Did you know that it’s illegal to drive without car insurance? According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, some of the most common penalties for driving without current insurance include having your driver’s license suspended, having your vehicle registration suspended, getting an additional ticket on top of any others you may receive, hefty fines, and increased future insurance premiums. And those are just the most common penalties.
Yet, 16.1% of drivers are uninsured and 14% of car accidents are caused by uninsured motorists. That’s a lot of people driving around without car insurance. How is it that so many people decided putting themselves, others, and their vehicles in danger was a better idea than just buying car insurance?
Because Their Car Isn’t in Operating Condition
A recent study found that nearly a quarter of people who don’t have insurance (24%) decided against taking out a policy because their vehicle wasn’t in operating condition. If the vehicle isn’t fit to drive, why get it insured?
Because They Can’t Afford It
Another reason why people don’t take out car insurance is because they can’t afford to. Research shows that 21% of uninsured drivers don’t have a policy because they can’t afford one, and another 20% think that car insurance premiums are just too high. While it’s true that insurance can cost an arm and a leg for some depending on their driving record, this isn’t much of an excuse. There are tons of different insurance options and plans out there. With enough looking, it’s more than possible to find an affordable insurance agency.
Because They’re Not Using Their Vehicles
Lastly, about 17% of uninsured drivers — nearly one in five — don’t have an insurance policy on their vehicles because they’re not currently using them. Although this seems to make sense, what are they to do if they do need to use their car? Do they take the risk and drive it? Though insurance may not seem like a necessary expense in this case, it’s a safety net. It’s something you pay for, and hope you don’t ever have to need it.
These are just some of the reasons why people say they don’t have insurance. Although these reasons make sense to them, they’re just excuses. There are no reasons why a driver can’t meet with insurance agents and come up with a policy that works.
If you have any questions about car insurance, feel free to share in the comments.
