Nearly every state requires an owner of a registered automobile — even if it’s a junker — to have a minimum amount of coverage if it’s being driven. The three main types of coverage that most states require owners of registered vehicles to carry are bodily injury liability, property damage liability and uninsured motorists coverage....
Read more
How Fire Protection Services Affect Your Insurance Costs
All areas of U.S. are assigned a rating depending on the available fire protection services. These ratings are called fire protection classes. Particularly in rural areas, your fire protection class can have a major influence on your insurance costs. Fire is one of the leading — and costliest —causes of homeowners insurnce claims. Therefore, an...
Read more
How to Insure Your Boat
A survey by one insurer found that 29 percent of all boat owners did not have a separate watercraft insurance policy. This could be a mistake. Many boat owners mistakenly think their homeowners or personal auto policy will provide coverage; however, the standard homeowners policy limits property damage coverage for boats to $1,500—far less than...
Read more
Ten Homeowners Insurance Problems…and How to Solve Them
The worst time to find out that you have no insurance, or inadequate insurance, is after a loss. If any of the following situations apply to you, a standard insurance program might not be enough. Problem: Your home is 30 or more years old. Insurance will cover the cost of bringing a damaged or destroyed...
Read more
How Much Do Speeding Tickets Cost?
Speeding tickets cost you a lot more than you think. Every year, about 41 million Americans, or one-fifth of drivers, get them. Speeding tickets cost drivers more than $6.2 billion in fines, according the U.S. Highway Patrol. Speeding tickets are big business, too. StatisticBrain.com reports that the average annual speeding ticket revenue per U.S. police...
Read more
Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
In 2012, financial losses due to personal identity theft totaled $24.7 billion, over $10 billion more than the losses attributed to all other property crimes measured in the National Crime Victimization Survey. Identity theft affected about 7 percent of Americans in 2012, but not all of them suffered a financial loss. About 14 percent of...
Read more
How to Protect Yourself from Social Media Liability
Should you worry about the content of your teen’s tweets or your spouse’s Pinterest posts? All it takes is for one tweet to veer away from commentary to defamation, or one image to invade another’s privacy, and you could face a lawsuit. The liability portion of your homeowners policy covers you for certain types of...
Read more
How to Prevent Home Fires
Which type of claim is the most expensive under a homeowner insurance policy? The answer: home fires. But they are preventable! The following simple steps can prevent a tragedy. Cooking Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn...
Read more
Fight Back Against Car Theft
A motor vehicle is stolen every 45 seconds in the United States. And that’s the good news—five years ago, a vehicle was stolen every 33 seconds. Nearly half (45 percent) of stolen vehicles are never recovered. It’s not just your vehicle — thieves want the parts, too. Vehicle thieves can strip a vehicle in less...
Read more
Airbnb and VRBO – Know The Risks
Home rental clearinghouses such as Airbnb and VRBO make it easy for homeowners to rent out a spare bedroom or a second home when they aren’t using it. This might sound like a good way to earn extra money. Before diving in, consider the risks and your insurance coverage. VRBO and Airbnb VRBO handles mainly...
Read more