# "License, proof of insurance, and registration please." Why registration? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 21, 2019, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/license-proof-of-insurance-and-registration-please-why-registration/835848 "2019-06-21T14:42:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![CrazyFoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@CrazyFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyFoo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/license-proof-of-insurance-and-registration-please-why-registration/835848/81 "2019-08-02T06:12:33Z")
As a commercial vehicle inspector / enforcement officer I’ll try to answer the OP question from my perspective. License Registration Insurance All 3 documents are a requirement under our Motor Vehicle and Highway Act. Each driver Must produce said documents when requested by an enforcement officer. The DL is easy as to why: Is the driver properly licensed for the vehicle he is driving? Is it under suspension? I need to know before I can allow him to continue on his way once Ive completed my stop and verified his documents. Registration: I need to know the details of the vehicle he is driving, the Registered Owner info is listed on it, as well as the year, make and model and VIN. Someone from this thread mentioned that this info is all available when you run the plate; Our system in the Yukon does not inform us if the vehicle has valid insurance. Also, when I enter his plate into our computer to get the info, I wont get anything back if our internet is down thus I have to reply on hbis paper documents. Typically I will review a driver’s insurance and ensure it matches the VIN# specified on the vehicle registration. Once I verify his license is in good standing, his insurance is valid and everything checks out; I’ll wish him well and tell him to have a nice day. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/license-proof-of-insurance-and-registration-please-why-registration/835848/82 "2019-08-02T10:56:23Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Non-residents never can believe that there are 50 separate databases in the U.S. Plus a possible separate federal database, which usually does not exist. There are 51, though, aren’t there? I assume DC has one also. This thread reminds me of when I was a young driver and discovered that not all states make you get an annual inspection, but this time I’m surprised that not all states already ask for your registration when you’re pulled over _and_ that some ask also for you to prove you’re insured. Everywhere I’ve lived it’s license and registration, even if the cop pulled you over to tell you that you’ve got a taillight is out. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/license-proof-of-insurance-and-registration-please-why-registration/835848/83 "2019-08-02T12:16:20Z")
> [@CrazyFoo](#): > > Once I verify his license is in good standing, his insurance is valid and everything checks out; I’ll wish him well and tell him to have a nice day. That’s quite nice of you! No citation issued in your described workflow! ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/license-proof-of-insurance-and-registration-please-why-registration/835848/84 "2019-08-02T13:14:07Z")
For the LEO’s in the thread. I’ve blacked out the address portion of my registration because I don’t want a car thief to know where I live and use my garage door opener to clean me out. Would seeing a registration like that bother you? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/license-proof-of-insurance-and-registration-please-why-registration/835848/85 "2019-08-02T13:50:45Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > For the LEO’s in the thread. I’ve blacked out the address portion of my registration because I don’t want a car thief to know where I live and use my garage door opener to clean me out. Would seeing a registration like that bother you? Why do you keep the registration in your car? I’ve never done that - my husband and I have photocopies of each others registrations ( good enough to show at a traffic stop in my state) and if someone else is borrowing my car, I would just give them a copy with the key. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/license-proof-of-insurance-and-registration-please-why-registration/835848/86 "2019-08-02T13:58:09Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > Why do you keep the registration in your car? I’ve never done that - my husband and I have photocopies of each others registrations ( good enough to show at a traffic stop in my state) and if someone else is borrowing my car, I would just give them a copy with the key. My registration is a 8.5x11 piece of paper. I’m not going to carry it with me wherever I go. At least, I don’t plan on it. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/license-proof-of-insurance-and-registration-please-why-registration/835848/87 "2019-08-02T14:08:55Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > My own (UK) insurance allows me to drive other people’s cars (with their permission) and be covered under my own policy. This is cheaper than letting other non-named people drive my car on my insurance, although both are available. > > If I do drive someone else’s car, there is a limit on how much they will pay out for the car I’m driving - it’s quite high, but they wouldn’t pay to replace a Bugatti Veyron that my mate lends me for the weekend if I total it. They would pay any third party costs as usual, though. I don’t know what the laws and insurance rules are in the UK, but here in Ontario you have to be careful about non-owned vehicle coverage as it depends on the contractual liability that exists in a particular situation, which seems to be common insurance practice. If you rent a car, your own insurance’s non-owned vehicle option will provide coverage, and if you have it you can decline the rental company’s usually outrageous insurance options – but that’s because the rental contract you just signed with 15 pages of fine print sets out your liability. But if you just borrow a friend’s car and in the middle of the night a tree falls on it, you won’t be entitled to a dime. The premise here is that your friend’s own insurance is responsible, and if he doesn’t have the appropriate coverage, your own non-owned vehicle coverage in that situation is useless. Again, that’s the situation here, I can’t speak for the UK or other jurisdictions. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/license-proof-of-insurance-and-registration-please-why-registration/835848/88 "2019-08-02T14:23:24Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Right. For out of state registered vehicles we can’t enforce our state laws on that vehicle. Obviously things having to do with unsafe operation like careless driving aren’t included but statutes pertaining to registration, documents, insurance and equipment can’t be enforced. The weird part to me is when one state enforces the laws of the (different) state the car is registered in. For instance, when I was living in Virginia and visiting DC, I got a ticket once because my Virginia inspection sticker was out of date. I still think, “what the hell business was it of DC’s if I’d forgotten to get my Virginia car re-inspected before the deadline?” especially given that many states don’t require _any_ routine vehicle inspection, so it wasn’t about keeping unsafe vehicles off the streets of DC. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/license-proof-of-insurance-and-registration-please-why-registration/835848/89 "2019-08-02T15:30:40Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > The weird part to me is when one state enforces the laws of the (different) state the car is registered in. > > For instance, when I was living in Virginia and visiting DC, I got a ticket once because my Virginia inspection sticker was out of date. I still think, “what the hell business was it of DC’s if I’d forgotten to get my Virginia car re-inspected before the deadline?” especially given that many states don’t require _any_ routine vehicle inspection, so it wasn’t about keeping unsafe vehicles off the streets of DC. I’m guessing that most if not all states have a regulation that says you’re allowed to drive there if you have a different state’s currently-valid license plate and registration, but not if you don’t have _any_ state’s currently-valid license and registration. And having an up-to-date inspection sticker might fall under that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/license-proof-of-insurance-and-registration-please-why-registration/835848.md?page=4)