What Is Proof of Insurance?
Proof of insurance documents show that you carry insurance on the vehicle you’re driving. When you buy auto insurance, your insurance company will typically send you a document or ID card that includes basic details of your policy. Some insurers may send you a document to download and print yourself. Many companies have digital apps with which you can review and download your policy, including your ID card and any coverage levels or limits.
Regardless of form, this official document is considered proof of insurance, and it tells authorities, the DMV or potential finance companies that you have the required car insurance. All states except New Mexico accept electronic proof of insurance. If you need to show your proof, you can pull it up on an app versus having to provide a physical document.
Why Is Having Proof of Insurance Important?
Driving without insurance carries risks. For starters, if you’re in an accident and don’t have insurance, all the financial responsibility for any damages incurred could fall on you to pay out of your pocket. Also, because all states except New Hampshire require drivers to have liability car insurance, law enforcement can ticket you, fine you or both if you get pulled over and don’t have proof of insurance.
What Qualifies as Proof of Insurance?
Your car is not the only possession for which you might need to show proof of insurance. When you go to the doctor or dentist, for example, you usually must show your health or dental insurance. There are also certain situations where you must show proof of insurance — for example, when refinancing your home or filing a renters’ insurance claim.
In fact, for anything that you insure, you’ll inevitably need some proof of that insurance. That’s why insurers provide you with so many documents and policy details. Don’t disregard any communication from your insurance companies. Within all that paperwork, you’ll find your proof of insurance. It’s also important to read through your policy carefully and note any exclusions or things specifically not covered.
The following all qualify as proof of insurance, depending on the product:
| Car insurance | Your car insurance ID card, includes your policy number, effective dates, vehicle make and model and drivers’ names. You can use your ID card as proof of insurance if police pull you over. This may get mailed to you or sent to you online or via an app. You should also keep a proof-of-coverage document at home, which will include all the above information plus details about coverage amounts and exclusions. You’ll need to show this document to the dealership or when financing. |
| Homeowners insurance | The declarations page on your home insurance policy includes details about your coverage and financial limits. You can use this as proof of homeowners insurance. Usually, a declarations page is the first page of your policy, whether you have a printed copy from your insurer or a digital copy that you can view online. |
| Renters insurance | As with homeowners insurance, you can use the declarations page on your renters’ insurance policy as proof of insurance. It contains pertinent details about your policy, including coverage limits and amounts, and typically is the first page of the policy. |
| Travel insurance | The confirmation-of-coverage page contains important policy information, including your policy number, coverage, benefits and emergency contact phone numbers. If you need to file a claim on your travel insurance, your confirmation-of-coverage page will serve as proof of insurance. |
Although proof of insurance is only one card or one piece of paper among many that an insurer will give you, it’s the most important piece for most people. Often, it’s the only paperwork we’ll ever need about our insurance coverage.
Proof of Insurance vs. Insurance Binder
If you recently bought insurance but are still in the underwriting phase, meaning your policy is still being reviewed and you have yet to receive any official documents, your insurer might issue a binder. An insurance binder is a temporary contract between you and the insurer that provides coverage while you wait for your policy to take effect officially.
Think of a binder as a short-term and temporary policy. If you buy a home or a car, you can use your binder as proof of insurance. A binder makes it possible for you to drive your car off the lot or get a mortgage approved for a new home before your insurance policy is 100% finalized.
However, keep in mind that a binder is not a long-term contract. If your policy gets denied for any reason, you’ll need to put a new policy in place as soon as possible to retain proof of insurance with your lender or with state regulators.
How To Get Proof of Insurance
To get proof of insurance, you first must have insurance. When you buy an insurance policy of any kind, your insurer must provide you with proof that you purchased the policy.
Once you buy an auto insurance policy, you can access your proof of insurance in a few ways.
Digital Documents by Mail (Snail Mail)
Your car insurance carrier will send you an ID card in the mail. Keep this identification card, which counts as proof of insurance, in your vehicle along with your registration. Your car insurance ID card serves as proof only that you have coverage.
Suppose you need to prove a certain amount of coverage, like minimum liability requirements. In that case, you can find that information on your proof of coverage document, which will show all coverages and limits on the policy. You should not need to keep proof of coverage documents in your glove box.
Digital Documents by Email
Your car insurance carrier could send you digital documents. If you opt to manage your car insurance online, you can ask your carrier to email you the paperwork. That includes a proof of coverage in the form of an ID card. The insurance company might ask you to log into your account online to view and print any documents.
Digital Documents by Website or App
Your car insurance carrier will give you access to electronic proof of insurance. This might take the form of an online account that you log into to see your proof of insurance documents. Or it might come via an app that you can download to then have access to your policy.
Many insurance companies will even allow you to pull up your ID on the app without logging into anything, so you can find your proof of insurance quickly if needed. In all states except New Mexico, electronic proof of insurance is legally accepted. You can use your phone (or laptop) to pull up the documents digitally if an officer asks to see them.
Whether your insurance company sends you an ID card or you print one yourself, keep the card in a safe place in your vehicle. You’ll need it if law enforcement ever pulls you over. Likewise, if you opt for a digital card, make sure you have your insurer’s app downloaded on your phone (or else have your ID card downloaded on your phone) so you can pull it up quickly whenever you need to.
What Proof of Insurance Looks Like
Proof of insurance will look like an official document with a lot of text and no illustrations or diagrams. A proof-of-insurance document will contain important information about your car insurance policy and should always be carried with you in your vehicle, either in physical or digital form.
Here’s what your insurance company will include on your proof of insurance:
- Your insurance company’s name
- Your name
- Your policy number
- Your policy effective dates (when your policy starts and ends)
- The make, model and vehicle identification number (VIN) for your vehicle
How To Show Proof of Insurance
If you must show proof of insurance, show your car insurance ID card.
Your ID card usually suffices as proof of insurance if police pull you over. For other things, such as financing a car or registering a car with the DMV, you may also need to prove that you have enough insurance.
You can find your policy coverage and limits in your proof of coverage document, which should be one of the first pages of your policy. If you manage your policy online, navigate to your “coverages” page.
What Are the Standard Types of Car Insurance?
There are six standard car insurance coverages that many policyholders get. Some of them are required by law in many states while others aren’t legally required but might be required by auto loan and lease lenders. Here are the six standard types of car insurance:
- Liability insurance: Bodily injury (BI) liability covers other parties’ medical bills if you cause an accident. Property damage (PD) liability pays for other parties’ property damages from an accident you’re at fault for. Both are required in almost all states and don’t cover any of your injuries or property damages.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM): This covers your bodily injuries and property damages when you get into an accident with someone who has very little or no insurance. This is required in 19 states.
- Personal injury protection (PIP): This is required in 14 states, and covers medical bills, lost wages and pain-and-suffering costs to you and your passengers if you get into an accident, regardless of who’s at fault.
- Medical payments coverage (MedPay): This is only absolutely required in Maine, but will pay your medical bills from an accident, regardless of who’s at fault.
- Comprehensive insurance: This covers your car’s damages from things outside of a car accident, like theft, vandalism, hail, fire or other acts of nature. This isn’t required by law in any states, but it’s often required by lenders.
- Collision insurance: This covers your car’s damages from road collisions like car accidents or hitting a tree. This isn’t required by law in any states, but it’s often required by lenders.
Requirements for Proof of Car Insurance
How do you know how much auto insurance you’re legally required to have? Ask your state insurance department or your insurance agent. Minimum legal requirements vary by state. You can easily find the minimum coverages online. Here are capsule views of minimum liability car insurance requirements by state.
| State | Proof of Auto Insurance |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $25,000 bodily injury (BI) liability per person $50,000 bodily injury (BI) liability per accident $25,000 property damage (PD) liability per accident |
| Alaska | $50,000 BI liability per person $100,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability |
| Arizona | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $15,000 PD liability |
| Arkansas | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability |
| California | $15,000 BI liability per person $30,000 BI liability per accident $5,000 PD liability $15,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) bodily injury (BI) liability per person |
| Colorado | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $15,000 PD liability |
| Connecticut | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability $25,000 UM/UIM BI liability per person |
| Delaware | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $10,000 PD liability $15,000 PIP |
| Florida | $10,000 PIP $10,000 PD liability $10,000 UM/UIM BI liability per person |
| Georgia | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability $25,000 UMBI liability per person |
| Hawaii | $20,000 BI liability per person $40,000 BI liability per accident $10,000 PD liability $10,000 PIP |
| Idaho | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $15,000 PD liability |
| Illinois | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $20,000 PD liability $25,000 UM/UIM BI liability per person |
| Indiana | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability |
| Iowa | $20,000 BI liability per person $40,000 BI liability per accident $15,000 PD liability |
| Kansas | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability $25,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident |
| Kentucky | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability $10,000 PIP |
| Louisiana | $15,000 BI liability per person $30,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability |
| Maine | $50,000 BI liability per person $100,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability $50,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident $2,000 medical payments coverage per person |
| Maryland | $30,000 BI liability per person $60,000 BI liability per accident $15,000 PD liability $30,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident $2,500 PIP |
| Massachusetts | $20,000 BI liability per person $40,000 BI liability per accident $5,000 PD liability $20,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident $8,000 PIP |
| Michigan | $50,000 BI liability per person $100,000 BI liability per accident $10,000 PD liability $1,000,000 PIP |
| Minnesota | $30,000 BI liability per person $60,000 BI liability per accident $10,000 PD liability $25,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident |
| Mississippi | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability liability |
| Missouri | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability $25,000 UM BI liability per incident |
| Montana | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $20,000 PD liability |
| Nebraska | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability $25,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident |
| Nevada | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $20,000 PD liability |
| New Hampshire | Although New Hampshire does not technically require car insurance, the catch is that drivers must show proof of financial responsibility to qualify for this privilege. Drivers that can’t show they can afford the repair costs of an at-fault accident must buy car insurance.
For those that must buy car insurance, they’re required to carry the following minimum limits: $25,000 BI liability per person $25,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident |
| New Jersey | In New Jersey, there are two policies you can choose from: Standard and Basic.
Standard policy requirements: $15,000 BI liability per person $15,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident Basic policy requirements*: *You have a limited right to sue under the Basic policy. |
| New Mexico | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $10,000 PD liability |
| New York | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $10,000 PD liability $25,000 UM coverage per person |
| North Carolina | $30,000 BI liability per person $60,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability $30,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident |
| North Dakota | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability $25,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident |
| Ohio | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability |
| Oklahoma | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability |
| Oregon | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $20,000 PD liability $25,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident |
| Pennsylvania | $15,000 BI liability per person $30,000 BI liability per accident $5,000 PD liability $5,000 first-party benefits (FPB) coverage |
| Rhode Island | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability $25,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident |
| South Carolina | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability $25,000 UMBI liability per incident |
| South Dakota | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability $25,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident |
| Tennessee | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $15,000 PD liability |
| Texas | $30,000 BI liability per person $60,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability $30,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident |
| Utah | $25,000 BI liability per person $65,000 BI liability per accident $15,000 PD liability |
| Vermont | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $10,000 PD liability $50,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident |
| Virginia | Virginia will require its drivers to carry car insurance on and after July 1, 2024. More information on this new state policy change can be found in our Virginia state car insurance article.
Effective July 1, 2024, resident drivers of Virginia must carry the minimum amounts of car insurance: $30,000 BI liability per person $30,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident |
| Washington | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $10,000 PD liability |
| Washington, D.C. | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $10,000 PD liability $25,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident |
| West Virginia | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability $25,000 UM BI liability per incident |
| Wisconsin | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $10,000 PD liability $25,000 UM/UIM BI liability per incident |
| Wyoming | $25,000 BI liability per person $50,000 BI liability per accident $25,000 PD liability |
Requirements for Other Kinds of Insurance
Similar to car insurance, state-mandated requirements for homeowners, renters, health, travel and rental car insurance often vary from state to state. When you buy any kind of insurance, talk to your agent about whether you need more financial coverage or any add-on insurance other than your state demands.
What Happens if You Don’t Have Proof of Insurance?
To file a claim with any insurance you have, you always need proof of insurance. It’s the starting point for using the policy you paid for. However, you might need proof of insurance in other situations.
For car insurance, you’ll need proof of insurance when:
- Law enforcement pulls you over for any reason
- You’re registering your vehicle at the DMV
- You’re buying a vehicle and need to prove to your finance company or to the dealership that it’s insured before you drive it off the lot
- You’re in an accident with another driver and need to exchange insurance information
If you try to buy a car or register one and don’t have your proof of insurance, you’re likely to be stuck until you can dig up your insurance ID card.
However, if police pull you over or if you’re involved in an accident and you don’t have proof of insurance, the consequences could be much worse. For an accident, it could slow the process of filing a claim for everyone involved. Police can also cite you for not having proof of insurance at an accident scene or anytime they stop you. Tickets can range from $20 to $1,500.
How Much Is a No-Proof-of-Insurance Ticket?
As with all areas of car insurance, fines for not having proof of insurance vary by state. New Hampshire, which doesn’t require auto insurance, is the only exception. Fines for first-time offenses range from $20 in Missouri to $1,500 in Delaware, according to TK. However, fines are not the only concern. You could have your registration or license suspended for a set amount of time or until you pay the fine.
If police catch you driving without proof of insurance more than once, you could receive jail time — as much as five years in Connecticut.
Car Insurance Penalties by State
Here’s a state-by-state look at fines and penalties for driving without insurance.
| State | Penalties and Fines for Driving Without Insurance (First Offense) |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $500 fine
Registration suspended until you pay $200 reinstatement fee |
| Alaska | $500 fine
License suspended for 90 days |
| Arizona | $500 fine
License and registration suspended for 90 days |
| Arkansas | $50 fine
Registration suspended until you pay $20 reinstatement fee Up to one year of jail time |
| California | $100 fine |
| Colorado | $500 fine
License suspended until you provide proof of insurance |
| Connecticut | $100 fine
License and registration suspended for 6 months Up to five years jail time |
| Delaware | $1,500 fine
License suspended for six months |
| Florida | $150 fine
License and registration suspended for up to three years |
| Georgia | $85 fine
License and registration suspended for 60 days Up to one year of jail time |
| Hawaii | $500 fine
License suspended until you provide proof of insurance |
| Idaho | $75 fine |
| Illinois | $500 fine
License suspended for up to three months |
| Indiana | $250 fine
License suspended for up to 90 days |
| Iowa | $250 fine |
| Kansas | $300 fine
License and registration suspended until you provide proof of insurance Up to six months jail time |
| Kentucky | $500 fine
Registration suspended for up to one year Up to 90 days jail time |
| Louisiana | $500 fine |
| Maine | $100 fine
License and registration suspended until proof of insurance is provided |
| Maryland | $1,000 fine
Up to one year jail time |
| Massachusetts | $500 fine
License and registration suspended for 60 days Up to one year jail time |
| Michigan | $200 fine
License suspended for up to 30 days Up to one year jail time |
| Minnesota | $200 fine
License and registration suspended for up to 30 days |
| Mississippi | $500 fine
License suspended for up to one year |
| Missouri | $20 fine
License suspended until you provide proof of insurance |
| Montana | $250 fine |
| Nebraska | $100 fine
License suspended until you provide proof of insurance |
| Nevada | $250 fine
License suspended until you provide proof of insurance |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire doesn’t require car insurance as long as you can prove financial responsibility. If you can’t prove this or if you get into an accident or get convicted for a DUI or serious traffic violation, you may have to get car insurance.
Under these circumstances, you could face the following penalties for not having car insurance: $125 fine License and registration suspended until you provide proof of insurance |
| New Jersey | $300 fine
License suspended up to one year |
| New Mexico | $300 fine
License and registration suspended until you provide proof of insurance Up to 90 days jail time |
| New York | $150 fine
License and registration suspended until you provide proof of insurance Up to 15 days jail time |
| North Carolina | $50 fine
License suspended until you provide proof of insurance |
| North Dakota | $150 fine
License suspended until you provide proof of insurance |
| Ohio | Fines vary
License suspended until you provide proof of insurance |
| Oklahoma | $250 fine
License suspended until you provide proof of insurance Up to 30 days jail time |
| Oregon | $260 fine
License and registration suspended until you provide proof of insurance |
| Pennsylvania | $300 fine
License and registration suspended for three months |
| Rhode Island | $100 fine
License and registration suspended for three months |
| South Carolina | $550 fine
License suspended for 30 days |
| South Dakota | $100 fine
License suspended for up to one year Up to 30 days jail time |
| Tennessee | $25 fine
License suspended until you provide proof of insurance |
| Texas | $175 fine |
| Utah | $400 fine
License suspended until you provide proof of insurance |
| Vermont | $250 fine
License suspended until you provide proof of insurance |
| Virginia | $500 fine
License suspended until you provide proof of insurance |
| Washington | $550 fine |
| Washington, D.C. | $150 fine
License suspended for 30 days |
| West Virginia | $200 fine
License suspended for up to 30 days Up to one year jail time |
| Wisconsin | $500 fine |
| Wyoming | $250 fine
License suspended until you provide proof of insurance Up to six months jail time |
These fines and penalties are for two offenses: driving without proof of insurance and not having car insurance. If you’re pulled over and can’t prove you have insurance — but you do have insurance — you can usually appeal to have the ticket dismissed as long as you can prove in court that you had insurance at the time you received the ticket (or fine).
Proof of Insurance: The Bottom Line
Having proof of insurance is almost as important as having the actual insurance and can save you a lot of headaches and expenses. When you’re driving, keep proof of insurance in the card — whether it’s a physical, car insurance ID card you keep in your glove box or a digital download stored on your phone. You never know when you might suddenly be required to show it and having it handy will be to your benefit.
Recommended Car Insurance Companies
To get proof of insurance, you must first buy insurance. The MarketWatch Guides team recommends the following car insurance companies for insurance you can count on at prices you can afford.
State Farm: Best Customer Experience
State Farm earns our Best Customer Experience award for its excellent industry reputation and customer service. In addition to offering affordable rates and a wide range of coverage options, State Farm also has an app where customers can manage their policies and obtain an electronic proof-of-insurance card. It’s simple to use and ensures that you always have proof of insurance with you — as long as you have your phone, that is.
Read more: State Farm Insurance Review
Geico: Best for Budget-Conscious Drivers
Geico is well established in the industry for having some of the most affordable rates available. It also has excellent financial strength ratings from AM Best and strong customer reviews. Like many modern insurance companies, Geico has an app where customers can quickly and easily access their important policy docs, including proof of insurance.
Read more: Geico Insurance Review
Compare: State Farm vs. Geico
Proof of Insurance: FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions about proof of insurance.
Proof of insurance is an official document from your carrier proving that you have insurance. It can be a car insurance ID card, and your insurer might send it to you in physical form or as a digital download.
To get proof of insurance, you must first get insurance. Once you’ve purchased an insurance policy, your insurer will send you proof of insurance along with all other important policy documents.
When it comes to car insurance, proof of insurance is usually called your car insurance ID card. This card, which contains important details about your policy, can be provided to anyone asking to see proof of insurance.
You must provide proof of insurance to register your car. You’ll need to show proof of insurance and will likely also need to prove that your insurance meets the state’s minimum requirements.
You don’t usually need to show proof of insurance to rent a car. Because insurance applies to you and not the specific car you rent, you shouldn’t need to show it at the rental company. However, you’ll likely need to tell the rental agency who your insurer is.
Yes. You’ll need to show proof of insurance at the dealership in order to legally drive the car off the lot. If you’re financing a car, your lender will likely require not only that you have proof of insurance but also that you’re meeting the minimum insurance requirements for your state.
Most car inspection centers will require proof of insurance. That’s because you have to drive your car to and away from the inspection appointment, to ensure that you’re doing so legally, they’ll usually ask to see proof of insurance.
Yes. In all states except New Mexico, it’s perfectly legal to show proof of insurance electronically. You can download a digital copy onto your phone or show it using your insurer’s app.
When filing your taxes, you shouldn’t need proof of car insurance, but you might need to show proof of health insurance, along with any health insurance claims or payouts.
Yes, all states except New Mexico allow you to show proof of insurance on your phone — known as electronic proof of insurance.
Our Methodology
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Cost: Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities were both taken into consideration.
- Coverage: Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Reputation and experience: Our research team considered market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Availability: Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements scored highest in this category.
- Customer experience: This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the NAIC and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
Our credentials:
- 800 hours researched
- 45 companies reviewed
- 8,500+ consumers surveyed
*Data accurate at time of publication.
Alice J. Roden started working for Trending Insurance News at the end of 2021. Alice grew up in Salt Lake City, UT. A writer with a vast insurance industry background Alice has help with several of the biggest insurance companies. Before joining Trending Insurance News, Alice briefly worked as a freelance journalist for several radio stations. She covers home, renters and other property insurance stories.