(a) Invoice.--At the time of application for original coverage and every renewal thereafter, an insurer must provide to an insured an itemized invoice listing the minimum motor vehicle insurance coverage levels mandated by the Commonwealth and the premium charge for the insured to purchase the minimum mandated coverages. The invoice must contain the following notice in print of no less than ten-point type:
The laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as enacted by the General Assembly, only require that you purchase liability and first-party medical benefit coverages. Any additional coverages or coverages in excess of the limits required by law are provided only at your request as enhancements to basic coverages.
The insurer shall provide the itemized invoice to the insured in conjunction with the declaration of coverage limits and premiums for the insured's existing coverages.
(b) Notice of tort options.--In addition to the invoice required under subsection (a), an insurer must, at the time of application for original coverage for private passenger motor vehicle insurance and every renewal thereafter, provide to an insured the following notice of the availability of two alternatives of full tort insurance and limited tort insurance described in section 1705(c) and (d) (relating to election of tort options):
The laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania give you the right to choose either of the following two tort options:
A. "Limited Tort" Option--This form of insurance limits your right and the rights of members of your household to seek financial compensation for injuries caused by other drivers. Under this form of insurance, you and other household members covered under this policy may seek recovery for all medical and other out-of-pocket expenses, but not for pain and suffering or other nonmonetary damages unless the injuries suffered fall within the definition of "serious injury," as set forth in the policy, or unless one of several other exceptions noted in the policy applies.
B. "Full Tort" Option--This form of insurance allows you to maintain an unrestricted right for yourself and other members of your household to seek financial compensation for injuries caused by other drivers. Under this form of insurance, you and other household members covered under this policy may seek recovery for all medical and other out-of-pocket expenses and may also seek financial compensation for pain and suffering or other nonmonetary damages as a result of injuries caused by other drivers.
If you wish to change the tort option that currently applies to your policy, you must notify your agent, broker or company and request and complete the appropriate form.
(c) Notice of premium discounts.--Except where the commissioner has determined that an insurer may omit a discount because the discount is duplicative of other discounts or is specifically reflected in the insurer's experience, at the time of application for original coverage and every renewal thereafter, an insurer must provide to an insured a notice stating that discounts are available for drivers who meet the requirements of sections 1799 (relating to restraint system), 1799.1 (relating to antitheft devices) and 1799.2 (relating to driver improvement course discounts).
(d) Additional information.--Upon an oral or written request, an insurer subject to this chapter shall provide to the requestor information on the requestor's cost to purchase from the insurer the minimum requested automobile insurance coverages under either of the two tort options described in subsection (b). These requirements shall include the request for and provision of information by telephone.
(Feb. 7, 1990, P.L.11, No.6, eff. imd.)
1990 Amendment. Act 6 added section 1791.1. Section 32 of Act 6 provided that section 1791.1 shall apply to all policies issued or renewed on and after July 1, 1990.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 17 - Financial Responsibility
Section 1701 - Short title of chapter
Section 1703 - Application of chapter
Section 1704 - Administration of chapter
Section 1705 - Election of tort options
Section 1711 - Required benefits
Section 1712 - Availability of benefits
Section 1713 - Source of benefits
Section 1714 - Ineligible claimants
Section 1715 - Availability of adequate limits
Section 1716 - Payment of benefits
Section 1717 - Stacking of benefits
Section 1718 - Exclusion from benefits
Section 1719 - Coordination of benefits
Section 1721 - Statute of limitations
Section 1722 - Preclusion of recovering required benefits
Section 1723 - Reporting requirements
Section 1724 - Certain nonexcludable conditions
Section 1725 - Rental vehicles
Section 1731 - Availability, scope and amount of coverage
Section 1732 - Limits of coverage (Repealed)
Section 1733 - Priority of recovery
Section 1734 - Request for lower limits of coverage
Section 1735 - Coverages unaffected by workers' compensation benefits (Repealed)
Section 1736 - Coverages in excess of required amounts
Section 1738 - Stacking of uninsured and underinsured benefits and option to waive
Section 1744 - Termination of policies
Section 1752 - Eligible claimants
Section 1753 - Benefits available
Section 1754 - Additional coverage
Section 1755 - Coordination of benefits
Section 1757 - Statute of limitations
Section 1771 - Court reports on nonpayment of judgments
Section 1772 - Suspension for nonpayment of judgments
Section 1773 - Continuation of suspension until judgments paid and proof given
Section 1774 - Payments sufficient to satisfy judgments
Section 1775 - Installment payment of judgments
Section 1781 - Notice of sanction for not evidencing financial responsibility
Section 1782 - Manner of providing proof of financial responsibility
Section 1784 - Proof of financial responsibility following violation
Section 1785 - Proof of financial responsibility following accident
Section 1786 - Required financial responsibility
Section 1788 - Neighborhood electric vehicles
Section 1791 - Notice of available benefits and limits
Section 1791.1 - Disclosure of premium charges and tort options
Section 1791.2 - Motorcycle marshals
Section 1793 - Special provisions relating to premiums
Section 1794 - Compulsory judicial arbitration jurisdiction
Section 1795 - Insurance fraud reporting immunity
Section 1796 - Mental or physical examination of person
Section 1797 - Customary charges for treatment
Section 1798 - Attorney fees and costs
Section 1798.1 - Extraordinary medical benefit rate
Section 1798.3 - Unfunded liability report
Section 1798.4 - Catastrophic Loss Benefits Continuation Fund
Section 1799 - Restraint system
Section 1799.1 - Antitheft devices
Section 1799.2 - Driver improvement course discounts
Section 1799.4 - Examination of vehicle repairs
Section 1799.5 - Conduct of market study