7 Auto Insurance Answers You Should Know

Auto insurance guards you against monetary lossto settle the dispute with the shop through
if you have an car accident. It is a agreementlitigation in civil court. The Insurance
between you and the insurance company. TheCommissioner's office has no authority over the
premium for the policy is paid and the insurancerepair facility. You may want to contact the
company agrees to pay your losses as outlined inbetter business bureau.
your policy. Auto insurance companies provide4. QUESTION: My insurance company has an
property, liability and medical coverageestimate to repair my car for $1450.00 from a
Property coverage reimburses for damage to orlocal body shop, but I want to have the car
theft of your automobile.Liability coveragerepaired at another shop for $250.00 more. Can I
reimburses for your lawful responsibility to othersrequire the insurance company o pay me the
for bodily injury or property damage..Medicaldifference between the two estimates?
coverage reimburses for the cost of treatingANSWER: If the estimate of the Insurance
injuries, rehabilitation therapy, sometimes lostcompany is that of a reputable body shop or if
wages, and funeral expensesany other shop will do the work for that amount,
Motor Vehicle Lossesthe insurance company will not have to pay you
In the past individual's would only use their ownthe difference in the estimate. You can, of
vehicle. However, today in our society today acourse, take your car to any shop of your choice,
family will have 2 plus vehicles and possibly drive abut in these circumstances you have to pay the
car or truck registered to and employer.cost differential.
1. QUESTION: I work using my car to deliver5. QUESTION: The insurance company wants to
pizza. Does my insurance cover me while I amuse aftermarket parts rather than original
driving for this employer?manufacturer's parts. Is that legal?
ANSWER: Probably not. Most passenger autoANSWER: Yes, as long as the estimate indicates
insurance policies do not provide coverage whensuch parts are being used, and the guarantee of
the vehicle is used to deliver property, i.e. pizzasthe manufacturer is stated on the estimate.
or people for a fee (salary, tips, etc.). CoverageLiability Claims from Third Party
would probably be denied if an accident occurredThese claims are asserted against a consumer,
while you were using your personal vehicle forbased on the allegation that the loss resulted from
these purposes. Check with your employer tothe consumer's alleged negligence. In brief, it
determine if the they could provide you coverageprotects that consumer, up to the amount of
while you are driving for this employer.insurance involved from adverse judgments. That
2. QUESTION: My driver's license expired a fewif not otherwise paid, can become a lien on your
days ago. I borrowed my neighbor's car, with hishome or real property.
permission, the neighbor's insurance carrier and6. QUESTION: The other party's insurance
mine have denied the claim. Saying I didn't have acompany has denied my claim stating their insured
right to drive the car, because I had no currentwas not liable, although I provided them with a
driver's license. Can the carrier do this?copy of the police report that clearly states their
ANSWER: Many policies state that you are notinsured was at fault. Can they do this?
insured in these circumstances, as you were fullyANSWER: The insurance company conducts its
aware that you could not legally drive the car.own investigation and makes its decision as a
However, check with your locate Motor Vehiclesresult of that investigation. The Georgia Code
Division (DMV) to verify if there is a grace periodsays that carriers will have a procedure to insure
for and expired driver's license.prompt investigation and settlement of claims.
Auto Repair QualityThus a carrier has some leeway in the elements
A Policy Holder of Atlanta Auto Insurance willused in investigations. The Carrier may take
reach an agreement with the insurance companystatements of both drivers and any witnesses,
as to the dollar value of the claim. The body shopreviewing the police report, inspecting the accident
did not repair to the standard of the originalsite and checking the points of impact on the
manufacturers standards and the owners. Thisinvolved vehicles.
can cause obvious problems, the consumer must7. QUESTION: I was in an accident and the other
contract with a body shop and approve theparty was clearly at fault and the policeman gave
completed job. The Insurance carrier will notthe other guy a ticket. The other guy's insurance
contract repairs for your vehicle, the policy holdercompany is refusing to pay for my damages
is responsible to do this, for obvious reasons.because they feel I was somehow at fault. Can't
3. QUESTION: I was in an auto accident with onethe Commissioner's office force the other guy's
other party. The other party was at fault. Theinsurance company to pay for my damages?
liability coverage has been paid to me for the costANSWER: Determining who was at fault, blame or
of repairs, but the body shop has not repairedlegally liable in an auto accident does not fall under
the car satisfactorily. What can I do?the legal purview of the Commissioner's office.
ANSWER: Although you settled the claim with theThis involves a question of fact and a civil matter
insurance company, your problem is with thewhich can only be settled in the proper court.
body shop, with whom you contracted for theHowever, your Insurance company should be able
repairs. Do not pay the shop until you areto settle the matter in your favor if what you
satisfied with the completed job. You may havesay is fact.