Va. Code § 38.2-2202

Current with changes from the 2024 Legislative Session through ch. 778

Section 38.2-2202 - Required notice of optional coverage available

A. No new policy for insurance covering liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of any motor vehicle shall be issued or delivered in the Commonwealth unless there is enclosed with the policy, in boldface type, the following statement:

IMPORTANT NOTICE

IN ADDITION TO THE MINIMUM INSURANCE REQUIRED BY LAW, YOU MAY PURCHASE ADDITIONAL INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE NAMED INSURED AND FOR HIS RELATIVES WHO ARE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD WHILE IN OR UPON, ENTERING OR ALIGHTING FROM A MOTOR VEHICLE, OR THROUGH BEING STRUCK BY A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE NOT OCCUPYING A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND FOR OCCUPANTS OF THE INSURED MOTOR VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING HEALTH CARE AND DISABILITY BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR EACH ACCIDENT:

1. PAYMENT OF UP TO $2,000 PER PERSON FOR ALL REASONABLE AND NECESSARY EXPENSES FOR MEDICAL, CHIROPRACTIC, HOSPITAL, DENTAL, SURGICAL, PROSTHETIC AND REHABILITATION SERVICES, SERVICES PROVIDED BY AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES VEHICLE AS DEFINED IN § 32.1-111.1, AND FUNERAL EXPENSES RESULTING FROM THE ACCIDENT AND INCURRED WITHIN THREE YEARS AFTER THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, IF YOU DO NOT PURCHASE THE $2,000 LIMIT OF COVERAGE, YOU AND THE COMPANY MAY AGREE TO ANY OTHER LIMIT; AND

2. AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE LOSS OF INCOME UP TO $100 PER WEEK IF THE INJURED PERSON IS ENGAGED IN AN OCCUPATION FOR WHICH HE RECEIVES COMPENSATION, FROM THE FIRST WORKDAY LOST AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT UP TO THE DATE THE PERSON IS ABLE TO RETURN TO HIS USUAL OCCUPATION. SUCH PAYMENTS ARE LIMITED TO A PERIOD EXTENDING ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT.

IF YOU DESIRE TO PURCHASE EITHER OR BOTH OF THESE COVERAGES AT AN ADDITIONAL PREMIUM, YOU MAY DO SO BY CONTACTING THE AGENT OR COMPANY THAT ISSUED YOUR POLICY.

The insurer issuing the policy shall inform the insured by any reasonable means of communication of the approximate premium for the additional coverage.

B. No new policy of insurance covering liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of any motor vehicle shall be issued or delivered in the Commonwealth unless the following statement, printed in boldface type, is enclosed with the policy:

IMPORTANT NOTICE

YOU ARE ENTITLED TO PURCHASE UNINSURED/UNDERINSURED COVERAGE LIMITS EQUAL TO THE LIABILITY LIMITS ON YOUR MOTOR VEHICLE POLICY. HOWEVER, ANY ONE NAMED INSURED HAS THE RIGHT TO REDUCE THE LIMITS OF THE UNINSURED/UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE TO LESS THAN THE LIABILITY LIMITS ON THE POLICY BUT NO LOWER THAN THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LIMITS REQUIRED BY § 46.2-472O F THE CODE OF VIRGINIA. THE INSURER MAY REQUIRE THAT A REQUEST TO REDUCE COVERAGE BE IN WRITING. ONCE ANY ONE NAMED INSURED REDUCES THE POLICY LIMITS FOR UNINSURED/UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE BELOW THE POLICY'S LIABILITY LIMITS, THAT ELECTION IS BINDING ON ALL INSUREDS ON THE POLICY. LATER, IF YOU DESIRE TO INCREASE YOUR LIMITS, YOU MUST MAKE A SPECIFIC REQUEST TO YOUR INSURER. YOU MAY WANT TO PUT THIS REQUEST IN WRITING.

BEFORE REDUCING THE LIMITS OF THE UNINSURED/UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE, YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THAT THIS COVERAGE PROVIDES IMPORTANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT YOU ARE INJURED OR YOUR MOTOR VEHICLE IS DAMAGED DUE TO THE ACTIONS OF AN UNINSURED/UNDERINSURED MOTORIST.

C. No policy of insurance covering liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of any motor vehicle shall be issued, delivered, or renewed after July 1, 2023, in the Commonwealth unless the following statement, printed in boldface type, is enclosed with the policy:

IMPORTANT NOTICE

PREVIOUSLY, YOUR UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE PAID DAMAGES DUE TO AN INSURED AFTER ANY CREDIT OF THE BODILY INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY COVERAGE APPLICABLE TO THE INSURED'S DAMAGES HAD BEEN APPLIED.

THE LAW HAS BEEN AMENDED TO REQUIRE INSURERS TO PROVIDE UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE THAT PAYS ANY DAMAGES DUE TO AN INSURED IN ADDITION TO ANY BODILY INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY THAT IS APPLICABLE TO THE INSURED'S DAMAGES. THIS CHANGE MAY AFFECT YOUR PREMIUM.

YOU MAY ELECT TO REFUSE THIS CHANGE IN YOUR UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE.

AN ELECTION TO DECREASE YOUR UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE MUST BE IN WRITING. ONCE ANY ONE NAMED INSURED ELECTS TO DECREASE THE UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE, THAT ELECTION IS BINDING ON ALL INSUREDS ON THE POLICY. LATER, IF YOU DESIRE TO PURCHASE INCREASED UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE, YOU MUST MAKE A SPECIFIC REQUEST TO YOUR INSURER. YOU MUST PUT THIS REQUEST IN WRITING.

BEFORE ELECTING TO DECREASE YOUR UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE, YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THAT THIS COVERAGE PROVIDES IMPORTANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT YOU ARE INJURED OR YOUR MOTOR VEHICLE IS DAMAGED DUE TO THE ACTIONS OF AN UNDERINSURED MOTORIST.

Va. Code § 38.2-2202

1974, c. 607, § 38.1-380.2; 1977, c. 112; 1981, c. 245; 1982, cc. 450, 642; 1986, c. 562; 1987, c. 429; 1989, c. 243; 1992, c. 230; 2001, c. 564; 2015, cc. 502, 503; 2016, c. 558; 2022, c. 308.