Personal Coverage

• Am I covered under my automobile insurance policy if I take my car into Canada?
• Am I covered if I rent a car while on vacation?
• Do I have coverage on my automobile policy if I rent a U-Haul truck?
• I have a young driver in my household who is about to get their driver's license. What can I do to prepare my young driver and get the best insurance rates?
• What is Identity Theft and can I get coverage for it?
• If water backs up through my sewers or drains, do I have coverage?
• Do I need a personal umbrella policy?
• Do I have coverage for earthquake, landslide, and flood under my homeowner's policy?
• How do I make sure I have the proper replacement coverage for my home?
• What is Uninsured motorist protection?
• Should I take inventory of my personal property?

Am I covered under my automobile insurance policy if I take my car into Canada?

Yes. Make sure you carry a current insurance identification card in your vehicle as proof of coverage.

Am I covered if I rent a car while on vacation?

The answers to many insurance questions sometimes begin with “It depends.” This is one such question.

If you rent a vehicle in the United States, Canada, U.S. Territories & Possessions, and if you have comprehensive and collision coverage on your family automobile policy, these same coverages generally extend to the rented vehicle. However, we suggest purchasing the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) directly from the rental car company at the time of rental. Beyond the repair of any damage to the rental car, Car Rental Agreements typically require the renter to pay for the loss of rental opportunity while the car is in the shop, as well as for any loss in value of the rental car. The latter is not covered by your automobile insurance policies. Nor is it generally covered by insurance plans offered through credit cards.

If you rent a vehicle outside of the United States, Canada, U.S. Territories & Possessions, the coverages afforded by your personal automobile policy do not extend to that vehicle. Similarly, if you rent a car while on business you will need to check with your company’s business automobile insurance policy to see if you are covered while renting a car.

Do I have coverage on my automobile policy if I rent a U-Haul truck?

No. The auto policy only covers private passenger vehicles up to 10,000 lbs gross vehicle weight. Most U-Haul trucks are over that limit and are excluded for both liability and physical damage on both your auto and umbrella policies.

I have a young driver in my household who is about to get their driver's license. What can I do to prepare them and get the best insurance rate?

Your attitude and approach to the rights and responsibilities of driving will make a big difference in your teen’s early driving habits. Personally take the time to drive with them and give your young driver every opportunity to drive while they still have their learner’s permit. This will provide a controlled environment while they are fine tuning their skills.

• • Make sure your young driver understands the rules and regulations of the Intermediate (teen) Drivers License, including:
  • • For the first 6 months, they cannot drive with passengers under the age of 20 unless they are members of your immediate family.
  • • For the next 6 months, they cannot carry more than 3 passengers who are under 20 years old who are not members of your immediate family.
  • • For the first 12 months, they cannot drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless they are with a licensed driver age 25 or older.
• • We have found that entering into a Teen Driving Contract with your young driver helps them be more accountable for their actions while operating an automobile. Contact us to receive a sample Teen Driver Contract.
• • If they have a grade point average of 3.0 and above they could qualify for a good student discount. The savings can vary, but average anywhere from 10-15% just for keeping their grades up.
• • If your student is attending school more than 100 miles from home and they do not have a car with them, they may qualify for a distant student discount.

What is Identity Theft, and how can I get coverage for it?

Identity theft is the fastest growing non-violent consumer crimes in the U.S. Thieves use personal information to impersonate the victim, stealing from bank accounts, opening credit cards, and leaving the victim picking up the pieces of their credit history.

Most homeowner’s policies now offer some element of Identity Theft coverage. The coverage and cost varies with each insurance company.

If water backs up through my sewers or drains, do I have coverage?

Water damage losses are tricky. Sewer backup, water backup, and sump pump failure are generally not covered on standard homeowner policies. This important element of coverage can be added to your homeowners policy by endorsement.

Do I need a Personal Umbrella Policy?

A personal umbrella policy is designed to add liability protection above and beyond the limits on your homeowners, auto, watercraft, or any other personal insurance policies you may have. Many of our clients include this with their insurance program because no one can predict how much a judge could award the injured party. The best way to determine your needs in this area is to have a conversation with one of our insurance specialists who will ask the necessary questions and evaluate your exposures.

Do I have earthquake, landslide, and flood coverage under my homeowner's policy?

No. The homeowner’s policy excludes these perils and they must be purchased separately. We do offer a “disaster policy” which includes all three perils of earthquake, landslide, and flood, as well as stand-alone earthquake products and flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program.

How do I make sure I have the proper replacement coverage for my home?

Most companies place a limit on what they will pay to replace your home in the event of a loss. There could be a significant gap should this coverage amount not be adequate. However, we have tools and creative solutions to help minimize the risk of underinsuring your home. The most common error made on homeowner policies is to under-evaluate what it would cost to rebuild your home. We can help you not get boxed in by tight insurance policy language.

What is Uninsured Motorist Protection?

It is estimated that up to 20% of drivers have no automobile liability insurance at all. Many more carry state minimum liability limit. In this state, it means that drivers are driving around with as little as $25,000 of coverage to cover you should they injure you and $10,000 if they damage your car. Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Protection compensates you for medical bills, loss of wages and future earning capability if you or your family are hit and injured by a driver without the proper insurance protection. We strongly recommend it.

Should I take inventory of my personal property?

In the event of catastrophe, your home’s contents may be destroyed. Make sure you get the settlement you deserve by documenting what you own. We recommend photographing or videoing each room’s contents to insure a proper settlement.