In order to effect a complete reform of automobile insurance and insurance practices in South Carolina, the purposes of this chapter are to provide:

(1) that every automobile insurance risk which is insurable on the basis of the criteria established in this chapter is entitled to automobile insurance;

(2) for a residual market mechanism, known as the Associated Auto Insurers Plan, for every person who is legally entitled to automobile insurance but has not been able to obtain a motor vehicle liability policy to apply to the director of the Department of Insurance to have his risk assigned to an insurance carrier licensed to write and writing motor vehicle liability insurance in the State who shall issue a motor vehicle liability policy which will meet at least the minimum requirements for establishing financial responsibility in this chapter;

(3) prohibitions and penalties in respect to unfairly discriminatory or unfairly competitive practices having as their purpose or effect evasion of the coverages as provided in this chapter; and

(4) medical, surgical, funeral, and disability insurance benefits without regard to fault to be offered under automobile insurance policies that provide bodily injury and property damage liability insurance, or other security, for motor vehicles registered in this State.

HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-37-10 [1962 Code Section 37-591; 1974 (58) 2718; 1976 Act No. 694, Section 1] recodified as Section 38-77-30 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; Former 1976 Code Section 38-37-110 [1962 Code Section 37-591.1; 1974 (58) 2718; 1987 Act No. 166, Section 1] recodified as Section 38-77-10 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; 1988 Act No. 399, Section 4; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 801; 1996 Act No. 326, Section 4; 1997 Act No. 154, Section 6.