As used in this chapter:

(a) “Policy” means an automobile liability, automobile physical damage, or automobile collision policy, or any combination thereof, delivered or issued for delivery in this state, insuring a single individual or individuals residing in the same household, as named insured, and under which the insured vehicles therein designated are of the following types only:

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(1) A motor vehicle of the private passenger or station wagon type that is not used as a public or livery conveyance for passengers, nor rented to others; or

(2) Any other four-wheel motor vehicle with a load capacity of 1,500 pounds or less; provided, however, that this chapter shall not apply to any of the following:

(A) Any policy issued under an automobile assigned risk plan.

(B) Any policy insuring more than four automobiles.

(C) Any policy covering garage, automobile sales agency, repair shop, service station, or public parking place operation hazards.

(3) A motorcycle.

(b) “Automobile liability coverage” includes only coverage of bodily injury and property damage liability, medical payments, and uninsured motorists coverage.

(c) “Automobile physical damage coverage” includes all coverage of loss or damage to an automobile insured under the policy except loss or damage resulting from collision or upset.

(d) “Automobile collision coverage” includes all coverage of loss or damage to an automobile insured under the policy resulting from collision or upset.

(e) “Renewal” or “to renew” means to continue coverage with either the insurer which issued the policy or an affiliated insurer, as defined in Section 1215, for an additional policy period upon expiration of the current policy period of a policy, provided that if coverage is continued with an affiliated insurer, it shall be the same or broader coverage as provided by the present insurer, and the insured shall be notified in writing at least 20 days prior to expiration of the current policy period of all of the following:

(1) That the insurer has determined that it will not offer renewal of the policy with the present insurer.

(2) That it is offering replacement in an affiliated insurer.

(3) That the insured may obtain in writing the reasons for the change in insurers if he or she requests in writing not later than one month following the expiration of the policy period the reason or reasons for the change in insurers. Any policy 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 this chapter be considered as if written for a policy period or term of six months. Any policy written for a term longer than one year, or any policy with no fixed expiration date, shall for the purpose of this chapter, be considered as if written for successive policy periods or terms of one year.

(f) “Nonpayment of premium” means failure of the named insured to discharge when due any of his obligations in connection with the payment of premiums on a policy, or any installment of such premium, whether the premium is payable directly to the insurer or its agent or indirectly under any premium finance plan or extension of credit.

(g) “Cancellation” means termination of coverage by an insurer (other than termination at the request of the insured) during a policy period.

(h) “Nonrenewal” means a notice by the insurer to the named insured that the insurer is unwilling to renew a policy.

(i) “Expiration” means termination of coverage by reason of the policy having reached the end of the term for which it was issued or the end of the period for which a premium has been paid.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 304, Sec. 1. (AB 2884) Effective January 1, 2017.)