Can I drive my car if the insurance has just expired?
2 Answers
If your car insurance has just expired, the vehicle is not allowed to be driven on the road. You can renew the insurance within 3 months. Once the insurance lapses, if caught by traffic police, you will be fined twice the amount of the compulsory traffic insurance. The compulsory traffic insurance (CTI) can be delayed for payment within 3 months, and the original insurance company can still accept renewal. However, vehicles without CTI are not allowed on the road. Below is relevant information about car insurance: 1. Consequences of not renewing: If car insurance expires and is not renewed, the vehicle will be in an uninsured state, without coverage. Moreover, CTI is a mandatory insurance required by the state, and once discovered, you may face penalties. Additionally, if you renew after the insurance has lapsed, you will need to have the vehicle inspected again, adding to the renewal procedures. 2. Timely renewal: CTI usually needs to be renewed within 90 days before expiration. If discovered by authorities to have lapsed, you will be fined twice the CTI premium. Car owners must pay attention to the validity period of their car insurance to avoid being uninsured. Whether you renew early or late, it's better to do so than to let it lapse. 3. Renewal time: The choice of renewal time varies for each individual. Regardless of whether you choose early or late, it's best not to exceed 24 hours past the insurance expiration date, as it will be considered lapsed. Generally, it is recommended to renew at least 1 month in advance to ensure smooth processing of the renewal procedures.
I'm a traffic police officer and have seen too many cases of expired insurance. Let me put it this way - even if the car can start, driving without insurance is like running naked on the road. Last month, our team caught someone who'd been driving without insurance for three months - not only was the car impounded, but they were fined double the insurance premium on the spot. If you cause a rear-end collision in this situation, you'll have to cover all medical expenses beyond basic coverage, the other party's lost wages, and vehicle damages yourself. Recently, a driver hit an electric scooter and had to pay 87,000 yuan in compensation - that's six months' salary gone in an instant. If you urgently need to use your car, you can call your insurance company right now to get an electronic policy that takes effect in just 30 minutes - faster than getting bubble tea delivered.
