Community Chat

[Moonchilde]

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@WenGirl42 wrote:

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@Moonchilde wrote:

What's really interesting to me is that theoretically, since I just moved from a high crime area to a sleepy backwater, my insurance *should* go down quite a bit, according to what "they say" - but it isn't, even when I experiment in the quote with lesser coverage. Sigh. One company is super cheap, but the reviews say "don't do it!" based on non-existent customer service, so I'm afraid to.

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A high crime area really only drives up your comprehensive (theft) coverage, which is a relatively small part of your premium. (And if you're moving to a "sleepy backwater," you're probably trading theft risk for deer risk, also covered under comprehensive). The biggest factor is how the driving conditions are in the area you drive regularly and park overnight. High population density, high traffic,  and dangerous conditions increase your liability and uninsured motorists coverages, which are a much larger portion of your overall premium. You might not see much of a difference if the location you're moving from isn't as highly rated as you thought, or if there's something about your new location that makes it more highly rated than you thought.

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Not so sleepy that deer would be common, though they are not unknown. Low crime in *my* specific area but unfortunately we share (barely) a zip code that has higher crime but still not anywhere near the crime rate where I *was* living. No dangerous conditions. Population density 1/10th of previous address. I suspect it is my $500 deductibles instead of the who-the-heck-can-pay-that "standard" $1000.

[WenGirl42]

In general, listing multiple clean drivers with 1 vehicle shouldn't be too different a premium than 1 driver. Other factors besides driving history can influence rate, though, such as age and credit rating...a typical way to handle this might be to rate the policy as though there were one driver but choose whichever would be rated highest, or to average the rating factors for all drivers over the number of vehicles insured. Unfortunately, when you're talking about auto insurance, it's going to vary state-to-state and often company-to-company, though there are a few states with tighter regulations constraining what and how companies are able to charge...there will be less variation across companies in these states.

[Moonchilde]

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@mstyrion 1 wrote:

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@Moonchilde wrote:

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@mstyrion 1 wrote:

Most liability insurance policies cover a "permissive user".  You don't have to notify the insurance company or your agent when someone is using your car with permission.  Liability coverage is intended to protect the driver when he/she is at fault in an accident.

Your physical damage coverages such as comprehensive and collision cover the vehicle no matter who is driving, 

In some states, medical, no fault and uninsured motorist coverage still applies to a permissive user although they may not be as broad as for the insured person. 

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Except those who reside at your address, as I've learned and stated since my OP. Anyone who lives with you must be listed on your policy or be excluded from it. Those who don't live with you but have your permission are covered. It's the "same address" that's the catch :-(

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Not quite true in most states.  Listing people who live with you on your policy is a rating issue not a coverage issue.  The insurance company wants to run a DMV check on anyone living in your household and who might be driving your car often in order to charge the correct premium.

If you failed to list a resident and they were in an accident, there would still be coverage, unless the person was specifically excluded, by name, on the policy.  The company would insist you name the person on the policy after the accident, but they would not deny coverage for the accident.

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Interesting. So far, every company I've gotten a quote from has automatically listed the other residents when I give my address, and asks "driver or exclude from policy?" right during the quote process without me even needing to enter them. Maybe it's a state thing.

[WenGirl42]

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@Moonchilde wrote:

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@mstyrion 1 wrote:

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@Moonchilde wrote:

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@mstyrion 1 wrote:

Most liability insurance policies cover a "permissive user".  You don't have to notify the insurance company or your agent when someone is using your car with permission.  Liability coverage is intended to protect the driver when he/she is at fault in an accident.

Your physical damage coverages such as comprehensive and collision cover the vehicle no matter who is driving, 

In some states, medical, no fault and uninsured motorist coverage still applies to a permissive user although they may not be as broad as for the insured person. 

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Except those who reside at your address, as I've learned and stated since my OP. Anyone who lives with you must be listed on your policy or be excluded from it. Those who don't live with you but have your permission are covered. It's the "same address" that's the catch :-(

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________________________________________________________________

Not quite true in most states.  Listing people who live with you on your policy is a rating issue not a coverage issue.  The insurance company wants to run a DMV check on anyone living in your household and who might be driving your car often in order to charge the correct premium.

If you failed to list a resident and they were in an accident, there would still be coverage, unless the person was specifically excluded, by name, on the policy.  The company would insist you name the person on the policy after the accident, but they would not deny coverage for the accident.

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Interesting. So far, every company I've gotten a quote from has automatically listed the other residents when I give my address, and asks "driver or exclude from policy?" right during the quote process without me even needing to enter them. Maybe it's a state thing.

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It's a big data thing. The higher-tech companies can now determine your household residents and force that decision right at the time you're obtaining your quote, so they can avoid exactly the scenario mstyrion describes

[mstyrion 1]

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@Moonchilde wrote:

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@mstyrion 1 wrote:

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@Moonchilde wrote:

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@mstyrion 1 wrote:

Most liability insurance policies cover a "permissive user".  You don't have to notify the insurance company or your agent when someone is using your car with permission.  Liability coverage is intended to protect the driver when he/she is at fault in an accident.

Your physical damage coverages such as comprehensive and collision cover the vehicle no matter who is driving, 

In some states, medical, no fault and uninsured motorist coverage still applies to a permissive user although they may not be as broad as for the insured person. 

---

Except those who reside at your address, as I've learned and stated since my OP. Anyone who lives with you must be listed on your policy or be excluded from it. Those who don't live with you but have your permission are covered. It's the "same address" that's the catch :-(

---

________________________________________________________________

Not quite true in most states.  Listing people who live with you on your policy is a rating issue not a coverage issue.  The insurance company wants to run a DMV check on anyone living in your household and who might be driving your car often in order to charge the correct premium.

If you failed to list a resident and they were in an accident, there would still be coverage, unless the person was specifically excluded, by name, on the policy.  The company would insist you name the person on the policy after the accident, but they would not deny coverage for the accident.

---

Interesting. So far, every company I've gotten a quote from has automatically listed the other residents when I give my address, and asks "driver or exclude from policy?" right during the quote process without me even needing to enter them. Maybe it's a state thing.

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_________________________________________________________

Some of the smaller "high risk" companies will exclude coverage for permissive users.  As far as I know all the larger, non high risk carriers allow coverage for permissive users.  

Of course they are going to ask you if there are other drivers in the household because they want to rate the policy correctly and charge the correct premium.  That doesn't mean they would deny coverage if someone moved in with you later and you allowed them to drive.

[Moonchilde]

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@WenGirl42 wrote:

In general, listing multiple clean drivers with 1 vehicle shouldn't be too different a premium than 1 driver. Other factors besides driving history can influence rate, though, such as age and credit rating...a typical way to handle this might be to rate the policy as though there were one driver but choose whichever would be rated highest, or to average the rating factors for all drivers over the number of vehicles insured. Unfortunately, when you're talking about auto insurance, it's going to vary state-to-state and often company-to-company, though there are a few states with tighter regulations constraining what and how companies are able to charge...there will be less variation across companies in these states.

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Thanks. I did ask the agent who called me that specific question and she said the same, that if all records & background are clean it shouldn't affect the premium, so I am relieved about that. And because I'm focusing on the "good driver/low premium" companies they are probably stricter.  There isn't as much difference between Big Name and Good Drivers Only as I would have thought in most cases, but for a couple, big difference. And all of it more than I want to pay ;-(

[Moonchilde]

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@mstyrion 1 wrote:

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@Moonchilde wrote:

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@mstyrion 1 wrote:

---

@Moonchilde wrote:

---

@mstyrion 1 wrote:

Most liability insurance policies cover a "permissive user".  You don't have to notify the insurance company or your agent when someone is using your car with permission.  Liability coverage is intended to protect the driver when he/she is at fault in an accident.

Your physical damage coverages such as comprehensive and collision cover the vehicle no matter who is driving, 

In some states, medical, no fault and uninsured motorist coverage still applies to a permissive user although they may not be as broad as for the insured person. 

---

Except those who reside at your address, as I've learned and stated since my OP. Anyone who lives with you must be listed on your policy or be excluded from it. Those who don't live with you but have your permission are covered. It's the "same address" that's the catch :-(

---

________________________________________________________________

Not quite true in most states.  Listing people who live with you on your policy is a rating issue not a coverage issue.  The insurance company wants to run a DMV check on anyone living in your household and who might be driving your car often in order to charge the correct premium.

If you failed to list a resident and they were in an accident, there would still be coverage, unless the person was specifically excluded, by name, on the policy.  The company would insist you name the person on the policy after the accident, but they would not deny coverage for the accident.

---

Interesting. So far, every company I've gotten a quote from has automatically listed the other residents when I give my address, and asks "driver or exclude from policy?" right during the quote process without me even needing to enter them. Maybe it's a state thing.

---

_________________________________________________________

Some of the smaller "high risk" companies will exclude coverage for permissive users.  As far as I know all the larger, non high risk carriers allow coverage for permissive users.  

Of course they are going to ask you if there are other drivers in the household because they want to rate the policy correctly and charge the correct premium.  That doesn't mean they would deny coverage if someone moved in with you later and you allowed them to drive.

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Oh yeh, I can see the moving in later bit. But in my case I moved into an established household with drivers of record who have their own insurance. And a quote from their major company was an "I don't THINK so" from me.

[WenGirl42]

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@Moonchilde wrote:

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@mstyrion 1 wrote:

---

@Moonchilde wrote:

---

@mstyrion 1 wrote:

---

@Moonchilde wrote:

---

@mstyrion 1 wrote:

Most liability insurance policies cover a "permissive user".  You don't have to notify the insurance company or your agent when someone is using your car with permission.  Liability coverage is intended to protect the driver when he/she is at fault in an accident.

Your physical damage coverages such as comprehensive and collision cover the vehicle no matter who is driving, 

In some states, medical, no fault and uninsured motorist coverage still applies to a permissive user although they may not be as broad as for the insured person. 

---

Except those who reside at your address, as I've learned and stated since my OP. Anyone who lives with you must be listed on your policy or be excluded from it. Those who don't live with you but have your permission are covered. It's the "same address" that's the catch :-(

---

________________________________________________________________

Not quite true in most states.  Listing people who live with you on your policy is a rating issue not a coverage issue.  The insurance company wants to run a DMV check on anyone living in your household and who might be driving your car often in order to charge the correct premium.

If you failed to list a resident and they were in an accident, there would still be coverage, unless the person was specifically excluded, by name, on the policy.  The company would insist you name the person on the policy after the accident, but they would not deny coverage for the accident.

---

Interesting. So far, every company I've gotten a quote from has automatically listed the other residents when I give my address, and asks "driver or exclude from policy?" right during the quote process without me even needing to enter them. Maybe it's a state thing.

---

_________________________________________________________

Some of the smaller "high risk" companies will exclude coverage for permissive users.  As far as I know all the larger, non high risk carriers allow coverage for permissive users.  

Of course they are going to ask you if there are other drivers in the household because they want to rate the policy correctly and charge the correct premium.  That doesn't mean they would deny coverage if someone moved in with you later and you allowed them to drive.

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Oh yeh, I can see the moving in later bit. But in my case I moved into an established household with drivers of record who have their own insurance. And a quote from their major company was an "I don't THINK so" from me.

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I could see that...but if they already have established insurance (and presumably vehicles), you might be better off just going ahead and excluding them. Unless they're interested in re-quoting the whole household with you and possibly getting a lower premium overall?

[Moonchilde]

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@WenGirl42 wrote:

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@Moonchilde wrote:

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@mstyrion 1 wrote:

---

@Moonchilde wrote:

---

@mstyrion 1 wrote:

---

@Moonchilde wrote:

---

@mstyrion 1 wrote:

Most liability insurance policies cover a "permissive user".  You don't have to notify the insurance company or your agent when someone is using your car with permission.  Liability coverage is intended to protect the driver when he/she is at fault in an accident.

Your physical damage coverages such as comprehensive and collision cover the vehicle no matter who is driving, 

In some states, medical, no fault and uninsured motorist coverage still applies to a permissive user although they may not be as broad as for the insured person. 

---

Except those who reside at your address, as I've learned and stated since my OP. Anyone who lives with you must be listed on your policy or be excluded from it. Those who don't live with you but have your permission are covered. It's the "same address" that's the catch :-(

---

________________________________________________________________

Not quite true in most states.  Listing people who live with you on your policy is a rating issue not a coverage issue.  The insurance company wants to run a DMV check on anyone living in your household and who might be driving your car often in order to charge the correct premium.

If you failed to list a resident and they were in an accident, there would still be coverage, unless the person was specifically excluded, by name, on the policy.  The company would insist you name the person on the policy after the accident, but they would not deny coverage for the accident.

---

Interesting. So far, every company I've gotten a quote from has automatically listed the other residents when I give my address, and asks "driver or exclude from policy?" right during the quote process without me even needing to enter them. Maybe it's a state thing.

---

_________________________________________________________

Some of the smaller "high risk" companies will exclude coverage for permissive users.  As far as I know all the larger, non high risk carriers allow coverage for permissive users.  

Of course they are going to ask you if there are other drivers in the household because they want to rate the policy correctly and charge the correct premium.  That doesn't mean they would deny coverage if someone moved in with you later and you allowed them to drive.

---

Oh yeh, I can see the moving in later bit. But in my case I moved into an established household with drivers of record who have their own insurance. And a quote from their major company was an "I don't THINK so" from me.

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I could see that...but if they already have established insurance (and presumably vehicles), you might be better off just going ahead and excluding them. Unless they're interested in re-quoting the whole household with you and possibly getting a lower premium overall?

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The agent who called me was quite eager in that regard ;-( but the other occupants are happy with their insurance, so... At least I know now that I'm not getting quoted more $$ for declaring them, so yeh, that's what I'll do. Thanks.

[151949]

I always thought that if I borrow a car and have an accident that MY insurance covers it, that it's the driver, not the car that's insured.