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PIANY Advises Drivers: Watch Out for DMV Letters About Your Insurance

    GLENMONT, N.Y., March 30 New York's Department of Motor
Vehicles is implementing a new computer system to reduce the number of
uninsured motorists, a program that Professional Insurance Agents of New York
State Inc. has been involved in since its inception and throughout its testing
phase.  The program matches the computer records for every vehicle registered
with the DMV to computer records showing coverage from insurance companies.

    What does this mean to consumers?  It means the DMV will have faster, more
accurate records on what automobiles are insured.  It means law enforcement
agencies will have instant access to up-to-date information while they are
patrolling the roads.  It means that insurance scofflaws will need to get
insurance now or lose their drivers' licenses and their vehicles' license
plates.

    PIANY President Lynne Frank, CPCU, explained that in some cases, there has
been a failure in matching DMV registration records with existing insurance
coverage, which needs to be resolved by insurance companies and agents to
prevent drivers from being mistakenly identified as uninsured.  These
inconsistencies may include the Vehicle Identification Numbers or names not
matching or wrong dates.

    "Even if you know you have insurance, don't disregard any notice you
receive from the DMV stating otherwise," advised Frank.  "If you don't
respond, your vehicle's registration, and even your driver's license, could be
suspended.  Don't operate your vehicle during a suspension.  Instead, contact
your professional insurance agent, who can help you straighten out any problem
that results from errors or failures of your insurance records to match up
with your registration.  He or she can determine the nature of the problem and
help get you back on the road-legally."

    PIANY also reminds drivers that the DMV requires them to notify it within
10 days of any address change so registration and license records can be
updated accurately.  Many drivers miss important insurance inquiries and
suspension notices because the DMV doesn't have their current addresses.
"This can lead to penalties including fines, arrest and impoundment of the
vehicle," Frank warned.