I need help.

"michael bleggi" (mikalbleggi) 06/23/2014 at 17:50 • Filed to: None

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This is geniunley not about me, but a friend of mine.

In the past 36 months, the 64 year old father had 1 minor speeding ticket , the 52 year old mother has no infractions. He is 18 and totaled a car, had an event that resulted in a suspension of his license, (driving on his permit [ without his license ] and speeding [47 in a 35]), got another speeding ticket [14 over in a 30], and rear-ended a man at a stoplight and the damage was was less than $1400. He really had awful luck. He is not a gearhead and does not drive recklessly.. He drives rather defensively, but is a klutz.

Yesterday, while learning to drive stick, he drifted backwards into a 2011 e class. The quote is $2300, and the kid didn't give the man his insurance information and hasn't told his parents.

That quote is from a small bodyshop as well, i can't imagine what the dealer would have quoted. The car needs a new plastic grill ($600), front bumper support ($494), plastic cowl for the air intake, and hood latch (~$200).

a) longterm, what are the ups and downs of these "high risk" insurance plans, such as those from The General, that offer quotes that are too good to be true?

b) Are there options for the kid to take other than telling his parents and putting it on his insurance? ei work out a payment plan with the body shop?

Thanks for your time, and here is a totalled-then-vr6-swapped 911 painted camo for just that.

For Sweden > michael bleggi 06/23/2014 at 17:57

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driving on his permit [ without his license ]

speeding [47 in a 35])

got another speeding ticket [14 over in a 30]

rear-ended a man at a stoplight

does not drive recklessly

This person should be happy to be insured by anyone

crowmolly > michael bleggi 06/23/2014 at 18:00

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Do those e-class repairs include paint and labor?

Disclaimer- I am not an insurance agent.

But from my experience there are two big things to remember about insurance companies:

1.) You can't judge an insurance company as "good" or "bad" until you have filed a claim with them. Anybody will happily take your premium money and never pay out.

2.) Repairs will be according to the company's guidelines and not what you feel you are owed. By that I mean that some places will cheap out on repair parts and put inferior and ill-fitting stuff on your ride as long as it's "good enough" to classify as repaired. Other companies have slightly higher premiums or requirements for membership but they will make sure that the repairs are as good as before the accident. This doesn't always matter, especially if you drive a beater, but if you hit something in a car you care about it's a pretty big deal. I had to file a claim with my company (USAA) in a 1 year old car with 3,000 miles on it and I was glad that they have a 24 month "OEM PARTS ONLY" rule.

You can fight the "difficult" companies and occasionally win, but that can be long and tedious with no guarantee of satisfaction.

The places like "The General" probably have high premiums and pay out like shit. However, if he's a high risk driver then he's probably going to have to bend over anyway.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > michael bleggi 06/23/2014 at 18:00

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"Does not drive recklessly" not so sure the facts support that... Some body shops may be willing to sort a payment plan but with a small shop for that amount it seems unlikely. The shop has too much to lose.

Brian, The Life of > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 06/23/2014 at 18:06

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I'd say he has a far better chance of making this kind of arrangement with a small mom 'n pop shop that a large, national branded one. Even then, he's gonna be super lucky to find one that will do it ... and he is clearly anything but lucky.

Brian, The Life of > crowmolly 06/23/2014 at 18:08

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For collision damages that are less than $1400 on a 2011 E-class, dollars to donuts the damage repair is to refinish the bumper cover only with factory paint and few (if any) R&R parts. That can't be more than slight cosmetic damage.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Brian, The Life of 06/23/2014 at 18:09

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Yeah doesn't seem very likely a company will take a chance on $2000/3000 dollars. Maybe his best option if he wants to avoid insurance and family is to try and take out a long term loan if possible. That wouldn't be all that easy either without having to pay a huge amount of interest though.

Brian, The Life of > michael bleggi 06/23/2014 at 18:10

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Huh. A 911 with rear-end damage. I wonder how that happened?

feather-throttle-not-hair > Brian, The Life of 06/23/2014 at 18:36

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Yeah. That's what i'm thinking. My car was recently hit while it was parked and the quote from the body shop was just over 1500. I dont drive a mercedes

michael bleggi > Brian, The Life of 06/23/2014 at 18:40

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no it's just the plastic grill! it's beyond repair, but 600 fuckin dollars.... and the bumper support is bent, and that's 500.

Big Bubba Ray > michael bleggi 06/23/2014 at 18:53

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Your friend should just save up a shit ton of money and pay for it out of pocket. Having insurance cover his ass every time he fucks up will begin to get absurdly expensive. I'm surprised that he is even insured at this point. I got in a very slight fender bender once and the person's bumper needed refinishing. It was $250 but I payed for it out of pocket because I can't afford for my insurance to skyrocket.

How exactly did he drift into the Merc when learning to drive stick? I'm curious.

michael bleggi > Big Bubba Ray 06/23/2014 at 19:47

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he probably would have had a fair chance at arguing the fault, but it was a risk he didn't want to take. He wasn't "learning," perse, however he is extremely inexperienced and has only driven a few times. His dad's Ferrari Mondial has a dogleg gearbox. He was absolutely fine until this mercedes pulled up very close and he got nervous at a stop light.

michael bleggi > michael bleggi 06/23/2014 at 19:47

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***driven STICK a few times

Big Bubba Ray > michael bleggi 06/23/2014 at 19:51

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Did he roll back on a hill and collide with the Merc? If the Mercedes was too close, it's not your friends fault. Sounds like he needs to get a lawyer or something if the guy tries to make him pay for damages. The Merc driver needed to leave enough room.

michael bleggi > Big Bubba Ray 06/23/2014 at 20:00

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The kid would have been fine if his driving skills were proficient, and he put it in reverse on accident. it was a dogleg box

Big Bubba Ray > michael bleggi 06/23/2014 at 20:22

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Ooh I get it know. Doglegs are tricky and I've done the same thing, minus the colliding with someone haha

Tell him to pay out of pocket. If he goes to insurance with another claim, I won't be surprised if they drop his coverage.