§ 33-6A-1 — Cancellation prohibited except for specified reasons; notice

(a) No insurer once having issued or delivered a policy providing automobile liability insurance for a private passenger automobile may, after the policy has been in effect for 60 days, or in case of renewal effective immediately, issue or cause to issue a notice of cancellation during the term of the policy except for one or more of the reasons specified in this section:

(1) The named insured fails to make payments of premium for the policy or any installment of the premium when due;

(2) The policy is obtained through material misrepresentation;

(3) The insured violates any of the material terms and conditions of the policy;

(4) The named insured or any other operator, either residing in the same household or who customarily operates an automobile insured under the policy:

(A) Has had his or her operator's license suspended or revoked during the policy period including suspension or revocation for failure to comply with the provisions of Chapter 17C, Article 5A of this code regarding consent for a chemical test for intoxication:Provided, That when a license is suspended for 60 days by the Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles because a person drove a motor vehicle while under the age of 21 years with an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, pursuant to subsection (l), section two of said article, the suspension may not be grounds for cancellation; or

(B) Is or becomes subject to epilepsy or heart attacks and the individual cannot produce a certificate from a physician testifying to his or her ability to operate a motor vehicle; or

(5) The named insured or any other operator, either residing in the same household or who customarily operates an automobile insured under such policy, is convicted of or forfeits bail during the policy period for any of the following reasons:

(A) Any felony or assault, involving the use of a motor vehicle;

(B) Any offense contained within §17C-5-1 of this code;

(C) Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or of any controlled substance or while having an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight;

(D) Leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident in which the insured is involved without reporting it as required by law;

(E) Theft of a motor vehicle or the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle;

(F) Making false statements in an application for a motor vehicle operator's license; or

(G) Three or more moving traffic violations committed within a period of twelve months, each of which results in three or more points being assessed on the driver's record by the Division of Motor Vehicles, whether or not the insurer renewed the policy without knowledge of all such violations. Notice of any cancellation made pursuant to this subsection shall be mailed to the named insured either during the current policy period or during the first full policy period following the date that the third moving traffic violation is recorded by the Division of Motor Vehicles.

(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, no insurer may cancel a policy of automobile liability insurance without first giving the insured thirty days' notice of its intention to cancel. Notice of cancellation shall either be sent by first class mail to the named insured at the address supplied on the application for insurance, or by email or other electronic means if at the request of the policyholder in accordance with the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as codified in chapter thirty-nine-a of this code, and shall state the effective date of the cancellation and provide a written explanation of the specific reason for the cancellation.

(c) If, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, an insurer cancels a policy of automobile liability insurance for the failure of the named insured to make payments of premium for the policy or any installment of the premium when due, then the insurer shall first give the insured at least fourteen days’ notice of its intention to cancel. Notice of cancellation shall be sent by first class mail to the named insured at the address supplied on the application for insurance, or by email or other electronic means if at the request of the policyholder in accordance with the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as codified in chapter thirty-nine-a of this code, and shall state the effective date of the cancellation and provide a written explanation of the specific reason for the cancellation. The notice period provided herein shall begin to run on the date mailed and payment shall be deemed accomplished by depositing in first class mail valid payment on or before the expiration date of the fourteen day notice period.

(d) If a named insured fails to make the initial payment of premium or any initial installment of the premium after the initial issuance of an automobile liability insurance policy, the insurance policy is voidable from the effective date and time the policy was issued:Provided, That the insurer shall send the insured written notice that the policy will be voided absent payment within ten days of any amounts due under the terms of the policy. Such notice shall either be sent by first class mail to the named insured at the address supplied on the application for insurance, or by email or other electronic means if at the request of the policyholder in accordance with the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as codified in chapter thirty-nine-a of this code, and shall explain the specific reason for the voidance.

Legislative History

2025 Reg. Sess., HB2871; 2016 Reg. Sess., SB330; 2009 Reg. Sess., SB631; 2004 Reg. Sess., SB166; 2000 Reg. Sess., HB4650; 1998 Reg. Sess., HB4220; 1996 Reg. Sess., HB4490; 1994 Reg. Sess., HB4020; 1982 Reg. Sess., SB288; 1981 Reg. Sess., SB386; 1967 Reg. Sess., SB30