by littlemc » Mon May 11, 2009 05:12 pm
I was just in a non injury accident and when filing the claim was told my insurance had lapsed and not been paid since 2006. I had never received an invoice or any notification of cancellation or non-payment. Normally that long of time without paying would have put up a red flag, however I have severe memory loss from taking an anti-seizure medication and unless I have constant reminders things get totally lost to me. When I receive bills I pay them immediately so they aren't set aside and forgotten, and I depend on the person who is billing to send me these invoices. My insurance company sent absolutely nothing, no bill, no late notice, no notification of canellation.
Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 01:53 pm Post Subject:
Yes, there is a giant chunk missing
I think many understand that the huge part missing is that the OP simply did not pay the premium, the insurance company sent out several notifications that were ignored, the policy was cancelled, and now 3 years later and right after an accident happens, the OP suddenly realizes that the policy has not been in-force for 3 years. It's always right after an accident happens that people "realize" that their policy is not in-force. It's seldom at the point that they no longer are making payments as they have been.Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 03:34 am Post Subject:
I think the insurer would cancel the policy and report the driver to the DMV for driving without coverage. Some states also require you to turn-in the plate when you have no insurance. It's amazing that neither happened to the OP. :?
Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 05:35 am Post Subject:
Some states require notice be sent to the state upon cancellation/non-renewal, others don't. Some states suspend drivers licenses and/or vehicle registrations, some states impound your car, some states actually sell the car at auction after repeated offenses.....and some don't.
This "no insurance and yer busted and then what happens next???" thing is so all-over-the-map it's absolutely ridiculous. My company is in more than 30 states, I research all those goofy differences, and I tell ya, it'll drive a person crazy. No offense to all of the crazy people out there. :D
Getting back to OP, I think you've figured out what's going on here. In synopsis- there's unfortunately no coverage, and there are likely to be additional consequences depending on the state where you live. Hopefully you're in one of the good, so to speak, states. Sorry if I didn't catch the state in the thread if it was there.
InsTeacher 8)
Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 10:55 am Post Subject:
My state is a 'lacky' state IMO...if you get 'caught' without ins, you're reported to the state, and can lose your plates, and big fine to reinstate them...but you have to be caught..however you do have to prove ins coverage when licensing your vehicle, which too isn't a big trick...pay for a month, get the proof, license the car for two years, and you're good to go uninsured for another two years..just hoping you don't get caught... I like PA, they dang near throw you in jail.. :lol:
Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 11:10 am Post Subject:
Hi Teacher,
I research all those goofy differences, and I tell ya, it'll drive a person crazy.
If there's something really interesting to share...then please go ahead! :)
Also, I don't get why some states need you to notify any cancellation or non-renewal while others don't. See, if you have any explanation for some states NOT needing it. I think it should be registered for the safety and security of others.
Steven
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 06:49 am Post Subject:
If there's something really interesting to share...then please go ahead!
Here's a quick one- in Oregon, you get your plates at the same place you get your vehicle-emissions check done. You fill out a document with your insurance information, pass your smog check, pay your fees and you're on your way with the new plates or tags. I have never once been asked for proof of insurance. If you get caught driving without insurance/proof of financial responsibility (yes, we're one of those states), your license gets suspended for 90 days and you get the fun-filled ride of an SR-22 for a year.
In Colorado, you have to prove insurance at the DMV to get your plates, and they WILL call your insurer if they even THINK you're trying to get over on them. If you get busted without insurance, your plates are suspended, your license is suspended, and it's truly gonna suck for you for a while. SR-22, possible bond, and God help you if you were in an accident without the coverage.
Several states have the right to seize and impound your vehicle until insurance proof is given and all other requirements, fines, etc. have been met. A few states have the legal right to seize and then sell the vehicle, although that's rarely done.
Are we having fun yet? The cost of getting busted with no insurance is bad, and the cost of no insurance and an at-fault accident is reallllllly bad, especially if you've seriously injured someone and/or caused lots of property damage. Yet statistics show time and time again that in some states up to 37% of the population is without coverage. That's why I carry high limits and UMPD on all my cars.
Don't even get me started with this uninsured stuff. I get seriously inflamed when this comes to the forefront, and this isn't the forum for it. So many things are so behind the scenes that the average person doesn't have a clue. If you ever get behind the scenes at a major insurer, you'd fall over at the statistics. You think that the insurers only keep data on uninsured accidents? You don't think that insurers have demographic data of those involved in uninsured accidents? The cost of uninsured automobile accidents is staggering, and all we hear about is healthcare and it's uninsured population. I will NEVER argue against that, but the numbers on auto insurance are pretty bad.
InsTeacher 8)
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 02:28 am Post Subject: car insurance
If you are on paperless payment agreements. Then never got any emails for payment or renewal, but sent the ID insurance cards. Figured you would get the bill after the ID since it's quote on quote paperless sent email. They dropped your insurance over 3 months ago with no notification, said one was sent via email but never got it. Don't they also have to send the cancellation notice via mail? Also, don't they have to notify your bank (lien holder) of your dropped or cancelled insurance to?
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