Insure and Register Your Car Before Driving

Scott Scherr • November 5, 2024

Police will charge you with driving without insurance if you fail to insure and register your car before driving it.

People do it every day. They purchase a used car. They then drive it home without registering or insuring the car. Maybe they put a tag from another vehicle on it. Unfortunately, they become an easy target for the police to stop them.


Police officers randomly check tags of motor vehicles on the roadway. They also look for expired tags. If they pull you over and the car is not registered or insured, you will receive numerous citations such as driving without insurance (carries up to a year in jail and five points), failing to register the vehicle, displaying improper tags, driving on expired tags, failing to maintain security, and a host of other charges. To make matters worse, your car will be towed and you will have to pay very expensive storage fees and towing costs.


It is far better to register and insure the vehicle before driving it. If you must pick up the vehicle first, tow it to your home. You should never drive a vehicle that is uninsured and/or not registered. Otherwise, there are serious consequences.

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