You can get a copy of your auto insurance card by contacting your insurer, visiting its digital services, seeing an in-person agent, or printing it out yourself.
Your insurance certificate is a card companies send you after buying a policy. Many states require physical proof of insurance, so always keep it in your wallet or glove compartment.
If you’re thinking, “I lost my car insurance card. What should I do?” keep reading to learn how to get a copy. Enter your ZIP code above tocompare car insurance rates.
How to Get a Copy of Your Auto Insurance Card
- Step #1 – Contact Your Insurer: Call or email to get a car insurance certificate
- Step #2 – Go to Your Insurer’s Website or App: Get digital proof of insurance
- Step #3 – Visit Your Agent’s Office: Get your car insurance certificate in-person
- Step #4 – Print a Copy Yourself: If you lost your car insurance card, print a new one
Read More: Managing Your Auto Insurance Policy
Table of Contents
Step #1 – Contact Your Insurer
Wondering how to get a copy of your car insurance card? Getting a copy of your current insurance information is a fairly easy task.
If you lost the original copy of your proof of insurance, you can always get another copy from your insurance company. The quickest and easiest way to do this is to call your insurance agent directly, who will be able to arrange to mail you another copy.
Your insurance certificate is typically a card issued by your insurer. You should carry this in your wallet or vehicle whenever you drive.
Learn More: How to Spot a Fake Insurance Card
They can send you another copy in the mail, which you should keep on you whenever you drive. In some states, you can face serious penalties for not having physical proof of insurance if you are pulled over by the police or involved in a car accident.
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Step #2 – Go to Your Insurer’s Website or App
You may also be wondering how to get a copy of car insurance online. Another quick way to obtain proof of your insurance is by visiting your provider’s website or mobile app.
Many top insurers offer these digital services for drivers to conveniently access proof of insurance and manage their policy.Schimri YoyoLicensed Agent & Financial Advisor
Read More: Can you view your auto insurance policy online?
Almost all states, besides New Mexico, allow drivers to present digital proof of insurance in lieu of a physical copy if they get pulled over.
Step #3 – Visit Your Agent’s Office
Most of the best auto insurance companies, such as State Farm, Farmers, Allstate, and Liberty Mutual, have in-person agents nationwide ready to assist auto insurance policyholders with getting proof of insurance. While most providers welcome walk-ins, you can also contact your insurance agent to schedule an appointment.
Check out these reviews of top providers:
- State Farm Auto Insurance Review
- Farmers Auto Insurance Review
- Allstate Auto Insurance Review
- Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance Review
If you’re not sure where your local agent is, simply use your insurer’s website to locate the nearest one with your ZIP code.
Step #4 – Print a Copy Yourself
You can also print your digital copy of insurance policy proof if you requested one by email or got it from your insurance company’s online services. It’s important to always carry this copy with you in your vehicle at all times, as some states, such as New Mexico, may ask for physical proof of your insurance.
Read More: New Mexico Auto Insurance
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Why You Might Need Your Auto Insurance Card
While you’ll need proof of insurance to meet state laws, there may also be other reasons you’re asking how to get a copy of my car insurance.
For instance, you’ll need proof of insurance to rent a car if you don’t want to buy coverage directly from the rental car company.You’ll also need your car insurance card handy after you get in an accident.
Check out more in our comprehensive guide: “Do you need proof of insurance to rent a car?”
Required Proof of Auto Insurance Under State Laws
In addition to almost every state requiring a minimum amount of auto insurance, many states require drivers to carry physical proof of insurance.
In some states, you could face penalties if you are not able to produce physical proof of auto insurance, such as an insurance card from your insurer, even if you have the required amount of auto liability coverage. This means that it is very important that you retain a copy of your proof of insurance whenever you drive your vehicle.
Laws vary by state on this issue, however, it is always best to be able to produce proof of insurance immediately in the event that you are involved in a car accident. Even if your state does not require physical proof of insurance, this can help to expedite the process of filing and resolving your claim after a car accident.
If your insurance information isn’t up to date, you should fix it immediately.
Many state laws require insurance companies to notify the state department of motor vehicles if a driver has canceled or not renewed their policy.
If you find that you don’t have a copy of your insurance card, you can always call your insurance company right away to get an instant auto insurance card if you’d prefer to request a copy over the phone.
Maintaining proof of insurance is vital to managing your auto insurance policy and meeting state auto insurance laws. Reach out to your insurance company or utilize its digital services to get a copy of car insurance proof.
Penalties for Not Having Proof of Auto Insurance Under State Laws
The laws of each state are different regarding what penalties can be imposed on drivers who fail to produce proof of valid auto insurance.
States have steadily increased fines for drivers who do not carry the required minimum auto insurance because they want to encourage every driver to have financial responsibility in assuming the risk of driving a car.
Check out the table below to see what your state’s penalties are for driving without car insurance:
Penalties for Driving Without Auto Insurance by State
| State | First Offense |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Fine: Up to $500; registration suspension with $200 reinstatement fee |
| Alaska | License suspension for 90 days |
| Arizona | Fine: $500 (or more); license/registration/license plate suspension for three months |
| Arkansas | Fine: $50 to $250; suspended registration/no plates until proof of coverage plus $20 reinstatement fee; court may order impoundment |
| California | Fine: $100-$200 plus penalty assessments. Court may order impoundment |
| Colorado | Fine: $500 minimum fine; 4 points against your license; license suspension until you can show proof to the DMV that you are insured. Courts may add up to 40 hours community service |
| Connecticut | Fine: $100-$1000; suspended registration/license for one month (show proof of insurance) with $175 reinstatement fee |
| Delaware | Fine: $1500 minimum fine; license/privilege suspension for six months |
| Florida | Suspension of license and registration until reinstatement fee is paid and non-cancelable coverage is secured; $150 fee for first reinstatement |
| Georgia | Suspended registration with $25 lapse fee and $60 reinstatement fee. Pay any other registration fees and vehicle ad valorem taxes due |
| Hawaii | Fine: $500 fine or community service granted by judge. Either license suspension for three months or a required nonrefundable insurance policy in force for six months |
| Idaho | Fine: $75; license suspension until financial proof. No reinstatement fee. |
| Illinois | Fine: minimum of $500; License plate suspension until $100 reinstatement fee and insurance proof |
| Indiana | License/registration suspension for 90 days to one year |
| Iowa | Fine: $500 if in accident; Otherwise, fine: $250; community service in lieu of fine. Possible citation/warning if pulled over plus removal of plates and registration possible when pulled over without insurance and reissued upon payment of fine or completed community service, proof of insurance, and $15 fee; possible impoundment when pulled over |
| Kansas | Fine: $300 to $1000 and/or confinement in jail up to six months; license/registration suspension; reinstatement fee: $100 |
| Kentucky | Fine: $500 to $1000 fine and/or sentenced up to 90 days in jail; license plates and registration revoked for one year or until proof of insurance is shown |
| Louisiana | Fine: $500 to $1000; If in car accident, fine plus registration revoked and driving privileges suspended for 180 days |
| Maine | Fine: $100 to $500; suspension of license and registration until proof of insurance |
| Maryland | Lose license plates and vehicle registration privileges; pay uninsured motorist penalty fees for each lapse of insurance — $150 for the first 30 days, $7 for each day thereafter; Pay a restoration fee of up to $25 for a vehicle's registration |
| Massachusetts | Fine: $500 to $5000 fine and/or imprisonment for one year or less |
| Michigan | Fine: $200 to $500 fine and/or imprisonment for one year or less; license suspension for 30 days or until proof of insurance; $25 service fee to Secretary of State |
| Minnesota | Fine: $200 to $1000 (or community service) and/or imprisonment for up to 90 days; License and registration revoked for no more than 12 months |
| Mississippi | Fine: $1000; driving privileges suspended for one year or until proof of insurance |
| Missouri | Four points against driving record; driver may be supervised; suspended until proof of insurance with $20 reinstatement fee |
| Montana | Fine: $250 to $500 fine and/or imprisonment for no more than 10 days |
| Nebraska | License and registration suspension; reinstatement fee of $50 for each; proof of insurance to remain on file for three years |
| Nevada | Fine: $250 to $1,000 depending on length of lapse; registration suspension —until payment of reinstatement fee and, depending on circ*mstances, an SR-22 (proof of financial responsiblity) if lapsed more than 90 days; reinstatement fee: $250 |
| New Hampshire | Not a mandatory insurance state. Proof of insurance may be required as the result of a conviction, crash involvement, or administrative action. If you are required to file proof of insurance and vehicles are registered in your name, you will be required to file an Owner’s SR-22 Certificate of Insurance. |
| New Jersey | Fine: $300 to $1000; license suspension for one year; pay surcharges for three years in the amount of $250 per year |
| New Mexico | Fine: up to $300 and/or imprisoned for 90 days; license suspension |
| New York | Fine: up to $1500 if involved in accident plus $750 civil penalty; license and registration suspension – revoked for one year; suspension of license if without insurance for 90 days; suspension lasts as long as registration suspension; Suspension of registration: equal to time without insurance or pays $8/day up to thirty days for which financial security was not in effect, $10/day from the thirty-first to the sixtieth day $12/day from the sixtieth to the ninetieth day and proof of security is provided. Or for the same time as the vehicle was operated without insurance. |
| North Carolina | Fine: $50; registration suspension until proof of financial responsibility but 30-day suspension if in car accident or knowingly driving without insurance; $50 restoration fee plus license plate fee |
| North Dakota | Fine: up to $1500 and/or 30 days in prison; 14 points against license plus suspension; Proof of insurance must be provided for one year; license with a notation requiring that person keep proof of liability insurance on file with the department. The fee for this license is $50, and the fee to remove this notation is $50. |
| Ohio | License/plates/registration suspension until requirements are met and $100 reinstatement fee is paid; maintain special high-risk coverage on file with the BMV for three to five years; If involved in accident without insurance: all above penalties and a security suspension for two plus years and an indefinite judgment suspension (until all damages are satisfied) |
| Oklahoma | Fine: $250; jail time up to 30 days; license suspension with $275 reinstatement fee. Police can seize license plates and assign temporary plates and liability insurance — in effect for 10 days and can also impound the vehicle. The cost of the temporary coverage is added to the administrative fee and any fines paid for plates to be returned. If car impounded, owner must also pay towing and storage fees. |
| Oregon | Fine: $130-$1000 ($260 is the presumptive fine); If involved in accident — at least a one year license suspension; proof of financial responsibility required for three years |
| Pennsylvania | Registration suspended for three months (unless lapse was for less than 31 days and vehicle not operated during that time); $88 restoration fee plus proof of insurance required to get it back; $500 civil penalty fee is optional in lieu of registration suspension plus $88 restoration fee — can only use this option once within a 12-month period |
| Rhode Island | Fine: $100 to $500; license and registration suspension up to three months; reinstatement fee: $30 to $50 |
| South Carolina | Fine: $100-$200 or 30-day imprisonment; failure to surrender registration and plates when insurance lapses; license/registration suspended until proof of insurance plus $200 reinstatement fee |
| South Dakota | Fine: $100 and/or 30 days imprisonment; license suspension for 30 days to one year; filing proof of insurance (SR-22) with the state for three years from date of conviction. Failure to file proof will result in suspension of vehicle registration, license plates, and driver license. |
| Tennessee | Pay $25 coverage failure fee within 30 days of notice; if not paid, then an additional $100 coverage failure fee with suspension or revocation of registration plus reinstatement fee of no more than $25 |
| Texas | Fine: $175 to $350 fine; plus, pay up to a $250 surcharge every year for three years (may be reduced with certain requirements) |
| Utah | Fine: $400; license suspension until proof of insurance (maintained for three years) and $100 reinstatement fee |
| Vermont | Fine: up to $500; license suspended until proof of insurance |
| Virginia | Fine: may pay $500 Uninsured Motorists Vehicle fee to drive without insurance at your own risk. If this fee is not paid in lieu of insurance, all driving and vehicle registration privileges will be suspended until a $500 statutory fee is paid, proof of insurance is filed for three years, and a reinstatement fee (if applicable) is paid |
| Washington | Fine: Up to $250 or more |
| West Virginia | Fine: $200 to $5000; license suspended for 30 days with reinstatement fees, unless there's proof of insurance and $200 penalty fee |
| Wisconsin | Fine: up to $500 |
| Wyoming | Fine: up to $750 fine and up to six months in jail |
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The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has been championing efforts of states to maintain and increasestrict penalties for drivers who do not comply with auto insurance laws because they say it is the most effective way to make sure that drivers do not drive without the proper auto insurance.
For example, the laws in North Carolina tend to be the strictest in terms of penalizing drivers for not complying with auto insurance laws. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners found that North Carolina had the highest rates of auto insurance compliance by drivers in 1989 with 96.6% of drivers maintaining at least the required coverage.
There are extreme penalties for failing to comply with state insurance laws.
Drivers may have their driver’s licenses suspended or revoked. In certain cases, they can also face jail time. It is also possible that your car could be impounded for failure to comply with auto insurance laws.
The penalties increase for each subsequent offense and could make it more difficult for you to eventually get auto insurance from an insurance company.
Given that the cost of not complying with state auto insurance laws is so high, it is definitely worth the small effort to make sure that you have a copy of your insurance card. You should also retain a copy of your actual auto insurance policy.
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Learn How to Get a Copy of Your Car Insurance Card Today
If you’re wondering how to get a new car insurance card, it’s as easy as calling your insurance company or visiting its digital services. Not carrying a valid certificate of automobile insurance could result in fines or even jail time in some states.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a copy of my auto insurance card?
To get a copy of your auto insurance certificate, you can follow these steps:
- Contact your insurance provider: Reach out to your insurance company, either by phone or through their website.
- Provide necessary information: Be prepared to provide your policy number, name, and any other details requested by the insurance company to verify your identity.
- Request a copy of your certificate: Clearly state that you need a copy of your auto insurance certificate and specify the purpose for which you require it.
- Delivery options: Inquire about the available delivery options. Some insurance companies may email the certificate, while others may mail it to your address or offer a digital copy through their online portal.
- Confirm the details: Before receiving the certificate, ensure that all the information on it is accurate and up to date.
What is a car insurance certificate?
An auto insurance certificate is a document that serves as proof of insurance coverage for your vehicle. It typically contains information such as the policyholder’s name, policy number, effective dates, coverage details, and the name of the insurance company.
If you’re not sure if you’re covered, call your insurance company. You may also be able to check with your state department of motor vehicles or department of insurance to find out what your official status is regarding insurance coverage.
What happens if you lose your car insurance card?
You may be thinking to yourself, “I lost my card insurance card. What should I do?” Simply call you car insurance agent or customer service to request a new copy.
However, readers may also wonder how to get an insurance certificate online. Visit your insurance company’s website and log into your account to get a copy. You can also find a copy on your mobile app. Learn about the best mobile apps for auto insurance here.
Why would I need a copy of my auto insurance certificate?
There are several situations where you might need a copy of your auto insurance certificate, including:
- Registering a new vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
- Providing proof of insurance during a traffic stop or accident investigation.
- Renting a car, as rental companies often require proof of insurance.
- Applying for a loan or financing that requires proof of insurance.
Learn More: Do I need full coverage insurance to finance a car?
Can I obtain a copy of my auto insurance certificate online?
Yes, many insurance companies offer online access to policyholders, allowing them to view and download their insurance documents, including the auto insurance certificate. Check if your insurance company has an online portal or mobile app that provides this functionality. If so, you can typically log in, navigate to the relevant section, and download a digital copy of your certificate.
If you’re looking for a more tech-savvy insurer with online resources, enter your ZIP code below to start comparing free quotes instantly.
Is there a fee involved in obtaining a copy of my auto insurance certificate?
Insurance companies do not charge a fee for providing a copy of your auto insurance certificate. However, it’s advisable to confirm with your insurance provider if any fees or charges apply before making the request.
How long does it take to receive a copy of my auto insurance certificate?
The time it takes to receive a copy of your auto insurance certificate can vary depending on the insurance company and their processes. In many cases, you can expect to receive it within a few business days. If you need the certificate urgently, it’s best to inform your insurance company about the time sensitivity so they can expedite the process if possible.
What should I do if my insurance company cancels my policy?
An insurance agency may choose not to renew your policy or cancel your coverage completely if you fail to pay the required premiums or if you are not honest on your insurance application. If you are searching for your auto insurance card because you have an issue with your coverage, this is a prime opportunity to consider whether you should shop around for a better insurance rate.
If your current insurance policy has been canceled or not renewed by the insurance company, then you should act immediately to make sure that you retain at least the required coverage under your state law.
How can I get a copy of my The General car insurance card?
Contact your insurance agent or call The General customer service at 1-855-997-8270 to request a new card.
Read More: The General Auto Insurance Review
The General policyholders may also wonder how to get an insurance copy online. You can also log into your online account or visit The General mobile app to get your proof of insurance.
Looking for affordable high-risk insurance? Enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool below to compare your The General rates vs. top competitors.
How do I save my insurance card to Apple Wallet?
To save your insurance card to Apple Wallet, visit your insurer’s mobile app and locate the section for ID cards. Then, tap on the button that says “Add to Apple Wallet”.
When does my auto insurance renew? (2024)
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Written by:
Tim Bain
Licensed Insurance Agent
Tim Bain is a licensed insurance agent with 23 years of experience helping people protect their families and businesses with the best insurance coverage to meet their needs.His insurance expertise has been featured in several publications, including Investopedia and eFinancial. He also does digital marking and analysis for KPS/3, a communications and marking firm located in Nevada.
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Written by Tim Bain
Licensed Insurance Agent
Reviewed by:
Michael Leotta
Insurance Operations Specialist
Michael earned a degree in Business Management degree with an insurance focus, which led to a successful 25-year career in insurance claims operations and support. He possesses a high-level of business acumen across multiple areas of the insurance industry. Over the course of his career, he served in multiple roles supporting claims operations including: Claims Specialist, Claims Trainer, Claim Au...
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Reviewed by Michael Leotta
Insurance Operations Specialist
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
