State laws differ however it is never advisable to drive even one day without the proper auto insurance on your vehicle since if you were to be in an accident you would be help personally responsible for the damages you caused. Instead of risking driving across many states and being caught for driving without insurance we would suggest that you place insurance on your vehicle before starting your emergency road trip. Getting insurance can be as easy as getting a quote with us online and then purchasing your policy immediately online as well.

If you do however decide to drive from Indiana to Washington, DC without insurance here are the some of the possible penalties in each state if you are caught driving without insurance or proper proof of financial responsibility on your automobile.

Indiana laws state that a person in Indiana may not register or operate a motor vehicle if financial responsibility (FR) is not in effect for the vehicle. The operator of a vehicle that is without insurance in Indiana is subject to a 90 day license suspension or 1 year suspension if this is a repeat violation of the FR law within 3 years.

In Ohio, it is illegal to drive a car without insurance or any form of Financial Responsibility (FR) on the vehicle that is accepted by the state. It is also illegal for any motor vehicle owner to allow anyone else to drive the owner's car with FR proof.

If you are caught driving without financial responsibility (insurance), the penalties can include: suspension of driver's license for a minimum of 90 days and up to 2 years, impoundment of your license plates and/or automobile plus fines and court costs.

If you are involved in a crash without insurance, or other FR coverage, additional penalties may apply. You may have a security suspension of your license for 2 years or more and a judgment suspension for an indefinite period, until damages are paid.

In Virginia the DMV suspends all driver's license and registration certificates and license plates issued to the owner of the motor vehicle. These items are suspended until the person pays a $500 statutory fee (collected by DMV and deposited into the Uninsured Motorist Fund), furnishes and maintains proof of financial responsibility (form SR-22) for three years and pays a reinstatement fee, if applicable.

Penalties in West Virginia can include suspension of your vehicle registration and drivers license as well as criminal penalties that could result from a conviction in magistrate court. Criminal penalties for driving without insurance can include fines of between $250 and $5000 and jail time of between 15 days and 1 year or both.

In Pennsylvania they normally suspend your car's registration and your driver's license if you are caught driving without insurance. Beyond these penalties for not having insurance on your vehicle if you are stopped and cited for driving without insurance your car might be impounded and fines will likely be charged.

In Washington, D.C. the driver's license and registration are normally suspended for driving without insurance. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) issues citations to drivers who do not have proof of insurance. The proof of insurance law applies to all motorists who drive in the district, no matter where their car is registered or where their driver's license was issued.

Under District of Columbia law, motorists who are stopped by the police are required to display not only their driver's license and vehicle registration, but also proof of insurance. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers enforce the "proof of insurance" law and the $30 civil fine that is attached to this infraction. This is the fine for not having proof of insurance, if you are actually uninsured then you will face other harsher penalties.

So at least 2 states in which you plan to travel, Ohio and Pennsylvania, can impound your vehicle for driving without insurance. And in several of the states if you are found guilty of this offense you can get time in jail. The DMVs of the various states may be able to give you more information. Again even though this is an emergency trip it would be recommended that you do not travel without first complying with the law and placing at least your state’s minimum auto insurance on your vehicle.