Driving Without Insurance in Wyoming

If you’re caught driving without insurance, you’ll have seven days to produce proof. If you fail to produce proof of financial responsibility within this period, you will be charged with driving without fulfilling the state’s financial responsibility requirements, and the judge may order you to pay restitution.

What Happens If I Don’t Have Proof of Insurance?

Upon receiving notice of your conviction, you’ll have to file an SR-22, proof of the minimum amount of liability insurance, for three years. If you don’t produce an SR-22 within 30 days of the notice, your driver’s license or nonresident operating privileges will be suspended until you provide an SR-22.

A first conviction for failure to maintain liability coverage is a misdemeanor that can result in either or both of:

• Jail time: Six months maximum
• Fine: $500 to $1,500 (but if you’ve received no other penalties, the maximum penalty is $750).

For second and subsequent convictions, the judge will make you surrender your registration and license plates. The county treasurer will hold them until the judge determines you’ve met your minimum coverage requirements under Wyoming law.

What Proof Is Required?

Proof can be in the form of either:

• A personal liability auto insurance policy, typically an electronic or paper insurance identification card
• Evidence of a bond on file; i.e., self-insurance
• SR-22 form, which we’ve detailed below

An SR-22 is a form that your car insurance provider will file with the state to prove that you have the minimum coverage it requires. If you fail to get insurance within 30 days, you’ll be required to carry an SR-22 for three years, which will result in a higher car insurance premium, as it designates you as a high-risk driver.

To find insurance after a lapse in coverage, the process will work the same way as usual. However, the major difference is that you may have trouble finding car insurance providers that want you as a customer, as a lapse in coverage means that you’re a bigger risk to the company. We recommend checking out the best car insurance for high-risk drivers for a greater likelihood that companies will accept your application. Get quotes from multiple companies before settling with one.

To appeal a fine from a trial court to an appellate court, you’ll need to file a notice of appeal with the clerk of the trial court within 30 days from the entry of the appealable order. Once the notice is filed, the court reporter will file with the clerk of the trial court within 60 days, and you’ll have to pay a filing fee.¹

Learn more about the laws surrounding car insurance in Wyoming.

Minimum Coverage

The only insurance you’re required to get legally is liability coverage, which pays for the other party’s losses in accidents you cause. You’ll need the following liability limits:

• Bodily injury per person: $25,000
• Bodily injury per accident: $50,000
• Property damage per accident: $20,000²

Vehicle Registration

Registering your vehicle requires proof of insurance, along with:

• Copy of the sales contract if you purchased the car from a dealership
• Lease agreement, if applicable
• Payment for taxes and fees, which is $30 plus county fees
• Vehicle title
• VIN inspection form if you purchased the vehicle in another state

You’ll register your vehicle through your local county treasurer’s office. See their contact information below.³

Fault System

Like most states, Wyoming is an at-fault state, which means that in an accident, the at-fault driver is financially responsible for the other party’s bodily injuries and property damage. If the at-fault party’s insurance doesn’t cover the entirety of their losses, or if they were driving without insurance, the other party can sue them in a civil suit for their losses, given they were less than 50 percent responsible for the accident.

While driving without insurance may seem like an easy way to save hundreds of dollars, it could ultimately cost you even more, even if you’re not involved in an accident. We recommend buying more insurance than the minimum required, as it won’t apply to your losses in accidents you cause or losses from non-collision events like vandalism, theft, and inclement weather. Check out the best full coverage auto insurance, which includes collision, comprehensive, and uninsured motorist coverage, to find a provider near you.