DMV: proof of insurance not needed |
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Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
April 3, 2011
Recently I was at the Woodstock DMV to renew a vehicle registration, and I had dutifully entered my liability insurance information on the reverse side of the form received in the mail from the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles.
I was able to avoid the bottleneck at the reception desk and proceeded directly to the Cashier. Feeling really smug about, this year, having sucked it up and having entered my insurance information on the renewal form and also my driver's license number on my check (which I usually challenge), I stepped right up the window and handed over the form and my check.
"You don't have to put the insurance information on the form," said the cashier.
WHAT? We have a mandatory liability insurance law in Illinois, and they aren't going to collect the information? I guess not.
The cashier did alert me to the importance of responding to any request for insurance information that I might get in the mail from the DMV. It's one of those, "Do it or else" deals. If I don't respond, they'll cancel my plates. Maybe my D/L, too? What if the request gets lost in the mail and I never receive it? What if I answer and mail it back, but it never gets there?
How many "random" insurance verification letters do they mail out? Why not continue to secure the insurance information at the time of renewal? When the cashiers aren't busy, they could enter the information right into the DMV database. They are getting paid to work, aren't they? How many times do you walk into the DMV and the clerks are standing there, gabbing because they have nothing to do?
What percent of Illinois vehicles have valid license plates but are not insured? 25%? 35%? More?
Why not link the DMV computers with insurance company computers? Surely, a simple window could be designed to avoid penalizing people who are a little late with their premium payments or who switch companies? But what about those who buy a policy and pay a month's premium, and then allow the policy to lapse for non-payment of the premium? They are still running around with the Insurance Card in the car that might pass inspection on a traffic stop.