Vehicle Info

Garaging Address

Garaging Exceptions

Generally, vehicles garaged at two different addresses and drivers in two different households are unacceptable. However, UW does make exceptions.

In order for vehicles primarily garaged in another location or state the following must be true:

1. There is at least one vehicle in a state where we insure. 
2. There is more than one vehicle on the policy.
3. There is more than one driver on the policy.
4. AND they qualify for one of the exceptions below:
   • Named Insured’s spouse or unmarried child is away at school (on or off campus)
   • Named Insured’s spouse or unmarried child is in the military
   • Named Insured has two different households (one permanent & one vacation)
   • Drivers who live at different addresses, but all vehicles are garaged at one place
   • In the process of divorce and the vehicle is still considered community property

Note: Vehicles that have a principal out-of-state garaging location in Michigan or Canada, are NEVER acceptable

Student away at school:

• If IN-state, call in to have garaging address updated to correctly reflect address PRIOR to bind
• If out-of-state, select yes for vehicle garaged at primary address and continue with bind. Post bind please reach out to Customer Care to notate proper out-of-state address. 

Invalid Zip

If you get a message that shows a zip isn't working it could be for a few reasons:

• We don't insure in that state
• It's a postal code only zip code
• It's a rural zip code

If it is the bottom 2, you can still quote the customer but will need to use an alternative zip code. You can go here and enter the zip code. Once you do that it will give you an alternative zip code. 

Here is an example of a PO Box only zip code, 30003 and you can see below that you would actually use 30071.

Here is an example of a rural zip code, 78779. Here you would use the next largest zip code, in this case 78704.

Vehicle Ownership / Insurable Interest

To determine if a vehicle is insurable, we need to know who the owners are. The owners of the vehicle are those who:

• have their name physically appear on the legal title, or 
• who legally possess an auto loan or lease on the vehicle

Ownership is important because we will indemnify the owner of the vehicle in the event of an accident. We have guidelines in place that determine if a vehicle is insurable based on who the owners are. We want our named insured to have insurable interest in each vehicle being added to the policy. 

To identify the owners, ask an open-ended question such as: 

Who are the titled owners of your vehicles?

Who appears on the title of the vehicles you are looking to insure?

Some customers may say that the bank still has the title. We want to know who will be on the title once the car is paid off.

**With Elephant, whether the vehicle is financed or not affects premium, so it is important to accurately report this information up front. If you list the vehicle as "owned" and then have to call in to add a lienholder, the premium can change post bind.**

All States Except Maryland

In order for Elephant to insure a vehicle in every state BUT Maryland, it must be owned or co-owned by at least one of the following:

• the named insured
• the spouse of the named insured
• other residents of the named insured's household (family, friends, roommates, significant others, etc.)

When adding a vehicle that is exclusively owned by someone other than the NI or their spouse, you must probe to find out where the owner lives full-time.

• They must live with NI full-time.  
• If they split time between residences, you must call Underwriting for approval
• If they live somewhere else full-time they are not eligible

If the vehicle is titled in a resident's name or co-owned by anyone other than the NI or their spouse, that person must be rated or excluded!

There is a REQUIRED ADVISORY for a vehicle that is exclusively owned by a resident:

"We want everyone to have appropriate coverage. If the owner of the vehicle moves out, you would need to promptly notify us."

Maryland

In order for Elephant to insure a vehicle in Maryland, it must be owned or co-owned by at least one of the following:

• the named insured
• the spouse of the named insured

In Maryland, we cannot insure vehicles that are exclusively owned by someone other than the named insured or their spouse.

Vehicle Use

Business Use

If a vehicle is EVER used for business use (even if this isn't the primary use) you would select "business use." Business use trumps primary usage.

Since Elephant does not write commercial policies,  there are several types of business use that are unacceptable, per our UW guidelines. To determine if a vehicle can be covered, the business use questions must be asked anytime the customer mentions using their car for a business purpose:

What is ACCEPTABLE business use?

Underwriting's list of acceptable business use vehicles are vehicles that are: 

✔ used by sales or service representatives or for consumer-oriented direct home sales

✔ used by real estate or insurance agents, lawyers, doctors, accountants, or other professionals visiting multiple locations

✔ used by the insured to transport tools or other materials in a trade or business

✔ owned by the insured and used by domestic employees

✔ used in a business for occasional errands

Can you rent your car to other people?

No, this would be an unacceptable risk (ex: Turo).

Rideshare

In Georgia / Illinois / Indiana / Maryland / Ohio / Tennesse / Virginia...

It is acceptable for a customer to use their vehicle for ridesharing or delivery if they accept "jobs" on an app-based platform. This is important because it helps us separate when they use their vehicle for business versus personal use.

In Texas...

Ridesharing on or off an app is unacceptable.

What is an app-based platform?

When an employee logs into an app on their phone in order to accept jobs, they are working on an app-based platform. 

This is important because it helps us differentiate between when they are using their vehicle for personal use and when they are using their vehicle for commercial use. 

Below are some examples of app-based platforms. This is not an exhaustive list; when in doubt, call Underwriting at ext. 1675.

When should I ask about Rideshare? 

On all First Quotes, Recalls (when usage is blank), any time a vehicle is added:

1. Ask primary usage
2. Ask "Are any vehicles ever rented out or used for rideshare or delivery services such as Uber or Lyft?"

If yes...select "business use inc. rideshare" as the primary use

Business use inc. ridesharing must be selected if the customer uses their vehicle for rideshare or app-based delivery service at all, even if it's not their "primary" use.

How does the Rideshare Endorsement work?

Elephant will provide coverage to the customer when they are using their vehicle for personal use and also, while they are getting ready to drive for rideshare, up until the time they accept a ride. Once the customer accepts a ride, the rideshare company's commercial policy will provide coverage.

What if the customer asks when/if they will be covered for rideshare?

Let them know that they will be covered with Elephant while driving their car for personal use. The rideshare company’s commercial policy will be in effect while they’re driving for rideshare.

Rideshare FAQ

What if the customer originally said they drive for a rideshare company, then changes their answer and says they don't?

Since the customer originally stated that they drive for a rideshare company, we would need documentation to remove the endorsement. They can send document directly to you if they have it available before bind or to underwriting@elephant.com after bind.

Does Domino’s, Papa John’s, Jimmy John’s, etc. qualify as app-based delivery?

If the customer is delivering for the company making the food (like a Domino’s driver delivering Domino’s pizza), it does not qualify.

What if the customer says they may drive for Uber/Lyft in the future?

Enter their current primary use. Advise the customer to call us back when they start driving for rideshare, so that we can provide appropriate coverage. Notate that the customer mentioned driving for Uber/Lyft in the future.

Branded/Salvaged titles

Coverage for branded titles will be restricted based on when the vehicle was branded.

• Branded within the past year: No coverage
• Branded over 1 year ago: Liability, Uninsured Motorist Coverage, and Emergency Roadside Assistance

When we pull a vehicle's title status, information is retrieved that shows whether the title has been branded. A branded title indicates a previously totaled or salvaged vehicle. These vehicles are high risk, low value vehicles that can result in large losses for the company that insures it. The following are reasons that a vehicle's title may show as branded: 

• Salvage
• Junk
• Rebuilt/Reconstructed
• Dismantled
• Flood
• Fire
• Hail

If your customer wants to dispute the information please advise that they can contact their local DMV.

Custom Parts and Equipment

Elephant CPE Limits

Each state has an allowable limit for custom equipment. If a vehicle has more than that amount of custom equipment, it would be an unacceptable risk. You could offer Answer Financial. This table outlines the state specifics regarding custom equipment:

How to Add CPE Coverage

The custom equipment field on the Vehicles page is an Underwriting question designed to discover unacceptable risks. The selection made on this page does not transfer to the quote page.

This does NOT apply any coverage. (UW question only)

In order for a customer to have custom equipment coverage, their car would need to be covered by comprehensive and collision and the selection would need to be made on the Quote page.

This applies coverage!

Virginia

In Virginia, custom parts and equipment on a customer’s vehicle are covered underneath comprehensive and collision  up to $1,500 – there is no additional coverage for customizations available. If a customer has $1,501 to $5,000 of CPE and they want it covered, refer to partner carriers since VA does not have additional CPE coverage. If a customer has more than $5,000 worth of customizations on the vehicle, and you fail to ask for customizations, this may put Elephant on the hook to cover more than we would normally cover.

All Other States

In all of our other states, the customer has the option to purchase a separate coverage for their custom equipment. Elephant will cover up to the first $1,000 of custom parts at no cost to the customer. The customer would need to elect first-party coverages on their vehicle (comprehensive & collision) in order to add on additional custom equipment coverage.

Lift Kits

Vehicles with lift kits higher than 4 inches are unacceptable.

Unacceptable/Exotic Vehicle Guidelines

Per our Underwriting guidelines, the following vehicles are unacceptable: 

• Vehicles used for:
  • Certain types of business use, including taxi, livery, and delivery/pickup services (see vehicle usage for rideshare exception & acceptable business use)
  • Lease or rental to others
  • Racing
  • Emergency services 
• Vehicles that have:
  • lift kits greater than 4 inches 
  • less than 4 wheels (ex. mopeds) 
  • more than nine passenger seats 
  • snowplowing equipment installed and are used for business purposes 
  • cooking equipment or bathrooms installed
  • too much custom equipment (more than $5,000 in VA / more than $20,000 in the other states) 
  • a branded title or severe incident indicator within the past year
• Conversion vehicles 
• Grey Market vehicles 
• Incomplete vehicles
• Vehicles that are not registered for street use 
• Commercial vehicles such as step-vans, panel vans, parcel delivery vans, cargo vans, or any other vans with cabs separate from the cargo area
• GEM, THINK, Micro-trucks, and other low speed vehicles that have a maximum speed less than 55 MPH

Exotic Vehicles

There are some vehicles that we determine to be "too exotic, expensive, or unique" to insure. The following list includes all of those vehicles that we consider unacceptable risks. Manufacturer-wide exclusions are in bold. This list is only to be used as a guide. If the journey allows you to add a vehicle and does not show an error message, then the vehicle is insurable.

Antique Vehicles 

We offer personal auto insurance policies that insure our customers' vehicles for ACV, so when a customer has an antique vehicle, we may not be able to provide the coverage they need. It may be more beneficial for the customer if they insure their vehicle under a specialized antique policy. 

If a customer advises they have antique plates, a show car, or a restored classic car, advise that they may be more appropriately covered under a specialized antique policy. If the customer still wants a policy through us, make sure they're aware that the vehicle will be insured for actual cash value, meaning that additions and improvements may not be covered if the vehicle is restored.

Farm Use Vehicles

To determine if a "farm use" vehicle is an acceptable vehicle, we need to know if the vehicle is registered and tagged. If the vehicle is legally registered and tagged for street use with F-tags, that is acceptable. Unregistered farm use vehicles are an unacceptable risk. 

F-Tags

We will insure farm use vehicles that have F-tags. DMV issues license plates referred to as F-tags for registered farm vehicles. The registration verifies an active farm operation but allows for some personal use such as using the vehicles to attend church or school, to secure medical treatment or supplies, or to secure other household or family necessities.

Unregistered Farm Use Vehicles

We will not insure an unregistered farm use vehicle. Unregistered vehicles may be titled, but do not display a DMV-issued license plate and are not allowed on the road for personal use. The operation of these vehicles is limited to a 25-75 mile radius (state dependent) from the farm for farm-specific supplies. A vehicle may be left unregistered to avoid the auto insurance requirement (most farm policies will cover liability). 

Vehicles with a simple "Farm Use" plate are an unacceptable risk. 

Police Vehicles

When police vehicles or cruisers do not trigger an unacceptable banner, agents are required to probe further around the potential custom equipment on these vehicles to help determine if the vehicle is or isn’t acceptable.

If the custom equipment has been removed and the vehicle usage is acceptable, we can add the vehicle. If not, the vehicle is an unacceptable risk.