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Second Insurance Lapse in 3 years, forced to surrender plates?

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dinner_time

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? New York State, New York City.

A friend (really) let her car insurance lapse twice in the last three years, the second time you allow the insurance to lapse you must hand in your plates for a set amount of time (in her case a month)...She has since reinstated the insurance, so she is currently insured.

... So, has anyone had this experience before? The dude at the DMV said she would not have her license suspended (I don't really believe this) if she didn't hand in the plates, but she could get a ticket any time she was pulled over. The NYS DMV website is opaque to say the least on this subject, but she really needs the car to commute to her job (which is far away from where she lives) and to help out her family. Does anyone know of an appeals process or a hardship dispensation or anything like that?

I would also like to know (so I can convince her to turn in the plates and suck it up if that is only option) what the repercussions are, besides a ticket, if she does not hand in the plates?

Thanks very much
 


You Are Guilty

Senior Member
dinner_time said:
What is the name of your state? New York State, New York City.

A friend (really) let her car insurance lapse twice in the last three years, the second time you allow the insurance to lapse you must hand in your plates for a set amount of time (in her case a month)...She has since reinstated the insurance, so she is currently insured.

... So, has anyone had this experience before? The dude at the DMV said she would not have her license suspended (I don't really believe this) if she didn't hand in the plates, but she could get a ticket any time she was pulled over. The NYS DMV website is opaque to say the least on this subject, but she really needs the car to commute to her job (which is far away from where she lives) and to help out her family. Does anyone know of an appeals process or a hardship dispensation or anything like that?

I would also like to know (so I can convince her to turn in the plates and suck it up if that is only option) what the repercussions are, besides a ticket, if she does not hand in the plates?
Thanks very much
Actually, their website is very clear
What can occur if I cancel my liability insurance?

The insurance company must notify the DMV if you cancel your liability insurance. Your insurance company is also required to notify DMV if your insurance coverage is reinstated or you get new insurance coverage. If the insurance company does not file an electronic notice about your new or reinstated liability insurance, the DMV sends you a letter about your insurance. Read the insert mailed with the letter, and follow the instructions in the letter. You are given 10 days from the date of the DMV letter to prove that you have insurance coverage, prove that you sold the vehicle, or show other proof that insurance coverage was not required in NYS. If you do have insurance coverage, also ask your insurance company (do not ask your agent or broker) to file an electronic notice of insurance coverage with the DMV.

If you do not have liability insurance, you must surrender your vehicle plates to the NYSDMV immediately. Make sure you get a receipt. You must respond to the letter you receive from the DMV or surrender your license plates to prevent the suspension of your registration and driver license. If your liability insurance is about to lapse and you do not plan to replace it with other insurance, surrender your vehicle plates to the DMV before your insurance coverage lapses.

What are some of the conditions that can create a lapse in insurance coverage?

Any amount of time that your vehicle is registered but not insured can cause a lapse in your insurance coverage and the suspension of your registration. A lapse in insurance coverage can occur:

* between the date your insurance is cancelled and the effective date that you begin new insurance, and you do not have other acceptable proof;
* between the date your insurance is cancelled and the date you surrender your license plates or the date your registration expires;
* between the date your insurance is cancelled and the effective date of "other proof" (for example, a vehicle registered in another state, or a vehicle repossessed or impounded);
* between the date you register your vehicle and the effective date of your new insurance coverage;
* between the date the insurance is cancelled on a registered vehicle and the date a dealer or the DMV issues a registration on the replacement vehicle (transfer of vehicle plates or vehicle registration);
* between the date the insurance is cancelled and the date the same insurance company reinstates your insurance coverage.

If the lapse in the insurance coverage exceeds 90 days, your driver license is also suspended.

What action does the DMV take if I do not have insurance and I do not surrender my vehicle plates immediately?

If you do not have insurance coverage and you do not surrender your vehicle plates to the DMV, your registration and driver license are suspended indefinitely.

If you had a lapse in your insurance coverage and did not surrender your vehicle plates immediately, your registration is suspended for the same number of days that you did not have insurance coverage, but did hold the vehicle plates. If the time is more than 90 days, your driver license is also suspended for the same number of days as the registration. To reinstate your driver license, you must pay a termination fee of $25 when the suspension ends.

How do I prevent a suspension if my liability insurance lapses?

You can prevent the suspension of your registration and driver license if you surrender your vehicle plates to the DMV before your liability insurance lapses.

You are not required to surrender your vehicle plates for a suspension of 90 days or shorter if you pay a civil penalty. You cannot use the civil penalty option if the lapse is longer than 90 days or you used this option in the past 3 years.

The civil penalty amounts shown below are the amounts for suspensions that take effect on or after October 1, 2005. For suspensions that take effect before October 1, 2005, the civil penalty is $8 for each day of the lapse. The civil penalty amount is:

* $8 per day for each day of the lapse from day 1 through day 30, and
* $10 per day for each day of the lapse from day 31 through day 60, and
* $12 per day for each day of the lapse from day 61 through day 90.

For example, if you had a lapse of insurance for 85 days, your civil penalty is calculated as follows:

* $8 x 30 days ($240) for days 1 through 30 of the lapse, plus
* $10 x 30 days ($300) for days 31 through 60 of the lapse, plus
* $12 x 25 days ($300) for days 61 through 85 of the lapse
* for a total civil penalty of $840.
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/broch/c43.htm
 

dinner_time

Junior Member
thanks, but...

your registration is suspended for the same number of days that you did not have insurance coverage, but did hold the vehicle plates.

Thanks, I was looking at that, I guess what I am trying to figure out is what will happen if she doesn't turn in the plates for 31 days (since this is her second lapse in 3 years, which I already told her was a silly thing to do), which she was told to do by the DMV, clearly she cannot drive without plates, she needs to drive. If it is a question of driving without registration for 31 days and hoping to get away with it, she will probably do that, if it is a question of losing her license or something like that, then I will make every effort to get her to turn in the plates.

So my question is, what will happen if she doesn't turn in the plates and can this be appealed?

thanks
 

You Are Guilty

Senior Member
dinner_time said:
Thanks, I was looking at that, I guess what I am trying to figure out is what will happen if she doesn't turn in the plates for 31 days (since this is her second lapse in 3 years, which I already told her was a silly thing to do), which she was told to do by the DMV, clearly she cannot drive without plates, she needs to drive. If it is a question of driving without registration for 31 days and hoping to get away with it, she will probably do that, if it is a question of losing her license or something like that, then I will make every effort to get her to turn in the plates.

So my question is, what will happen if she doesn't turn in the plates and can this be appealed?

thanks
Keep reading:
You are not required to surrender your vehicle plates for a suspension of 90 days or shorter if you pay a civil penalty. You cannot use the civil penalty option if the lapse is longer than 90 days or you used this option in the past 3 years.
$8 x 30 = $240
$10 x 1 = $ 10
----------------
Total fine $250

If she doesn't pay or turn in the plates and she is stopped, she will almost certainly be ticketed (and end up paying much more than $240); could have her license confiscated (as it will be suspended) and the car towed (again, costing a lot more than $240 in the long run); and could also be arrested as well.

And you can't "appeal" something that hasn't happened yet.
 

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