Not a Scam: Oklahoma drivers getting notices that they are uninsured

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla — Some Oklahomans are opening their mailbox to a notice stating they don't have insurance and left them wondering if it's a scam.

These notices are legit and part of a statewide initiate aimed at reducing the number of uninsured vehicles on Oklahoma roadways.

"We are specifically statutorily authorized to try to bring down the uninsured rate in Oklahoma," said Amanda Couch, program director, Uninsured Vehicle Enforcement Diversion (UVED) Program.

UVED has been around for years and has deployed camera units across the state, taking photographs of license plates and comparing them to the Oklahoma Insurance Verification System (OKIVS).

There are nearly 80 cameras that are spread out across the state, Couch says their cameras are on wooden poles.

Owners of vehicles believed to be in violation of Oklahoma’s Compulsory Insurance Law receive a Notice to Respond that contains a copy of the photograph taken and instructions on how to proceed.

In order to participate in the UVED Program, a citizen must acquire liability coverage, pay the enrollment fee and promise to maintain coverage for a period of two years.

"I've had a number of customers over the last couple of years that have brought these documents in to me that they receive in the mail," said Steven Schroeder, Farmers Insurance agent in Stillwater.

The issue is that some drivers who have insurance are getting these notices too and they assume it's a scam.

"In the most recent case, a lady told me she almost discarded it altogether because she did think it was a scam and she was an elderly lady," said Schroeder.

Schroeder says in one case an elderly man ignored it so many times that a warrant was issued for him.

Couch says there are instances where notices can be sent out to those with insurance. Some of those are if you have out-of-state insurance or sold your car with the tags on them.

It's an easy fix, as long as you don't ignore the notice.

"There are phone numbers kind of all over the notice, the notice itself, the back side of the notice, there's email addresses. We are here for the people, just call us any time," said Couch.

You can also reach out to your insurance agent.

"Most agents are probably really familiar with these, we've all gotten them, we've talked about it as agents and a lot of the agents that that have gotten them have steps in place to get them cleared pretty quick," said Schroeder.

The bottom line is that these notices are not a scam, whether you have insurance or not you need to take some kind of action.