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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>80121</law_id><section_number>38.2-2208</section_number><catch_line>Notices of cancellation of or refusal to renew motor vehicle insurance policies</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>38.2-2212</reference><reference>38.2-2212.1</reference><reference>38.2-325</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="38.2">Insurance</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="22">Liability Insurance Policies</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> No written notice of cancellation or refusal to renew that is mailed or delivered electronically by an <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> to an insured in accordance with the provisions of a motor vehicle <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> policy shall be effective unless the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> complies with the applicable provisions of subdivisions 1, 2, and 3: <a id="paragraph-286894" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-2208/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> If the notice is mailed, proof of mailing a notice of cancellation or refusal to renew shall be obtained using one of the following methods that demonstrates the date that the notice was sent to the named insured at the address stated in the policy or to the named insured&#x2019;s last known address:
				a. The notice is sent by: <a id="paragraph-286895" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-2208/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A11" class="indent-2"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Registered mail; <a id="paragraph-286896" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-2208/#A11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A12" class="indent-2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Certified mail; or <a id="paragraph-286897" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-2208/#A12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A13" class="indent-2"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Any other similar first-class mail tracking method used or approved by the United <span class="dictionary">States</span> Postal Service, including Intelligent Mail barcode Tracing (IMb Tracing); or
					b. The notice is sent by another method of mailing for which a certificate of mailing is obtained from the United <span class="dictionary">States</span> Postal Service at the time the notice is accepted for mailing. A certificate of mailing from the United <span class="dictionary">States</span> Postal Service does not include a certificate of bulk mailing. <a id="paragraph-286898" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-2208/#A13"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> If such notice is delivered electronically, the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> retains <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of electronic transmittal or receipt of the notification for at least one year from the date of the transmittal. <a id="paragraph-286899" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-2208/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> If the notice is mailed, the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> retains a copy of the notice of cancellation or refusal to renew for at least one year from the date such action was effective. If the notice is mailed, proof of mailing from the United <span class="dictionary">States</span> Postal Service consistent with the mailing method utilized by the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> shall be maintained for one year from the date the cancellation or nonrenewal notice is effective. <a id="paragraph-286900" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-2208/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> 1. If the terms of the policy require the notice of cancellation or refusal to renew to be given to any lienholder, then the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> shall mail such notice and retain a copy of the notice in the manner required by subsection A. If the notices sent to the insured and the lienholder are part of the same form, the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> may retain a single copy of the notice. Proof of mailing from the United <span class="dictionary">States</span> Postal Service consistent with the mailing method utilized by the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> shall be maintained for one year from the date the cancellation or nonrenewal notice is effective. <a id="paragraph-286901" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-2208/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision B 1, if the terms of the policy require the notice of cancellation or refusal to renew to be given to any lienholder, the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> and lienholder may agree by separate agreement that such notices may be transmitted electronically, provided that the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> and lienholder agree upon the specifics for transmittal and acknowledgment of notification. <span class="dictionary">Evidence</span> of transmittal or receipt of the notification required by this subsection shall be retained by the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> for at least one year from the date of termination. <a id="paragraph-286902" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-2208/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> &#x201C;Copy,&#x201D; as used in this section, includes photographs, microphotographs, photostats, microfilm, microcard, printouts or other reproductions of electronically stored data or copies from optical disks, electronically transmitted facsimiles, or any other reproduction of an original from a process that forms a durable medium for its recording, storing, and reproducing. <a id="paragraph-286903" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-2208/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1954, c. 263, &#xA7; 38.1-381.1; 1960, c. 127; 1975, c. 164; 1983, c. 371; 1986, c. 562; 1992, c. 160; 2000, c. 529; 2003, c. 387; 2009, c. 215; 2013, c. 257; 2015, cc. 9, 443; 2016, cc. 4, 71.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
