Random insurance proof gripe

[Dave Sherman]

State of Ohio has "random" proof of insurance mailings, where you'll get a letter saying you need to prove that a vehicle had liability insurance during some previous time period. Strangely, for the third time in 6 years (averages every other year), I've been "randomly selected" to prove the MG was insured. Good thing I get two cards, and the spare usually goes in the file cabinet so I still have a copy of the previous insurance card. Never the daily driver, it's always been the MG, even though it has regular plates on it.

Starting to think this "random" selection isn't so random. Wonder if they get suspicious about cars that qualify for historic vehicle plates that don't have historic vehicle plates.

 

[PimTac]

Here in WA they set up checkpoints to check for sobriety but a lot of questions are asked. You had better have your papers in order or else.

 

[SZR48207]

If it cracks down on abuse and fraud then good on them. My state has a big problem with people who cancel and refund their insurance after they renew their plates each year. Way too many uninsured motorists in my state.

 

[JLTD]

^. Yup the uninsured motorist is a growing problem. Costs everyone a lot of money and can be linked to rising insurance rates.

 

[exranger06]

In CT, if you cancel your insurance, the insurance company immediately notifies the DMV and your registration immediately becomes invalid. The DMV also hits you with a $200 fine. If you want to cancel insurance because you're not going to drive the car for several months or something, you're supposed to cancel the registration first and then cancel insurance so you don't get fined. I've never heard of a mailing asking to prove insurance.

 

[mightymousetech]

Nice thing around here, the insurance companies are tied into the police system now, and police cars have automatic licence plate readers in their vehicles. All a cop has to do is be near you and it will notify them if you have no current insurance. It is a REALLY big fine now too.

Quote:
The offence of Owner – Operate Motor Vehicle – No Insurance carries no demerit points, however, if found guilty you are liable on a first conviction to a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $25,000 and on a subsequent conviction to a fine of not less than $10,000 and not more than $50,000

 

[Vuflanovsky]

I've always thought that states that do this random proof of insurance without an electronic system might be targeting areas where they know they can get upwards of 10% or more of the people who either don't show proof or don't respond to the request. Beyond the revenue generator aspect or keeping the world safe from uninsured vehicles, I'm sure those results with certain demographics are repeatable...and in the OPs case they're repeated.

If there's no computer link between the DMV ( oops BMV ) and insurance companies to confirm registrations across the board, I'm sure the randomness could probably be questioned.

 

[Tdbo]

No, I just think that it is another mandate applied without rhyme or reason.
I have been mailed 2x in the last 14 months, both times they asked for proof on the 2006 Odyssey.
Never any of the other three vehicles, always the Odyssey.

 

[mrsilv04]

Here in Illinois, the Secretary of State's office requests mandatory insurance information on the *back* side of the yearly registration renewal form. However, it is printed in very light blue... to the point where a vast majority of the people likely never even see it.

I enter information such as my shoe size, what I had for breakfast, my grades from my 6th grade report card...

Simply nothing more than the same old stupidity on display, from our 84 year old Secretary of State...

 

[Vuflanovsky]

If these random proof of insurance notices go out to approximately 5% of registered owners annually then I would probably question getting 3-4 of these notices over the course of 7-10 years as being random.

 

[WyrTwister]

Originally Posted By: Reddy45
If it cracks down on abuse and fraud then good on them. My state has a big problem with people who cancel and refund their insurance after they renew their plates each year. Way too many uninsured motorists in my state.


My state , too ! :-(

 

[OneEyeJack]

If you think you have problems with uninsured, unlicensed, unregistered motorists then come to California.

 

[pandus13]

Originally Posted By: WyrTwister
Originally Posted By: Reddy45
If it cracks down on abuse and fraud then good on them. My state has a big problem with people who cancel and refund their insurance after they renew their plates each year. Way too many uninsured motorists in my state.


My state , too ! :-(

If memory serves me well, I think is the same state....

 

[Dave Sherman]

I'm all for weeding out the folks who drop their policy and drive around with bogus insurance cards. I got rear ended by one of them once. Showed a card to the cop, but when I called the company on the card they said he didn't have a policy anymore.

It's just strange that my one car could be so "lucky". If they were truly interested in making sure you're insured, I wonder why the BMV has never asked to see my insurance card when I transfer plates to a new vehicle. Better yet, I have to renew my ham radio plate in person every year. I used to be able to renew my two cars and the camper online for years, but they changed it for hams. Now I have to go to the BMV and show my valid ham license in order to renew my plate, but they don't ask to see my insurance card.

I guess they are more concerned about a situation where someone's callsign gets "recycled" but they can't apply for a ham radio plate because the former callsign owner still has a plate.

 

[John_K]

Originally Posted By: Dave Sherman
State of Ohio has "random" proof of insurance mailings, where you'll get a letter saying you need to prove that a vehicle had liability insurance during some previous time period. Strangely, for the third time in 6 years (averages every other year), I've been "randomly selected" to prove the MG was insured. Good thing I get two cards, and the spare usually goes in the file cabinet so I still have a copy of the previous insurance card. Never the daily driver, it's always been the MG, even though it has regular plates on it.

Starting to think this "random" selection isn't so random. Wonder if they get suspicious about cars that qualify for historic vehicle plates that don't have historic vehicle plates.


I have had the exact same thing happen to me. Most people I ask never get a letter, I have gotten 3, all for the Hyundai below. And it is getting old now but it was fairly new when this happened. And just like you I have learned to keep the old FR card just in case.

Both cars are in my name but it's always for the Hyundai, makes no sense.

 

[SZR48207]

The programmer who built the system could have used a bad random number generator. And you are the lucky winner every few years as a result!

 

[KrisZ]

Why would the state be asking for proof of insurance for a time period in the past? I could understand them asking for present insurance, but past?

 

[John_K]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Why would the state be asking for proof of insurance for a time period in the past? I could understand them asking for present insurance, but past?


You can run out and get current insurance. Can't run out and get it for the past.

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: exranger06
In CT, if you cancel your insurance, the insurance company immediately notifies the DMV and your registration immediately becomes invalid.
Same here in MA, and I believe the RMV will also demand the plates be returned.

 

[earlyre]

i've gotten those a couple times, but it was always for current coverage.

about a year and a half ago, my buddy's mom (who lives in alaska) got one for the car she keeps down here. IIRC it was for current insurance as well...