Current through September 18, 2024
A. Information
concerning motor vehicle violations of applicants for insurance shall be made
available to insurers in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws §§
31-47-3 and
31-2-10.
B. Dealers who register motor vehicles for
buyers must have the buyer sign a statement which complies with R.I. Gen. Laws
§
31-47-3.1(b)(1).
C. Leasing companies which register a motor
vehicle leased to any person must certify to the Division of Motor Vehicles
that the lessee of the vehicle has signed a statement which complies R.I. Gen.
Laws §
31-47-3.1(b)(2)
and have it available in their files for possible use by the State at some
later date.
D. The following rules
apply to persons wishing to deposit cash or acceptable securities as a way of
meeting the financial responsibility requirement.
1. The cash or other security must be
physically placed in the hands of the State of Rhode Island and arrangement
must be made so that the state may use the funds in case of liability assessed
against the depositor.
2. No
interest will be paid by the state on deposited funds.
3. Depositor will be given a receipt for the
security and a certificate stating that he has complied with the law which can
be used as evidence if asked for same by law enforcement.
4. In the event a person wants to substitute
one form of financial security for another in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws
Chapter 31-47, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall allow such substitution
upon reasonable notice (not less than 10 business days) and approval of such
substitution in accordance with statute.
E. Evidence of financial responsibility may
be demonstrated in either paper or electronic format. Acceptable paper and
electronic format include the Insurance Identification Card, or its electronic
version, as issued by the insurance company (or its representative) insuring
the vehicle and/or driver.
1. Paper Cards
shall meet the following specifications:
a.
Size of the card may vary from 3 x 2-1 /8 to 5-1 /2 x 3/34.
b. The card shall be a one-part form on at
least 20 pound white paper stock.
c. The following must be shown on the card:
(1) "Rhode Island Automobile Insurance
Identification Card"
(2) The name
of the insurance company
(3) The
name of the policyholder
(4) The
policy number
(5) The policy
effective date and expiration date
(6) A description of the vehicle, which shall
include the year, make and vehicle identification number; if the policy covers
five or more vehicles, the word "Fleet" may be substituted for the vehicle
description; if no vehicle is owned, the words "named operator" may be
substituted for the vehicle description; if the card is for a motor vehicle
dealer, the words "named operator" may be substituted for the vehicle
description; if the card is for a motor vehicle dealer, the words "dealer
plates" may be substituted for the vehicle description. Mechanics or other
employees of any automobile repair shop, body shop, automobile dealer, service
station, inspection station or parking facility driving a customer's automobile
must carry a card (or certificate of insurance) showing the employer has a
policy covering employees while driving customers' vehicles.
(7) At the option of the insurer, other
information may be included such as company logo, insured's address,
agent/broker's office address, what to do in the event of an accident,
etc.
d. Temporary
identification cards with the same specifications, except that the words
"temporary" must be shown, may be utilized pending receipt of the permanent
card by the policy holder.
2. Electronic Versions shall meet the
following specifications:
a. A display which
shows proof of insurance on any electronic device
b. The information displayed on the
electronic device shall include the same information as set forth in §
2.4(E)(1) of
this Part.
F.
Insurance binders, policies, endorsements or certificates of insurance may be
utilized as evidence of insurance. When a binder is used to prove insurance at
time of registration, or renewing a registration it must be presented to the
Division of Motor Vehicles.
G.
Evidence of financial responsibility may be demonstrated by a certification
from the Division of Motor Vehicles showing that proper bond, cash, or
securities placed are on deposit with the Division of Motor Vehicles or by
certificate of self-insurance.
H.
If suspension of either registration or driver's license occurs after an
individual has been involved in an accident and that individual becomes
eligible for reinstatement in three months or six months following the
accident; then the assistant director, at his or her discretion, may require
the deposit of security in an amount sufficient to satisfy any judgments for
injuries and/or damages resulting from such accident as a condition precedent
to reinstatement.
I. The fee for
reinstatement of vehicle registration shall be $250.00, pursuant to R.I. Gen.
Laws §
31-8-4.
If registration on more than one vehicle is suspended, the reinstatement fee
shall be $250.00 per vehicle.
J.
The fee for reinstatement of driver's license shall be $150.00, pursuant to
R.I. Gen. Laws §
31-11-10.
K. Insurance companies shall submit
information requested per R.I. Gen. Laws §
31-47-17 on a
form acceptable to the assistant director.
L. As provided in R.I. Gen. Laws §
31-47-8.1,
the administrator must sample at random owners of registered vehicles as a
means of determining compliance with the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws §
31-47-1 et seq .
1. The Administrator shall send to
the owners of the randomly selected motor vehicles or to randomly selected
motor vehicle owners an insurance verification form which must be completed out
and returned within twenty (20) days of mailing date.
2. The insurance verification form shall
indicate clearly the date by which the form must be returned.
3. The insurance verification form shall
contain the year, make, model and vehicle identification number of the owned
vehicle. It shall also show the license plate number assigned to the
vehicle.
4. The vehicle owner shall
supply the following insurance verification information.
a. Whether or not the vehicle was insured on
the verification date specified: if not, the reason no insurance
existed;
b. The name of the
insurance company that insures the motor vehicle;
c. The policy number;
d. The effective date of the policy and the
expiration date of the policy;
e.
The signature of the owner.
5. If the form is not returned, OR, if the
form is returned without full information, OR if, after checking with the
insurance company, it is determined that the owner has registered or maintained
the registration without proper financial security in force; the owner will be
notified by the Administrator that he/she has twenty (20) days to furnish
proper proof of coverage in force on the verification date. After twenty (20)
days without proper proof, the owner is subject to all penalties set forth
under this chapter.
