My hubby had cosigned (yes I know--BAD idea, I tried to tell him) a loan for a car for his older brother. His brother had the car since July and paid only one payment. We had to pay the rest ($2k all at once) and then we told him he needed to give us the car. We live out of state from him. They had their father drive the car up here. Before he left, my hubby asked his brother if it had insurance and his brother said it was paid up till the 28th. We get the car in our possession on the 21st. On the 22nd, my hubby was driving this car home from work and some crazy person was driving recklessly and hit my hubby in the car and left the scene but my hubby did get his plate #. Thankfully he did not get hurt, the car was not so lucky. We have full coverage ins on our truck. We call his brother who then tells us they had already dropped the ins. We did not insure the vehicle yet since we were told it still had it. Both co said they will not pay. What to do? Any advice?
2007-12-26 15:38:40 · 4 answers · asked by Stephanie W 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
Thank you. Yes we should have known better. We do not need this car, can we just leave it at the body shop until we can get the driver of the other vehicle? I realize we will have to keep making payments to the finance co. I don't have a clue what to do...
2007-12-26 16:21:41 · update #1
In this case, seeing as you did not have insurance on the vehicle you will have to pay for repairs. Once you took possession, you should have called your insurance company to add the vehicle to your policy!
I assume that a police report was written for the hit and run? You may have to follow up yourself to be sure that the police to investigate, and charge the other driver! You can sue the other driver, and the owner of the striking vehicle, but that will take time! You most likely will have to pay out of pocket for the repairs and hope to recover it later!
Your mistake was trusting the brother who had already proven himself not to be reliable to tell the truth about insurance! Sorry!
EDIT due to additional question added:
Unless the body shop agrees in writing to store the vehicle for you, either for a set fee or for free, they most likely will charge you storage ($20-$30 per day) and then file for a mechanic's lien. You would be better off taking the car and either storing it at home (if you can legally do so, some areas do not allow inoperable vehicles to be stored in residential areas) or renting a space in a mini storage facility (usually in the $100-$125 per month range) until you can afford the repairs!
2007-12-26 15:51:40 · answer #1 · answered by fire4511 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Don't leave your car at a shop (bad idea) unless you personally know the owner. The shop can charge you storage fees every day your vehicle is there and not being worked on. And the sad thing is, they can charge you any amount they feel like.
If you need to, keep the vehicle at your residence. Contact the police and file a report. Have them run the License plate# or see if your insurance company can at least do that for you, to find out the other party's information.
i have a feeling though if you find the other person, they more than likely do not have insurance or money to pay for the damages since they left the scene.
Sorry, but I hope this helps
2007-12-27 02:04:10 · answer #2 · answered by ♥ Uwish ♥ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
call your insurance company, as some will allow up to 2 weeks for you to add a vehicle and will give coverage up to the highest limit on the auto you already have. call your agent and see what your company allows. if they don't, then you are basically on your own and will be paying for this one.
2007-12-27 00:25:18 · answer #3 · answered by Queen B 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You or your husband should have insured the car in your names before driving it, regardless of what the brother-in-law told you.
2007-12-27 03:01:56 · answer #4 · answered by Scott H 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋