Below are some of our frequently asked questions. If you have any other
questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.
| What is the difference between property damage liability insurance and collision insurance?
Property Damage Liability insurance covers the cost of damage you may cause to the property of others. Collision insurance covers damage to your own car caused by a crash or upset, minus any deductible.
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| What is the difference between collision insurance and coverage for damage other than collision?
Collision insurance and coverage for other damage besides collisions varies from state to state. Collision insurance generally covers damage to your automobile caused by collision with another object or by upset, and Comprehensive insurance covers from causes such as vandalism, theft, or glass breakage.
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| What is an endorsement?
An endorsement is an amendment to your policy written especially to cover unique items just for you. It is also a change to your policy that is made during the policy's term. An endorsement is attached to your policy to modify the terms of the insurance contract.
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| Should I buy collision insurance if I have an old car?
Buying collision insurance is a personal decision. You may want to consider the value of your car or the amount of loss you can personally assume. Our aim is to help you decide what coverages are best for you.
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| What is the difference between bodily injury liability coverage and medical payments coverage?
Bodily Injury Liability coverage pays for injuries you or anyone covered under your policy may cause to others. Medical Payments coverage pays for reasonable medical expenses for you or your passengers, regardless of who caused the accident. Some states require passengers to first seek reimbursement under their own automobile policy.
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| What is the difference between split-limit liability coverage and single-limit liability coverage?
A single limit policy provides one total amount of coverage for bodily injury and property damage in an accident, regardless of the number of people involved or the extent of the property damage. Split-limit coverage specifies individual amounts in an accident for an injured person, for all injured people, and for damaged property.
For example, a $50,000 Single-Limit policy provides a total amount of $50,000 for bodily injury and property damage in an accident. A policy with $25,000/$50,000/ $10,000 Split-Limit coverage provides $25,000 per person.
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| What does "full coverage" mean?
The term full coverage generally means that the insurance policy has both liability coverage and coverage for damage to your vehicle. The term full coverage does not mean that "everything" is covered no matter what happens. Your auto insurance Policy Declaration page lists the coverage you have selected. A Rodney D. Young Insurance agent will discuss with you available coverages to help you select the insurance coverage that fits your needs and budget.
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| Will my policy be cancelled if I have an accident?
Generally, being in an accident will not cause your policy to be canceled. However, after the facts of the situation are reviewed, you may be required to pay a higher premium for your policy upon renewal. Your personal Rodney D. Young Insurance agent will help you understand the potential increases if an accident does occur.
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| If I rent a car, do I have coverage?
Car rental companies charge daily fees for "CDW" coverage (which means their insurance will pay for all damages covered in your rental agreement). Rental car coverage under a private passenger policy varies state by state. Check your policy or contact your local agent
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| What is Optional/Add-on Equipment coverage?
Under the Comprehensive and Collision portion of your policy, optional equipment (a CD player for example) is covered only if permanently installed in the opening of the dash where the manufacturer would normally install such equipment.
Please notify us immediately if any type of aftermarket wheels, custom paint or any other aftermartket items are added to your vehicle. Failure to notify us of these items will result in no coverage on these aftermarket products.
An endorsement is available to provide coverage for optional equipment not permanently installed in the dash and for theft or damage to the above mentioned aftermarket products.
For details on this coverage, check your auto insurance policy. If you're thinking about adding equipment to your present vehicle, Contact your local agent.
Rodney D. Young has a number of policy endorsements available to help customize coverage to fit your needs.
- Rental Reimbursement
- Towing and Roadside Assistance
- Royal Auto Club
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| What should I do if I'm in an accident?
Notify your Rodney D. Young Claims office at 800-477-7391. Give names and addresses of witnesses and injured persons. Promply send Rodney D. Young copies of notices or legal papers your receive about the accident. Cooperate with the investigation. You might have to submit to a "proof of loss" form and, if you have injuries undergo a medical exam.
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| What can I do to keep my auto premiums down?
You can work with your Rodney D. Young agent to make sure your auto premiums are as low as they should be: Check to see if you're eligible for any discounts such as claim-free, driver education, auto/home or multi-car. Ask how much you can save by increasing your deductible.
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| When should I contact Rodney D. Young to see if I should add coverage?
Generally, when something significant about your auto has changed. You should check to see whether your coverage needs to be adjusted. For example, buying a new vehicle, adding a new driver in your household or buying a camper to trailer.
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| Am I covered for use of my vehicle for my business?
If you use your vehicle for business purposes, call your Rodney D. Young Agent to help you determine whether you have the proper coverage.
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| What is a quote?
A quote is an estimate for your premium for the insurance coverage you selected and based on the information you entered. A quote is not an offer for insurance nor an insurance contract.
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| What is the minimum insurance that I need?
Most states require drivers to carry some kind of auto insurance (or post a bond) when you operate a motor vehicle. You, as a driver, are also required to provide proof of insurance before you can license your vehicle or renew your driver's license. Although coverage is mandatory, the amount and kinds of coverage can vary. Often, the required minimum coverage may not adequately compensate you for your assets or your earnings. We can help you understand the state requirements and work with you to decide what coverage you need.
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| What is TexasSure?
TexasSure is a new vehicle insurance verification system that allows law enforcement and county tax officials to confirm whether a vehicle in Texas has required personal auto liability insurance coverage.
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| What is TexasSure supposed to do?
TexasSure will help reduce the number of uninsured vehicles in Texas. It is expected to help stop the actions some motorists take to avoid the law, such as using counterfeit proof of insurance cards or obtaining insurance to get a card and then promptly canceling the policy once they’ve renewed their car registration or had their vehicle inspected.
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| When did TexasSure begin operations?
Following extensive testing, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) implemented the program in all county Tax Assessor-Collector offices in June 2008 for registration purposes and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) implemented the program statewide on October 1, 2008 for law enforcement use.
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| How does TexasSure benefit the average driver?
TexasSure helps Texans by reducing the number of uninsured vehicles. Estimates are that law-abiding motorists pay almost $1 billion in extra costs in insurance premiums every year to protect themselves against the millions of drivers in Texas who don’t have car insurance or who are underinsured. Research shows insured drivers strongly support any effort to keep uninsured drivers off the road.
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| How many uninsured vehicles are there in Texas?
It is estimated that one in five Texas vehicles is uninsured. That’s nearly 4 million cars without insurance or about 20 percent of all vehicles in Texas. In some areas of the state, the concentration of uninsured vehicles may be even higher.
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| Do other states have programs like this? How do they work?
More than 30 other states have some type of auto insurance verification program. Some states have programs similar to what we have in Texas, but none are exactly the same. Some states have a simple random sample method where letters are sent to owners of registered vehicles asking them to verify insurance. Other states verify insurance after a transaction has taken place, such as vehicle registration.
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| What has happened in other states with this kind of program?
Every state that instituted some type of auto verification program has seen a reduction in the number of uninsured vehicles.
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| Who is behind TexasSure?
Getting uninsured motorists off the road is a collaborative effort. The TexasSure vehicle insurance verification database is a joint project of the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR). The Legislature named TDI as the lead agency, giving it primary responsibility for the project.
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| How much is TexasSure going to cost the State? How is it funded?
The initial cost of the program is roughly $7 million. The money comes from a portion of the $1 fee that drivers pay when they apply for or renew their motor vehicle registration.
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