Better protect citizens in the event of a car accident with an uninsured motorist

HB 4142 requires all West Virginia drivers to carry auto insurance and mandates the state Department of Motor Vehicles to create an online system for instant insurance verification. The electronic program will let law enforcement, dealerships, and courts check coverage status using vehicle details and policy information, replacing paper certificates. Drivers who cannot prove insurance face fines of up to $5,000 per violation. This directly affects all drivers in West Virginia by ensuring coverage is verified quickly after accidents involving uninsured motorists.