Just about every state now allows drivers to show electronic proof of insurance coverage during a traffic stop. The exception, as of October 2022, is New Mexico.
What does electronic proof of insurance mean, exactly?
Rather than root around in your glovebox for an insurance card (that you may or may not have remembered to replace with the new one), you simply hand the officer your phone.
Auto insurance companies, including State Farm, Geico and Progressive, provide customers with a digital insurance card that’s accessible on a smartphone or tablet computer.
Driving without proof of insurance is not the same as driving without insurance
Driving without proof of insurance is very different from driving without insurance.
Failure to provide proof of insurance typically results in a fix-it ticket that doesn’t affect car insurance rates much, if at all.
A no-insurance conviction is very different and can result in a big fine and a suspension of your driver’s license and vehicle registration, though the penalty for driving without insurance varies by state.
The cost of a lapsed car insurance policy
The fine for lapsed insurance coverage varies by state. The following table shows the rate for New York:
1 to 30-day lapse: $8 a day
31 to 60-day lapse: $10 a day
61 to 90-day lapse: $12 a day
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Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.
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John McCormick
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John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Managing Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
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Nupur Gambhir
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Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.
