My car while parked was hit by a delivery truck and the bumper got damaged. I took my car to my regular repair place here in Arizona and was given an estimate of $875. When I submitted this to the truck driver’s insurer, they requested me to have the car assessed at their partner repair shop and got an estimate of $720. I want to have my car fixed in my regular repair place even though it charges more. Will the truck driver’s car insurance still cover for that?

Elizabeth

Phoenix, AZ

The Arizona Department of Insurance states that you are allowed in Arizona to choose a repair shop and get damage assessment of your car. Car insurance providers will ask you to get other valuations to make sure that your choice repair place has quoted an evenhanded price, though. Additionally, all insurers have their preferred repair shops because they are known to have decent and competitive prices for repair jobs.

The Arizona Department of Insurance also mandates that the insurer may not require you to travel unreasonably to get damage assessment for your vehicle from a repair shop, or bring the car on your own to a specific repair place to have it fixed. In your case, though, you can appeal that the car repairs be done in your choice repair place. If explained and handled properly then you might be able to come up with a good settlement and the repair process can be charged to the paying car insurance company. If this would not be the case and the truck driver’s insurance company will only cover $720, but you still want to pursue having your car fixed by your choice repair shop, then you will need to shoulder the remaining amount.

Hi everyone! I’m having a hard time understanding the auto insurance quote that an agent gave me. He says it’s the minimum auto insurance requirement in Arizona. Can someone explain in simple terms what this actually covers?

Faith

Glendale, AZ

Hello there, Faith! I’d be glad to help you out.

For starters, the minimum auto insurance coverage required in Arizona are as follows: $15,000 per person of bodily injury liability insurance with a maximum of $30,000 per accident and a $10,000 property damage liability insurance. If you are found to be the person at fault in an accident, the bodily injury liability insurance will pay for the costs of medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering of the injured party. It will also provide legal defense if ever you get into a lawsuit resulting from the accident. On the other hand, the property damage liability insurance will cover the expenses for damage to another person’s properties, as well as any legal costs associated with the accident.

Aside from the minimum insurance required, I would also suggest that you look into getting some add-on auto insurance coverage for collisions and a comprehensive auto insurance, as well, to cover for any other thing that could result to the damage or loss of your vehicle.

Why don’t you give your agent in Arizona a call? I’m sure your auto insurance agent will be able to enlighten you on your auto insurance companies’ policies and processes, and this will aid you in making an informed decision before you actually pay for your auto insurance.

Our neighbor damaged my son’s parked vehicle in Deer Valley, Arizona. Our neighbor’s car was not insured but he got insurance on his other car. Can we place a claim against the policy on the car that is insured? He was arrested for drunk driving.

Tim

Deer Valley, AZ

I do not think you could file a claim for the damages caused by the uninsured automobile against the car insurance policy of the other vehicle with insurance. Your neighbor is responsible for the damages.

To have the damages fixed in Deer Valley, Arizona you may see if you could place claims against your own insurance provider under your collision coverages.

Another option is to seek legal help to determine if you will have to take your neighbor to court and seek a judgment against your neighbor for the damages you sustained while he was driving drunk.

You may contact the Arizona Department of Insurance online or call their consumer hotline at 1-800-252-3439 for consumer help.

I just want to know if I co-sign a loan for a vehicle in Arizona and the primary driver causes an accident can I be held responsible in legal matters?

Tiffany

North Pinal, AZ

Generally, if you have your name on the title of a vehicle and are considered a co-owner then you have liability for the actions of anyone who drives the automobile. So if as a co-signer you had your name put on the registration or title of the vehicle then likely you will be considered a co-owner and therefore could be sought after if the main driver was in caused damages in an accident.

If you are not listed on the title of the car and only named on the loan then your risk of being involved in legal matters are not as great since you only signed to be financially responsible for the car or make payments if the primary signer fails to make payments timely.

I suggest that you contact a lawyer in AZ that is familiar with Arizona liability laws and civil suits with regards to car accidents to know what liability you would have in your position as a co-signer on a car loan on which some else is the main driver.

I live in Casas Adobes. I bought a new vehicle but a week later my car was hit by a UPS truck while it was parked at work. It is a hybrid car with alot of complicated batteries and electronics. Is possible to demand for a new vehicle?

Lory

Casas Adobes, AZ

I suggest that you contact your claims adjuster in Casas Adobes, and explain in detail your situation. In addition, you may consider talking to the claims department supervisor. The insurance provider has the final say in how they choose to replace or repair your car.

As soon as you leave the vehicle dealership lot your car depreciates. So even if they completely total your car you will not obtain the full amount of what you paid for your car.There is coverage you may buy in the future that would permit you to collect the full amount. It is called GAP insurance and it can give valuable protection during the early years of your vehicle’s life. If a loss happens such as total loss in a collision, theft, etc GAP insurance will pay the difference between the ACV of the car and the current outstanding balance on your lease or loan.

I am just wondering if it is possible to have the car insurance only in my name in Tucson. The title is also under my name and my husband is already in a nursing home.

Jane

Tucson, AZ

Yes, It is possible to have your car insurance policy only in your name if the vehicle is titled in your name and your husband is no longer a member of the household in Tucson.

You should speak your auto insurance agent that your husband is now in a nursing home and you would like the car insurance policy under your name only. Insurance providers guidelines vary so some insurance companies may require you to exclude your husband as a driver in your car insurance policy.

What if the information insurance providers get when they check driving records is not correct how can it be corrected? I live in Tempe, Arizona.

Brad

Tempe, AZ

Regardless of how the insurance providers obtains the information, if it is not correct it usually due to a problem or inaccuracy with your driving record coming from your DMV in your state, Arizona. So to correct this inaccurate information on your MVR/driver’s record you will need to contact your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles and ask them how to clear up your driving record.

You can call DMVs have a customer service phone line to report the inaccuracy of the information in your MVR in Tempe AZ. Your driving history should then be reviewed and corrected if the Department of Motor Vehicle finds your complaint valid. If the DMV informs you of your record being corrected then you may inform the insurance provider so that they may run your Motor Vehicle Record again and get information adjusted.

I’ve just recently been in an accident and I would like to know How will the car insurance company in Arizona issue the check to repair my vehicle?

Terrence

Gilbert, AZ

The answer depends on whether or not you are in a first-party or third-party claim situation in Arizona.

In a first-party situation, when the claim is being paid by your insurance company, the check will likely be made out to you and the repair shop.

In a third-party situation, when the claim is being paid by the other motorist’s insurance company, it’s likely that the check will be made payable to you alone.

I would suggest that you contact your insurance company in Arizona to get more information on how they will issue the check when you get your car repaired because of the accident.

Can I purchase car insurance without a Social Security number in Arizona?

Patrick

Chandler, AZ

Yes, you can purchase car insurance in Arizona without a SSN but insurance providers will require you to have a US driver’s license which depending upon state laws in which you reside in, you may be required to have a social security number in order to get a license.

There are controversies over the use of credit scores for insurance rating, however the bottom line is that insurance providers have not been able to find a better indicator of risk factors other than using a simple credit-based insurance score along with the other factors that can affect auto insurance rate. It is not less controversial than the use of marital status or sex and even age as a factor. Each of these factors have come under public scrutiny as biased and a form of profiling. Insurance providers are trying to assign an insurance rate to a risk pool. They work hard to determine risks and assist the pool by having those contributors pay their equal share.