Homeowners > FAQs > Auto
Insurance FAQs
Auto Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
- I was the victim of a hit and run, am I covered?
- I just bought a car and the dealer said I am covered, what does that mean?
- If I purchase a new vehicle, is it automatically covered?
- I bought a red car, does it cost more to insure a red car?
- A friend is going to borrow my car, am I covered while they drive my car?
- I am renting a car, does my insurance policy cover me?
- My car isn't worth much, should I insure the car itself?
- What is the difference between collision physical damage coverage and comprehensive physical damage coverage?
- What should I do if I have an accident?
- If I get into an accident or get a ticket will my rates go up?
- I got a ticket, do you recommend I go to traffic school?
- What should I consider when purchasing automobile insurance?
- Are there ways to lower my insurance premiums?
- I already have insurance. Can I cancel my current policy?
- What discounts do you offer?
- What if I don't list all drivers on my policy?
- Do all of my insured vehicles need to be registered at the same address?
- Can I use another address for a lower rate?
- Can I have my bill mailed to an address other than where I am currently living?
- What are my payment options?
- Where can I drop off a payment?
- The rate you quoted me is different than my policy?
- When my policy expires, will I automatically receive a renewal notice?
- If points drop my driving record will my rate drop automatically?
- Does my car have to be registered in my name?
- If I missed an insurance payment and my policy lapses, do I have to reapply and pay new application fees or can I have my policy reinstated automatically?
- If I get married, will my insurance rates automatically drop?
- Will my insurance rates automatically drop when I turn 25?
- If I drive in another state will I be covered? In Canada? In Mexico?
- Will my insurance cover personal items left in my vehicle if they are stolen or damaged?
- If a driver who is not named on my policy borrows my vehicle, is that driver and my vehicle automatically covered?
- If I cancel my policy, do I get a refund?
- Are routine automobile repair costs covered by insurance?
- What is commercial coverage?
- What is business use?
- Can I use my vehicle for business or commercial use?
- If I am at work and I need to run a work-related errand, am I covered?
- What is artisan use?
- What is replacement cost?
- What is actual cash value?
- What is market value?
- What if my driving record is incorrect?
- How do I get proof of a non-chargeable accident?
- Do I need to pay to repair my window if it is broken or damaged?
- What is a non-standard risk?
- What is a broker fee?
- What is no-fault insurance?
- What are SR-22 filings?
- What are SR-1 filings?
Yes and no. If you have collision coverage on your policy you are covered. However the deductible still applies. Most people believe they are covered under Uninsured Motorists coverage. This is not the case. The company believes that you cannot prove if the motorist that hit your vehicle was uninsured. They also believe that most of the claims are for damage the insured caused to their own car. Even if you have a witness and police report, you will only be covered if the motorist that hit your car is identified and it is determined that they do not have coverage. I just bought a car and the dealer said I am covered, what does that mean?
Danger, Will Robinson!! Dealers are not insurance agents. There have been a lot of problems with auto dealers telling people they have insurance when they drive off the lot. Most dealers do not have licensed agents on staff. Occasionally they will sell you or include an insurance policy. However 99 times out of 100 that policy is just a physical damage policy that only covers the car. IT CONTAINS NO LIABILITY INSURANCE. This usually happens when you buy a car and get a loan from the dealer. They are only making sure you are insured to cover the dealers loan to you. See next question. If I purchase a new vehicle, is it automatically covered?
Call your Customer Service Representative before you purchase your new, or used, vehicle to make sure you will be covered when you take possession of the vehicle. I bought a red car, does it cost more to insure a red car?
This is one of the biggest and oldest insurance myths. Vehicle color is not a factor in determining your auto insurance premium. A friend is going to borrow my car, am I covered while they drive my car?
Whenever you knowingly loan your car to a friend, family member, co-worker etc, you may be covered under your automobile insurance policy. In fact, even if you do not give explicit permission each time a person borrows your car, you may be covered as long as they had a reasonable belief that you would have given them permission to drive the car. If you are carrying a named-operator policy, only the individuals named on the policy are covered while they drive your car. Although often less expensive, a named operator policy should be clearly disclosed before you purchase the policy.
Also you should be aware that when you purchase liability insurance, that coverage goes with you from car to car. (This is not true in all cases read your policy) In other words if you borrow a friends car and are involved in an accident, and have car to car coverage, your liability policy will cover you when driving your friends car. However your liability policy will not protect your friend, he/she must have their own liability insurance to be protected. Conversely it is important to make sure that the people who drive your car have insurance. Because irregardless of whether or not they have insurance, you can still be sued. Very important to understand is that under California law the registered owner of the vehicle is the one responsible for the damage caused by their vehicle, even if they are not driving it (except in the case of stolen cars). So if your friend is driving your car not only will your friend get sued but so will you.
I am renting a car, does my insurance policy cover me?Remember that your liability coverage travels with you from car to car. So whether you are driving your car, a friend’s car, or a rental car, your liability insurance follows you. However the physical damage coverage does not work the same. In most cases, your personal automobile insurance policy will provide coverage only when you are renting a car on vacation. Many insurance companies no longer extend personal automobile insurance coverage when you are traveling on business. The best way to find out what rental car coverage you have under your automobile policy is to call your insurance agent and verify if you have coverage or not. My car isn't worth much, should I insure the car itself?
Many people forgo the Comp/Coll coverages because of the relatively low values of their car. It does not hurt to find out the cost of the coverage to see if it fits in your budget. Say you have a car worth $3000. It may only cost $200 a year to insure it with a $500 deductible. If the car is totaled you would get a check for $2500. So it might be worth the coverage. However sometimes the cost of repairing the damages to an older car is greater than its value. In these cases, your insurer will usually just "total" the car and give you a check for the car's market value less the deductible. What is the difference between collision physical damage coverage and comprehensive physical damage coverage?
Both collision and comprehensive are often referred to as Comp/Collision (Comp/Coll) coverage. Collision is defined as losses you incur when your automobile collides with another car or object. For example, if you hit a car in a parking lot, the damages to your car will be paid under your collision coverage. While Comprehensive provides coverage for most other direct physical damage losses you could incur. For example, damage to your car from a hailstorm will be covered under your comprehensive coverage. It is important to know the differences between the collision and comprehensive coverages for a couple of reasons. First, in order to make an informed purchasing decision about these optional coverages, you need to know the difference between them. Second, the deductibles under the collision and comprehensive coverages are often different in amount. What should I do if I have an accident?
The duties you need to perform after you have an accident are prescribed both by state law and by terms of your contract.
- First call an ambulance if anyone is injured..
- If the property damage appears as though it may exceed $500, call the police to have a report taken.
- Exchange information with the other driver(s) involved in the accident your name, address, telephone number, and the name of your insurance company and/or your insurance agent. Also get the license plate number of any car involved.
- At the first opportunity, you should contact either your insurance agent or your insurance company to notify them that you have been involved in an accident.
- Finally, there are a number of conditions in the insurance contract that you must satisfy in order to receive compensation from your insurer. For example, you need to cooperate with your insurer during any investigation undertaken during the claims settlement process.
Failure to complete any of these actions can, and sometimes does, result in non-payment by your insurance company for losses that otherwise would have been covered.
If I get into an accident or get a ticket will my rates go up?Under California law a good driver is defined as someone who has been licensed to drive in the continental United States for three continuous years and has one point or less on their driving record. Insurance companies verify your point count by checking your motor vehicle record and through the use of shared claims data companies such as CLUE and ChoicePoint. Most tickets and accidents count as one point. However, some count as two. Accidents involving property damage only count as one point. If the accident involved any bodily injury, any at all, it counts as two points. The only way to prove an accident did not involve bodily injury is to obtain a copy of the police report, or a letter from your insurance company who covered you at the time of the accident. Major violations such as drunk driving, reckless, exhibition of speed, speeding over 100 MPH are two point tickets. Tickets count as points for three years. After three years they drop off your point count. They may still appear on your driving record, but the insurance company cannot count that against you. Also note that some companies use the Violation date to determine the three year period while others use the Conviction date.
As long as you have one point or less and have been licensed for three or more continuous years, your rates should not fluctuate more than 5% or so.
I got a ticket, do you recommend I go to traffic school?Yes, under all circumstances. You need to keep your point count at one or less. Also remember you can only go to traffic school to dismiss moving violations, not accidents. Say you get a ticket and decide not to go to traffic school, after all with only one point you are still a good driver. But what if you get into an accident after that? Now you have two points. And you cannot go to traffic school to remove the accident from your record. Protect your self and go to traffic school. Plus with many of them on-line, they can be completed easily and quickly. What should I consider when purchasing automobile insurance?
There are a number of factors you should consider when purchasing any product or service, and insurance is no different. Here is a checklist of things you should consider when purchasing automobile insurance.
- Purchase the amount of liability coverage that best fits your budget and
protects you,
your family, and your assets or future earnings.
- Decide which optional coverages
you want. For example, do you want the optional physical damage coverages
in Comp/Collision or is the market value of your car too low to warrant
purchasing them.
- Finally, once you have decided what you want in your automobile
insurance policy, you can now decide who you would like to purchase the
insurance from. For example, you may decide you like the idea of purchasing
insurance from a mutual company rather than a stock company.
- You should
also decide whether you would like an insurance broker to assist you in
your purchasing decision or if you would like to buy the insurance directly
from a company that sells insurance over the phone or through the mail.
There are several reasons why
you should choose an Independent Agent instead of purchasing directly from the internet
or a direct writing company like Farmers or State Farm.
Insurance companies use several factors to determine how much your premium will be. The most important are your years of driving experience, violation and accident point count in the last three years, type of car you drive, where the vehicle is garaged, and most importantly how much insurance you buy.
The best way to lower the cost of your automobile insurance is to look for any discounts that you may qualify for. Examples:
- Multi Car Discount, put all vehicles you own on same policy.
- Auto & Home Discount, insure your car and home with the same company.
- Driver Training Discount
- Good Student Discounts, 3.0 or better GPA.
- Mature Driver Discounts, for drivers over 55, course certification required.
- Educational Discounts – For certain degrees, Educators, Engineers, etc
- Government/Military Discounts , for civil servants and government officials.
Find out how much you can save if you increase your deductibles.. Usually it is best to keep your Comprehensive Deductible lower. You will find there is little savings in lower the deductible. However there are larger savings when you increase your Collision Deductible, sometimes 5-10%.
I already have insurance. Can I cancel my current policy?You can cancel your existing policy at any time. The company will keep a portion of the premium that has not been earned. It is usually best to let the policy expire, or cancel for non-payment of premium. What discounts do you offer?
We represent insurance companies that offer the following discounts:
Good Driver Discounts, 1 or fewer points in the last three years of driving
Good Student Discounts, full time students with a GPA 3.0 or higher
Marriage Discounts
Multi Car Discount, put all vehicles you own on same policy.
Auto & Home Discount, insure your car and home, or renters/condo policy,
with the same company save 5-10% on both policies
Driver Training Discount
Mature Driver Discounts, for drivers over 55, course certification required.
Professional/Educational Discounts – For certain degrees, Educators,
Engineers, Doctors, etc
Government/Military Discounts, for civil servants and government officials.
Motorcycle - members of the Gold Wing Club
The safest thing to do is list all of the people on your application who will be driving your car. Most policies are "permissive use" policies, which covers you (the named insured), others listed on the policy, and any drivers who have been given permission to drive your vehicle. However it is always safe to check with your insurance company. Contact your Customer Service Representative. Do all of my insured vehicles need to be registered at the same address?
Yes. A new policy is required for each address. Can I use another address for a lower rate?
Absolutely NOT! You must list the proper address, otherwise you are committing insurance fraud and are putting your coverage at risk. Can I have my bill mailed to an address other than where I am currently living?
Yes. However, the insurance company may require that you provide proof of residency such as a utility or cable bill. What are my payment options?
The payment options for your policy will vary depending upon which company you choose to place your coverage with. Most companies offer, monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual payment. Also a few companies offer discounts if you pay your annual premium in full. Where can I drop off a payment?
It depends upon which company you are insured with. Contact your Customer Service Representative to find out if you need to send it directly to the company or can drop it off at one of our offices. The rate you quoted me is different than my policy?
The rate originally quoted and your final rate should be the same unless there was a discrepancy between the information you provided. Notably about your driving history. Also if you did not disclose any prior claims the company may run a Claims report on you and any discrepancy on the application could cause you rate to change. When my policy expires, will I automatically receive a renewal notice?
Yes. You will receive a renewal notice before your coverage expires. The only time you will not receive a renewal notice is when the insurance company decides to non-renew your policy. If points drop my driving record will my rate drop automatically?
With most companies yes. We automatically check your driving record each time your policy renews. If points have dropped off we will often check the rates of other companies to make sure we are offering you the best quote we can. Does my car have to be registered in my name?
Your car must be registered in your name in order for you to obtain insurance. If the vehicle is registered under a different name, no insurance can be issued to you until your name is on the registration. An electronic registration verification is available through the DMV for an additional cost. If I missed an insurance payment and my policy lapses, do I have to reapply and pay new application fees or can I have my policy reinstated automatically?
If you miss a payment and do not reinstate your policy after receiving a cancellation notice, there will be a lapse in coverage. As with any insurance, you will need to have a new application completed and pay the down payment for your new policy. If I get married, will my insurance rates automatically drop?
Marriage generally cause a decrease in your insurance rates. Adding your spouse may affect your rates, depending on your spouse's driving record and other factors. Generally speaking your rates will drop with the Married discount. Will my insurance rates automatically drop when I turn 25?
Several factors determine your current rates, including your age, driving experience and the amount of time you have been a licensed driver. Your age is not so important as your driving experience. If you turn 25, but have only been driving for a year you are still considered a non-standard risk. However if you turn 25 and have been licensed since 16, you now have 9 years of experience. If I drive in another state will I be covered? In Canada? In Mexico?
Your auto policy may provide coverage in all 50 states, U.S. territories and Canada. If you are traveling in Mexico, we recommend that you purchase a separate insurance policy, which is typically available at the border. Best to check with your company and ask your Customer Service Representative. Will my insurance cover personal items left in my vehicle if they are stolen or damaged?
No, personal items would need to be insured on a homeowner's or renter's policy. If a driver who is not named on my policy borrows my vehicle, is that driver and my vehicle automatically covered?
Most policies are "permissive" use policies so you would be covered. If you purchased a "named-driver" or "named-operator" policy, only drivers listed on the policy are covered. If I cancel my policy, do I get a refund?
Yes. Any unearned premium will be sent back to you after your policy is cancelled. Are routine automobile repair costs covered by insurance?
No, the wear and tear on your vehicle is not covered as a part of your insurance policy. What is commercial coverage?
Commercial coverage is for companies that own their own vehicles which are used solely for work related driving. What is business use?
Business use means that the vehicle is used for work-related purposes but is not owned by the business. Examples include when a doctor makes an emergency call or an attorney visits a client outside of the office. Can I use my vehicle for business or commercial use?
Most companies do not cover any business or commercial use. Check with your Customer Service Representative for verification. If I am at work and I need to run a work-related errand, am I covered?
Most companies do not cover any business or commercial use. Check with your Customer Service Representative for verification. What is artisan use?
Artisan use refers to someone such as a carpenter or landscaper who is not self employed and travels to different locations periodically as a part of their business. Contractors equipment, however, are not covered in this insurance. What is replacement cost?
Replacement cost is a valuation method. This is not available for auto insurance. If you have a TV stolen from your house the company would pay for the cost to replace that TV with one of like kind and quality. Auto insurance is based on a "market" or actual cash value method. What is actual cash value?
An evaluation method that depreciates the value of a good to determine current value. If you buy a car for $20,000 brand new and drive it for 3 years. The value depreciates each year due to wear on the car. To determine actual cash value you subtract the depreciation amount from the cost new. What is market value?
Market value is the price for which something would sell for under current market conditions. For example, if you purchased a Ford Mustang in the late 1960s for $10,000, today's market value of that car, because of its condition, age and collectible value, might exceed $20,000. If you have a claim and your car is totaled, it is a good idea to check the pricing of cars similar to yours that are for sale in the paper or at auto dealerships. What if my driving record is incorrect?
The accuracy of your driving record is your responsibility. If you notice a discrepancy, you should notify the DMV immediately. You may also need to go to court to correct the error. How do I get proof of a non-chargeable accident?
You can obtain proof of a non-chargeable accident from a police report or a statement of loss from your insurance company. This proof is required to verify a no-fault accident or to verify there was no bodily injury involved in the accident. Do I need to pay to repair my window if it is broken or damaged?
If you have a glass waiver deductible, your insurance policy covers the repair cost for a broken or damaged window. Without a glass waiver deductible, your comprehensive deductible would apply, which can often total more than the cost to repair the window. What is a non-standard risk?
Non-standard risk refers primarily to high-risk groups including drivers who have multiple tickets or who have multiple at-fault accidents on their records. Additionally, new drivers are often classified as a non-standard risk. In California if you are not a "good driver" by law, you are considered a non standard risk. What is a broker fee?
A broker fee is a fee that brokers charge to the consumer for setting up and managing your policy. What is no-fault insurance?
No fault state insurance covers the victims of an accident regardless of who is at fault, with the goal of keeping claims to a minimum. California is not currently a no-fault state. What are SR-22 filings?
SR-22 filings - Are required by the Department of Motor Vehicles for those people who are involved in an accident and had no insurance, or for people who were unable to provide proof of insurance to a police officer. They remain with you for 3 years. Important notice for SR-22 policy holders the SR-22 is an agreement between the insurance company and the DMV stating that if your policy ever cancels, the insurance company will notify the DMV and the DMV will suspend your license immediately and send you notice in the mail. It is possible that if you are pulled over your license may have been suspended without you knowing it. What are SR-1 filings?
SR-1 - Is a form used by the DMV that must be filled out by any driver involved in an accident involving bodily injury or property damage in excess of $500. Failure to comply will result in your license being suspended.