments with car rental agencies in other states over this because they insist that I must have a card to show proof. I've told them, we don't get insurance cards in MA. You can't register a vehicle in MA without insurance so there really is no need for a card because as someone else just posted, it's all connected so once they run your tag, they can show proof of insurance.

 

[DVC-Don]

I thought the insurance company was stamped on the back of a Massachusetts vehicle registration card? Least it was back in the 1960's, 70's & 80"s.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

This thread just reminded me to go clear up DH's no-proof-of-insurance ticket!

 

[OK!]

I've bee pulled over before both with an expired insurance card and once when I actually didn't have insurance--both times, I told the officer that I didn't have the current card with me and both times, I was let off the hook. The time I didn't have insurance, though, it scared the heck out of me and I went and signed with Geico as soon as I got home.

 

[Makdyn]

I got pulled over a couple of weeks after coming back from Disney in May. I got pulled over for "speeding" I put it like that cause I was about to turn so how I was speeding is beyond me. So I am freaking out cause I had three speeding tickets before that was about to drop off my record so my insurance will go down. The cop asked for registration and insurance and license. I give my license, look for my registration I can only find the one that expired in Feburary. The cop goes looks at my plates and then comes back saying yup your registration is expired. WHAT. Now I am freaking out. I still need to give this guy my insurance card that I can not find. So I give him an older one. Like pp said about his mom not through out old ones just adding them yep that is me.

So I get a ticket for no registration, no insurance, and no seat belt. He let me go for the speeding. I had to go to court to show that my car was register and insurance which I got it register that day and found the insurance card. The judge waived everything included the seat belt. lucky me.

that reminds me I still have not put my registration and insurance card in my new card that I bought in OCT. I guess I have not learn my lesson yet.

 

[JR6ooo4]

and remember for the nicest service when you get pulled over ask the officer
"don't you have anything better to do?"

Mikeeee

 

[kelleigh1]

I thought the insurance company was stamped on the back of a Massachusetts vehicle registration card? Least it was back in the 1960's, 70's & 80"s.

Not exactly now. There is a spot, but mine has never been stamped. I don't actually have my registration available to me at the moment, so I can't tell you what it does say, but there is mention of the insurance, but mine has never been stamped and I was told that it's not necessary.

 

[sweetspicy]

One time I got pulled over and couldn't even find my insurance card in my mess of a wallet! I kept looking and I guess the cop didn't feel like waiting so he said not to bother. But I did have it! Anyway, like the others said, it must depend on the cop. And you could probably take your proof of insurance up to the courthouse like another poster said if you got a ticket, and they'd waive it.

 

[kandeebunny]

actually in FL you get ticketed $75 for no proof of insurance, if you go to the courthouse and provide it you then only have to pay $7.50

My insurance company (progressive) has not provided me insurance cards for the past 6 months regardless of the fact that I call every 2 weeks to request the. I will NOT be renewing with them in Jan. If you can send me a bill and it gets to me but not insurance cards, I am so all set.

 

[LadyyRedd]

I've never been asked for my insurance card, only license and registration.

Kimya

 

[Yzerbear19]

Usually, they'll write you a ticket for no proof of insurance and if you take proof in to the courthouse before a certain date, the ticket will be waived. It may vary from state to state, though. If you did not have insurance coverage on the date of the ticket, though, you'd have to pay for the ticket.

Two of the times that I've gotten pulled over I've gotten a ticket for "no proof of insurance" even though I did have it. The second time I had the proof of insurance for my other car because when I put them in the cars I acciddently mixed them up. This was on M-59 in Oakland County and the officer kept trying to tell me that I would have to come down and go before a judge to resolve it. I called the courthouse and they told me that to just mail the proof of insurance to them with the ticket. That was a bad day. Later that same day someone hit my car in the parking lot at my brother's house and busted my tail light. No note was left and were gone when it happened so I had to pay to have it fixed myself. Needless to say, I had my sister drive us back home the next day because I didn't want to press my luck.

 

[tiggger1]

In Massachusetts we don't have insurance cards either. I've actually gotten into arguments with car rental agencies in other states over this because they insist that I must have a card to show proof. I've told them, we don't get insurance cards in MA. You can't register a vehicle in MA without insurance so there really is no need for a card because as someone else just posted, it's all connected so once they run your tag, they can show proof of insurance.

you guys freaked me out.. I was like What insurance card? I dont have one! I never knew most states make you have one...

 

[ILUVMYBRIT]

Not sure. I live in NH and we dont have to have auto insurance . I guess nothing here.