• New Seminar Dates for 2010! There will be only four in-person CAARP seminars conducted in 2010. The first seminar is scheduled for February 26, 2010, in Pasadena. To register check the CAARP 2010 Seminar Registration form located in the Forms Library. For those producers who wish to take the online courses, go to www.lunchtimece.com/CAARP and follow the website’s instructions.

The CALIFORNIA AUTOMOBILE ASSIGNED RISK PLAN (CAARP) was created in 1947 by the state legislature with the essential purpose to provide automobile liability insurance to those who "in good faith" are entitled to but are unable to procure such insurance through ordinary methods. The statute indicates a legislative intent to encourage drivers to seek insurance in the voluntary market using the assigned risk plan only as a last resort.

What is the Assigned Risk Plan? It is a processing center by which people who have trouble buying automobile insurance are put in touch with an insurance company which will insure them. From then on, the person and the certified producer communicate with the insurance company as if they had chosen the company. As part of the initial processing, the Plan makes financial responsibility filings with the Department of Motor Vehicles if requested on the application. If the insured or producer is having difficulty in getting the attention of the insurance company, we attempt to assist. When appropriate we will also assist insurance companies in communicating with insured and certified producers.

The assigned risk plan is not an insurance company. Its rates are recommended by CAARP's Advisory Committee and approved by the Department of Insurance. It is the Advisory Committee’s obligation to propose rates and run the Plan on a self-sustaining basis. The financial backing necessary to assume the risk comes from companies who are required by law to participate in the plan.

Applicants to the plan are divided among these insurance companies in proportion to the amount of automobile insurance business each company writes in the state. For example, a company which insures 10 percent of the cars in California's regular market insures 10 percent of the applicants to the assigned risk plan.

Only certified producers can submit applications to the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan. Any agent/broker with a California fire & casualty license can become a certified producer with CAARP. Agents/brokers must complete an application for CAARP certification and include a copy of their current California fire & casualty license.