(a) Each insurer licensed to write automobile liability or physical damage insurance policies in this state, as of July 1, 2004, may elect to issue all nonrenewal notices either pursuant to section four or section four-a of this article. Each insurer may notify the commissioner of its election any time after July 1, 2004, and shall remain bound by the election for a period of five years. For each subsequent five-year period each insurer shall notify the commissioner of its election to issue all nonrenewal notices either pursuant to section four or section four-a of this article.

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(1) If no election is made by July 1, 2004, then, until July 1, 2005, the insurer shall continue to issue all nonrenewal notices pursuant to the existing nonrenewal provisions in section four prior to the amendments enacted therein by the acts of the Seventy-Sixth Legislature during the second session, 2004.

(2) As of July 1, 2005, each insurer licensed to write automobile liability or physical damage insurance policies in this state, and that has not previously made an election under this section, shall elect to issue all nonrenewal notices either pursuant to section four or section four-a of this article. Each insurer which has not previously made an election must notify the commissioner of its election no later than July 1, 2005, and shall remain bound by the election for a period of five years. For each subsequent five-year period each insurer shall notify the commissioner of its election to issue all nonrenewal notices either pursuant to section four or section four-a of this article.

(b) An insurer that is not licensed to write automobile liability or physical damage insurance policies in this state, as of July 1, 2004, but becomes licensed to write such policies after that date shall, no later than two years after the date the insurer becomes licensed to write such policies, make an election to issue all nonrenewal notices either pursuant to section four or section four-a of this article, and shall notify the commissioner of its election. If the insurer elects to issue all nonrenewal notices pursuant to section four-a of this article, the total number of nonrenewals may not exceed the percentage limitations set forth in section four-a of this article. An insurer first becoming licensed to issue automobile liability and physical damage insurance policies in this state after July 1, 2004, shall be bound by its election for a period of five years, and for each subsequent five-year period shall notify the commissioner of its election to issue all nonrenewal notices either pursuant to section four or section four-a of this article.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, a named insured by restrictive endorsement may specifically exclude from automobile liability or physical damage insurance policy an operator who has violated the provisions of subdivision (6) or (7), subsection (b), section four of this article.