What does “stacking” mean on your Pennsylvania car insurance policy?
Jul 18th, 2007 | By Michael L. Saile, Jr., Esq. | Category: Blogs, Pennsylvania Injury InformationStacking your PA auto insurance is a good way to gain extra car insurance coverage for a low price. The Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code provides for stacking of underinsured and uninsured car insurance policies.
PA law allows an injured person to recover the sum of the limits of coverage for each motor vehicle as to which he or she is an “insured.” An “insured” is defined as either an individual identified by name as an insured in a policy, a spouse or relative of the named insured, or a minor in custody of the named insured or the named insured’s relative.
Some insurance policies also define an insured as a person who is occupying an automobile that they do not own.
There are two types of stacking on PA auto insurance policies:
1. Intra-Policy Stacking: When you stack uninsured or underinsured insurance benefits for cars on the same insurance policy.
2. Inter-Policy Stacking: When you stack uninsured or underinsured insurance benefits where more than one car is insured under more than one insurance policy.
It is highly recommended that if you own more than one car or you have family members who live in your household that you obtain “stacking” on your PA car insurance policy. The cost of stacking is usually minimal compared to the other parts of your insurance policy.
The PA uninsured or underinsured insurance stacking law is listed here:
§ 1738. Stacking of uninsured and underinsured benefits and option to waive
(a) Limit for each vehicle.–When more than one vehicle is insured under one or more policies providing uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, the stated limit for uninsured or underinsured coverage shall apply separately to each vehicle so insured. The limits of coverages available under this subchapter for an insured shall be the sum of the limits for each motor vehicle as to which the injured person is an insured.
(b) Waiver.–Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), a named insured may waive coverage providing stacking of uninsured or underinsured coverages in which case the limits of coverage available under the policy for an insured shall be the stated limits for the motor vehicle as to which the injured person is an insured.
(c) More than one vehicle.–Each named insured purchasing uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage for more than one vehicle under a policy shall be provided the opportunity to waive the stacked limits of coverage and instead purchase coverage as described in subsection (b). The premiums for an insured who exercises such waiver shall be reduced to reflect the different cost of such coverage.
The author of this Blog, Philadelphia car accident attorney, Michael L. Saile, Jr., Esq. of Saile & Saile LLP, Attorneys-at-Law focuses his practice on fighting for plaintiffs’ personal injury and car accident victim’s rights in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We handle all serious injury cases including, car accidents (both limited and full tort), wrongful death, slip & fall downs, construction accidents, Septa, NJ Transit, and other cases other cases. We are located just outside of Philadelphia in lower Bucks County. We also handle Philadelphia plaintiffs’ personal injury and car accident cases. Please visit our personal injury only website at www.pa-nj-injurylawyer.com for more injury information.
Stacked Uninsured Coverage sounds like
an Insurance Company’s Semantic Engineers are at work. What is the “benefit” of carrying such insurance? I own 1 motorcycle and 1 car. Can only drive one at a time and I live by myself. Is there an
advantage for carrying this type of insurance? Is it a waste of money?
Paul:
Check with your insurance company. I am not sure if you can stack car insurance with motor cycle insurance. If you are allowed to stack, you may have the benefits of the total policy limits of both the car and the motorcyle for an uninsured or underinsured claim.
The benefits of stacking is that you can usually substantially increase your insurance coverage with minimal additional expense.
I only have one car. That one car is insured. I have stacked on uninsured motorist and underinsured motorists and underinsured motorists. Is there any benefit to me for doing this?