Do you have a classic or “fair weather” car that sits in the garage all winter? Do you keep it insured over the winter months, or do you let the insurance lapse or discontinue coverage because the vehicle is not in use? Careful!
Under Pennsylvania law, if you own a registered vehicle (any registered vehicle) that is not insured you are ineligible for certain auto insurance benefits if you are involved in an accident, even if the car you are in is insured at the time of the accident. Sounds unfair, but that’s the law.
This is why the envelope that your registration renewal arrives in each year tells you on the back to turn in your registration plate if you discontinue insurance coverage.
The moral of this story is clear: Maintain your coverage all year or discontinue your registration. Note that some insurance carriers will reduce the premium for vehicles that are “withdrawn from use” during the winter months. Contact your insurance agent for more details.
— Kevin Palmer