Department issues Cease and Desist order against unlicensed van rental company and its owners
News: 2020 Press Release
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The California Department of Insurance issued a Cease and Desist Order against unlicensed van rental company, Airport Van Rental, Inc. and its owners, Yazdan Irani, 57, of Encino, and his wife, Kimberly, 61, for operating a rental agency without a license and selling insurance-related products to the public.
Airport Van Rental, Inc., acting as a rental car agency, rents vehicles, including passenger vans, mini vans, and automobiles. The company is currently selling insurance-related products without proper licensing via Sonoran National Group (Sonoran Insurance) and the coverage is purchased on behalf of Airport Van Rental’s customers through National Specialty Insurance Company.
An investigation by the Department of Insurance found that in 2007, Yazdan Irani applied with the department for a license to act as a Resident Insurance Producer, but his application was withdrawn after he failed to respond to inquiries about his criminal background.
The Iranis applied for a Business Entity license for Airport Van Rental in 2015 and 2018, but failed to disclose Yazdan’s criminal background each time.
The order was served at the Irani’s place of business located in Los Angeles on May 29, 2020. It states that they are to immediately Cease and Desist the solicitation, marketing, sale, and issuance of any contracts, policies, or certificates of insurance in California. The Iranis have seven days to request a hearing and face a possible fine of $5,000 per day if they continue to operate.
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Media Note:
Led by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, the California Department of Insurance is the consumer protection agency for the nation's largest insurance marketplace and safeguards all of the state’s consumers by fairly regulating the insurance industry. Under the Commissioner’s direction, the Department uses its authority to protect Californians from insurance rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, oversee insurer solvency to pay claims, set standards for agents and broker licensing, perform market conduct reviews of insurance companies, resolve consumer complaints, and investigate and prosecute insurance fraud. Consumers are urged to call 1-800-927-4357 with any questions or contact us at www.insurance.ca.gov via webform or online chat. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357. Teletypewriter (TTY), please dial 800-482-4833.