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Louisiana DMV fees for lapsed insurance are $125 if your insurance lapsed for 11 to 30 days, $275 if it lapsed for 31 to 90 days, and $525 for more than 90 days without insurance. The fees are subject to a cap of $850 if drivers are paying for multiple insurance cancellations in one day ($250 for those aged 65 and older). In addition, drivers are charged a $25 administrative fee.
If your driver’s license or vehicle registration has been flagged for not having insurance, you have 10 days to present proof of insurance to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV). You can also show a total loss statement, bill of sale or lease return, proof of repossession or salvage, or an out-of-state registration. Any of these forms demonstrate that your car insurance lapsed for a valid reason, like no longer owning the car in question. After the 10-day period, fines begin to accumulate.
How to Pay Louisiana DMV Fees for Lapsed Insurance
To pay the Louisiana DMV fees for lapsed insurance, drivers can mail a money order, cashier’s check, or certified check to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. To pay with a debit or credit card, drivers can also call (225) 925-6146 and choose option 1, although card payments over the phone will incur a $5 convenience fee. Payment plans are available as well.
It’s important to note that even if you pay off the fines, you still need to provide proof of current insurance or evidence that you no longer own or drive the car.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Insurance Lapse Fees
Ignoring insurance lapse fees is not a good solution. Debts to a state government agency are especially persistent and will follow you, since outstanding fees can be referred to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and subtracted from your federal tax refund. Besides fees, driving without insurance in Louisiana can result in your car being impounded and/or your registration being suspended.
To avoid the hassle and expense of insurance lapse fees, pay any fees immediately, since they’re calculated based on how long you go without insurance. If you move to a new state or stop driving your car, return your Louisiana license plates to the OMV. And if you’re currently uninsured, you can compare options for cheap car insurance in Louisiana.
This answer was first published on 09/29/20. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.
People also ask
What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Louisiana?
The penalties for driving without insurance in Louisiana can include a fine of $100, the impoundment of your car, the revocation of your registration, and the confiscation of your license plate. Penalties for repeat offenses may be even harsher, including fines up to $500.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Louisiana
| Type of Offense | License / Registration Suspended? | Car Impounded? | Jail Time? | SR-22 Required? | Maximum Fine |
| No Proof of Insurance (Can Prove Coverage Later) | No | Yes | No | No | None |
| 1ST Offense With No Coverage | Yes, registration | Yes | No | Yes | $100 |
| Repeat Offense (No Coverage) | Yes, registration | Yes | No | Yes | $500 |
Not having car insurance and not being able to prove that you have it are two different violations. If you have insurance but cannot prove it when you get pulled over or at the scene of an accident, you are guilty of an “administrative violation”, similar to a seat-belt ticket. In Louisiana, you have 3 business days after being cited to provide evidence that you did carry the proper insurance coverage at the time you were asked to show proof by a law enforcement officer, and your license plate will be confiscated in the meantime. If you can prove you were properly insured, your license plate will be returned and any fine will be waived.
Driving without car insurance at all is much more serious, and the penalties are more severe. In addition to the legal consequences, you can expect your car insurance premium to go up.
You can avoid these consequences by meeting Louisiana's minimum car insurance requirements.
Required Car Insurance in Louisiana
- $15,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $25,000 in property damage liability coverage per accident
The key to maintaining the minimum amount of coverage required by Louisiana is to find a policy you can afford. If your coverage has already lapsed, start by comparing quotes from the insurance companies WalletHub’s analysis identified as having the best post-lapse rates.
Best Car Insurance in Louisiana After a Lapse in Coverage
- State Farm
- Southern Farm Bureau
- USAA
- Louisiana Farm Bureau
- Progressive
Drivers in Louisiana pay an average of $2,589 per year to maintain the minimum amount of coverage. That's nothing compared to the consequences of driving without insurance, especially if you get into an accident.
What Happens If You Get Into a Car Accident Without Insurance in Louisiana?
- If you get into an accident: all penalties will apply. If you get into an accident while driving without insurance in Louisiana, you will incur the penalties for driving without insurance no matter who is at fault. In addition, driving uninsured can make it difficult to be compensated for damages if you are not at fault and can have long-lasting and life-changing consequences if you are at fault.
- If the accident is your fault: you'll have to pay for all the damages out of your own pocket. In addition to the legal consequences of driving without insurance, you could easily be responsible for tens of thousands of dollars in damages to your vehicle, the other driver's car repairs and hospital bills, and your own medical care. You could face mounting debt or even bankruptcy, especially if the other driver doesn't carry uninsured motorist coverage or personal injury protection.
- Even if you were not at fault or only partially at fault, there will be other consequences. Driving uninsured doesn't negate the other driver's fault entirely, but you're almost certainly going to be penalized and unable to recover everything you would be entitled to if you had insurance. In at-fault states such as Louisiana, the driver who caused the accident is usually responsible for damage to your car and any medical treatment you may need. However, Louisiana is a “no pay, no play” state, which means drivers cannot pursue certain damages after an accident, regardless of fault, if they were uninsured at the time the accident occurred. Specifically, you cannot collect the first $15,000 of bodily injury damages or the first $25,000 of property damages if you were uninsured at the time of the accident.
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What is the minimum insurance requirement in Louisiana?
Louisiana car insurance laws require $15,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person, up to $30,000 per accident, as well as $25,000 of property damage liability coverage.
Bodily injury liability insurance pays for any injuries that you accidentally cause with your car, while property damage liability coverage helps pay for any material assets that you damage while driving, like another person’s car or mailbox. Your insurance company pays up to the limit specified by...
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Does insurance follow the car or the driver in Louisiana?
Car insurance usually follows the car in Louisiana. The types of car insurance that follow the car in Louisiana are bodily injury liability, personal injury liability, collision, and comprehensive. You're required to carry bodily injury liability and property damage liability in Louisiana.
If you let someone borrow your car and they cause an accident in Louisiana, bodily injury liability insurance pays for injuries to the other driver and their passengers. Property damage liability insurance...
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