Insurance agent question

[lovepurple]

This weekend we bought a used VW Beetle for our daughter. I called yesterday to have it added to our insurance policy. Today the insurance office calls and asks when I am bringing it by for them to look at. I said I'd never heard of such a thing, we have three other vehicles on the policy and never took them in. She said they usually inspect vehicles added to the policy. I think she is probably trying to get me in there to sell me some other insurance or something. They have gotten really agressive lately with trying to push life, umbrella, etc.
Has anyone else ever had their insurance agent actually want to see the vehicle on the policy?

 

[pyrxtc]

they are probably trying to get insurance value on the thing so it has to be inspected to see what kind of "used" condition it is in. I would go and let them inspect but if they mention anything else that doesn't have to do wiht car insurance, I would say thank you and I'm glad we got everything done then get up and walk away.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I purchased my car new when I lived in Cincy, OH. When I moved back to VA and put my car on insurance here (through Nationwide) I had to come in for them to inspect it (at that point it was 'used' as I had had it a few months). It was no big deal. She barely looked it over, wrote some things down, and I was on my way. She said they were mainly looking for illegal things (like strobe lights under the car) and any major body damage.

 

[mlynn]

Every used car I have bought. I had to bring it in. I think so there isn't a fraud cases.

 

[momrek06]

I have homes in both MA and CA and both states require you to bring the car in for inspection.

No worries, OP, they basically just walk around it and look it over. Takes about 10 minutes. They are not trying to sell you anything else.

 

[MIGrandma]

I've never heard of such a thing, unless it is something new the companies are doing.

The last used vehicle we bought was in 2002 I think.

We've never had to take them to our insurance co. to have them inspected.

 

[pandora174]

Same here in FL unless it's a new car & then they ask for the bill of sale. They are just looking for old damage, things that aren't covered etc. Takes 10minutes tops & in our case my DH had an aftermarket radio & they told him if it was stolen he would be paid for whatever radio the car came with. Also in case of any future accidents they can tell what is old damage & not related to the accident or what was caused by the accident, vandalism etc. They didn't try to sell us anything.

 

[Green Tea]

I've added 2 new ones in the last two years and we didn't have to bring them in. Never did on any of the ones we added.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I think mine (Nationwide) only does it on used cars. I've only bought new cars before with them and never had to bring those in.

 

[lovepurple]

I have a 2000 Plymouth Voyager insured with them and I never had to show it to them. Maybe they should have looked at that one. But what does it matter what it looks like if I am only carrying liability insurance on the car? I have full coverage on my two newer vehicles but only carry liability for the older paid for cars. I guess I will find out tomorrow afternoon when I go in to their office.

 

[powellrj]

I bought a used Pathfinder in December and I just called and added it. I live 2 hours away from my insurance company, so if they start requiring this, I will be changing. We have used the same company for over 30 years and I really would hate to change.

 

[jen0610]

Allstate insurance here and when we bought our used Hyundai in Aug of 2007 we did not have to take it to be inspected. Just called them and told them what car we were dropping and gave them the new car info so they could add it.

I have always has Allstate and I have had more used cars then new and have never had to have an inspection done to add them to the insurance plan.

 

[DVC-Don]

Here you are required under state law to have the vehicle inspected by the agent/company within 5 days or the the comprehesive & collision coverages will be cancelled. The exceptions are if no comp/coll is on the vehicle or if brand new and the dealer supplies the bill of sale and manufactuers certifcate of origin. With our company the photo inspection will also be waived if the policy has been in force for 4 or more years.

It's to prevent people from insuring already damaged vehicles and then claiming the damage occured after the policy was issued. It was a BIG problem downstate years ago.

 

[mishasmom]

I've never had to have a vehicle inspected or provide the bill of sale. Must not apply in the states I've lived in. Why do they want the bill of sale on a new car; why is it the insurance company's business what you paid for the car?

 

[3boymthr]

Every used vehicle I have ever bought has had to be inspected. We usually don't bring it to the insurance agency though, usually to a third party like an auto body repair shop. They have never tried to sell me anything, but I have had to show my registration so they could fill out the form. They walk around it take photos and mail them to the insurance company. They also write down details of any scratches, dents, dings, etc. and will also note if any standard equipment is missing, like a brake light cover, so that if you get in an accident you can't claim that that was also part of the accident and try to get the insurance to pay for it. They might ask you to sign that what's on the form matches what you see. It's really not a big deal.

Although going to the insurance agency, I'd go girded for battle, they might try to get you to reduce your deductible.

 

[Golf4food]

We had to have our cars inspected by an authorized inspecition location (contracted with a local repair shop) for a quick inspection when we switched auto insurance companies a few years ago. It is not uncommon.

Would you like to provide insurance on something of high value to a random person and just take their word for it about the condition prior to signing the contract? No? Neither would your insurance company.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We've always had to take vehicles that we bought used to the insurance company. They just check it for damage and take pics of any dings or anything and send us on our way. We didn't have to do it with the brand new ones, though.

 

[Melisa1]

I work for an insurance company and we inspect all of our vehicles (looking for dings, dents, chips in windshield etc). its not uncommon at all.

 

[ZachnElli]

I've never had to have a vehicle inspected or provide the bill of sale. Must not apply in the states I've lived in. Why do they want the bill of sale on a new car; why is it the insurance company's business what you paid for the car?

The bill of sale has alot more info on it than price, the vin, the exact model (so many people have no idea what model they have and the Ford F150 has 150 different models!). Plus, you are talking about the company that will pay for your car if you total it, even if you just drove it off the lot brand new. If you've ever totaled a car you know they will ask for your payoff amount if you have a loan. You can also insure a car for a certain amount, like an antique car if you can prove it's value. Lots of reasons it's their business.

 

[golfgal]

Technically most insurance agents are supposed to do this to check for previous damage, in reality very few do. I know some in higher risk areas that inspect all vehicles-even NEW--but most don't.