It is illegal to drive a vehicle in Pennsylvania without having an auto insurance policy in effect. You also need auto insurance coverage when registering a motor vehicle.

Not everyone wants to pay for auto insurance, so they use fraudulent ways to try and purchase a vehicle without having valid insurance coverage.

A PAN member knows of a situation in which a fraudulent insurance card was presented to the motor vehicle agent/notary during a title transfer. This particular card had the name and logo of a corporation along with an 800 number cited as a “24 Hour Claims Number.” In addition, the card had a policy number, the name of the policy holder and her address, VIN number and effective and expiration dates. The make and model of a vehicle were also typed on the card. The corporation logo was copied and pasted from an actual corporation’s Web site. This corporation does not deal in insurance of any kind. There was no NAIC number and no address listed for the company.

The PAN member was concerned that the use of a fraudulent auto insurance card would cause trouble for the agent/notary if she accepted it. The Department of Transportation is clear on what the insurance verification responsibility of an agent is and what serves as acceptable proof of insurance: 
 

• An insurance identification card issued by an insurance carrier or by a self-insured. The Department of Transportation issues a certificate to self-insureds who are then authorized to produce an insurance I.D. card; or
• The declarations page of an insurance policy or a copy thereof; or 
• A copy of a valid binder of insurance which contains all of the information required to appear on the I.D. card, excluding the policy number, and is signed by a licensed insurance agent or broker; or 
• A valid copy of an application for insurance to the Pennsylvania Assigned Risk Plan which contains all of the information required to appear on the I.D., excluding the policy number, and is signed by a licensed producer (insurance agent).

Insurance identification cards must contain the words “Financial Responsibility Identification Card,” name and address of the insured, vehicle make, model year and vehicle identification number. In addition, the card must contain the insurance company name, company code, policy number or self-insurance certificate number, effective and expiration dates.

Telephone calls to insurance agents for insurance verification purposes may not be made by agents. However, agents may call an insurance agent to request that a photocopy, fax or printout of acceptable proof of insurance be provided.

If the insurance card you are handed does not include all of the Department of Transportation-required information, you must refuse service.