Car insurance is a legal requirement for all registered vehicles in most states. Even if your car is stored or used infrequently, you might still be required to carry a minimum amount of insurance.
Insurance on a vehicle you don’t drive is important for a few reasons.
“Even if a car isn’t being driven, it’s still a valuable asset — and it’s still vulnerable. While you may be able to suspend liability and collision coverage, you should at least keep comprehensive coverage in place, which can protect your vehicle from risks out of your control,” says Andrew Femath, a USAA spokesperson.
For example, if you own a classic car that’s mostly kept in your garage, comprehensive insurance would cover damage from losses like fires, floods and theft. Without car insurance, you could face financial losses if something happened to your vehicle.
In this article, we’ll look at the car insurance requirements for a vehicle that’s not driven and explain which types of coverage you should consider for a stored or unused car.
CarInsurance.com Insights
- Most states require all motor vehicles to be registered and to have auto insurance, even if they’re stored or unused.
- Comprehensive insurance is typically recommended for vehicles that are stored or not driven, which covers damage from fires, floods, theft and more.
- If the vehicle is undrivable, you might be able to obtain special status from the DMV, but the laws vary by state.
Do you need car insurance if you don’t drive?
In most cases, you must have car insurance on a vehicle you don’t drive. Nearly every state requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of auto insurance to register a vehicle, regardless of how often the vehicle is driven. If you don’t meet your state’s minimum insurance requirements, you won’t be able to register the car.
However, if your vehicle is inoperable, some states allow you to get special status for it if it cannot be driven.
For example, if you own a vehicle in California that is not driven, towed, stored, parked on public roads or highways or parked in an off-street public parking facility, you can apply for non-operational status on a car and pay a planned non-operation (PNO) fee.
Once the PNO status is placed on a vehicle’s record, it remains until you decide to operate the car and pay registration renewal fees.
Another example is in Connecticut. In Connecticut, if you do not want to pay for insurance on a car that is inoperable or being stored, you must turn in your plates to the DMV and request that they be put on hold.
At that time, you may drop insurance coverage on the vehicle. When you drive it again, you will need to inform the Connecticut DMV and get insurance for it.
The exact insurance requirements for a car that’s not driven also depend on where you park the car. For example, if you park your vehicle on public property, like a public street, most states will require you to carry a minimum coverage insurance policy with liability insurance.
It’s also important to remember that the amount of insurance required by your state’s DMV might differ from your personal needs. For instance, if you park your vehicle on a public street, you’ll probably have to carry liability insurance. But if you want physical damage coverage for your vehicle while it’s not being driven, you should also consider carrying a full coverage policy.
What type of insurance can you get for a car you don’t drive?
There are several types of car insurance you can get for a vehicle that isn’t driven. The kind of insurance you need depends on your individual situation, vehicle type and where the vehicle is parked.
“Comprehensive coverage is key for non-driven vehicles. Even in storage, cars can be damaged by fire, weather events, vandalism or theft. Accidents don’t stop just because the car is parked,” Femath says.
For example, if you park an inoperable vehicle in your garage and your house floods, this policy would pay to repair or replace the vehicle. Or, if you leave your vehicle in a storage facility and someone breaks into your unit and steals the car, your insurance company would provide a payout to replace the vehicle.
However, having a full coverage insurance policy is a good investment in some cases, even if you’re not driving the car. For example, if you park on the street outside your house and another driver hits your car, collision insurance would cover the damage, not comprehensive insurance.
What happens if you cancel insurance on a non-driven vehicle?
A few things can happen if you cancel car insurance on a non-driven vehicle. First, you will face a lapse in coverage, which has penalties. If your state DMV finds out you’ve canceled the policy, they could suspend the registration and fine you.
“In some states, you may need to file an affidavit of non-use to avoid registration issues when dropping insurance,” Femath says.
Additionally, having a lapse in coverage can make it harder to obtain coverage again. When you go to purchase car insurance in the future, having a lapse in coverage makes you riskier to insure and will likely result in a higher car insurance premium.
You can safely cancel your car insurance policy if granted planned non-operation registration status, cancel the car’s registration or store your undriven vehicle on private property, like your garage or backyard.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pause my car insurance if I’m not driving?
You might be able to pause your car insurance if you’re not driving, but it depends on your state’s laws and your insurance company’s policies. If you cannot pause your policy, you can consider dropping down to the lowest level of coverage until you plan to drive again.
Can I avoid insurance if I file a ‘non-op’ with the DMV?
You may be able to avoid your state’s car insurance requirements if you file for non-operation with the DMV. However, you must meet specific requirements to obtain non-op status. Make sure to check your state’s non-op laws to avoid potential penalties.
Resources and methodology
Sources
- Kelley Blue Book. “If I Don’t Have a Car, Do I Need Auto Insurance?” Accessed July 2025.
- Experian. “Do You Need Auto Insurance if You’re Not Driving?” Accessed July 2025.
- Insurance Information Institute. “Is it legal to drive without insurance?” Accessed July 2025.
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