Auto Insurance

Getting pre-authorization involves submitting a detailed repair estimate to your insurer and having their adjuster review and approve the scope and cost of the work before repairs begin. This process ...

While your insurance policy requires you to report an accident promptly, California law gives you two years to file a lawsuit for personal injuries and three years for property damage. Here are the s...

To submit a claim as an injured passenger, you primarily file a claim against the at-fault driver's auto insurance policy. You may also have rights under the insurance for the car you were in or even ...

To handle a claim for your legally parked car, you must document the incident, report it to the authorities and DMV if necessary, and file a claim with the appropriate insurance company. Here are the...

If the at-fault driver's insurance company is unresponsive, you must create a strong paper trail and escalate your claim through formal channels. Here are the steps to take to compel a response and re...

To properly insure a salvage vehicle in California, you must first have it professionally repaired, inspected, and officially retitled as "Revived Salvage" by the DMV. Only then can you purchase the l...

To remove an SR-22 requirement, you must maintain the SR-22 insurance for the entire mandatory period, after which the DMV automatically ends the requirement. You then notify your insurance company to...

You can officially verify the license status of any insurance agent or company through the online portal provided by the California Department of Insurance (CDI). This is the state's official record k...

If the other driver provided false or expired insurance, you should immediately report it to your own insurer and the police. You will likely need to use your own Uninsured Motorist coverage to pay fo...

To retrieve your vehicle from an impound lot, you must first get a release form from the law enforcement agency that had it towed and then present that form, proof of current insurance, and payment fo...

To add a new vehicle or driver to your California auto insurance policy, you must promptly notify your insurance provider and supply them with the required information. Here are the steps to follow: ...

In California, your insurer must provide you with a written notice at least 30 days before your auto policy expires, clearly stating the specific reason(s) for the non-renewal. Here are the steps the...

To navigate the subrogation process, you must actively cooperate with your insurer, track their reimbursement efforts, and ensure your financial interests, like your deductible and full compensation f...

To get a letter of experience, you must formally request your claims history from your previous insurer, who is legally required to provide it. This document helps your new insurer verify your driving...

If you have a high-risk driving record, you will likely need to obtain coverage through the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP), but you should first explore other specialized options. He...

The valet company or auto shop is generally responsible for damages caused by their employee's negligence. This is because a "bailment for hire" is created, legally requiring them to use ordinary care...

If you disagree with your insurer's damage estimate, you can invoke the formal appraisal process outlined in your auto insurance policy. This process uses independent appraisers to determine the corre...

You can get your deductible reimbursed by having your own insurance company recover it for you through a process called subrogation, or by filing a claim directly with the at-fault driver's insurer. ...

You must report a traffic accident to the California DMV within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed, or if property damage exceeded $1,000 for any single person. This requirement applies to all dr...

To obtain auto insurance with an AB 60 license, the primary document you need is the license itself. California law specifically prohibits insurance companies from denying you coverage or charging you...

To resolve a claim involving a government vehicle in California, you must first file a formal administrative claim with the responsible government agency within six months of the accident. This is a r...

You report suspected auto insurance fraud to the California Department of Insurance (CDI) Fraud Division. Here are the steps to do so effectively: Step 1: Gather Key Information Before you file a rep...

You should first submit your medical bills to your own MedPay carrier for prompt payment, and then include those same bills as part of a larger claim submitted to the at-fault driver's liability insur...

To handle an insurance claim for a rental car accident in California, you must first report the incident to the rental company and law enforcement, then file a claim with the insurance policy that pro...

To be properly insured before borrowing a friend's car, you must confirm their policy is active and covers permissive users, and you should understand its limits. Here are the specific steps to protec...

To use your Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage, you must first recover the full policy limit from the at-fault driver's insurance and then make a claim against your own policy for the remaining dama...

When an out-of-state driver hits you in California, you can handle the claim and file a lawsuit in California. The process is similar to a standard claim, but involves dealing with an out-of-state ins...

In California, you are legally entitled to a refund for the unused portion of your premium when you cancel an auto insurance policy before its expiration date. You must formally cancel your policy to ...

Your auto insurance policy generally does not cover personal items stolen from or damaged inside your car. Coverage for these items typically comes from your homeowners or renters insurance policy. H...

Navigating a commercial truck accident claim in California requires immediately reporting the incident, gathering extensive evidence, and filing a claim with the trucking company's insurer. The proces...

To get a rental car reimbursed, you must file a claim with the at-fault driver's insurance company, wait for them to accept liability, and then submit your rental receipts for payment. Here is the pro...

To contest an insurance company's at-fault determination, you must formally dispute the decision with the insurer by providing new evidence and, if that fails, file a complaint with the California Dep...

To use your comprehensive coverage for a non-collision claim, you must promptly report the event to both the police (for theft or vandalism) and your insurance company, then document the damage and co...

To drive for a rideshare service in California, you must have your own personal auto insurance and be covered by the company's specific commercial insurance, which activates during different periods o...

In California, you file a diminished value claim by submitting evidence of your car's lost resale value directly to the at-fault driver's insurance company. You generally cannot make this claim agains...

To use your MedPay coverage, you notify your insurance company about the accident and submit your medical bills directly to them for payment, regardless of who was at fault. Here is the typical proces...

In California, an insurance company can only cancel your auto policy mid-term for very specific reasons after it has been in effect for 60 days. Here is how to verify if the cancellation of your polic...

To properly cancel your California auto insurance, you must secure a new policy before your old one ends and provide formal, written notice to your current insurer with a specific cancellation date. T...

To file a formal complaint, you must gather your claim documents and submit a Request for Assistance form to the California Department of Insurance (CDI). The CDI will then investigate to ensure the i...

To challenge your insurer's low valuation of your totaled vehicle, you must formally dispute their offer with your own evidence and, if necessary, invoke the appraisal clause in your policy. Here is ...

If your insurance company declares your vehicle a total loss in California, you must verify the vehicle's value, negotiate a fair settlement, and decide whether to surrender the car for the full payme...

In California, you have the absolute right to have your vehicle repaired at any shop you choose. Your insurance company cannot require you to use one of their preferred shops and must work in good fai...

To formally report a car accident claim to your own insurance company in California, you must notify them promptly and provide the specific facts of the incident. Here is a step-by-step guide to prope...

To properly document a California auto accident for an insurance claim, you must prioritize safety, legally exchange information with the other party, and thoroughly document all evidence at the scene...

To file a third-party claim, you must notify the at-fault driver's insurance company of the accident, provide them with evidence supporting your claim, and negotiate a settlement for your damages. Her...

To use your Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage for a hit-and-run in California, you must report the accident to the police within 24 hours and promptly file a claim with your own insurance company. The ...

In California, you can legally prove financial responsibility without a traditional insurance policy by obtaining a $35,000 surety bond, making a $35,000 cash deposit with the DMV, or qualifying as a ...

To get an SR-22 certificate filed, you must purchase auto insurance from a company licensed in California that will then file the certificate directly with the DMV for you. The SR-22 is not something ...

To apply for California's Low Cost Auto Insurance program, you must confirm you meet the income and driving record requirements, gather your documents, and contact a certified agent through the progra...

To obtain minimum liability auto insurance in California, you must purchase a policy from a licensed insurer that meets the state's required coverage limits and always carry proof of this coverage wit...