DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
Office of the Commissioner
FINAL
ORDER
Docket No. 2464-2015
606 Proof of Automobile Insurance
Proposed amended Department of Insurance Regulation 606 relating to Proof of Automobile Insurance [Formerly Regulation 31] was published in the Delaware Register of Regulations on September 1, 2015. The comment period remained open until September 30, 2015. There was no public hearing on proposed amended Regulation 606. Public notice of the proposed amended Regulation 606 was published in the Register of Regulations in conformity with Delaware law.
SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION SUBMITTED
No comments were received on the proposed amended Regulation 606, with no additional amendments being suggested. No changes are being made to the proposed amended Regulation 606.
FINDINGS OF FACT
Based on Delaware law and the record in this docket, I make the following findings of fact:
1. 18 Del.C. §§311 and 2741 require a regulation to set forth rules and procedural requirements which the Commissioner deems necessary to carry out the provisions of the Code.
2. The requirements of proposed amended Regulation 606 best serve the interests of the public and of insurers and comply with Delaware law.
DECISION AND EFFECTIVE DATE
Based on the provisions of 18 Del.C. §§311 and 2741; 21 Del.C. §2118(o); and 29 Del.C. Ch. 101, and the record in this docket, I hereby adopt proposed amended Regulation 606 as may more fully and at large appear in the version attached hereto to be effective 10 days after being published as final.
TEXT AND CITATION
The text of proposed Regulation 606 last appeared in the Register of Regulations Vol. 19, Issue 3, pages 173-175.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 11th day of November, 2015.
Karen Weldin Stewart, CIR-ML
Insurance Commissioner
606 Proof of Automobile Insurance
1.1 This regulation is adopted under the authority of 18 Del.C. §§314 and 2741; 21 Del.C. §2118(o) as amended by S. B. 212, and adopted in cooperation with the Division of Motor Vehicles. This regulation is promulgated under the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act, 29 Del.C., Ch.101.
2.1 The purpose of this regulation is to:
2.1.1 establish requirements to govern the form of the standardized insurance identification (ID) card for each insured vehicle pursuant to Delaware law;
2.1.2 establish the procedure by which automobile insurers shall notify the Division of Motor Vehicles when automobile insurance coverage is terminated or when insurers pay claims for uninsured motorists; and
2.1.3 provide procedures for the submission of insurance company data to the Division of Motor Vehicles for administrative efficiency.
"Commercial auto coverage", "commercial vehicle coverage" or "commercial lines policy" is any coverage provided to an insured, regardless of the number of vehicles or entities covered, under a commercial auto, garage, or truckers coverage form and/or rated from either a commercial manual or rating rule as filed and approved by the Delaware Department of Insurance. Vehicle type and ownership are not necessarily the primary factors in either underwriting the coverage or rating the coverage. The rating may be subject to individual risk characteristics including but not limited to experience rating, schedule rating, loss rating or deductible rating.
"Fleet" shall mean five or more vehicles under single ownership or lease used for commercial purposes.
"Personal lines auto coverage," personal lines vehicle coverage" or "personal lines policy" shall apply to any insured or insurance policy that does not fall within commercial lines.
To the extent necessary, the definitions contained in 21 Del.C. §101 shall apply to all terms not otherwise defined herein.
4.1 All companies licensed to write automobile insurance in the State of Delaware must furnish Insurance Identification Cards. If the insured and insurance company both consent, the insurance identification card may be produced in electronic format. Acceptable electronic formats include display of electronic images on a cellular phone or any other type of portable electronic device. At least one written card or card in electronic format must be issued for each vehicle for which liability insurance is in effect. Delaware policyholders who are members of the military and are stationed outside of Delaware may be issued a card of that state provided their coverage meets Delaware requirements.
4.2 If an insurance identification card is produced in written format, Iinsurers may use uniform ACORD format or may prepare the ACORD format as described below:
4.2.1 The size, weight, and color of the card shall be as below:
4.2.1.1 Size: Not smaller than 3‑1/2" x 2‑1/4" or larger than 3" x 5"
4.2.1.2 Weight: Optional
4.2.1.3 Color: White
4.2.1.4 Each card shall be printed on paper stock which contains a clearly visible watermark, screened color, reflective ink, or laser‑lock which prevents unauthorized or fraudulent reproduction. The watermark must be a company logo, or a generic insurance‑specific logo which clearly identifies the watermark as issued by an insurance company. The ACORD "ghost script" anti-fraud paper with the ACORD watermark shall satisfy the watermark requirement.
5.1 The Insurance Identification Card for privately owned or leased motor vehicles and/or for vehicles that are used non-commercially but covered under commercial lines policies shall contain the following information, whether the card is provided in written or electronic format:
5.1.1 The statement "The ID card must be carried in the vehicle at all times" shall be shown on the face of the card if space is available; otherwise this statement may appear on the back of the card.
5.1.2 Card shall be identified as "Identification Card."
5.1.3 The insurance company name shall be printed on the face of the card. If the insurer is part of a group, the group name may be printed on the card so long as the card clearly identifies the name of the insurer issuing the insurance.
5.1.4 Insurer's five digit National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC") company identification number.
5.1.5 Named Insured. This name must be the named insured as carried in the insurer's records.
5.1.6 The insurer may, at its option, include the address of the insured.
5.1.7 Policy Number.
5.1.8 Effective date of the time period the policy shall be in effect.
5.1.9 Expiration Date. The insurance identification card shall be valid for no more than the term stated in the policy but not to exceed 6 months. Notwithstanding the foregoing limitation, an insurance identification card may be issued for a period of 12 months if the premium has been written on an annual basis and the premium is being paid in installments of no more than for a 12 month period. The expiration date shall be stated in such manner that the exact date of expiration can be clearly identified. For purposes of this section, a policy renewed in the same company with a lapse in coverage of 30 days or less shall be considered to have been continuously insured by a licensed insurance company during the preceding six months.
5.1.10 Vehicle(s) Insured. Information shall be completed by indicating any of the following, depending on the type of policy or vehicle involved:
5.1.10.1 Year, Make, and Vehicle Identification Number ("VIN") of the vehicle(s) insured. Model of the vehicle may be shown as the Make. The Year, and Make of the vehicle may be abbreviated, but the complete VIN must be shown.
5.1.11 Items which are not obvious as to meaning shall be appropriately captioned.
5.2 The order of the information to be contained on the ID card may be rearranged at the option of the company, provided there is no drastic change and the rearrangement is necessary to accommodate a fixed printout system already established by a company.
5.3 At least one ID card shall be issued for each vehicle insured under the policy for which liability insurance is in effect.
5.4 If a vehicle is specifically described on the ID card, the company must issue a new card upon either a change of vehicle or the acquisition of any additional one. If a different policy number is assigned upon renewal, a new ID Card must also be issued. The expiration date requirement of section 5.1.9 above shall apply to an insured's replacement or additional insured vehicle in a manner similar to the previously owned or insured vehicle. The owner of the vehicle shall so inform the insurer of the additional or replacement vehicle. Only after the insurer is so informed, shall the insurer be obligated to issue an ID card to the insured for the additional or replacement vehicle.
5.5 A letter or notification should accompany every ID card advising the insured that the card is required to register the vehicle, to obtain new tags, and to serve as evidence of insurance for the law enforcement authorities, e.g., in cases involving accidents, moving traffic violations or road spot checks. This notification may be printed on the back of the ID card. Delaware law requires the ID card to be in the vehicle when it is being operated.
5.6 The Division of Motor Vehicles will accept for registration purposes a copy of the application for insurance or the assignment notice or binder pending issuance of insurance or the assignment notice pending issuance of the ID card. However, such evidence of insurance will be accepted for registration purposes only if it has been dated prior to the date and no later than the day preceding the date of application for registration. For Assigned Risk coverage, insurers shall instruct their agents to place an insurer identification code of "99999" on applications to indicate placement with the Assigned Risk Plan.
5.7 Insurance ID cards shall be issued in conformance with section 5.1 above. The Insurance Commissioner may exercise his statutory authority to investigate and examine the compliance of insurance carriers with this regulation. The Insurance Commissioner may, after notice and hearing, impose and enter an order as follows:
5.7.1 For each occasion where the Insurance Commissioner determines that an ID card was issued inadvertently in non‑compliance with section 5.1.9 above, the insurer shall be fined $100. No fine, however, shall be imposed if the ID card was validly issued.
5.7.2 For each occasion where the Insurance Commissioner determines an ID card was issued with disregard of the requirements of Section 5.1.9 above, but with no pattern of conscious disregard, the insurer shall be fined $1,000.
5.7.3 For each occasion where the Insurance Commissioner determines an ID card was issued as part of a pattern of conscious disregard of the requirements of section 5.1.9 above, the insurer shall be fined $2,000.
5.8 "Date of issuance" of an insurance card shall be the effective date of that card.
6.1 Unless otherwise covered in Section 5.0 of this regulation, the ID card for each vehicle insured under each commercial lines policy, which shall include any insurance issued for fleet vehicles, shall contain the following information, whether the card is provided in written or electronic format:
6.1.1 the information set forth in sections 5.1.1 through 5.1.4, section 5.1.6 and section 5.1.11 of this regulation;
6.1.2 the name of the commercial entity or registrant that owns or leases the fleet as carried in the insurer's records. The insurer, at its option, may include the name of any parent company involved or, in the case of vehicles not operated by the registrant, an indication that the vehicle is "owned or operated by_________";
6.1.3 the policy number with any appropriate designations required by the insurer for commercial or fleet vehicles; and
6.1.4 the effective and expiration dates of the policy.
6.2 The expiration date for ID cards shall be no more than twelve months from the effective date of the policy and the expiration date shall be stated by day, month and year or month, day and year, so long as the exact date of expiration can be clearly identified.
6.3 ID cards subject to the requirements of this section 6 shall also be subject to the requirements set forth in sections 5.2 through 5.6 of this regulation.
6.4 Insurance ID cards shall be issued in conformance with section 6.1 above. The Insurance Commissioner may exercise his statutory authority to investigate and examine the compliance of insurance carriers with this regulation. The Insurance Commissioner may, after notice and hearing, impose and enter an order as follows:
6.4.1 For each occasion where the Insurance Commissioner determines that an ID card was issued inadvertently in non-compliance with section 6.2 above, the insurer shall be fined $100. No fine, however, shall be imposed if the ID card was validly issued.
6.4.2 For each occasion where the Insurance Commissioner determines an ID card was issued with disregard of the requirements of Section 6.2 above, but with no pattern of conscious disregard, the insurer shall be fined $1,000.
6.4.3 For each occasion where the Insurance Commissioner determines an ID card was issued as part of a pattern of conscious disregard of the requirements of section 6.2 above, the insurer shall be fined $2,000.
6.5 "Date of issuance" of an insurance card shall be the effective date of that card.
12 DE Reg. 346 (09/01/08)
7.1 If an insurer shall violate the provisions of this regulation, the Commissioner shall give written notice to the insurer of the violation and said notice shall inform the insurer of the right to request a hearing pursuant to 18 Del.C. §323.
7.2 If an insurer shall be determined to be in violation by consent or after a hearing, the Commissioner may impose such penalties as permitted pursuant to the Insurance Code.
8.1 When a personal lines insurance policy is cancelled or terminated and that cancellation or termination is final under 18 Del.C. §3904 (a) (1) within 6 months of the original date of issuance, the insurer must file a Notice of Cancellation with the Division of Motor Vehicles.
8.2 The notice shall be filed with the Division of Motor Vehicles within 30 days following the effective date on which cancellation has become final. "Final" means the date after which coverage cannot be reinstated except by the issuance of a new policy.
8.3 The notice shall be a form with the size, content, and format consistent with the attached forms or as otherwise approved by the Division of Motor Vehicles.
9.1 An insurer shall furnish within 30 days of a request by the Division of Motor Vehicles prescribed information on each motor vehicle insured in the State of Delaware. The information shall be provided in the form and manner approved by the Division of Motor Vehicles.
10.1 Pursuant to 21 Del.C. §2118 the Division of Motor vehicles shall periodically randomly select on an annual basis at least 10 percent of the vehicle registrations and send them to the insurers of record for verification of liability insurance.
10.2 All responses from the insurers shall be delivered to the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles within 30 days of the mailing date of the verification request.
10.3 The random selection/verification process shall be done no more than twelve times and no less than four times annually.
11.1 Each insurer licensed to write automobile liability insurance in Delaware shall notify the Division of Motor Vehicles on a form approved by the Division of Motor Vehicles the name of any person or persons involved in an accident or filing a claim who is alleged to have been operating a Delaware registered motor vehicle without the insurance required under Delaware law. The insurer shall provide the name, address, and description of the vehicle alleged to be uninsured.
12.1 Each insurer licensed to write automobile liability insurance in this State shall furnish to their insureds verification of the insurance in force at the request of the Division of Motor Vehicles by use of a form approved by the Division of Motor Vehicles. Each insurer is to utilize such measures as may be necessary to assure delivery of these forms to qualified insured drivers only.
13.1 If any provision of this regulation or the application thereof to any person or situation is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision or application of the regulation which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application and to this end the provisions of this regulation are declared to be severable.
14.1 This Regulation shall become effective September 11, 2008. This Regulation shall become effective 10 days after being published as a final regulation.
*Regulation No. 31 was entitled "Insurance Identification Card" under an effective date of July 1, 1979; amended July 1, 1982; amended effective January 1, 1991 and again on May 12, 1993 under present title except for the conditions specified under § 6 and § 4 of the regulation and April 12, 1993.
