Auto Insurance Claims: Does insurance companies report accidents to DMV?, expired driver license wreck

Question
Hi there, i need to renew my driver license, but I had an accident in the
timeframe when it was expired. My question is - does the insurance company
report the accident to DMV, and if so, will it affect my license renewal?

Answer
Steve,

   Insurance companies normally don't report to the DMV for anything other than whether your insurance is lapsed or not.  Now, there is a place called the NICB (national insurance crime bureau) and many companies will report claims to the NICB so that they can keep a database for fraud prevention.  The DMV has investigators that have access to the NICB and if I'm not mistaken some of them have a direct link so that information which is in NICB database is automatically in the DMV, too.  It depends on the State.

    As for your license renewal, don't worry.  Yes, you should not have been driving on an expired license, but that is not grounds to refuse you a renewal.  I am not aware of any State that would refuse to renew your license simply because you were in a wreck.  If you caused damages and didn't pay for them, or if you got a ticket and didn't pay for it or something, then that is a different story.  Just being in an accident will not affect your license.  There has to be money involved in the way of a fine or damages, and then you can get in trouble if you don't take care of business.

Good Luck!