(a) Every admitted insurer or insurer group licensed to sell automobile insurance shall provide consumers of personal automobile insurance, as described in Section 660, with a cost estimate for its lowest priced personal automobile insurance policy at the limits the consumer has requested and for which the consumer is eligible.

(b) The insurer shall meet this requirement by either or both of the following:

(1) Maintaining a toll-free telephone number available to consumers in any geographic area in which the insurer is authorized or approved to write business in California. Upon request, the insurer shall provide the consumer with a cost estimate, or shall refer the consumer to an insurer representative or insurance broker-agent who shall, upon request, provide such an estimate based upon information provided by the consumer. The insurer shall make this toll-free number available to the consumer by maintaining a listing in the toll-free telephone directory.

(2) Maintaining an Internet Web site where consumers can obtain a cost estimate online, or be referred to an insurer representative or insurance broker-agent who shall, upon request, provide the cost estimate based upon information provided by the consumer.

(c) Each insurer shall provide the toll-free number or the Internet Web site address, or both, to the commissioner, who shall make the information available on the department’s Internet Web site and through the department’s consumer toll-free telephone line.

(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 765, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)