Ask PIA

Transportation expenses

Does a personal auto policy provide expenses for airfare if our insured is on vacation and his vehicle is stolen?

Suspending liability coverage

Could you provide some guidance on how to suspend coverage on a registered vehicle while it is not being driven? In view of the uninsured motorist detection system, can this still be done?

Test drives

Where does it say that the personal auto policy is primary when someone is test driving a car?

Suspending a vehicle

Under Connecticut’s program to detect uninsured motorists, will my insureds be subject to penalties if they suspend coverage on a vehicle?

Nonowned trailers

Will our insured be covered under a personal auto policy while pulling a trailer that is owned and insured separately (including Part D—Physical Damage Coverage) by our insured’s resident girlfriend?

Surcharges

We represent an insurer that surcharges for the first accident. I thought they could not surcharge for the first accident. What is the rule on this?

Medical payments

Our insured was in an auto accident. The family dog, riding in the car, was hurt. Are the veterinarian’s bills covered under the medical payments coverage?

Camper trailers

My client has an auto camper-trailer on blocks at a campsite with an attached, screened-in porch. Is the porch covered against damage or loss on his auto policy? What about liability for accidents occurring in the camper or on the porch?

Snowplowing—personal auto liability

My insured has a pickup truck as his personal vehicle. In the winter, he mounts a snowplow on it—for his personal use, he says. I am concerned in case he may be plowing others’ property for money. Would there be any exclusion of coverage if this were the case?

Golf cart liability

Our client accidentally injured his golf partner when he lost control of the golf cart. He has asked whether there is any coverage under his auto policy. He also has a condo policy.

Volunteer drivers

One of my insureds drives her own personal vehicle in volunteer work for the Red Cross. She transports people to doctors and hospitals for appointments. Is there an endorsement to cover this situation?

Named nonowned coverage

How does our agency provide coverage for people who do not insure owned autos on a personal automobile policy to protect them when they borrow a car for personal use? They are furnished a corporate car, but the insurer will not add drive-other-car coverage on the business automobile policy.

Federal employee exclusion

My insured took a job with the U.S. Post Office. She became alarmed when she was told by her employer that her personal auto policy would not cover her while on the job. Can this be true?

Noncooperation

My client’s car was hit by another auto. Now the other driver’s insurer has denied coverage due to lack of cooperation by its insured. Can they do this?

Physical damage

We have a client who is the named insured on a personal auto policy covering his owned vehicle. His wife and son have leased another vehicle. Is the leased automobile covered on the father’s policy for physical damage coverage?

Military service and youthful operators

We insure a family whose young son is away serving in the military. Do we need to rate him as a youthful operator on his family’s auto policy?

Horse trailers covered

We insure a husband and wife who own eight automobiles and three trailers. They use the trailers to haul horses. Are the trailers covered under their personal auto policy?

Damage by rodent

The lights went out on my client’s Thunderbird. The mechanic found a mouse that had been chewing on the wires. Can a claim be made under the comprehensive coverage?

Total loss—insurer’s option

Following a coastal storm, we had a loss involving a vehicle which had been subjected to immersion in salt water. The client had a $2,000 repair estimate. The company insisted on totaling the vehicle, at about $12,000. The company took the position that, if salt water had come up to the floorboard, it would only give the client the option of withdrawing the claim or accepting the total loss and surrendering the vehicle for salvage. The company said that corrosion would cause her additional problems down the road. The client was adamant about keeping her car; meanwhile, she was driving it! Was the company within its rights?

DWI—collision coverage

I have a personal auto insured that was involved in an accident and was cited for driving while intoxicated. The carrier is disclaiming collision coverage citing that DWI. Can carriers exclude this coverage under these circumstances?

Coverage for employer

My client’s employer wants to be covered while the client uses his personal auto for business-related activities. How can the employer be covered if the insurer refuses to add the employer as an additional insured?

Coverage for day-care transport

Our insured provides family day-care in her home. When she is driving the children in her car, would any accident be covered under her personal auto policy, or does she need a commercial policy?

Duty to defend when limits exhausted

Under the personal auto policy, are the liability limits reduced by the legal costs of defending the claim?

PAP coverage for hauling boats in connection with business

My client has a personal auto policy. He also owns a business. About two or three times a year, he hauls boats that are connected with his business. Would his personal auto policy exclude liability coverage if a claim occurs?

Motor home not covered if rented to friend

Our client owns a motor home, insured under a personal auto policy. He wants to rent it to a friend and wants to know if it will still be covered while rented.

Damage to plow

We’ve run into a claim dispute over a snowplow attached to a pickup truck. The insurer is denying the claim for damage to the plow, based on the exclusion applying to “any custom furnishings or equipment in or upon any pickup or van.” Are they correct? If so, other PIA members should know about this potential problem!

Nonowned trailer

We have an insured who is a salesperson for a recreational vehicle dealer. Occasionally, the salesperson will take one of the campers, hook it up to their own truck and haul it to an RV show. We’re concerned about coverage for this activity.

No license, no permit

We have a company that went ahead and added a 16-year-old to his parents’ auto policy, even though this teenager doesn’t have a license or a permit and has no accidents or tickets. The company says that so many people neglect to add their children when the children start driving that they have decided to do so automatically when the children turn 16. I thought a company could add unlicensed drivers only if they are proven to have been driving (e.g., had an accident or ticket). Who is right?

Parents’ liability for son’s auto

We insure a family where the son, age 24, lives with his parents and has his own personal auto policy. If the son is involved in an accident, is there any exposure for the parents? Also, in writing the son’s policy, we have listed the parents as members of the household and drivers. Does this approach add any additional exposure for the parents?

Stolen auto scenarios

We recently had two situations involving stolen vehicles. In the first case, a stolen car hit our insured’s car. Can he collect from the policy of the people who owns the car?

In the second case, it was our insured whose car was stolen. He has acquired a replacement and wants to delete the stolen car and add the new one. What if the stolen car shows up?

Trailer has coverage under personal auto policy

We have an insured with a tractor that he transports on a trailer pulled by his personal vehicle. He may be starting a lawn-mowing business. He has some coverage questions. First, does he have coverage for this use of the trailer under his personal auto policy? Second, what if the tractor falls off the trailer while it is being transported and hits another vehicle; is damage to the other vehicle covered? Can he get coverage for use of the tractor?

Comprehensive coverage applies to contact with deer

Would a collision with a deer be considered a “collision” under the personal auto policy and, therefore, covered under the collision coverage portion of the policy?

Excluded drivers

How can insurers exclude a specific driver from a private-passenger auto policy?

Other state registrations

Does a Connecticut personal auto policy cover autos that are registered in other states?

Parental liability

Our client has a youthful operator residing in their household under the age of 21 who has their own personal automobile policy. Are the parents’ subject to a liability exposure for the youthful operator? If the youthful operator has minimum limits of liability, does this create a liability exposure for the parents?

Nonowned motorcycle dilemma

We have been asked the following question but need to confirm the answer. Alexander, 21, took a short ride (about a half mile) on his friend’s new motorcycle. He skidded out, fell off the bike (with only minor injuries) and the bike was damaged. The friend with the new bike did not have collision insurance, and the estimate is $8,000 for repairs. Of course, Alexander is responsible to return the motorcycle to its new condition. Is there any coverage for this cost in an auto or homeowners policy?

Third-party uninsured vehicle

Can an insurer deny payment for damages to a claimant’s vehicle if the claimant’s vehicle was uninsured at the time? The claimant’s vehicle was parked and the neighbor backed into it and the neighbor’s insurance carrier is denying payment.

Rental vehicle for family member

Our clients have a personal auto policy. A 24-year-old daughter is listed as a driver and resides in the household, but is not a named insured. Is there coverage on the PAP if the 24-year-old daughter rents a vehicle while on vacation?

’Active duty’ clarification

We were told by one company that if a son/daughter is in “boot camp” or basic training that this is not considered active duty, so they will charge until he/she has passed basic training and becomes “active.” Is this correct?

Renting a moving truck

My client is renting a moving truck to move from one house to another. The rental company is telling him that his auto policy will not cover him because the vehicle he is renting has a gross vehicle weight of 25,500 lbs. and is commercially registered. I believe he is covered since there is no weight restriction on a van or truck and there is no specific definition of a van on the policy. Is he covered or not?

Connecticut minimum limits

Connecticut’s increased liability limits for personal auto policies went into effect on Jan. 1, 2018. Does that automatically increase the limits on all personal auto policies regardless of whether or not the policyholder has increased the limits on their own policy?

PAP coverage for vehicle contents

Our insured transported on his trailer a tool box belonging to his future son-in-law. The box was loaded negligently, flipping the trailer damaging the box. The personal auto policy insurer is denying coverage based upon Exclusion A.2. applicable to property being transported by the insured and Exclusion A.3. applicable to property in the care of the insured. On the face, it appears the insurer is correct. However, I am disturbed when I reflect on these exclusions. If I offer my friend a ride to the airport and have an accident, the personal auto policy will cover him for bodily injury and personal injury protection, but will not cover his suitcase and its contents. Depending on the valuables in the suitcase, I could have a significant property damage exposure for which I have no coverage. How can this be covered?

Be careful when replacing vehicles

An insured contacted us to let us know of the purchase of a new vehicle and that he was trading in the old one shortly. Our insured also informed us that while on the way to pick up the new vehicle, they were coming by our agency to pick up the identification cards. If we issue the I.D. card would our insured be protected if he or she is involved in an accident on the way to the dealership?

Borrowing a friend’s truck to pick up supplies

I borrowed my friend’s pick-up truck so I could go to Home Depot and get some supplies. While I was borrowing it, I got into an accident. I don’t want my neighbor to have his rates raised because of this. I just want to confirm that my insurance will cover the damages?

Insuring the lessor on a personal auto policy

My client insures a leased vehicle on a personal auto policy. The leasing company is requiring that it be added to the policy as an additional insured and loss payee. The insurer issued an additional interest endorsement and will not issue an additional insured endorsement. Will the additional interest endorsement satisfy the needs of the lessor?

Deceased auto policyholder

We have an auto policyholder who recently died and her children are wondering if they can drive the car. If they are insured while driving the car, is coverage under the policy the same as it was for the deceased named insured?

Connecticut Family Car Doctrine

If a parent allows their son to drive their car for convenience; and then the son lets his friend drive the car and they are subsequently in an at-fault accident, may the owner disclaim liability as the friend wasn’t an authorized driver?

Lending a vehicle to a friend

Our daughter has a vehicle, with her own insurance policy, away at school with her. She called me the other day to tell me the car was in an accident. She had let her friend drive it and her friend caused an accident. The accident will be reported on her friend’s insurance, right?

Pizza delivery

Our insured’s son just started working for a pizza shop. They are having him use his own car for the deliveries. I am worried there would be no coverage in the event of an accident. Does he have coverage, while using his car to deliver pizza, in the event of an accident?

Personal auto owned by trust

When a trust owns a vehicle insured on a personal automobile policy written in the name of the grantor, how do you reconcile coverage as primary if the Other Insurance provision states coverage is excess for a vehicle not owned by the named insured?

Thinking of pizza delivery while laid off from work

Our insured’s son just started working for a pizza shop because he has been temporarily laid off from work. They are having him use his own car for the deliveries. I am worried there would be no coverage in the event of an accident. Does he have coverage, while using his car to deliver pizza, in the event of an accident?

Automobile recall

Recently, an auto manufacturer had a recall on the air bags in some of their vehicles and they are advising consumers not to drive their vehicles until repaired. The manufacturer is offering loaner vehicles, available from the dealership, since they are expecting it will take several months until the vehicles will be properly repaired. Will our insureds have proper coverage from their auto policy for the entire duration they have access to the loaner vehicle?