If you drive a vehicle registered in Nevada, you must comply with the state’s car insurance law, which requires you to have a liability insurance policy covering the vehicle in force at all times. The policy must meet the state’s minimum requirements for coverage as well; if your car does not have a policy, or an insufficient one, you could receive a no-insurance ticket.
Here’s what you need to know about coverage requirements and no-insurance penalties in Nevada.
Nevada’s Coverage Requirements
Having liability coverage is important in the event you cause or are injured in a car crash. Nevada requires that automobile liability insurance policies carry minimum coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in any one accident; $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people; and $20,000 for property destruction.
Those who are hurt by uninsured or underinsured drivers can be left to pay out-of-pocket for their insurance deductibles and copays. Moreover, they would generally not receive any compensation for emotional suffering they would otherwise be entitled to receive.
It is for these reasons that Nevada encourages its drivers to comply with the insurance law by imposing penalties on those who do not comply with the law.
No-Insurance Penalties in Nevada
The consequences of driving without adequate liability insurance can be severe, even for a first-time offense. And that intensity only increases if you have been convicted of driving without liability insurance before and have continued to break the law.
In particular, the penalties you could face are as follows:
Fines
For a first offense, a no-insurance ticket would result in a fine anywhere between $250 and $1,000, depending on how long your insurance coverage has lapsed. If you were without insurance between 31 and 90 days, the accompanying fine is $250. That increases to $500 if you were without insurance for between 91 and 180 days. Beyond that, the fine is $1,000.
If it is your second (or greater) no-insurance ticket, your fine will be $500 if your insurance lapsed for 31 to 180 days. From the 181st day onward, the fine is $1,000. There is no fine if your insurance lapsed for less than 30 days, though you can still face other consequences.
Reinstatement Fees
Once your insurance coverage lapses, the state can suspend your vehicle registration and driving privileges. There is no grace period here; these suspensions can take place immediately upon your policy lapsing. The cost to reinstate your registration starts at $250 for a first ticket, rises to $500 for a second ticket, and caps at $750 for a third or subsequent ticket.
However, simply paying the reinstatement fee is not enough to lift the suspension on your registration or license. You must also provide proof that you’ve obtained liability insurance since the suspension and that your policy is in force. That particular type of policy, known as an SR-22 policy, reports directly to the state and is typically more expensive than other insurance policies.
Other Consequences of a No-Insurance Ticket
In addition to fines and reinstatement fees, a court could also assess costs against you and order you to pay for other administrative fees. It could also sentence you to up to six months of jail time for a second or subsequent no-insurance offense, though not every court will choose to do so.
Avoiding an Expensive No-Insurance Ticket
There is only one way to ensure you will not have to pay any fines or reinstatement fees for a no-insurance ticket in Nevada: Make sure your liability policy complies with the state’s minimum requirements and always keep your insurance policy in force.
Having your policy lapse for just a few days can lead to a reinstatement fee of at least $250, and the costs of a no-insurance ticket will only escalate if you have been previously convicted of driving without insurance. Therefore, avoiding a ticket by keeping your policy in force or not using your vehicle until you can afford coverage are the best options for avoiding a conviction.
For help, call De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a Nevada personal injury lawyer.
If you’ve been injured in Las Vegas, NV, or the surrounding Nevada area and need legal help, contact our Las Vegas car accident attorneys at De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case evaluation today. We have three locations in Nevada for your convenience, including Las Vegas, Summerlin, and Henderson.
We’re proud to serve Clark County and the surrounding areas.
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers – Las Vegas Office
1149 S Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89104
(702) 222-9999
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers – Summerlin Office
410 S Rampart Blvd, Ste 480 Las Vegas, NV 89145
(702) 964-1806
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers – Henderson Office
9555 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89123
(702) 800-3455
