What percentage of Americans drive uninsured?
Asked by: Peggie Kuhlman Sr. | Last update: October 26, 2025Score: 5/5 (34 votes)
What percentage of Americans have no car insurance?
As of 2022, the last time the Insurance Research Council collected national data, an estimated 14 percent of drivers in the U.S. lack car insurance. That means over 32 million licensed drivers do not have any financial liability protection when driving, an average of 658,241drivers per state.
What state has the highest percentage of uninsured drivers?
Mississippi has the highest uninsured motorist population
Mississippi had the highest uninsured motorist population in 2019 at 29.4%, followed by Michigan (25.5%), Tennessee (23.7%), New Mexico (21.8%), and Washington state (21.7%).
How many uninsured drivers are there in Michigan?
Nearly 20% of Michigan drivers did not have car insurance in 2022.
What percentage of people drive without a license?
About 9% of adult Americans don't have a valid driver's license but it's a guess how many of that group actually drive without a license. The age groups with the highest percentage without a driver's license are 19 years old and under (60.5%), 85 and older (30.9%) and 20 to 24 (19.0%).
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Can you go to jail for driving without insurance in Michigan?
Driving without insurance is considered a misdemeanor in Michigan. If convicted, you may have to pay a fine up to $500, face up to one year in jail and surrender your driver's license for 30 days or until you have coverage, whichever is later.
Who is most likely to uninsured in the US?
Who is uninsured: Most uninsured people are in low-income families and have at least one worker in the family. Reflecting the more limited availability of public coverage in some states, adults ages 19-64 are more likely to be uninsured than children.
What state do you not need insurance to drive?
New Hampshire and Virginia are the only states that do not require auto insurance. However, if you choose not to purchase car insurance in these states, you would still be held liable for any property damage or bodily injury caused by their vehicle. Do you live in an at-fault or not-at-fault state?
Why are there so many uninsured drivers?
Reason 1: They Can't Afford it
Putting aside a situation where you get into an accident and have to pay out of pocket for repairs and medical bills (yours or others involved), driving uninsured also carries steep fines and a loss of your license. You also may be surprised by how affordable car insurance can be.
What percent of people never have a car accident?
Only 32% of Americans have never been in a car accident, meaning that more than two-thirds of drivers have been in a car accident at least once.
How many people can't afford car insurance?
A new report from the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) found that car insurance is generally unaffordable to 18.6 million people based on where they live.
Why would someone drive without insurance?
The top reason is that people claim they can't afford car insurance. There are others who could technically afford it but do not want to pay for it. They are just trying to cut costs, they think insurance is too expensive, and they decide to risk it and drive without insurance to save money in the short term.
What race is the most uninsured?
Uninsured rates are higher among Latino, American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN), Black, and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) people than among Asian, white, and multiracial people.
What percent of Americans don't own a car?
Most U.S. households have a car available
Most U.S. households (92%) have at least one vehicle available for personal use, according to ACS estimates from 2023. Nationally, 8% of households don't have a vehicle, a third have one car available and 36% have two cars. Another 22% of households have three or more vehicles.
How many Americans go without insurance?
The Share of Americans Without Health Insurance in 2023 Remained Low. In 2023, 26 million people — or 8 percent of the population — were uninsured, according to a report in September 2024 from the Census Bureau.
Is it worse to drive without a license or insurance?
Like driving without a license, driving without insurance can lead to a fine, arrest, jail time, and your car being impounded. It's helpful to know the laws in your state and best to always have a valid license and proof of insurance with you while driving.
What state has the most drivers without insurance?
Mississippi has a higher percentage of uninsured drivers than any other state, with about 29% of people driving without insurance. Mississippi is one of the cheapest states for car insurance, but it's also the state with the lowest household income. So cost may cause many drivers not to buy insurance.
What state has no fault lines?
The few states with none or hardly any (ND, SD, NE, KS, OH, WV, DE, FL) are almost entirely covered with sedimentary rocks that have not been faulted since the rocks were deposited. The faults in CA, NV and the coasts of OR and WA are potentially active.
What age group is most uninsured?
Young Adults (Ages 18 Through 24 Years)
Almost three out of every ten young adults do not have health insurance. Members of this age group are nearly twice as likely to be uninsured compared to members of the general population under age 65.
What are the 5 most uninsured states?
By the numbers: After Texas, Oklahoma (14.3%), Wyoming (14.1%) and Florida (13.9%) have the highest share of uninsured residents among U.S. states and Washington, D.C. Massachusetts (2.9%), Washington, D.C. (3.1%) and Hawai'i (4.3%) have the lowest.
What is the main purpose of having auto insurance?
Car insurance works as a safeguard for your financial well-being in case of car accidents, theft, or other auto incidents beyond your control. Depending on your coverages, your car insurance company can help pay for vehicle repairs, medical expenses, and damages or injuries you cause others while driving.
How long can you go without car insurance?
It is a crime to drive almost anywhere without car insurance coverage, even for a minute or just down the street. So, how long can you be without car insurance? If you're driving, you can't. Anytime you get behind the wheel as a licensed driver, you need insurance coverage or you'll risk incurring major consequences.
Can Michigan cops see if you have insurance?
In Michigan, the police can tell if you have insurance by running your plates because every 14 days Michigan auto insurance companies must notify the Michigan Secretary of State of the vehicles they insure and that data is available to them through the LEIN system which they access on their in-car computers.
Can an uninsured driver sue an insured driver?
In California, an uninsured driver still has the right to seek justice after an accident. You can file a civil lawsuit against the other driver in order to try and recover compensation for any medical expenses incurred, lost wages, and/or pain and suffering.