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| INFORMATION ALERT |
| State Rep. Rick Mirabito |
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Don't risk suspension of your vehicle's license plate and registration
Dec. 5 – Each month, my constituent service office receives a number of requests for information about keeping up insurance on motor vehicles, even if that vehicle is parked on private property and not currently being used.
Pennsylvania law requires all Pennsylvania motor vehicle owners to maintain vehicle liability insurance (financial responsibility) on a currently registered vehicle. Vehicle liability insurance covers the property damage or injuries you may cause others in an accident.
If your vehicle is sitting on your property and not in use but has a registered license plate, you must keep up your insurance. However, if you voluntarily surrender your plate, you do not need to maintain insurance nor do you need to pay a restoration fee when you reinstate your registration. This is something to consider if you are going to sideline a vehicle for an extended period of time.
A lapse in insurance coverage results in the suspension of your vehicle registration privilege for three months. The registration plate, sticker, and card must be surrendered to PennDOT in order to serve the suspension. Restoration fees of $50 and proof of insurance must be submitted prior to having either registration privileges returned.
Insurance companies are required to notify PennDOT when an insurance policy is cancelled by the insured or the insurer. Insurance companies are NOT required by law to notify PennDOT when a vehicle owner acquires a new insurance policy with the same or different insurance company. It is the vehicle owner’s responsibility to notify PennDOT of the new insurance after receiving a letter of inquiry from PennDOT.
All motor vehicles subject to registration such as cars, vans, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, trucks and buses must have liability insurance. You are in compliance with the law if you have liability insurance in the following amounts:
· $15,000 for injury or death of one person in an accident
· $30,000 for injury or death of more than one person in an accident
· $5,000 for damage to property of another person
I urge you to keep up your insurance. Do not risk a suspension of your registration or the cost of reinstatement.