CHAPTER 1. Definitions and Exemptions [12140. - 12159.]

Cal. Insurance Code - INS 1.
in effect

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12140. Section 12140.

This part shall not apply to any of the following: (a) A duly authorized attorney at law acting in the usual course of his profession. (b) An admitted insurer. (c) An association of motor carriers. (d) A person who is directly or indirectly engaged, either as principal or agent, in selling or offering for sale, furnishing, or procuring any of the services described in Section 12148, 12152, or 12153, or miscellaneous service that augments or is incidental to any of those services, but who is not directly or indirectly engaged, either as principal or agent, in selling or offering for sale, furnishing, or procuring any other service described in this chapter. (e) A person who is licensed as a vehicle service contract provider and offering any of the services described in paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, of subdivision (c) of Section 12800, to the extent that person is providing the services described therein. (f) A person offering the services described in paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) of Section 12805 to the extent that person is providing the services described therein. (g) An agreement that promises routine maintenance.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12141. Section 12141.

Except where the context otherwise requires, the terms used in this part shall be given the meanings set forth in this chapter, but such meaning shall not, merely by reason of enactment in this chapter, govern the interpretation of any other provision of this code.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12142. Section 12142.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a motor club is a person, directly or indirectly engaged, either as principal or agent, in selling or offering for sale, furnishing or procuring motor club service. (b) A person who is directly or indirectly engaged, either as principal or agent, in selling or offering for sale, furnishing, or procuring any of the services described in Section 12148, 12152, or 12153, or miscellaneous service that augments or is incidental to any of those services, but who is not directly or indirectly engaged, either as principal or agent, in selling or offering for sale, furnishing, or procuring any other service described in this chapter, is not a motor club.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12142.5. Section 12142.5.

The commissioner shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations specifying the types of miscellaneous service permitted under subdivision (d) of Section 12140 and subdivision (b) of Section 12142. The rules and regulations shall be adopted, amended, and repealed in accordance with the procedure provided in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12143. Section 12143.

A club agent is a person other than the motor club itself, who acts or aids in any manner in the solicitation, delivery, or negotiation of any membership or service contract, or of the renewal or continuance thereof.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12144. Section 12144.

Motor club service is the rendering or procuring of, or reimbursement for, any of the services defined in this chapter to any person in connection with the ownership, operation, use, or maintenance of a motor vehicle, including a vacation trailer, house or otherwise, or a boat capable of ordinary transportation on a trailer and its trailer, by the person upon any of the following considerations: (a) The person is or will become a member of the club rendering or furnishing the service. (b) The person is or will become in any manner affiliated with the club. (c) The person is or will become entitled to receive membership or other motor club service from the club by virtue of any agreement or understanding with any club. This section shall not authorize a motor club to furnish any service on a reimbursement basis that constitutes the transaction of insurance. The commissioner may make reasonable rules and regulations specifying services that constitute the transaction of insurance for the purposes of this part and which may not be offered on a reimbursement basis. Rules and regulations shall be adopted, amended, and repealed in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12145. Section 12145.

Towing service is the drafting or moving by a motor club of a motor vehicle from one place to another under other power than its own.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12146. Section 12146.

Emergency road service is the adjustment, repair or replacement by a motor club of the equipment, tires or mechanical parts of a motor vehicle so as to permit it to be operated under its own power.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12148. Section 12148.

Discount service is an arrangement by a motor club resulting in giving special discounts, rebates or reductions of price on gasoline, oil, repairs, insurance, parts, accessories or service for motor vehicles to holders of service contracts with any such club.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12149. Section 12149.

Financial service is an arrangement by a motor club whereby loans or other advances of money are made to holders of service contracts with any such club.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12150. Section 12150.

(a) Buying and selling service is an arrangement by a motor club whereby the holder of a service contract with a motor club is aided in any way in the purchase or sale of an automobile. (b) (1) If a motor club offers a service that refers members to a new motor vehicle dealer for the purchase of a new motor vehicle, and the dealer pays the motor club any compensation, including, but not limited to, an advertising, promotional, or marketing fee, any advertisement of that service shall clearly and conspicuously disclose that the dealer has paid the fee and shall have the following statement: “All new cars arranged for sale are subject to availability and a price prearranged with the selling franchised new car dealer.” (2) In a printed advertisement, the disclosures required by paragraph (1) shall be in not less than 10-point bold type and shall be textually segregated from the other portions of the advertisement. (3) The disclosures required by paragraph (1) do not apply to general advertisements of a motor club that merely list an auto buying service as one of several services offered by the motor club and that do not provide any details of the auto buying service.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12151. Section 12151.

Theft service is an act by a motor club for the purpose of locating, identifying or recovering a stolen or missing motor vehicle owned or controlled by the holder of a service contract with any such club or for the purpose of detecting or apprehending the person guilty of the theft.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12153. Section 12153.

Travel service is the furnishing by a motor club of touring and travel aids and assistance, and may include any or all of the following: (a) Road maps, touring guides, directories of accommodations for travelers, club periodicals, travel information, magazines, and brochures. (b) Procuring travel tickets of all kinds and reservations for accommodations in connections therewith.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12154. Section 12154.

Claim adjustment service is an act by a motor club for the purpose of adjusting claims on behalf of the holder of a service contract with any such club, when such claim results from injury or damage to person or property arising out of an accident, in connection with the ownership, maintenance, operation and use of a motor vehicle.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12155. Section 12155.

License service is the rendering of assistance by a motor club to any person in obtaining: (a) Registration of a motor vehicle with the State. (b) A driver’s license. (c) A transfer of legal or registered ownership upon the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12156. Section 12156.

Insurance service is the selling or giving, with a service contract or as a result of membership in or affiliation with a motor club, of a policy of insurance covering liability or loss by the holder resulting from injury or damage to person or property arising out of an accident, such liability or loss being the consequence of the ownership, maintenance, operation, or use of a motor vehicle. Insurance service also includes the selling or giving with a service contract or as a result of membership in or affiliation with a motor club, of a policy of insurance, or a certificate under a master policy in which the club is the master policyholder, covering the club member, or any member of his family, for loss, other than loss of time, from accidental injury from any cause or accidental death from any cause. For such purpose any certificated motor club is deemed to be an “association” within the meaning of Section 10270.5 and the club members and members of their families are deemed to be members of such association.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12157. Section 12157.

Any act by a motor club for the purpose of rendering a service defined in this chapter constitutes such service, whether or not the service as defined is completed.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12158. Section 12158.

A service contract is a written agreement whereby any person promises for a consideration to render, furnish or procure motor club service for any other person.

Cal. Insurance Code - INS § 12159. Section 12159.

Miscellaneous service means any other service which may be furnished and which augments or is incidental to any service performed by the club as authorized under the provisions of this chapter or any other service which is of assistance and is beneficial to its members and is feasible for the club to render.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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