§ 19-512. Collision coverage

   (a) In general. --

   (1) Each insurer that issues, sells, or delivers a motor vehicle insurance policy in the State shall offer collision coverage for damage to insured motor vehicles subject to deductibles of $ 50 to $ 250 in $ 50 increments.

   (2) Collision coverage shall provide insurance, without regard to fault, against accidental property damage to the insured motor vehicle caused by physical contact of the insured motor vehicle with another motor vehicle or other object or by upset of the insured motor vehicle, if the motor vehicle accident occurs in a state, Canada, or Mexico.

(b) For rental passenger cars. --

   (1) In this subsection, "passenger car" means a motor vehicle that is:

      (i) a Class A (passenger) vehicle under § 13-912 of the Transportation Article; or

      (ii) a Class M (multipurpose) vehicle under § 13-937 of the Transportation Article used primarily for transporting passengers.

   (2) If a private passenger motor vehicle insurance policy issued, sold, or delivered in the State includes:

      (i) collision coverage under this section, the motor vehicles insured under that coverage shall include any passenger car that is rented by an insured for a period of 30 days or less under a rental agreement as otherwise defined in § 14-2101 of the Commercial Law Article; or

      (ii) comprehensive coverage, the motor vehicles insured under that coverage shall include any replacement vehicle as defined under § 18-102(a)(2)(i) of the Transportation Article.

   (3) Each insurer that provides a private passenger motor vehicle insurance policy that includes collision coverage shall give the insured a separate notice written in boldface type that the insured does not need a collision damage waiver or any additional collision coverage when renting a passenger car for a period of 30 days or less during the term of the policy.

   (4) An insurer may not deny coverage to an insured for collision damage to a rental passenger car because:

      (i) the motor vehicle accident involved an uninsured motorist; or

      (ii) the identity of the motor vehicle causing the damage cannot be ascertained.

(c) For loss of use of rental vehicle. -- An insurer may offer to provide to the insured coverage for damages incurred by the insured as a result of the loss of use of a rental vehicle that sustains collision damage while rented by the insured.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 48A, § 541; 1996, ch. 11; 1998, ch. 671; 1999, ch. 33, § 1.