by kleineigel » Sun Dec 21, 2008 03:16 am
After just facing our first total loss, I am beginning to realize the differences that states have in their insurance laws/regs.
My wife and I are both active duty Military. We own property in our home state (MT) and are stationed in another, (AL).
We have insurance with USAA on our house in MT, renter's insurance in AL, and auto insurance in AL.
Both my bikes and our Motorhome are insured in Montana under military second garaging exemption clauses with Progressive. This was offered to us by our Progressive Direct insurance agent, so I'm assuming it's alright. The reality it, the bikes are both dual sport bikes, they rarely see the street but are both fully insured due to their age (2008 models).
We are considering changing our insurance coverage as well if our home state's insurance laws are more friendly to us in the event of a claim.
We own property in other states as well, so if you can recommend the top states for consumer protective insurance regs, I'd like to know how each one stands up to the other.
If we have a claim in a state other than our home of record state, will we be bound to the state we are traveling in, or our policy's regs for our home state?
Things I'm looking for are ACV verses replacement value, personal property extensions to cover contents of the vehicle, after market add-ons to the vehicle that are not a part of the CCC type appraisals.
Any suggestions that can offered to help us be better informed ahead of a claim would be greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, I was ignorant to assume we were fully covered with no need to worry about things like this. Being stupid enough to put myself in this position twice is not going to happen, even if I have to consult an attorney to review any future policies we sign. Knowing what options we have in general is what I'm hoping from here.
Thank you in advance and Merry Christmas
Kleineigel
My wife and I are both active duty Military. We own property in our home state (MT) and are stationed in another, (AL).
We have insurance with USAA on our house in MT, renter's insurance in AL, and auto insurance in AL.
Both my bikes and our Motorhome are insured in Montana under military second garaging exemption clauses with Progressive. This was offered to us by our Progressive Direct insurance agent, so I'm assuming it's alright. The reality it, the bikes are both dual sport bikes, they rarely see the street but are both fully insured due to their age (2008 models).
We are considering changing our insurance coverage as well if our home state's insurance laws are more friendly to us in the event of a claim.
We own property in other states as well, so if you can recommend the top states for consumer protective insurance regs, I'd like to know how each one stands up to the other.
If we have a claim in a state other than our home of record state, will we be bound to the state we are traveling in, or our policy's regs for our home state?
Things I'm looking for are ACV verses replacement value, personal property extensions to cover contents of the vehicle, after market add-ons to the vehicle that are not a part of the CCC type appraisals.
Any suggestions that can offered to help us be better informed ahead of a claim would be greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, I was ignorant to assume we were fully covered with no need to worry about things like this. Being stupid enough to put myself in this position twice is not going to happen, even if I have to consult an attorney to review any future policies we sign. Knowing what options we have in general is what I'm hoping from here.
Thank you in advance and Merry Christmas
Kleineigel
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 05:45 am Post Subject:
Jeremy,
Active Duty military have exemptions due to their home of record/ state of residence. I am a legal resident of Montana, but if I'm stationed in any other other state for duty, I have the choice of either my home of record/ residence or the state I am stationed in.
OIC, its really something interesting to know.
Which states have pip, which do not?
Well, both Alabama and Montana are tort states, hence, pip isn't a mandatory requirement in either of them.
In the state of Alabama, the motorist is required to maintain liability coverage of 20/40/10, i.e. $20,000 towards the bodily injury for single person injury, $40,000 for all the people involved in the accident, and, $10, 000 for the property damage.
Montana, on the other hand, requires liability coverage of 25/50/10. in addition to that Montana don't apply a law to UM coverage. The driver, however, may opt the UM coverage limit of which should match the limit of the BI coverage.
Further in Montana the motorcyclists are exempted from maintaining liability coverage.
For further information you may refer to the USA Auto Insurance Laws available in the site.
~Jeremy
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 06:18 am Post Subject:
Regarding the use of the after market parts in repairing the car. Most of the states allow the insurers to use the AME parts in fixing the vehicle. The exception seems to be Minnesota, which strictly prohibits the use of the aftermarket parts in mending damaged vehicles.
You should check with the state's DMV or the insurance regulator's office for more information in this regard.
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 01:46 pm Post Subject:
which strictly prohibits the use of the aftermarket parts in mending damaged vehicles
Just to clarify MN doesn't prohibit them...it does prohibit them unless the insured ok's them...OP there are also many companys that offer 'OEM PARTS' endorcements if this is something that you are very concerned with...
I would suggest that you check each states Dept of Ins website, this will give you both the negligence laws of the state, as well miniums and optional coverages etc...that way you can make a better decision...as to which states are PIP/no fault...many, I dont' know the numbers actually I think this site has that info, but I don't know if it's up to date, and there are changes that do occur, that is why I would suggest checking the DOI sites of each state. just google ''NE dept of ins' and you'll get there...regardless of the state of policy, your policy MUST conform to the state laws that vehicle enters (in the instance of a claim). If I drive three miles from MO to KS get into an accident my MO policy all of a sudden has PIP...
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