Wednesday, December 10, 2003
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Wednesday, December 10, 2003 |
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Auto insurance database on the road again Beginning Jan. 1, the automobile insurance information card that you carry in your glove box is no longer proof of vehicle insurance coverage when you are stopped by law enforcement or go to renew your vehicle registration. Instead, the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety is re-implementing the legislatively mandated electronic verification system that enables law enforcement to access insurance verification data from their vehicles through the state run database. The Georgia Electronic Insurance Compliance System or GEICS compares the data received from insurance companies and matches it against the state’s tag and title database. It requires that your vehicle identification number (VIN) on your vehicle’s registration card or tag receipt match the vehicle identification number on your insurance card. If the two numbers match, the database will indicate a “Valid Insurance Coverage” status when checked by law enforcement or when purchasing your vehicle’s tag. If the lengthy alphanumeric number is even one digit off, there is a problem. Georgia motorists must once again check to make sure that the VIN on their registration card exactly matches the VIN as shown on their insurance card or policy. If there is even one discrepancy, contact your insurance agent to correct and notify DMVS. If the VIN is correct on the insurance side then contact your county tag office immediately to have the vehicle VIN corrected on your registration card and title. Addresses should also remain correct and current as the DMVS attempts to notify the owner by mail of any penalties, including the impending suspension of a vehicle registration that might occur. During the previous session of the General Assembly, the implementation of GEICS was delayed to allow insurance companies and Georgians a second chance to clear up errors that could have caused big problems when stopped by law enforcement or registering at the county tag office. It has also allowed extra time for commercial vehicle insurance companies to transmit their insured’s data and for the agency to monitor the error rates. However, any Georgia resident who used their insurance card as proof of insurance to obtain their tag during this timeframe may still face the problem of not being registered in the database after Jan. 1 and should immediately contact their insurance agent for verification. Other important changes were incorporated into the system including the ability to voluntarily cancel a motor vehicle registration when a vehicle is not in use. This feature is intended to assist those persons who have a legitimate reason for a vehicle to sit idle for an extended period of time, such as over-seas military personnel or those that have a vehicle that is stored or inoperative. It does not, however, relieve the obligation to pay the taxes and fees. County tax commissioners now have the ability to provide temporary exemption for a period of 30 days if verification of coverage from an insurance agent is received in their office at the time of vehicle registration. However, if the vehicle owner’s insurance data is not transmitted to the database by the 31st day, the registration suspension process will begin and penalties may occur. There are several alternative proofs of insurance. If an insurance policy was applied for within the last 30 days, a current written binder from the insurance agency is considered satisfactory proof. If the vehicle is operated under a rental agreement, a copy of the rental agreement shall be considered satisfactory proof. For a new vehicle purchased within the past 30 days, a copy of the insurers declaration of coverage under the policy of another vehicle is acceptable proof. Valid insurance cards will be the acceptable proof of insurance for fleet and self-insured vehicles. Although no system will be perfect, it is anticipated that GEICS will help law enforcement officers to crack down on uninsured drivers. Previous studies have shown that a large number of drivers purchase automobile insurance only to receive the card. They purchase their vehicle tag and then cancel the liability insurance but still have the non-valid card in their possession to use as proof of insurance if they are questioned. The primary objective of this database is to better enforce the automobile insurance requirements in Georgia; thereby decreasing the likelihood that someone will be hit by an uninsured motorist. Effective Jan. 1, the law requires that drivers carry their insurance card. It will continue to be very important should you become involved in a traffic accident, travel out of state or take an on-the-road driving test. For more information, check www.dmvs.ga.gov.
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