Cancellation, Renewal and Nonrenewal of Policies

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, ch. 35

in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-35-101 Manner of providing notice.

Notices required by this chapter shall be personally delivered to the insured and the agent or shall be mailed to the insured and the agent at their addresses last of record with the insurer. If mailed, notice shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid. Proof of mailing shall be sufficient proof of notice.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-35-102 Refund of unearned premium upon cancellation.

Any insurer who cancels a policy of insurance in accordance with this chapter shall, prior to cancellation, refund any unearned premium to the policyholder.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-35-103 Prohibited practices.

(a) It is unlawful for any insurer to cancel, nonrenew or renew a policy of insurance except in compliance with the requirements of this chapter. (b) Mid-term cancellation of an entire block, line or class of business is presumed to be unfair, inequitable, deceptive, contrary to the public interest or a method and practice rendering the further transaction of insurance in this state injurious to policyholders or to the public and is hereby declared to be unlawful. (c) If a policy has been issued for a term longer than one (1) year, and for additional premium consideration an annual premium has been guaranteed, it shall be unlawful for the insurer to increase that annual premium during the term of that policy.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-35-104 Penalties.

Any insurer who violates this chapter is subject to monetary penalties or license revocation or suspension as provided in W.S. 26-1-107 and 26-3-116.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-35-105 Issuance or renewal with exclusions.

An insurer may in lieu of nonissuance, cancellation, nonrenewal or premium increase offer to issue, continue or renew a motor vehicle insurance policy but to exclude from coverage, by name, the person whose claim experience or driving record would have justified the nonissuance, premium increase, cancellation or nonrenewal.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-35-106 Transfers of policies resulting from mergers, acquisitions or restructuring or resulting in broader coverage; notice not required.

(a) Subject to the provisions of W.S. 26-35-204, a nonrenewal or cancellation notice shall not be required if a policy is transferred from an insurer to an affiliated insurer under common management and control: (i) As a result of a merger, acquisition or company restructuring; or (ii) If the transfer results in the same or broader coverage. (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the right of an insured to cancel a policy.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-35-201 Scope of article.

This article applies to all property and casualty insurance as defined in W.S. 26-5-104 and 26-5-106, except this article does not apply to binders and other temporary contracts for temporary insurance.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-35-202 Mid-term cancellation; grounds; notice; exception.

(a) An insurance policy or renewal shall not be cancelled by an insurer prior to the expiration of the term stated in the policy, except for any one (1) of the following reasons: (i) Failure to pay a premium when due; (ii) Material misrepresentation of fact which if known to the company would have caused the company not to issue the policy; (iii) Substantial change in the risk assumed, except to the extent that the insurer should reasonably have foreseen the change or contemplated the risk in writing the policy; or (iv) Substantial breaches of contractual duties, conditions or warranties. (b) Cancellation under paragraph (a)(i), (iii) or (iv) of this section shall not be effective unless written notice stating the precise reason for cancellation has been made as provided in W.S. 26-35-101: (i) Not less than ten (10) days prior to the proposed effective date of cancellation if cancellation is for the reason stated in paragraph (a)(i) of this section; or (ii) Not less than forty-five (45) days prior to the proposed effective date of cancellation in all other cases except paragraph (a)(ii) of this section. (c) Subsections (a) and (b) of this section do not apply to any insurance policy which has been in effect for less than sixty (60) days and is not a renewal of a previously existing policy for a term longer than sixty (60) days. (d) If an insurance company loses its reinsurance and the loss threatens the solvency of the company, the company shall: (i) Continue coverage to the extent of its retention as to each policyholder; (ii) Notify each policyholder of the amount of coverage still present; and (iii) Refund the unearned premium.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-35-203 Nonrenewal; notice.

(a) No insurance policy shall be nonrenewed by an insurer except in accordance with the provisions of this section and any nonrenewal attempted which is not in compliance with this section is ineffective. (b) A policy may be nonrenewed by the insurer at its expiration or anniversary date by giving written notice of nonrenewal as provided in W.S. 26-35-101, not less than forty-five (45) days, or if the policy is a professional health care malpractice liability policy not less than ninety (90) days, prior to the expiration or anniversary date of the policy. (c) Any notice of nonrenewal under this section shall state the precise reason for nonrenewal. There shall be no liability on the part of an insurer for stated reasons of nonrenewal given in good faith pursuant to this article.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-35-204 Renewal with altered terms; notice.

(a) If an insurer intends to renew a policy, but on less favorable terms or at higher rates, the insurer shall furnish to the insured and the agent of record, if any, renewal terms and a statement of the amount of premium due for the renewal policy period in accordance with this section. (b) The renewal terms and statement of premium due shall be given pursuant to W.S. 26-35-101 not less than forty-five (45) days, or if the policy is a professional health care malpractice liability policy not less than ninety (90) days, prior to the expiration or anniversary date of the original policy. For rates regulated pursuant to W.S. 26-14-106(a) and (b), sixty (60) days notice of the renewal terms and premium due shall be required if the insurer notified the insured of its proposed changes at the time the insurer filed with the insurance commissioner. (c) If the insurer fails to furnish the renewal terms and statement of premium due in the manner required by this section, the insured may elect to cancel the renewal policy within the forty-five (45) day period following receipt of the renewal terms and statement of premium due. Earned premium for any period of coverage shall be calculated pro rata based upon the premium applicable to the original policy and not the premium applicable to the renewal policy.

Source: WY Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title26.pdfFetched: 10/4/2026