The department shall not prohibit an insurer from electing to inspect physically a motor vehicle for purposes of issuing a policy for collision or comprehensive coverage. The inspection of the motor vehicle shall be at no cost to the insured. The information ascertained from that inspection may only be used to determine the extent of insurability for collision or comprehensive coverage for the motor vehicle. If an insurer elects to conduct an inspection prior to offering comprehensive and collision insurance pursuant to this section, the insurer shall inspect every motor vehicle for which coverage is requested if the vehicle was not previously insured under a policy of comprehensive and collision coverage. An insurer may exempt from this requirement new motor vehicles if a copy of the sales contract is delivered to the insurer within five business days of the purchase of the new motor vehicle. The inspection shall be done by the insurer or its agent, and shall be performed not more than 20 miles from the address where the vehicle is insured, and during normal business hours.

(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 210, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001.)