What is an insurance lapse in New York State? 
An insurance lapse means that there is no liability insurance coverage for a vehicle registered in New York State for a period of time. If there is a lapse of insurance for a vehicle registered to you , the DMV can suspend your registration and driver license. 

What can cause an insurance lapse? 
Any amount of time that your vehicle is registered but not insured can cause a lapse in your insurance coverage. An insurance lapse can occur between the date your insurance is cancelled and the date your new insurance begins you surrender your vehicle plates your registration expires ' other proof' of insurance for example, a vehicle registered in another state, or a vehicle repossessed or impounded is valid your insurance company reinstates your insurance coverage A lapse in insurance coverage can also occur between the date you register your vehicle and the date your new insurance coverage begins. 1 See Respond to DMV insurance letters and orders [1] for instructions on how to resolve an insurance lapse. If the registration suspension period is more than 90 days , you must surrender your vehicle registration and plates. The DMV will also suspend your driver license. Your driver license will be suspended for the same number of days as your registration suspension. To reinstate your driver license , you must pay the DMV a $50 license suspension termination fee [2]. 

What will happen if I drive without insurance (with lapsed insurance)? 
Do not drive any vehicle that is not insured. you could be arrested or ticketed your vehicle can be impounded by a law enforcement officer the DMV will revoke your registration and your driver license 

What will happen if I or my uninsured vehicle is in a traffic crash? 
Your license and registration will be suspended , and you will need to pay fines and penalties. If your vehicle does not have insurance and you or someone else driving your uninsured vehicle are involved in a traffic crash

user: Hi good morning, I'm having some insurance lapsing, Can you help me on that?

assistant: No problem. In first place, remember you must have insurance or else you can get into trouble with your plates. Besides, you must keep the address for your vehicle registration and driver license current with the DMV, plus have liability coverage from a company licensed by NYS Department of Financial Services and authorized by the NYS DMV.

assistant: Do you have or not, a valid auto liability insurance coverage for your vehicle?

user: No, i don't have one.

user: O.k, i'll wait but meanwhile, Can you tell me what could happen if by any chance i get involved in an accident while i'm not covered?

assistant: I hope you don't get that situation, but if you do, you'll get your driver license and vehicle registration revoked for at least one year. so you better watch out on that..

user: I'll do my best to not get into that, i can assure you. hey, by the way, If i can't do my vehicle's registration because this insurance problem, can anyone else do the reg?

assistant: I sincerely hope you can. Regarding your question, sorry but that answer is no. DMV won't issue a new registration if some kind of attempt for avoiding suspensions is detected.