[CaliGuy]

First off: The information provided below is not intended to substitute that of legal advice provided by an attorney! 8thcivic.com, it's owner(s), and myself will not be held responsible for any legal issues arising out of the use of the below information!

This information is provided for informational purposes only!

Ok, now, with that said, I worked in the auto insurance industry for nearly 5 years, up to and including litigation capacities. I feel I am fairly qualified to provide you with the below info...

Feel free to PM me any questions you might have or post up in this thread and I will answer it to the best of my ability. I have helped out several members on this site with insurance related issues before and am willing to continue doing so.

Q: If my car is totaled will the insurance pay for my aftermarket (insert part here)?

A: No, not unless that part is specifically insured on the policy. This is common for wheels and stereos. Most companies will insure you up to a given value for these items (for an additional charge of course). I would not recommend telling your agent you have any type of FI, or other “performance mod”…It’s a great way to get canceled.

Note: If you really want all of your mods covered (say you spent 30k on mods) you can buy a "stated value" insurance policy. These policies really could care less if your car has 100000whp and quadruple turbo. They will cover you up to a stated amount..no questions asked. The catch: it's VERY expensive and usually your annual mileage cannot exceed 2500 miles and the car must be in an enclosed garage every night. These policies are generally for classic restored cars, imported GTR's, Supras with 60k in mods, etc.) Pm me if you would like some links to agents for these policies.

Q: The other guy hit me (is at fault) and my supercharger is now broken or the other guy hit me (is at fault) and my car is totaled. I have x amount in mods on the car. Is his/her insurance required to pay for these parts?

A: Yes! They are required to. However, they will likely try to lowball you for the wear and tear on said part. Also, keep your receipts for this reason!

Q: What should I do if the other guy/gal’s insurance is “lowballing” me on my totaled vehicle or damaged part?

A: You have 2 options: Small claims (the amount, which can be sued for varies by state…here in CA it’s $7500). This is by far the easiest and cheapest option. Option 2: Get an attorney involved…probably not at all worth it due to the cost of the attorney.

Q: My insurance is “lowballing” me on my totaled vehicle. What can I do?

A: You can take your insurance company to arbitration (your insurance has to pay for the arbitrator, but be ready to pay for experts and possibly an attorney). Also, if they continue to really “lowball” you, you may want to sue them for “bad faith”…Essentially not holding up their end of the bargain. You will need an attorney for this, but they will likely work on a contingency fee and if you win at trial you could end up with a VERY large settlement. “Lowballing” is truly quite rare. It’s more than likely you think your vehicle is worth more than it truly is (I hate to say this, but in my experience it’s the case 99.9% of the time).

Q: My car got damaged in an accident. I took it to a shop to have it repaired and it’s still not right. What can I do?

A: Take it back again, and again, and again until it’s right and demand a rental car from the shop!

Q: I crashed my car at the track. Will my insurance cover it?

A: No. Your policy will exclude “speed contests” (or some other similar language) on your policy.

Q: Can my insurance decide to not cover me (after I had an accident) due to mods (i.e. FI)?

A: Yes, but it's HIGHLY unlikely. If they find out after an accident it's more likely that they will simply cancel you.

Special note to street racers and those who drive a vehicle intoxicated:

If you are in an accident and cause injury/death to another person you can be held liable for "punitive damages". Punitive damages cannot be "erased" by bankruptcy...ever...You will never be able to buy a home, lease/finance a car, etc. until the damages are paid in full, your property can be sold to pay the damages, etc. Your insurance will NOT pay these damages!