What to Do If an Accident Occurs with an Un-transferred Used Car Insurance?
2 Answers
The new Insurance Law (2009) stipulates that after the vehicle is transferred, regardless of whether the insurance policy is transferred or not, you can file an insurance claim with the insurance company. The insurance company can only refuse to pay if the transfer leads to a significant increase in the risk level of the subject (vehicle).
Last time I bought a used car and forgot to transfer the insurance, then shortly after I got into a minor accident. What a disaster! When the police arrived, I had to explain the situation first, emphasizing that I wasn't at fault. The crucial first step was ensuring everyone's safety by turning on the hazard lights and pulling over. Then I immediately called the police to report the accident details. Since the insurance wasn't under my name, I had to quickly contact the previous owner to file a claim with the insurance company. The whole process dragged on for over a week, and the previous owner wasn't very proactive, almost leaving me to pay for the repairs out of pocket. After this experience, I learned that transferring insurance is the top priority when buying or selling a used car—it saves a ton of hassle. Now, the first thing I do after any transaction is head to the DMV to handle the insurance transfer. Never making that mistake again!
