Here's something you may not know about car insurance. Suppose you wreck your car in an accident. What happens next?

If the insurance company decides your vehicle is to be repaired, then the insurer must give you a copy of the estimate to repair.Ê If you obtain an estimate which exceeds the insurer's estimate, then the insurer must reasonably adjust any written estimates or furnish you the name of at least one repair shop which will complete the repairs for the amount of the insurance company's written estimate. Betterment or depreciation may be assessed against the settlement amount, but it must accurately reflect the value of such deductions. An example of betterment would be the company painting your entire vehicle due to old oxidized paint, when only the front fender of the vehicle was damaged. Ê A new paint job puts you in a better condition than you were before the accident occurred.

If your vehicle is declared a total loss, then the insurance company must replace it with a comparable vehicle or pay the actual cash value of your vehicle.Ê The actual cash value of a vehicle is the fair market price of the vehicle if it was offered for sale in your local area. The amount of the settlement must include sales tax and license fees. Ê If you are notÊ advised at the time of settlement where a comparable vehicle can be purchased, and you are unable to locate one on your own within 35 days after receiving the claim payment, then you need to notify the insurer. The insurer must then re-open the claims file and make further efforts to adjust your loss.

When looking for car insurance online, try to visit as many web sites as possible. Keep notes so you can compare many different programs at a glance.