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Rose Said:

Title Insurance question?

We Answered:

In the part of Texas I live in it is very normal for the seller to pay for Title Insurance. It provides proof that the seller actually owns the house free and clear with no clouds or title problems. If a long lost child comes back and insists that they should have inherited the house, it is the title insurance company that is responsible for challenging that claim in court and paying off the claim if needed.

Just like car insurance or health insurance you do not get the premiums paid back.

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Also two more things. The cost of title insurance is regulated in our state and can not vary at all. And the title insurance remains "on the hook" forever for a certain amount of the risk. Not just while you own it. (at least here in Texas)

Leslie Said:

my car was hit in a parking lot and insurance co doesnt want to pay for rental because car is in dif state now

We Answered:

No, it isn't an antique, and that's irrelevant anyway.

Why was your car hit in Washington state? How long had you been there? If they suspect that you have your car insured in a state other than the one you're doing most of your driving in, they may deny you coverage (rates differ by region for a reason.)

Depending on your insurance company, you may have to fight tooth and nail to get what your car is worth. There are a couple things to remember:

KBB is a bunch of horseshit, especially for cars with cult followings like yours. You need to find similar cars in your area and look at what the asking prices are, or what they're going for on Ebay in your area. Stuff like that. Evidence of what the car is actually worth (a lot more now than it probably was 10 years ago, since it's a diesel)

Even so, it wouldn't be worth more than a few thousand dollars. It is not hard to total a car that cheap. A few bent body panels and it's totalled. (Totalled doesn't mean destroyed...it means that it would cost more to fix properly than the car is worth)

You can still fix this car. Once you have an acceptable offer from the insurance company (and if it's Geico, it'll be like pulling teeth...GET EVIDENCE OF THE CAR'S VALUE), you can buy the car back from the insurance company. This amount (a fraction of the value of the car...my Miata was 900 dollars out of a 6700 dollar settlement) will be subtracted from the payment you receive for the car.

Then you fix any damage that has to be fixed, get the car inspected and get a salvage title and continue driving it.

Note that no matter what you do to the car to fix it, that salvage title will mean the car is worth less money later on, no matter what.


edit: Waitasecond....did you have your cousin pick up the car in IL and drive it to WA or something? So you weren't driving, and were not in possession of the car? Are you trying to get them to pay for a rental car for HIM?

If that's the case, forget it. You're screwed. Your cousin should have gotten his own insurance ASAP, or made sure his current insurance would cover any new vehicle he purchased.

Agnes Said:

Registration/Insurance issues with multiple states?

We Answered:

It's easy to do BUT if you have a lien on the car she is driving the lien holder will most likely require her to be on the title. If there is no lien, you will need to get it registered in WA. They will ask for the title, a title form to add her and a small fee to do so. It's fairly painless. Just make sure you stay on that title too. Sometimes the DMV's make mistakes and remove someone when they shouldn't. Not to say your GF would, but she could sell it without your permission at that point.

Darren Said:

Can i file contempt of court from a divorce decree if legal resident of a different state of decree?

We Answered:

Contempt of court is something a judge imposes. Did the divorce decree grant you title to the car???? I am guessing it did. Is your ex still in Washington? If she is- you will most likely have to go back there to go to court. However, if you are willing to pay an attorney- you could just have the attorney file the papers for you and you wouldn't have to go but maybe for a hearing. If you are representing yourself- call up the court house and ask to speak to the pro se (pronounced -pro say) counselor- this person is there to help out those who wish to represent themselves without counsel. You might be able to deal with this without having to travel. That's my advice.

Lewis Said:

My car was totaled by my insurance?

We Answered:

If you do not get satisfaction from your insurance carrier, then contact your state insurance department and file a complaint.