Provide the drivers license
numbers for all drivers in
the household.
• Have vehicle registration numbers
available for all vehicles in the household.
• Furnish updated driver safety records for all drivers in the
household, including past accident and claim information.
• Put together insurance information in order to compare
coverages, provide names of insurance companies, and
give policy numbers. Ask if a broker’s fee is included
or if one will be charged.
• Be prepared to pay the premium in full, make a down
payment, or arrange premium financing.
• Do not sign blank documents or documents you do not
understand.
• Keep notes of the conversation for your records.
Mark down who you talked to and what was said.
• Provide complete, accurate information.
• Find out the complete name of the underwriting
insurance company in which your coverage is to
be placed.
• Ask for copies of all documents for your records before
you leave the office.
It is very important to be familiar with your automobile
insurance policy before you need it. Read the policy
thoroughly so you know what is covered and what is
excluded. Call your company or agent/broker if you don’t
understand any item in your policy. If you feel you have
been treated unfairly by an agent/broker or a company when
purchasing insurance, then contact us.
When I get a Quote?
You need to know what coverages you
want, what limits of liability you require,
and what deductibles you desire. Also,
you need to have the following basic
information available on all drivers in
your household:
1. All drivers’ names, ages, sex, and marital status;
2. Driving record (accidents and moving violations);
3. Annual mileage; and
4. The following information on all cars:
• full vehicle identification number
• year of vehicle
• cost of vehicle
• special equipment
22 State of California Department of Insurance
Available Coverages on Most
Pays For
Your responsibility to pay for medical,
death and hospital expenses including
cost of repairs to other party’s vehicle
or property
Provides coverage for a policyholder
involved in a collision with a driver who
does not have liability insurance or who
Automobile Insurance 25
Automobile Insurance Fraud
Red Flags
Automobile insurance fraud in California has historically
taken several forms. The most common fraud schemes
involve automobile property and automobile accidents.
Automobile Property - This type of fraud most often involves
dishonest auto body and repair shops and/or insureds who
may employ a variety of illegal or questionable techniques
including:
• Reporting parts of vehicles as damaged or lost when in
fact they were not damaged or lost prior to the shop
receiving the vehicle.
• Making final cost in excess of the original estimate
of damage.
• Billing for repairs that were not authorized.
• Charging for genuine parts when after-market or used
parts from junkyard were used.
• Pounding out dents or using bondo when charging for
brand new auto parts.
• Falsely reporting stolen vehicles or vandalism of vehicles
in order to collect insurance monies.
It is always very important for the consumer to review carefully
all paper work from auto body and repair shops in order to
protect against potential fraud. Also, consumers should be
cautious of any auto body or repair facility that makes referrals
to medical or legal offices. This practice may be an indicator
of “capping.” Capping (a felony in California) is the illegal
referral of clients to legal offices for a fee.
does not have sufficient liability limits to
pay for damages
Cost of repairs to your vehicle not covered
by collision insurance, subject to a limit
of $3,500. UMPD coverage pays for the
property damage to your car when there is a
collision with an identified uninsured driver.
Medical expense incurred without question
of legal liability
Cost of repairs or the fair market value
of the vehicle
Cost of repairs or the fair market value
of the vehicle
Cost of a rental car while your vehicle is
being repaired under coverage afforded
by the policy
Reasonable and necessary towing and
labor cost subject to policy terms
Types of Coverage
Liability
Bodily Injury
Property Damage
Uninsured/ Underinsured
Motorist Bodily Injury
Uninsured Motorist
Property Damage
Medical Payments
Comprehensive
Physical Damage other
than Collision
Collision
Rental Reimbursement
Daily limit and number of
days subject to policy terms
Towing