Posts Tagged ‘car insurance coverage’

Is It Possible to Obtain Full Car Insurance Coverage with a Salvage Title?

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Many individuals ask if it is possible to obtain full car insurance coverage if the vehicle has a salvage title. The answer lies within determining the laws and regulations that exist in the state you live. Every state is different and contacting your local title office or DMV will give answers to all your car insurance coverage questions, especially concerning an automobile that has a salvage title.

Most states however, have laws in place that clearly state a vehicle is deemed unlawful to operate on a highway until the owner has had it repaired and inspected by the state highway patrol office. Many times this will apply to a car with a salvage title. Once you have had your car inspected, the highway patrol office will give you the necessary documents you will need to show the DMV that indeed it has passed the requirements. When all this has been processed and taken care of, you will be able to insure and operate the vehicle. If you opt for acquiring full car insurance, the car’s value may be shown as a lesser value. Address any concerns you have on this matter with your car insurance company when you apply for coverage.

If you are the owner of any vehicle that has a salvage title, then you can assume the automobile has been modified and meets state specifics regarding salvage title vehicles. It is now in your hands to obtain sufficient car insurance coverage. You should not have any difficulty in finding a company that will place an insurance policy on the vehicle. You will also want to compare car insurance rates to get the best deal on coverage. This is easy to do by simply searching online. Several websites will allow you to quickly compare car insurance rates.

Vehicles that are issued a salvage title are considered damaged beyond what the normal market value is of the car itself. In some states, if the owner of a salvage titled automobile does work on the vehicle to make the car sufficient and roadworthy, then they may reissue a rebuilt title after the fact. Usually, it is not difficult to find an insurance company that is willing to insure this sort of vehicle, however most will only insure the automobile with liability coverage. Be sure to ask your car insurance agent what options may be available to you for any additional coverage you may want to purchase.

Sometimes, insurance companies do have optional insurance coverage you can purchase for vehicles with a salvage title. But, ultimately, you will have to make a decision if the car is value to you is worth the amount of coverage and premiums that you will be paying.

Will My Car Insurance Cover Me If I Get into an Accident in Someone Else’s Car?

Monday, August 10th, 2009

Whether or not your car insurance covers you in someone else’s car can vary by state. Although this is true, there are typical rules that apply to accidents that take place when the original owner of a vehicle is not the one driving.

The general rule is that your car insurance will cover your vehicle on a primary basis, and you on a secondary basis. This means that if you get into an accident in a vehicle that is not yours, the owner’s insurance will take care of it. Whatever their car insurance does not cover, your insurance coverage will pick up. On the other hand, if someone who does not own your car gets into an accident, your insurance will pay and their policy will fill in the gaps.

You will want to consider the fact that your car insurance rates may go up if someone has an accident driving your car. This will be the case if the person is found to be at fault. You need to be careful in deciding who is responsible enough to drive your car, and practice extreme caution while driving someone else’s car as well.

Depending on your coverage and the state that you live in, there are exceptions to these rules. One issue that most people are unaware of is a common vehicle that you have access to on a regular basis. If you live with someone and are not on his or her insurance policy, your car insurance may not cover you. This often applies to vehicles that you have access to driving frequently or on a daily basis. In order to be covered, you must have been given permission to use a person’s vehicle and be able to provide adequate information if pulled over by the police.

Just to make one common mistake very clear, the type of car insurance coverage that you have does make a difference. Some people have the misconception that if they have comprehensive car insurance, this will make a difference. However, comprehensive car insurance only pertains to the physical damage to the vehicle and does not affect the chances of someone being covered when driving a vehicle that they do not own. You may also be affected if you have a bad driving record. This is generally a sign of irresponsibility in the world of car insurance.

The best thing to do before driving another person’s vehicle is to check with your insurance agent to see what your car insurance policy covers. This would also present an ideal opportunity for you to discuss whether or not your rates will be affected in the event of an accident.