Every insurer shall report covered private passenger automobiles involved in theft and salvage total losses, including the vehicle identification number and any other information as may be required, to the National Automobile Theft Bureau or a similar central organization engaged in automobile loss prevention approved by the commissioner, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner.
Prior to the payment of total theft losses, insurers shall comply with verification procedures in accordance with regulations adopted by the commissioner.
No insurer, the National Automobile Theft Bureau, or a similar central organization, engaged in automobile loss prevention approved by the commissioner, or their employees or agents, shall be liable for damages in a civil action when the insurer or person acts pursuant to this section in good faith, without malice, and in reasonable belief that the action taken is warranted by the known facts after a reasonable effort to obtain the facts.
As used in this section “private passenger automobile” a motor vehicle of the private passenger or station wagon type, any other four-wheel vehicle with a load capacity of 1,500 pounds or less, or a motorcycle.
(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 948, Sec. 2.)