Proper insurance coverage for your summer activities

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Insurance for your summer activitiesSummer is near! With the start of a new season, you may be looking forward to the activities that are typically enjoyed during the summer season. Whether you plan to take road trips, use your dirt bike or ATV, swim at your home or spending time on your boat, you may wait all year to enjoy these activities to the max.

Before summer season officially kicks off, it may be a nice time to discuss your insurance coverage for the most common summer activities.

Road Trips

If you plan to rent a car, it is important to understand what your personal auto insurance covers and what it doesn’t cover. If you aren’t sure, speak with an agent in our office. If your personal auto insurance policy contains comprehensive and collision coverage you can typically transfer that coverage to a temporary replacement like a rental vehicle.

One coverage you would be missing is loss of use coverage. If you get into an accident in the rental car, the rental car agency can charge you for loss of use while their vehicle is being repaired. You can purchase coverage for this through the rental agency.

If you only carry a liability policy on your personal auto insurance policy, you may have to purchase additional coverage to simply rent the car from the rental agency. Collision and comprehensive coverage will cover damages to the rental vehicle and are required to rent a car. If your policy doesn’t contain these coverages, you’ll need to purchase them from the rental agency.

Dirt Bikes, ATV, Boats, Electric Bikes and More

Some people wait all year to use these summer toys. These vehicles should have their own insurance policy and we can help you find affordable coverage.

Protecting yourself with an insurance policy that is specific to the vehicle you’re driving is important as you cannot rely on your insurance coverage from your home insurance, renters insurance or auto insurance policy if you get into an accident or injure someone while operating one of these vehicles.

Other Summer Activities

If you like to host parties at your home, are throwing a large event this summer like a wedding or your kids like to have their friends over to swim, you should know these activities can increase your risk for a liability claim.

Talk to an agent in our office about special event insurance policies for things like baby showers, bah mitzvahs, birthday parties and weddings. This is also a great time to discuss our next topic: Umbrella Insurance.

Umbrella Insurance

Purchasing an umbrella insurance policy offers you above and beyond insurance protection on your vehicle and homeowners policies all at an affordable price. Accidents happen and the total damage can add up quickly, exhausting your limits on your vehicle or home insurance policy.

Umbrella insurance offers another layer of protection if this happens. Talk to us about your insurance options. There are countless scenarios where this coverage can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Contact Our Agency for an Insurance Review

It’s our job to help ensure you have the best insurance coverage for your needs. Give us a call if it is time to review your auto, home, umbrella or specialty vehicle insurance.

Homeowner’s insurance discounts

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Home Insurance DiscountsWhether you are looking to purchase a new home or if you find your current home insurance premium is too high, our local, independent insurance agency can help. We represent the top home insurance carriers in the country. In one click, we can provide you with quotes from all of our carriers at once!

Here are the most common home insurance discounts you can receive:

Bundle your auto insurance with your home insurance: Bundling your auto and home insurance policies together with the same insurance carrier is our first discount we search for. If you have an existing auto insurance policy already, we can quote your home insurance with the same carrier. We can also provide you with a new quote for auto & home insurance with our other carriers.

Pay in Full: if you opt to pay your home insurance once a year, many insurance carriers will lower your premium. This also is the same for your auto insurance policy.

Longevity: Stay with the Same Insurance Carrier Year after Year: Many insurance carriers give a loyalty discount. If you have been with the same insurance carrier for years, you may be able to receive a lower home insurance premium. Talk to an agent in our office to see if you are qualify for a loyalty discount.

No Claims? Get Rewarded: You may see insurance carrier commercials promoting claims-free discounts. This is true! Each insurance carrier has their own set of criteria for rewarding their customers with discounts for being claims-free. Many times this means receiving a check in the mail throughout the year.

Military or Retired Discount: If you are in the military or recently retired, talk to an agent in our office to see if your insurance carrier can provide you with a discount.

Invest in Smart Home Devices: Many insurance carriers like it when homeowners invest in the safety of their home. This could include sensors for leaks or being able to lock your home when you’re off your property. Talk to us to see what your insurance carrier may provide.

Go Green: Many homeowners are investing in solar panels and it is earning them a home insurance discount. Other ways to earn a discount – upgrading your windows or appliances to being more energy efficient such as your windows, heat pumps or other appliances in your home.

Other ways to lower your premium:

Adjust your deductible: The higher your deductible, the lower your monthly or yearly home insurance premium. Yes, you would have to pay more out of pocket if you experienced a home insurance claim. However, if you see yourself as lower risk, it may be better for you to earn a monthly discount on your premium instead to save more money in the long run.

Keep your Credit Score High: Insurance carriers can view a good credit score as less risk. This can earn you a lower home insurance premium.

If you Live in an Old Home, Upgrades Can Lower Your Premium: some old homes have knob and tube wiring, which can increase your risk for a home fire. If you’ve upgraded your home electrical system, be sure your agent knows this was completed. It can lower your premium.

Call Our Agency for a Home Insurance Quote or Re-Quote

We want to make sure you are getting the best rate and coverage on your home insurance. Contact us to shop our home insurance rates.

Should You Insure A Golf Cart?

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Golf Cart Insurance

Golf carts aren’t just used for the golf course. Many people use as an easy transportation around their neighborhood.

Depending what state you live in, insurance for your golf cart is either required or optional. Golf cart insurance is going to provide you with the best coverage versus simply relying on your home insurance policy for coverage. Home insurance can also deny coverage if you get into an accident or injure someone away from your property.

What protection does golf cart insurance provide you?

Similar to car insurance, golf cart insurance can provide you with a wide variety of protection.

Property damage liability – if you damage someone’s property with your golf cart, this can pay for the damage.

Bodily injury liability – if you injure someone who is not a passenger with your golf cart, this can pay for the medical bills.

Guest Passenger liability – if you injure your guest passenger who is riding with you, this may pay for medical expenses.

Collision insurance – this coverage can pay for any damage you cause to your golf cart if you get into a collision with another object.

Comprehensive insurance – this can provide coverage if something happens to your golf cart such as fire damage, theft or any other event that causes damage.

Uninsured motorist coverage – this coverage helps pay for damage on accidents where you are not at fault. If you get into an accident with someone else who is at fault, but that person doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the damage, uninsured motorist coverage may kick in.

Medical payments – this can provide coverage for medical bills related to you and your guest passengers regardless who is at fault for the accident.

Frequently Asked Questions about Golf Cart Insurance –

I have a home and auto insurance policy, if I choose not to buy a golf cart insurance policy, am I covered by my other insurance policies?

Auto insurance rarely provides coverage for golf carts. Your home insurance may provide some coverage for your golf cart, but only if you have a claim that occurs on your property. We don’t recommend relying on this coverage because it can be minimal. Talk to an agent in our office about what your home insurance could cover. If you get into an accident away from your property, most likely your home insurance will deny any coverage.

Is golf cart insurance affordable?

Definitely! Insurance premiums vary based off of what coverage you want to purchase. If you want to purchase all the coverage options above, your cost will be more versus just purchasing liability insurance.

Other factors that play a role in your premium – your driving history, your vehicle, if you wish to pay yearly or monthly or taking a safety course.

Call our agency for a free insurance quote! If you have other policies, we can bundle with your current insurance carrier to provide you with additional discounts.