What Is a Loss Payee?
The loss payee is the party to whom the claim from a loss is to be paid. A loss payee can mean several different things; in the insurance industry, the insured, or the party entitled to payment, is the loss payee. The insured can expect reimbursem*nt from the insurance carrier in the event of a loss.
A loss payee clause in an insurance policy would specify that any loss covered by the insurer would be paid to a third-party payee and not the primary beneficiary. The loss payee could be a lender (in the case of a lien on a car or home), lessor, property owner, or any other party with an interest in the insured's property.
Key Takeaways
- When you use collateral to secure your loan, a loss payee will be put onto your insurance policy.
- The loss payee acts as a guard for the lender to protect it against unpaid loans.
- When there is a total loss, the lender is paid before anyone else.
How Loss Payees Work
A loss payee, also known as a loss payable, can be different from "first loss payee," which is the party that must be paid first when a debtor defaults on a loan. "Loss payee"is simply a generic phrase signifying the rightful recipient of any kind of reimbursem*nt and is most often used in the property-casualty insurance industry.
When financing a vehicle purchase, a buyer mustagree to carry insurance on the secured property, otherwise forced placed insurance becomesa possibility. The financial institution making the loan typically insiststhat they are indicated as theloss payee on the insurance policy to protect themselves against loss.
For example, the loss payee section is a section on an auto insurance policy that lists your lender’s name and address on the given collateral. It is important to give the correct address for your lender, as some insurance companies have multiple addresses.
The term loss payee is most often used in the auto insurance industry but is also used by other insurance sectors.
The lender will usually require verification of insurance coverage, and the loss payee should be added as soon as you buy insurance for the covered vehicle. This verification of insurance cannot be satisfied simply by aninsurance ID card; it needs to be a declarations page. Thedeclarations pagewill have multiple pieces of crucial information listed for your lender:
- Policy effective dates
- VIN of the vehicle insured
- Vehicle coverage
- Loss payee listed properly
Explaining Loss Payee Status
When listed as a loss payee, the lender will receive notification of your insurance policy’s status on a regular basis. The notifications will inform the lender of all activities on your insurance policy. For example, the loss payee section of an autoinsurance policy createsmore than a direct link between your insurance company and your lender.
Since you are not the sole owner of the collateral, claim checks will be payableto both you and the lender, or directly to a repair shop. In atotal loss, the lender will be paid first.
For the lender, being listed as a loss payee ensures the lender will be compensated for their collateral, regardless of potential losses.
The loss payee is essentially a safety net for the lender to reduce unpaid loans. If you do not list your lender as the loss payee, it is probable the lender will put forced placed insurance on your collateral.
