OAI: Montana Instant Verification Stresses Importance of Having Auto Insurance

HELENA, Mont., May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Montana rolls out its verification database this week when highway patrolmen begin using web-based listings to instantly confirm whether a driver has a policy in place, highlighting the importance of being covered while driving, according to Online Auto Insurance.

The database holds policy information from insurers that can be referenced by authorities in real time, allowing them to check by license plate number or name to verify that a motorist has the required coverage needed to drive.

As the operation kicks off, motorists should have greater motivation to find the cheapest auto insurance quotes and get their cars covered. The Montana Highway Patrol began using the system on May 21.

There will be an even greater need for motorists to get proper coverage later this summer when use of the verification system is expanded to all Montana courts and law enforcement agencies. The state Motor Vehicle Division and county treasurers will have access to the database by 2013, according to the state.

"Real-time insurance verification will make the roads safer for everyone," officials stated on the state's website, adding that the database will help bring down the number of uninsured drivers in the state. 

Minimum coverage requirements in Montana are $50,000 total per accident for bodily injuries caused by the driver and $10,000 for property damage.

Other states in the U.S. are currently considering similar measures allowing database use for instant verification of coverage.

In Tennessee, SB 2292, which would establish a database, currently sits in the state House after passing the Senate by a 32-0 vote in late April.

In Oklahoma, HB 2525 is being considered in a conference between the state House and Senate after lawmakers split on the use of a "probable cause" clause that would give police wider latitude in determining which vehicles they could check for proper coverage through a database already established in the state.

For more on this and related insurance issues, head to http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/cheap/ for access to an easy-to-use quote-comparison generator and informative resource pages.

SOURCE Online Auto, LLC