§ 4222. Definitions
The following definitions, unless otherwise specified or qualified, shall be applicable
to this subchapter:
(1) “Policy” means an automobile liability policy providing bodily injury liability, property
damage liability, medical payments, and uninsured motorist coverage, or any combination
thereof, delivered or issued for delivery in this State, insuring a single individual
or husband and wife resident of the same household, as named insured, and under which
the insured vehicles designated under the policy are of the following types only:
(A) a motor vehicle of the private passenger or station wagon type that is not used as
a public or livery conveyance for passengers, nor rented to others; or
(B) any other four-wheel motor vehicle with a load capacity of 1,500 pounds or less that
is not used in the occupation, profession, or business of the insured; provided, however,
that absent specific language to the contrary, this subchapter shall not apply to
any policy issued under the Vermont Automobile Insurance Plan, nor shall it apply
to any policy insuring more than four automobiles, or to any policy covering garage,
automobile sales agency, repair shop, service station, or public parking place operation
hazards, or to any policy of insurance issued principally to cover personal or premises
liability of an insured even though such insurance may also provide some incidental
coverage for liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor
vehicle on the premises of such insured or on the ways immediately adjoining such
premises.
(2) “Renewal” or “to renew” means the issuance and delivery by an insurer of a policy
replacing at the end of the policy period a policy previously issued and delivered
by the same insurer or the issuance and delivery of a certificate or notice extending
the term of the policy beyond its policy period or term; provided, however, that any
policy with a policy period or term of less than six months shall for the purpose
of this subchapter be considered as if written for a policy period or term of six
months. Provided, further, that any policy written for a term longer than one year
or any policy with no fixed expiration date, shall for the purpose of this subsection
be considered as if written for successive policy periods or terms of one year, and
such policy may be terminated at the expiration of any annual period upon giving 30
days’ notice of nonrenewal prior to such anniversary date, and such nonrenewal shall
not be subject to any other provisions of this subchapter.
(3) “Nonpayment of premium” means failure of the named insured to discharge when due any
of his or her obligations in connection with the payment of premiums on the policy,
or any installment of such premium, whether the premium is payable directly to the
insurer or its agent or indirectly under any premium finance plan or extension of
credit. (Added 1971, No. 195 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1977, No. 223 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 1, 9; 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 172, eff. July 1, 2022.)