I’m here in Atlanta, GA. The name is George. If my car gets stolen and then the yellow-bellied thief figures in an accident and runs away, is there a chance that the people affected by the accident chase after me and my auto insurance?

George

Atlanta, GA

Now, wouldn’t that be a colorful story. Of course, we know that it happens. Thief takes your car, figures in an accident or uses it for who knows what and leaves the car somewhere dented and without gas. If the bad guy figures in a car accident, hit another car, a fence, or worst, a pedestrian, you will not be held responsible for the damages. That’s the nice part. The bad part is you will have to pay for the repairs of your car from your own pocket. I don’t think it’s a good idea to hope that the dastardly evil doer’s insurance will cover it. I don’t even think the bad guy has insurance. But even if the thief is apprehended and has auto insurance, I don’t think his or her (to be gender sensitive here) auto insurance company will include cleaning up after the thief in his or her (again, sensitivity) insurance policy. Of course, you’ll have to prove that the car really was stolen in the first place. Make sure to inform the proper authorities when your car gets stolen and get a police report. That’s added footwork but you won’t regret it as it will cover your back.

I’m from Atlanta, Georgia, and I just want to know if whether my car insurance is going to pay first, or is it my own personal insurance, in case I get into an accident?

Mike

Atlanta, GA

Well, it will depend on whether you’re driving your own car, if you borrowed it, or if it’s a rental. If you’re driving your car, both your car insurance and your personal insurance will cover you. It’ll be your owners’ policy that kicks in first, then your personal insurance will cover the rest of the excess amount. Take note that your personal insurance will cover you, not the car. This, of course, goes without saying that it wasn’t you that caused the accident. If you are at fault, you can bet your stars that the insurance company of the other person involved will go after you to try to recuperate any financial damages you may have caused. If what you’re driving, however, is not your own car, a different process is involved. There is such a thing called non-owners’ insurance policy or rental policy, and that’s a different topic altogether. As with all kinds of insurance, policies, prices and processes vary from insurance company to insurance company and from state to state.

Ask your agent there in Atlanta, Georgia. These are some of the things you should’ve known before you bought your insurance policies.

My teenage daughter is 18 years old and still resides with me in Atlanta, my question is :can she drive your car without being listed on your auto insurance? A friend for example borrows your vehicle and gets into an accident, was it legal for them to drive your vehicle because you gave them permission? Therefore will your insurance provider cover costs incurred minus your deductible?

Michelle

Atlanta, GA

Most insurance companies in Atlanta require you to list all of your household residents. With those who are licensed (or of driving age), your insurance company will give you the choice of listing them as ‘eligible’ to drive or ‘excluded’ from driving. If they are listed as ‘eligible,’ they will be rated against your policy’s premiums. If they are ‘excluded,’ they will not be rated against your policy’s premiums; however, you are accepting full responsibility if you let them drive – even once and no matter the circumstance. Now, the example you provided is an entirely different issue. Also household residents, your insurance provider wants to know who will be driving your car with any frequency or regularity. If someone is going to be driving your car with any regularity or frequency, that individual will need to be listed as an ‘eligible’ driver on your car insurance policy. The insurance carrier will cover someone who does not reside with you and you let that individual drive it for a ‘one-time’ thing.

My mother bought me a car but she lives in Alabama and I live in Atlanta Georgia. Can she insure it in AL and I tag it here in GA?

Brenda

Atlanta, GA

The answer is No. The Georgia laws states that you will need to have your vehicle insured in Georgia if your registration and license plates are from Georgia. Even if Georgia did allow you to have an out of state insurance company cover your car it would likely be difficult to find an insurance carrier that would cover a car that was insured in Alabama but driven and kept out of state in Georgia.

If your name is on the title of the vehicle your mother bought for you then it should not be difficult for you to get your own car insurance on the vehicle. If your name is not on the title then there are some insurance providers that will allow you to get insurance without insurable interest in the vehicle, but it would be easier for you to place coverage on the vehicle if your name was added to the car’s title.

A: An SR22 is a form which your auto insurance company will file with the department of motor vehicles and serves as proof that you are insured. It must be filed for a period of three years after your license suspension so long as you want your license back. If you don’t want your license, you don’t have to worry about it, but otherwise it’s the law. If you need your license, but don’t own a car, then instead you will have to file an non owner SR22 policy.

Your Atlanta non owner SR22 policy only applies to cars you do not own, so if you decide to go ahead and buy your own car, it won’t work for you and you’ll have to get another kind of policy. However, beyond that, your non owner insurance will cover you for any car you drive, regardless of whether or not that car is itself insured.

However, your Atlanta non owner SR22 policy only works for liability coverage and nothing more.