Despite the fact that drivers are required to have at least a low level of car insurance, many drivers neglect to buy it. The reasons for this are many, but the main one is simply that they do not want to pay for coverage. The exact number of drivers doing this at any given time fluctuates a bit, but it is possible to see overall trends and estimates if wondering how many there are.
On the whole, estimates coming from the Insurance Research Council indicate that about 14 percent of drivers in the U.S. don’t have coverage. Even this moves a little bit from year to year, jumping just over 14 at times and just under at others, but that is fairly close to the current amount at any time.
It is worth noting that the economy has been blamed for these numbers at times, especially back in 2008 and 2009. With it rebounding from those levels, the percentage could drop as drivers who couldn’t afford coverage now can afford it again.
The percentages are different from one state to the next. In Colorado specifically, about 15 percent of drivers don’t have coverage. When the information was gathered, Colorado was tied with Washington D.C., Maryland, California, Wisconsin and Texas.
Though 15 percent is slightly over the average, it is better than Mississippi, where the estimate is 28 percent, and New Mexico, where the estimate is 26 percent. The states with the lowest percentages are Maine and Massachusetts, with 4 percent. New York is close, with 5 percent.
Those who are involved in accidents with uninsured drivers can face a complex process when trying to seek compensation, so it’s important to know all possible legal options.
Source: Auto Insurance, “How many drivers don’t have auto insurance?,” accessed April 19, 2016
