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.

What car insurance premium should I expect if I have my “rebuilt” car insured here in Wisconsin?

Philip

Green Bay, WI

Typically, a “rebuilt” title is given to a vehicle that has been damaged and repaired after having been considered a “total loss” by the car insurance company. A vehicle may be considered as a “total loss” if it has been decided that the cost to repair the damage is higher than its “actual cash value.” Normally, the cost of repair falls between 51% to around 80% of the car’s actual cash value (the car insurance company decides on what percentage the repair cost should fall under in order to consider the vehicle a “total loss”). If the car is totaled, it is given a salvage title. However, if the car is repaired and is proven to be ready for the road, it is given a rebuilt title.

In reality, it is difficult to obtain an insurance for a rebuilt vehicle. This is because most automotive insurance companies consider “rebuilt” vehicles as “bad risks” with higher probabilities of getting into an accident again. In case an insurance company agrees on getting your vehicle insured, you may expect that company to give you only a specific amount, something less than the premium that you could actually get if you insure a vehicle that is not titled “rebuilt.” In that case, it is up to you if you want to get that policy or not. Try going for an insurance shopping there in Green Bay, WI, so you could choose which among the companies you’ve consulted with could give you the best insurance rates for your car. Or you could go online and check out it out.

I live in IL. I got a traffic violation in Wisconsin and I just want to know if the points will be assigned back to Illinois. I think I need a better Wisconsin auto insurance plan, any ideas?

Iris

Thank you for asking Iris.

Wisconsin is not a member of the Drivers License Compact, which requires member states to report traffic violation convictions. Although WI is not part of the DLC , they can still exchange ticket information with the home state of an out if state driver convicted in WI. So once you have been cited of the traffic infraction you were ticketed for in the Wisconsin courts, the violation will be forwarded to Illinois.

Out of state tickets being placed on your driving record, is not specifically mentioned in the IL Secretary of State site. But the Illinois Administrative Code Motor Vehicle gives information on the list of Illinois offense. All out-of-state moving violations are to be considered as Illinois violation as well.

From the Illinois Administrative Motor Vehicle Code information, it seems that out of state moving infractions will be placed to your Illinois driving record and assigned points. To get more information and to make sure if points will be assigned and if so how many, check with the IL Secretary of State Service for Motorist division.

Goodluck!

MariCAR