My car was stolen about

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 05:01 am Post Subject: I don't think so..

Hi my friend, in most cases the payment is made directly to the towing company via money order, checks or credit card. While paying these charges you need your proof of identity & ownership of your vehicle, so I don't think your insurer would intervene. But yeah, once you have paid it out of your pocket, then you might as well negotiate with your insurer. Thanks, PvtCorpse.

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 05:24 am Post Subject: Release

hey there!
Your impounding agency should only release it to your legal owner (if you're the registered owner) or to his agent within 30 days of impounding it when it got stolen. Regards, Pelanqueenie

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 08:10 am Post Subject: administrative charges

Yes, the legal owner of the car in this case won't be you...but any bank or credit union, any dealer or someone who takes the financial responsibility & not someone like you who'd have any security interest over it.

It could also be any acceptance corp, so I have reasons to believe that it could well be your insurer who'd be treated as the legal owner if you've likewise documented. Now, it would be this legal owner or their agent who'd be responsible for the towing charges that you're taking about.

l firmly believe, that the impounding authority doesn't have the right to get the administrative charges out of the legal owner or his agent unless he has applied for a hearing following the storage of the vehicle. Hope you got my message, Fatman

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 03:33 am Post Subject:

"Full Coverage' means something different to different people. Did you have comprehensive coverage on the vehicle? Did you report it to your insurance company that they vehicle was stolen?

You need to contact your insurance company as soon as you are told the vehicle was recovered. They need to know the location and any information you can give them about it's condition. You mention that it appears to be repairable. In this case your insurance company should ask you to have it moved to a repair center of your choice. This will involve contacting the towing company and having it "released' (owners permission to to allow the vehicle to be moved). They may have you sign some paperwork. You then need to have the repair company pick up and move the vehicle into the repair center. They will pay the towing and storage changes and put those charges on the repair bill. Your insurance company would then issue payment for the repairs, towing, and storage, less your deductable.

You _are_ responsible for the towing and storage charges, as the owner of the vehicle... you just don't need to pay them up front and they are covered under your auto policy as part of the theft.

In every state, the person on the registration is considered the owner. Your insurance company cannot have the vehicle moved without you giving your permission to the towing company.

Of course, I'm assuming you've not been paid for the vehicle as a total loss yet. This makes a _big_ difference.

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 05:49 am Post Subject: My car was stolen about 2 weeks...

Its been app. 3 weeks since my car was stolen. But, it's been approximately 1 week since the vehicle was recovered, and in the tow yard. Would I have the legal right to ask my insurance company to conduct a vehicle inspection (motor, undercarriage, body, etc.) They are trying to insist that I pick the vehicle up without a proper inspection from my insurance company (Allstate). Is this ethical/ legal? Or are they just trying to pull a fast one on me? Now I am currently without a car still, and nothing is being done! What would be the next steps to take? So far: 1) Car recovered 2) Reported to insurance 3) Detail cleaning performed. Now what happens?? Need to figure what to do before the 30 days is up...Please help.
Thank-You, Andria

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 07:21 am Post Subject:

If you have reported the recovery to your insurance company you need to call your adjuster and find out the status of the claim as well as what they will be doing.

Why/How was a "detailed cleaning" done on the car while it was at the tow yard? This one escapes me.

Basically, the insurance company needs to get that vehicle moved! If it seems repairable, it needs to be moved to a repair company. If it appears to be a total loss, it needs to be moved to a salvage company (both need to be done with your permission). Every day the car sits at the towing company, the towing company will be charging you storage fees. Granted, your carrier should make this part of your claim... as long as you did everything they asked.

Insurance companies handle the movement and inspection of the vehicle differently. Some will just inspect it at the towing company (but this adds extra daily storage charges onto their loss) but most will have it moved to a salvage company or a repair shop and inspect it there. If it needs to be towed again after the inspection it's still cheaper then the $15-$25/day for storage.

Bottom line, you need to get on the horn with your adjuster and find out what is being done. I'm guessing the 30 days you mention is on the rental car payment. When this runs out... it's gone. It will not matter if the insurance company dragged their feet or screwed up. So you need to push the disposition of the claim forward.