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FAQ Categories / Tax: Liability Insurance

An MLI verification notice is mailed to the address on the vehicle registration and/or emailed (if email address is available) to registrants asking for proof of insurance coverage for the vehicle on the verification date. If no response is received after 30 days from the MLI verification notice, the license plate has not been surrendered within 30 days or insurance cannot be verified by the DOR, a NOS is mailed to the registrant notifying them that their registration has been suspended.

Ask the insurer to visit the Be Sure to Insure Alabama website to provide to ALDOR confirmation of coverage on the vehicle for the requested verification date as shown on the verification notice. The insurer must provide the confirmation on the insurer's letterhead and submit it from the insurer’s email address so we know the response is being provided directly from the insurer.

ALDOR will use the information to attempt to verify your insurance coverage with the insurer.

  • If the insurance is verified (i.e. confirmed) successfully, the MLI record will be closed.
  • If the insurance is not verified (i.e. unconfirmed), you should contact your insurer and request that the insurer provide evidence of insurance coverage (statement on insurer’s letterhead) for the vehicle on the insurance verification date.

Visit your local licensing official to pay the required reinstatement fee ($200 for first suspension; $400 for second and subsequent suspensions) and provide evidence of current Alabama liability insurance coverage.

If the vehicle was in exempt (stored, inoperable, or other unused) status, then visit your local licensing official to claim the stored, inoperable, or otherwise unused exemption from the reinstatement fee. A registrant may claim the stored, inoperable, or otherwise unused exemption from the reinstatement fee once during the registration period by applying to the local licensing official to revoke the vehicle’s registration for the remainder of the registration period and be exempted from the reinstatement fee. See Admin. Rule 810-5-8-.06 for further details.

The registrant will need to visit their local licensing official to provide documentation (bill of sale, etc.) to complete the revocation process.

The vehicle registration reinstatement fee provided for in the MLI law is a separate fee from the ticket fines related to tickets issued by law enforcement and assessed by the Administrative Office of Courts (AOC) or the local court system.

In accordance with Section 32-7A-12, Code of Alabama 1975, the department will suspend the vehicle registration of any motor vehicle determined to be in violation of Section 32-7A-4, Code of Alabama 1975.

  • In the case of a first violation, the department shall terminate the suspension upon payment of a reinstatement fee of $200 and the submission of proof of current insurance coverage on the vehicle.
  • In the case of the second or subsequent violation, the department shall terminate the suspension upon payment of a reinstatement fee of $400 and submission of proof of current insurance coverage on the vehicle.

The MLI law administered by ALDOR deals with vehicle registration.

The MLI law administered by ALEA deals with the driver license. Please contact the law enforcement agency reflected on your citation for more information if needed.

Every Alabama registered motor vehicle must be covered by an Alabama liability insurance policy. A registrant may contact their insurance company to convert the OOS policy to an Alabama policy. If they can convert to an Alabama policy, the registrant must contact their insurer to provide both the OOS policy in effect on the verification date and the current Alabama policy information to the DOR via the upload portal at www.besuretoinsureal.com. Both policies will need to be confirmed in order to prevent suspension of the vehicle registration.
Yes. Code Section 32-7A-11 requires the vehicle owner to purchase a new registration. All applicable registration fees, including additional fees and issuance fees will apply. The registrant does have the option to purchase a standard or God Bless America license plate for the remainder of the registration year so that the additional $50 registration fee would not be due. If the license plate has a personalized message, the registrant’s personalized message will be available again at the time of renewal. Note that the additional fee cannot be prorated (40-12-258).
Yes. Code Section 32-7A-11 requires the vehicle owner to purchase a new registration. All applicable registration fees, including additional fees and issuance fees will apply. The registrant does have the option to purchase a standard or God Bless America license plate for the remainder of the registration year so that the additional $50 registration fee would not be due. If the license plate has a personalized message, the registrant’s personalized message will be available again at the time of renewal. Note that the additional fee cannot be prorated (40-12-258).

Visit your local licensing official to surrender the license plate within 30 calendar days of the MLI verification notice. Failure to do so will result in suspension of your vehicle registration.

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).

Visit your local licensing official to pay the required reinstatement fee ($200 for first suspension; $400 for second and subsequent suspensions) and provide evidence of current Alabama liability insurance coverage.

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).

No. If the vehicle was in exempt (stored, inoperable, or other unused) status, the registrant should visit their local licensing official to claim the stored, inoperable, or otherwise unused exemption from the reinstatement fee. A registrant may claim the stored, inoperable, or otherwise unused exemption from the reinstatement fee once during the registration period by applying to the local licensing official to revoke the vehicle’s registration for the remainder of the registration period and be exempted from the reinstatement fee. See Admin. Rule 810-5-8-.06 for further details.

 

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.).

No. You should either go to the Be Sure to Insure Alabama website , visit your local licensing office or contact the MVD.

If insurance coverage cannot be verified, variances 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 the registration receipt is incorrect, you should check with your local licensing official.

Visit your local licensing official to claim the stored, inoperable, or otherwise unused exemption from the reinstatement fee. A registrant may claim the stored, inoperable, or otherwise unused exemption from the reinstatement fee, once during the registration period by applying to the local licensing official to revoke the vehicle's registration for the remainder of the registration period and be exempted from the reinstatement fee. See Admin. Rule 810-5-8-.06 for further details.