West Virginia Automobile Insurance Plan ()

West Virginia Automobile Insurance Plan

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Plan Information

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the current revision dates for paper WV applications?

Private Passenger 9/08

Commercial 11/03

Garage 5/07

2. How do I order applications/manuals?

You can print a copy of the supply order form and mail along with a check or money order to the address shown, or you can call mail order management at (401)942-9799 to order using a credit card. Express mail delivery is also available. You may also download both the manual and applications from our website ( www.aipso.com/wv ).

3. How do I bind coverage?

A completed application, with check, that is mailed with a U.S. postmark no later than the next working day (excluding weekends and holidays) after the application is written will ensure that coverage is bound. See Sections 7.A. and 23 of WV Plan Manual for further mailing instructions.

4. What do I send to the Plan?

a) Two copies of the fully completed application or only the original if using EASi

b) Deposit check

c) Finance agreement if applicable

d) Declarations page if requesting assignment under household rule

e) Supplementary vehicle schedule if necessary

f) Form A (WV Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Protection Coverage Offer)

5. What kind of deposits are acceptable?

The deposit check must be either applicant's check, certified check, cashier's check, money order, or producer's check payable to the WVAIP for private passenger risks. If the applicant is a commercial risk, the deposit must be in the form of a certified check, bank check, or money order.

6. What payment options are available to the insured?

Either full annual premium or 25% deposit with 5 installments of 15%
or the advance premium payment option. Full annual premium is required on all financed applications. Refer to Sections 6 and 22 of the WV Plan Manual for further details.

7. Is it acceptable if the owner/100% driver has a learner's permit?

Yes, the Plan considers someone with a learner's permit to be a licensed operator and there need not be any other drivers listed on the policy.

8. Are applicants that are in the military required to hold a WV license/registration?

In order to be eligible for the Plan, persons in the military must either
have their vehicle registered in WV or be stationed in WV. And, as long as they hold a valid driver's license in one of the states or U.S. possessions,
they are eligible.

9. What do I do if I have a complaint against a company?

Complete a company complaint form which is available on our website in the Forms Library or you may call the Plan (804-217-9990) to have it mailed or faxed to you. Follow the instructions at the bottom of the form. A customer service assistant will review and record the complaint and take appropriate action to resolve the matter.

10. Do I charge points for a seatbelt violation?

No. The only equipment violation that is chargeable is improper brakes.

11. How long do I charge for points?

Points are charged on applicable convictions and accidents that occur during the experience period, which is the 36 months immediately preceding the effective date of coverage and/or date of renewal.

12. Does the plan offer rating discs or quotes?

Registered producers may access the Plan's private passenger rating engine at www.aipso.com/easi . The rating engine is integrated with the EASi private passenger mechanism and allows producers to calculate an estimated rate for certain private passenger risks. It is up to the individual producer to rate any policies not available to be rated by the EASi rater by using the WV Plan Manual or they may obtain a rating disc from an independent vendor.

13. How do I notify the Plan of a change of address?

We must receive something in writing including your tax id number, a telephone number, and your new address in order to update our files. You may mail or fax us this information.

14. How do I handle vehicle additions/deletions/changes?

A completed policy change request form along with check or money order must be mailed directly to the assigned company no later than the first working day after it is completed. However, if an assignment has not been made at the time the policy change request is completed, the policy change request and check or money order must be mailed directly to the Plan office so that it can be forwarded to the company once an assignment is made. See Sections 7.B and 23.C of the WV Plan Manual for complete details.

15. What are the eligibility requirements for a named non-owner policy?

The applicant must be a resident of the state who holds a valid operator's license and who does not own any vehicles titled in his/her name.

16. Are international licenses acceptable?

As long as the applicant is not a permanent resident of the state, international licenses are acceptable.

17. What if there is a title change during the policy period?

Any change in title would necessitate that a new policy be written. The original policy would have to be canceled and a new application would be submitted to the Plan with the corrected title.

18. If a commercial vehicle is added to a personal policy midterm, would this make the risk eligible for a CAIP assignment?

The company must initially accept the vehicle addition. The company then has the option of giving 45 days notice of cancellation or just non-renewing the policy. The producer would then complete a new application which would be assigned to a commercial carrier.

19. What are the maximum liability limits available through the plan?

100/300/50 or a combined single limit of $350,000 for CAIP risks unless higher limits are required by law or regulation. (See Sections 5 & 21 of the WV Plan Manual.)

20. What types of risks are eligible for physical damage coverage through the plan?

individually owned nonfleet private passenger vehicles provided the vehicle is not an antique and provided the auto does not have an original cost new in excess of $25,000.

light trucks

motorcycles

recreational trailers excluding coverage for trailers used as residences (See Section 17.C and 18.C of the WV Plan Manual.)

21. Is comprehensive available without collision?

No, these coverages are only offered together.

22. What are the Garage policy stipulations concerning effective dates?

Regardless of the date on which you may have been licensed as a dealer in WV, the license expires June 30 of the fiscal year. A new policy effective July 1 and a Dealer Certificate of Liability Insurance is required.

23. What happens when vehicles are registered in WV, but the headquarters of the company are located in another state?

For multistate operations, the state Plan in which the operating headquarters of the risk is located shall provide the insurance.

24. Can class change during the policy period?

Yes. Refer to Rule 8 of the WV Manual.

25. If you have one youthful operator who drives two vehicles, do you charge the youthful class for both vehicles?

No, you only charge the youthful class once. The youthful class should be equal to the number of youthful operators.

26. What if the business use class and youthful class both apply?

Always charge the highest rated class - in this case youthful.

27. Can coverage be bound with an impending storm?

Yes.

28. What should a producer do when he sells his business to a new agent?

The Plan is not involved with the transition process. The producer should complete a change of broker letter signed by himself and the new producer listing the new producer's address, telephone number, and tax identification number and send it to all companies servicing his current Plan business and to all insureds involved.

29. What is EASi?

EASi is a simple, cost effective way for producers registered by the Plan to complete and submit private passenger and commercial automobile application data electronically to the Plan via the Internet. The resulting electronic version of the completed application can be printed in the producer's office, signed, and mailed to the Plan together with the premium deposit payment and any other supporting documentation and/or forms required by the Plan. EASi is available to the West Virginia Plan's producers from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday at www.aipso.com/easi. Please note that those producers licensed to transact automobile insurance in West Virginia must be registered by the West Virginia Plan in order to have access to EASi. To register, producers must first complete an Application to Access EASi on the EASi website - www.aipso.com/easi. The completed application, accompanied by a copy of a valid producer's license, must be submitted to the West Virginia Plan by mail or fax (804-217-9950). Once the application is approved by the West Virginia Plan, the producer will receive a unique registration identification code and password with which to access EASi.

30. Can I view company assignment information online if I use EASi?

Yes, any producer who uses EASi to submit private passenger applications can view prior submissions for up to 400 days from the day an application is submitted online. When viewing a prior submission, if the application has been received and processed by the Plan, producers will be able to view the assigned company's name. You can visit our company directory online for a complete listing of company address and telephone numbers. To view assigned company information, the producer would logon to EASi and choose "Prior Applications". A list of that producer's EASi submissions for the last 30 days will appear and the producer can select a 400 days prior option as well. A link to the application will also be available and the producer has an option of reprinting the application.