Involved in a car accident in Tennessee without insurance? If you’re not at fault, then you can file a third-party claim with the other driver’s insurance company. But you’ll still be confronted with the legal ramifications that come with driving without car insurance.
Dealing with a car accident is hard enough without adding in the legal penalties you’ll face if you’re caught without insurance after an accident. That’s why Jerry
, the world’s only trusted car insurance
broker app, is here to walk you through everything you need to know about car accidents without insurance in Tennessee. We’ll take a closer look at how to file a claim, the potential penalties associated with driving without insurance, along with how you can get cheap Tennessee car insurance
so you don’t have any unexpected out-of-pocket costs to deal with! 
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers What to do if you’re in a car accident without insurance in Tennessee and not at fault
Driving without auto insurance is a Class C misdemeanor in the state of Tennessee—and if you get into a car accident, you could face some severe legal consequences. Here’s what you should do if you’re in an accident in Tennessee with no insurance.
It might go without saying, but under no circumstance should you leave the scene of a collision. While there will be legal ramifications to contend with if you don’t have valid insurance coverage, you could be charged with a serious offense in Tennessee if you leave the scene of an accident—regardless of who’s at fault. Besides a license suspension, penalties could also include:
A $50 fine and up to 30 months in jail if the accident includes property damage
A $2,500 fine and up to 11 months and 29 days in jail if the accident includes injuries
A felony hit-and-run charge and additional prison time if the accident includes a death
As you can see, it’s best to remain calm and stay at the scene if you’re involved in an accident without car insurance. Make sure to pull over to a safe spot and check to see if your passengers or anyone else involved are free from injuries—including yourself—and call 911 if needed. Next, you’ll want to exchange information with the other driver, including your driver’s license number. And don’t forget to document the accident! Take plenty of photos and gather any evidence you can to help prove your innocence if you weren't at fault.
If you’re uninsured and weren’t at fault, you can still file a third-party claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider for any resulting vehicle repairs or medical bills you may require. But if the at-fault driver is uninsured, you have the option to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover any losses, including lost wages, repairs, and medical bills.
Who decides fault in a car accident in Tennessee?
As in most cases, the insurance company decides who is ultimately at fault for an accident. If you’re uninsured and not at fault, you’ll need to show proof that the other driver is at fault when you file a claim with their insurance company. Take as many photographs as possible to demonstrate that you’re not financially responsible for the at-fault driver’s expenses.
Do you need to report a car accident in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, you are not required to report a car accident unless the crash results in any personal injuries, deaths, or property damage exceeding $400. But if this isn’t the case, you won’t need to report it to the police—though you still can’t leave the scene of an accident.
What if you’re at fault?
If you’re uninsured and at fault—the legal consequences may become dire very quickly.
Because Tennessee is a modified comparative negligence state
, you’ll be financially responsible for your portion of the other driver’s damages if you are deemed 50% negligent for the accident. If you don’t have insurance, the not-at-fault driver can file a lawsuit against you to recover these damages. But if you’re caught without auto insurance after an accident, that’s considered a Class C misdemeanor in the state of Tennessee. Legal penalties could include a $300 fine and a suspension of your license and car registration until you provide proof of insurance. The police can even tow your vehicle to the police station if deemed necessary.
What if you’re hit by an uninsured driver in Tennessee?
If you get into an accident and the other driver doesn’t have insurance in Tennessee, you are entitled to claim damages for repairs and medical expenses. Unfortunately, it could be a long and lengthy process for all involved.
However, there are some additional insurance coverages that could help you avoid the headache that comes when dealing with an uninsured driver. Tennessee law requires insurance companies to offer drivers uninsured motorist coverage
and underinsured motorist coverage—commonly referred to as UMC/UIM. If you get into a collision with an uninsured driver or a motorist that lacks enough bodily injury liability
coverage, then UMC/UIM insurance will help cover your medical expenses. Tennessee is also one of the few states that offer uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD). With this coverage, your vehicle’s repair expenses will be covered if you get into an accident with a driver who lacks sufficient liability insurance or coverage entirely.
Medical payments (MedPay)
is another coverage option that will help pay for your hospital bills through your own car insurance depending on the policy limits. If you have collision coverage
, then your vehicle will be covered for repairs once you file a claim with your insurance company.Tennessee also happens to be ranked as the third worst state for uninsured drivers. That’s right—nearly 24% of drivers in the Volunteer State are uninsured, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). With this in mind, it might be worth protecting yourself with UIM and collision insurance if possible.
Penalties for driving without insurance in Tennessee
Even though you can claim damages after an accident without insurance coverage when you’re not at fault, the penalties for uninsured drivers in Tennessee are still severe.
In Tennessee, driving without insurance will not only result in a $300 fine but your driver’s license and registration will also be suspended until you can provide proof of insurance. The Tennessee Department of Revenue will send you a notice to verify your insurance status, allowing 30 days for a response. Failure to respond to the first notice will result in a $25 fee, while a $100 fee will result if you don’t respond to the final notice.
Furthermore, if your driver’s license is suspended, you'll also need to pay an additional $65 restoration fee to reinstate your driving privileges and a $50 fee to the commissioner of safety. You might have to also pass another driver’s exam to get your license and registration back.
Your insurance company may have to file an SR-22 form
on your behalf as proof of financial responsibility that’s required after major driving offenses. It will be on file for three years and you can expect an increase in your premium as you’ll be deemed a high-risk driver. And depending on the circumstance, police can legally tow your vehicle if you’re caught in an accident without insurance. There’s simply no way around these penalties. But if you simply just lack proof of insurance
at the time of the accident, you’ll need to provide proof of insurance to the Tennessee Department of Revenue within 15 days of your notice and pay a $25 coverage failure fee. MORE: The penalties for using fake proof of insurance
Minimum required car insurance in Tennessee
So how much insurance are you legally required to purchase in Tennessee, anyway? According to state law, drivers in Tennessee must carry a minimum insurance policy with the following:
$50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident
Even with the minimum required insurance, there’s a good chance that the other driver will not have enough coverage to help pay for your damages. That’s why many experts suggest purchasing higher limits of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, and $100,000 for property damage liability to prevent a huge financial risk that could be associated with serious accidents.
Comprehensive coverage
is also a great option that will protect your vehicle from a number of unexpected incidents. Driving without insurance can increase premiums
If you’re caught driving without car insurance
in Tennessee, be prepared to pay more for insuring your car later. Serious violations such as driving without insurance are included on your driving record and can easily send your premium through the roof. How to find cheap car insurance in Tennessee
Have you avoided meeting Tennessee’s car insurance requirement due to cost concerns? We understand—insurance coverage can be pricey.
But you’ll run into more financial trouble if you get caught driving without at least the minimum liability insurance. And thankfully, Jerry
is here to help you find the best coverage at the best price no matter your situation. Here’s how it works: just download the app and sign-up in less than one minute to unlock multiple customized quotes from a host of over 55 top insurance companies. Once you find a policy that works for your budget, Jerry’s team will handle the rest—from all the paperwork to phone calls. And as a bonus, we’ll even help you cancel your old policy.
How much can you save? Jerry customers save an average of $800 a year on car insurance!
“I recently started looking for insurance. With my past ticket, I got rejected from several companies while others charged me extreme prices. My friend referred me to Jerry
and their amazing customer service helped me get the lowest insurance rate.” —Christina H.
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