California Property & Casualty Broker-AgentCalifornia LawEasy
A California Property & Casualty Broker-Agent is approached by a client whose homeowner's policy was non-renewed by their previous insurer. The client believes the non-renewal was unfair because they only had one minor claim in the past year. Under California law, an insurer must generally provide a written notice of non-renewal to the insured at least how many days before the expiration date of the policy?
- A60 days
- B45 days
- C15 days
- D30 days
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. 45 days
California Insurance Code requires insurers to provide a written notice of non-renewal to the insured at least 45 days before the policy's expiration date. This allows the insured sufficient time to find alternative coverage.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This timeframe is longer than the minimum required by law, though some insurers may provide more notice.
- C. This timeframe is too short for a non-renewal notice.
- D. This timeframe is incorrect; 30 days often applies to cancellation notices, not non-renewal.
Non-Renewal Notice Requirements
In California, an insurer must provide a written notice of non-renewal to an insured at least 45 days before the expiration date of a property or casualty policy.
- Applies to most personal lines property and casualty policies.
- Must be in writing and legally delivered.
- Allows insured time to seek new coverage.
Memory trick: Forty-five days, your policy's end, a new path to send.