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View All General - Liability Insurance, Liability Insurance FAQs

How does the state confirm insurance coverage?

The Department of Revenue selects registrations of motor vehicles for which insurance could not be confirmed (verified) using OIVS to determine if the owners are maintaining liability insurance in accordance with the MLI law by the following methods:

The department reviews motor vehicle registrations using a real time verification process directly with the insurance companies on every vehicle registered in the state that is subject to the MLI law.
The department receives notice that the Alabama driver’s license associated with the vehicle registration has been suspended or revoked by the Department of Public Safety.
The department receives notice that there was a ticket issued for failure or refusal to comply with a request by a law enforcement officer for display of evidence of insurance coverage on the vehicle.

ADOR will follow-up on any unconfirmed responses received from the insurer by sending a questionnaire to the registrant in an attempt to obtain updated policy information. (The department also has asked insurers to provide a monthly file of active policies to ensure registration records are updated for confirmation of coverage.) A sample questionnaire document is available from the Motor Vehicle Division website at https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/motor-vehicle/.

ALDOR uses the Online Insurance Verification System (OIVS) to determine if owners are maintaining liability insurance in accordance with the mandatory liability insurance (MLI) law by the following methods:

  • ALDOR reviews motor vehicle registrations using a real time verification process directly with the insurance companies on every vehicle registered in the state that is subject to the MLI law.
  • ALDOR receives notice that the Alabama driver’s license associated with the vehicle registration has been suspended or revoked by the Department of Public Safety.
  • ALDOR receives notice that there was a ticket issued for failure or refusal to comply with a request by a law enforcement officer for display of evidence of insurance coverage on the vehicle.
  • ALDOR will follow-up on any unconfirmed responses received from the insurer by sending a questionnaire to the registrant in an attempt to obtain updated policy information (ALDOR also has asked insurers to provide a monthly file of active policies to ensure registration records are updated for confirmation of coverage).
Related FAQs in General - Liability Insurance, Liability Insurance
Registrants are required to provide licensing officials with insurance information (policy number, NAIC #, policy type), including updates, when the vehicle is registered. This information is used by DOR to verify vehicle insurance using the Online Insurance Verification System (OIVS).

ALDOR uses the Online Insurance Verification System (OIVS) to determine if owners are maintaining liability insurance in accordance with the mandatory liability insurance (MLI) law by the following methods:

  • ALDOR reviews motor vehicle registrations using a real time verification process directly with the insurance companies on every vehicle registered in the state that is subject to the MLI law.
  • ALDOR receives notice that the Alabama driver’s license associated with the vehicle registration has been suspended or revoked by the Department of Public Safety.
  • ALDOR receives notice that there was a ticket issued for failure or refusal to comply with a request by a law enforcement officer for display of evidence of insurance coverage on the vehicle.
  • ALDOR will follow-up on any unconfirmed responses received from the insurer by sending a questionnaire to the registrant in an attempt to obtain updated policy information (ALDOR also has asked insurers to provide a monthly file of active policies to ensure registration records are updated for confirmation of coverage).

The online insurance verification system (OIVS) uses web services for real-time verification of policy information with insurers. The OIVS is accessible to ALDOR, licensing officials, and law enforcement. If OIVS does not return a “confirmed” response, the registrant will be required to present the evidence of insurance document. ALDOR will continue to attempt to verify the policy information submitted and will follow up on any unconfirmed responses received from the insurer by sending a verification notice to the registrant.

Differences between the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), insurance policy number, or National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) number provided to local licensing officials could result in the insurer being unable to verify insurance coverage for the vehicle. To determine a possible VIN discrepancy, you should check the VIN listed on your insurance card and registration receipt to find any discrepancies. If the VIN on your insurance card is incorrect, you should contact your insurer to get the information corrected. If you believe the VIN reflected on your registration receipt is incorrect, you should check with your local licensing official.

Not necessarily. On a periodic basis, ALDOR attempts to verify insurance for all registered vehicles. If insurance coverage cannot be verified for a vehicle, ALDOR will mail an MLI verification notice to the address on the vehicle registration and/or email the registrant (if email address is available) asking for evidence of insurance on the vehicle.

Reinstatement fees are only due when the vehicle was not insured on the insurance verification date, or the vehicle did not qualify for an exemption (sold, stored, inoperable, etc.).