What Auto Insurance Companies Don’t Tell You
What auto insurance companies don't tell you is how they come to conclusions when pricing your claim. The average property damage claim is $3,300. What auto insurance companies don't want you to know is sometimes the settlements are unfair. Continue reading to learn what other things auto insurance companies hide from you.
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Jimmy McMillan
Licensed Insurance Agent
Jimmy McMillan is an entrepreneur and the founder of HeartLifeInsurance.com, an independent insurance brokerage. His company specializes in insurance for people with heart problems. He knows personally how difficult it is to secure health and life insurance after a heart attack. Jimmy is a licensed insurance agent from coast to coast who has been featured on ValientCEO and the podcast Modern Li...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Jun 14, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Jun 14, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Some insurance companies try to minimize settlements by issuing a claim that’s lower than the cost of the damages.
- You have the right to get a lawyer if you think an insurance company is underbidding the cost of damages or injuries.
- Some agents won’t bother telling you about insurance discounts unless you ask.
- Auto insurance companies often determine auto insurance rates based on insurance, driving, and credit histories.
- Insurance providers will check your driving record every two to three years to make sure it remains clean.
What auto insurance companies don’t tell you is that many drivers follow all the steps for filing a claim in the hopes that their premiums will stay low. Customers believe that their insurance company will be there for them if they ever get into an accident. But is this always the case?
Why does it take so long to process an estimate or claim after an accident? What auto insurance companies don’t want you to know is that there will often be delays when paying out your auto insurance claim if you get into an accident. Continue reading below to learn some “auto insurance secrets” and how to get around potential insurance challenges.
If you need insurance right now, enter your ZIP code in the FREE comparison tool above to find affordable auto insurance rates from top insurance companies. Then come back to this article to learn about things auto insurance companies won’t tell you.
What Auto Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know After an Accident
When you enroll in an auto insurance policy, you’ll likely have certain expectations once you get into an accident. With the right coverage, your insurance company should take care of bodily injury and property damage as described in your policy, right?
Car insurance claims often take an unpleasant turn when you get into an accident, especially when the other party is at fault. Two things car insurance won’t tell you about is how the determination was made when distributing fault or your rights to challenge the amount of the claim offered.
According to Pritzker Hageman Law Firm, insurance companies may try to minimize your settlement by issuing a claim that’s lower than the total cost of the damages. This is common with insurance companies where the at-fault driver has to cover damages or injuries.
You have the right to get a lawyer if you think an insurance company, even your own, is underbidding the cost of damages or injuries after an accident.
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Auto Insurance Discounts They Don’t Want You to Know About
“I haven’t had car insurance for a year. Do I have to tell my current insurance company?” Yes. Always be upfront when you need car insurance coverage. Your current provider will eventually learn about your insurance history through the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (C.L.U.E.).
Watch this video on what the C.L.U.E. means for your insurance.
C.L.U.E. is a database that holds your insurance history, which includes driving records, accidents, and unpaid balances.
Many customers are unaware of C.L.U.E. reports. Auto insurance companies will often determine your auto insurance rates per month based on insurance history. Accidents will remain on C.L.U.E. reports for three to five years.
Ask Questions about Your Insurance History
Even with questionable factors on your insurance history or driving record, you’re still eligible for discounts. Some agents won’t bother telling you about the insurance discounts if you don’t ask.
Some of the typical discounts that you may not be aware of are a safety feature discount, anti-theft system discount, good credit discount, and usage-based discount. Geico and Progressive are two companies known for usage-based programs that lower auto insurance rates based on your driving habits.
The table below shows common auto insurance discounts offered by major insurance companies.
Auto Insurance Discounts Available by Company
| Discounts | 21st Century | AAA | Allstate | American Family | Ameripris | Amica | Country Financial | Esurance | Farmers | Geico | Liberty Mutual | MetLife | Nationwide | Progressive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Adaptive Headlights | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Anti-lock Brakes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Anti-Theft | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Claim Free | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Continuous Coverage | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Defensive Driver | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Distant Student | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Driver's Ed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Driving Device/App | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Early Signing | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electronic Stability Control | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Emergency Deployment | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Engaged Couple | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Family Legacy | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Family Plan | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Farm Vehicle | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fast 5 | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Federal Employee | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Forward Collision Warning | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Full Payment | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Further Education | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Garaging/Storing | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Good Credit | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Good Student | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Green Vehicle | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Homeowner | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lane Departure Warning | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Life Insurance | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Low Mileage | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Loyalty | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Married | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Membership/Group | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Military | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Military Garaging | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Multiple Drivers | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Multiple Policies | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple Vehicles | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| New Address | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| New Customer/New Plan | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| New Graduate | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Newer Vehicle | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Newly Licensed | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Newlyweds | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Non-Smoker/Non-Drinker | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Occasional Operator | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Occupation | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| On Time Payments | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Online Shopper | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Paperless Documents | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paperless/Auto Billing | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Passive Restraint | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recent Retirees | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Renter | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Roadside Assistance | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Safe Driver | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seat Belt Use | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Senior Driver | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Stable Residence | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Students & Alumni | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Switching Provider | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Utility Vehicle | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Vehicle Recovery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| VIN Etching | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Volunteer | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Young Driver | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
Use whatever discounts you can to curb the cost of insurance when you have an accident on your driving record.
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Do auto insurers look at your credit score?
In addition to your insurance history, car insurance companies look at your credit score. How come? Statistics show that a consumer with a good credit score is less likely to file a claim.
But does a good credit score mean cheaper rates for policyholders? Let’s compare the national average for car insurance with rates for good credit and a clean driving record.
| Driver History Reviewed | Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates | Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $3,791 | $316 |
| Good credit history | $3,865 | $322 |
| U.S. averages | $3,900 | $325 |
Although you can receive cheaper rates with a good credit score, a clean driving record will bring you the most affordable rates for auto insurance. Now imagine combining a clean driving record, a good credit score, and other discounts to your auto insurance policy. You’re likely to save hundreds on car insurance.
However, auto insurance companies won’t tell you all of that right away. Therefore, you’ll have to question them a lot about available discounts.
The Accident Might Not Have Been Your Fault But…
If you just got into an accident, even if it wasn’t your fault, the first thing that you need to do is protect your best interests and the interests of the passengers who were in your car by collecting information from the scene of the accident.
Information includes the license plates of all cars involved, the other drivers’ license numbers, their home addresses, telephone numbers, and make and model of the other vehicles involved.
It’s also a good idea to take pictures or video if you have a mobile phone with you so that you can remember everything as it happened and send documentation to your insurance company.
Insurance Claims Adjusters
Once you file your accident claim, the auto insurance company will send an insurance claims adjuster out to review your case. Keep in mind, the claims adjuster is paid to minimize the amount of money that the company pays out to its claimants.
Many people don’t know that it’s the insurance adjuster’s job to minimize or deny your claim. Insurance adjusters are experts at doing everything they can to save their company money.
They want to determine your level of fault in the accident, and that includes asking questions that are designed to confuse or lead you to admit something when you didn’t fully understand the question in the first place.
If this happens to you, your insurance claim could be reduced by as much as 10 percent, even if you know that the other driver was entirely at fault.
Claims adjusters can also use their company’s financial strength to their advantage by pressuring an accident victim into accepting a quick and unfair settlement. All of these are reasons why it’s vital to hire a personal injury attorney to represent your best interests and to make sure that your auto insurer won’t walk all over you.
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If You’re Injured During an Automobile Accident
Besides documenting everything after an accident, it’s also critical to take stock of your physical condition and the condition of passengers that may have been riding in your vehicle to see if they are experiencing any pain or trauma resulting from the accident.
If you or any of your passengers are experiencing pain in any way, see a doctor. Your auto insurance company, or the other driver’s insurance company, will be less inclined to pay your claim if you didn’t come forward to report injuries or trauma resulting from the accident right away.
Claims adjusters can use your medical history against you by claiming that you reaggravated a previous injury instead of having a genuine injury that resulted from the accident.
They’re also experts at looking for more ways to keep their company from paying your claim by arguing that your health care paid for your medical expenses.
Some companies will even look at your vacation time and sick leave, assuming paid time off enabled you to take time off from work without losing any income, which is not true for all customers. Ultimately, claim adjusters are using every tactic they can to prevent or minimize your entitled claim check.
Always Protect Yourself from Unfair Auto Insurance Settlements
To protect yourself from this tactic, you can use what’s called “The Collateral Source Rule.” This rule means that your auto insurer can’t use your alternative sources of medical payments and resources as a reason to lower your accident settlement.
Medical expenses resulting from an automobile accident are typically paid for through personal injury protection and medical payment insurance. An attorney can determine what an accident claim might be worth and whether or not the payout offered by your insurer is reasonable.
You could be entitled to damages resulting from the accident that include pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost earning capacity, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any hidden fees that auto insurance companies don’t disclose?
Yes, some auto insurance companies may have hidden fees that they don’t disclose upfront. These fees could include policy administration fees, cancellation fees, or fees for making changes to your policy. It’s important to carefully review the terms and conditions of your policy and ask your insurance provider about any potential hidden fees.
Can auto insurance companies increase premiums without notifying the policyholders?
Auto insurance companies generally cannot increase premiums without notifying the policyholders. Most insurance companies are required by law to provide advance notice of premium increases, typically within a specified time frame. However, it’s essential to review your policy and any communication from your insurance provider to ensure you are aware of any changes in your premiums.
Do auto insurance companies consider credit scores when determining premiums?
Yes, many auto insurance companies consider credit scores as one of the factors when determining premiums. They believe that individuals with higher credit scores are less likely to file claims. However, the specific impact of credit scores on premiums can vary between insurance companies and jurisdictions. It’s best to check with your insurance provider about their specific policies regarding credit scores.
Are there any limitations or exclusions that auto insurance companies may not disclose?
Auto insurance policies often contain limitations and exclusions that may not be prominently disclosed. These limitations could include coverage restrictions for certain types of accidents, specific vehicles, or specific drivers. It’s crucial to carefully review the terms and conditions of your policy to understand any limitations or exclusions that may apply to your coverage.
Can auto insurance companies deny claims based on technicalities?
Auto insurance companies may deny claims based on technicalities if the policyholder fails to meet specific requirements or if the claim falls outside the coverage outlined in the policy. It’s important to thoroughly understand your policy and ensure that you meet all the requirements for filing a claim. If you have any doubts or questions, it’s advisable to consult with your insurance provider directly.
Compare over 200 auto insurance companies at once!
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Jimmy McMillan
Licensed Insurance Agent
Jimmy McMillan is an entrepreneur and the founder of HeartLifeInsurance.com, an independent insurance brokerage. His company specializes in insurance for people with heart problems. He knows personally how difficult it is to secure health and life insurance after a heart attack. Jimmy is a licensed insurance agent from coast to coast who has been featured on ValientCEO and the podcast Modern Li...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.