The national Personal Auto Policy guide covers the ISO policy (PP 00 01): Parts A to F, who is an insured, the covered auto and the exclusions. This guide covers the Wyoming rules:

• the 25/50/20 liability minimums and proof of financial responsibility
• uninsured motorist coverage, which is included unless rejected
• the motor vehicle liability policy statute
• cancellation and nonrenewal limits (Rule Ch. 14)
• Wyoming's comparative fault rule

Fault (Wyo. Stat. 1-1-109)

Wyoming uses modified comparative fault. A claimant recovers if their fault is not more than 50% of the total, with damages reduced by their share. A claimant 30% at fault recovers 70%. A claimant over 50% at fault recovers nothing.

Required insurance and proof

• Minimum limits (31-9-102(a)(xi); 31-9-405(b)):

  • $25,000 bodily injury per person
  • $50,000 per accident
  • $20,000 property damage

• Driving uninsured (31-4-103):

  • punishable by up to six months in jail, a fine of $500 to $1,500, or both
  • On a second or later offense, the court takes the registration and plates.
  • A driver without proof at a stop has seven days to produce it.
  • After a conviction, the driver files proof of financial responsibility for three years. Failing to file within 30 days of notice suspends the license.

• Proof of financial responsibility (31-9-401 to 31-9-414) may be:

  • an insurer's certificate that a liability policy is in force, commonly called an SR-22
  • a bond
  • a deposit of $25,000 in cash or securities
  • for an owner of more than 25 vehicles, self-insurance with $200,000 plus $100 for each vehicle over 25

  Proof is generally kept for three years. Certified insurance can't be cancelled until 10 days after notice to the Department of Transportation's division.

What a motor vehicle liability policy must do (31-9-405)

• Cover the named insured and anyone driving with express or implied permission, except drivers excluded by name under 26-35-105.
• Cover use in the United States and Canada.
• An operator's policy covers the named person driving vehicles they don't own.
• Coverage doesn't extend to workers compensation or injuries to the insured's employees.
• The insurer's liability becomes absolute when a covered loss happens. No statement by the insured or policy violation defeats it.
• A binder issued before the policy satisfies the requirements.
• Named driver exclusion: an insurer may issue or renew a policy that excludes by name a driver whose record would otherwise justify cancellation or nonrenewal (26-35-105).

Uninsured motorist (31-10-101 to 31-10-104; Rule Ch. 23)

• UM coverage must be included at $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury, but the named insured may reject it. After a rejection, renewals from the same insurer needn't include UM unless the insured asks in writing.
• Uninsured includes a vehicle whose insurer is insolvent.
• After paying, the insurer is subrogated to the insured's recovery rights.
• Rule Ch. 23 limits on UM policy terms:
  • Hit-and-run coverage can't require physical contact.
  • The policy can't require consent to sue. The insurer gets a copy of the complaint and summons.
  • There can be no mandatory arbitration, unless the parties agree separately in writing.
  • UM benefits can't be reduced by workers compensation payments.
  • Coverage is the combined coverage under all applicable policies. Recovery from non-primary policies is limited to the statutory minimums.

Cancellation and nonrenewal (Rule Ch. 14)

The rule covers private passenger autos, including pickups not used in business other than farming or ranching. It doesn't cover assigned-risk, fleet, garage or excess policies, or a new policy in its first 60 days. A policy written for less than six months is treated as a six-month policy.

Permitted cancellation reasons:

• nonpayment
• suspension or revocation of the license or registration of the named insured or a household or customary driver
• fraud in the application
• reasons approved after a hearing

Other rules:

• Notices tell the insured about possible eligibility for the assigned risk plan, except when the reason is nonpayment.
• Adding a physical damage deductible of up to $500 isn't a cancellation.
• Coverage ends when another liability policy with substantially similar coverage takes effect on the same vehicle.

Claims

• In a subrogation recovery, the insurer pays the insured's deductible first, with no deduction for collection costs. If the deductible is larger than the recovery, the insured gets the whole recovery (26-13-113).
• P&C claims are paid or denied within 45 days after the claim and supporting bills are received. An unreasonable refusal brings attorney fees and 10% interest (26-15-124).

Common exam traps

• Wyoming limits are 25/50/20.
• UM is included unless rejected, and a hit-and-run claim needs no physical contact.
• UM policies can't require consent to sue or mandatory arbitration.
• Auto cancellation notice is 20 days, or 10 for nonpayment. Nonrenewal is 30 days.
• A claimant 50% at fault still recovers. Over 50% recovers nothing.
• Proof of financial responsibility is kept 3 years.