Despite laws in nearly every state requiring auto insurance, one in seven drivers in the USA goes uncovered.
That’s according to an industry group that estimates 13.8% of motorists are uninsured, a number that has climbed during the economic downturn as many financially-pressed Americans allowed their insurance to lapse.
“Over the last 20 years, uninsured motorists and the unemployment rate have tracked fairly closely,” says David Corum, vice president of the Insurance Research Council, a non-profit supported by insurers.
Insured drivers pay a hefty price for fellow motorists who have no policies — $10.8 billion in 2007, according to the most recent data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
“Most of the people that do have insurance have coverage that includes uninsured motorist coverage … to protect them (if) they’re injured in an accident caused by another motorist who does not have insurance,” Corum says.
Automobile insurance is compulsory in every state except New Hampshire, says Loretta Worters, vice president of the Insurance Information Institute— but that doesn’t deter scofflaws.
“Laws in most states have proven ineffective in reducing the numbers of drivers who are uninsured,” Worters says. “Some drivers can’t afford insurance, and some drivers with surcharges for accidents or serious traffic violations don’t want to pay the high premiums that result from a poor driving record. It is costly to track down violators of compulsory insurance laws, and unless the odds of getting caught are high and the penalties severe, drivers will continue to flout the law.”
The rate of uninsured motorists varies widely — from 4% in Massachusetts to 28% in Mississippi, according to the IRC.
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3 Responses
It ought to be easy to check before issuing a registration renewal whether the car is covered by insurance. If not, the car ought not be allowed to be registered, and the owner ought to be assessed a large fine, especially those who would pay high premiums because of prior accidents or serious violations.
Also, the driver of a car without insurance should have their driver’s license suspended. it used to be that people could avoid suspension by claiming they needed their car to earn a living. With so many people unemployed, and with mass transit improved, this should rarely be an excuse.
New York does suspend the license of uninsured drivers. New York also has the lowest uninsured driver rates in the nation.
In new york state, the moment you have an insurance lapse, your drivers license automatically gets suspended.so in new york: if you are driving uninsured you are also driving with a suspended license