If I hit a deer here in Iowa–by accident, of course–will my auto insurance cover me? I have collision, liability and comprehensive insurance. Which would cover me?

Marcus

Cedar Rapids, IA

Hi there, Marcus. Always be careful when on the road. Hitting a deer on a highway can be very dangerous for you. Even avoiding a frozen scared deer is similarly dangerous. It could cause you to drive off the road or off your lane. Cars that hit wild animals are usually going fast. Of course, it’s always dangerous to the deer.

If you hit a deer, your comprehensive coverage will be the one to take care of the damage. Comprehensive coverage takes care of you when your car gets stolen, vandalized etc. If it gets flooded, you may file a claim. If you find that somebody painted his initials on your car while you were away, be thankful you have comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage includes hitting wild animals. You may need to go through the details of your auto insurance policy just to be sure. Or contact your auto insurance agent in Iowa.

Collision coverage only works if you hit another vehicle. Collision coverage will take care of the repairs of your car. Liability insurance, on the other hand, takes care of the other driver if you get in an accident and you were the one at fault. So, if you were at fault, collision insurance coverage will have your car repaired, while liability insurance coverage will cover the other guy’s damages.

Tags: auto insurance coverage, collision insurance coverage, comprehensive insurance coverage, liability insurance

I’m from Iowa and I recently bought my first car, and insurance for it. Will my car insurance company cancel my coverage if I get involved in an accident within a month?

Brian

Waterloo, IA

Car insurance coverage was designed to protect the vehicle and its passengers from the potential risk of costly expenses for repairs and medical care resulting from unfortunate accidents. Although all states, including Iowa, manage car insurance companies up to a certain extent to protect policyholders, car insurance companies have the prerogative to cancel the coverage of a policyholder at any time within the two months from date of purchase without having to provide any reason for cancellation.

Situations that can merit cancellation can be delinquency or nonpayment of a policyholder’s premium. Car insurance companies can also revoke a customer’s coverage if there was material misrepresentation made by an individual or his representative in acquiring car insurance. Immediate termination is also done if a car insurance company discovers a fraudulent claim under a policy. An insurer may elect revocation of coverage if a policyholder has been involved in a number of accidents regardless of who was responsible for them. They may also cancel a customer’s policy if he or she had received various traffic citations.

For the situations stated, a car insurance company’s cancellation of policy would not be considered in effect until at least a period of ten days after the company sends out the notice. A local agent may call with the information of cancellation. They may also mail or deliver a notice of policy cancellation.

Tags: auto insurance claims, auto insurance coverage, auto insurance premium, traffic violation

I’m hesitant about buying my first car insurance here in Iowa because I’m not sure if I really need it. Why should I have car insurance?

Neil

Davenport, IA

Having a car is one thing and having car insurance is another. And if you have a car, buying car insurance should be as important as getting gas or getting the oil changed. Driving without car insurance is a very irresponsible thing to do. Most people just find it hard to even think about getting a policy simply because of the costs of premium rates, while some people just don’t have enough knowledge regarding the importance of car insurance.

Having enough information can ease your way into the complexities of car insurance policies. And just like driving, you don’t have to be too hasty when it comes to getting a policy.

A car insurance policy is an integral part of being a responsible driver. Being insured means you’re not only protecting yourself but the people around you, as well. What would you do if you get into an accident? If your car gets damaged? Or if you injure a person accidentally? Can you pay for the legal expenses if you get sued due to an accident? With car insurance, the policy can cover these incidents provided that you include them in your coverage and you pay the premium rates regularly. Most car insurance policies have liability coverage, property coverage and medical coverage should accidents happen to you while driving your car. Property coverage usually compensates you should your car gets damaged or stolen. If you hit a person or another object or property, the expenses for those will be paid through the liability coverage in your policy. Most car insurance policies can also cover medical expenses for hospitalization or treatment or even funeral expenses caused by an accident.

Another important reason why you should buy car insurance is that most states, including Iowa, implement certain requirements regarding car insurance coverages. And every time you drive, you need to have with you proof that your car is insured because some states consider driving without insurance a felony and your license may be revoked.

Try checking out online car insurance quotes for free to help you find a good deal regarding car insurance rates. Or get in touch with a local agent there in Iowa to better understand the significance of having car insurance.

Tags: auto insurance coverage, car insurance, car insurance rate, First-Time Buyer

I have a teenager son who just got his driver’s license. Does getting car insurance for him mean that I would be having more expenses?

Wyatt

Cedar Rapids, IA

It must be pretty exciting for your son to have his new car. But you should not be too excited about it because getting teen car insurance means an increase in your expenses. In case you do not know, car insurance companies view those that belong to the age bracket of below 25 years as the greatest risk to them compared to their older counterparts. This is because statistics has proven that in all the accidents that have occurred in the country, the largest percentage involves teen drivers who are at-fault.

So, how does this translate to what you are going to pay for your teenage boy’s car insurance?

Your teenage boy being considered a high-risk driver is tantamount to you paying more because car insurance companies there in Iowa will not offer you lower premiums. High-risk drivers get themselves to more accidents, thus making more claims. The car insurance company in turn loses money because of this. Just remember that the industry is still about making money.

In any case, you should not lose hope because you can still do something in order to lower what you are going to pay for your teenage son’s car insurance. The only way to avail of the cheapest car insurance for your teen is to strategize and plan well on how you are going to reduce the price. Because like I have said, there are ways to lower your expenses.

Tags: auto insurance premium, cheap auto insurance, teen, teen insurance

My car was parked on a street in Des Moines, Iowa and got flooded. Will this be covered by my insurance company?

Jeremy

Des Moines, IA

Hey, Jeremy! Most car insurance companies have coverage for incidents like this. If you had “comprehensive” coverage at the time of the flood in your area in Des Moines, IA, then your insurance company will and must cover your claim.

“Comprehensive” insurance coverage means that your insurance covers your automobile, and sometimes other automobiles that you may be driving, for losses resulting from incidents aside from collision. The coverage generally includes loss caused by any of the following: fire, theft explosion, falling objects, hail, windstorm, water, earthquake, flood, malicious mischief, colliding with a bird or animal, breakage of glass, and riots or civil commotions.

Also, your insurance company will pay the lesser of one: either fixing your vehicle or “totaling” it. And if your insurance company decides to “total” your vehicle, you or your lien holder will be paid the vehicle’s “actual cash value” or ACV. The depreciation of the vehicle would also be taken into consideration in determining its value, as well as the deductibles that you choose to include. I would also like to suggest that you contact your insurance agent there on Des Moines to inquire about your insurance coverage. It’s better to be safe than sorry, I always say!

Tags: auto insurance, Car Insurance Company, comprehensive insurance coverage

I was driving my father’s vehicle when I got into a minor accident with just a scratch on the side. I do not have car insurance so I am wondering if I could place a claim on my father’s car insurance carrier in Sioux City?

Tony

Sioux City, IA

If you do not live with your father in the same household and borrow his vehicle and are involved in an accident, your father’s auto insurance coverage will extend to you as a driver. If you reside in the same household and are not listed as a driver on the car insurance policy for some reason then the insurance carrier may not cover you for driving his car.

To make a car insurance claim on your father’s insurance company in Sioux City Iowa you need more tha just the liability coverage on the vehicle. Liability covers damages the driver, caused to another party’s vehicle or property, not damages to your own automobile. Your father would need physical damage coverages of collision and comprehensive to cover damages to his automobile.

Since you did have car insurance, your father’s car insurance would still be primary. Car insurance follows the vehicle first usually and driver second, so if you had car insurance it would have been secondary or excess if damages exceeded your father’s liability limits.

Tags: auto insurance claims, car insurance

I am a college student and I am only thrice a year and will be driving my parent’s car in Ames, Iowa. I do not operate a vehicle in college and I was just wondering if there is any way I will be covered under my parent’s car insurance policy while I am home.

Mark

Ames, IA

If you will be driving your parent’s vehicle when you are home in Ames, Iowa, you will need to contact their car insurance company to determine what to do so you will be covered when you are home and driving your parent’s vehicle. If you are still using your parent’s address as your permanent residence, the car insurance carrier may still consider you as a household member and add you to your parent’s car insurance policy. In this way, you will be sure that you will be covered when you drive your parent’s automobile.

Insurance carrier’s rules and guidelines varies that is why it better to discuss your situation to your parent’s car insurance policy because most car insurance companies require that policyholder must list all household members including those teenagers that are away at college that may drive the car when they are home.

Tags: auto insurance, Student car insurance, teen insurance

I was in a car accident in Meriden, Connecticut where I was rear ended. The law enforcement made a report and gave the other driver ticket. I now need a rental vehicle while my vehicle is being fixed. The other driver’s insurance carrier won’t pay. How can I get them to pay?

Brad

Meriden, CT

The Connecticut Insurance Department states that, if you incur property damage to your car as a result of someone else being at fault legally, you are entitled to compensation for loss of use of your property. In such situation, you are entitled to a comparable rental car or reasonable compensation, regardless of whether you have incurred an expense for rental, for a reasonable period of time necessary to settle your insurance claim or repair your car.

So if you are making a third party insurance claim through the at-fault driver’s property damage liability coverages then according to the CID that you should receive a rental vehicle that they pay or reimburse your for or at least reasonable compensation.

If you are making a third party insurance claim through the insurance company of the person that rear-ended you in Meriden, Connecticut and they continue to refuse to reimburse or pay you for a rental vehicle then contact the Connecticut Insurance Department for consumer advise on what steps to do.

Tags: auto insurance claims, car insurance

I have had my 2004 vehicle for ten months and I crashed it into a tree. I had let my car insurance lapse two months ago so I did not have car insurance coverage. I was hospitalized for several weeks. Should I inform my finance company in Des Moines, IA? What will happen then? Are they going to sue me?

Gene

Des Moines, IA

Your lien holder in Des Moines, Iowa requires that you carry physical damage coverage to your automobile to ensure that any damages to your car will be repaired. Since you did not have auto insurance coverage, you will ultimately be held liable for repairing your car as well as being responsible for any other damage you caused. Some lien holder’s force place insurance coverage on the car when they are informed that you do not have your own car insurance policy. If so, your car may be covered for this loss.

I am unable to offer any legal advice regarding your car insurance policy. So, you may want to consult a lawyer to know your rights as well as your legal obligations.

Tags: auto insurance lapse

My question is, can two person be insured on one vehicle through two different insurance carriers?

Reed

West Des Moines, IA

It might be possible to have 2 separate car insurance polices for 2 different people on one car in West Des Moines, IA. Insurance guidelines vary though so you may want to check with different insurance carriers to see if what you want is possible and permitted by their guidelines.

This type of double insurance on a car typically is not necessary and may go against many insurance carriers underwriting guidelines, since normally one insurance policy would be able to cover all the drivers of the car.

So while it might be possible for 2 people to insure the same car through different insurance carriers it might be difficult to find insurance companies that would allow this.

Tags: car insurance