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Part I. What is in my insurance policy? |
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| pays for damages (e.g. medical expenses, pain and suffering) to anyone injured or killed by your car only in an accident that occurs in Massachusetts, up to a basic limit of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident. Injuries to the driver or passengers in your car are not covered under this Part; please refer to Personal Injury Protection (Part 2) for information about that coverage. |
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If
you drive outside of Massachusetts or in places where the public has
no right of access, or if you drive with guests in your car, please
see Optional Bodily Injury to Others (Part 5), for coverage that will
protect you in such situations. |
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You
could be sued for more than the required ($20,000/ $40,000) limits
for Bodily Injury to Others. Buying higher limits under the Optional
Bodily Injury to Others (Part 5) coverage may protect you from large
losses. The limits you select will depend on your personal financial
situation; limits of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident are
commonly selected. |
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| pays
up to $8,000 to you or anyone you let drive your car, anyone living
in your household, passengers and pedestrians, no matter who causes
the accident. Personal Injury Protection pays for medical expenses,
replacement services and 75% of any lost wages. |
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PIP coverage pays for medical expenses in excess of $2,000 that are
not paid for by your medical insurance only after these expenses have
been submitted to the medical insurer to determine what it will and
will not pay. Your PIP coverage will not pay for expenses over
$2,000 that your medical insurer would have paid if the injured person
had sought treatment in accordance with the terms of your health plan. |
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Your
health insurance may not cover all of your medical expenses from an
auto accident such as cosmetic and dental services, co-payments and
deductibles. Also, your disability policy may have long waiting periods.
The small savings from the larger deductible may not be worth it. |
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The
driver and passengers, while riding a motorcycle, are not covered
by PIP. However, the owner of the motorcycle must purchase this coverage
to protect other people who may be injured by the motorcycle. |
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You
can save on your premium by excluding yourself, or yourself and household
members, from some or all of this coverage. You should consider this
option if you have a medical and disability income plan. The portion
of each claim you have agreed not to be covered for is called a "deductible." |
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Note:
PIP covers owners of cars and motor-cycles, and members of their households,
if they are injured while occupying or struck by a car that does not
have Massachusetts Compulsory Insurance. |
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| protects
you, anyone you let drive your car, household members and passengers
(unless covered by another Massachusetts Policy with similar coverage)
against losses caused by an uninsured or unidentified ("hit and
run") driver. A minimum limit of $20,000 per person and $40,000
per accident is required. This coverage does not pay for property
damage or damage to your auto. |
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| pays
for damage to another person’s property and costs associated
with the loss of use of that property, when you, a household member
or another authorized driver cause an accident. A minimum limit of
$5,000 is required. |
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With
the rising costs of automobile and property repair, it may make sense
to purchase more than the required $5,000 minimum limit. This can
be done at minimal cost. Limits of $50,000 or $100,000 are frequently
purchased. |
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| extends
your liability protection (the basic $20,000/$40,000 limits under
Bodily Injury to Others) up to the amount you purchase under this
part. This option provides coverage for accidents beyond Massachusetts
to anywhere in the United States, its territories or possessions,
or Canada. This coverage also pays for damages suffered by guests
in your auto. |
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Your
automobile is not covered in any country other than the U.S. and Canada.
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You
could be sued and may be liable for much more than the $20,000 per
person and $40,000 per accident limits required under Bodily Injury
to Others ( Part 1). |
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Buying
higher limits under the Optional Bodily Injury to Others coverage
may make good sense if you have assets you wish to protect. |
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| Optional medical payments coverage covers
medical expenses for you, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) household members and passengers, over
and above amounts covered by Personal Injury Protection no matter
who caused the accident. The minimum amount you can buy is $5,000
if insuring an automobile and $500 if insuring a motorcycle. |
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| pays
for damage to your car, less any applicable deductible,
no matter who causes the accident. If your car is financed, your lender
may require this coverage as well as a particular deductible amount. |
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Selecting
Your Deductible:
Your deductible will be set at $500 unless you select a different
amount. You can always save on your premium by choosing a larger deductible
where one is offered. In determining the right deductible for you, decide how much you can afford to pay out of your
own pocket in the event of an accident or loss in which you are at
fault, or the other driver is unidentified. The deductible you choose
is the amount you should expect to pay if you use this coverage option.
This information also applies to Limited Collision coverage (Part 8) and Comprehensive coverage (Part 9). |
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Waiver
of Deductible:
Buying Collision coverage with a "waiver of deductible"
means that the collision deductible you choose will not apply when
an accident is caused by another identifiable driver.
This is most helpful when there is an uninsured, identifiable driver.
If you are in an accident caused by another identifiable driver who
is insured, their Part 4 coverage (Damage to Someone Else’s Property)
will pay your automobile’s damages to the limit they purchased.
You will not have to pay the deductible amount. |
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If you are in an accident caused by another identifiable driver
who is uninsured, the waiver of deductible will pay the collision
deductible you selected; however, you must pay additional premium
for this option. |
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Find
out what your car is worth today. If you have a car of low dollar
value, it may be a wise economic choice not to buy the Collision
and Comprehensive coverage unless a lender requires it. |
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However,
if your automobile has substantial value because of its exceptional
condition, such as an antique, classic or restored automobile, you
should have it appraised and then consider insurance coverage in light
of the appraised value. |
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| also
pays for collision damage to your car. You must not be more than 50%
at fault and the owner of the other vehicle must be identified.
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| pays
for damage to or loss of your car, less any applicable deductible,
resulting from perils such as fire, theft, vandalism, and striking
an animal, but not collision. This coverage allows up to $15 a day
(to a limit of $450) for substitute transportation (rental or other
transportation costs including taxi, bus and train fare) until your
stolen auto is recovered. Personal property is not covered unless
it is permanently installed in your car, such as a stereo. If your
car is financed, your lender may require this coverage. |
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If
your automobile is stolen, you must report it to the police and your
insurance company. You will be reimbursed for transportation costs
after the first 48 hours following the report. |
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You
may be denied Comprehensive coverage or required to pay a higher extra-risk
rate if you own a high-theft vehicle which does not have a
qualifying anti-theft or recovery device. Coverage may be denied or
priced higher under certain other conditions. |
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| reimburses
up to $15 a day for car rental or transportation costs including taxi,
bus and train fare (up to $450), while your car is undergoing collision
or covered repairs. Coverage of up to $100 a day (up to a limit of
$3,000) is available for an additional cost. Even if you have this
coverage, some car rental agencies may refuse to rent to you if you
are under a certain age, are a poor credit risk, do not have an acceptable
credit card or have an unacceptable driving record. |
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Your
Collision, Limited Collision and Comprehensive coverage will apply
to any other car you rent or use with the consent of the owner, except
a vehicle owned or regularly used by your spouse or a house-hold member. |
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If
you can afford to take a cab or rent a car when your car is in the
shop for collision repairs, you may not need Substitute Transportation
coverage. |
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| pays
up to $50 for towing and labor charges each time your car breaks down
whether or not there is an accident involved. You are covered only
for the on-site labor costs at the breakdown site (not any parts)
needed to get your car running again. Coverage of up to $100 per disablement
is available for additional cost. |
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If
you belong to a Motor Club, you probably do not need this coverage
since many Motor Clubs' services include towing and labor. |
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| pays
for bodily injury damages to you, household members and passengers,
unless they have a policy of their own, or are covered by a Massachusetts
auto policy of another household member with similar coverage. The
accident must be caused by someone without enough bodily injury coverage.
It pays you up to the difference between the total amount collected
from the bodily injury liability insurance covering the owner and
driver of the other car, and the limits you purchased for this coverage. |
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Since
many people buy only minimum required amounts for Bodily Injury to
Others, selecting higher limits may protect you from incurring high
personal injury expenses. You may purchase coverage up to, but no
more than, the limits of the Bodily Injury to Others coverage you
carry. |
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This
coverage will NOT pay for damage to property. |
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Part II. How is my premium calculated? |
| Many consumers are confused about how their automobile insurance premiums are calculated. They mistakenly believe that they have no control over the cost of their auto insurance. While it is true that companies are not permitted to charge different premiums to the customers from the same town with the same driving history (except for certain specified discounts), Massachusetts drivers do have the ability to lower their auto insurance premium. |
| Each year, the Division of Insurance sets a base rate - or average rate - for Private Passenger Automobile Insurance Policies. Insurers then calculated each driver's actual premium through variations from this base rate. They do this in four basic steps with adjustments based on: |
- Your car, driving experience and location
- How much insurance you want
- Certain documents
- The Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP)
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| Your Car, Driving Experience and Location |
| The average rate is adjusted up or down for you depending on the make and model of your car. Newer and more expensive cars result in higher premiums than older and less expensive cars. In addition, drivers are classified based on their years of driving experience: Drivers with 6 or more years of experience are classified as Experienced Operators and pay lower premiums. Inexperienced Operators - those with less than 6 years of driving experience - pay higher premiums. Finally, your premium is adjusted up or down from the base rate based on the town where you garage your car. Residents of towns with higher claims costs pay higher premiums than those from towns with lower claims costs. |
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| How Much Insurance Do You Want |
| Once the base rate is adjusted based on your car, driving experience and location, your premium can go up or down based on the amount of insurance you choose to purchase. Choosing higher coverage limits or lower deductibles will raise your premium. Lowering your coverage limits or selecting higher deductibles will lower your bill. |
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| Discounts |
| Once your premium is calculated from the average rate based on your car, driving experience, location and the amount of insurance you want, your insurer then applies certain discounts that can lower your premium. Examples of discounts are low-mileage, passive restraint, anti-theft device, and group discounts. All available discounts are explained in Section IV of this brochure. |
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| Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP) |
| Finally, your premium may increase or decrease based on your driving history. The Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP) is the point-based system that lowers premiums for drivers with clean driving records, and increases premiums for drivers with traffic violations and at-fault accidents. Drivers receive surcharge points for violations and accidents that occurred within the 6 years immediately preceding the effective date of the policy. SDIP is explained further in the next section. |
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Part III. Safe Driver Insurance Plan |
| The Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP) is a program created by state law that encourages safe driving with lower premiums for drivers who do not cause accidents or commit traffic violations and by ensuring that high-risk drivers pay a greater share of insurance costs. The SDIP premium adjustment is the last step in your premium calculations, after all rating factors and discounts have been applied. |
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| Beginning 2006 |
| Beginning with policies effective on or after January 1, 2006, the Massachusetts SDIP is converting from a "step" to a "point" system. This change will make the system of discounts and surcharges easier to understand and comparable to what is in place in other states. More importantly, drivers in Massachusetts will have even greater control over their premium through safe driving. |
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| Your Driving Record Affects Your Rates |
| If you have at-fault accidents or commit traffic violations, your driving record will accumulate surcharge "points" depending on the nature of the incident. You accumulate surcharge points if you are responsible for an accident or commit a traffic violation. |
- Accidents - You receive surcharge points if you are more than 50% at-fault for a motor vehicle accident that results in damage to property or bodily injury of more than $500. If you disagree with the determination that you are at fault for an accident, you may appeal the surcharge to the Board of Appeals. For details, please read the appeals section on page 13.
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- Traffic Violations - You also receive surcharge points if you are convicted of, or pay a fine for a traffic violation; or are assigned to a drug or alcohol education program. If you disagree with a traffic violation, you must appeal it through the court system. Traffic violations cannot be appealed to the Division of Insurance Board of Appeals or the Merit Rating Board.
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| Drivers with no at-fault accidents or moving violation will have zero (0) surcharge points. Drivers with at least 5 years of clean driving will receive a considerable discount. |
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| No surcharge points will be assigned to any surchargeable incident in the sixth (oldest) year of the policy experience period. |
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| The schedule of surcharge points is as follows: |
| Surchargeable Incident |
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Surcharge Points |
| Major Traffic Violation (i.e., D.U.I) |
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| Major At-Fault Accident (claim over $2,000) |
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| Minor At-Fault Accident (claim over $500 to $2,000) |
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| Minor Traffic Violation (i.e., speeding) |
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| Beginning in 2006, at-fault Bodily Injury Liability claims over $500 are now subject to surcharge if there is no Property Damage Liability (PDL) or Collision claim as a result of the incident. |
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| Surcharge Points Cost You Money And Increase Your Premium |
| Is there much of a difference between point levels? The differentials are established as part of the annual private passenger automobile rate setting process. The more points you have, the higher your premium. Points can accumulate quickly and each new incident increases the number of points on your record. Each point increases the premium paid for 4 coverages in your policy: Compulsory Bodily Injury (part 1), Personal Injury Protection (part 2), Damage to Someone Else's Property (part 4), and Collision (part 7). In 2006, the premium for drivers with less than 6 years of driving experience (Inexperienced Operators) is 7.5% above the base rate on parts 1, 2, 4, and 7 for each surcharge point on their driving record. The premium for drivers with 6 or more years of driving experience (Experienced Operators) is 15% above the base rate on parts 1, 2, 4, and 7 for each surcharge point. Contact your agent to learn the updated figures for 2007. |
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| The SDIP system has built-in discounts to reward drivers with consistently clean driving records. Drivers who have at least 5 years of driving experience and no surchargeable incidents in the last 5 years will receive the Excellent Driver Discount. This discount will lower their premium on Parts 1, 2, 4 and 7, in addition to any decrease from the removal of surcharges from the previous policy period. Drivers with 6 years of driving experience and no surchargeable incidents in the last 6 years will receive an even greater discount on parts 1, 2, 4, and 7 - the Excellent Driver Discount Plus. |
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| The exact amount of these discounts changes each year. In 2006, drivers receiving the Excellent Driver Discount saw a 7% decrease on the premiums for parts 1, 2, 4, and 7. Recipients of the Excellent Driver Discount Plus qualified for a 17% discount on those parts. Contact your agent to learn the updated figures for 2007. |
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| If I Have Surcharge Points, How Can I Lower My Premium? |
| Even if your driving record contains surcharge points, the new system has built-in incentives for improving your driving. If you have no more than 3 surchargeable incidents over the last 5 years, the point value of each of those incidents will go down by 1 when you have 3 years of incident free driving. For many drivers, three years of clean driving could lead to significant reductions in surcharges. |
| Let's see how: |
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| Bill - 2007 Premium |
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| Minor at-fault accident |
2006 |
= 3 |
| Speeding |
2005 |
= 2 |
| Speeding (no surcharge for 1st traffic violation) |
2005 |
= 0 |
| Total Surcharge Points |
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= 5 |
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| Jane - 2007 Premium |
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| Minor at-fault accident |
2003 (3-1) |
= 2 |
| Speeding |
2002 (2-1) |
= 1 |
| Speeding |
2002 |
= 0 |
| Total Surcharge Points |
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= 3 |
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| Both Bill and Jane have the same incidents on their respective driving records - one minor accident and two speeding tickets. However, Jane's last 3 years of driving have been incident free. Since she has no more than 3 total incidents in the last 5 years, she will see her surcharge point total go down from 5 to 3. For a typical experienced Massachusetts driver, the difference between 5 and 3 surcharge points could amount to hundreds of dollars, depending on car model and location. If Bill can keep a clean driving record for the next 3 years, he will see the same decrease in his surcharge points. Let's look at another example: |
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| Tom - 2007 Premium |
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| Major at-fault accident |
2003 (4-1) |
= 3 |
| Speeding |
2002 (2-1) |
= 1 |
| Speeding |
2002 |
= 0 |
| Total Surcharge Points |
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= 4 |
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| Mary - 2007 Premium |
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| Speeding |
2006 |
= 2 |
| Minor at-fault accident |
2005 |
= 3 |
| Failure to Yield |
2005 |
= 2 |
| Major at-fault accident |
2003 |
= 4 |
| Speeding |
2002 |
= 2 |
| Speeding (no surcharge for 1st traffic violation) |
2002 |
= 0 |
| Total Surcharge Points |
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= 13 |
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| Both Tom and Mary had the same incidents through 2003 - 2 speeding tickets and one major at-fault accident. The difference is that Tom improved his driving and has had no incidents over the last 3 years. The result is that his surcharge points decreased from 6 to 4 starting in 2007. On the other hand Mary has not made any changes in her driving habits. She has accumulated three additional incidents - 2 minor, non-criminal, traffic violations and a minor at-fault accident. This means that she not only has 7 new surcharge points on her driving record since 2003, but she loses out on the point reduction for her three older incidents. Mary's insurance bill will be very high again this year. For typical experienced Massachusetts drivers, the difference between 4 and 13 surcharge points could amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars, depending on car model and location. As long as her driving places other people at risk, she will continue to pay much higher premiums than drivers like Tom and Jane. |
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| Operators New to Massachusetts |
| The SDIP system allows drivers new to Massachusetts to get credit for their safe driving in other jurisdictions. If a driver new to Massachusetts was licensed in another state or country within the last 6 years, the driver will initially have zero (0) SDIP surcharge points. However, the new driver will not be eligible for any safe driving discounts. |
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| If a new driver's Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) is electronically available, the insurer will be responsible for obtaining it from the state or country where the driver was previously licensed. If an MVR is not electronically available, the driver can obtain an official driving record or a record from a previous insurer and submit it to the current insurer. If that driving record is not in English, the driver must obtain a translation certified true and correct by a translator, attach it to the driving record, and submit it to the current insurer. |
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| This information is submitted to the Merit Rating Board and is used along with the Massachusetts driving record to determine the Operator SDIP Points and eligibility for any of the discounts or incentives. |
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| Merit Rating Board |
| The Merit Rating Board (MRB) is the state agency responsible for the administration of the Safe Driver Insurance Plan. The MRB receives and maintains information from insurancce companies, police departments, and Massachusetts courts about at-fault accidents and motor vehicle traffic law violations that are subject to the SDIP. If you are a listed driver on a Massachusetts private passenger automobile insurance policy, then the MRB will determine your SDIP rating and report it to your insurance company. Your SDIP rating is based on your driving history record and can increase or decrease the cost of your automobile insurance premium. |
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| You can learn more about the MRB and the SDIP by visiting our website at www.state.ma.us/mrb or you can contact the Merit Rating Board's Customer Service Section at 617-351-4400. |
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| Application Of At-Fault Accident Surcharges To Your Record |
| Insurers are required to determine if an operator is more than 50% at fault for an accident by applying the Standards of Fault (211 C.M.R. 74.00). These standards are common accident types under which you are presumed to be more than 50% at fault. For example, drivers are presumed to be more than 50% at fault when operating a vehicle which collides with the rear section of another vehicle. The presumption will also determine the outcome of an appeal hearing unless you overcome the presumption by providing enough evidence that you were not more than 50% at fault. |
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| If your company determines that you are at fault for an accident, they will send you a Surcharge Notice. This notice includes instructions for appealing the surcharge to the Board of Appeals at the Division of Insurance. Surcharge points remain on your driving record unless you successfully appeal the surcharge. |
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| If you receive a Surcharge Notice naming the wrong operator, call your insurance company. Your insurer will rescindd the incorrect notice and reissue the notice to the correct operator. |
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| Appealing An At-Fault Accident Surcharge |
| If you disagree with your insurer's surcharge determination and believe that you are 50% or less at fault for the accident, you may appeal the surcharge to the Board of Appeals at the Division of Insurance. The filing fee for an appeal is $50. Appeals must be filed within 30 days of when you receive your Surcharge Notice. If you do not file your appeal, the surcharge and the surcharge points will remain on your driving record. |
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| Once you have submitted your appeal, you will receive a Surcharge Appeal Receipt. Approximately three weeks before your hearing, you will receive a notice indicating the date, time and location of your hearing. If surcharge points are applied to your premium while you are waiting for your appeal date, you must pay the additional premium or your policy will be cancelled. If you win your appeal, you will receive a refund or credit from your insurer for any excel premium you have paid due to the surcharge. |
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| The appeal does not guarantee success. If you do not agree with the decision of the Board of Appeal, you may appeal the decision to Superior Court. |
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Part IV. Discounts |
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| A 25% premium discount for all coverages will be applied to a premium after all other discounts and rating factors if the driver meets the following conditions: 1) the principal operator is 65 years or older; 2) there are no inexperienced drivers (less than 6 years of driving experience); and 3) the vehicle is not customarily used in business. |
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| Passive Restraint |
| A 25% discount applied to the premium paid for Parts 2, 3, 6 and 12 is available if your automobile is equipped with an air bag or automatic seat belts. |
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| Annual Mileage |
| A 10% discount applied to the premium paid for Parts 1-8 and Part 12 is available if your verified annual mileage falls between 0-5000 miles. A 5% discount off of the premium paid for Parts 1-8 and Part 12 is available if your verified annual mileage falls between 5001-7500 miles. |
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Antique vehicles are not eligible for this discount. |
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| Anti-theft |
| Anti-theft discounts of up to 36% on Part 9 are available for automobiles with various types of qualifying anti-theft devices. Your insurance company or agent can provide you with a list of the qualifying anti-theft devices and the corresponding discounts available. |
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| Multiple Cars |
| A 5% discount applied to the premium paid for compulsory coverages (Parts 1,2 & 4) and, if selected, optional coverages (Parts 5,7,8 & 9) is available if an individual or married couple own two or more automobiles insured by the same company. |
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| Advanced Driver Training Programs |
| A 5% discount will be available at some point in 2007 to Inexperienced Operators who complete an Advanced Driver Training Program at a Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) approved Advanced Driver Training School. Currently the RMV is formulating a a process for certifying such schools. Drivers should contact the RMV for up-to-date information on when such schools and programs will become available. |
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| Public Transit |
| A 10% public transit discount applied to the premium paid for Parts 4 and 7 (up to a maximum of $75 per eligible vehicle) is available if: 1) you provide your insurer with evidence of purchase of 11 months of commuter passes from qualified transit systems; and 2) you do not drive your automobile to work or school more than 10 days or more per month. Your insurance company or agent can provide you with a list of the qualified transit systems. |
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| Rate Deviations |
| Some insurance companies have been offering discounts to their existing policyholders by filing requests with the Commissioner of Insurance to "deviate" from the basic insurance rate. These discounts have been offered primarily to the safest drivers. |
| Check with your agent to see if your insurance company has been approved to offer discounts to its safest drivers. If you are eligible for a group and a safe driver discount, you can take advantage of both! |
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| Group Discounts |
| In recent years many insurers have been offering discounts to numerous groups to attract new customers. These discounts will decrease your entire insurance premium. In addition, many group plans do not charge interest or require an initial deposit. |
| Groups can be sponsored by an employer, civic organization, motor club, association, trade union, credit union, etc. You may want to check with agents of several different insurers to learn which groups the insurer has been approved to offer discounts to and the size of the discounts. Any member of an approved group is eligible for the discount. |
| Group plans are not guaranteed to be renewed or to be renewed at the current discount level. By law, groups may be continued if after two years of operation the group has 35% of its eligible members participating. If, however, after three years a group’s loss and expense ratio makes the group unprofitable it can not renew policies. |
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Part V. Claims & Fraud |
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| Auto insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. We can all do our part to hold down costs by reporting suspected fraud and being part of the solution. |
| When you are involved in an automobile accident, you rely on your auto insurer to handle your claim properly, fairly and with as little inconvenience to you as possible. As policyholders, we can ensure the efficiency of claims processing by doing our part to assist insurers in providing accurate information when the policy is issued and the fact gathering process that follows an automobile accident. |
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| The single most important thing you can do to protect yourself from a claim denial is to check that all the information you provide your insurance company is complete and accurate. |
| You must indicate where their car is garaged most of the time, regardless of their listed address. Furthermore, you must also list all the licensed drivers who are likely to operate your vehicle. This includes people who live with you (family or roommates) who do not have their own auto insurance and also people who use your car on any kind of regular basis. |
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| Three simple steps can make a real difference in collecting all of the relevant information in the event of an accident: |
- Keep the following items in your glove compartment — a disposable camera, a first aid kit, a tape measure, and blank police reports or accident diagrams.
- Note all the participants and witnesses at the scene including their name, address, contact information, and insurers regardless of whether or not anyone was injured.
- File reports with the local police and insurer promptly after the accident.
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| These easy steps will allow you to make a contribution to containing the costs of fraud to all insurers and therefore hold down rates for all consumers. In addition, you will be far more likely to be satisfied with the handling of your claim. |
| If you suspect fraudulent conduct on the part of anyone involved in your motor vehicle accident or your insurance claim – including the other operators, any passengers, the repair shop, the appraiser, or any employee of the insurer – please call the Insurance Fraud Bureau hotline at 1-800-32-FRAUD. Another number to remember is the Governor's Auto Theft Strike Force Hotline at 1-800-HOT-AUTO when you have information about an auto theft. You will be able to speak confidentially with an investigator about your suspicions. |
| Finally, be sure that your auto body repair shop is registered with the Division of Standards (617) 727-3480. |
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The Use of Original Equipment Manufacturer
(OEM) Parts In The Repair of Your Vehicle. |
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| You are entitled to the use of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts in the repair of your vehicle under any of the following circumstances. |
- Your vehicle has been driven for no more than 20,000 miles.
- The operational safety of the vehicle would otherwise be impaired or
- After reasonable and diligent effort, an appropriate rebuilt, aftermarket or used part cannot be located.
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| If you do not meet any of the criteria listed above, you can always require your auto repairer to use OEM parts, but you must pay the increased cost that may result. |
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| Whenever repairs are to be made to a vehicle using non-OEM parts, state law requires that notice must be given by the appraiser and repairer to the owner prior to repairs beinng made. |
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| Some insurers may offer for payment of additional premium an endorsement covering the amount necessary to replace any damaged "crash part" which cannot be repaired, with an OEM part on any auto to which the endorsement applies. Contact your agent or insurance company to see if they offer this endorsement. |
| A crash part is defined as a motor vehicle part of sheet metal or plastic that constitutes the visible exterior of the vehicle, including inner and outer panels. Coverage for glass or mechanical parts is excluded. |
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