Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with autoinsurance

Should we repair unclaimed damage before an inspection?

Anonymous — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:18:22 -0800

Ontario car insurance. My wife and I have insurance through PC financial. Over the last year, our cars have been damaged, but we haven't filed a claim. Now, they've requested an inspection of our cars. Is this just to ensure they don't pay for preexisting damage in the event of future claims, or can we expect them to get mad/raise rates for this? My wife's car was damaged when I was a blind idiot in a parking lot. I did about $800-1000 damage to my wife's car which we haven't gotten fixed, and about $900 in damage to a nice lady's car. We paid her cash (the quote to repair the damage came much lower than we were anticipating), and had her sign an agreement/receipt for the cash and that she had no further claims against us. 5+ months later and we haven't heard further from her. Neither party reported this to the police. This is a newer, but low sticker price car.

Someone tried unsuccessfully to break into my car. In the process of this, both door handles were popped partially out of the car. I had an estimate of $300 to fix. It's a mid-age low sticker price car. We had reported this to the police. We were told that there was a series of successful auto thefts in our area that night, to consider ourselves lucky that they failed with my car, and that they were unlikely to catch the culprits. This occured 6-12 months ago.

We have just enough money in savings to get these fixed if we need to. But we're alright with the unsightliness and would rather have the money for future emergencies that don't involve cosmetic damage to possessions.

Should we get the cars fixed ASAP and then bring them in for the inspection? Should we have notified the insurance company of damage to the cars that we weren't making claims for and then bring the cars in? Should we just bring the cars in and let them make notes and then go our merry way? Should we start budgeting for a rate increase?

crash Fortunately, we all had insurance. Which one of the three companies gets the claim?

truenorth — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:10:31 -0800

Out of state rental car driver who paid for the Loss Damage Waiver backed in to us. We have his insurance information and claim number, and also reported the incident to our insurance company, which offered to cover damages to the car. We think we'd like to have repairs covered under the rental company's LDW. Do we have the right to choose who should foot the bill? And is this a good choice? The damage: back door and back fender panel, which is a pretty sizable piece of metal.
Rental Car company: Enterprise
His insurance: USAA
Ours: Allstate, with good driver discount and a promise of no rate increase even if we make a claim.

Other driver totally at fault - we were in a crowded parking structure, blocked front and back, and he backed in to us despite our honking. No injuries, but it caused a surprising amount of (cosmetic) damage for such a low impact collision. We would rather not bill our insurance, because we filed a damage claim last year.

My preference would be to somehow bill Enterprise, since the other driver paid for the LDW, and I have an idea that this would not increase his USAA rates. Unfortunately, the only information I have about it is the driver's name and the rental car license plate number. USAA called two days after the accident with a claim number, Allstate has called to ask if we'll be filing the claim with them, and we haven't had an adjuster take a look at the car pending this decision, but will probably set up an appointment tomorrow.

I know nobody's my lawyer and I won't treat any advice as legal counsel.
Thanks for any information you can offer, Reader.

How long can I drive a car before turning it over to the insurance company?

tss — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:07:15 -0800

Someone hit my car. Their insurance company wants to total it. How long can I drive it before they take it away? I hope you'll bear with me. This will take some explaining:

Here in Pennsylvania, my '97 Nissan Sentra was fender-bent by a nice person who left a note under my wipers. As an older vehicle, the Nissan's repair costs are higher than its value... by a little bit. I had the car checked and it's mechanically sound, safe, and even capable of passing an ordinary PA state inspection. However, the insurance company wants to declare it a total loss and take it off my hands.

I could buy it back from the insurance company after they pay me for it, but then the car would be considered a "reconstructed vehicle". Here in PA that means a special, expensive, rigorous inspection designed to keep hucksters from selling totaled lemons to grannies. Passing that one could be hard for any ten year old car, I gather.

On the phone with the insurance company I've noticed that the representatives have been, well, coy about putting a date on when I have to decide what to do with my vehicle. I've been warned that waiting too long and building up mileage on the car will lower its value and hence diminish the eventual insurance payout. Which brought the question:

Me: So, ah, hypothetically speaking, what happens if I drive it around for, say, two years and then make up my mind?

Rep: I don't like to deal in hypotheticals...

She went on to say that the claim would be closed and reopened, and then repeated her warning about the car's value dropping with more mileage. But she didn't fit a deadline. Does this mean that, basically, I can drive my car around until I was planning to get rid of it anyway, and assuming I don't have an accident, the insurance company is obliged to buy it when I'm done with it for what it would be worth without the big dent? Here are the questions I need help with:

First, see question above. Then, assuming the answer is yes,

Is it ethical? Some thoughts about who's involved: the insurance company would be paying me anyway---now they can hold onto the money longer and invest it, then pay me less money in the end. The company might also choose not to raise the rates of the at-fault party until the payment---good for the at-fault party now, but perhaps an unexpected surprise later on. I'm owed money for my loss, but if my plans haven't really changed, how much of a loss is it? (Trade-in value, I suppose...)

Is it legal? This I can't answer... perhaps there's a statute of limitations? But the claim is already filed... it's just on hold. (YANAL, I know...)

What was my Toyota worth?

fish tick — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:25:55 -0800

How can I find the replacement value of a Canadian Toyota Echo? Mine's toast, and I don't want to get screwed by the insurance company. My 2002 Echo hit a patch of ice and rolled into a ditch, wrecking the windshield and crunching doors and roof. I'm sure the insurance company will consider it totalled, but my experience with insurance companies is not nice, and I expect the worst. I've found a few American sites, but is there a Canadian resource somewhere that can give me a good idea of the actual worth of my car?

Do I maintain non-owner auto insurance or just cancel entirely?

sa3z — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 11:25:20 -0800

Non-owner auto insurance. Scam or just practical? I recently sold my car, and intend to buy a car again soon, but I'm not sure when. It could be this month, it could be a year. When I called my auto insurance agent to cancel my policy, he suggested that instead of canceling entirely I maintain a non-owners policy, because supposedly that will make it easier to get insurance again later when I do get a car. I never knew it was difficult to get auto insurance (presuming you haven't done anything too terrible, which I haven't -- I've gotten a few speeding tickets in the past, but it's been over 5 years since my last, and that's the worst of it). Then again, I've had auto insurance continuously since I started driving when I was sixteen.

Is this just some sort of lame up-sell or way to maintain customers? Or is this a legit concern? Should I maintain my policy as a non-owner for a lower rate? I'm not really driving right now (no car), so presumably this would just be for future insurance reasons.

For the record, I am decent-to-great driver, with nothing terrible in my past (besides aforementioned speeding tickets). I do have a great low rate right now, with my current insurer. But no rate is still cheaper than a low rate.

Help with MA auto insurance

Marit — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:43:47 -0800

I need help understanding MA auto insurance; specifically, are rates really identical among insurers? Is there anything I can do to lower the cost? Here's the background -- I'm 24, I live in Massachusetts, and I am a brand-new driver. I'd like to buy a car soon. So -- for insurance, I tried an online quote finder, and the agent who called gave me an estimate of $3200-3900 a year for full coverage with a $500 deductible*. He said I could not get an exact quote without the VIN of the car I want insured. That seemed like a lot of money to me -- he said it was because I'm a new driver, and since I didn't have any knowledge of what other people pay for insurance, I let it go at that. I later asked friends who began driving in other states, and the general response is that that is an insane amount of money, even for a new driver. A year of insurance could potentially cost more than the car is worth!

Here's the question part -- my understanding of MA insurance is that it's set by the state and it will cost the same no matter what agency I choose. So is there no point in calling around to get other quotes? Can I do anything to lower the cost? As it is, I've never been in an accident, I commute 4 miles, and I live in a good area of a so-so city. I could understand if my zip code drove up the cost, but gosh, it's not like I'm in Boston any more.

Also, if you or your kids recently began driving in MA, I'd really like to know if the number I was given is.. normal.

* I asked specifically about a 2000 Cherokee, which is in the ballpark of what I want. He said Cherokees are not the cheapest to insure, but they are not the highest either. I am definitely open to choosing a different vehicle. I need to haul around a lot of stuff regularly. I only need to worry about accomodating one other passenger.

Money between friends...

Heminator — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 11:38:02 -0800

So I wrecked my friend's car... This weekend I caught a ride to a wedding in another state with a friend. It was a long drive and my friend asked if I would do some driving. I was fine with being asked to drive some, but expressed significant reservations about driving into a strange city in front of two other people in the car. And my friend is well aware I'm a spotty driver and even made jokes about it during the drive. I explicitly said I was terrible in situations where I had to follow directions and didn't know where we were going. I ended up driving the last two and a half hours of the trip.

Sure enough the exit our directions said to take was closed, and we got lost. We made a wrong turn near our hotel where traffic was horrendous. In the process of trying to move over into another lane after making a wrong turn, I hit another car doing serious damage to both cars. I checked before changing lanes but seriously underestimated the speed of the traffic coming up behind me. Cops cited me as being at fault but did not cite me with a ticket.

Well, after the accident I come to find out that my friend did not have collison insurance so while the car I hit is covered by his policy, repairs to his car are not (my own auto policy does not come into play at all -- when you hand over your keys you hand over your policy). I was kind of shocked frankly to find out he didn't have collison -- he paid 14k+ for the car a little over a year ago. My friend's car is near totaled, repairs are estimated at $7,500 -- but he still ends up potentially with a salvage title which will kill the resale value, will likely have higher insurance rates on top of that and a lot of hassle.

The owner of the car is a VERY good friend on a personal level and has helped me find work in the past when I needed it. Legally, I'm not obligated to pay anything, but I obviously want to preserve the friendship and not have money come beteween us. The accident was clearly my fault; the only thing I can say in my defense is that I assumed his car was reasonably insured when he handed over the keys and I might not have agreed to assume the risk had I realized he only he had such minimal insurance. But needless to say I do feel quite responsible. What do you think is fair of me to pay my friend in this situation? Nothing? Half the repairs? All? Somwhere in between?

How much auto insurance is needed?

gtr — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 15:48:18 -0800

How much auto insurance does my friend need? I don't own a car, and my friend is getting her first. I've tried to do the research but I'm still confused. Her details.

She's just out of high school with virtually no assets. She is also going to be a poor college student for the next 4 years. She will be driving a 6 year old car that's paid for but not worth much.

These are the coverages we have to decide limits on:

Bodily Injury
Property Damage
Uninsured Motorist
Medical Coverage
Comprehensive Deductible
Collision Deductible

I'm guessing there's no need for comprehensive and collision, but I just don't know on the first four. If it were me I'd make the decisions, but I'd hate to tell her the wrong choices. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Does being a dependent on someone else's tax filings make them liable for your actions?

jbb7 — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 21:55:26 -0800

Legal liability and auto insurance questions (fun!): Is there any reason I should purchase more than the minimum insurance coverage in my state (California)? Does being a dependent on my parents' tax filings make them liable for damages in court if I, say, caused an automobile accident? The situation is like this: They have car insurance back in our home state, but I want to get a cheap policy for a cheap car where I'm living in CA. I got a Geico quote with the minimum legal coverage on everything, and my mom says I can't get that, since they would be personally liable for any damages I cause should they exceed what the insurance covers.

The reason she gave was that since I am a dependent on their tax forms, they are legally liable for my actions. (Even though I am 18 and not living at, or anywhere near, home.) Is this true?

Bonus question: Since they claim me as a dependent, I can't take the standard tax deduction on my decent-sized income. This makes my tax bills quite high as a percentage of my total income. They do not financially support me beyond extending their health insurance to me, which they say is only allowed by the insurance provider because they are claiming me as a dependent. Is this generally the way that parents of people 18 through 22 do it? (I am working this year but will be attending college for 4 years after that, during which I plan to have decent income.) I don't think my parents are trying to rip me off, I just think they don't really have time to figure out all of this and so they just stick with the status quo.

And where do I get the lambs?

schroedinger — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 08:43:28 -0800

Auto Insurance: What? I'm going to be buying my first car. I have no idea how to start looking for auto insurance. I live in Maryland. The car's going to be a borderline junker (used car, bought for no more than $2,000-$3,000) and I'm a college student, so whatever coverage I get will be the bare minimum.

How do I go about finding the lowest insurance? I know car types influence their decision. Sports cars are right out, red cars are supposedly bad, Hondas are easily stolen, older cars get more expensive quotes. You can improve your insurance by modifying your car so it's harder to steal. Then you have to pick the best deal from a company--GEICO or Allstate? Random mom 'n' pop operation (do these exist)? How do I balance cost of insurance versus cost of car versus cost of modifications to maximize cost-benefit? How many pure-white lambs should I sacrifice to the insurance gods to get a good deal, and is it OK for me to wear a loincloth to the midnight ceremonies or do I really have to be stark naked?

Missing my ride

xo — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 15:06:58 -0800

My non-pimped ride (1993 sedan, BB value: $825) was just totaled in an accident with a commercial truck (the truck driver's fault, and he was cited). Are there any ways to get the adjuster to value the car more highly than $825 so that I have any chance of replacing it? This car cost me $2K three years ago and nothing more than oil changes since, and has been completely reliable... to me, its value was like a new car, since I never had to do anything to it and it always ran. $825 would not get me anything comparable.

Also, I haven't rented a replacement car, but I would like to if I could be more sure they'd pay for it. Are they likely to pay, considering that at $60+tax a day, in 10 days I'd have exceeded the value of my car just in rentals? My car insurance policy has a $1K deductible and no car rentals, and I haven't heard back yet from the truck's insurance claims people.

Can I get auto insurance using a PO box or other address I don't reside at?

feloniousmonk — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 04:55:28 -0800

I need to buy a car in a state that I am not currently resident in. Here's the rub. I live in Massachusetts and want to buy the car in Florida. I don't have a Florida address. I can't insure the car in Florida without one, and I can't insure it in MA without registering it both there and in Florida.

This situation has arisen because of a couple of awesome coincidences related to my housing situation taking longer to resolve than I had expected. Is it an option to use someone else's address for a week or two? Does anyone else have any other ideas?

Maybe just a bike from now on.

anonpeon — Tue, 02 May 2006 12:56:52 -0800

Had a car accident, one witnesssays I ran red light, but I don't think I did. What do I do now? This happened in Georgia.

Accident was at an intersection. No serious injuries on me, but I don't know about the other driver. Police said he seemed like he'll be fine, was talking and conscious. Our cars are probably totaled. There is one witness who says I ran a red light, but said witness seemed fishy to me, like he was covering for a friend in the neighborhood. Or maybe I was still in shock from accident.

I remember checking the green light earlier up the street and watched it go from red to green and since I do this route everyday, at this time, was confident about the timing of the light. In short I'm 90% certain the light was green.

There was one local resident (different from the witness above) who says he's seen the other driver ran speeding and running the light before. My wife (who wasn't in the car, but a local lady was nice enough to call, so wife showed up later) got his address but he seemed reluctant to say much more.

Did get a ticket for not obeying local traffic laws, but the cop made a point of saying that he had to ticket someone for insurance purposes, so one witness against me was enough for me to get it. he also said to go to court with documentation showing the other guy was taken care of via my insurance and the case would most likely be dismissed. i do have full coverage on the vehicle.

So do I try to fight this or just go with the cop said? Does it matter either way? Do I lawyer up? Investigate, question people? Like was said, pretty sure, but not completely sure it wasn't my fault.

Filed a claim already, based on my local insurance agent's advice, got a body shop to go look at car, got a rental car setup.

How much is a new bumper for an old Escort going to cost me?

dthaspaz — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 18:57:12 -0800

I put a 2x2" hole in someone's bumper the other day. Does one have to be insured to file a claim on someone else's insurance? and what do you think a brand new bumper for a shitty old Escort will cost me? i havent talked to my agent yet, but is this something i should even claim on my insurance? Everything about my record and my insurance is in average to good standing.

Question number 7831

contessa — Wed, 09 Jun 2004 15:34:34 -0800

CarAccidentFilter: My beloved Nissan Sentra, the car that had never given me a single problem in the 5-1/2 years since I bought it new, was brutally killed by a cellphone wielding SUV driver. The car is totalled. I need advice (more...you know where)