Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in New York
What actually happens when you are caught driving without liability coverage in New York.
- First offense — fine
- $150 – $1,500
A traffic infraction. The court may also impose up to 15 days in jail, or both.
- License / registration suspension
- Registration and license revoked for one year
If the owner operated or permitted operation of the vehicle without financial security in effect, DMV revokes the registration and the driver license, and neither may be reissued for one year from the date of revocation.
- Annual surcharge
- 750
A separate $750 civil penalty, on top of the court fine, payable before a revoked license is restored. New York's Driver Responsibility Assessment is a different program, tied to point accumulation — it is not triggered by a no-insurance conviction.
- SR-22 required afterwards
- No
New York does not use SR-22 or any other certificate filed by the driver. Guides that list an SR-22 requirement for New York are describing a filing the state abolished in 1957.