According to the Idaho Department of Transportation, in ID failure to carry motor vehicle insurance is a reason for your driving privileges to be suspended.

All motorized vehicles operated on Idaho roadways, whether registered or not, must carry liability insurance with following minimum coverage:

• $25,000 for injury or death of one person;
• $50,000 for injury or death of two or more people; and
• $15,000 for property damage.

When you register your vehicle, you must sign a statement certifying that the vehicle is and will be insured as required by Sections 49-117(18), and 49-1229, Idaho Code.

According to the ID driver’s manual if you violate Idaho’s insurance laws, you will, for a first offense, be required to provide proof of financial responsibility for one year. If you commit a second offense in a five-year period, you will be required to provide proof of financial responsibility for three years. The acceptable form of proof of financial responsibility is a certified statement of liability insurance coverage from your insurer (an SR-22 certificate).

Idaho’s laws note that driving without insurance is an infraction punishable by a fine of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for any person to violate the provisions of this section for the first time. A second and any subsequent conviction for a violation of the provisions of this section (49-117 of the Idaho Code) or the provisions of section 49-1232 or 49-1428, Idaho Code, within a period of five (5) years shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six (6) months, or both.

It is doubtful it will make a difference to the court that it was a renewal payment and not a normal monthly payment that you missed though can call the court and see if the court officer can tell you if that issue, or if buying car insurance before you court date, could help you in any way.

As you can see from the information above you can expect a fine and possibly jail time for being an uninsured motorist in Idaho. We hope you don't see jail time, as that seems extreme for your situation. For more information regarding penalties for being cited a second time for being an uninsured car owner, contact the Idaho Transportation Department through their website or as we mentioned contact the court listed on your ticket for driving without insurance.