S-1715.1  _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 5930

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

 

By Senator Patterson

 

Read first time 02/20/97.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Requiring liability coverage for motor vehicle registration.


    AN ACT Relating to the relationship between motor vehicle liability coverage and registration; amending RCW 46.30.030; and adding new sections to chapter 46.16 RCW.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:

    To renew a vehicle license an applicant must provide proof of being insured under a motor vehicle liability policy with liability limits of at least the amounts provided in RCW 46.29.090, a self-insurance certificate as provided in RCW 46.29.630, or proof of coverage under a liability bond of at least the amounts provided in RCW 46.29.090.

 

    Sec. 2.  RCW 46.30.030 and 1989 c 353 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Whenever an insurance company issues or renews a motor vehicle liability insurance policy, the company shall provide the policyholder with an identification card as specified by the department of licensing.  At the policyholder's request, the insurer shall provide the policyholder a card for each vehicle covered under the policy.

    (2) The department of licensing shall adopt rules specifying the type, style, and content of insurance identification cards to be used for proof of compliance with RCW 46.30.020, including the method for issuance of such identification cards by persons or organizations providing proof of compliance through self-insurance, certificate of deposit, or bond.  In adopting such rules the department shall consider the guidelines for insurance identification cards developed by the insurance industry committee on motor vehicle administration.

    (3) Whenever a motor vehicle liability insurance policy is not renewed or is canceled, whether the nonrenewal or cancellation is initiated by the insured or the insurance company, the insurance company shall immediately notify the department.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) When the department receives a notice of nonrenewal or cancellation of a liability insurance policy from an insurance company under RCW 46.30.030, the department shall immediately notify the registered owner of the vehicle or vehicles formerly covered under the policy that the registration for the vehicle or vehicles will be canceled within thirty days from the day of the notice unless the person in whose name the registration appears furnishes proof to the department within that time that replacement insurance has been obtained, or that the requirements of some other method of proof of financial responsibility allowed under RCW 46.30.020 have been met.  If that proof is not timely supplied the department shall immediately cancel the registration.

    (2) The department may not refund any part of a registration fee in the event of a registration canceled under this section.

 


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