Vehicle insurance: vehicle classification.

Healthcare

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Ortega
Last action: 2025-10-13
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 713, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact implementation details and enforcement mechanisms by insurance companies are not specified.

Vehicle Insurance: Vehicle Classification

This law prevents insurance companies from classifying vehicles used for volunteer public social services as common carriers, commercial vehicles, for-hire vehicles, permissive use vehicles, or livery just because the owner is using it to provide such services.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits an insured vehicle from being classified as a common carrier, commercial vehicle, for-hire vehicle, permissive use vehicle, or livery solely due to its use in providing public social services or social service transportation.

Who It Names or Affects

People who use their vehicles to provide volunteer public social services.
Insurance companies that classify and insure motor vehicles.

Terms To Know

public social services: Volunteer work for nonprofit charitable organizations or government agencies, such as providing transportation for the elderly or disabled.
social service transportation: Transportation provided by volunteers to help people in need, like taking them to medical appointments or grocery shopping.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not specify what happens if a vehicle is used for both volunteer services and commercial purposes.
It's unclear how insurance companies will implement these changes without additional guidance.

Bill History

2025-10-13 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 713, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-13 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-04 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
2025-08-28 California Legislative Information
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 2761.).
2025-08-26 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-08-25 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2251.).
2025-08-20 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-08-19 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-07-10 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-02 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on INS.
2025-06-17 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2025-06-04 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on INS.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 1653.)
2025-05-15 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-22 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on INS.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on INS. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-10 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on INS.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
2025-02-19 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 815, Ortega.
Vehicle insurance: vehicle classification.
Existing law generally regulates classes of insurance, including automobile liability insurance. Existing law prohibits a motor vehicle, insured pursuant to a policy of automobile liability insurance, from being classified as a common carrier, livery, or for-hire vehicle solely for the reason that the named insured is performing volunteer services for a nonprofit charitable organization or governmental agency consisting of providing social service transportation, as defined.
This bill, for purposes of insurance, would prohibit a motor vehicle, insured pursuant to a policy of automobile liability insurance, from being classified as a common carrier,
commercial vehicle, for-hire vehicle, permissive use vehicle, or livery solely for the reason that the named insured is operating or using the insured motor vehicle to provide public social services, as defined, or social service transportation, as defined.

Current Bill Text

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