Yes, you DID just fill out a bunch of paperwork a few months ago for your auto insurance renewal, and it is time to do it again!
When the California Auto Reform was signed into law and took effect on 7/2/2020, the State of California’s Department of Insurance decided that they wanted clients to complete the paperwork for the PIP (Personal Injury Protection) and BI (Bodily Injury Limits) every single renewal date.
That means if you have a 6-month policy, you will be receiving that paperwork twice a year to complete and of course only once a year for annual auto policies.
If you do NOT return the paperwork, the Department of Insurance requires that all companies writing auto insurance in California automatically renew your auto policy with Unlimited Medical (what we all were required to have prior to the Reform), as well as $250,000 per person/$500,000 per accident Bodily Injury limits.
Personally, as an agent with over 33 years of experience in California writing coverage, I was hoping that they would only require signed forms once every 3 or so years, but for now, it is on every renewal date and again, is the Department of Insurance’s requirement, not the carrier, company, or the agency you are with.
We have had clients already calling to ask why they are receiving all this again and a few of them simply do not recall what they signed up for the last renewal. Due to this, we would recommend that perhaps you keep in your auto insurance file, a copy of the paperwork that you are completing so you can reference it when you get it again on your future renewals.
If you do not really understand what changed in the law or have not received proper assistance from a knowledgeable insurance agent, do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are in business to take care of people and that includes educating the public at large if they are not receiving the advice and help that they need to make the decisions that are best for them, their families, and their insurance budget. As always, we are simply a phone call, text, or email away.