I’m in PA and leased a 2022 Toyota Highlander xse the lease ends in March. I was in a hit and run accident a month ago and found out that I did not have collison or comprehensive coverage on the car. When I talked to the dealership they said they have a form signed stating I had coverage. I remember calling the insurance company with the saleman to verify. I was trading in a RAV4 at the time and I guess that did not have the coverage either, because now that Ii am going over my insurance history it shows on the day I was leasing the highlander the agent added collision and comprehensive coverage to the RAV 4. Once the car was given back in and I took the car off the policy, I added the Highlander and didn’t know I did not have the coverage.
I have Toyota as the lien holder on my insurance, wouldn’t they have been notified that I did not have the insurance when it was added and they should have sent me a letter stating I needed it? If not couldn’t they have charged me for it? This didn’t happen and I am in school and cannot afford to pay for the damages to the car. I don’t know how much damage there is or if it would be totaled. I’ve tried to to it to see how much it would cost but no mechanic wants to touch it without knowing how they are getting paid. I contacted a lawyer who basically said it’s my fault I didn’t have the coverage.
I’m at a loss on how to even try and get it fixed. I can’t give it back that way. Can I try and have a third party buy it out and fix it? Do I have to buy it out? What are my options and what is going to happen when my lease ends? Any ideas or suggesstions are apprecaited.
You’ve got a messy situation here, try to take it one step at a time
Any body shop will give you a free estimate, tell them you want to pay cash for the repair to avoid having your insurance go up.
Back-track here and get more detail if you don’t have it (you may have just omitted here). Independent agent for your insurance? Do they log their calls or what was requested? What exactly did you give the dealer for proof of insurance?
Toyota/TFS had the option to verify it as the lienholder, but - let’s say they discovered it in the past 2 1/2 years and sent a letter and you never received it: you never noticed how LOW your insurance was on this car? You signed a lease that says you would have minimum insurance coverage at inception and throughout the lease and you didn’t, whatever your intentions were.
Focus on the insurance agent, insurance company, and dealer. Nail down exact days and times, who you spoke with, what you asked for, how it was acknowledged. If you end up making a complaint to your insurance in writing, you need more facts and less feelings than you shared here.
Your lease agreement (which you should read beginning-to-end at least three times) spells this out. Technically you can. Worst case is you turn the car in wrecked, then send you a marked-up repair bill at disposition and it ends up on your credit report as a judgement.
The other thread to pull if you haven’t: where was the hit-and-run? Is it possible it was caught on camera? Have you run down that and other possible witnesses who might have seen who did it? Did you reach out to all the local body shops to see if they had a repair that would have matched your damage?
Thank you for your reply! The agent was from progessive directly. They only confirmed and added only that coverage. I am not sure why they didn’t add the new car, but I did that after I left the dealership. The dealership keeps reminding me that I had 14 days to add the car on, which I don’t get why you can leave without doing that. I didn’t realize how low it was because I have another car combined and the price was similar to when my old car was on it. The issue is veriying the insurance was over 2 1/2 years ago so I don’t remember the phone call, but only had that statement which the lawyer says doesn’t mean anything.
Yes we checked to see about cameras and nothing came of it. I’ll post pictures in another reply
Probably. It was 2 1/2 years ago. Not sure why the coverage would be added to the car i’m giving in and why the agent didn’t add the new car before I left the lot since I was already on the phone. That’s why I added it myself after.
That sucks for sure. Run it up as high as you can with Progressive ASAP to see what they may do regardless of what the lawyer said.
Damage could be less than you think. If it drives ok (rear suspension in tact) then a new rear door shell, new wheel, back quarter weld/sheet metal at D pillar and below, bumper and repaint/blend. You can take it for three estimates, tell them it is a private pay and for an estimate they need not report it to Carfax, etc.
Might not be so bad but get three estimates for sure.
I haven’t had progressive in a million years but all my insurance carriers send an email after a policy change that details what it was. Maybe search your email if you haven’t?
Thank you! I had one guy look at it (he does side work) but he didn’t take the door off I don’t think he would have been able to do it himself but he said for parts I’d need door, quarter panel, bumper, door handle, trim, mud flap and wheel control arm, shock plus paint and labor. With the tire bent I’d have to get it towed to each place. I have AAA so I guess i’d have to take it that way.
So a head on, slightly angled sideswipe? Damn man, that’s crazy and he took off to boot! Too bad someone (other driver, traffic or business security cam) doesn’t have it on camera as was said above.
Thats how I found the coverage being added to the RAV4. looking through the history. It shows when I added the highlander it wasn’t on there from the start. which is why the lawyer saying it’s on me
Trying to find a positive about it somehow.