QuestionI live in FL and have the min insurance you can get on a used, paid for, car. My 18 yr old daughter, who moved out over a year ago, after dropping out of school to live with her boyfriend, "borrowed" my car without my permission and rear ended a van. Although the person she hit, popped his bumper back on, he said "the sensors" that help you when you back up, were not working. He is from Canada and would drive back home in 3 weeks and have it fixed at cost, because his son works at a car repair shop. He had it inspected here in FL and they told him it would be around $1500. He said he thinks he can get it done for around $800 in Canada. Here are my questions?
My daughter is not on my insurance. My insurance company might pay if I said she could borrow it, but she still has my address on her license. Does that matter?
Also, I don't want to make a claim with my insurance, because I am afraid my insurance will go up. I make minimum wage and support a 16 year old with little child support. A raise in my insurance will kill me.Even Worse they may drop my insurance, even though I have never made a claim and have been with them for 5 years and have never made a claim in over 20 yrs of my life with any insurance. I signed an insurance waiver that I would not let my 16 yr old drive the car, so my insurance would be lower, but she lives with me, so I had to list her anyway. She does NOT under any circumstance drive the car. But, in the end, older daughter who had the accident said she would pay for the damage, since she is of age ad it was her fault she took the car. But I'm not going to take her to court and sue her. Can my insurance come after me if this guy contacts my insurance company? Can't they just say I am not responsible, cause she used my car without my permission? But I'm not going to take her to court and sue her. She's willing to pay, but once my insurance company knows, want they just raise my insurance or drop me anyway, even though a claim was not made?
I'm so confused. He filed an accident report, because no police came to the scene. Does that go directly to my insurance company or do the police just keep it on file? This is not something I ever want to take to court. Either my daughter or I will take care of it. I just don't want to pay the guy out of my pocket and then lose my insurance at the same time, when I could have just tried to see if my insurance would pay for it in the first place. I'm afraid it's too late anyway. Happened a month ago. I just don't know what to do. Florida property/auto insurance is dropping like flies if you haven't heard.. Also, I live in an apartment, and have no assets, if that means anything.
And what if the guy screws me over? Should I sign anything in writing?
Please help me!!!
Ann
AnswerHi Ann,
I'm sorry you seem so upset.
If he file a police report, that report will be accessed by your insurance company the next time your policy comes up for renewal. Your insurance company would pay the claim since your daughter does not live with you, but since she has your address on her license, she would have to prove that she lives somewhere else with a phone or light bill or lease in her name. Either way if a police report was files the insurance conmpany will find out and will likely increase your premium. You should likely make the claim and deal with the increase when it happens. Based on what you said about your financial situation, it would likely be hard for you to come up with $900.00 let alone $1800.00.
I hope this helps
Richard Hixnebaugh
