Can I File a Car Accident Claim if I Have Expired Tags?
No matter how minor or severe a car accident may seem, they almost always result in financial losses. In Florida, all drivers are required to carry automobile insurance to cover the cost of medical bills and other economic losses following a crash.
If someone is driving a vehicle with expired tags, they may wonder if they can file an accident claim with their insurance company. Although all drivers should keep their vehicle registration current, expired tags are unlikely to affect an insurance claim. Car accident lawyers at Chanfrau & Chanfrau work with drivers in Daytona Beach, FL, Palm Coast, FL, and surrounding areas to ensure their rights are protected after an automobile accident.
Vehicle Registration Penalties in Florida
All vehicles that are operated in the state of Florida must be registered with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, or FLHSMV. The car registration must be renewed annually. If registration fees and required documents are not received by midnight on the day that registration is due for renewal, the vehicle’s tags will be considered expired.
Florida drivers can face penalties for driving a vehicle with expired tags. If the tags are expired by six months or less, drivers can be issued a noncriminal traffic infraction. Drivers could be issued a fine that would need to be paid along with registration fees and any additional late fees. If tags are expired by more than six months drivers are still likely to be issued a noncriminal traffic infraction, unless it is a repeat offense, in which case they could face criminal charges.
Could Expired Tags Affect or Cancel an Insurance Claim?
Expired registration tags should not affect a car accident claim. Usually the only way that an insurance claim is affected is if the driver was uninsured at the time of the collision.
While insurance companies have the right to deny renewal on an insurance policy if the vehicle’s registration is not current, they cannot cancel an insurance policy mid-policy because the vehicle’s tags are expired. A car insurance policy can only be canceled mid-policy if:
- The driver was approved for coverage based on fraudulent information (i.e. they lied on their insurance forms)
- The driver has not paid their monthly premiums and has been warned of cancellation
- The policy holder’s driver’s license has expired or been revoked
What if My Claim Was Denied?
Unfortunately, even though a car accident claim should not be impacted by expired tags, that doesn’t mean that insurance companies won’t deny the claim in the hopes that the driver gives up on the pursuit of accident damages. Drivers in the Daytona Beach area who believe that their car accident claim has been wrongfully denied should work with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer, such as those at Chanfrau & Chanfrau, to pursue the compensation they are due.
Get in Touch
If you have been injured in a car accident, the lawyers at Chanfrau & Chanfrau can assist you in pursuing compensation for related losses. To discuss the details of your crash with our legal team, send us a message online, or call (386) 258-7313 and schedule a personal consultation.