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Personal auto
Camper trailers
My client has an auto camper-trailer on blocks at a campsite with an attached, screened-in porch. Is the porch covered against damage or loss on his auto policy? What about liability for accidents occurring in the camper or on the porch?
Volunteer drivers
One of my insureds drives her own personal vehicle in volunteer work for the Red Cross. She transports people to doctors and hospitals for appointments. Is there an endorsement to cover this situation?
Named non-owned coverage
How does our agency provide coverage for people who do not insure owned autos on a personal automobile policy to protect them when they borrow a car for personal use? They are furnished a corporate car, but the insurer will not add drive-other-car coverage on the business automobile policy.
Federal employee exclusion
My insured took a job with the U.S. Post Office. She became alarmed when she was told by her employer that her personal auto policy would not cover her while on the job. Can this be true?
Physical damage
We have a client who is the named insured on a personal auto policy covering his owned vehicle. His wife and son have leased another vehicle. Is the leased automobile covered on the father’s policy for physical damage coverage?
Horse trailers covered
We insure a husband and wife who own eight automobiles and three trailers. They use the trailers to haul horses. Are the trailers covered under their personal auto policy?
Damage by rodent
The lights went out on my client’s Thunderbird. The mechanic found a mouse that had been chewing on the wires. Can a claim be made under the comprehensive coverage?
Comprehensive coverage applies to contact with deer
Would a collision with a deer be considered a “collision” under the personal auto policy and, therefore, covered under the collision coverage portion of the policy?
Non-owned motorcycle dilemma
We have been asked the following question but need to confirm the answer. Alexander, 21, took a short ride (about a half mile) on his friend’s new motorcycle. He skidded out, fell off the bike (with only minor injuries), and the bike was damaged. The friend with the new bike did not have collision insurance, and the estimate is $8,000 for repairs. Of course, Alexander is responsible to return the motorcycle to its new condition. Is there any coverage for this cost in an auto or homeowners policy?
Third-party uninsured vehicle
Can an insurer deny payment for damages to a claimant’s vehicle if the claimant’s vehicle was uninsured at the time? The claimant’s vehicle was parked and the neighbor backed into it and the neighbor’s insurance carrier is denying payment.
Lending a vehicle to a friend
Our daughter has a vehicle, with her own insurance policy, away at school with her. She called me the other day to tell me the car was in an accident. She had let her friend drive it and her friend caused an accident. The accident will be reported on her friend’s insurance, right?
Deceased auto policyholder
We have an auto policyholder who recently died and her children are wondering if they can drive the car. If they are insured while driving the car, is coverage under the policy the same as it was for the deceased named insured?
Personal auto owned by trust
When a trust owns a vehicle insured on a personal automobile policy written in the name of the grantor, how do you reconcile coverage as primary if the Other Insurance provision states coverage is excess for a vehicle not owned by the named insured?
Automobile recall
Recently, an auto manufacturer had a recall on the air bags in some of their vehicles and they are advising consumers not to drive their vehicles until repaired. The manufacturer is offering loaner vehicles, available from the dealership, since they are expecting it will take several months until the vehicles will be properly repaired. Will our insureds have proper coverage from their auto policy for the entire duration they have access to the loaner vehicle?
Thinking of pizza delivery while laid off from work
Our insured’s son just started working for a pizza shop because he has been temporarily laid off from work. They are having him use his own car for the deliveries. I am worried there would be no coverage in the event of an accident. Does he have coverage, while using his car to deliver pizza, in the event of an accident?