car insured by title owner, as reg. owner unable to insure

by paisleykm » Sat Dec 31, 2011 02:00 pm

Family member remained on title as title owner and I was put on as registered owner. I've been trying to get insurance and family member said they cancelled policy but I was unable to insure since it was not cancelled and still active. The reason for remaining on as title owner is they wanted to make sure the remaining $200 was paid. My agent tried to transfer policy since we both use same company and she was unable to do so. The next day car was in accident and claim has been filed but title owner keeps saying they're not covered which is not the case and I wasn't issued ticket for no insurance since police said car is insured. Where do I stand? As it is now relative is signing off on title since my agents underwriters will not write policy unless they see that it is not dual covered by title owner and myself and that interest of title owner is signed off. They're saying they are a leinholder but I was only required to get liability which I have been trying to do and talked with family member several times where they were adamant no coverages exisits. I am hearing all different things so any advice? Like I said I'm getting title in a few days from relative so I can show my agent so I can get insurance. It's been a big, big mess.

Total Comments: 2

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 09:29 pm Post Subject:

Family member remained on title as title owner and I was put on as registered owner

No such thing. Who is listed on the title? That is who owns the vehicle. Perhaps you mean you were listed on the registration. That does not have anything to do with ownership.

I've been trying to get insurance and family member said they cancelled policy but I was unable to insure since it was not cancelled and still active.

The next day car was in accident

So you thought the car was uninsured and you still drove it.

but title owner keeps saying they're not covered which is not the case and I wasn't issued ticket for no insurance since police said car is insured.

The policy simply go by what the insurance card states... nothing more. Insurance cards are good for at least 6 months. The policy could have been cancelled the day after the effective date or actually never been in-force.

They're saying they are a leinholder but I was only required to get liability which I have been trying to do and talked with family member several times where they were adamant no coverages exisits.

Who is this "they". Sorry, most of your post is missing key information and a lot of it makes little sense.

If you were driving the vehicle than you should have been listed as a driver on the policy covering the vehicle. This means that you can file a claim under that policy (you won't be paid under any first party coverage... but you can file a claim). If you were driving then you should also be in possession of the insurance information (you gave it to the officer).

I'm not even clear on what you are asking. You bounce back between trying to file a claim and trying to get insurance to trying to obtain ownership on the vehicle.

Determining if the vehicle had insurance when you were in the accident (or before) should be extremely easy. I'm not seeing why that would be an issue. Filing a claim under that policy should be very easy. Then you will know if the claim will be covered. There also appears to be bigger family issues going on here... something to do with your family member not wanting you to own the vehicle. You need to address this with the family member.

Sorry, it really sounds like there was an issue or two that you never addressed and now you've been in an accident without insurance so you are digging the hole even deeper. If there are issues... take care of those issues before getting into worst situations.

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 07:00 am Post Subject:

I have been borrowing the car for past 7 months my car broke down, its parked in garage, and I have coverage and been with same co. for over 15 years, no accidents or tickets. Anyway, relative decided to sell car since I had been using it for so long any, but wanted to retain title until I paid remaining balance off so we went to dol and I became reg. owner. The problem I was having was getting the car insured for myself, not added as driver to theirs. They didn't want to be liable for car. Gave info to agent to put coverage on it, they called back later said car is already insured and can't have dual coverage , so I told relative can't cover it there's coverage on it already. They were adamant that they cancelled their policy so I got back in touch with my agent who still said its shows coverage on car and suggested I call that agent (we both have same insurance co., different offices) and transfer policy into my name. I was unable to do that, so my agent called and tried but underwriters said I need my own policy, but before relative signed off on title there was an accident. Mind you I asked agent if I was able to drive car since it was covered and said I could. I wasn't driving around without insurance on car I'm not an idiot the policy was in title owners name and I'm listed as reg. driver. Now I'm trying to find out where I stand regarding accident. My agent said a claim has been made and that's in the works and it is covered but my relative keeps saying I'm responsible, I'm going to be sued and have my license suspended since there's no coverage. As of now I have insurance and title owner is myself not relative. It is a mess and considering the back and forth to insure it by the same company different agents I just want to know if I'm getting correct info regarding situation.

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