California Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations — Verbatim Text (Property Provisions) and Practical Guide
The verbatim text of the property-relevant provisions of 10 CCR §§ 2695.1–2695.14, the California Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations, with history, enforcement, interplay with the Standard Fire Policy, and how practitioners use them. A reference for policyholders, Public Adjusters, and attorneys.
By Leland Coontz III, Licensed Public Adjuster · June 7, 2026
This Article Is Not Legal Advice
This article is educational commentary by a Licensed California Public Adjuster. It is not legal advice. The regulations reproduced below have been transcribed from the California Department of Insurance and Cornell Legal Information Institute publications. For any specific claim or legal question, verify the current text against the California Department of Insurance’s official publication at insurance.ca.gov and consult a licensed California attorney.
California’s Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations — codified at Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, sections 2695.1 through 2695.14 — are the rules every insurance company doing business in California must follow when handling claims. They establish deadlines, documentation requirements, disclosure obligations, and prohibited practices. They apply to every line of insurance and every type of claim except for narrow categories carved out by the regulations themselves. They are why a California claims department has to respond, acknowledge, investigate, decide, and pay on a defined schedule.
This article serves two purposes. The first is to provide the verbatim full text of each section on a single page so a policyholder, Public Adjuster, or attorney can cite them precisely without hunting through the Department of Insurance website. The second is to explain the practical context: where these regulations came from, how they interact with the Insurance Code, who enforces them, and why a public adjuster citing a specific subsection in a letter often moves a stalled claim.
A Short History of the Fair Claims Regulations
California Insurance Code section 790.03(h) was added in 1959 as part of the Unfair Insurance Practices Act, originally modeled on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ model act. The statute enumerated sixteen specific claims settlement practices that, when knowingly committed or performed with such frequency as to indicate a general business practice, are unfair. The statute established the substantive prohibition but did not say what compliance with each prohibition actually looked like in practice.
The Insurance Commissioner was authorized under section 790.10 to promulgate regulations interpreting and implementing section 790.03(h). The first version of the Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations was adopted in 1992 and has been amended substantially several times since. A significant rewrite occurred in 2003. Emergency amendments followed in 2009. Further amendments have been made as recently as the late 2010s and early 2020s, including provisions tailored to disaster-related claims handling.
The amendments matter for citation purposes. When subsections are added or reorganized, every letter downstream of the change shifts. A reference book or article published before a particular amendment can cite what is now an incorrect subsection letter for the same provision. That is why the regulations have to be verified against the current text every time a specific subsection is cited.
Statutes, Regulations, Case Law — Where the Regulations Fit
California insurance law has three sources: statutes enacted by the Legislature (primarily the Insurance Code), regulations adopted by the Insurance Commissioner under statutory authority (Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations), and case law interpreting both. The Fair Claims regulations sit in the middle layer. They are not enacted by the Legislature, but they have the force of law because the Legislature authorized the Commissioner to promulgate them.
Under California administrative law, quasi-legislative regulations adopted by an agency to which the Legislature has confided regulatory authority generally have the force of law. The California Supreme Court restated this principle in Yamaha Corp. of America v. State Bd. of Equalization(1998) 19 Cal.4th 1, 7–8, explaining that quasi-legislative regulations “may not be set aside unless the agency’s determination is plainly without reasonable foundation.” California Government Code section 11342.2 imposes the substantive limit: a regulation is “valid” only if it is “consistent and not in conflict with the statute and reasonably necessary to effectuate the purpose of the statute.” If a regulation went beyond what the enabling statute authorized, a court could invalidate it. Within those limits, however, a properly adopted regulation is binding on every party subject to the regulator’s authority — here, every insurer licensed in California.
Force of Law — in Plain English
The Fair Claims regulations have the force of law. An insurer that violates them violates a binding regulatory standard. But the question of whether a regulatory violation creates a private cause of action — whether a policyholder can sue directly under the regulation — is a separate question, addressed below in the discussion of Moradi-Shalal v. Fireman’s Fund.
Interplay with the Standard Fire Policy
California Insurance Code sections 2070–2071 set forth the Standard Fire Policy, the statutory form of fire insurance that every fire policy issued in California must conform to. Section 2070 requires that every fire insurance policy shall be in the standard form specified in the statute. Section 2071 sets out the actual policy form, including the suit-limitation clause, the appraisal clause, the proof-of-loss requirement, and the loss-settlement provisions.
The Standard Fire Policy is the floor. A carrier’s policy may add protections for the insured — broader coverage, more generous time limits, fewer exclusions — but it may not subtract from the Standard Fire Policy’s baseline. Where a carrier’s proprietary policy form attempts to impose a condition or limitation that conflicts with the Standard Fire Policy, the statute controls.
The Fair Claims regulations interact with the Standard Fire Policy in two practical ways. First, the regulations apply to the handling of a claim under any policy in California, including a Standard Fire Policy. The 40-day decision deadline, the 30-day payment deadline, the disclosure duty, and every other regulatory standard apply to a fire claim just as they apply to any other claim. Second, several regulatory standards reinforce or operationalize provisions in the Standard Fire Policy. The appraisal-procedure constraint in § 2695.9(e), for example, expressly cross-references Insurance Code § 2071, the Standard Fire Policy’s appraisal clause.
Who Enforces the Regulations
The California Department of Insurance (CDI), headed by the elected Insurance Commissioner, enforces the Fair Claims regulations. Enforcement runs through several mechanisms.
Market conduct examinationsare scheduled examinations of an insurer’s claims handling practices. CDI examiners review a sample of claim files, evaluate compliance with each regulatory standard, and issue findings. Patterns of non-compliance can result in formal enforcement action, including administrative fines, mandated corrective action plans, and in extreme cases license restrictions.
Consumer complaintsare CDI’s most common enforcement trigger. A policyholder who believes an insurer has violated the regulations may file a complaint with the Department, which investigates and, depending on the circumstances, mediates a resolution, issues a formal finding of violation, or refers the matter for administrative enforcement. See our guide on filing a CDI complaint.
Administrative penaltiesare addressed in § 2695.12 and in Insurance Code § 790.035, which sets maximum civil penalties of $5,000 per act for unintentional violations and $10,000 per act for willful violations. The Commissioner determines penalty amounts based on the fourteen factors listed in § 2695.12(a), including the willfulness of the conduct, prior violations, remedial measures, and the harm caused.
These penalties are payable to the State of California, not to the policyholder whose claim was mishandled. Under Moradi-Shalal v. Fireman’s Fund Insurance Companies(1988) 46 Cal.3d 287, there is no private right of action under § 790.03 or the regulations promulgated under it, so a regulatory violation does not by itself give the insured a direct lawsuit for damages. What the violation does for the insured is supply leverage in the claim and, if the dispute escalates, supply evidence in a separate common-law bad-faith action or other independently actionable theory pursued by coverage counsel.
CDI Bulletins and Notices — The Layer Between Regulation and Enforcement
Beyond the formal regulations, the Department of Insurance issues frequent guidance documents commonly called bulletins or, more formally, notices. These are not themselves regulations. They are the Commissioner’s interpretation of how existing regulatory standards apply to particular situations: post-wildfire smoke-damage claims, COVID-19 business interruption claims, post-mudslide coverage analysis, ALE handling during prolonged displacement, and many others.
Bulletins do not have the force of law in the same way a properly adopted regulation does. A bulletin cannot create a new substantive obligation. But bulletins do represent the Commissioner’s announced enforcement position, and an insurer that ignores a bulletin on a particular topic increases its regulatory exposure. In a CDI complaint or market conduct exam, the Department will weigh whether the carrier’s handling was consistent with the Department’s published guidance on that topic.
Examples include the 2025 CDI bulletin on flood, mudslide, and earth movement claims following wildfires; the post-2017–2018 wildfire bulletins on ALE handling and advance payments; and various smoke-damage and wildfire-related coverage guidance documents. Public adjusters and plaintiff attorneys cite these bulletins alongside the formal regulations when pressing a carrier on a specific issue.
How Public Adjusters and Plaintiff Attorneys Use the Regulations
For a public adjuster representing a policyholder, the Fair Claims regulations are the working framework of nearly every carrier interaction. A demand letter might cite § 2695.7(b) for the 40-day decision deadline, § 2695.5(e) for the 15-day acknowledgment requirement, § 2695.4(a) for the affirmative disclosure duty, and § 2695.9(a)(2) for the matching requirement. The regulation citations do several practical things at once.
First, they signal that the policyholder’s representative knows the rules. A carrier that receives a letter citing the specific subsection it is violating will often respond differently than to a generic complaint. Second, they create a documented record. Each cite, each missed deadline, each unanswered request is evidence the Department of Insurance can examine if a complaint is later filed. Third, they preserve the issue for litigation. If the dispute eventually reaches court, every documented regulatory violation becomes evidence of unreasonable claims handling.
Plaintiff attorneys use the regulations similarly in correspondence and in court. Demand letters frequently catalog each regulatory violation the carrier has committed during the life of the claim. In trial, regulatory violations may be admitted, subject to the usual rules on pleading, foundation, relevance, and Evidence Code objections, as evidence of unreasonable conduct and of failure to meet the trade standards governing claims handling, and, where otherwise supported by the facts and law, may be argued in connection with bad-faith damages issues.
Not every regulatory violation translates into harm an insured can recover for. A carrier can breach the 15-day acknowledgment requirement under § 2695.5(e), or any of several other procedural standards, and still pay the claim in full and on time. In that situation the procedural violation existed but the insured has no damages flowing from it, and the violation by itself is unlikely to support a lawsuit. The violations that matter most for an individual claim are the ones tied to underpayment, denial, or delayed payment — the violations the insured can point to as the cause of measurable harm.
Even violations that did not directly cost the insured anything can still matter as pattern evidence. A series of procedural violations in a single file can reflect a carrier’s recklessness or institutional disregard for the regulatory framework. That kind of pattern can be relevant when a jury evaluates overall reasonableness in a bad-faith case, and it is the kind of pattern the Department of Insurance examines in market conduct examinations, where the inquiry is about the carrier’s claims handling as a whole rather than the damages on any one file.
Regulatory Violations Are Not “Bad Faith Per Se” — But They Are Strong Evidence
The California Supreme Court decided in Moradi-Shalal v. Fireman’s Fund Insurance Companies(1988) 46 Cal.3d 287 that there is no private right of action under Insurance Code § 790.03 for either first-party or third-party claimants. That decision overruled Royal Globe Insurance Co. v. Superior Court (1979) 23 Cal.3d 880, which had created a private cause of action. After Moradi-Shalal, a policyholder cannot sue an insurer directly under section 790.03 or the regulations promulgated under it. A claim has to be brought, if at all, under a different theory — most commonly breach of contract and common-law bad faith (breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing), and in some cases an Unfair Competition Law claim under Business & Professions Code § 17200. The California Supreme Court in Zhang v. Superior Court (2013) 57 Cal.4th 364 confirmed Moradi-Shalal’s bar on direct private enforcement of § 790.03 but held that a policyholder may pursue a UCL claim based on conduct that is independently actionable under another body of law, even where that conduct also violates the UIPA. Zhangdoes not allow a plaintiff to use § 790.03 itself as the basis for a UCL claim — that would simply recreate the private right of action Moradi-Shalal eliminated.
That does not mean the regulations are toothless in private litigation. They remain enforceable by the Insurance Commissioner through the administrative mechanisms above, and a documented regulatory violation may be admissible in court as evidence in a bad faith claim brought under the common law breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, subject to the usual rules on pleading, foundation, and relevance. The bad faith claim itself rests on contract and tort principles. Whether the insurer’s conduct was reasonable is the central question, and a documented regulatory violation is among the most persuasive forms of evidence that the conduct was unreasonable.
Courts have framed this in several ways. Regulatory violations are evidence of the trade standards that govern reasonable claims handling. They may help rebut a carrier’s assertion of good faith under the genuine dispute doctrine. Where they are admitted into evidence at trial, juries evaluating bad faith under the California Civil Jury Instructions (CACI 2330 et seq.) commonly hear regulatory standards argued alongside the bad-faith reasonableness standard. Testimony that explains a carrier’s non-compliance with a specific regulatory standard can be significant evidence for a jury evaluating reasonableness.
The Key Distinction
A regulatory violation is not by itself bad faith. The plaintiff still has to prove the elements of a bad faith claim: a contract, a duty to act reasonably, conduct that was unreasonable under the circumstances, and resulting damages. But a documented regulatory violation is among the strongest single pieces of evidence on the unreasonableness element. That is the practical reason every experienced California claims practitioner — on both sides — takes these regulations seriously.
Why Citations Must Be Verified Against the Current Text
The Fair Claims regulations have been amended repeatedly since 1992. When a new subsection is inserted in the middle of a section, every subsection letter downstream of the insertion shifts. An older article that cited § 2695.5(b) for a particular requirement may be citing what is now § 2695.5(e) after a later amendment.
This kind of drift is the most common source of incorrect citations in published material. A practitioner pulls a citation from a 2010 secondary source, copies it into a 2023 letter, and the carrier’s coverage counsel responds that the cited subsection does not say what the letter claims. The substantive provision is still there but has moved to a different subsection letter. The citation should be corrected promptly so the underlying regulatory point is not obscured by an avoidable formal error.
Every citation in this article’s verbatim text below was verified against Cornell Legal Information Institute’s publication of the California Code of Regulations and cross-checked against the CDI’s published version as of the date noted in the verification section at the bottom of the article. Anyone using these citations in a letter or pleading should re-verify against the canonical source before relying on them.
The canonical source is the Department of Insurance’s own publication of the regulations at insurance.ca.gov. The official California Code of Regulations published by the Office of Administrative Law is also authoritative. Cornell’s Legal Information Institute (law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/10-CCR-2695) is a clean secondary source.
The Verbatim Text of 10 CCR §§ 2695.1 – 2695.14 (Property Provisions)
The text below reproduces the property-relevant provisions of the Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations. The automobile-specific sections (§§ 2695.8, 2695.8.1, 2695.8.2, and 2695.8.5) are outside the scope of this property-focused site and are linked to authoritative sources below. Section 2695.2 (Definitions) reproduces the four most frequently cited definitions verbatim and lists the remaining twenty-one defined terms by name with a pointer to the CDI primary source for the full text.
§ 2695.1 — Preamble
10 CCR § 2695.1
(a) Section 790.03(h) of the California Insurance Code enumerates sixteen claims settlement practices that, when either knowingly committed on a single occasion, or performed with such frequency as to indicate a general business practice, are considered to be unfair claims settlement practices and are, thus, prohibited by this section of the California Insurance Code. The Insurance Commissioner has promulgated these regulations in order to accomplish the following objectives:
(1) To delineate certain minimum standards for the settlement of claims which, when violated knowingly on a single occasion or performed with such frequency as to indicate a general business practice shall constitute an unfair claims settlement practice within the meaning of Insurance Code Section 790.03(h);
(2) To promote the good faith, prompt, efficient and equitable settlement of claims on a cost effective basis;
(3) To discourage and monitor the presentation to insurers of false or fraudulent claims; and,
(4) To encourage the prompt and thorough investigation of suspected fraudulent claims and ensure the prompt and comprehensive reporting of suspected fraudulent claims as required by Insurance Code Section 1872.4.
(b) These regulations are not meant to provide the exclusive definition of all unfair claims settlement practices. Other methods, act(s), or practices not specifically delineated in this set of regulations may also be unfair claims settlement practices and subject to California Insurance Code Section 790.03(h) and/or California Insurance Code Section 790.06. These regulations are applicable to the handling or settlement of all claims subject to Article 6.5 of Division 1, Part 2, Chapter 1 of the California Insurance Code, commencing with Section 790, except as specifically provided below:
(1)Workers’ compensation insurance;
(2) Liability insurance for the professional malpractice of health care providers as defined in California Code of Civil Procedure Section 364(f)(1);
(3)Self insured or self funded plans which are bona fide Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) plans which are not also multiple employer welfare arrangements, to the extent that these ERISA plans are not covered by insurance;
(4) Any other self funded or self insured plan, to the extent it is not covered by insurance, which is lawfully conducting business in this state.
(c) In recognition of both the unique relationship which exists under a surety bond between the surety, the obligee or beneficiary, and the principal, and the fact that the processing of surety claims is subject to the Unfair Practices Act, beginning with California Insurance Code Section 790, only sections 2695.1 through 2695.6, inclusive, section 2695.10, and sections 2695.12, 2695.13 and 2695.14, inclusive, shall apply to the handling or settlement of claims brought under surety bonds.
(d) These regulations apply to home protection contracts and home protection companies defined in California Insurance Code Section 12740.
(e) All licensees, as defined in these regulations, shall have thorough knowledge of the regulations contained in this subchapter.
(f) Policy provisions relating to the investigation, processing and settlement of claims shall be consistent with or more favorable to the insured than the provisions of these regulations.
(g)The California Insurance Code provides the commissioner with access to all records of an insurer and the power to examine the affairs of every person engaged in the business of insurance to determine if such person is engaged in any unfair or deceptive act or practice. California Insurance Code Section 790.03(h) requires all persons engaged in the business of insurance to effectuate prompt, fair and equitable settlements of claims and to otherwise process claims in a fair and reasonable manner. The Department considers the use of reliable information to be an essential element of the fair and equitable settlement of claims. The fact that information, data or statistical methods used or relied upon by a licensee to process or establish the value of insurance claims is obtained through a third party source shall not absolve the licensee of its legal responsibility to comply with these regulations or to effectuate prompt, fair and equitable settlements of claims. Failure of a licensee to provide the commissioner with requested information sufficient to examine the licensee’s claims handling practices may justify a finding that the licensee was in non-compliance with these regulations or other applicable insurance code provisions. Any and all information received pursuant to the Department’s request shall be given confidential treatment, as provided in California Insurance Code section 735.5 and California Government Code Section 11180 et seq. When processing or establishing the value of a claim, a licensee shall not be responsible for the accuracy of information provided by a governmental entity, unless the licensee has discovered or been notified of the inaccuracy and has continued to use the information.
§ 2695.2 — Definitions
Section 2695.2 supplies the definitions used throughout the regulations. Twenty-five defined terms cover the parties, the time concepts, and the operative phrases. The most frequently litigated definitions are reproduced verbatim below. For the full text of every defined term, see the CDI primary source.
10 CCR § 2695.2 — Selected Definitions (Verbatim)
(f) First party claimant means any person asserting a right under an insurance policy as a named insured, other insured or beneficiary under the terms of that insurance policy, and including any person seeking recovery of uninsured motorist benefits.
(k) Investigation means all activities of an insurer or its claims agent related to the determination of coverage, liabilities, or nature and extent of loss or damage for which benefits are afforded by an insurance policy, obligations or duties under a bond, and other obligations or duties arising from an insurance policy or bond.
(n) Notice of claimmeans any written or oral notification to an insurer or its agent that reasonably apprises the insurer that the claimant wishes to make a claim against a policy or bond issued by the insurer and that a condition giving rise to the insurer’s obligations under that policy or bond may have arisen. For purposes of these regulations the term “notice of claim” shall not include any written or oral communication provided by an insured or principal solely for informational or incident reporting purposes.
(s) Proof of claim means any evidence or documentation in the possession of the insurer, whether as a result of its having been submitted by the claimant or obtained by the insurer in the course of its investigation, that provides any evidence of the claim and that reasonably supports the magnitude or the amount of the claimed loss.
The remaining defined terms in § 2695.2 are: (a) Beneficiary, (b) Calendar days, (c) Claimant, (d) Claims agent, (e) Extraordinary circumstances, (g) Gross settlement amount, (h) Insurance agent, (i) Insurer, (j) Insurance policy/policy, (l) Knowingly committed, (m) Licensee, (o) Notice of legal action, (p) Obligee, (q) Person, (r) Principal, (t) Remedial measures, (u) Replacement crash part, (v) Single act, (w) Surety bond/bond, (x) Third party claimant, and (y) Willful or Willfully. The full text of each appears at the CDI primary source.
§ 2695.3 — File and Record Documentation
10 CCR § 2695.3
(a)Every licensee’s claim files shall be subject to examination by the Commissioner or by the Commissioner’s duly appointed designees. These files shall contain all documents, notes and work papers (including copies of all correspondence) which reasonably pertain to each claim in such detail that pertinent events and the dates of the events can be reconstructed and the licensee’s actions pertaining to the claim can be determined.
(b) To assist in such examination all insurers shall: (1) maintain claim data that are accessible, legible and retrievable for examination so that an insurer shall be able to provide the claim number, line of coverage, date of loss and date of payment of the claim, date of acceptance, denial or date closed without payment. This data must be available for all open and closed files for the current year and the four preceding years; (2) record in the file the date the licensee received, date(s) the licensee processed and date the licensee transmitted or mailed every material and relevant document in the file; and (3) maintain hard copy files or maintain claim files that are accessible, legible and capable of duplication to hard copy; files shall be maintained for the current year and the preceding four years.
(c)The requirements of this section shall be satisfied where the licensee provides documentation evidencing inability to obtain data, nonexistence of data, or difficulty in obtaining clear documentary support for actions due to catastrophic losses, or other unusual circumstances providing the licensee establishes to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that the circumstances alleged by the licensee do exist and have materially affected the licensee’s ability to comply with this regulation. Any licensee that alleges an inability to comply with this section shall establish and submit to the Commissioner a plan for file and record documentation to be used by such licensee while the circumstances alleged to preclude compliance with this subsection continue to exist.
§ 2695.4 — Representation of Policy Provisions and Benefits
10 CCR § 2695.4
(a) Every insurer shall disclose to a first party claimant or beneficiary, all benefits, coverage, time limits or other provisions of any insurance policy issued by that insurer that may apply to the claim presented by the claimant.
(b) No insurer shall misrepresent or conceal benefits, coverages, time limits or other provisions of the bond which may apply to the claim presented under a surety bond.
(c)No insurer shall deny a claim on the basis of the claimant’s failure to exhibit property, unless there is documentation in the file (1) of reasonable demand by the insurer, and unfounded refusal by the claimant, to exhibit property, or (2) of the breach of any policy provision providing for the exhibition of property.
(d) Except where a time limit is specified in the policy, no insurer shall require a first party claimant under a policy to give notification of a claim or proof of claim within a specified time.
(e) No insurer shall:
(1) request that a claimant sign a release that extends beyond the subject matter which gave rise to the claim payment unless, prior to execution of the release, the legal effect of the release is disclosed and fully explained by the insurer to the claimant in writing.
(2) be precluded from including in any release a provision requiring the claimant to waive the provisions of California Civil Code Section 1542 provided that, prior to execution of the release, the legal effect of the release is disclosed and fully explained by the insurer to the claimant in writing.
(f) No insurer shall issue checks or drafts in partial settlement of a loss or claim that contain or are accompanied by language releasing the insurer, the insured, or the principal on a surety bond from total liability unless the policy or bond limit has been paid, or there has been a compromise settlement agreed to by the claimant and the insurer as to coverage and amount payable under the insurance policy or bond.
(g) No insurer shall require a first party claimant or beneficiary to submit duplicative proofs of claim where coverage may exist under more than one policy issued by that insurer.
§ 2695.5 — Duties Upon Receipt of Communications
10 CCR § 2695.5
(a) Upon receiving any written or oral inquiry from the Department of Insurance concerning a claim, every licensee shall immediately, but in no event more than twenty-one (21) calendar days of receipt of that inquiry, furnish the Department of Insurance with a complete written response based on the facts as then known by the licensee.
(b) Upon receiving any communication from a claimant, regarding a claim, that reasonably suggests that a response is expected, every licensee shall immediately, but in no event more than fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of that communication, furnish the claimant with a complete response based on the facts as then known by the licensee.
(c) The designation specified in subsection 2695.2(c) shall be in writing, signed and dated by the claimant, and shall indicate that the designated person is authorized to handle the claim. All designations shall be transmitted to the insurer and shall be valid from the date of execution until the claim is settled or the designation is revoked. A designation may be revoked by a writing transmitted to the insurer, signed and dated by the claimant, indicating that the designation is to be revoked and the effective date of the revocation.
(d) Upon receiving notice of claim, every licensee or claims agent shall immediately transmit notice of claim to the insurer.
(e) Upon receiving notice of claim, every insurer shall immediately, but in no event more than fifteen (15) calendar days later, do the following unless the notice of claim is received within the period specified by law for proof of claim:
(1)acknowledge receipt of such notice to the claimant unless payment is made within that period of time. If the acknowledgement is not in writing, a notation of acknowledgement shall be made in the insurer’s claim file and dated. Failure of an insurance agent or claims agent to promptly transmit notice of claim to the insurer shall be imputed to the insurer except where the subject policy was issued pursuant to the California Automobile Assigned Risk Program.
(2) provide to the claimant necessary forms, instructions, and reasonable assistance, including but not limited to, specifying the information the claimant must provide for proof of claim.
(3) begin any necessary investigation of the claim.
(f) An insurer may not require that the notice of claim under a policy be provided in writing unless such requirement is specified in the insurance policy or an endorsement thereto.
§ 2695.6 — Training and Certification
10 CCR § 2695.6
(a) Every insurer shall adopt and communicate to all its claims agents written standards for the prompt investigation and processing of claims, and shall do so within ninety (90) days after the effective date of these regulations or any revisions thereto.
(b) All licensees shall provide thorough and adequate training regarding the regulations to all their claims agents. Licensees shall certify that their claims agents have been trained regarding these regulations and any revisions thereto. However, licensees need not provide such training or certification to duly licensed attorneys.
(1) Where the licensee is an individual, the licensee shall annually certify in writing under penalty of perjury that the licensee has read and understands the regulations and any and all amendments thereto.
(2) Where the licensee is an entity, annual written certification shall be executed under penalty of perjury by a principal confirming: (A) that the claims adjusting manual contains a copy of the regulations and amendments, and (B) that clear written instructions regarding the procedures to be followed to effect proper compliance with this subchapter were provided to all its claims agents.
(3) Where the licensee retains insurance adjusters as defined in California Insurance Code Section 14021, the licensee must provide training to the insurance adjusters regarding these regulations and annually certify, in a declaration executed under penalty of perjury, that such training is provided.
(4) Certification copies shall be maintained at all times at the principal place of business of the licensee, to be provided to the Commissioner only upon request.
(5) The annual certification required by this subsection shall be completed on or before September 1 of each calendar year.
§ 2695.7 — Standards for Prompt, Fair and Equitable Settlements
10 CCR § 2695.7
(a)No insurer shall discriminate in its claims settlement practices based upon the claimant’s age, race, gender, income, religion, language, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, or physical disability, or upon the territory of the property or person insured.
(b) Upon receiving proof of claim, every insurer, except as specified in subsection 2695.7(b)(4) below, shall immediately, but in no event more than forty (40) calendar days later, accept or deny the claim, in whole or in part. The amounts accepted or denied shall be clearly documented in the claim file unless the claim has been denied in its entirety.
(1)Where an insurer denies or rejects a first party claim, in whole or in part, it shall do so in writing and shall provide to the claimant a statement listing all bases for such rejection or denial and the factual and legal bases for each reason given for such rejection or denial which is then within the insurer’s knowledge. Where an insurer’s denial of a first party claim is based, in whole or in part, on a specific statute, applicable law or policy provision, condition or exclusion, the written denial shall include reference thereto and provide an explanation of the application of the statute, applicable law or provision, condition or exclusion to the claim.
(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection 2695.7(k), nothing contained in subsection 2695.7(b)(1) shall require an insurer to disclose any information that could reasonably be expected to alert a claimant to the fact that the subject claim is being investigated as a suspected fraudulent claim.
(3) Written notification pursuant to this subsection shall include a statement that, if the claimant believes all or part of the claim has been wrongfully denied or rejected, the claimant may have the matter reviewed by the California Department of Insurance, and shall include the address and telephone number of the unit of the Department which reviews complaints regarding claims practices.
(4) The time frame specified in subsection 2695.7(b) above shall not apply to claims arising from policies of disability insurance subject to Section 10123.13 of the California Insurance Code, disability income insurance subject to Section 10111.2 of the California Insurance Code, or mortgage guaranty insurance subject to Section 12640.09(a) of the California Insurance Code.
(c)
(1)If more time is required than is allotted in subsection 2695.7(b) to determine whether a claim should be accepted and/or denied in whole or in part, every insurer shall provide the claimant, within the time frame specified in subsection 2695.7(b), with written notice of the need for additional time. This written notice shall specify any additional information the insurer requires in order to make a determination and state any continuing reasons for the insurer’s inability to make a determination. Thereafter, the written notice shall be provided every thirty (30) calendar days until a determination is made or notice of legal action is served. If the determination cannot be made until some future event occurs, then the insurer shall comply with this continuing notice requirement by advising the claimant of the situation and providing an estimate as to when the determination can be made.
(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection 2695.7(k), nothing contained in subsection 2695.7(c)(1) shall require an insurer to disclose any information that could reasonably be expected to alert a claimant to the fact that the claim is being investigated as a possible suspected fraudulent claim.
(d) Every insurer shall conduct and diligently pursue a thorough, fair and objective investigation and shall not persist in seeking information not reasonably required for or material to the resolution of a claim dispute.
(e) No insurer shall delay or deny settlement of a first party claim on the basis that responsibility for payment should be assumed by others, except as may otherwise be provided by policy provisions, statutes or regulations, including those pertaining to coordination of benefits.
(f) Except where a claim has been settled by payment, every insurer shall provide written notice of any statute of limitation or other time period requirement upon which the insurer may rely to deny a claim. Such notice shall be given to the claimant not less than sixty (60) days prior to the expiration date; except, if notice of claim is first received by the insurer within that sixty days, then notice of the expiration date must be given to the claimant immediately. With respect to a first party claimant in a matter involving an uninsured motorist, this notice shall be given at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date; except, if notice of claim is first received by the insurer within that thirty days, then notice of the expiration date must be given to the claimant immediately. This subsection shall not apply to a claimant represented by counsel on the claim matter.
(g) No insurer shall attempt to settle a claim by making a settlement offer that is unreasonably low. The Commissioner shall consider any admissible evidence offered regarding the following factors in determining whether or not a settlement offer is unreasonably low:
(1) the extent to which the insurer considered evidence submitted by the claimant to support the value of the claim;
(2) the extent to which the insurer considered legal authority or evidence made known to it or reasonably available;
(3) the extent to which the insurer considered the advice of its claims adjuster as to the amount of damages;
(4) the extent to which the insurer considered the advice of its counsel that there was a substantial likelihood of recovery in excess of policy limits;
(5) the procedures used by the insurer in determining the dollar amount of property damage;
(6) the extent to which the insurer considered the probable liability of the insured and the likely jury verdict or other final determination of the matter;
(7) any other credible evidence presented to the Commissioner that demonstrates that (i) any amount offered by the insurer in settlement of a first-party claim to an insured not represented by counsel, or (ii) the final amount offered in settlement of a first-party claim to an insured who is represented by counsel, or (iii) the final amount offered in settlement of a third party claim by the insurer is below the amount that a reasonable person with knowledge of the facts and circumstances would have offered in settlement of the claim.
(h)Upon acceptance of the claim in whole or in part and, when necessary, upon receipt of a properly executed release, every insurer, except as specified in subsection 2695.7(h)(1) and (2) below, shall immediately, but in no event more than thirty (30) calendar days later, tender payment or otherwise take action to perform its claim obligation. The amount of the claim to be tendered is the amount that has been accepted by the insurer as specified in subsection 2695.7(b). In claims where multiple coverage is involved, and where the payee is known, amounts that have been accepted by the insurer shall be paid immediately, but in no event more than thirty (30) calendar days, if payment would terminate the insurer’s known liability under that individual coverage, unless impairment of the insured’s interests would result. The time frames specified in this subsection shall not apply where the policy provides for a waiting period after acceptance of claim and before payment of benefits.
(1) The time frame specified in subsection 2695.7(h) shall not apply to claims arising from policies of disability insurance subject to Section 10123.13 of the California Insurance Code, disability income insurance subject to Section 10111.2 of the California Insurance Code, or of mortgage guaranty insurance subject to Section 12640.09(a) of the California Insurance Code, and shall not apply to automobile repair bills subject to Section 560 of the California Insurance Code.
(2) Any insurer issuing a title insurance policy shall either tender payment pursuant to subsection 2695.7(h) or take action to resolve the problem which gave rise to the claim immediately upon, but in no event more than thirty (30) calendar days after, acceptance of the claim.
(i)No insurer shall inform a claimant that the claimant’s rights may be impaired if a form or release is not completed within a specified time period unless the information is given for the purpose of notifying the claimant of the applicable statute of limitations or policy provision or the time limitation within which claims are required to be brought against state or local entities.
(j) No insurer shall request or require an insured to submit to a polygraph examination unless authorized under the applicable insurance contract and state law.
(k) Subject to the provisions of subsection 2695.7(c), where there is a reasonable basis, supported by specific information available for review by the California Department of Insurance, for the belief that the claimant has submitted or caused to be submitted to an insurer a suspected false or fraudulent claim as specified in California Penal Code Section 550 or California Insurance Code Section 1871.4(a), the number of calendar days specified in subsection 2695.7(b) shall be:
(1) increased to eighty (80) calendar days; or,
(2) suspended until otherwise ordered by the Commissioner, provided the insurer has complied with California Insurance Code Section 1872.4 and the insurer can demonstrate to the Commissioner that it has made a diligent attempt to determine whether the subject claim is false or fraudulent within the eighty day period specified by subsection 2695.7(k)(1).
(l) No insurer shall deny a claim based upon information obtained in a telephone conversation or personal interview with any source unless the telephone conversation or personal interview is documented in the claim file.
(m) No insurer shall make a payment to a provider, pursuant to a policy provision to pay medical benefits, and thereafter seek recovery or set-off from the insured on the basis that the amount was excessive and/or the services were unnecessary, except in the event of a proven false or fraudulent claim, subject to the provisions of Section 10123.145 of the California Insurance Code.
(n) Every insurer requesting a medical examination for the purpose of determining liability under a policy provision shall do so only when the insurer has a good faith belief that such an examination is reasonably necessary.
(o) No insurer shall require that a claimant withdraw, rescind or refrain from submitting any complaint to the California Department of Insurance regarding the handling of a claim or any other matter complained of as a condition precedent to the settlement of any claim.
(p) Every insurer shall provide written notification to a first party claimant as to whether the insurer intends to pursue subrogation of the claim. Where an insurer elects not to pursue subrogation, or discontinues pursuit of subrogation, it shall include in its notification a statement that any recovery to be pursued is the responsibility of the first party claimant. This subsection does not require notification if the deductible is waived, the coverage under which the claim is paid requires no deductible to be paid, the loss sustained does not exceed the applicable deductible, or there is no legal basis for subrogation.
(q)Every insurer that makes a subrogation demand shall include in every demand the first party claimant’s deductible. Every insurer shall share subrogation recoveries on a proportionate basis with the first party claimant, unless the first party claimant has otherwise recovered the whole deductible amount. No insurer shall deduct legal or other expenses from the recovery of the deductible unless the insurer has retained an outside attorney or collection agency to collect that recovery. The deduction may only be for a pro rata share of the allocated loss adjustment expense. This subsection shall not apply when multiple policies have been issued to the insured(s) covering the same loss and the language of these contracts prescribe alternative subrogation rights. Further, this subsection shall not apply to disability and health insurance as defined in California Insurance Code Section 106.
§§ 2695.8, 2695.8.1, 2695.8.2, 2695.8.5 — Automobile Insurance
Sections 2695.8 (additional standards for automobile insurance), 2695.8.1 (the standardized auto body repair labor rate survey), 2695.8.2 (the questionnaire for that survey), and 2695.8.5 (the auto body repair consumer bill of rights) govern automobile insurance claims and are outside the scope of this property-focused site. A reader looking for the verbatim text of those sections can find it at several authoritative sources:
- California Department of Insurance, Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations index page: insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/130-laws-regs-hearings/05-CCR/fair-claims-regs.cfm
- California Office of Administrative Law, official California Code of Regulations: oal.ca.gov/publications/ccr
- Cornell Legal Information Institute (clean text, section-by-section): law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/10-CCR-2695.8 (and 2695.8.1, 2695.8.2, 2695.8.5)
§ 2695.9 — Additional Standards Applicable to First Party Residential and Commercial Property Insurance Policies
10 CCR § 2695.9
(a) When a residential or commercial property insurance policy provides for the adjustment and settlement of first party losses based on replacement cost, the following standards apply:
(1) When a loss requires repair or replacement of an item or part, any consequential physical damage incurred in making the repair or replacement not otherwise excluded by the policy shall be included in the loss. The insured shall not have to pay for depreciation nor any other cost except for the applicable deductible.
(2) When a loss requires replacement of items and the replaced items do not match in quality, color or size, the insurer shall replace all items in the damaged area so as to conform to a reasonably uniform appearance.
(b) No insurer shall require that the insured have the property repaired by a specific individual or entity.
(c) No insurer shall suggest or recommend that the insured have the property repaired by a specific individual or entity unless:
(1) the referral is expressly requested by the claimant; or
(2) the claimant has been informed in writing of the right to select a repair individual or entity and, if the claimant accepts the suggestion or recommendation, the insurer shall cause the damaged property to be restored to no less than its condition prior to the loss and repaired in a manner which meets accepted trade standards for good and workmanlike construction at no additional cost to the claimant other than as stated in the policy or as otherwise allowed by these regulations.
(d)If losses are settled on the basis of a written scope and/or estimate prepared by or for the insurer, the insurer shall supply the claimant with a copy of each document upon which the settlement is based. If the claimant subsequently presents the insurer with an estimate that exceeds the insurer’s written estimate, the insurer shall, within a reasonable period of time:
(1) pay the difference between its written estimate and a higher estimate obtained by the claimant; or,
(2) if requested by the claimant, promptly provide the claimant with the name of at least one repair individual or entity that will make the repairs for the amount of the written estimate. The insurer shall cause the damaged property to be restored to no less than its condition prior to the loss and which will allow for repairs in a manner which meets accepted trade standards for good and workmanlike construction at no additional cost to the claimant other than as stated in the policy or as otherwise allowed by these regulations; or
(3)reasonably adjust any written estimates prepared by the repair individual or entity of the insured’s choice and provide a copy of the adjusted estimate to the claimant.
(e) Once the appraisal provision under an insurance policy is invoked, the appraisal process shall not include any legal proceeding or procedure not specified under California Insurance Code Section 2071. Nothing herein is intended to preclude separate legal proceedings on issues unrelated to the appraisal process.
(f) When the amount claimed is adjusted because of betterment, depreciation, or salvage, all justification for the adjustment shall be contained in the claim file. Any adjustments shall be discernable, measurable, itemized, and specified as to dollar amount, and shall accurately reflect the value of any adjustments. Any adjustments for betterment, depreciation, or salvage shall be measurable. Where the insurer is depreciating either the structure or its contents:
(1) the expense of labor necessary to repair, rebuild or replace covered property is not a component of physical depreciation and shall not be subject to depreciation or betterment.
§ 2695.10 — Additional Standards Applicable to Surety Insurance
10 CCR § 2695.10
(a)No insurer shall base or vary its claims settlement practices, or its standard of scrutiny and review, upon the claimant’s age, gender, income, religion, language, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, or physical disability, or upon the territory of the property or person insured.
(b)As soon as possible, but in no event later than forty (40) calendar days after receipt by the insurer of proof of claim, and provided the claim is not in litigation or arbitration, the insurer shall accept or deny the claim, in whole or in part, and affirm or deny liability. Every insurer that denies or rejects a claim in whole or in part, or disputes liability or damages, shall provide to the claimant a written statement listing all bases for such rejection or denial, and the factual and legal bases for each reason given for each rejection or denial, which are within the insurer’s knowledge. If an insurer’s denial of a claim in whole or in part is based on a specific statute or specific bond provisions, the denial shall include reference thereto and provide an explanation of the application of the statute or bond provision to the claim. Written notification pursuant to this subsection shall also include a notification that the claimant may have the matter reviewed by the California Department of Insurance and shall provide the address and telephone number of the unit of the Department which reviews complaints regarding claims practices.
(1)A principal’s absence, non-cooperation, or failure to meet the bonded obligation shall not excuse unreasonable delay by the insurer in determining whether a claim should be accepted or denied.
(2)While an insurer may consider all information provided by a principal, absent reasonable factual and/or legal bases for denying a claim, no insurer shall deny a claim based solely upon a principal’s protest of a claim or denial of liability for a claim.
(c)In the event an insurer requires more time than is allotted in subsection 2695.10(b) to determine whether a claim should be accepted and/or denied, in whole or in part, the insurer shall provide the claimant with written notice of the need for such additional time within the time specified in subsection 2695.10(b). Such written notice shall specify the reasons for the need for such additional time, including specification of any additional information the insurer requires in order to make such determination. The insurer shall provide the claimant with written notice as to the continuing reasons for the insurer’s inability to make such a determination. Except in cases where extraordinary circumstances are present which materially affect the insurer’s ability to comply, such written notice shall be provided within 30 calendar days of the date of the initial notification, and every 30 calendar days thereafter until such determination is made or notice of legal action is received. If the determination cannot be made until some event, process, or third party determination is made, then the insurer shall comply with this requirement by advising the claimant of the situation and provide an estimate as to when the determination can be made.
(d) No insurer shall fail to pursue diligently an investigation of a claim, or persist in seeking information not reasonably required for or material to resolution of a claim dispute.
(e) No insurer shall deny a claim upon information obtained in a telephone conversation or personal interview with any source unless the telephone conversation or personal interview is documented in the claim file pursuant to the provisions of section 2695.3.
(f)Where the claim is to be settled by payment, and where neither the claim nor the amount is in dispute, such payment shall be tendered (1) within 15 calendar days following affirmation of liability where the insurer does not require the claimant to execute a release, or (2) within 15 calendar days following the insurer’s receipt of a release properly executed by the claimant, where such release is required by the insurer. Such release shall be provided to the claimant within ten (10) calendar days following affirmation of liability. Where multiple claimants are involved, payment shall be made pursuant to this subsection, provided such payment shall not increase the insurer’s liability, or impair the rights of other claimants under the bond.
(g) Except where a claim has been settled by payment, every insurer shall provide written notice of any statute of limitations or other time period requirement upon which the insurer may rely to deny a claim. Such notice shall be given to the claimant no less than sixty (60) days prior to the expiration date. If notice of claim is first received by the insurer within sixty (60) days of the expiration date and such date is known to the insurer, then notice of the expiration date must be given to the claimant immediately. This subsection shall not apply to a claimant represented by counsel on the claim matter or to a claim already time barred when first received by the insurer.
(h) No insurer shall attempt to settle a claim by making a settlement offer that is unreasonably low. The Commissioner shall consider any admissible evidence offered regarding the following factors in determining whether or not a settlement offer is unreasonably low:
(1) the extent to which the insurer considered evidence submitted by the claimant to support the value of the claim;
(2) the extent to which the insurer considered legal authority or evidence made known to it or reasonably available;
(3) the procedures used by the insurer in determining the dollar amount of damages;
(4) any other credible evidence presented to the Commissioner that demonstrates that the final amount offered by the insurer in settlement of a claim is below the amount that a reasonable person with knowledge of the facts and circumstances would have offered in settlement of the claim.
§ 2695.11 — Additional Standards Applicable to Life and Disability Insurance Claims
10 CCR § 2695.11
(a) No insurer shall seek reimbursement of an overpayment or withhold any portion of any benefit payable as a result of a claim on the basis that the sum withheld or reimbursement sought is an adjustment or correction for an overpayment made under the same policy unless:
(1)the insurer’s files contain clear, documented evidence of an overpayment and written authorization from the insured or assignee, if applicable, permitting the reimbursement or withholding procedure, or
(2)the insurer’s files contain clear, documented evidence pursuant to section 2695.3 of all of the following:
(A) The overpayment was erroneous under the provisions of the policy.
(B) The error which resulted in the payment is not a mistake of the law.
(C) The insurer notifies the insured within six (6) months of the date of the error, except that in instances of error prompted by representations or nondisclosure of claimants or third parties, the insurer notifies the insured within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date of discovery of such error. For the purpose of this subsection, the date of the error shall be the day on which the draft for benefits is issued.
(D) Such notice states clearly the cause of the error and states the amount of the overpayment.
(E) The procedure set forth above in (a)(2)(A) through (D) above may not be used if the overpayment is the subject of a reasonable dispute as to facts.
(b) With each claim payment, the insurer shall provide to the claimant and assignee, if any, an explanation of benefits which shall include, if applicable, the name of the provider or services covered, dates of service, and a clear explanation of the computation of benefits.
(c) An insurer may not impose a penalty upon any insured for noncompliance with insurer requirements for precertification of benefits unless such penalties are specifically and clearly set forth in writing in the policy or certificate of insurance.
(d) An insurer that contests a claim under California Insurance Code Section 10123.13 shall subsequently affirm or deny the claim within thirty (30) calendar days from the original notification. In the event an insurer requires additional time to affirm or deny the claim, it shall notify the claimant and assignee in writing. This notice shall be given within thirty (30) calendar days of the notice (required under Insurance Code Section 10123.13) that the claim is being contested and every thirty (30) calendar days thereafter until a determination is made or legal action is served. If the determination cannot be made until some future event occurs, the insurer shall comply with this continuing notice requirement by advising the claimant and assignee of the situation and providing an estimate as to when the determination can be made.
(e) When a policy requires preauthorization of non-emergency medical services, the preauthorization must be given immediately but in no event more than five (5) calendar days after the request for preauthorization. The preauthorization shall be communicated or confirmed in writing to the insured and the medical service provider, and shall explain the scope of the preauthorization and whether the preauthorization is or is not a guarantee of acceptance of the claim. In the event the preauthorization is denied, the reason(s) for the denial shall be communicated in writing to the insured and the medical service provider.
(f) No preauthorization shall be required by an insurer for emergency medical services.
(g) An insurer shall reimburse the insured or medical service provider for reasonable expenses incurred in copying medical records requested by the insurer.
§ 2695.12 — Penalties
10 CCR § 2695.12
(a) In determining whether to assess penalties and if so the appropriate amount to be assessed, the Commissioner shall consider admissible evidence on the following:
(1) the existence of extraordinary circumstances;
(2) whether the licensee has a good faith and reasonable basis to believe that the claim or claims are fraudulent or otherwise in violation of applicable law and the licensee has complied with the provisions of Section 1872.4 of the California Insurance Code;
(3) the complexity of the claims involved;
(4) gross exaggeration of the value of the property or severity of the injury, or amount of damages incurred;
(5) substantial mischaracterization of the circumstances surrounding the loss or the alleged default of the principal;
(6) secreting of property which has been claimed as lost or destroyed.
(7) the relative number of claims where the noncomplying act(s) are found to exist, the total number of claims handled by the licensee and the total number of claims reviewed by the Department during the relevant time period;
(8) whether the licensee has taken remedial measures with respect to the noncomplying act(s);
(9) the existence or nonexistence of previous violations by the licensee;
(10) the degree of harm occasioned by the noncompliance;
(11) whether, under the totality of circumstances, the licensee made a good faith attempt to comply with the provisions of this subchapter;
(12) the frequency of occurrence and/or severity of the detriment to the public caused by the violation of a particular subsection of this subchapter;
(13)whether the licensee’s management was aware of facts that apprised or should have apprised the licensee of the act(s) and the licensee failed to take any remedial measures; and
(14)the licensee’s reasonable mistakes or opinions as to valuation of property, losses or damages.
(b) This section shall not bar, obstruct or restrict any right to administrative due process an insurer may be afforded under California Insurance Code Sections 790.05, 790.06, and 790.07.
§ 2695.13 — Severability
10 CCR § 2695.13
If any provision or clause of this rule or the application thereof to any person or situation is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision or application of this rule which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this rule are declared to be severable.
§ 2695.14 — Compliance Date
10 CCR § 2695.14
(a) Any amendments to these regulations shall be complied with within ninety (90) calendar days after they are filed with the Secretary of State.
(b) Prior to the compliance date of these regulations, licensees shall, pursuant to Section 2695.6, adopt and communicate to their claims agents standards for the prompt investigation and processing of claims, and provide training and instruction on these regulations.
(c) These regulations shall apply to any claims handling that takes place on or after the compliance date set forth under subsection 2695.14(a).
Verification Note
The text above was transcribed from Cornell Legal Information Institute’s publication of the California Code of Regulations and cross-checked against the California Department of Insurance’s published version. Last verified on June 6, 2026.
The verbatim text of every property-relevant subsection of §§ 2695.1 through 2695.14 is reproduced above. The only sections not reproduced are the automobile-specific §§ 2695.8, 2695.8.1, 2695.8.2, and 2695.8.5, which are out of scope for this property-focused site. The full text of those sections is available at the CDI primary source.
For any specific legal matter, verify the current text against the California Department of Insurance’s official publication at insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/130-laws-regs-hearings/05-CCR/fair-claims-regs.cfm. Subsection letters drift when amendments are adopted. A citation that was correct in 2020 may point to a different subsection letter after a later amendment. For claims-handling letters or legal pleadings, always verify the current text before citing a specific subsection.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Insurance regulations are amended periodically. Consult a licensed California attorney for advice on any specific claim or legal question.
Written by Leland Coontz III, Licensed Public Adjuster, CA License #2B53445.
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