§ 56-2-126. Service contracts not to be construed as business of insurance.

TN Code § 56-2-126 (2019) (N/A)
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(a) The marketing, sale, offering for sale, issuance, making, proposing to make and administration of a service contract shall not be construed to be the business of insurance and shall be exempt from regulation as insurance pursuant to this title.

(b)

(1) For purposes of this section, “service contract” means a contract or agreement for a separately stated consideration for a specific duration to perform the service, repair, replacement or maintenance of property or indemnification for service, repair, replacement or maintenance, for the operational or structural failure due to a defect in materials, workmanship, or normal wear and tear, with or without additional provisions for incidental payment of indemnity under limited circumstances, including, but not limited to, towing, rental, road hazard and emergency road service. “Service contract” includes motor vehicle extended service contracts and agreements. Service contracts may provide for the service, repair, replacement, or maintenance of property for damage resulting from power surges and accidental damage from handling.

(2)

(A) For the purposes of this section, “service contract” also means a contract or agreement that provides one (1) or more of the following:

(i) The repair or replacement of tires or wheels on a motor vehicle damaged as a result of coming into contact with road hazards;

(ii) The removal of dents, dings, or creases on a motor vehicle that can be repaired using the process of paintless dent removal without affecting the existing paint finish and without replacing vehicle body panels, sanding, bonding, or painting;

(iii) The repair of chips or cracks in, or the replacement of, motor vehicle windshields as a result of damage caused by road hazards; or

(iv) The replacement of a motor vehicle key or key-fob in the event that the key or key-fob becomes inoperable or is lost or stolen.

(B) For purposes of subdivision (b)(2)(A), “road hazard” means a hazard that is encountered while driving a motor vehicle, which may include potholes, rocks, wood debris, metal parts, glass, plastic, curbs, or composite scraps.

(c) A contract excluded from the definition of a “pre-need funeral contract” pursuant to § 62-5-403(9)(C) is not a contract of insurance within the meaning of this title.