Feb. 12, 2026
HARRISBURG – Legislation “whose time has come” has been signed into law, according to the bill’s author, state Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin), Republican chairman of the House Transportation Committee.
“We’ve been working on what is now
Act 3 of 2026 for a very long time in an attempt to protect drivers from facing a 90-day suspension of his or her vehicle registration when changing auto insurance carriers,” said Benninghoff, who authored what began this session as House Bill 710. “Ironically, PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll, who played a role in making this come to fruition, worked on this issue for a number of years when he was a state representative.”
When a driver cancels a car insurance policy within six months from the original issue date, there is no requirement for them to contact PennDOT when they purchase a new policy. This often triggers a written notice that the driver’s vehicle registration may be suspended unless proof of insurance is provided.
“Pennsylvania will now be implementing an online verification system (OLV) for automobile insurance coverage which doesn’t rely on conventional mail,” Benninghoff added. “With OLV, insurance providers will be required to report new policy information which will then be matched with canceled policies.”
The system can also alert law enforcement in cases of uninsured motorists and prevention of counterfeit insurance cards.
Questions about this or any legislative issue should be directed to Benninghoff’s Bellefonte district office at 814-355-1300 or his Reedsville office at 717-667-1175.
Representative Kerry Benninghoff
171st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott Little
717-260-6137
Slittle@pahousegop.com