To crack down

on auto insurance fraud, the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety

is compiling an electronic database that will serve as proof of insurance.

But so far,

1.7 million vehicle owners throughout the state have yet to be added to

the database, and the DMVS is trying to contact those people by mail asking

them to check with their insurance company to make sure they have been

added to the database.

Some insurance

companies have not yet transmitted the electronic record that needs to

be received by the DMVS, according to agency officials.

Beginning Feb.

1, information in the database will serve as proof of auto insurance,

replacing the auto insurance information cards currently carried by drivers.

That's because

previous studies have shown "a large number" of drivers purchase

auto insurance only to receive the card, according to the DMVS. Once they

do so, they cancel their insurance but keep the non-valid card in their

possession to use as proof of insurance.

The database

will allow law enforcement officers, county tax commissioners and the

DMVS to quickly verify auto insurance coverage; it was required by legislation

passed earlier this year by Georgia lawmakers.

The auto insurance

card will still be important to keep to serve as proof of insurance when

travelling out of state and in case of a traffic accident.

Motorists also

are being asked to make sure the vehicle identification number on their

tag registration card and insurance policy match. If not, it could cause

the vehicle to appear as uninsured in the state database.

There are still

some flaws in the system, which has been tested since June, according

to the DMVS. Error rates on information from insurance companies have

been as low as 1.5 percent and as high as 17 percent, the DMVS reports.

After Feb.

1, motorists will not be able to renew or transfer their vehicle registration

in Georgia unless their insurance company has provided proof of insurance

electronically to the state database. If necessary, the auto owner will

be alerted of a problem with their data on the vehicle registration prebill

which is mailed 30 days before the old decal expires.