Imagine you’re pulled over for a routine traffic stop. You hand the police your license, insurance, and registration. You’re confident you’ve done nothing wrong. But instead of a warning or a ticket, the officer tells you your registration is suspended. Worse yet, you get arrested over the misunderstanding.

This nightmare really happened to Tiffany Santamaria. After being deleted from her family’s SunPass account, she had no idea her tolls were going unpaid. Notices went to her old address, and when she was finally pulled over, she learned her registration and license were both suspended. To make matters worse, her outdated registration added another violation. Tiffany spent 24 hours in jail and estimates the ordeal cost her $10,000 in fines, court fees, and attorney bills. “I had never been to jail,” she said. “It was terrifying.”

It sounds extreme, but this isn’t an isolated story. Here are three surprising ways your registration could be suspended without you knowing it—and how to avoid Tiffany’s fate.

Lapsed insurance could lead to suspended registration

Many people don’t realize how quickly lapsed car insurance can lead to a suspended registration. If your autopay fails or your coverage lapses, insurers notify your state DMV. Some states, like New York, automatically suspend your registration after 90 days. Worse yet, the DMV can tack on hefty fines for the gap.

“If the registration insurance lapse was more than 90 days, you do not have the option of paying the insurance lapse civil penalty and your license will be suspended as well,” explains the New York DMV.

Unpaid parking tickets are a surprising way to get your registration suspended

Unpaid parking tickets might seem like a small issue, but they can snowball into a serious problem. In many states, like California and New York, accumulating too many unpaid parking fines can lead to a suspended registration. Some cities even have programs that connect ticket debt to registration status automatically.

“If a driver doesn’t resolve unpaid parking tickets, the DMV may place a hold on their registration,” warns the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.

Unpaid tolls can blindside you

Unpaid tolls can feel like a minor inconvenience until they spiral out of control. States like Florida and New York can suspend your registration if toll violations stack up. Tiffany Santamaria’s story proves how quickly unpaid tolls escalate, especially when notices don’t reach the right address. “If left unpaid, your driver’s license may even be suspended,” warns the Traffic Ticket Office.

Don’t let a minor oversight spiral

Tiffany’s story highlights how quickly things can go wrong, even if you’re trying to follow the rules. Avoiding these pitfalls is simple:

• Double-check your car insurance is paid.
• Resolve parking tickets before they pile up.
• Pay toll notices immediately and confirm your address with the tolling authority.
• Complete inspections–including emissions inspections–on time to avoid surprises.

A little diligence can save you thousands—and even keep you out of jail.