Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with carinsurance

Car accident; No information about other driver.

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:49:46 -0800

My mother got into an auto accident in Pennsylvania earlier today. She did not take down the other driver's information other than the license plate. What are her options? She was stopped behind a pickup truck at a traffic light. The pickup truck went out too far into the intersection, and then backed into her trying to clear the way for a tractor trailer.

She looked at the car and thought there was no damage, so she let him go without taking down any information. My grandmother, who was also in the car, wrote down the pickup truck's license plate (probably Pennsylvania, but not noted.)

Upon getting home, it was discovered that there is actually some damage to the front of the car -- scratches, a bent grill, and some missing parts of the grill.

My parents are going to contact their insurance company for advice on what to do and hopefully file a police report. I also told her to write down anything she can remember about it at this point, like the color of the truck, time, intersection where it happened, etc. Is there anything else they should be doing?

I Wanna Be Protected!

fourcheesemac — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:52:15 -0800

Can one buy a personal auto liability policy for rental cars that replaces or supplements LDW or liability supplement coverage offered by the rental agency? I travel constantly, and rent cars 20+ times per year as a result. However, I live in New York City and do not own a car, and hence possess no personal auto policy. Prior to moving here, I owned cars and trucks for 15 years, and have an extensive and good driving record across multiple states. I am, of course, licensed to drive in New York.

My credit card (Visa) covers the collision damage liability for the rental car itself as primary insurance in this situation, so I typically decline the CDW. In any case, it wouldn't break me to pay cash to replace the economy or compact cars I usually rent. So to be clear, this is not a question about coverage for damage to the rental vehicle itself. As far as I know, credit cards do not offer liability coverage at all (and many people are misinformed about this, in my experience, including some rental agents).

In some states in which I rent, the rental agency claims not to carry any liability insurance (in Indiana, Alamo and National have told me they are exempt from state minimums and that, in essence, a renter is required to either possess an auto liability policy or buy their liability supplement). In other cases, even where there is some liability coverage (ie, for damage done to other people and property in a hypothetical accident in which I was at fault), it's pathetically low given the risks one takes by pulling out of the airport parking area. So I usually buy whatever additional liability coverage is offered by the agency (still not great -- usually a 100K-200K overall limit). Tends to run 12-15 bucks per rental day. Usually you have to persist in asking for the liability coverage alone, and not as part of a package with the CDW and veterinary coverage for the family pet and every other little ripoff option.

I would like to buy my own policy that would simply cover me in any rental car in the US to the tune of half a million to a million bucks. Does such a policy exist? I've heard about general personal liability policies, but that seems like overkill to me.

I am having a devil of a time searching for this on the net because any combination of keywords pulls up endless bitching about the CDW/LDW policies of the various rental agencies.

Even when I travel on business and supp. insurance is covered by my employer, I'd love to have a personal policy for increased protection. Like I said, it's pretty easy to imagine doing 100K worth of hurt backing into someone's outside wall, for crying out loud.

Seems like an obvious product for business travelers, no?

Can I / should I accept reimbursement for a car repair I didn't do?

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:40:56 -0800

Is it legal to accept $500 from a car insurance company, reimbursing me for a repair I'm not going to make? If it's legal, should I? Recently my car was very lightly rear-ended. Both I and the other driver are insured. There were no injuries and my car has no visible damage -- I took it to my mechanic, who I trust, who confirmed that there was no damage from the collision. The other driver's insurance company sent a photographer to take photos of my car to check its condition. The photographer reported a small nick in my bumper, and based on this, the other driver's insurance sent me a check for $500 for a new bumper. The nick is almost invisible (my wife can see it, I haven't managed to) and we have no interest in getting a new bumper. My wife thinks it might be OK to just cash the check, on the grounds that the eventual resale value of the car will be lower because it's been involved in an accident, however small. I'm concerned that it might actually be against the law to cash a check for replacing a bumper that I didn't actually replace. I see a few options:
A. Cash the check, pocket the money.
B. Cash the check, replace the undamaged bumper. (Seems like a waste of the world's resources, but maybe I should think of it as economic stimulus?)
C. Don't cash the check, keep it, and if I need to replace the bumper for some other reason in the next year (the life of the check,) cash it.
D. Cut up the check.

We don't want to do anything illegal. So: which of these four options is legal? And of the legal ones, which are ethically OK?
(Anonymous in case the right answer is "A is probably legal but I wouldn't do it if my real name were attached to the general practice in a public place.")

Logistical questions about a college student with unique circumstances learning to drive.

Anonymous — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:31:36 -0800

Logistical multi part question about a college student with unique circumstances learning to drive. (Yes, I know you are probably not a department of motor vehicles worker). I am currently a 20 year old living with my parents in Ohio. I go to college in Massachusetts, and my address there changes yearly. I plan to spend next summer in the D.C. area. A friend of friends in Maryland offered to teach me how to drive next summer. (Learning to drive at home this summer is not possible). I have questions about this arrangement. (Oh, and consider spending next summer in D.C. and having this one person teach me something that will definitely happen.)

a) From which state should I get my learner's permit? I have been considered a dependent on my parents' tax forms in the past, so I think my state of "permanent residence" is Ohio. On the other hand, I don't plan on living in Ohio for extended periods of time after this summer.

b) My state ID says that it expires on my 21st birthday. Will my learner's permit expire on my 21st birthday too? I could return to Ohio/ Massachusetts to take the driving test at the end of the summer, but I would be unable to leave the D.C. area in mid June when I have my 21st birthday.

c) If my permit does expire on my 21st birthday, can I renew it without being in OH/ MA?

d) Do I need any special insurance to learn how to drive in a car that does not belong to a family member? Is it regular car insurance, or what? Even if I don't need any, would I want it?

e) How would you compensate my teacher if you were in my position? Should I pay for gas? Part of her insurance? Right now she is a friend of friends, but I imagine she will become a friend next summer. I think it is definitely worth learning from a police officer!

f) Which state has the easiest driving test?

g) Is there anything else I need to think about?

(Anonymous because I want to surprise a few friends on metafilter that I may finally get my license).

FML.

the NATURAL — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:15:33 -0800

Car Insurance Filter: I bumped a parked car an hour ago. They'll probably contact me tomorrow. Insurance or out-of-pocket? (More than meets the eye.) So, I'm staying with a relative who lives on a pretty steep hill. I was parked just below a driveway, with another car paralleled in front of me. (Here's where my brain's conditioning kicks in: it was raining, he was parked WAY too close to my front, etc., etc...)

But all that aside, the fact is, I put my car in neutral instead of reverse, and in the split-second when I released my foot and gassed it, expecting to roll up and away from his rear bumper, I instead rolled downwards and gave it a little kiss. Nothing too serious -- just enough so that there's clear marks where the screws met his bumper. Being that it was a one-car affair, I think I may have been at fault. (Get it? Understatement! Ha!)

The "victim" car: a Scion tC, of which I can't make the year. The car doesn't have any after-market body modifications, so I think it's safe to say the damaged bumper was stock. Also, the hit was such that I really don't think I put anything under the bumper out of alignment.

I wrote a little note, telling the owner to call me when he gets it so that we can settle fixing his car. The catch: it's my aunty's car, and she's the one who's got the insurance policy on it. She's not the one I'm living with, but she does a lot for my family and I, and I'm really hesitant to put any of this on her plate.

The question: Given the minor nature of the accident and the tricky nature of the insurance, would it be better to just settle it out-of-pocket? Are there things that I should ensure that would make the out-of-pocket settlement easier or more fair (for me)? I read the first post that comes up when you search AskMeFi for "car insurance," and it talked about a form preventing later claims. Necessary?

Car insurance during a long overseas trip?

sharkfu — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:25:51 -0800

What can I do about my car insurance during a long overseas trip? I might be going on a long (3+ month) overseas trip and I don't know what to do about my car insurance while gone.

When I contacted a customer service representative, they said lapses in coverage aren't looked upon favorably by insurance companies (especially in California?) and that my rates would probably go up if I stopped coverage and then restarted upon my return. The best she could do was drop it down to the state minimum (about $57/ month for me) while I'm gone.

Since they have a vested interest in continuing to get money from me, are there any other options? Some kind of planned non-operation that doesn't actually appear as a lapse in coverage? Switching to mega-cheap company?

I've been with them (Progressive) 11 years, overall have been a really happy customer with a good driving record, but I don't want to throw away money without checking for alternatives. I'm also kinda bugged "keep using us or else!" approach when I've been loyal for 11 years... but I guess that's the insurance game.

I won't be driving while overseas, if it matters.

A bike hit my parked car, who pays?

ryaninoakland — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:31:28 -0800

Someone hit my car whilst riding their bicycle, knocking my side rear-view mirror clear off. They were nice enough to leave their number for me but I'm curious- is that something their insurance would pay for, or is it something I'll have to try to get money out of pocket for? I have only liability insurance. Totally inexperienced when it comes to such matters so talk to me like an infant.

My head hertz.

peanut_mcgillicuty — Sun, 17 May 2009 07:19:36 -0800

More rental car insurance confusion. I live in NYC so have no car/no insurance. I can't tell if I need to buy what the rental car company is selling. I'm renting a car for five days in Georgia this week. I got the car through Orbitz--the rental car agency is Hertz.

This previous question indicates that I need to purchase additional insurance, since the insurance my credit card provides is not liability. But this previous question indicates that Hertz DOES provide primary liability insurance up to a state's limit (which in Georgia appears to be 25/50/25).

Hertz's website says this: On all rentals commencing in the state of Georgia, Hertz will provide secondary liability protection. The renters personal/business insurance is used to its limits. In the event of no applicable liability protection, Hertz, by default, becomes primary. Hertz will become primary if the Liability Insurance Supplement - LIS - is purchased. LIS is available at USD 12.95 per each full or partial day of rental. I take that to read that they provide it at no cost--but you can purchase it to make their insurance, not yours, the primary. And if you don't have insurance, it's provided automatically.

But calling the location itself to verify that was not helpful, as the girl on the phone simply said, "If you don't have insurance already, you need to buy it." I'll be calling their corporate line as well, but it certainly appears that if I'm happy with the 25/50/25 coverage they're required to offer, I don't in fact need to purchase any insurance through them.

However, I haven't dealt with car insurance in about seven years and all this back-and-forth has me questioning reality in general. Am I reading this right? If you were in my shoes, would you pay for insurance through Hertz? (It's not a huge amount but I really don't want to pay for something they'd be providing me with anyway.)

Bonus question: either way, does that insurance cover me and a secondary driver (assuming I list that second drive with Hertz), or just me?

Should I report my stolen car stereo to the insurance company?

agentmunroe — Sun, 10 May 2009 10:35:32 -0800

My car stereo just got stolen - while my car was in my driveway. Should I report it to my insurance company? So I came outside not 10 minutes ago to find the passenger-side window of my '02 Chevy Prizm smashed in, and my 3-year-old mediocre Alpine head unit stolen. It was the cheapest one at the time that had an auxiliary in (I think $199 new, not that I have the receipt handy to prove it), and I was starting to look at replacing it anyway with one that had better iPod integration and HD radio, so I'm not particularly worried about the stereo cost itself - although it would be nice to have it replaced.

What I'm not sure about is - should I handle this out-of-pocket, or report it to State Farm to see what they'll do? While it would be great to have the repairs paid for, we have three other cars under our policy; I don't know if it works this way, but I'd be worried we'd be classified as a higher risk and have our rates raised. If any rates get raised, I'd rather just pay for it myself.

As a bit of background, we live in a mediocre to bad part of town - we haven't had any home theft lately, but did have a car stolen a few years ago that we reported and was eventually returned.

I don't yet have the insurance paperwork in front of me (going to dig those up next), but our plan with State Farm is fairly comprehensive... it's covered a windshield replacement due to a crack, and all of the rental/repair costs from when I was in a not-at-fault accident about six months ago and had some collision damage taken care of.

Side question - if I don't report it, is it even worth filing a police report? And am I allowed to drive it without the window for now (NYS)?

Thanks for any thoughts.

Moving to the Bay Area

skaye — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:43:10 -0800

Help me plan my move to the Bay Area! Thanks to everyone who answered my last post, you were all very very helpful. Now that I'm at stage 2 of the move-to-Bay-Area process, I'm hoping the hive mind can help me again.

I'm planning a scouting trip to California at the end of April, about a month before my job starts, to look for housing options and figure the region out. I will have about 5 days. With the previous help of Mefites, I've narrowed down the places I think I can/want to live to pretty much two zones: downtown San Mateo and Potrero Hill in San Francisco (the latter for its proximity to the Caltrain system, which I will have to use every day to get to work in San Carlos, the former for its drive-able proximity to San Carlos and because I want to live within walking distance of shops, restaurants, etc.)

My questions are:
- Do you know anything about these two areas - what are they like as places to live? I am also still open to other area suggestions, though, so feel free to chime in on that. I would really love to live in SF but have realized that unless I live within walking distance of a Caltrain station I will start hating the commute really quickly.
- Is Millbrae worth checking out? My only reason for asking is that it attractively has both BART and Caltrain access.
- Any advice for how to go about looking for rentals in these areas? This is my first job out of college so I have no experience with this sort of thing. I've read as much as I can online and it sounds like I need to go with a credit report and checkbook in hand. Is this true? How current does my credit report need to be? (E.g. can I print one out now, in March, and still have it be convincing for a landlord in April/May?)
- Given that I start work immediately after graduation and won't have much time to shop around for housing, should I stay at a motel for the first week of work while I find a lease, or should I look to rent a place during my recce trip and pay for a month's rent without living there? I'm assuming that landlords won't appreciate the "I love this place and want to live here but can only move in in a month" spiel. Are there any other options I haven't considered?
- If I live in San Mateo, I will need to buy a car. I'm looking to buy something used and cheap - is a budget of about $4k reasonable for a small, modest, but safe and functional car? Any advice for where to go in the area to purchase one? Any car type recommendations to avoid sky high auto insurance?
- What's the best way to use/organize my limited time on the scouting trip? During the trip I'll be living with a friend in Berkeley, if that's relevant.

Any other first-time-renter/first-time-move to CA/first-time-car-owner advice would be very very welcome. The contract is for one year, so long-term stuff isn't really a concern for me. I'm sorry to bludgeon everyone with so many questions all at once - thank you all in advance!

How should I handle changing car insurance policies for a short term move?

pilibeen — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:04:52 -0800

I'm moving out of state - from PA to NY - for a short-term job (roughly a year). Can I have a PA car insurance policy? I've heard NY and NJ auto insurance policies are ridiculously expensive.

Since I'll still have a PA license, and a permanent PA address (my parents), can I just keep PA auto insurance? My current policy is about to renew, and I've been shopping around and finding some great quotes for PA.

So would this be entirely legal? If not, is it risky?

Car insurance question

ClaudiaCenter — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:48:09 -0800

CarInsuranceFilter -- Liability only or more? car insurance for 1997 Jetta with 95,000 miles? I have a 1997 Jetta with 95,000 miles, paid off. Should I just have liability insurance? (I have had full coverage, but it seems like overkill.)

This is so frustrating.

jennyjenny — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:07:48 -0800

Bought new car Tuesday. Car got squooshed in a hit and run four days later. I only have liability insurance. Oh, crap. How can I track down the guy who hit me? I have some information about him, but the police are being very unhelpful. Help, Metafilter detectives! My pretty new Subaru Forester (new to me -- it's a 2000, but was in lovely shape) was terribly maimed in a hit and run accident on Saturday night in Brooklyn, NY.

The accident was witnessed by a couple of people, I have their contact information. One of them made a police report. The police report described the truck that hit mine and another car as an 8-wheel truck with commercial plates. The truck is very likely blue, due to the long streak of blue paint along the side of my car. The truck that hit me is very likely to be damaged enough to require repair, because it completely destroyed one car in the impact, and really seriously took a bite out of mine.

The police report contained a license plate number, but my insurance company ran the plates and said that it didn't match anything.

I want the police to make at least some effort to find the person who hit my car. This is the first car I've had since 1995, I really don't have the money to get it fixed, and I really don't want to have spent all that money for nothing.

I have called the police precinct where the accident report was filed, and they said I have to call back between midnight and 7 am on thursdays or fridays to reach the relevant officer.

Questions: Is there anything I can do that I'm not doing to try to track down the person who hit my car? It's a commercial vehicle, so it's likely insured, and it's likely to need repairs.
If I pursue something with the police, is the officer who took the accident report the only person I can talk to?
Is this incident likely to be investigated, or are the police just going to ignore it?
What other options might I have?

Thanks in advance, metafilter.

What's the correct order of operations concerning insurance and registration after buying a car from a private seller in Illinois?

hAndrew — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 12:12:46 -0800

I've agreed on a price for a used car with a private seller in Illinois. I know I need to A. get the signed title, B. register the car with the DMV, and C. get insurance. But what's the correct order of operations, and which steps must be completed before driving the car at all? I understand that C must be completed before driving the car at all. I can't find any conclusive information online about whether B is required before driving the car (such as driving it to the DMV), and the information telephone lines are closed on the weekend. Assuming it is required, is the following the right order of operations?

1. Obtain insurance in advance.
2. Buy car, getting signed title then. I understand the seller must remove their plates at this time.
3. Leave the car (presently not driveable by anyone!) where it is.
4. Visit DMV (in some other car or a taxi), pay sales tax and obtain registration.
5. Return to car and affix (temporary) plates.

Should 1 and 2 be swapped? Can they be without delaying the overall process? Must they be, perhaps because one must be the owner to obtain insurance for a particular car? Is this rest of this order correct?

Old car crashed + next car purchased + insurance office closed for the weekend = magical amnesty?

Acari — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:24:12 -0800

Canadian Auto Insurance Question: Nebulous limbo time between vehicles edition. "Everybody Knows" that there is a 14 day grace period to get your papers sorted out. Is there? The precise situation is that one vehicle has just been totalled by a young lady who had insurance under her father's policy [last car in a highway pileup; she says she's okay; she's going to the doctor just in case] and she is now setting up a new policy with the same insurance company for an 18-year-old used car she has just purchased.
Almost everyone that I've spoken to says that putting her old plates on this car and keeping the bill of sale with her will be okay for up to 2 weeks while insurance and registration are negotiated.

This doesn't match well with my impression of insurance companies.

I've already heard enough of "you'll be fine", and I've heard a couple of people say that it's crazy to go for a millisecond without documented everything, but I want to know what the law says.
Can anyone help me look this up?

I ask not because it's urgent right now [it isn't], but because it is the friday before a long weekend and if I *needed* an answer I know I couldn't ask the insurance company until tuesday.

To further complicate the issue, this vehicle has just had a safety inspection [vehicles over 15 years old need this inspection to be insured here] which identified worn brake pads + rotors. The parts have been ordered and I will have them replaced by tomorrow. Does the legality of things change based on this inspection if the vehicle is not insured either way?
And because this is the long weekend, the insurance currently on the vehicle won't be removed until tuesday anyway. Does that count for anything? Or against anything?

And if this mythic 14 day grace period doesn't exist, why is it such a popular answer?

How can I find the insurance company of the person who hit my car?

icollectpurses — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:56:54 -0800

I wrote down everything except for the name of the insurance company of the person who rear ended my car!!! Is there a way to find out without calling my insurance company? (More info inside) I am in a different state than where my car is registered and someone hit my car from the back last week. While the damage isn't huge, I'd like to get it fixed. I wrote down every piece of information on this driver except for the name of her insurance company. I would like to get my car fixed without notifying my insurance company for they've been itching to raise my premium for any reason, regardless of who is to blame....just to give you an idea, the last time I was involved in an accident, the first time ever for me, they raised it by 80%.

Any suggestions how how I can get this taken care of? I have her address, birthday, driver's license #, license plate, the insurance policy number, and I think her mom's name, whose name appears on the insurance policy.

Help!

Driving uninsured?

Autarky — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:18:03 -0800

What happens if I get caught driving without car insurance? I'm going to be in possession of a car for a very short amount of time. Insuring it would be impractical. I don't *have* to drive it, but it would help a lot to make a few trips to a grocery store a few miles away. Obviously if I get in an accident I could be in some deep trouble, and it's a risk I'd have to take very seriously (though I have a perfect record).

What I'm wondering about is if, say, I get pulled over because of a broken brakelight or for speeding or something. What would be the penalty for driving sans insurance?

It...it...flam - flames. Flames, on the side of my car, heaving...breath...insurance.

quakerjono — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:55:05 -0800

My car spontaneously combusted. Please help me avoid getting burned by the insurance company! Of all the values out there, which one is the closest to what they insurance company will offer me, which one should I be aiming for and how should I go about getting it? While joining friends for dinner on Leap Day 2008, my car literally burst into flames in the restaurant's parking lot for no obvious reason. I had taken my beloved 2001 Mercury Sable LS Premium, with CD changer, leather interior and moonroof into Midas at the beginning of February to replace the battery and get an oil change. They did their standard little once-over as well and said everything was in good shape, so I was stunned on several levels as I watched the fireman light his cigarette from the smoldering wreckage that used to be my car's hood. What's worse is I bought the car used in 2003 and still have around $3,000 on the 6-year loan.

After spending the weekend in mourning, I set about trying to find out how much I could reasonably expect from Progressive. I checked listings with Edmunds, Kelly Blue Book, NADA and through local car trader papers. I'm left with quite a range of figures (everything from around $3,585 for Edmunds' general trade-in value for 2001 Mercury Sables to $6,925 for NADA's retail value for the car with my specific options) and I'm not sure which ones are most accurate. I realize, since half the car looks like a bombed out apocalyptic nightmare, full retail value is out of the question. Bare-bones trade-in seems shockingly low, though, particularly given the extras the car had and how much care I lavished on it. I even have the maintenance records...or rather, I had them...in my glove box...which was attached to the dashboard...which the firemen impaled on their axe and hurled seemingly halfway across the parking lot.

This is the first time I've filed a claim with Progressive in the three years I've had them, and so far, they've been great. I filed Saturday morning, they called me back by 9 am the same day, I spoke with my specific claims adjuster this morning at 8:45 am and within a couple of hours has been contacted by Enterprise to let me know Progressive had my $40/day rental car reservation ready to go. So I'm hopeful they won't low-ball me, but I'm not even sure how I'll know if I'm getting a fair deal. Also, they'll only pay for three days of car rental after they tell me how much they're offering me so I don't have a lot of time to weigh options. While I can do without a car for awhile, longer than a couple of weeks becomes impractical to say the least.

How do I know what's a reasonable amount to aim for from Progressive and, if I think I'm being low-balled, how might I negotiate and increase in the offer?

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...)

Should I change my car insurance?

msalex — Tue, 22 May 2007 17:38:02 -0800

My girlfriend and I are considering changing our car insurance. Are there any penalties or caveats we should watch out for? I've gotten quotes that would save us about 50 bucks a month, and we are staying with national carriers. Is it like a credit score that reflects poorly when there are multiple inquiries?

Temporary Auto Insurance

matimer — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 14:38:05 -0800

My roomate and I are driving from California to New Jersey in his car... do I need to get some sort of temporary car insurance to drive his car? I haven't owned a car in about a year, I've rented uhaul vans in the last year and both times I could pay some small fee for temporary insurance. Do I need to get temporary car insurance or while we are driving across the country in his car will I be covered by his insurance?

How do I find a good insurance company?

raf — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 08:13:49 -0800

How do I find a car insurance company that has good service and won't screw me over if something happens? My Progressive insurance is up for renewal in a month or so. I'm thinking of shopping around. I got a quote from Geico, which for less insurance was about 20% higher than Progressive. That spooked me a bit (probably for no reason) into thinking that perhaps Geico has better service than Progressive.

Have people here had good claims experience with Geico, Progressive, &c? Should I be looking for a "name brand" insurer like Allstate? What about AAA? I'd love to hear about people's experiences. Even better, if there are unbiased consumer surveys out there, I'd love pointers.

Basically my concern is that I'm not that price sensitive; I'd rather have a company that's not going to be impossible to work with if something happens. But since I won't know whether they do until something happens, I don't have full information about companies when I buy. How do I make certain I don't get screwed?

What to do with my car for the next 2 years?

liberalintellect — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:24:41 -0800

What should I do with a car I won't be using for the next 2 years? I have a 2004 Mazda 6 that would be more of a hindrance than a help during my upcoming 2-year time commitment in New York City (after which I imagine I'll need a car again). Several Mazda dealers in my area have contacted me about wanting to buy it from me over the past 3 years, so apparently it's a hot commodity now, but with its extremely low MPG I can't see it staying that way for long. Is it better to keep the car at a friend's house somewhere and continue to pay low-use insurance on it (and get it serviced, etc.) or should I sell it and get another car when I leave the city?

Do I need to get car insurance for my 19year old son?

FLHunter3006 — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 04:10:54 -0800

My 19 year old son just got his driver's license... he's been using public transportation,friends, etc to move around, but I guess he couldn't wait any longer.... At my house there are 3 cars, all of wich are used daily,(my other son,wife and I ). He would be borrowing one of the cars (when available) or else his grandmother's, who doesn't live with us. Am I required to tell my car insurance company (State Farm), that the household has another driver? I once called them and they told me to notify them when he got his license, premium would go up a couple of thousand dollars. Do I really have to do it????? We are in South Florida.

Tons of car and insurance questions

lpctstr; — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 14:49:18 -0800

I just moved to a new area and bought a car for the first time and have a list of questions about new cars and insurance. Feel free to answer whichever ones you want. A) When renting a car and declining their supplemental liability insurance, does that mean you don't have liability insurance at all? Doesn't the law require all cars to have liability at least?

B) I read on the California DMV website that you have to get a CA license within 10 days of moving there. What address would you put on your license if you don't have an address?

C) Will the car insurance company adjust your premium when you finally get an address? I can put the hotel address right now but will probably be living in a different zip code when I get a place.

D) Common sense dictates that driving your car to work can't be tax-deducted. However, why does my company say you can use pre-tax dollars to get tickets for public transportation to work?

E) Is there a minimum amount of time you need to be with an insurance company, or is there a startup cost? If not, what prevents you from switching to another insurance company after 1 week with one company? Will they refund the prorated amount of your premium?

F) When I was in the dealership to byu my car, the finance manager suddenly pulled out my credit score. I had not authorized them to check my credit or anything beforehand. Can they just get your score without you knowing?

G) What's the use of un-insured motorist insurances? Would my health insurance cover me if someone without insurance hit me? Wouldn't collison insurance also cover me if someone without insurance hit me? If not, what about in states with no-fault policies?

If any of this matters, the new car is a 2007 Ford Focus and I'm living in the South Bay Area in California and staying in a cheap hotel for now.