Car insurance $$ question....

[Minnie_me]

I had a fender-bender @ Christmastime, and got the check from the insurance company a couple of weeks ago. Since my STBX-H left me in October, I'm in dire straits financially. Is it ethical to keep this money for myself? Or am I legally obligated to fix the car? I don't want to do anything illegal or shady. I'm considering just trading the car in as is, and keeping the $$.

Please advise!!

 

[HeatherH]

I had a fender-bender @ Christmastime, and got the check from the insurance company a couple of weeks ago. Since my STBX-H left me in October, I'm in dire straits financially. Is it ethical to keep this money for myself? Or am I legally obligated to fix the car? I don't want to do anything illegal or shady. I'm considering just trading the car in as is, and keeping the $$.

Please advise!!

If the check is payable to YOU, you can do anything you want with it, you don't have to get the car fixed. I've had small checks for minor damage done to my car...and didn't bother getting it fixed.

As long as you can drive the car and it's legal to drive, no worries. And you should disclose the reason for any damage should you decide to trade in the car for a new one.

 

[Christine]

You can keep the money if the check is made out to you. However, be very careful. Make sure that your damage is not such that you would get pulled over and cited for a safety hazard (unstable bumper can be one of those things). If the damage is minor, fine. If the damage is a safety hazard I wouldn't chance it as you could get ticketed and then forced to fix the damage at a future date with no money in your pocket.

 

[golfgal]

As long as you don't have a car loan you are not obligated to fix the car. Keep in mind that if you are in another accident they may not give you anything as you did not fix the car the first time (which is within their legal rights). If the car is safe and drivable and you don't care if you drive around with a broken bumper or whatever, I wouldn't fix the car.

 

[cepmom]

I agree with the others; if it is very minor just keep the check, but you may want to have it looked at just to be sure it's only something very minor and not a safety issue. I was in a minor fender bender last summer, front bumper was cracked. It wasn't hanging off or anything, but I had just had that bumper replaced due to another accident the previous November so I wanted it to look nice.

Insurance sent me a check and I brought it to be fixed. When they removed the bumper they found more damage underneath that could not be seen without removing the bumper. I was glad I had it fixed because otherwise I never would have know there was more damage there.

 

[mrsstats]

Yes, you can keep the check as long as you don't have a loan or lease on the vehicle.

 

[C.Ann]

As long as you don't have a car loan you are not obligated to fix the car. Keep in mind that if you are in another accident they may not give you anything as you did not fix the car the first time (which is within their legal rights). If the car is safe and drivable and you don't care if you drive around with a broken bumper or whatever, I wouldn't fix the car.

One of my vehicles was damaged twice - within a 18 month period.. The first time someone hit my car in the parking lot of my employer and took off.. I filed a claim, received a check, but didn't bother to get the car repaired because it was getting old and I knew that eventually I would be getting rid of it.. A year later, someone slammed into the same car (my late DH was driving it at the time) in a supermarket parking lot and took off.. Again, I filed a claim, received a check, and only used part of it for a new hood from the junk yard that my Dson-in-law installed for me.. I had no problems with the insurance company either time - nor did they ever increase my rates..

Is the part of your post I bolded a law only specific to your state? I ask because I've known so many people who have not had repairs done after receiving a check and still filed additional claims for other incidents prior to getting rid of the vehicle..

 

[golfgal]

One of my vehicles was damaged twice - within a 18 month period.. The first time someone hit my car in the parking lot of my employer and took off.. I filed a claim, received a check, but didn't bother to get the car repaired because it was getting old and I knew that eventually I would be getting rid of it.. A year later, someone slammed into the same car (my late DH was driving it at the time) in a supermarket parking lot and took off.. Again, I filed a claim, received a check, and only used part of it for a new hood from the junk yard that my Dson-in-law installed for me.. I had no problems with the insurance company either time - nor did they ever increase my rates..

Is the part of your post I bolded a law only specific to your state? I ask because I've known so many people who have not had repairs done after receiving a check and still filed additional claims for other incidents prior to getting rid of the vehicle..

Your rates didn't increase because neither accident was your fault and they were not chargeable claims. No, this law isn't only for our state and I said they MAY not pay the claim. Depending on the damage, cause, and whatever else they may decide not to pay the claim but it doesn't mean they won't.

 

[kellydizfan]

Just be careful they may want you to have paperwork completed that the car has been fixed.