Types of Insurance Letters from PennDOT

PennDOT does not receive notice of new insurance from companies. Therefore, PennDOT must send a proof letter asking the customer to provide verification that new insurance is in place for the vehicle(s) listed.

The letter describes several situations a customer may find themselves in. They include:

1)    If you obtained insurance with a new insurance company and canceled with your previous insurance company without a lapse in coverage; proof of your new insurance can be entered directly here. A listing of acceptable proof of insurance can be found here.

2)    If you obtained valid insurance within 30 days from when your previous insurance was cancelled; proof of the new insurance can be entered here. If you did not operate the vehicle referenced above, please complete the MV-221 - Statement of Non-Operation of Vehicle. Links to a paper version of the form and a form that can be signed electronically are located to the right in the Resource box.  Note: If you operated the vehicle during the lapse, the vehicle registration will be suspended for three months.  You will receive an official notice of suspension letter in the mail.  Credit towards serving a three-month registration suspension will not begin until PennDOT receives the registration plate and card.

3)    If your insurance policy was reinstated with the same company and there was no lapse of coverage; please send PennDOT a signed letter from the insurance company's headquarters.  This letter must be on the company's letterhead stating the date the policy resumed active coverage, policy number, policy effective and expiration dates, NAIC number and VIN. The letter along with your current proof of insurance can be entered here or emailed to FRInsurance@pa.gov or faxed to 717-772-1550.

4)    If you cancelled your insurance and you are not going to obtain valid insurance on your vehicle listed above; the registration plate and card must be returned to PennDOT within 30 days from the insurance cancellation date. NOTE: If you do not send PennDOT your registration plate and registration card within 30 days of the insurance cancellation date, the vehicle registration will be suspended for three-months.  You will receive an official notice of suspension letter in the mail.  Credit towards serving a three-month registration suspension will not begin until PennDOT receives the registration plate and card.  

Registration plates and cards must be returned to:

Return Tag Unit

PO Box 68597

Harrisburg, PA 17106-8597

5)    If you do not have insurance for the vehicle referenced above and more than 30 days elapsed from insurance cancellation date; the vehicle registration will be suspended for three-months. You will receive an official notice or suspension letter in the mail.  Credit towards serving a three-month registration suspension will not begin until PennDOT receives the registration plate and card.

6)    If you believe your automobile insurance policy was cancelled in error by your insurance company, please file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department at www.insurance.pa.gov or mail your complaint to Pennsylvania Insurance Department, Bureau of Consumer Services, 1209 Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA  17120.  Please include your insurance company name and policy number.  Upon your request and with proof of current insurance, a request will be made to PennDOT to hold any notice of suspension of the vehicle registration while the complaint is being reviewed. 

7)    If you sold, transferred or traded your vehicle; please send PennDOT a copy of the front and back of the Certificate of Title or a bill of sale.  If you salvaged your vehicle; please provide PennDOT a copy of the salvage certificate. Documentation can be sent to FRinsurance@pa.gov or faxed to 717-772-1550. 

8)    If your vehicle was repossessed; (a) a copy of your letter of repossession from the dealership or financial institution can be emailed to FRInsurance@pa.gov or faxed to 717-772-1550; or (b) please send PennDOT your registration plate and card within 30 days from the insurance cancellation date.   

Registration plates and cards must be returned to:

                        Return Tag Unit

                        PO Box 68597

                        Harrisburg, PA 17106-8597

9)    If your vehicle is registered in another state: please send PennDOT a copy of your out-of-state registration card or title. Documentation can be sent to FRinsurance@pa.gov or faxed to 717-772-1550.

The required documentation for any of the scenarios (except for scenario 6) can also be submitted by mail to:

                        PA Department of Transportation

                        Bureau of Motor Vehicles

                        P.O. Box 68674

                        Harrisburg, PA 17106-8674

A suspension letter is received if:

• The customer did not respond to the proof letter that was mailed.
• The customer responded to the proof letter but did not indicate they had insurance within 30 days of the cancellation date of their previous insurance and/or they did not submit a Statement of Non-Operation of Vehicle (MV-221)(PDF) or complete and submit Form MV-221 electronically here.
• The customer was convicted of a traffic offense and did not provide proof of insurance at the time of the offense.
• The customer was involved in an accident and did not provide insurance at the time of the accident.

The letter will advise the customer to surrender the registration plate and registration card for the vehicle on or before the effective date of the suspension identified in the letter. The customer will also be advised that a restoration fee and current proof of insurance is required before the registration can be restored.  The letter also notifies the customer of their right to appeal the suspension in the Court of Common Pleas of the county of residence. The appeal must be filed within 30 days from the date of the suspension letter. Please refer to Form MV-70S, "The Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees," for the current fees.

In lieu of serving a registration suspension, customers have the option to pay a civil penalty. The optional civil penalty fee is $500. Additionally, customers are required to pay a restoration fee. Please refer to Form MV-70S, "The Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees," for the current fees. The optional civil penalty may not be paid more than once in a 12-month period. Payment of the civil penalty, along with the restoration fee and proof of current insurance will allow customers to maintain registration of their vehicle without the requirement to serve a three-month suspension. To use this option, visit PennDOT's Online Services by using the link for Restorations followed by Pay Your Civil Penalty Fee in Lieu of FR Suspension. Complete the required steps, or you may mail your certified check or money order payable to the PA Department of Transportation, along with current proof of insurance and completed Form MV-222 (PDF), "Application for Payment of Civil Penalty in Lieu of Registration Suspension", also, notifies the customer of their right to appeal the suspension in the Court of Common Pleas of the county of residence. The appeal must be filed within 30 days from the date of the suspension letter. Please refer to Form MV-70S, "The Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees," for the current fees.

The purpose of this letter is to provide the customer with information on the requirements needed for the restoration of a vehicle's suspended registration. You can request and print the restoration requirements letter online. To do so, go to our online service to Request a VR Restoration Requirements Letter. Users will need to provide the first eight numbers of the vehicle title number, the last four digits of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and the first two characters of the owner's last name or the first two characters of the company's name if the vehicle is registered with a company.

One month prior to the conclusion of the suspension an eligibility letter will be mailed to the customer to remind them of any necessary requirements needed for the restoration of the registration. The letter will identify these two requirements:

• A restoration fee. The check or money order must be made payable to the Department of Transportation. The vehicle title number should be placed on the check or money order to ensure that the fee is correctly applied to the record. Please refer to Form MV-70S, "The Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees," for the current fees.
• Current proof of insurance

NOTE: Current proof of insurance can only be submitted for restoration within 30 days of the eligibility date.

Upon restoration of the registration privilege, the customer will receive a restoration letter from PennDOT. Also, the customer will receive a registration plate and registration card if the registration plate returned to serve the suspension is still valid.

NOTE: Unless the plate is a special plate (see below), the plate returned will be a standard plate for the vehicle.

Special registration plates include: Personalized, Antique, Classic, Collectible, Military, Specialty, and Special Organization registration plates.

A suspension goes into effect on the date indicated in the suspension letter regardless of whether the customer surrenders the registration plate and registration card for the vehicle. The vehicle is not to be operated while the registration privilege is suspended.

Credit for serving the suspension does not begin until:

• The date the registration plate and registration card are delivered to PennDOT, or
• The suspension effective date, if the registration plate and registration card expired before the suspension effective date, or
• The expiration date of the registration plate and registration card, if the registration plate expired after the suspension effective date.