Section 771 Of Article 5.5. Insurance In Connection With Sales And Loans From California Insurance Code >> Division 1. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 5.5.
771
. Sections 770 and 770.1 shall not prevent:
(a) The exercise by any person engaged in such business of his
right to approve or disapprove, for reasonable cause, as determined
by appropriate regulatory authority, of the insurer selected to
underwrite the insurance, nor of his right to furnish such insurance
or to renew any insurance required by the contract of sale or trust
deed or other loan agreement if the borrower or purchaser shall have
failed to furnish the insurance or renewal thereof within such
reasonable time or form as may be specified in the sale or loan
agreement. The lender shall not refuse to accept insurance provided
by an acceptable insurer on the ground that such insurance provides
more coverage than is required in the sale or loan agreement, unless
the additional coverage consists of automobile, life or disability
insurance.
The Commissioner of Financial Institutions and the Commissioner of
Corporations, in conjunction with the Insurance Commissioner, shall
issue appropriate regulations defining "reasonable cause."
(b) Any lender from recommending to any borrower or prospective
borrower the placing of insurance with a specified insurer or through
a specified insurance agent or broker as long as such
recommendation, with respect to a sale of real property or a loan
upon the security of real property, clearly sets forth both the name
and the mailing address of the recommended insurer or insurance agent
or broker and does not violate the provisions of Section 770 or of
any other section of this code. On and after July 1, 1972, such
recommendation clearly setting forth the name and the mailing address
of the recommended insurer or insurance agent or broker, shall be in
writing.
(c) The free choice of insurance agent or broker by any borrower
or purchaser at any time, and he or she may revoke any designation of
insurance agent or broker at any time irrespective of the provisions
of any loan or purchase agreement or trust deed.
(d) The exercise of any person engaged in such business of his
right to furnish such insurance or to renew such insurance, and to
charge the account of the borrower or purchaser with the costs
thereof, if the borrower or purchaser fails to deliver to the lender
such insurance at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the
policy. If an insurance policy renewing or replacing, at expiration
time, the policy then in force is received by the lender less than 15
days prior to the expiration of the policy held by the lender, or if
an insurance policy procured by the borrower or purchaser is
subsequently substituted for that then in force, the lender may
impose a reasonable service charge as determined by the Insurance
Commissioner for the transaction, the payment of which charge by the
agent or broker is not a violation of any other provision of this
code. No service charges shall be imposed for normal insurance
changes made during the term of the policy.
(e) The commissioner is authorized to adopt a uniform statewide
schedule of permissive maximum charges for the substitution of
policies authorized in subdivision (d).