D’Amico Passes Bill to Modernize State Mandatory Insurance Program

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To make Illinois roads safer for motorists, state Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, passed legislation that makes it easier to for the state to verify the insurance status of vehicles operated in the state.

“If an uninsured motorist is involved in an accident it can cause serious financial problems for law-abiding residents with insurance,” D’Amico said. “This bill will help make it easier for the state to verify the insurance status of drivers in the state and work toward getting uninsured drivers covered.”

D’Amico’s measure, House Bill 2610, establishes an electronic motor vehicle liability insurance policy verification program. The legislation adopted recommendations made by the Uninsured Motorist Verification Advisory Committee—a task force created by D’Amico’s legislation during the 98th General Assembly.

Beginning in 2019, vehicle owners’ automobile insurance will be verified at least twice a calendar year at random intervals in order to ensure that vehicle owners are complying with the state’s mandatory auto liability insurance laws.

Insurance companies will work in conjunction with the Secretary of State’s office to electronically verify that motorists in question have insurance. If electronic verification is unsuccessful, the Secretary of State’s office will follow up with a written request to the vehicle owner giving them the opportunity to prove they have insurance before suspending the vehicle owner’s registration.

“The recommendations from the task force that we adopted modernizes and streamlines the process for tracking vehicle insurance in Illinois,” D’Amico said. “I am thankful for the bipartisan support we received in the House will continue to work to advocate for this bill with my colleagues in the Senate and the governor.”