Auto Insurance Claims: Coverage, automatic coverage, collision coverage

Question
I just recently purchased a new vehicle and I have not yet had the insurance transferred to my new car. I was just in an accident that was my fault will my insurance cover me. I have had the car for 19 days. I live in Florida I can't find anything on my policy that will tell me.  Thanks.

Answer
Hi Fred,

There should be a section in your policy for "newly aquired vehicle". It states that you have automatic coverage for a newly aquired vehicle for 30 days. You must comtact the insurance company within 30 days to add the vehicle. The automatic coverage would be the broadest coverage already on your policy. That means if you have 1 car on the policy now and that car has full coverage then all of that coverage is automatically on the newly purchased car. If you only have liability on the old car then only the liability coverage would extend to the new car which means the insurance would pay for the other persons car if you were at fault but would no pay for your new car since there was no collision coverage on the old car. If you had 2 cars on the policy, one with ful coverage and one with liability only, then the full coverage (or the broadest coverage on the policy) would extend to the new car.

You will need to show proof of the date of purchase of the new car.

I hope this helps
Richard Hixenbaugh