COLUMBIA - Uninsured drivers may be easier to catch under a new Department of Motor Vehicles program, the state agency said Tuesday.

The DMV has begun the Automobile Liability Insurance Reporting system, which allows companies to electronically report cancellations and other changes in drivers' policies.

The system "will automate the insurance reporting system, eliminating a time-consuming, manual process for both the insurance industry and DMV," agency chief Marcia Adams said. "Faster processing means faster detection of uninsured motorists. That's a big step forward for South Carolina."

S.C. law requires car owners to maintain a minimum of liability insurance on their vehicles.

Insurance companies will report cancellations every 30 days.

Owners can be fined up to $5 a day for uninsured cars.

Owners who are reported will be notified by the DMV that they have 45 days to show proof of liability insurance coverage. If they cannot provide that proof, their license plate will be suspended and they will be required to pay a $200 reinstatement fee.