I would like to know what the penalties would be for driving a car that is not registered to me, or charge me with driving without car insurance in Louisville, Kentucky and failure to show proof of insurance? The vehicle was not mine. Can someone explain the Kentucky auto insurance requirements related to this issue?

Paul

Louisville, Kentucky

The penalties for driving a car without auto insurance in Louisville, Kentucky can be rather harsh. For the first violation you are cited to go to court and can be fined between $500 up to $1000 or a jail time for not more than ninety days or both.

Your Kentucky motor vehicle registration and license plates can be suspended for a year or until proof of automobile insurance is provided as well for the registered car owner of an uninsured car. License suspension for up to one year is also a possible penalty. The penalties for each subsequent offense of not having proper proof of car insurance, increase.

While you are not the owner of the vehicle in which you were operating, The Kentucky laws still hold you liable as a driver to make sure the vehicle you are driving is insured and be sure that there is proof of that insurance to show to police officer upon request.

If you want to know more about the specifics on the laws of Kentucky then you can contact legal attorney. An attorney may be able to advise you if there is any way to have your tickets transferred to the vehicle owner if you had asked about car insurance and were assured the automobile was insured and therefore were unaware that you were driving without auto insurance.

I have a driver’s license in Kentucky, but I do not have a vehicle. I have been driving my brother’s car. He has car insurance, but I am not listed on the insurance policy as a driver. Can I still drive his car? What’s going to happen if I get involved in an accident?

Jean

Louisville, KY

If you are operating your brother’s vehicle with any kind of regularity, you should be listed on your brother’s policy as a driver. Otherwise, your brother runs the risk of having the insurance provider deny coverage for a claim if you get involved in an accident while using that vehicle. As a result you and your brother can be held accountable for that accident. If your brother does not add you to that policy as a driver, to protect your interests, you may consider buying a ‘named non owner’ insurance policy. This policy will provide coverage for liability,uninsured motorist, medical payments and coverages for someone who does not own a vehicle and will be operating a vehicle owned by someone else.