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Auto
After-market parts
What are the rules governing the use of after-market parts in New Jersey?
Defensive-driver course credits
Will a policyholder lose the credit for completing a defensive-driver course if a chargeable accident occurs within the three years allowed for the credit?
Defensive-driver course
I have an insured in the New York Automobile Insurance Plan who has taken an approved defensive-driving course. The course allowed him to reduce his motor vehicle violation points from six to two. But is he also eligible for a 10% premium credit?
Get brothers separate auto policies
I have New York Automobile Insurance Plan clients who are two brothers living together. Each owns and operates his own car. For the previous three-year assignment with Company A, the brothers and their vehicles were written on a single policy. The newly assigned Company B is refusing to do this. Which company is right?
Auto theft claims—what’s covered?
On a theft settlement, is it legal for a company to deduct amounts for the extended warranty, alarm and anti-theft jack? Shouldn’t these items be covered as “equipment”?
Prohibited vehicles
Our auto insurance companies have lists of vehicles they refuse to insure. Suppose one of our existing clients buys one of these vehicles?
SUM consent-to-settle provision
A company has denied a claim for supplementary uninsured motorists coverage benefits because our insured accepted a settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurer without getting the SUM carrier’s consent. Can the company deny this claim?
Vicarious liability—leased vehicles
Under New York’s vicarious liability statute covering motor vehicle accidents, are people who lease vehicles considered “owners”? We have a situation in which a parent is leasing a vehicle, but the registration will be in the son’s name.
New York law against steering for auto repairs
I have been told that our agency can never recommend a specific repair shop when a customer needs repairs to a vehicle following a collision. Is this true?
Loss-of-use costs in auto accident surcharge threshold
Should insurers include loss-of-use costs in the auto accident surcharge threshold?
Resident family member
My clients insure a vehicle, used by their son at college, on a personal auto policy. The parents are planning to leave the country for two years. They have made arrangements to have the policy billed at the grandparent’s address.
Is it alright to leave the parents as the named insureds on this policy?
Joint ownership coverage endorsement
Could you clarify what the Joint Ownership Coverage (PP 03 34) endorsement to the Insurance Services Office Personal Auto Policy is designed to do?
Coverage not terminated by plate surrender
Our insured’s vehicle was hit while parked. We reported the loss to the negligent party’s carrier to collect on a third-party basis. The company confirmed that coverage was in place.
Then, three weeks later, the company told us their insured had surrendered his plates the day before the accident. (He had borrowed somebody’s plates and put them on the vehicle to move it from one place to another.) It looks like the carrier may try to deny the claim based on the surrender of the plates. Would they be able to do this?
BAP Symbol 7—newly acquired auto coverage
Our insured has an business auto policy written with Symbol 7 for comprehensive coverage on the ISO Business Auto Coverage Form. If a comprehensive loss occurs to a newly acquired auto within 30 days after acquisition, but before notifying our agency or the insurer that the auto has been acquired, would this loss be covered?
Falling object
As a car is driving down the highway behind a truck, something flies off the truck. The car can’t avoid the object and runs over it, causing a puncture in the gas tank. Is this comprehensive (falling object) or collision? Also, does this constitute a chargeable accident?
Transgender operators
How does a producer address transgender operators when placing auto insurance?