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Penalties for driving without insurance in Kentucky

Mary Van Keuren Natasha Cornelius, CLU
Written by
Mary Van Keuren,
Edited by
Natasha Cornelius, CLU
Published on January 03, 2025 | 4 min read

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two police officers pulling over a driver
Image by Getty Images; Illustration by Bankrate

Kentucky insurance laws require all drivers to have coverage to drive on public roads legally. You can go to jail for no insurance in Kentucky, and may face fines and other penalties. Even if you are stopped for another reason, you are likely to earn a ticket for driving without insurance. In addition, if you were to have an at-fault accident with no insurance, you would be liable for all costs, both for damage and any injuries. Bankrate created this guide to driving without insurance in Kentucky to be aware of the challenges you would face if you were caught without coverage. 

Is it illegal to drive without insurance in Kentucky?

Yes, simply put, you are breaking the law if you get behind the wheel in the Bluegrass State without a viable car insurance policy. Kentucky’s average insurance rates are slightly above the national averages, with full coverage costing an average of $2,705 a year, while state-mandated minimum insurance is available for an average cost of $779. 

Keep in mind, however, that costs vary from person to person, and your own rates are likely to differ from the averages. By shopping around, looking for discounts and choosing your coverage types carefully, you may be able to find a policy that costs less than the average and is a good fit for your circumstances. 

Even if the only coverage you can find is pricey, it may still be better than the alternative. If you are stopped by law enforcement and you do not have an active insurance policy, you will face multiple penalties. As an uninsured driver, if you cause an accident, you could possibly be on the hook for thousands of dollars of damage and medical costs. 

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Minimum car insurance requirements in Kentucky

Like almost every state in the U.S., Kentucky has minimum required amounts of insurance coverage. Kentucky insurance companies will not sell you a policy that has less than this minimum, but you may purchase more than the minimum, and may also want to consider optional types of coverage such as collision and comprehensive coverage.

The minimum amount of coverage required in Kentucky is as follows:

  • $25,000 per person in bodily injury liability
  • $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability
  • $25,000 in property damage liability
  • $10,000 in personal injury protection

Drivers can also have a policy with a single limit of $60,000 to meet the minimum requirement.

Note that this minimum coverage will not pay for damage to your own vehicle in an at-fault accident. Purchasing a full coverage policy will give you this additional functionality in your policy, and may be worth considering, although it is likely to cost more than a minimum-level policy.

Penalties for driving without insurance in Kentucky

If you are a vehicle owner in Kentucky, you cannot legally drive until you have obtained insurance. Drivers caught without insurance could face stiff penalties for driving uninsured, including:

Paying a fine

Driving without insurance in Kentucky could result in fines. For a first offense of driving without insurance, you can be charged a fine of $500 to $1,000. A second offense of driving without insurance in Kentucky could result in a fine of $1,000 to $2,500.

Serving jail time

Driving without insurance in Kentucky may also result in jail time. For a first offense, you may have to serve up to 90 days in jail in addition to paying fines. For a second offense and offenses after that, you may have to serve up to 180 days in jail.

Driving privileges revoked

If you are caught driving without insurance in Kentucky, you can have your driver’s license suspended for up to a year or until you submit proof of insurance. On a second offense, you will likely have your license automatically suspended for the entire year. If you are caught driving without insurance after the second offense, your license will likely be suspended for an additional two years after the first year.

Paying a reinstatement fee

If your driver’s license or registration has been suspended, you will have to pay a $40 reinstatement fee and court fines and show proof of insurance. For second and subsequent offenses, you will face the same consequences as the first offense and also have to retake your driving exams if your license has been suspended for more than one year.

Getting into an accident without insurance in Kentucky

If you are in an accident without insurance in Kentucky, you may be liable for the costs of the accident. Kentucky is a no-fault state, meaning each driver in the accident, regardless of fault, files initial claims with their own company. A driver’s personal injury protection (PIP) coverage then pays for medical expenses, lost wages and other costs related to any injuries — up to their policy’s limits. If you don’t have insurance, you’re on the hook for covering all of your vehicle damage and any medical bills. Additionally, if you are later found to be primarily at fault, and have no insurance, you may be responsible for paying for the other party’s damage out of pocket as well.

This is in addition to any civil fines and other penalties you may be responsible for when it is determined that you do not have an active policy. If you cannot afford to pay for damage, you may even be sued by the other driver and their insurance company. The damage you could be personally responsible for includes your and the other driver’s medical bills, car repairs and any other damage resulting from the accident, especially if the other driver does not carry uninsured motorist coverage.

Frequently asked questions

Written by
Mary Van Keuren Arrow Right Icon
Contributor, Insurance
Mary Van Keuren has written for insurance domains such as Bankrate, Coverage.com, and The Simple Dollar for the past five years, specializing in home and auto insurance. She has also written extensively for consumer websites including Reviews.com and Slumber Yard. Prior to that, she worked as a writer in academia for several decades.