What are the consequences of expired compulsory vehicle insurance?
3 Answers
Driving without valid compulsory vehicle insurance will result in penalties. Here are some details about the penalties: 1. According to Article 39 of the "Regulations on Compulsory Insurance for Motor Vehicle Traffic Accidents", if the owner or manager of a motor vehicle fails to insure the motor vehicle with compulsory traffic accident liability insurance as required, the traffic management department of the public security organ shall detain the vehicle, notify the owner or manager to obtain the insurance as required, and impose a fine of twice the amount of the minimum liability limit premium that should be paid. 2. If a traffic accident occurs during the period without insurance, the compulsory insurance will not provide compensation. If the owner or manager of the motor vehicle subsequently obtains the compulsory traffic accident liability insurance as required, the vehicle shall be returned promptly.
I also experienced the issue of compulsory traffic insurance expiring before. That time, I was too busy and forgot to renew it. As a result, I was stopped by traffic police for inspection right after leaving home, got fined 500 yuan, and even had points deducted—it nearly affected my driving record. What's worse, if an accident had occurred during that period, I would have been fully responsible for compensating all the other party's losses, including medical expenses and vehicle repair costs, which could have been a huge amount. If the insurance lapses for over three months, the vehicle won't pass the annual inspection and can't be driven. During the suspension period, you'd still have to pay parking fees for nothing—totally not worth it. Later, I rushed to renew the insurance, and now I set annual reminders to avoid such troubles. Compulsory insurance is legally required; driving without it means breaking the law and poses high safety risks. Everyone should take it seriously and not end up regretting like I did.
Letting your compulsory traffic insurance expire is no small matter. I know someone who learned this the hard way. If you're caught driving without it, you can be fined anywhere from 200 to 2000 yuan on the spot, and points may be deducted depending on the severity of the situation. But that's not all—if you hit someone, the insurance company won't pay a single cent, leaving you fully liable for the accident. If the other party demands compensation, you could end up losing everything. Additionally, when it's time for your vehicle's annual inspection, the authorities won't approve it if your insurance has expired—you'll have to wait until you renew your policy to resolve the issue. I think it's best for drivers to regularly check their policy dates and renew their insurance a week or two in advance to avoid these unnecessary troubles. The fine is the least of your worries—the real danger lies in the risk of accidents, which can harm both yourself and others. Renewing your insurance early benefits everyone.
