(a) An insurer shall not use a lapse in an insured's automobile insurance coverage as a factor in determining a new automobile insurance policy rate if the lapse was due to the cancellation or nonrenewal of the policy by the insurer, the cancellation of the policy by the insured, or by the insured's failure to pay the policy renewal premium, as a result of the insured's deployment, whether inside or outside the United States or its waters, as a member of the military, military reserve, or National Guard. An insurer may require the insured to provide reasonable documentation to verify the insured's deployment. As used in this section, the term “deployment” does not include a permanent change of station within the United States.
(b) The spouse of an insured protected by subsection (a) of this section shall be similarly protected if that spouse accompanies an insured on the deployment.