Personal FAQs

Auto, Home, Umbrella

Q: Who pays for damages if I have an accident while driving a friend's car?

A: Insurance stays with the vehicle, so your friend's insurance company will be responsible.

Q: My car is in the shop right now. Does my insurance pay for a rental car?

A: If your car has been damaged in an accident, your insurance company will generally pay for a rental car. Be sure to check your policy or ask your agent, though. Some companies exclude rental coverage in their policies. If your car is in the shop for routine work or wear and tear damages, your insurance will not pay for a rental.

Q: What will an insurance company accept as proof of ownership for my personal belongings if I don't have receipts?

A: No one keeps receipts for everything they own. For regular items, take pictures and keep them in a fire proof location. Any higher value (but not collector's) items should be appraised if you don't have the original receipt anymore. High priced belongings, such as jewelry, furs, camera equipment or collections, should be scheduled onto your policy for a specified amount.

Q: My home is uninhabitable because of a damage. Will my insurance pay for room and board in the meantime?

A: Most standard homeowners policies will cover any additional expenses you incur while your home is being repaired. However, in general you can only expect to receive payment for the difference between your normal living expenses and any additional costs.

Q: When should I consider buying an Umbrella policy?

A: If you own a home and have a car, you should consider purchasing an umbrella policy. Anybody can be sued nowadays and an umbrella policy is a very inexpensive way to extend the limits of your regular policies.

Dwelling, Renters, Condo

Q: What is the difference between dwelling fire and renters insurance?

A: A dwelling fire policy covers the actual building that you rent or lease out to others, while renters insurance covers the personal belongings of the tenant. The dwelling fire policy is very similar to a homeowners policy, except that the contents of the house or apartment are not yours, and so are not covered by your insurance.

Q: My homeowner's association provides coverage for the outside of my condo but I'm not happy with the limits. Can I purchase a homeowners policy for myself?

A: No. You can only purchase a condo policy, which covers your house from the inside walls in. If the limits in the association's policy are not high enough and a loss occurs, the association is responsible for the difference in value.

Q: I live in a rental apartment and don't own that much stuff. Why should I get renters insurance?

A: If you are not worried about replacing all your belongings in case of a loss, consider that you still can be held liable if someone gets injured while inside your house or apartment.

Recreational Vehicles

Q: Can I just take out an auto policy for my RV?

A: You can, but since an RV is used very differently than a car, only having auto insurance will leave you with big gaps in coverage. Just one example is your personal property. Automobile policies provide very little coverage for personal belongings and you generally have quite a bit of personal items in your RV. There are many other coverages provided by RV insurance that are not included in an automobile policy.

Q: If I take my video camera with me on a boat trip, will my boat insurance pay if it is damaged?

A: Not by default. Any personal property, including your fishing equipment, is excluded from coverage unless it has been specifically added to your policy.

Q: I am frequently working on my classic car and making improvements. How often should I change the value with my insurance company?

A: Every time the value of your collector's car changes substantially, you should have the limits of your policy adjusted. However, most insurance company will ask for a current appraisal. Receipts alone are not enough.