Registering a car? Minnesota now wants proof you're insured

Starting Jan. 1, vehicle owners will have to prove they have insurance to renew their tabs or transfer ownership.

Minnesotans until now simply had to attest that they had motor vehicle or motorcycle insurance. But thanks to a change in the law passed earlier this year, the state won't be just taking the word of vehicle owners. It now wants specific policy information.

That means providing the name of an insurance company, the policy number and the expiration date. Vehicle owners can provide the information in an application online, in person or by mail, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said in a statement.

Minnesota law requires drivers to possess proof of insurance at all times and maintain insurance when they operate or plan to operate a vehicle.

A task force found more than one in 10 Minnesota drivers don't have insurance on their vehicles and lawmakers hope beefing up the documentation requirement will reduce that percentage.

The new requirement will be outlined in annual renewal notices. Some are already in the mail.