Expired License but Other Driver At Fault

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if I got in a car accident and my license was expired but the other car is a fault will they cover damages

Asked October 29, 2018

2 Answers


This is a tough one. First of all, there is too much missing information. How long had your license been expired, did you have insurance, what kind of damages?

In the absence of a direct answer to your question, I will make you aware of an insurance doctrine that may come into play in this case.

Contributory negligence comes into play in accidents when the negligence of the not at fault party, contributed to the accident. The impact of contributory negligence could alter the not at fault parties resource ranging from a slight to a total reduction in payments for damages.

It appears that you may be a resident of Texas. If so you need to be aware that Texas is one of the states where plaintiffs are not compensated if they are more than 50% at fault.

Again, the detailed provided does not give enough to provide a resolution to your question. How will your expired license impact the outcome? This is a question that can not be answered in a forum or online Q&A.

Answered January 8, 2019 by TruePoint


An expired license does not traditionally effect insurance coverage unless the policy specifically mandates it. If the person causing the accident has up to date coverage, and you have up to date coverage than everything should be fine. This does not mean you will not get in trouble for having an expired license. But that has nothing to do with your insurance coverage. The main aspects dealing with coverage focus on the state of the policy and who is at fault.

An insurance policy covers any accidents or occurrences regardless of your license validity. If the policy is up to date with no cancellations showing you are covered. The insurance company is only interested in fault, damage, and the condition of the policy itself. An expired driver's license is not something you want to drive around with, but it does not determine coverage or even fault. A driver's license is required when insurance coverage is purchased, but the company usually does nothing if it expires later. There are certain policies that might have addendum focused on license expiration but most do not. Check with your specific company to see if there are any differences.

Furthermore, every state has different laws regarding fault. In Texas fault is assigned after careful investigation. Once the investigation is over and fault is assigned the insurance company looks at the accident as well. They can agree and go along with the decision, or they can disagree and a settlement has to be reached at trial. So if the driver is at fault and the insurance company accepts it you will receive compensation. No matter the status of your license. So long story short it look good for coverage. Damages incurred on your vehicle will get paid for. Unfortunately, no license means you will probably get a ticked and your premium will go up. So bittersweet but there it is.

Answered November 1, 2018 by InsuranceStar

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