If the estimate to repair a car is more than the automobile is worth, will car insurance pay the additional cost to repair? I live in Appleton, Wisconsin. What is the actual insurance requirement?

Carol

Appleton, WI

Normally an Appleton, Wisconsin insurance carrier will not pay more than a vehicle is worth to repair it. As a matter of fact, many times if the cost to repair the vehicle is anywhere from 75 -100% of the value of the car an insurance provider will not pay for repairs but instead total out the car and pay the policyholder actual cash value (ACV) for the automobile.

When a vehicle’s damage reach, and especially they exceed, the value of the vehicle it is not economical for an insurance carrier to repair the vehicle instead of settlement with the owner for the actual cash value or fair market value of the automobile. Repairs, towing, storage costs, rental reimbursement costs are all taken into consideration by an insurance carrier when determining if a vehicle should be totaled out or not.

If the cost of damages is nearly the actual cash value of the vehicle and there are other expenses such as towing and storage of the car that are also costly then many times the vehicle will be declared a total loss even if the damages alone are not as costly as the the value of the vehicle but with the extras it makes more economical sense to total out the car and sell it for salvage.

Quick question on non owner policy in Green Bay, Wisconsin: if I have auto insurance, will I need one if I keep driving another one’s car?

Miller

Green Bay, Wisconsin WI

I hope you are doing well, Miller.
Non-owner policy is also known as an operator policy. This is an insurance policy that provides basic mandatory liability coverage on any vehicle that you operate but does not own. This may be a friend’s vehicle or a company car used by you on the job. This policy may be written exclusive of your existing insurance in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

So that if other vehicles in the household have existing insurance, this policy may be issued discretely to satisfy the Wisconsin SR-22 high-risk auto insurance requirement. Your current insurance carrier in Green Bay does not need to be notified of your requirement for high-risk short term SR-22 insurance coverage. Be warned though about this particular one because if your local carrier discovers extreme violations, the premiums may be increased or the policy may be canceled.

These policies are issued by your auto insurance agent in cooperation with an acceptable insurance company licensed to operate in the State of Wisconsin. After the policy is issued, your auto insurer’s main office electronically files an SR-22 high-risk auto insurance form with the Wisconsin DMV Department of Financial Responsibility on the insured’s behalf. The issuing agent in Green Bay, Wisconsin also files an SR-22 insurance form with the State of Wisconsin and the insured receives a copy of the SR-22 insurance form along with the policy and proof of insurance cards.