(a) Any person in whose name more than twenty-five (25) vehicles are registered may qualify as a self-insurer by obtaining a certificate of self-insurance from the commissioner as provided in subsection (c).
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 55-12-111

  • Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of safety, unless otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires. See Tennessee Code 55-12-102
  • Department: means the department of revenue. See Tennessee Code 55-1-111
  • Person: means a natural person, firm, copartnership, association, corporation, or an engaged ADS. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • State: means any state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or any province of the Dominion of Canada. See Tennessee Code 55-12-102
  • Vehicle: means every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) Any recognized religious sect or division having established tenets or teachings and that has been in existence at all times since December 31, 1950, may qualify as a self-insurer by obtaining a certificate of self-insurance from the commissioner as provided in subsection (c) if the department determines that all of the following conditions are met:

(1) Members of the religious sect or division operate more than twenty-five (25) motor vehicles that are registered in this state and are either owned or leased by them;
(2) The members hold a common belief in mutual financial assistance in time of need to the extent that they share in financial obligations of other members who would otherwise be unable to meet their obligations;
(3) The religious sect or division is financially solvent and not subject to any actions in bankruptcy, trusteeship, receivership or any other court proceeding in which the sect or division’s financial solvency is in question;
(4) Neither the religious sect or division nor any of its participating members has any judgments arising out of the operation, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle taken against them that have remained unsatisfied for more than thirty (30) days after becoming final; and
(5) There are no other factors that cause the department to believe that the religious sect or division and its members are not of sufficient financial ability to pay judgments taken against them.
(c) The commissioner has the discretion, upon the application of the person or religious sect or division, to issue a certificate of self-insurance when satisfied that the person or religious sect or division is possessed and will continue to be possessed of an ability to pay any judgments that might be rendered against the person or religious sect or division.
(d) The commissioner may, at any time after the issuance of a certificate of self-insurance, cancel the certificate by giving thirty (30) days’ written notice of cancellation should there be reason to believe that the person or religious sect or division to whom this certificate was issued is no longer qualified as a self-insurer under this section.
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