Dmv Insurance Update: Quick And Easy

If you've had a change in your insurance provider in North Carolina, you'll need to notify the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to avoid penalties. This is because, in North Carolina, insurance providers are required to notify the DMV of any lapses in insurance, and the DMV will then send the vehicle owner a liability insurance termination notification, or Form FS-5. From the date listed on the notification, the owner has 10 days to respond by providing proof of insurance and paying fees online. Failure to do so within 10 days will result in losing your license plates for 30 days, and you will have to pay a restoration fee, a service fee, and standard license plate fees to get them back.

Notifying the NCDMV of insurance change

Notifying the NCDMV of an Insurance Change

In North Carolina, it is a legal requirement to maintain continuous liability insurance coverage for your vehicle. If you experience an insurance lapse, your insurance provider is obligated to notify the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV). Once the NCDMV is informed, they will send a liability insurance termination notice, or Form FS-5, to the vehicle owner.

To avoid penalties, it is crucial that you respond to this notification within 10 days from the date listed. This response includes providing proof of insurance and paying any associated fees online. Failure to respond within the given timeframe will result in the revocation of your license plates for a minimum of 30 days.

If your license plates have been revoked due to an insurance lapse, you must take the following steps to regain them:

• Provide proof of insurance coverage using Form FS-1, which must be submitted to the NCDMV by your insurance company.
• Furnish the license plate number associated with the insurance lapse, along with the control number on the insurance termination notice.
• Pay a civil penalty fee, which depends on the number of prior lapses within the past three years:

• First lapse: $50
• Second lapse: $100
• Subsequent lapses: $150

Pay a $50 service fee and the standard license plate fee.

It is important to note that you must have a North Carolina car insurance policy in place before your license plates can be reinstated. Maintaining continuous coverage is essential to avoid future issues.

Additionally, when visiting a local DMV office, you will be required to provide proof of NC Tag Insurance, including specific minimums for bodily injury, property damage, and uninsured motorist coverage. These minimums are as follows:

• $30,000 of bodily injury coverage for any one person.
• $60,000 of bodily injury coverage for two or more people.
• $25,000 of property damage coverage.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage equal to or greater than the bodily injury limit.

Insurance lapse penalties

In North Carolina, if you have a lapse in your car insurance coverage, you will be required to pay a civil penalty fee. The amount of the fee depends on the number of prior lapses within three years of the current lapse. For the first lapse, the fee is $50. For a second lapse, the fee increases to $100. If you have more than two lapses, the fee will be $150.

In addition to the civil penalty fee, there are other consequences of an insurance lapse in North Carolina. Your license plates will be revoked for at least 30 days, and you will be required to pay a $50 restoration fee, a $50 service fee, and standard license plate fees before you can legally drive again. If you surrender your license plates to the DMV within 10 days of receiving a notice of revocation, you can avoid the $50 service fee.

It's important to note that driving without insurance in North Carolina is illegal. If you are caught driving without insurance, you may face additional fines and penalties, and your driver's license and registration may be suspended.

To avoid these penalties, it is crucial to maintain continuous auto insurance coverage and ensure that your insurance information is up to date with the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If you change insurance carriers or have a lapse in coverage, your insurance provider is required to notify the DMV, who will then send the vehicle owner a liability insurance termination notification (Form FS-5). The owner then has 10 days to respond by providing proof of insurance and paying the required fees online.

Failure to respond within 10 days will result in further consequences, as outlined above. Therefore, it is essential to stay on top of your insurance coverage and keep your information up to date with the DMV to avoid any lapses in coverage and the associated penalties.

License plate revocation

In North Carolina, a lapse in car insurance coverage will almost always result in a premium increase when you reinstate your coverage. You must surrender your license plates in North Carolina if your insurance has lapsed. You will have 10 days to prove you have new car insurance or turn in your license plates if you have not secured new coverage. If you fail to respond to the notice and prove you have new insurance within 10 days, there are steep penalties to pay.

Penalties

According to the North Carolina DMV, failure to respond within the required time – 10 days – can result in losing your license plates for at least 30 days and possible registration suspension. After the revocation period, you must pay a $50 restoration fee, a $50 service fee and standard license plate fees before you can legally get back on the road. The service fee can be avoided by surrendering your license plate to the DMV during the 10-day period after receiving a notice of revocation.

The fees, in addition to a $50 restoration fee, are as follows:

• First lapse: $50
• Second lapse: $100
• Subsequent lapses: $150

Returning Your License Plates

If you need to return your plate, North Carolina license plates can be returned to any NCDMV license plate agency. Alternatively, you can mail them to:

> NCDMV Vehicle Registration Section, Renewal Title & Plate Unit, 3148 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27697-3148

There is also an option to leave your license plate in a drop box at the following address:

> North Raleigh License Plate Agency, 4121 New Bern Ave. Suite 151, Raleigh, North Carolina

If you need a receipt, make sure to visit a DMV or mail your license plate. You will not receive a receipt if you leave the license plate in the drop box.

Appealing a Revoked License Plate

If your license plate was revoked and you want it reinstated because you believe your lapse in coverage was not your fault, you can request a hearing. You must file a liability hearing request form and pay a $60 fee. You can also call the NCDMV at 919-715-7000 to request a hearing if you believe the lapse in coverage was not your fault.

Proof of insurance

In North Carolina, you must provide proof of insurance when registering your vehicle. The vehicle registration process cannot begin until you show proof of insurance, which must include:

• $30,000 of bodily injury coverage for any one person.
• $60,000 of bodily injury coverage for two or more people.
• $25,000 of property damage coverage.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage equal to or greater than the bodily injury limit.

If you let your car insurance lapse in North Carolina, you will have to pay fines and penalties and may have to surrender your license plates. To get your license plates back, you will need to provide proof of insurance and pay the associated fees and fines.

You can show your proof of insurance on a printed card from your insurance company or an electronic version from your insurance company's mobile app. Most states, including North Carolina, allow you to show an electronic copy of your proof of insurance if you are pulled over by the police. However, New Mexico does not recognize an electronic copy during a traffic stop.

It is important to always keep your proof of insurance with you when driving, as you may be required to show it to law enforcement or the department of motor vehicles.

Insurance termination notice

If you receive an insurance termination notice, also known as Form FS 5-7, this means that your insurance company has notified the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) of a lapse in your coverage. This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as a bounced check or a declined credit card.

Once you receive the notice, you have ten days to respond and prove that you have new insurance in place. You can do this by having your insurance company fax a copy of your current NC Tag Insurance to 919-733-6969. It is important to contact the NCDMV at 919-715-7000 to confirm that the form has been received.

If you fail to respond within the required time, your license plates will be revoked for at least 30 days, and you may also face registration suspension. After the revocation period, you must pay a $50 restoration fee, a $50 service fee, and standard license plate fees before you can legally drive again. You can avoid the service fee by surrendering your license plate to the DMV within 10 days of receiving the notice of revocation.

If you have a genuine lapse in coverage or prior lapses, the state of North Carolina can assess civil penalties. The fees for lapses are as follows:

• $50 for the first lapse
• $100 for the second lapse
• $150 for each subsequent lapse

In addition to these fees, you must also provide proof of insurance and pay any associated fines and penalties to get your license plates back.

Frequently asked questions