 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
| Please click one of the following questions to see the answer or ask a question here. |
Questions:
• What do I do to Release myself of any Liability after I sell my Vehicle?
• What is CDW, also referred to as collison damage waiver on an auto policy?
• What is GAP coverage on a Financed automobile?
• What are some Auto Policy Definitions?
• What is an Additional Insured on a Auto Policy?
• What are BI and PD Liability Coverages?
• Do I qualify as A Domestic Partner?
• Who Do I call for a Auto Insurance Claim?
• What is an SR-22 Filing and Certificate?
• What is UMPD, uninsured motorist property damage ?
• What do leasing companies require?
• What does the new Cell Phone Law mean to me?
• Do I need to Purchase Optional Medical payments?
• Will my Auto Insurance Carrier pay for a Rental Car if Im on vacation and need a rental car to get around?
• Can I Buy Non Owner Liability Insurance When I dont Own a car?
• My Payments is Overdue! How Do I Make An Online Payment
• Does my older car require comprehensive and collision coverage?
• What is Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Protection UMBI ?
• What is Pay As You Go Auto Insurance?
• Please explain the difference between cancellation and non-renewal?
• What is Underinsured Motorist Protection UIM
• What should I do to file an Auto Claim?
• When renting a car, do I need to buy insurance?
• Will Pay as You Go Auto Insurance place a GPS device on vehicle?
• Contact Phone Number for Insurance Company
|
| |
What do I do to Release myself of any Liability after I sell my Vehicle?
A:
If you own your vehicle outright , there should be on the back of your Vehicle Title, a standard DMV form that is completed indicating new owners name and address. This title is handed over to new owner but if not filed correctly by them, any future unpaid parking tickets, towing expenses and vehicle damages caused by this vehicle in their possession will be your responsibility. DMV will send these tickets, fines and penalties to the last know address on DMV records, your name and address.
To avoid this, you should always go to DMV online and complete the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability form electronically so DMV obtains and releases you from any legal vehicle liability and takes all legal responsibility out of your name as of the date of sale. Always have the Vin number and License plate number available. Complete online by clicking here http://dmv.ca.gov/online/nrl/welcome.htm
Or Contact us anytime if you would like further information on this process
http://www.goldmountaininsurance.com/?page=
|
What is CDW, also referred to as collison damage waiver on an auto policy?
A: 32072 Miller St |
What is GAP coverage on a Financed automobile?
A: A Finance Company may require "gap" insurance. This refers to the situation where if you have an accident and your financed car is damaged beyond repair or "totaled," there may be a difference between the amount that you still owe the auto finance company and the check you will get from your insurance company. That's because the insurance company's check is based on the car's actual cash value which takes into account depreciation and the value is far less than what you feel and what you borrowed. The difference between the two amounts is known as the "gap."
If you have an auto loan, you need to buy GAP insurance to protect yourself from having to come up with the gap amount if your car is totaled before you've finished paying for it.
Ask your Gold Mountain agent about gap insurance coverage. Gap insurance may not be available in some states.
Also GAP coverage is usually only available on cars from 2013 and newer so buy it when you can and while it is available from your Insurer.
example: You finance a car and have a loan balance of $15,000, but the vehicle is totalled in an accident and the Insurer feels the ACV, or actual cash value or low Kelly Blue book is $ 10,000, without GAP coverage , you pay the difference of $ 5000.00 to your finance company, with GAP coverage, your GAP Coverage pays the $ 5000.00 to your finance company and your made whole, you are off the hook
|
What are some Auto Policy Definitions?
A: ACTUAL CASH VALUE (ACV):
The market value of your car.
ADJUSTER:
A representative of an insurance company whose job is to determine and "adjust" the amount of a loss and decide how much the company will pay for it.
BINDER:
An acknowledgment that the insurance for which you applied is in force, whether or not you have paid for it or received a policy.
CANCELLATION:
If you don’t pay your premiums, an insurance company can cancel your personal auto policy by giving 10 days’ written notice. The company is required to give you 30 days’ written notice if it is canceling your policy for any other reason.
COLLISION COVERAGE:
This coverage pays for physical damage caused when your car collides with another car or object or if it overturns.
COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE:
This coverage pays for damage to your vehicle not covered by collision coverage, such as fire, theft, or vandalism.
CREDIT HISTORY:
Many personal auto and homeowner insurance companies look at consumer credit information to decide whether to issue or renew an insurance policy and how much to charge.
DEDUCTIBLE:
The deductible is the amount you agree to pay on each loss before your insurance company pays. Generally, the larger your deductible, the smaller your premium.
DIMINUTION OF VALUE:
The difference between a vehicle’s value before it was in an accident and after it has been repaired.
LIABILITY COVERAGE:
This coverage pays for losses to other people and their property caused by negligence on your part.
PREFERRED RISK:
A person less likely than the average person to make a claim. A preferred risk usually qualifies for a lower premium.
PROOF OF LOSS:
An estimate of damages you provide to an insurance company to support your claim. Insurance companies often use this document to figure how much they will pay.
UNDERWRITING:
The basic role of an insurance company: examining and accepting or rejecting risks, and classifying the ones that are accepted to determine premiums.
UNINSURED MOTORIST BODILY INJURY (UMBI) AND UNDERINSURED MOTORIST(UIM) COVERAGE:
Coverage for bodily injury to you and your passengers caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.
UNINSURED MOTORIST PROPERTY DAMAGE COVERAGE (UMPD):
Coverage for damage to your auto caused by an uninsured driver, "phantom vehicle," or a hit-and-run driver.
|
What is an Additional Insured on a Auto Policy?
A: An additional insured has partial ownership of a vehicle or is liable for a vehicle that is insured by another party.
Only Named Isureds, Loss Payees, and Additional Insureds are listed on insurance claim checks in the event of a total loss to a vehicle
Technically, when you lease a vehicle, you do not own it outright and never will. This also means that if you cause an accident and are sued, the person suing you can come after not only YOU, but the leasing company as well. They can do this because the leasing company owns the car and provided it to you for use. Adding your leasing company as an additional insured means that, when it comes to that particular car, the leasing company has coverage under your policy for defense if there is a lawsuit.
|
What are BI and PD Liability Coverages?
A: Bodily Injury(BI) liability insurance covers you from claims that come out of a collision in where another party was injured because of your negligence. Property Damage (PD) liabilty insurance covers you for claims against property of others, including other vehicles, which you damage, as a result of your negligence that arise from a collision in which you are deemed at fault.
Most states require these types of coverages. You can either purchase Combined Single Limit coverage, which includes PD coverage too, or Split Limits BI coverage.
Split Limit BI policies apply coverages on a per person/per accident basis. For example, 100/300 BI means that, your insurance company would pay up to $100,000 per person in an accident, and a maximum of $300,000 for all the injured parties harmed in the same incident where you may be at fault.
In the case of Split Limit BI coverages, PD coverage is written with an additional, single limit, separate dollar amount of liability insurance.
When purchased as a Combined Single Limit coverage policy, BI and PD are only limited by the total dollar amount of insurance that is written. |
Do I qualify as A Domestic Partner?
A: Domestic partner means a person living with you and sharing a common domestic life and whose relationship resembles a mutually exclusive partnership such as that of a marriage, and
a) is at least 18 years of age and capable of entering into a legal contract.
b) is not a relative; and
c) shares with you financial interdependence and a common residence. Evidence of such includes but is not limited to:
1) Joint domestic responsibility for the maintenance of the household
2) Having joint financial obligations, resources, or assets.
3) Documents such as a driver’s license, tax returns, or bills showing a common
address for both parties.
4) Both parties receiving mail at the
same address.
A domestic partner does not include more than one person, a roommate or
housemate whether sharing expenses equally or not, or one who pays rent
to the named insured. |
Who Do I call for a Auto Insurance Claim?
A: Hartford (800)243-5860
Progressive (800)776-2436
CSE (800)282-6848
Nationwide (800)282-1446
Allied (800)282-1446
Bristol West (888)888-0080
Metauto Home (800)255-0332
National General(800)325-1088 |
What is an SR-22 Filing and Certificate?
A: If a judge convicts you of driving uninsured, you will need to file proof of future financial responsibility with your Department of Motor Vehicle Services (DMV) for three years or face suspension of your driving privileges. This is known as Financial Responsibility Law. This is in addition to any fines you must pay. Your insurance company can make a financial responsibility filing for you by sending an SR-22 insurance certificate to the DMV to show that you have liability insurance.
An SR-22 is a certificate from a licensed insurance company certifying that you have purchased motor vehicle liability insurance as required by the state’s financial responsibility law.
|
What is UMPD, uninsured motorist property damage ?
A: If an uninsured motorist hits your covered vehicle and damages it , your UMPD coverage that you must purchase from your own own auto insurance policy will fix your vehicle for free up to $ 3500.00 with no deductible.
Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) covers your insured vehicle when it is damaged by a driver who doesn’t have auto insurance (uninsured). Hit-and-run accidents that result to your vehicles damages are not covered under this benefit. If you do not have collision coverage, uninsured motorist property damage coverage pays up to this $ 3500.00 max |
What do leasing companies require?
A: If you lease a car, you still need to buy your own auto insurance policy. The auto dealer or bank that is financing the car will require you to buy Collision and Comprehensive coverage. You'll need to buy these coverages in addition to other coverage that may be mandatory in your State, especially auto liability insurance. Because the Leasing Company holds ownership title to your vehicle also, they may request that you purchase Bodily Injury Limits of $100/300 or higher and Property Damage Limits of $ 50,000 or higher
•Collision covers the damage to the car from an accident with another automobile or object.
•Comprehensive covers a loss that is caused by something other than a collision with another car or object, such as a fire, theft, vandalism, or collision with a large animal, such as a deer.
|
What does the new Cell Phone Law mean to me?
A: Legislation has been passed that will curtail the use of hand held wireless telephones while driving a motor vehicle.
Q When do the new wireless telephone laws take effect?
The new laws take effect July 1, 2008
Q What if I need to use my telephone during an emergency, and I do not have a hands free device?
The law allows a driver to use a wireless telephone to make emergency calls to a law enforcement agency, a medical provider, the fire department, or other emergency services agency.
Q What are the fines if I am convicted?
The base fine for the FIRST offense is $20.00 and $50.00 for subsequent convictions.
Q Will I receive a point on my drivers license if I am convicted for a violation of the wireless telephone law?
NO. The violation is a reportable offense however, DMV will not assign a violation point.
Q Will the conviction appear on my driving record?
Yes, but the violation point will not be added.
Q Will there be a grace period when motorists will only get a warning?
NO. The law becomes in effect on July 1, 2008. Whether a citation is issued is always at the discretion of the officer based upon his or her determination of the most appropriate remedy for the situation.
Q Are passengers affected by this law?
No. This law only applies to the person driving a motor vehicle.
Q Can I be pulled over by a law enforcement officer for using my handheld wireless telephone?
YES. A law enforcement officer can pull you over just for this infraction.
Q Does the new hands free law prohibit you from dialing a wireless telephone while driving or just talking on it?
The new law does not prohibit dialing, but drivers are strongly urged not to dial while driving.
Q Will it be legal to use a Blue Tooth or other earpiece?
Yes, however you cannot have BOTH ears covered.
Q Does the new hands free law allow you to use the speaker phone function of your wireless telephone while driving?
Yes
Q Does the new hands free law allow drivers 18 and over to text page while driving?
The law does not specifically prohibit that, but an officer can pull over and issue a citation to a driver of any age if, in the officers opinion, the driver was distracted and not operating the vehicle safely. Text paging while driving is unsafe at any speed and is strongly discouraged.
|
Do I need to Purchase Optional Medical payments?
A: Medical Payments is NOT part of full coverage on your Auto Insurance Policy and must be purchased as an optional coverage for an additional premium.
Most people decline the optional coverage due to having their own private health insurance plan for themselves and family members and not wanting to pay an additional premium for more medical payments.
•Health Insurance Plans will always pay benefits if you are in an auto accident so you have this benefit through your health insurance plan
Should you have optional Medical Payment Coverage on your Auto Insurance Policy?
Optional Medical Payments on your auto insurance policy pays for you, your family members and your passengers medical bills (up to your policy limits) regardless of who causes the accident.
Things to consider:
•Medical Payments may cover your individual or group health insurance copayments and deductibles.
•Medical Payments may cover treatments excluded by health insurance.
•Convenience of having your own auto insurance company pay medical bills while you work out a final settlement with an at fault driver.
If you already have sufficient health insurance in California, consider eliminating or purchasing decreased amounts of medical coverage from your auto insurer.
Optional Medical Payments can vary from county to county in California from $20.00 to $100.00 per 6 Months of coverage depending on the per person limits chosen.
• $ 1000
• $ 2000
• $ 5000
• $ 10,000
• $ 25,000
Call us at (805) 277-7237 to discuss exact premium
|
Will my Auto Insurance Carrier pay for a Rental Car if Im on vacation and need a rental car to get around?
A: No, Rental Reimbursement is only paid and reimbursed if my vehicle is involved with a covered claim under the policy, such as windshield breakage, theft, vandalism or accidents.
|
Can I Buy Non Owner Liability Insurance When I dont Own a car?
A: Non-owners policies may have restrictions, such as you cannot own a car or have one available to you or your household that you could place auto insurance on, but these will differ from one insurance company to the next.
In general a non-owners auto insurance policy offers coverage for people that dont own vehicles but may have a SR22 filing on their driving record, so in order to keep your drivers license from getting suspended this filing must be in place.
If you, the insured driver, borrows a car from a friend and then were to get into an accident, your friend's insurance would be the first to cover the losses. But if the accident was your fault and the damage to the other driver's property exceeded the liability limits on your friend's policy, your non-owners insurance policy would cover the excess, up to policy limits.
If you do not have a car now and plan to get one in the future maintaining a non-owner auto insurance policy will help give you prior insurance history and should help you receive better premiums rates when you do purchase a car and want to cover it fully with insurance.
With non-owners it should cover your liability needs for any borrowed vehicle even if you are using it everyday since this is not a car that you own or is registered to you that you could place insurance on.
Keep in mind that non-owners policies usually cover an insured with liability, medical payments, and perhaps uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Non-owners policies usually do not insure for comprehensive, collision, towing reimbursement, or rental reimbursement coverage.
Gold Mountain Insurance Services can send the Dept of Motor Vehicles a Sr22 certificate on line within 48 hours. Call our agents at (805) 277-7237 Today to have filing done electronically by our insurance carriers for you |
My Payments is Overdue! How Do I Make An Online Payment
A: Please have your GMAC, Safeco,Progressive, Foremost,Metropolitan( MET), Bristol West, American Modern, Pacific Specialty,Workmans Insurance,Western Mutual or Hartford payment coupon available which has your policy number and account information on it.
Then, go to the respective websites below and Register if you have not done so already and Sign In and apply payment electronically. Confirmations and tracking numbers will be given, make sure to write this number down in a safe place.
HARTFORD INSURANCE
https://service.thehartford.com/consumer/public/service/activate
Go to: Activate Your Account
Enter your policy number
GMAC INSURANCE OR NATIONAL GENERAL
http://www.nationalgeneral.com/customer-care/
Go to: My Policy
Go to: Press Quick Pay or Login
PROGRESSIVE DRIVE INSURANCE
www.DriveInsurance.com
Go to: Manage Your Policy
Go To: Make A payment
FOREMOST INSURANCE COMPANY
www.Foremost.com
Go to: Make A Payment
Go to: Enter Policy Number
SAFECO INSURANCE
www.safeco.com
Go To: My Account
Go To: Register Now
METROPOLITAN INSURANCE COMPANY
https://online.metlife.com/edge/web/public/login?TYPE=33554433&REALMOID=06-000d5600-42fb-11bf-b813-e48cac184077&GUID=&SMAUTHREASON=0&METHOD=GET&SMAGENTNAME=$SM$s0c%2b6C34Gjk2SfzBs0qKqZ719TyjI4WAffFpm1e8fgj1VuN6J%2bRI%2fJK1wWS9SQc%2f&TARGET=$SM$https%3a%2f%2fonline%2emetlife%2ecom%2fedge%2fweb%2findex%2fhome
Go To: Manage My account
Go To: Register Now
PACIFIC SPECIALTY INSURANCE
http://documents.pacificspecialty.com/net.data/pacific.ndm/HOME?Page=Register
Go to: Account Registration
Go to : Press Register
BRISTOL WEST INSURANCE
https://www.bristolwest.com/bristolwest/login/login.aspx?Foremost=true
Go to: Policyholder Login
Go to: Login
WESTERN MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
https://web1.westernmutual.com/kcsc.nsf/All2/1CD13091220B2FB088257DF60069D8FB/?EditDocument
Go to: First Time User Register
Go To: Complete New Online Registration |
Does my older car require comprehensive and collision coverage?
A: Some experts suggest that if the value of your car is LESS than ten times the premium that these two coverages would cost you, then it may be wise to not purchase them. |
What is Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Protection UMBI ?
A: The Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury UMBI coverage will pay for medical bills, pain and suffering and lost wages if you are hit by an uninsured motorist. They do not have insurance coverage available to pay these expenses for you, so your own insurance company will pay these expenses if you have elected this optional coverage. |
What is Pay As You Go Auto Insurance?
A: The voluntary initiative is an innovative program that allows insurers to offer plans based on more accurate mileage. People who choose to drive less will pay less for auto insurance and at the same time reduce greenhouse gases. |
Please explain the difference between cancellation and non-renewal?
A: There is a big difference between an insurance company cancelling a policy and choosing not to renew it. Insurance companies cannot cancel a policy that has been in force for more than 60 days except when:
•You fail to pay the premium(non-pay)
•You have committed fraud or made serious misrepresentations on your application
•Your driver's license has been revoked or suspended
Nonrenewal is a "potentially" less severe matter. Either you or your insurance company can decide not to renew the policy when it expires. Depending on the state you live in, your insurance company must give you a certain number of days notice and explain the reason for not renewing before it drops your policy. If you think the reason is unfair or if you want further explanation, call the insurance company’s consumer affairs division. If you don't get a satisfactory explanation there, call your state insurance department.
The insurance company may have decided to drop that particular line of insurance or to write fewer policies where you live, so the nonrenewal decision may not be because of something you did.
On the other hand, if you did do something that raised the insurance company’s risk considerably, like driving while intoxicated, the premium may rise considerably, or you may not have your policy renewed.
If your insurance company didn't renew your policy, you will not necessarily be charged a higher premium at another insurance company.
|
What is Underinsured Motorist Protection UIM
A: When an at-fault driver causes an accident but does not have a sufficient amount of liability insurance, if you have purchased optional Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM), you have the right to file a claim with your own insurance company for any damages over and above the at-fault driver’s policy limits up to the amount of UIM Coverage you have purchased. UIM Coverage protects you in the event that an at-fault driver who causes you injuries and damages does not have enough liability insurance to pay for your losses. These losses may consist of wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and other non-economic injuries. For example, if you are injured in an accident and your medical expenses total $20,000, but the at-fault driver has only a $15,000 liability insurance policy, if you have purchased UIM Coverage in the amount of $25,000, then there would be an additional $25,000 in coverage available to pay towards your damages, which would be an additional $5,000 in medical expenses, plus any lost wages or pain and suffering damages, up to $25,000 |
What should I do to file an Auto Claim?
A: When filing a claim on your automobile insurance, you should take the following steps:
1. Always report an incident to the police, regardless of how minor it seems. What looks like a small dent or scratch could actually cost you several hundred dollars to repair.
2. Make sure the police officer gives you a copy of the drivers' information-exchange form.
3. Write down names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses in case you need them later.
4. Call your insurance agent and company immediately for further instructions. The insurer may deny payment of your claim if you do not report the accident.
5. Make sure that you include all information on your insurance application. If you withheld information which would have caused the insurance company to deny coverage originally, they may void your policy from its effective date and refuse to pay a claim.
6. Make sure that your insurance company agrees to pay before you start any repairs.
7. Check all repairs afterwards. Check them at the shop and then again at home.
8. Get a copy of the itemized repairs on a form printed with the repair shop's name and address.
9. Your insurance company may send an adjuster to inspect your automobile before you obtain any necessary repairs, or it may instruct you to obtain a specified number of estimates for the work. Find out from your insurance company what to do about supplemental damage in case the repair shop finds something caused by the accident but not on the original estimate.
10. You may choose which repair shop you want to fix your vehicle after an accident, unless otherwise stated in the policy. Some companies require policyholders to use auto-repair shops approved by the company. These companies usually offer a premium discount in exchange for your agreement to this provision. |
When renting a car, do I need to buy insurance?
A: When renting a car, you need insurance. If you have sufficient insurance on your own car, including collision and comprehensive, this may be enough.
However, before you rent a car:
1. Contact your insurance company.
Find out how much coverage you have on your own car. In most cases, the coverage and deductibles you have on your personal auto policy would cross over to a rental car, providing it's used for pleasure and not business. If you don't have comprehensive and collision coverage on your own car, you will not be covered if your rental car is stolen or if it is damaged in an accident.
2. Call your credit card company.
Find out what insurance your card provides. Levels of coverage vary.
If you don't have auto insurance, you have two choices: you can buy coverage from the car rental company; or you can purchase a a non-owner auto liability insurance policy .
|
Will Pay as You Go Auto Insurance place a GPS device on vehicle?
A: yes, there is controversy, the main issue people have with this option is how it infringes on the privacy of drivers. Cars have to be outfitted with GPS devices or plug into a system in order for insurance companies to track where they are going. Many users do not want their insurer to be following where they are at any given moment.
Aside from basic privacy questions, people fear this could be used as a tool for law enforcement or government agencies. If the information on where you are at any given moment is being recorded and saved, then this information could be used against you in a court of law if it is accessed |
Contact Phone Number for Insurance Company
A: {Hartford} (800) 624-5578
{Safeco} (877)566-6001
{Progressive} (877) 776-2436
{GMAC} (877)468-3466
{Foremost} (800) 527-3905
{Pacific Specialty}(800) 303-5000
{Bristol West} (888) 888-0080
{Unitrin Specialty}(888) 342-6595
{Western Mutual} (800) 234-2103
{MetAuto} (800)255-0332 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
