Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in New Hampshire

Let’s check out the specific rules about who needs a New Hampshire car insurance policy and who doesn’t, how you can build a policy with adequate coverage, and what could happen if you drive illegally uninsured in the Granite State. 

In New Hampshire, car insurance is optional for many drivers, as it’s one of two states that doesn’t require a minimum coverage limit for all residents. However, if a driver proves they’re a liability on the road without coverage, they may be legally required to carry coverage for a few years. Drivers in the Granite State must prove they can accept financial responsibility in an at-fault accident if they opt to drive without coverage. Those without coverage who can’t cover the costs of an at-fault accident with their savings may require coverage in the future. 

Drivers who require coverage because of their driving record but still go without it may be considered illegally uninsured. Illegally uninsured drivers may face penalties like fines, fees, or license and registration suspension.

In the Granite State, the minimum legal amount of coverage some drivers must have is at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 in bodily injury liability per accident, $25,000 in property damage liability per accident (25/50/25 liability coverage), $25,000 in uninsured or underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI/UIMBI) per person, $50,000 in UMBI/UIMBI per accident (25/50 UMBI/UIMBI), and $1,000 in medical payments coverage, or MedPay. Those who finance or lease their vehicles may be legally required to have full coverage policies with collision and comprehensive coverages as part of their legally binding agreements. Those who require these coverages but fail to maintain them are considered illegally uninsured. 

While drivers with clean driving records may not be required to carry an auto insurance policy, carrying a minimum coverage policy will at least help one cover the expenses from an at-fault accident or an accident caused by an uninsured driver. Drivers in the Granite State carry liability coverage to help them cover the victim’s expenses in an at-fault accident, and they carry UMBI/UIMBI to help them cover their own expenses should they be injured in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist. 

While having the minimum amount of coverage required by law will help drivers cover some expenses, such a policy offers minimal relief for the policyholder’s expenses. Many drivers opt for a full coverage policy because it offers far more protection for the policyholder. A full coverage policy in the Granite State will have higher limits of liability coverage, UMBI/UIMBI coverage, and MedPay. It may also include collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, and uninsured or underinsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD/UIMPD). 

Technically, those in New Hampshire with no car insurance aren’t breaking the law, as it’s one of two states that doesn’t mandate coverage for all residents. The uninsured motorist law in the state requires drivers to either have enough savings to accept financial responsibility in an at-fault accident or carry a minimum coverage policy. 

In the Granite State, a minimum coverage policy has at least 25/50/25 liability coverage, 25/50 UMBI/UIMBI coverage, and $1,000 in MedPay. Drivers who don’t have enough savings to maintain financial responsibility without a policy or who have previously proven to be a liability as an uninsured driver must maintain a minimum coverage policy. Those who fail to do so are considered illegally uninsured and may face severe consequences like fines, fees, and license and registration suspension.

Drivers with clean driving records aren’t required to carry a car insurance policy unless they don’t have enough savings to support them in an at-fault accident. Generally, the consequences for driving uninsured will vary based on the frequency and severity of the accident. However, uninsured drivers always risk filing for an SR-22, which can raise one’s premiums to nearly double or triple the average cost for several years.

The average full coverage policy in the Granite State costs about $1,210 annually. Those who bind with one of the top insurers in the state may be eligible for rates nearly 30% lower than the state average, depending on their unique characteristics and risk of filing a claim. While forgoing coverage is legal for many New Hampshirites, the short-term savings pale compared to the investment in one’s safety. Since New Hampshire is one of the cheapest states for auto insurance, a full coverage policy isn’t as significant an investment as it may be in other states. 

In New Hampshire, driving without insurance is legal for many drivers; thus, many residents don’t have to have any coverage. The law requires those who cannot maintain financial responsibility in an at-fault accident without a car insurance policy to have a policy. It also requires drivers who have proven themselves a liability on the road without a policy to have one, too. Those who require a policy but fail to maintain adequate coverage are considered illegally uninsured and may face penalties like fines, fees, and license and registration suspension. 

While the legal repercussions of driving illegally uninsured in the Granite State are enough to make one think twice about skipping out on a car insurance policy, the financial risks can be even more severe. Those caught driving illegally uninsured or uninsured during an at-fault accident, thus unable to accept financial responsibility for the expenses they owe, may require SR-22 insurance. An SR-22 is a form filed by an insurer on behalf of a high-risk driver that certifies with the state that the driver has an active and adequate policy. Typically, those who’ve had their license or registration suspended require this form to reinstate their documents. 

An SR-22 isn’t very costly to file. Still, the implications of such a document on one’s records can raise one’s insurance premiums for years to come. High-risk drivers and those previously illegally uninsured typically don’t qualify for the cheapest policy in the state, as premiums are generally double or triple the average rate for such drivers. 

The financial risks don’t stop there, either. Since New Hampshire isn’t a no-fault state but a tort state, at-fault drivers are always on the hook for their victim’s expenses and their own. When an at-fault driver doesn’t have coverage to pay for the victim’s expenses, or if the expenses surpass their coverage limits, they must pay out of pocket. That’s not to mention any legal fees if the victim decides to sue. 

Generally, carrying an auto insurance policy is almost always a worthwhile investment. Although driving without a policy is legal, carrying one is far less risky if the worst-case scenario happens while you’re behind the wheel. Budgeting for an insurance premium is typically much safer than risking financial ruin each time you hit the road.

While a car insurance policy isn’t legally necessary for every driver in the Granite State, it’s a wise investment in one’s safety. The best way to find a policy that suits your needs and budget is to get and compare quotes online. By getting and comparing quotes online, you can see policies from several insurers so you can tailor your policy to your lifestyle and your premiums to your savings. 

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place for quotes. Here at Clovered, we have a free quoting tool you can use to view and analyze your unique quotes in minutes. If you prefer to speak with a professional about your quote, one of our licensed agents would be happy to assist you at 833-255-4117 or [email protected].