State laws differ so the amount of time you can go without getting either your license suspended or face other penalties will vary depending upon your specific states laws regarding this issue.
Most states have a system in place where the DMV should be alerted if your insurance is canceled or not renewed and you do not obtain insurance through a new insurance provider or you have a lapse in insurance. In such cases the DMV usually sends a notice to the driver that they believe you do not have the required insurance and if you cannot show proof that you do have the state mandated auto insurance penalties will ensue.
Penalties for having an uninsured car or driving without insurance differ in each state but can include fines, jail time, car impoundment, license suspension, plates and/or registration suspension, etc. It is also a counted as a misdemeanor in many states.
If you do not have insurance it is better to get at least the state required insurance on your vehicle before you are caught by the DMV or stopped by law enforcement and found to be driving without insurance. To get started you can get a car insurance quote for any of the 50 states here with us right now.
[Let CarInsurance.com help you find affordable auto insurance now.] Here are the penalties by state:
AL
$500 fine and license suspension -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
AK
License suspension/revocation -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
AZ
$250 fine, license suspension
AR
$50-$250 fine
CA
$100-$200 fine
CO
$500 fine
CT
Registration suspension
DE
$1,500-$2,000 fine; six-month license suspension
DC
$300-$500 fine or maximum 30 days jail
FL
License/registration revocation -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
GA
$200-$1,000 fine, maximum 12 months jail -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
HI
$500 fine
ID
$75 fine
IL
$500-$1,000 fine
IN
1-year license and/or registration suspension
IA
Removal of license plates/registration receipt, possible impoundment
KS
$300-$1,000 fine, maximum 6 months jail
KY
$500-$1,000 fine and/or up to 90 days in jail
LA
$50 reinstatement fee, confiscation of plates
ME
$100-$500 fine, 30-day license and registration suspension -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
MD
Up to $1,000 fine and/or 1-year jail -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
MA
$500-$5,000 fine or maximum 1-year jail -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
MI
$200-$500 fine or maximum 1-year jail -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
MN
$200-$1,000 fine, maximum 90-days jail -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
MS
$500 fine, license suspension
MO
License and registration revocation, $20 reinstatement fee -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
MT
$250-$500 fine or not more than 10 days in jail
NE
$500 fine -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
License and registration suspension
NV
Up to $1,000 fine -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
NH
None
NJ
$300-$1,000 fine, community service, 1-year license suspension
NM
Up to $300 fine, registration suspension -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
NY
$150-$1,500 fine, maximum 15-days jail
NC
$50 fine, 30-day registration suspension -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
ND
$150 fine, registration revocation, license suspension
OH
90-day license suspension, $75 reinstatement fee
OK
$250 fine, no more than 30 days jail, license and registration suspension -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
OR
License suspension and/or revocation -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
PA
$300 fine, license and registration suspension -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
RI
$100-$500 fine, up to 3 months license/registration suspension
SC
$100-$200 fine, less than 30 days jail
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SD
Up to 1-year license suspension -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
TN
Up to $100 fine
TX
$175-$350 fine
UT
$400 fine
VT
Less than $100 fine, license suspension -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
VA
None
WA
$250 fine, community restitution -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
WV
30-day license suspension, registration revocation, $200-$5,000 fine
WI
License and or registration revocation -
Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.
WY
Up to $750 fine; up to six months in jail
Thank you to the Insurance Information Instititute for some research information used in this answer. | 
