It’s wild how much hinges on the exact wording in those policies. I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with adjusters over what counts as “damage” versus just old age on a car. Sometimes it feels like you need a law degree just to read through the fine print, especially when your car’s got a few years (and miles) on it.
One thing I’m still not totally clear on: if you get hit by someone without insurance and your own policy covers uninsured motorists, does that usually include property damage, or just injuries? I’ve heard mixed things. Some folks say their coverage took care of the repairs, others said they were out of luck unless they had collision coverage too. It seems like there’s a lot of variation between companies, and even between states.
I had a buddy who got sideswiped in a parking lot—other driver took off, no info left behind. His insurer said uninsured motorist coverage only helped with medical bills, not fixing his bumper. He ended up paying out of pocket since he didn’t have collision. That surprised me... I always thought uninsured motorist would cover both.
Curious if anyone’s actually had their property damage covered under uninsured motorist, or is that just wishful thinking? Maybe it’s one of those things where you don’t know until you’re in the thick of it.
Uninsured motorist coverage is one of those things that sounds way more straightforward than it actually is. Here’s the blunt truth: in a lot of states, “uninsured motorist” (UM) coverage only helps with injuries—your medical bills, lost wages, that kind of thing. If you want your car fixed after a hit-and-run or an uninsured driver nails you, you’re usually looking for something called “uninsured motorist property damage” (UMPD). Not every state even offers UMPD, and some insurers don’t bother with it at all.
Your buddy’s situation is super common. No collision? Out of luck on the repairs. It’s frustrating, but unless your policy specifically lists UMPD, you’re probably not getting your bumper fixed through UM. And honestly, even if your state offers UMPD, the limits are often lower than what you’d get from collision coverage.
Bottom line: if you want your car covered no matter who hits you (or if they run off), collision is the only sure bet. Anything else is rolling the dice with fine print and state laws. Insurance loves loopholes...
I get what you’re saying, but honestly, I’ve had UMPD actually come through for me once. Granted, the payout wasn’t huge (definitely not enough to cover a high-end repair), but it was better than nothing. Collision is solid, yeah, but if your car’s older or you’re not worried about minor dings, sometimes UMPD is all you need. Just wish the limits weren’t so random depending on the state...
Just wish the limits weren’t so random depending on the state...
Yeah, that’s always bugged me too. I’ve got an older Mustang and honestly, UMPD barely scratches the surface if something happens. Ever run into issues with classic parts not being covered or valued right? I keep wondering if it’s worth paying extra for agreed value coverage, or if that’s just overkill for daily drivers.
I keep wondering if it’s worth paying extra for agreed value coverage, or if that’s just overkill for daily drivers.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. The way UMPD works, especially with older cars, can be pretty frustrating. I’ve seen a lot of folks surprised when their “classic” is valued like a regular old sedan after a claim. The insurance company just looks at book value and ignores all the little things that make those cars special—like original trim or rare parts.
Agreed value coverage can seem like overkill if you’re driving your Mustang every day, but it really depends on how attached you are to the car and what you’d want to do if it got totaled. If you’ve put time and money into keeping it original, or if it’s got sentimental value, agreed value might actually save you a headache down the road. On the other hand, if it’s more of a fun daily and you’re not worried about getting every penny back, maybe not worth the extra cost.
Have you ever had to actually file a claim on it? Sometimes people don’t realize how little they’d get until they go through the process. I had a client with an old Camaro who thought he was covered for everything—turns out his policy only paid out about half what he’d spent restoring it. He was not happy.
Curious—do you keep your Mustang mostly stock, or have you done any mods? Some policies won’t even cover aftermarket stuff unless you specifically list it. That’s another thing that catches people off guard...