My car was broken into (back window was smashed) and an expensive new laptop was stolen. I have comprehensive auto insurance, and even the cops told me that auto insurance would cover it. However the insurance claims person says that only car and parts of car are covered. Is this something thats a given fact or is it just that i need to talk to argue with the insurance company?
In response to another question, someone here said that i may need to consult a lawyer and threaten to complainw with Better Business Bureau etc. Would that help? Does it matter whether this incident is called vandalism versus burglary (the car window was smashed into, there were witnesses, was a police report).
Any other ideas to help recover the costs? The value of the good stolen is around $3500...
2007-01-11 14:35:56 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
I have already answered this. Only components of the VEHICLE are covered under comprehensive insurance. Your back glass is covered, your laptop is NOT. That's what happens when you leave a $3500.00 laptop in your CAR.
P.S. -- to the idiot that told you a lawyer can get this paid under your comp., you are a complete idiot.
2007-01-11 14:46:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-09-25 01:08:45 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Legally, as long as you have, 'reliable witnesses' for the court, you can win with a lawyer. However, if you did not get the max coverage on your auto insurance, you may have a battle on your hands. With some insurance companies, if you do not have coverage on the contents, it may only cover the items that are built into the car, such as AM/FM, stereo with all the goodies, CD/DVD player and such...expensive wheels (no wheel covers which can easily be removed), and so forth. I would have someone else call the insurance you use to ask for a price quote for the same type policy you would have, with the same make and year of car. Then have this person ask if anything other than built in modules are stolen, like LUGGAGE, computers, cells phone and so forth. Find out what the answer to their question is. This will tell you for certain if or not the adjuster to lying to you because they know that would have to pay up. I did that when my daughter-in-law had that issue, and as it turned out, the insurance carrier was telling the truth. So, I would do something like that before calling an attorney. You just may save money on consultation fees. Hope that helps.
2007-01-11 14:51:01 · answer #3 · answered by chole_24 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but most car insurance policies will specifically exclude stuff like that from coverage. They usually only cover equipment professionally installed in the car. Unfortunately, the officer gave you bad information and threatening the adjuster wont help. The laptop is considered personal property on your homeowner's policy or tenant insurance. I have never seen this type of claim paid under an auto insurance policy. But if you have homeowner's insurance you should call in a claim!
2007-01-11 15:57:10 · answer #4 · answered by lady_daizee 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
aase2002 & Cowboy are right. And if you read your policy closely you will see this. The only way you will recover the loss of the laptop is if you have Homeowners or Renters insurance. Those policy cover electronic items that you may have in your vehicle as long as they can be powered by the vehicle. The other bad news is that even if you have a home policy it probably won't pay for the full amount that you lost. They usually have around a $2,000 limit on electronics.
Sorry dude but you might be SOL.
2007-01-11 15:00:06 · answer #5 · answered by bigredwrx 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, but the policy contract most likely states that personal items or items that are not permanently attached to the vehicle are not covered. And complaining to the BBB won't beat the contract you have with them. The only time that stuff is covered is if the whole car is stolen, and even then it's a limited amount, like $200. You can try your homeowners/renter's insurance and see.
2007-01-12 12:31:02 · answer #6 · answered by Chris 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cowboy Bill is right as always!! The cop was wrong to tell you that your auto policy would cover your laptop (unless he is also your insurance agent on the side!). The adjuster is correct. An auto policy will not cover your person property in a vehicle, you need to turn in a claim on your homeowners or renters policy.
2007-01-12 01:14:21 · answer #7 · answered by blb 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Right again Cowboy Bill.
If insurance would cover the loss of a $3000 dollar laptop stupidly left in an auto, many people would break a window and claim a laptop was in the car.
Hell, you shouldn't leave electronics like that in a cold car anyway.
2007-01-15 13:18:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Had my car stolen once (that was enough) and the personal contents in the car are covered under your homeowners/tenants insurance. Any car parts are covered under your auto insurance, but personal contents, laptops, CD's clothes, whatever is covered by homeowners/tenants insurance. Hopefully you have that, and your deductable is relatively low that it will pay for most of it.
If you don't have that type of insurance, I am sorry to say you are out of luck.
2007-01-12 04:07:01 · answer #9 · answered by just me 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the police were notified and made a police report stating the computer was taken then you will be ok.You will also need proof of purchase for your computer.The insurance company should pay for the stolen goods minus the depreciation.This means if it cost 3 thousand then you might get 1000 at one year old
2007-01-14 11:02:09 · answer #10 · answered by Billy T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋