Title 38.2, Title 38.2. Insurance

A. As used in this section: "Cancellation" or "to cancel" means a termination of a policy during the policy period. "Insurer" means any insurance company, association, or exchange licensed to transact motor vehicle insurance in the Commonwealth. "Policy of motor vehicle insurance…

Upon the verified petition of an insurer, where the petitioning insurer proposes to replace all or substantially all of its policies in another insurer, the Commission may relieve the insurer of the requirements of subsection E of § 38.2-2212 and of the mailing requirements of § …

No insurer or agent shall refuse to issue a motor vehicle insurance policy as defined in § 38.2-2212 solely because of any one or more of the following factors: the age, sex, residence, race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender iden…

No insurer or agent shall reduce coverage, increase the insured's premium, apply a surcharge, refuse to apply a discount other than a discount that is based on data recorded by a recording device as defined in § 46.2-1088.6, place in a less favorable tier, refuse to place in the …

Any insurer issuing motor vehicle insurance policies as defined in § 38.2-2212, including those policies assigned to any insurer by the Virginia Automobile Insurance Plan, shall provide the named insured with a statement defining his rate classifications. This statement shall be …

No insurer or agent shall refuse to issue or fail to renew a policy of motor vehicle liability insurance solely because of the age of the motor vehicle to be insured, provided the motor vehicle is licensed.

No policy or contract of bodily injury liability insurance which contains any representation by an insurer to pay medical expenses incurred for bodily injuries caused by an accident to the insured or any relative or any other person coming under the provisions of the policy, shal…

A. Any schedule of rates, rate classifications or rating plans for motor vehicle insurance as defined in § 38.2-2212 filed with the Commission shall provide for an appropriate reduction in premium charges for those insured persons who are fifty-five years of age and older and who…

A. As used in this section, "vanpooling" means the type of joint arrangement described in subdivision 5 of § 46.2-2000.1 and § 46.2-1400 where such motor vehicles are used to transport commuters to and from their places of employment on a regular basis. "Motor vehicle" as used in…

The Commission shall prepare a standard form whenever it believes that any form of policy or any form of rider, endorsement, or other supplemental agreement or provision, for use in connection with any contract of motor vehicle insurance to be issued or delivered upon any motor v…

If any insurer or rate service organization affected by an order entered pursuant to § 38.2-2218 files objections to a proposed standard form within the time prescribed in the Commission's order, the Commission shall rescind the order and shall provide notice of the rescission to…

Except as provided in § 38.2-2223, after any standard form is adopted by the Commission, no insurer shall use any form covering substantially the same provisions contained in the standard form unless it is in the precise language of the form filed and adopted by the Commission.

The Commission may amend the provisions of any standard form in the manner provided in this chapter for the adoption of a new standard form.

Whenever the Commission believes there is no further necessity for requiring the use of any standard form adopted under the provisions of this chapter, it may, by order entered of record, withdraw the form, and thereafter its use shall not be required.

For the word "company" appearing in any standard form, there may be substituted a more accurate descriptive term for the type of insurer. Additional provisions, other than those in the standard form, or coverages more favorable than those in the standard form, may be used with a …

The Commission may establish guidelines for the filing of simplified and readable motor vehicle insurance policy forms that are acceptable for issuance. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 38.2-2218 through 38.2-2223, an insurer may issue a motor vehicle insurance policy that de…

A copy of each order entered by the Commission in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall be sent to every insurer and rate service organization affected by the order.

Whenever any insurer on a policy of liability insurance discovers a breach of the terms or conditions of the insurance contract by the insured, the insurer shall notify the claimant or the claimant's counsel of the breach. Notification shall be given within forty-five days after …

Whenever any insurer on a policy or contract of bodily injury or property damage liability insurance relating to the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle compromises, settles and discharges a claim made by a person other than the named insured that arose in connectio…

No insurance policy issued or delivered in this Commonwealth covering loss, expense, or liability arising out of the loss, maintenance, or use of an aircraft shall act to exclude or deny coverage because the aircraft is operated in violation of federal or civil regulations or any…

All medical malpractice claims settled or adjudicated to final judgment against a person, corporation, firm, or entity providing health care, and any such claim closed without payment during each calendar year shall be reported annually to the Commission by the insurer of the hea…

Pursuant to the authority granted in § 38.2-223, the Commission may issue regulations regarding claims-made liability insurance policies. These regulations may include, but are not limited to, (i) the pricing of extended reporting period coverage, (ii) provisions for installment …

Every insurer issuing a new or renewal policy of motor vehicle insurance, as defined in § 38.2-2212, which provides comprehensive or collision coverage, shall offer in writing to the named insured the option of purchasing rental reimbursement coverage.

A. Except as otherwise provided hereafter, insurers shall arbitrate and settle all disputed claims made for automobile physical damage between them in accordance with the terms of the Nationwide Intercompany Arbitration Agreement, or any successor thereto, as adopted and from tim…

A. Every insurer issuing a new or renewal policy or contract covering liability arising from the ownership, maintenance or use of a private pleasure watercraft shall offer, in writing, to the named insured the option of purchasing coverage for damages which the insured is legally…

Whenever an insurer who accepts payments of insurance in installments and has a set date for the payment of an installment unilaterally changes the due date for such installment payment, the insurer shall conspicuously disclose the new due date for the installment payment. This s…

A. Any insurer issuing or delivering a policy of motor vehicle insurance in this Commonwealth, as defined in § 38.2-2212, that uses credit information contained in a consumer report for underwriting, tier placement or rating an applicant or insured shall meet the following requir…

A. No insurance carrier authorized to issue policies as provided in this chapter shall add any person to the list of persons insured under a policy of motor vehicle insurance, as defined in § 38.2-2212, or to the household of a named insured for purposes of such policy based sole…

A. Legal services insurance may be offered in this Commonwealth subject to the following conditions: 1. Premium rates shall be made in accordance with Chapter 19 (§ 38.2-1900 et seq.) of this title. 2. No policy of legal services insurance may be delivered or issued for delivery …

This chapter applies to fidelity and surety insurance as defined in §§ 38.2-120 and 38.2-121.

The term "fidelity and surety insurer" means any company licensed to transact fidelity or surety insurance in this Commonwealth, and includes any company elsewhere designated or referred to in this Code as a guaranty, indemnity, fidelity, surety or security company.

No fidelity and surety insurer shall transact the business of fidelity insurance or surety insurance without first obtaining a license from the Commission to transact that class of insurance.

In applying the limitation specified in § 38.2-208 to fidelity and surety risks, the net amount of exposure on any single risk shall be considered to be within the prescribed limit if the fidelity and surety insurer is protected against losses in excess of the limit by: 1. Reinsu…

When the penalty of a suretyship obligation exceeds (i) the amount of a judgment described on the obligation as appealed from and secured by the obligation, (ii) the amount of the subject matter in controversy, or (iii) the amount of the estate held in trust by the person acting …

Any fidelity and surety insurer shall be accepted as surety upon any bond required by the laws of this Commonwealth or by any court, judge, public officer, board, or organization upon presentation of evidence satisfactory to the court, judge, or other officer authorized to approv…

Whenever a bond, undertaking, recognizance, guaranty, or similar obligation is required, permitted, authorized or allowed by any law of this Commonwealth, or whenever the performance of any act, duty or obligation, or the refraining from any act, is required, permitted, authorize…

Any person required to execute a bond, undertaking or other obligation may agree with his surety to deposit any or all assets for which he and his surety may be held responsible. The deposit shall be with a bank, savings bank, safe deposit company, or trust company authorized by …

Any court, judge or other officer whose duty it is to approve the account of any person required to execute a bond with surety shall, whenever a fidelity and surety insurer has become surety on the bond, allow a sum for the expense of obtaining the surety in the settlement of the…

Whenever the Commission revokes, suspends or otherwise terminates the license of any fidelity and surety insurer it shall immediately give notice of the revocation, suspension or termination to the Clerk of the Supreme Court of Virginia and each circuit court in the Commonwealth.

Whenever the Commission revokes, suspends or otherwise terminates the license of any property and casualty agent who is also a licensed surety bail bondsman, it shall immediately give notice of the revocation, suspension or termination to the Department of Criminal Justice Servic…

A. The Commission shall notify the Department of Criminal Justice Services of any action taken or investigation concerning any violation by a property and casualty agent who is also licensed as a surety bail bondsman of the prohibitions listed in this section within 30 days from …

Any fidelity and surety insurer shall be released from its liability on the same terms and conditions as are prescribed by law for the release of individuals. Any fidelity and surety insurer shall have all the rights, remedies and relief to which an individual guarantor, indemnit…

Any fidelity and surety insurer that executes any bond as surety under the provisions of this chapter shall be estopped, in any proceedings to enforce the liability it has assumed, to deny its power to execute the bond or assume the liability.

Any suit or other civil proceeding may be instituted against any fidelity and surety insurer (i) at the place where it became surety or assumed any duty or obligation that may be the subject of suit or other civil proceeding; or (ii) at the place where the principal obligor for w…

A. Each power of attorney from a fidelity and surety insurer to an agent making the agent an attorney-in-fact to execute any bail bond as defined in § 19.2-119 in the name and on behalf of the insurer as surety, shall, unless the power of attorney is special and limited to one tr…

The power of an attorney-in-fact to bind the fidelity and surety insurer as surety within the authority conferred by a power of attorney recorded pursuant to subsection A of § 38.2-2416, shall, unless the power of attorney is otherwise limited, continue for the agency until the e…