Alabama · Uninsured driver · Updated Oct 2026

Hit by an uninsured driver in Alabama: coverage, penalties and what to do

Your coverage, the penalties and how to claim your losses.

Short answer

If the at-fault driver had no insurance and the crash caused injury or damage over $500 to any one owner, file form SR-31 with the ALEA Safety Responsibility Unit within 30 days (only if you have not been paid for your losses).

Minimum liability
25/50/25
Insurance system
Fault (tort)

Uninsured motorist coverage in Alabama

Liability minimum
25/50/25
Official text
Read the official text

Compare every state in the minimum insurance table.

If the other driver has no insurance in Alabama

  • If your own policy has uninsured motorist coverage, you can also claim from your own insurer.

State forms and programs in Alabama

  • If the at-fault driver had no insurance and the crash caused injury or damage over $500 to any one owner, file form SR-31 with the ALEA Safety Responsibility Unit within 30 days (only if you have not been paid for your losses).

Penalties for driving uninsured in Alabama

  • Fines for a mandatory insurance conviction are up to $500 the first time and up to $1,000 and/or a 6-month license suspension after that; the vehicle registration is also suspended until insurance is shown, with a $200 ($400 repeat) reinstatement fee.
  • Under a 2026 ALEA rule, a driver in a crash who was uninsured but not ticketed can get a civil penalty by mail and a 90-day license suspension if it isn't paid or disputed within 45 days.

More facts for Alabama

  • The SR-31 form is only for crashes where the at-fault driver was uninsured; if both drivers were insured, nobody files it (ALEA Driver License Manual).
  • ALEA checks crash reports and the state's online insurance verification system to find uninsured drivers who weren't ticketed (ALEA Rule 760-X-1-.23, 2026).

Recent changes in Alabama

  • ALEA adopted Rule 760-X-1-.23 (Mandatory Liability Insurance), filed April 16, 2026, under Ala. Code §§ 41-27-40 to 41-27-48: uninsured drivers involved in a crash or ticketed incident who weren't cited can be assessed a civil penalty, with a 90-day license suspension if they don't pay or dispute it within 45 days.

Claiming from the uninsured driver in Alabama

Small claims limit for car damage in Alabama: $6,000 (same for people and businesses). Alabama small claims guide on Small Claims Map

Step by step if an uninsured driver hits you in Alabama

  1. Report the crash to the police. You must stop after any crash, help anyone hurt, and give your name, address and registration number and show your license to the others involved. Reporting a crash in Alabama and getting the police report
  2. Write down the other car's plate and get witness names.
  3. Ask your insurer whether your policy has uninsured motorist or collision coverage.
  4. If your coverage doesn't pay everything, sue the driver before the deadline: 2 years for both property damage and injury.

Free help in Alabama

Questions about uninsured drivers in Alabama

What happens if you drive without insurance in Alabama?

Fines for a mandatory insurance conviction are up to $500 the first time and up to $1,000 and/or a 6-month license suspension after that; the vehicle registration is also suspended until insurance is shown, with a $200 ($400 repeat) reinstatement fee. Under a 2026 ALEA rule, a driver in a crash who was uninsured but not ticketed can get a civil penalty by mail and a 90-day license suspension if it isn't paid or disputed within 45 days.

What can I do if an uninsured driver hits me in Alabama?

If your own policy has uninsured motorist coverage, you can also claim from your own insurer. If the at-fault driver had no insurance and the crash caused injury or damage over $500 to any one owner, file form SR-31 with the ALEA Safety Responsibility Unit within 30 days (only if you have not been paid for your losses).

What is the minimum car insurance in Alabama?

25/50/25

How long do I have to sue an uninsured driver in Alabama?

2 years for property damage and 2 years for injury.

More for Alabama drivers

Nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.