The nonresident owner of a motor vehicle not registered in this State may give proof of financial responsibility by filing with the Department of Motor Vehicles written certificates of an insurance carrier authorized to transact business in the state in which the motor vehicle or motor vehicles described in the certificate is registered or, if the nonresident does not own a motor vehicle, then in the state in which the insured resides, provided the certificate otherwise conforms with the provisions of this chapter, and the Department shall accept it upon condition that the insurance carrier complies with the following provisions with respect to the policies certified:

(1) The insurance carrier shall execute a power of attorney authorizing the Department to accept service on its behalf of notice or process in any action arising out of a motor vehicle accident in this State; and

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 56-9-560

  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC

(2) The insurance carrier shall agree in writing that the policies shall be construed to conform with the laws of this State relating to the terms of motor vehicle liability policies issued in this State.

If any insurance carrier not authorized to transact business in this State, which has qualified to furnish proof of financial responsibility, defaults in any of these undertakings or agreements, the Department shall not thereafter accept as proof any certificate of that carrier whether formerly filed or thereafter tendered as proof, so long as the default continues.

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