When purchasing car insurance, most likely you are focused on getting the best value. You want the best coverage for the premium you can afford. You focus on, for example, the limits of liability, medical payments and the limits of using rental cars. But did you also know that there are provisions to assist a sick relative make car insurance payments?
Naturally, you do not ask your agent if a relative can pick up your car insurance payment for you if you are ill and cannot pay yourself. If you are like most drivers, with some exceptions, you do not plan on getting sick to the extent that you are unable to pay your monthly obligations. But life events often happen quickly and unexpectedly.
If your vehicle is financed, you might have purchased insurance that will pay for your car payment in the event you cannot make the payment. Or you might have other insurance that will cover your living expenses if you are unable to work. But what if you lack those specific types of coverage and a relative wants to pick up your car insurance premium for you?
The fact is that most insurance companies will allow someone to pick up a car insurance payments for a sick relative. Of course, it is important to check your car insurance policy and consult with your agent to make sure there are no limitations or exclusions that will not permit a relative to pay for your premium.
This may become important, even if you are physically unable to drive, because you may need someone to drive you to your doctor's office or to the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions. Or there may be other drivers on your policy who need access to vehicles to go to and from work or school.
Naturally, when paying the premium, your relative should have your critical information such as your name, address, phone number and policy number. In addition, your relative should be paying with his or her funds rather than from your funds. In the age of identity theft, red flags go up when names and accounts do not match, which could lead the insurance company to question and perhaps deny the transaction.
It is important to remember that your relative picking up your car insurance payment does not automatically replace you on the policy. The contract is between you and the insurance company and not between the company and your relative.
Also, a relative should not expect the insurance company to release any of your personal information, billing information or policy information. The agent will simply take the payment and give your relative a receipt if requested.
