Here are some Commonly asked questions to get you started.

• Do I have coverage when I rent a vehicle?
• My house is not worth that much, why do I need to insure it for that amount?
• What is umbrella coverage?
• At what point do I no longer need full coverage on my vehicle?
• My child is away at college, is his/her computer and vehicle still covered on my auto and homeowners policy?
• Why do insurance companies have ineligible dog lists?
• He never drives my car, why do I need him on my policy?
• I run a business out of my home, is it covered by my homeowners policy?
• Are my recreational vehicles automatically covered on my homeowners’ policy?
• What if I get hit by an uninsured motorist?  Why do I need med pay on my auto insurance?
• Do I need flood insurance?  Do I have flood insurance on my homeowners’ policy?

Do I have coverage when I rent a vehicle?

When renting a car, pickup or van in the U.S. or Canada, your policy will pay for damage to a rental car as if it were your own vehicle as long as you carry Collision on at least one of your vehicles. All current policy deductibles would apply. NOTE: Rental companies continue to adjust their contracts and some items may not be covered by your personal auto policy. Loss of Use and Diminished Value are examples of two coverages that may not covered.

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My house is not worth that much, why do I need to insure it for that amount?

At the time of loss, the insurance company will not be buying your home but rebuilding it. Rebuilding a home often costs more than what it took to build it originally. Consider these factors: Temporary repairs, demolition and removal of debris, building permits, engineers and architects, outdated code compliance, landscaping, repair or replacing the foundation – just to name a few costs not realized.

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What is umbrella coverage?

A Personal Umbrella policy is a policy that extends/increases the liability coverage provided by your auto, homeowners (or renters), motorcycle, recreational vehicle, and boat-owners insurance policies. It provides: Higher Limits – limits of 1 million or more can protect you after your current policies have paid their full limits. Broader Coverage – personal umbrellas pay some losses not covered by your current policies. Defense Coverage – the costs of legal defense can be staggering and must be paid even if you win. An Umbrella pays these fees in addition to your limit of insurance.

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At what point do I no longer need full coverage on my vehicle?

This is a personal choice and unless you have a vehicle with a loan or is leased, you will need to determine the value of your vehicle (see NADA or Kelly Blue Book to determine) to assess the cost of insurance vs. value of vehicle. Based on the vehicle’s value, you would need to decide if you could afford to walk away from the “value” at the time of loss. If that answer is no, you may want to transfer some of that cost to the company by continuing your comprehensive and collision coverages.

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My child is away at college, is his/her computer and vehicle still covered on my auto and homeowners policy?

If your child lives on campus in a dorm, most homeowners’ insurance policies will extend coverage (10% of contents) for his/her personal property. If your child lives off campus, we suggest a renters’ policy though some carriers will still offer the 10% coverage. Many carriers offer broadened coverages for computer equipment.

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Why do insurance companies have ineligible dog lists?

The insurance industry reports that dog bite claims are on the rise nationwide (more than 45% in the past decade). Carriers have identified specific breeds of dogs that have been typically involved in those types of claims more than others. We know that any dog is capable of biting someone but some breed’s tend to cause more damage with that bite than others.

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He never drives my car, why do I need him on my policy?

In the State of Wisconsin a rated driver that resides as a member of your household and has access to your auto, cannot be excluded from your auto policy. Many carriers recognize that some household members may have their own auto and insurance and can rate accordingly.

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I run a business out of my home, is it covered by my homeowners policy?

Depends. There are many variables that need to be discussed with your agent before an answer can be given. If we cannot accommodate the business within your homeowners policy, our agency has a full Commercial Lines department that can assist you as well.

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Are my recreational vehicles automatically covered on my homeowners’ policy?

Typically, as long as the recreational vehicle remains on your premises, your homeowners’ liability coverage would respond to the loss. Should you leave your premises; even to turn around on a roadway, you need to endorse your policy to add recreational vehicle liability. Physical damage coverage to your unit works the same as your vehicle in that you would have a deductible to pay at the time of loss.

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What if I get hit by an uninsured motorist? Why do I need med pay on my auto insurance?

If you or a passenger would be injured by an uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM), your auto policy UM/UIM limits would help pay the expenses for your injuries. Medical Payment (Med Pay) coverage is there for you, your family members or your passengers as well, however, this coverage is for any automobile accident no matter who causes it. This includes for example, if you are hit by an auto while walking or riding your bike.

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Do I need flood insurance? Do I have flood insurance on my homeowners’ policy?

You do not need to live in a flood zone to buy a Flood Insurance policy. Flood coverage is excluded by all carriers on your homeowners’ policy. The coverage is offered through FEMA as a separate policy and is priced based on the coverage needed and how your property is zoned with the FEMA Flood Maps.

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