SECTIONS 657-658 - California Statutes

INSURANCE CODE

SECTION 657-658

657. (a) Where any admitted insurer, licensed to issue motor
vehicle liability policies as defined in Section 16450 of the Vehicle
Code, or any licensed insurance agent refuses to accept an
application for such a policy or refuses to issue such a policy when
a written application has been made, the refusing agent or refusing
insurer shall furnish to the applicant for insurance a written
statement explaining the reason or reasons relied upon for such
action if within 30 days of such refusal the applicant requests in
writing, from the agent or insurer who has refused to accept the
application or to issue the policy, such a written explanation. Such
statement shall be furnished within 30 days of receipt of such
request.
(b) Any insurer or agent willfully violating any provisions of
this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine
not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation
thereof.
(c) There shall be no liability on the part of, and no cause of
action of any nature shall arise against, the Insurance Commissioner
or against any insurer, its authorized representative, its agents,
its employees, or any firm, person or corporation furnishing to the
insurer information as to the reasons for such a refusal, for any
statement made by any of them in any written notice of reasons for
refusing to accept the application or issue the policy or in any
other communication, oral or written, specifying the reasons for such
action or the providing of the information pertaining thereto, or
for statements made or evidence submitted in any hearings conducted
in connection therewith.

658. Where any admitted insurer, licensed to issue motor vehicle
liability policies as defined in Section 16450 of the Vehicle Code,
refuses to accept an applicant for a good driver discount policy as
defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 1861.02 or
refuses to issue a good driver discount policy when written
application has been made, and where the applicant meets the criteria
for purchase of a good driver discount policy, the refusing insurer
shall furnish the applicant for insurance a written statement within
10 days of the refusal explaining the reason or reasons relied upon
for denying insurance coverage. Notwithstanding Section 1633.3 of the
Civil Code, the written statement explaining the reason or reasons
for denying the coverage may not be electronically delivered to the
applicant unless the application for the good driver discount was
electronically delivered to the insurer.