The Molter Agency

Message to Pennsylvania Motorists: Don’t Hope So, Know So October 6, 2009

Here is an interesting article I came across:

MALVERN, Pa., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Does your auto policy cover you if your laptop is stolen out of your car? How about if you leave your car running while you run into a store and it gets stolen? Or you hit a pothole and it causes the frame of your car to bend?

Of drivers surveyed in Pennsylvania 61 percent believed their auto policy covers them if personal items are stolen from their car, when in fact that is covered under a homeowners or renters policy. Only 32 percent of respondents thought they were covered if they left their car running and their car was stolen. And, while 53 percent of drivers knew they would be covered if a pothole causes the frame of their car to bend, 33 percent thought it would be covered under comprehensive, when in fact, it would be a collision claim.

A new survey commissioned by Allstate Insurance Company entitled, “Don’t Hope So, Know So,” asked drivers a series of questions about which coverages they currently have, and if those coverages would protect them in various accident scenarios. The survey found that many consumers in Pennsylvania were confused about the coverage they had, the type of insurance they carried, and how high their deductibles were. In fact, 91 percent of drivers who initially felt confident in their auto coverage had their confidence drop by 24 points after taking the survey.

“These survey results underscore the need for Pennsylvania consumers to be better educated about their policies and what they mean,” said Meredith Joseph, Senior Communication Consultant for Allstate. “We hope these results will get people thinking about just how protected they are if the unforeseen occurs.”

Of the drivers polled, 92 percent were confident they read through their auto policy, yet only 19 percent were very confident they know their deductible limits. In the meantime, 66 percent of the respondents said they had filed a claim in the past.