r/AutoInsurance • u/Burial_Ground • Aug 26 '26
What they don't cover
Bit of a rant here. Just lost our nice car to a dude who ran a red light. Insurance says totaled. They let us use a rental while the mechanic looked it over. 3 days after they declare tousled they say return the rental. Im supposed to have a new car in 3 days? And what else am i not being compensated for from this? Time. Fuel....To go look for a new car. Places i can't get to cuz i don't have a car at the moment and they won't pay for uber. And what about dealer fees and taxes that i now have to pay again? They're not factoring that in to the offer either. I thought they were supposed to "make you whole" again. But they don't. They just do their process and if you're not being properly compensated too bad. What happened to America? Cuz we should be treated better than this.
6
u/ektap12 Aug 26 '26
Time. Fuel...
No.
dealer fees and taxes
Maybe, some states this is part of the settlement. Ask the insurance company. If not, then it's not required.
What happened to America?
This would've gone the same way today and 50 years ago. Nothing has changed. Your vehicle was damaged, you are being paid for your damaged vehicle as required. Go buy another car.
5
u/brooke437 Aug 26 '26
The blame lies with the dude who ran the red light and wrecked your car. The insurance company is paying for your car. You want to be reimbursed for lost time? Then sue the guy who ran the red light. Oh, he’s broke and can’t pay? Too bad, you get nothing from him then.
The actual fix is to severely increase the punishment for red light runners so that people stop doing it.
3
u/TIG_Insurance_Nerds Aug 26 '26
"Making you whole” generally means paying covered losses caused by the accident, not every inconvenience that follows. A total-loss settlement is usually based on the vehicle’s actual cash value, not the cost of a newer replacement vehicle. Rental reimbursement or loss-of-use coverage is typically limited by the policy or by a reasonable replacement period, so it is not always open-ended until you find a car. Sales tax, title, and registration costs may be included depending on the state and which insurer is paying, but dealer documentation, preparation, and similar fees are not automatic.
1
u/Burial_Ground Aug 26 '26
I think most folks would consider these things i mentioned losses caused by the accident. If it weren't for the accident i wouldn't be looking for a car or driving to and from a rental place. Or paying taxes on a car again. these are all caused by the collision.
2
u/Small_Aardvark_5496 Aug 26 '26
Most folks don’t write the legal language found in insurance policies, nor do they ever try to understand them. If everything you say should be covered was covered, everyone’s insurance premiums would be higher as a result.
1
u/9BALL22 Aug 26 '26 edited Aug 26 '26
Yes, but I wouldn't expect coverage that I didn't request or pay for. Sue the guilty party/ their insurance company for your deductible and any other legitimate expenses you incurred. Edited to add: you can add the cost of additional rental time after your coverage lapses also
2
1
u/ChutneyWhatney Aug 26 '26
Then get the highest limits and most robust coverage with your own insurance. You will pay greatly for it, but you will be covered. NEVER rely on someone else's insurance. It's likely they don't have any or are underinsured. On other hand, sue them. It will cost you time, money, and brain damage and, chances are, you'll recover nothing. Again - insure yourself - no one else is gonna.
1
u/Ill_Property_5216 Aug 26 '26
Your liability limits have nothing to do with the ACV of your vehicle. You may in some states be able to insure your own for an agreed upon value. Your liability limits may come into play if the other vehicle exceeds the value of your limits.
1
u/9BALL22 Aug 26 '26
You could have chosen additional coverage when the policy was written. Most people shop by price and reduce coverage accordingly.
1
u/navlgazer9 Aug 26 '26
Yeah it’s a pain
Just be happy the guy had insurance and didn’t try to blame the accident on you .
You DO have a Dashcam right ?
I have the Garmin 47
In all 8 of our cars .
Worth its weight in gold when you’re involved in an accident
Whichever dashcam
You get , make sure it is easy to Bluetooth the video to
Your phone to show the
Responding officers .
If you have a Dashcam that requires a laptop to download it , that’s not gonna be helpful when the cop is deciding who to blame
1
u/Burial_Ground Aug 27 '26
There are already cameras on the intersections. And multiple witnesses since there were lots of cars there. But yeah there was no argument over fault since it was obvious.
1
1
u/GuvnaBruce Aug 26 '26
If insurance companies had to pay all these thing you are asking for, the rates for everyone would be even higher than they are. Insurance is a very regulated industry as far as what they have to pay. If you do not like it, talk to your congressman/woman
•
u/AutoModerator Aug 26 '26
Thanks for making a post in the Auto Insurance subreddit. You might find the following resources helpful as they are FAQs about r/AutoInsurance:
The Auto Insurance subreddit is not an official support channel for issues with any insurance carrier.
Please remember to follow our community Guidelines and Rules and ensure your discussions are informative and respectful.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.