A driver may not operate a motor vehicle in New Jersey without liability insurance. To have the legal minimum of liability insurance a vehicle, its owner must have:

• A policy that covers liability:
  
• $15,000 per person injured in an accident;
  
• $30,000 per accident; and
  
• $5,000 property damage per accident.

If a driver does not have at least this much coverage, that driver may be guilty of driving without insurance.

If a driver is cited for this offense, and cannot produce an insurance card proving that they had liability coverage when they were issued the ticket, the court will assume that the driver did not have insurance.

Penalties:
If the driver is found guilty:
First Offense

• A fine of $300;
  
• Community service as determined by the Court; and
  
• Loss of driver’s license for 1 year.

• A fine of $500;
  
• A jail sentence of up to 14 days;
  
• Community service for 30 days; and
  
• Loss of driver’s license for 2 years.

Points:

• No points.
  
• Being found guilty of this offense carries an automatic suspension of a driver’s license.