Subcommittee advances bill removing permit‑renewal limit for dealer plate use

The subcommittee reported Senate Bill 441, a measure presented on behalf of Senator Bagby that revises special permits authorizing the use of license plates on a vehicle other than the vehicle for which the plates were issued. The bill removes a provision that had limited renewals to once per permit.

Delegate Austin asked whether insurance coverage transfers from vehicle to vehicle during a tag transfer. Dean Jackson of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles said he did not have the definitive answer at the hearing but explained how insurance typically applies to the vehicle and offered to provide the committee with a written response. William Childress of the Independent Automobile Dealers Association said the transfer of insurance "is in place" as part of the dealer process and described steps dealers take to obtain and transfer an individual's insurance during the tag transfer.

A motion to report SB 441 was made and seconded; the clerk opened and closed the roll and announced the bill reported on a vote of 9 to 0. With reported unanimous support in the subcommittee, the measure will proceed to the next legislative steps.