Can you be covered for auto insurance under two different auto policies?

Answer 1

Multiple Auto Insurance Policies.Yes it is not uncommon, you can have multiple Auto Policies in place. But you can not receive double compensation as that would be illegal.

If you wound up with 2 policies by accident and you intended to cancel one then the newer policy is considered primary.

If you have multiple policies for additional protection then you need to rely on policy language, intent and purpose as well as your state regulation to determine which policy is primary. Your agent should be able to clarify this for you.

In most US State jurisdictions if both policies are valid and policy language does not specify position then by default the policy with the broadest scope of coverage becomes primary and the other secondary coverage. Secondary coverage invokes when the limits of the primary policy are exhausted.

When economy is an issue it usually is cheaper to combine coverages with a single auto policy. Extended coverage may be better served by a personal umbrella policy.

AnswerSince auto insurance typically cover a vehicle, I am assuming you are using an example in which you are driving another vehicle insured by someone else. You, yourself, also carry insurance. In this case, then the vehicle involved with the accident will be the primary insurance in the claim. Your policy would be the secondary.

If you what you mean is that you have accidentally gotten two different policies for two different cars, then you need to combine everything and have one policy for all cars in the household that you own. I know that there are times when a dealership has you get insurance to get off of the lot...or your agent isn't available...but you need one policy for all of your owned vehicles. If you have multiple policies for your cars, you could have claim problems and coverage conflicts, as each policy could have different limits and coverages.

If what you're saying is that you have two different policies for the same car, then you will definitely have claim issues, as all carriers report all claims to CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) and will see your claims for the same vehicle under a different policy. It could be considered fraud and you could get into some hot water, as the claims unit may think you're trying to gain a double claim benefit from one incident. this is specifically prohibited if you read the policy contract wording in those many pages you get with the package of papers at each renewal.

You really should have ONE policy.

Hope this helps...