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310005-00

Defensive-driver course credits
Will a policyholder lose the credit for completing a defensive-driver course if a chargeable accident occurs within the three years allowed for......

310030-00

Defensive-driver courses must be DMV-approved
My insured’s discount for taking the defensive-driving course expires next month. However, she resides out-of-state for part of the year and......

310034-00

NYAIP: No registration, no coverage
We were asked to insure three household vehicles, and the risk must be placed in the New York Automobile Insurance Plan. One of the vehicles is......

310039-00

DMV registrations: ’passenger’ vs. ’commercial’
I get confused by New York’s system of registering vehicles with either “commercial” or “passenger” plates. Is there......

310041-00

NYAIP: Refunds for company rating errors
My insured is in the New York Automobile Insurance Plan. The company incorrectly surcharged both the prior year’s policy and the current......

310064-00

Timely investigation of auto claim
Our client is involved in a personal auto claim that has been going on for more than 45 days. The police report states that the other driver left......

310068-00

After-market parts
An adjuster called my insured offering to repair his car using after-market parts. Can the company do this?...

310071-00

Defensive-driver course
I have an insured in the New York Automobile Insurance Plan who has taken an approved defensive-driving course. The course allowed him to reduce......

310073-00

Coverage for bike—car accident
While my insured was out riding his bike, he hit and damaged a car. Which policy pays—his auto or his homeowners?...

310074-00

Get brothers separate auto policies
I have New York Automobile Insurance Plan clients who are two brothers living together. Each owns and operates his own car. For the previous......

310090-00

Auto total loss—valuations
Our insured recently purchased a used vehicle, which then was totaled in a crash. The company is offering less than the book value of the car,......

310091-00

Auto theft claims—what’s covered?
On a theft settlement, is it legal for a company to deduct amounts for the extended warranty, alarm and anti-theft jack? Shouldn’t these......

310094-00

Total loss salvage arrangements
Our insured’s car was totaled. The insurer is saying it will deduct $500, the salvage value of the car, from the insured’s settlement;......

310095-00

Prohibited vehicles
Our auto insurance companies have lists of vehicles they refuse to insure. Suppose one of our existing clients buys one of these vehicles?...

310096-00

SUM consent-to-settle provision
A company has denied a claim for supplementary uninsured motorists coverage benefits because our insured accepted a settlement from the at-fault......

310102-00

Time frames for auto theft claims
What is the required time frame for paying an auto theft claim when the vehicle is not recovered?...

310116-00

Uninsured operation—non-owned vehicles
An employee of a trucking firm was arrested because he was driving a truck on which the coverage had lapsed. Can the employee be held responsible......

310125-00

Vicarious liability—leased vehicles
Under New York’s vicarious liability statute covering motor vehicle accidents, are people who lease vehicles considered......

310160-00

Named-driver exclusion
Our insured’s car was parked and hit by someone from Indiana. The Indiana insurer is denying, saying the driver was an excluded individual......

310235-00

New York law against steering for auto repairs
I have been told that our agency can never recommend a specific repair shop when a customer needs repairs to a vehicle following a collision. Is......

310392-00

Photo inspection regulations
Are automobile insurance carriers in New York allowed to suspend physical damage coverage when a policy is moved from one carrier to another and......

310476-00

Loss-of-use costs in auto accident surcharge threshold
Should insurers include loss-of-use costs in the auto accident surcharge threshold?...

310477-00

Changes to supplementary uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage
What changed effective June 16, 2018, with regard to supplementary uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage?...

310491-00

Bait-and-switch activities
I lost a client to a direct writer who offered them a lower rate on their auto policy then I could. However, shortly after the policy was bound,......

900001-00

Resident family member
My clients insure a vehicle, used by their son at college, on a personal auto policy. The parents are planning to leave the country for two years.......

900003-00

Damage to vehicle from shifting load
My insured was driving his pickup when he was forced to stop quickly. Equipment in the bed of the truck shifted forward, damaging the cab. Under a......

900004-00

Joint ownership coverage endorsement
Could you clarify what the Joint Ownership Coverage (PP 03 34) endorsement to the Insurance Services Office Personal Auto Policy is designed to do?...

900005-00

Betterment clause
In an auto physical damage claim, the insurer wants to use non-original equipment manufacturer parts and the claimant does not want them. So, the......

900006-00

Coverage not terminated by plate surrender
Our insured’s vehicle was hit while parked. We reported the loss to the negligent party’s carrier to collect on a third-party basis.......

900011-00

BAP Symbol 7 newly acquired auto coverage
Our insured has an automobile policy written with Symbol 7 for comprehensive coverage in the ISO Business Auto Coverage Form. If a comprehensive......

900075-00

Renters with no auto policy
I recently read about a Florida law (Section 627.7263), that allows the rental company to make a renter’s personal auto policy primary with......

900212-00

Falling object
As a car is driving down the highway behind a truck, something flies off the truck. The car can’t avoid the object and runs over it, causing......

900258-00

Lawful auto rate discrimination
How can auto insurance companies discriminate and charge different rates for credit, age, gender, etc.? Is that really legal?...

900271-00

Travel trailers
I have two insureds that have pickup trucks insured under a business auto policy in their business name. They also use these trucks to pull their......

900406-00

Rental for business use
My insured is renting a van for a business trip. Does he have liability and physical damage coverage under his personal auto policy?...

900412-00

Zipcars and employees
My client’s law firm directs its employees to use Zipcars when attending meetings. How is this covered on the commercial automobile policy?...

900421-00

Title with salvage brand
My client’s auto was totaled in an accident. The insurer is discounting the value of the auto because its title has been “salvage......

900500-00

Non-owned auto coverage—employee’s auto
Is there an exclusion on a commercial auto policy for the business owner/employee who uses his own vehicle to travel between offices, or uses his......

900501-00

Transgender operators
How does a producer address transgender operators when placing auto insurance?...

900506-00

Physical damage coverage for valet parking
I saw Ask PIA 900241—Coverage for valet parking on your website, which discussed only liability coverage for a rented vehicle. What about......