How to show proof of insurance to dmv

Motor vehicle owners and lessees are required by law to maintain continuous Georgia Liability Insurance coverage on vehicles with active registrations. Driving a vehicle while the registration is suspended, revoked or cancelled is a criminal offense. Additional penalties will apply, if convicted of driving a vehicle with a suspended or cancelled registration.

Table of Contents Show

What is proof of insurance?
How to get an insurance ID card
What does an insurance card look like?
Why you need proof of insurance
Failure to show evidence of insurance
Fake proof of insurance
Frequently asked questions

Acceptable Proof of Georgia Vehicle Liability Insurance Coverage

Proof of insurance, filed by your insurance company, in the Department of Revenue's database. Coverage can be verified using DRIVES e-Services Registration and Insurance Status.
- If your search shows insurance coverage then your coverage is on file with the state.
- If your search shows no coverage, contact your insurance company immediately to:
  - Obtain insurance, or
  - Report that coverage is not entered in the state database.
Rental agreement is for a vehicle that is rented, not leased - must be carried in the rental vehicle while being driven.
Fleet Insurance Policy Card - must be carried in vehicle at all times while vehicle is being driven.
Bill of Sale, dated within 30 days of the date the vehicle was purchased, and a valid insurance binder page (usually the top page of an insurance policy) issued by a Georgia licensed insurer.
A valid Self-Insured Insurance Card and a Certificate of Self-Insurance must be carried in vehicle at all times
- A self-insurer is any owner who has an approved self-insurance plan on file with the Georgia insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner's Office. This plan provides coverage, benefits and efficient claims handling procedures equal to those provided by an automobile liability insurance company and complies with all state laws, rules, and regulations. A certificate of self-insurance information issued by the Georgia Insurance and Safety Commissioner’s Office (ICO) must also be carried to qualify as acceptable proof of insurance coverage.
Valid Insurance policy information card for Georgia International Registration Plan (IRP) plans must be carried in the vehicle at all times.
- This information care is issued in the registered owner’s name by a Georgia Licensed insurer and must display the vehicles identification number (VIN).

Vehicle owner/lessees must provide Acceptable Proof of Insurance to:

Register and receive a Georgia license plate on their vehicle
Renew, transfer or replace their Georgia license plate
Legally drive or maintain an actively registered vehicle

By law, the Georgia Department of Revenue must:

Suspend or revoke registration of any vehicle that does not have continuous Georgia Liability insurance coverage
Fine the vehicle owner/lessee $25 for any lapse of coverage while vehicle is actively registered
Fine the vehicle owner/lessee up to $160 in addition to the $25 fine if the lapse of coverage fine is not paid within 30 days.
Refuse to renew or reinstate vehicle registration for any of the following:
- Fines have not been paid
- An unresolved lapse of coverage
- Vehicle is not insured

Motor vehicle owners/lessees are required to:

Maintain continuous Georgia liability insurance coverage on vehicles with active registrations.
Immediately cancel the vehicle registration for any vehicle no longer in service using DRIVES e-Services or Form MV-18J
Not drive or let anyone else drive a vehicle that does not have a valid vehicle registration and Georgia liability insurance coverage

Proof of insurance comes in several forms, but it's an important thing for every driver to possess. You will have to show it if you get pulled over, get in an accident or register a car.

The most common form of proof of insurance is a card mailed to you by your insurance company or printed out. It will include your policy number, plus details about you and your vehicle, and is commonly kept in the glove box. Some car insurance companies provide the option of showing electronic proof of insurance.

Nearly every state requires car insurance and not having a card or other proof of coverage readily available can add significant hassle and sometimes cost you money.

What is proof of insurance?

Proof of insurance is a card, printout or digital document that shows you have an active insurance policy and allows authorities to check you have coverage. You will typically be asked for your car insurance card or some other proof of insurance in several common driving situations.

If you are pulled over by law enforcement
If you are in an accident and need to exchange insurance information
If you are registering a newly purchased vehicle or renewing your licence plate at the DMV
A lender if you are financing a vehicle

The most common form of proof of insurance is an insurance ID card that is mailed to you. Many insurers will also email you the card to print out, and some allow you to show proof of insurance on their mobile app or by logging into a website.

Insurance cards include your policy number, as well as some information about you and your vehicle. That information can include:

Insurance policy number
Effective dates of the policy
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
Car year
Car model
Some coverage details

How to get an insurance ID card

There are three different ways to get your vehicle insurance card, all relatively convenient.

By mail from your insurer: The easiest way to get a vehicle insurance card is to request one from your insurer. They will usually mail you multiple paper insurance cards, often just as part of the process of starting a new policy.
Print it our yourself: You can also ask your agent or company to email you a copy of the card, which you can print out and store in your glove compartment.
Display your card on your phone: Multiple companies, including Allstate, Geico, State Farm and Progressive, allow you to access your insurance card through their mobile apps.

It's worth noting, drivers in New Mexico cannot rely on law enforcement accepting electronic proof of insurance, although officers will sometimes accept it. Every other state, plus Washington, D.C., allows drivers to show proof of insurance without a card. That said, an officer might not be liable for damage that happens to your phone.

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What does an insurance card look like?

An insurance card will usually have the name of the insurer, plus a set of information about the driver and vehicle. It will not have a driver's photo and might not have the driver's address.

Below are two samples of insurance cards from California and New York DMVs:

Sample New York insurance card

Sample California insurance card

Why you need proof of insurance

You need to show proof of insurance because it's illegal to drive without insurance in almost every state. Law enforcement personnel will check if you're insured at almost every traffic stop, and if you're in an accident, it's important to exchange insurance information.

Unless you can show proof of insurance, at the DMV, to law enforcement or to a lender, it is assumed you don't have any. This results in you having to prove down the line you are covered.

Failure to show evidence of insurance

The penalties for being unable to show proof of auto insurance are usually relatively mild, assuming you are in fact covered. If you do have coverage, but no card or other proof available, it is your responsibility within a certain timeframe to prove to a governmental entity that you are covered. Ideally, you should get it resolved as quickly as you can.

Assuming you do this, you may not pay a fine at all, or the fine might be a small one. For example, California and Tennessee will charge drivers between $20-$25. In Illinois, that fine can be $100, and penalties can be more significant if you are not carrying proof of insurance at the time of an accident.

If you are pulled over without proof of insurance but are insured, you should follow the instructions provided by law enforcement and rectify the situation as quickly as possible to avoid penalties such as fines or license suspension.

Fake proof of insurance

It should go without saying, you should not try to obtain or use fake proof of insurance. If you don't have insurance or some other proof of financial responsibility, you should not be driving.

Law enforcement officials have databases in which they can quickly track down your insurance information. There is a good chance any falsified documents will not survive that sort of scrutiny, and penalties could be severe.

Frequently asked questions

Proof of insurance is most commonly a card, print out or information on your own that shows you have an active policy. It usually includes some information about your policy. You will need proof of insurance if you are pull over by law enforcement, get in an accident, are purchasing a new vehicle or are renewing a licence

In the majority of states, you will need proof of insurance to register a car. Some states, notably Washington, Wisconsin, Tennessee, North Dakota, Mississippi and Arizona, you will need proof of insurance before driving. New Hampshire does not require drivers to have liability insurance, but does require "proof of financial responsibility," which means the driver can cover the cost of an accident if they cause one.

Proof of insurance most commonly looks like a small card with a set of information that includes a policy number, term of policy, driver's name and insurer's name. It can also be a print out of an insurance card or be shown on your phone through an app or website.

You can show proof of insurance on your phone in almost every state. New Mexico is the lone state where police do not have to accept electronic proof of insurance. That said, they also can accept the form of proof of car insurance, should they choose to.