In Spain, almost 3 million uninsured cars circulate… despite the fact that the fines are large and can cause serious problems.
Having a vehicle without insurance carries serious penalties and can be a big problem. We explain all the situations:
1.- What can happen to you if you have the vehicle parked?
You can be penalized even if that uninsured vehicle is parked in a private garage. The sanctions are 800 euros if it is a vehicle for which the B license is required; and 1,500 euros if you need permits C1, C1+E, C+E, D1, D or D+E (truck or bus), it is a taxi or a school transport vehicle or priority services.
2.- And if you drive with a vehicle without insurance?
If you are stopped by the police or Civil Guard, or a camera detects your car’s license plate and checks its administrative status, the penalty will increase up to 1,500 euros (vehicles that require a B license) and 2,800 euros (C1, C1+E, C+E, D1, D or D+E, taxi, school transport or priority services).
Besides, a traffic officer has the power to immobilize a vehicle without insurance mandatory for a minimum period of one month; three months if he is a repeat offender. To recover the vehicle, you will have to prove that you have taken out the compulsory insurance and pay the costs of the deposit or the seal.
3.- And if you go with a car without insurance and have an accident?
if it’s your fault
Not only will you have to pay the penalty for driving with a car without insurance, you may also have to pay for driving with a car without ITV (a vehicle will not exceed the ITV without insurance); so if you have not attended the last inspection and you drive with the ITV expired, you will be penalized with 200 euros; and if you did not pass the ITV and you drive with the vehicle, with 500 euros. Likewise, if you committed an infraction that caused the accident, you will also have to pay the corresponding fine: for example, up to 1,000 euros if you were driving under the influence of drugs, up to 600 euros in case of speeding, 200 euros if you jumped a traffic light …
But this is not the worst, since, as Carlos Lluch points out, “Once the Insurance Consortium pays the compensation corresponding to those injured and victims of your accident, it will claim all the compensation from you”. This means that, if you cannot pay the amount, your accounts and your assets will be seized, as well as your salary (any monthly amount above the Minimum Interprofessional Salary: for 2021, 950 euros/month) until you pay the amount of compensation .
If the fault is on the contrary
“You will receive the corresponding compensation from the insurerbut you will be penalized for driving without insurance and for any other infraction that you may have committed”, explains Lluch.
