Registration and Insurance

[WarrantSeeker]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia

I am moving from Mississippi to Virginia. I have insurance with State Farm with an agent in Mississippi on my family's plan. Virginia law requires you to have insurance with a company "licensed to do business in Virginia" if you register your vehicle there. Alabama has a similar law. When I lived in Alabama, the state would not accept my insurance as valid because it was with a Mississippi agent (even though State Farm is licensed to do business in Alabama). I lost my registration and had to re-register in Mississippi. After talking with the Virginia DMV, I have received conflicting answers. One person didn't see a problem since State Farm is licensed to do business in Virginia. Another agent said through email that the insurance had to be based in Virginia. I don't understand why they wouldn't accept my policy and why Alabama didn't since my policy complied with the plain language of the regulation. Can somebody please explain this to me? Will I be required to get new insurance in Virginia? Was Alabama in the wrong? If they were not, why do their requirements not comply with the wording in the regulation? Is their an additional regulation I should be aware of?

 

[Zigner]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia

I am moving from Virginia to Mississippi. I have insurance with State Farm with an agent in Mississippi on my family's plan. Virginia law requires you to have insurance with a company "licensed to do business in Virginia" if you register your vehicle there. Alabama has a similar law. When I lived in Alabama, the state would not accept my insurance as valid because it was with a Mississippi agent (even though State Farm is licensed to do business in Alabama). I lost my registration and had to re-register in Mississippi. After talking with the Virginia DMV, I have received conflicting answers. One person didn't see a problem since State Farm is licensed to do business in Virginia. Another agent said through email that the insurance had to be based in Virginia. I don't understand why they wouldn't accept my policy and why Alabama didn't since my policy complied with the plain language of the regulation. Can somebody please explain this to me? Will I be required to get new insurance in Virginia? Was Alabama in the wrong? If they were not, why do their requirements not comply with the wording in the regulation? Is their an additional regulation I should be aware of?

I suspect that you will need to get appropriate insurance in MS in order to register your vehicle in MS.

 

[FlyingRon]

I'm totally confused. What does Alabama have to do with it? If you are moving to Mississippi your best bet is to register it there and obtain Mississippi tags. Why are you dealing with the Virginia DMV at all? If you can't get Mississippi tags (because you can't go there and you don't have anybody to give POA to), then you can get a Virginia trip permit. You have to show insurance, and if your agent in MS can't do it (he's lame if he can't) you can go to a local agent in VA (or even some of the phone/online places like esurance/geico/etc...) and get the minimal 1 month policy the state requires.

 

[TheGeekess]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia

I am moving from Virginia to Mississippi. I have insurance with State Farm with an agent in Mississippi on my family's plan. Virginia law requires you to have insurance with a company "licensed to do business in Virginia" if you register your vehicle there. Alabama has a similar law. When I lived in Alabama, the state would not accept my insurance as valid because it was with a Mississippi agent (even though State Farm is licensed to do business in Alabama). I lost my registration and had to re-register in Mississippi. After talking with the Virginia DMV, I have received conflicting answers. One person didn't see a problem since State Farm is licensed to do business in Virginia. Another agent said through email that the insurance had to be based in Virginia. I don't understand why they wouldn't accept my policy and why Alabama didn't since my policy complied with the plain language of the regulation. Can somebody please explain this to me? Will I be required to get new insurance in Virginia? Was Alabama in the wrong? If they were not, why do their requirements not comply with the wording in the regulation? Is their an additional regulation I should be aware of?

http://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/83/
http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/CodeOfAlabama/1975/20286.htm
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC3802000

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Without digging through the links provided by Geekess, the simple answer is that your agent is not licensed to provide insurance in that state, even if your company is.

 

[ecmst12]

Your VA insurance needs to remain in place until you actually move. As of your move date, you switch your insurance to a MS policy.

 

[TigerD]

Op -- Are you military?

If so, you can keep your car registered in your official state of residence. But if you want to register in the new state, you have to follow their rules.

DC

 

[LdiJ]

State Farm will happily transfer any existing policy from one an agent in one state, to an agent in another. The rates might go up or down according to the area, but there is really no need for a lot of "angst". Just speak to your agent.

 

[WarrantSeeker]

Move

State Farm will happily transfer any existing policy from one an agent in one state, to an agent in another. The rates might go up or down according to the area, but there is really no need for a lot of "angst". Just speak to your agent.

The problem is I am on my parents' plan. They pay for it, and I assume the cost is heavily discounted. The whole policy can't be moved to Virginia.

 

[WarrantSeeker]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia

I am moving from Mississippi to Virginia. I have insurance with State Farm with an agent in Mississippi on my family's plan. Virginia law requires you to have insurance with a company "licensed to do business in Virginia" if you register your vehicle there. Alabama has a similar law. When I lived in Alabama, the state would not accept my insurance as valid because it was with a Mississippi agent (even though State Farm is licensed to do business in Alabama). I lost my registration and had to re-register in Mississippi. After talking with the Virginia DMV, I have received conflicting answers. One person didn't see a problem since State Farm is licensed to do business in Virginia. Another agent said through email that the insurance had to be based in Virginia. I don't understand why they wouldn't accept my policy and why Alabama didn't since my policy complied with the plain language of the regulation. Can somebody please explain this to me? Will I be required to get new insurance in Virginia? Was Alabama in the wrong? If they were not, why do their requirements not comply with the wording in the regulation? Is their an additional regulation I should be aware of?

I originally had the wrong states. I'm moving from Mississippi to Virginia.

 

[ecmst12]

As of the day that you move, you need to move your car from your family policy to your own individual policy in VA. You have a short window of time to register your car in your new state after you move, probably 30 days.

 

[LdiJ]

The problem is I am on my parents' plan. They pay for it, and I assume the cost is heavily discounted. The whole policy can't be moved to Virginia.

Your policy can still be transferred easily. Yes, you would lose any multiple car discounts. However, you really don't have any choice in the matter.

 

[WarrantSeeker]

Your policy can still be transferred easily. Yes, you would lose any multiple car discounts. However, you really don't have any choice in the matter.

But I don't wanna!! Seriously though, can someone provide a cite to the specific regulation for any state that has this policy? When I looked at the statutes in different states, they say the company must be "licensed to do business in ::insert state here.::" State Farm is licensed to do business in every state in the Union, so why does it matter what state your policy is in (at least in reference to this regulation)? Is there another regulation that specifically states that your agent must be based in your new state? I'll certainly comply with the law if I have to (and will get a new policy to stay out of trouble), but I have yet to see any proof that this is actually the law. Is there case law on the subject? It just irks me. I originally asked the Alabama DMV for a cite to a regulation, but of course they were annoyed and would not provide me with one. I think this may be a "conspiracy" (a word I use only half-sarcastically).

 

[Zigner]

But I don't wanna!! Seriously though, can someone provide a cite to the specific regulation for any state that has this policy? When I looked at the statutes in different states, they say the company must be "licensed to do business in ::insert state here.::" State Farm is licensed to do business in every state in the Union, so why does it matter what state your policy is in (at least in reference to this regulation)? Is there another regulation that specifically states that your agent must be based in your new state? I'll certainly comply with the law if I have to (and will get a new policy to stay out of trouble), but I have yet to see any proof that this is actually the law. Is there case law on the subject? It just irks me. I originally asked the Alabama DMV for a cite to a regulation, but of course they were annoyed and would not provide me with one. I think this may be a "conspiracy" (a word I use only half-sarcastically).

Because, the business unit of State Farm that issued your policy may not be the same business unit as the one from the new state.

Additionally, your POLICY may not be acceptable in the new state.

Seriously, is it THAT big of a deal to grow up and get your own policy?

 

[davew128]

15 minutes could save you 15% or more.....or wait that's an advertisement.

So easy even Joe Biden could do it....damn another advertisement.