Code of Virginia — Title 38.2 (Insurance), Chapter 18 (INSURANCE AGENTS)
§ 38.2-1800. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:

"Agent," "insurance agent," "producer," or "insurance producer," when used without qualification, means an individual or business entity that sells, solicits, or negotiates contracts of insurance or annuity in the Commonwealth.

"Appointed agent," "appointed insurance agent," "appointed producer," or "appointed insurance producer," when used without qualification, means an individual or business entity licensed in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate contracts of insurance or annuity of the classes authorized within the scope of such license and who is appointed by a company licensed in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate on its behalf contracts of insurance of the classes authorized within the scope of such license and, if authorized by the company, may collect premiums on those contracts.

"Business entity" means a partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or other legal entity other than a sole proprietorship.

"Dental plan organization authority" means the authority in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate dental benefit contracts on behalf of dental plan organizations licensed under Chapter 61 (§ 38.2-6100 et seq.).

"Dental services authority" means the authority in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate dental services plan contracts on behalf of dental services plans licensed under Chapter 45 (§ 38.2-4500 et seq.).

"Filed" means received by the Commission.

"Health agent" means an agent licensed in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance as defined in §§ 38.2-107.2, 38.2-108, and 38.2-109, and including contracts issued by insurers, health services plans, health maintenance organizations, dental services plans, optometric services plans, and dental plan organizations licensed in the Commonwealth.

"Home protection insurance authority" means the authority in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate home protection insurance as defined in § 38.2-129 on behalf of insurers licensed in the Commonwealth.

"Home state" means the District of Columbia and any state or territory of the United States, except Virginia, or any province of Canada, in which an insurance producer maintains such person's principal place of residence or principal place of business and is licensed by that jurisdiction to act as a resident insurance producer.

"Legal services insurance authority" means the authority in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate legal services insurance as defined in § 38.2-127 on behalf of insurers licensed in the Commonwealth.

"License" means a document issued by the Commission authorizing an individual or business entity to act as an insurance producer for the lines of authority specified in the document. Except as provided in § 38.2-1833, the license itself does not create any authority, actual, apparent or inherent, in the licensee to represent, commit, or bind an insurer.

"Licensed agent," "licensed insurance agent," "licensed producer," or "licensed insurance producer," when used without qualification, means an individual or business entity licensed in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate contracts of insurance or annuity of the classes authorized within the scope of such license.

"Life and annuities insurance agent" means an agent licensed in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate life insurance and annuity contracts as defined in §§ 38.2-102, 38.2-103, 38.2-104, 38.2-105.1, 38.2-106, and 38.2-107.1, respectively, and family leave insurance as defined in § 38.2-107.2, on behalf of insurers licensed in the Commonwealth.

"Limited burial insurance authority" means the authority in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate burial insurance society membership where the certificates of membership are used solely to fund preneed funeral contracts on any individual, on behalf of insurers licensed under Chapter 40 (§ 38.2-4000 et seq.); or to represent an association referred to in § 38.2-3318.1, limited to soliciting members of that association for association group life insurance certificates where the funds are used solely to fund preneed funeral contracts.

"Limited lines credit insurance agent" means an agent licensed in the Commonwealth whose authority is restricted to selling, soliciting, or negotiating, on behalf of insurers licensed in the Commonwealth, one or more of the following coverages to individuals through a master, corporate, group or individual policy: (i) credit life insurance and credit accident and sickness insurance, but only to the extent authorized in Chapter 37.1 (§ 38.2-3717 et seq.); (ii) credit involuntary unemployment insurance as defined in § 38.2-122.1; (iii) credit property insurance, as defined in § 38.2-122.2; (iv) mortgage accident and sickness insurance; (v) mortgage redemption insurance; (vi) mortgage guaranty insurance; and (vii) any other form of insurance offered in connection with an extension of credit that is limited to partially or wholly extinguishing that credit obligation and that the Commission specifically determines may be sold, solicited, or negotiated by those holding a limited lines credit insurance agent license. Each insurer that sells, solicits or negotiates any of the coverages set forth in this definition shall provide to each individual whose duties will include selling, soliciting or negotiating such coverages a program of instruction that may, at the discretion of the Commission, be submitted for approval by the Commission or reviewed by the Commission subsequent to its implementation.

"Limited lines life and health agent" means an individual or business entity authorized by the Commission whose license authority to sell, solicit, or negotiate is limited to the following, or any other type of authority that the Commission may deem it necessary to recognize for the purposes of complying with § 38.2-1836: dental services authority; limited burial insurance authority; mutual assessment life and health insurance authority; optometric services authority; and dental plan organization authority. Limited lines life and health insurance shall not include life insurance, health insurance, property insurance, casualty insurance, private family leave insurance, and title insurance.

"Limited lines property and casualty agent" means an individual or business entity authorized by the Commission whose license authority to sell, solicit, or negotiate is limited to the following, or any other type of authority that the Commission may deem it necessary to recognize for the purposes of complying with § 38.2-1836: home protection insurance authority; legal services insurance authority; mutual assessment property and casualty insurance authority; ocean marine insurance authority; pet accident, sickness and hospitalization insurance authority; portable electronics insurance authority; self storage insurance authority; and travel insurance. Unless otherwise defined, "limited lines property and casualty insurance" shall not include life insurance, health insurance, property insurance, casualty insurance, private family leave insurance, and title insurance.

"Mortgage accident and sickness insurance authority" means the authority in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate mortgage accident and sickness insurance on behalf of insurers licensed in the Commonwealth.

"Mortgage guaranty insurance authority" means the authority in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate mortgage guaranty insurance on behalf of insurers licensed in the Commonwealth.

"Mortgage redemption insurance authority" means the authority in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate mortgage redemption insurance on behalf of insurers licensed in the Commonwealth. As used in this chapter, "mortgage redemption insurance" means a nonrenewable, nonconvertible, decreasing term life insurance policy written in connection with a mortgage transaction for a period of time coinciding with the term of the mortgage. The initial sum shall not exceed the amount of the indebtedness outstanding at the time the insurance becomes effective, rounded up to the next $1,000.

"Motor vehicle rental contract enroller" means an unlicensed hourly or salaried employee of a motor vehicle rental company that is in the business of providing primarily private motor vehicles to the public under a rental agreement for a period of less than six months, and receives no direct or indirect commission from the insurer, the renter or the vehicle rental company.

"Motor vehicle rental contract insurance agent" means a person who (i) is a selling agent of a motor vehicle rental company that is in the business of providing primarily private passenger motor vehicles to the public under a rental agreement for a period of less than six months and (ii) whose license in the Commonwealth is restricted to selling, soliciting, or negotiating only the following insurance coverages, and solely in connection with and incidental to the rental contract:

1. Personal accident insurance that provides benefits in the event of accidental death or injury occurring during the rental period;

2. Liability coverage sold to the renter in excess of the rental company's obligations under § 38.2-2204, 38.2-2205, or Title 46.2, as applicable;

3. Personal effects insurance that provides coverages for the loss of or damage to the personal effects of the renter and other vehicle occupants while such personal effects are in or upon the rental vehicle during the rental period;

4. Roadside assistance and emergency sickness protection programs; and

5. Other travel-related or vehicle-related insurance coverage that a motor vehicle rental company offers in connection with and incidental to the rental of vehicles.

The term "motor vehicle rental contract insurance agent" does not include motor vehicle rental contract enrollers.

"Mutual assessment life and health insurance authority" means the authority in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate mutual assessment life and accident and sickness insurance on behalf of insurers licensed under Chapter 39 (§ 38.2-3900 et seq.), but only to the extent permitted under § 38.2-3919.

"Mutual assessment property and casualty insurance authority" means the authority in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate mutual assessment property and casualty insurance on behalf of insurers licensed under Chapter 25 (§ 38.2-2500 et seq.), but only to the extent permitted under § 38.2-2525.

"NAIC" means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

"Negotiate" means the act of conferring directly with or offering advice directly to a purchaser or prospective purchaser of a particular contract of insurance concerning any of the substantive benefits, terms or conditions of the contract, provided that the person engaged in that act either sells insurance or obtains insurance from insurers for purchasers.

"Ocean marine insurance authority" means the authority in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate those classes of insurance classified in § 38.2-126, except those classes specifically classified as inland marine insurance, on behalf of insurers licensed in the Commonwealth.

"Optometric services authority" means the authority in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate optometric services plan contracts on behalf of optometric services plans licensed under Chapter 45 (§ 38.2-4500 et seq.).

"Personal lines agent" means an agent licensed in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance as defined in §§ 38.2-110 through 38.2-114, 38.2-116, 38.2-117, 38.2-118, 38.2-124, 38.2-125, 38.2-126, 38.2-129, 38.2-130, and 38.2-131 for transactions involving insurance primarily for personal, family, or household needs rather than for business or professional needs.

"Pet accident, sickness and hospitalization insurance authority" means the authority in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate pet accident, sickness and hospitalization insurance on behalf of insurers licensed in the Commonwealth.

"Property and casualty insurance agent" means an agent licensed in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate both personal and commercial lines of insurance as defined in §§ 38.2-107.2, 38.2-110 through 38.2-122.2, and 38.2-124 through 38.2-134 on behalf of insurers licensed in the Commonwealth.

"Resident" means (i) an individual residing in Virginia; (ii) an individual residing outside of Virginia whose principal place of business is in Virginia, who is able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Commission that the laws of his home state prevent him from obtaining a resident agent license in that state, and who affirmatively chooses to qualify as and be treated as a resident of Virginia for purposes of licensing and continuing education, both in Virginia and in the state in which the individual resides, if applicable; (iii) a partnership duly formed and recorded in Virginia; (iv) a corporation incorporated and existing under the laws of Virginia; (v) a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of Virginia; or (vi) a foreign business entity that is not licensed as a resident agent in any other jurisdiction, and that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Commission that its principal place of business is within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"Restricted nonresident health agent" means a nonresident agent whose license authority in his home state does not include all of the authority granted under a health agent license in Virginia. The license issued to such agent shall authorize the agent to sell, solicit, or negotiate in Virginia, on behalf of insurers licensed in Virginia, only those kinds or classes of insurance for which the agent is authorized in his home state.

"Restricted nonresident life and annuities agent" means a nonresident agent whose license authority in his home state does not include all of the authority granted under a life and annuities agent license in Virginia. The license issued to such agent shall authorize the agent to sell, solicit, or negotiate in Virginia, on behalf of insurers licensed in Virginia, only those kinds or classes of insurance for which the agent is authorized in his home state.

"Restricted nonresident personal lines agent" means a nonresident agent whose license authority in his home state does not include all of the authority granted under a personal lines agent license in Virginia. The license issued to such agent shall authorize the agent to sell, solicit, or negotiate in Virginia, on behalf of insurers licensed in Virginia, only those kinds or classes of insurance for which the agent is authorized in his home state.

"Restricted nonresident property and casualty agent" means a nonresident agent whose license authority in his home state does not include all of the authority granted under a property and casualty agent license in Virginia. The license issued to such agent shall authorize the agent to sell, solicit, or negotiate in Virginia, on behalf of insurers licensed in Virginia, only those kinds or classes of insurance for which the agent is authorized in his home state.

"Sell" means to exchange a contract of insurance by any means, for money or its equivalent, on behalf of an insurer.

"Settlement agent" means a person licensed as a title insurance agent and registered with the Virginia State Bar pursuant to Chapter 10 (§ 55.1-1000 et seq.) of Title 55.1.

"Solicit" means attempting to sell insurance or asking or urging a person to apply for a particular class of insurance from one or more insurers.

"Surety bail bondsman" means a person licensed as a surety bail bondsman pursuant to Article 11 (§ 9.1-185 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1.

"Surplus lines broker" means a person licensed pursuant to Article 5.1 (§ 38.2-1857.1 et seq.) of this chapter, and who is thereby authorized to engage in the activities set forth in Chapter 48 (§ 38.2-4805.1 et seq.).

"Terminate" means the cancellation of the relationship between an insurance producer and the insurer, or the termination of an insurance producer's authority to transact insurance.

"Title insurance agent" means an agent licensed in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate title insurance, and performing all of the services set forth in § 38.2-4601.1, on behalf of title insurance companies licensed under Chapter 46 (§ 38.2-4600 et seq.).

"Uniform Application" means the current version of the NAIC Uniform Application for resident and nonresident producer licensing.

"Uniform Business Entity Application" means the current version of the NAIC Uniform Business Entity Application for resident and nonresident business entities.

"Variable contract agent" means an agent licensed in the Commonwealth to sell, solicit, or negotiate variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts on behalf of insurers licensed in the Commonwealth.

"Viatical settlement broker" means a person licensed pursuant to Chapter 60 (§ 38.2-6000 et seq.), in accordance with Article 6.1 (§ 38.2-1865.1 et seq.) of this chapter, and who is thereby authorized to engage in the activities set forth in Chapter 60 (§ 38.2-6000 et seq.).

1979, c. 513, § 38.1-327.1; 1981, c. 604; 1983, c. 480; 1984, c. 719; 1986, c. 562; 1987, cc. 520, 521; 1992, c. 586; 1994, cc. 106, 316; 1995, c. 167; 1998, cc. 16, 47, 164; 1999, cc. 86, 490, 493, 586; 2000, c. 526; 2001, c. 706; 2003, cc. 412, 717, 979; 2004, cc. 460, 668, 784; 2006, c. 410; 2011, c. 222; 2012, c. 447; 2013, cc. 203, 497; 2016, c. 250; 2022, cc. 131, 132; 2023, cc. 338, 339.