RCW 48.18.292
Refusal to renew private automobile insurance
by insurer -- Change in amount of premium or deductibles.
(Effective until July 1, 2009.)
(1) Each insurer shall be
required to renew any contract of insurance subject to RCW 48.18.291 unless one of the following situations exists:
(a) The insurer gives the named insured at least twenty
days' notice in writing as provided for in RCW 48.18.291(1), that
it proposes to refuse to renew the insurance contract upon its
expiration date; and sets forth therein the actual reason for
refusing to renew; or
(b) At least twenty days prior to its expiration date, the
insurer has communicated its willingness to renew in writing to
the named insured, and has included therein a statement of the
amount of the premium or portion thereof required to be paid by
the insured to renew the policy, including the amount by which
the premium or deductibles have changed from the previous policy
period, and the date by which such payment must be made, and the
insured fails to discharge when due his obligation in connection
with the payment of such premium or portion thereof; or
(c) The insured's agent or broker has procured other
coverage acceptable to the insured prior to the expiration of the
policy period.
(2) Renewal of a policy shall not constitute a waiver or
estoppel with respect to grounds for cancellation which existed
before the effective date of such renewal.
(3) "Renewal" or "to renew" means the issuance and delivery
by an insurer of a contract of insurance replacing at the end of
the contract period a contract of insurance previously issued and
delivered by the same insurer, or the issuance and delivery of a
certificate or notice extending the term of a contract beyond its
policy period or term: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That any contract of
insurance with a policy period or term of six months or less
whether or not made continuous for successive terms upon the
payment of additional premiums shall for the purpose of RCW 48.18.291 through 48.18.297 be considered as if written for a
policy period or term of six months: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That any
policy written for a term longer than one year or any policy with
no fixed expiration date, shall, for the purpose of RCW 48.18.291
through 48.18.297, be considered as if written for successive
policy periods or terms of one year.
(4) On and after January 1, 1980, no policy of insurance
subject to RCW 48.18.291 shall be issued for a policy period or
term of less than six months.
(5) No insurer shall refuse to renew the liability and/or
collision coverage of an automobile insurance policy on the basis
that an insured covered by the policy of the insurer has
submitted one or more claims under the comprehensive, road
service, or towing coverage of the policy. Nothing in this
subsection shall prohibit the nonrenewal of comprehensive, road
service, or towing coverage on the basis of one or more claims
submitted by an insured.
[1985 c 264 § 19; 1981 c 339 § 17; 1979 ex.s. c 199 § 7; 1973 1st ex.s. c 152 § 3; 1969 ex.s. c 241 § 20.]
NOTES:
Severability -- Effective date -- 2008 c 217: See notes following RCW 48.03.020.
Application -- 1985 c 264 §§ 17-22: See note following RCW 48.18.290.
Severability -- 1973 1st ex.s. c 152: See note following RCW 48.05.140.
Construction -- 1969 ex.s. c 241 §§ 19-25: See note following RCW 48.18.291.
RCW 48.18.292
Refusal to renew private automobile insurance
by insurer -- Change in amount of premium or deductibles.
(Effective July 1, 2009.)
(1) Each insurer shall be required to
renew any contract of insurance subject to RCW 48.18.291 unless
one of the following situations exists:
(a) The insurer gives the named insured at least twenty
days' notice in writing as provided for in RCW 48.18.291(1), that
it proposes to refuse to renew the insurance contract upon its
expiration date; and sets forth therein the actual reason for
refusing to renew; or
(b) At least twenty days prior to its expiration date, the
insurer has communicated its willingness to renew in writing to
the named insured, and has included therein a statement of the
amount of the premium or portion thereof required to be paid by
the insured to renew the policy, including the amount by which
the premium or deductibles have changed from the previous policy
period, and the date by which such payment must be made, and the
insured fails to discharge when due his or her obligation in
connection with the payment of such premium or portion thereof;
or
(c) The insured's insurance producer has procured other
coverage acceptable to the insured prior to the expiration of the
policy period.
(2) Renewal of a policy shall not constitute a waiver or
estoppel with respect to grounds for cancellation which existed
before the effective date of such renewal.
(3) "Renewal" or "to renew" means the issuance and delivery
by an insurer of a contract of insurance replacing at the end of
the contract period a contract of insurance previously issued and
delivered by the same insurer, or the issuance and delivery of a
certificate or notice extending the term of a contract beyond its
policy period or term: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That any contract of
insurance with a policy period or term of six months or less
whether or not made continuous for successive terms upon the
payment of additional premiums shall for the purpose of RCW 48.18.291 through 48.18.297 be considered as if written for a
policy period or term of six months: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That any
policy written for a term longer than one year or any policy with
no fixed expiration date, shall, for the purpose of RCW 48.18.291
through 48.18.297, be considered as if written for successive
policy periods or terms of one year.
(4) On and after January 1, 1980, no policy of insurance
subject to RCW 48.18.291 shall be issued for a policy period or
term of less than six months.
(5) No insurer shall refuse to renew the liability and/or
collision coverage of an automobile insurance policy on the basis
that an insured covered by the policy of the insurer has
submitted one or more claims under the comprehensive, road
service, or towing coverage of the policy. Nothing in this
subsection shall prohibit the nonrenewal of comprehensive, road
service, or towing coverage on the basis of one or more claims
submitted by an insured.
[2008 c 217 § 17; 1985 c 264 § 19; 1981 c 339 § 17; 1979 ex.s. c 199 § 7; 1973 1st ex.s. c 152 § 3; 1969 ex.s. c 241 § 20.]
NOTES:
Severability -- Effective date -- 2008 c 217: See notes following RCW 48.03.020.
Application -- 1985 c 264 §§ 17-22: See note following RCW 48.18.290.
Severability -- 1973 1st ex.s. c 152: See note following RCW 48.05.140.
Construction -- 1969 ex.s. c 241 §§ 19-25: See note following RCW 48.18.291.