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Colorado Insurance Blog

Category: Insurance

If Your Home Burned Down, Would You Have Enough Coverage?

Posted on by Alexa Steffes

After the Marshall Fire tore through entire neighborhoods in Superior and Louisville, many people are worried about their home insurance. There have been countless reports of families whose home insurance was too low to rebuild their home. Not only did they lose their home, their belongings, and their sense of normalcy, now they are frantically trying to figure out how they will afford to rebuild.

That raises the question, how do you know if you have enough coverage? After all, you pay for insurance so you can be made whole again if disaster strikes. And what good is a policy that leaves you with only half a home after a fire?

How much home insurance is enough?

Many homeowners are concerned when the dwelling limit is lower than the amount they could sell their home for. Remember, an insurance company is never going to sell your home, just rebuild it. You should insure your home for the amount it would cost to rebuild your home. Not what the real estate market estimates it is worth.

How do you know if you have enough home insurance?

Insurance companies use a Replacement Cost Estimator (RCE) to determine the estimated cost to rebuild a home in the event of a total loss. When filling out the RCE, we can get very specific with the details in the home.

The RCE will factor in things like square footage, the foundation (basement, slab, etc.), the number of bathrooms, and the finishes in the home, like flooring, counters and cabinets. For homes with higher end finishes, we can go even more in-depth. We can input the light fixtures, crown or base molding, and special features like theatre rooms, built-in speakers, wet bars, and wine cellars.

That being said, the RCE is only an estimate and the costs of labor and materials are constantly changing. The actual cost to rebuild your home may even change over an annual policy term. For example, when COVID-19 hit, the cost of lumber skyrocketed. So it now costs more to rebuild a home than it did before the pandemic.

To account for inflation and increasing construction costs, we recommend Extended Dwelling Coverage. Extended Dwelling Coverage provides an additional percentage of your dwelling limit. It’s usually either an extra 25% or 50% (some carriers even offer 100%), which can extend if there is a loss.

Example: Your dwelling limit is $300,000 and you have 50% of Extended Dwelling Coverage. If there was a significant loss to your home you’d have up to an extra $150,000 to cover any costs that exceed your $300,000 dwelling limit.

Your home has to be correctly insured for the Extended Dwelling Coverage to extend. You can’t underinsure your home and then count on the additional percentage of coverage to fill that gap. That’s why it’s important to notify your agent if you make any significant changes to the home. If you finish the basement or upgrade your kitchen or bathroom, you need to update the RCE.

Debris removal is a cost that people often overlook.

Most policies include coverage to remove the debris after a loss. The cost of debris removal can be significant.

Many counties have an ordinance that requires demolition when a certain percentage of the home is damaged, usually 60% or more. So even if there are parts that are salvageable, the whole thing might need to be rebuilt. In cases like this, your dwelling value isn’t only covering the rebuilding of your home. It’s also covering the demolition of the undamaged portion of your home and the cost of hauling away that debris.

Are your belongings covered?

Most homeowners policies also include coverage for your personal property. So if your house were to burn down, or be impacted by another covered loss, you won’t be on your own to replace your belongings.

The majority of policies default to Actual Cash Value settlement for personal property. That means if your belongings were damaged or destroyed in a loss, your claim payout would be the original value minus depreciation for age and wear & tear. That’s not going to go very far when it comes to replacing your things.

I highly recommend purchasing Replacement Cost coverage for your personal property, if available. With Replacement Cost, you’ll be given the full cost to actually replace an item rather than the depreciated value.

If you have any high value items or collections, it may be beneficial to schedule those on your policy to ensure you receive the full value if there is a loss.

Create a home inventory to keep track of your belongings

One way to account for the personal property you have in your home is to fill out a Home Inventory Checklist. If you’re prepared with a home inventory, it can help make things go more smoothly if disaster strikes and you have to replace everything.

Read more about How to Create a Home Inventory.

What happens if you can’t stay in your home after a loss?

If your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered loss, your homeowners policy will pay for the additional living expenses you incur. You would continue paying your normal expenses, like your mortgage and property taxes, and your policy would pay for the extra costs that arise as a result of your claim. That can include paying for a hotel or long-term rental, restaurant bills if you’re unable to cook in the hotel, laundromat costs, etc.

This coverage is typically called Loss of Use or Additional Living Expenses. The limit of coverage could either be a set dollar amount (like 20% of the dwelling limit) or an amount of time (12 or 24 months). It’s important to have an adequate limit because if your home is a total loss it can take a significant amount of time to rebuild.

Some policies offer “walkaway” coverage

If you lost your home to a fire that burned your entire neighborhood, you might wish you didn’t have to rebuild in that area. That’s especially true if you chose your location based on the surroundings and the scenery. After a fire, there’s probably not much natural beauty to look at.

Most home policies will only pay replacement cost once your home has been rebuilt. There are a few select insurance carriers that offer replacement cost coverage up front if the home is deemed a total loss. That equates to “walkaway” coverage because you can take the payment and go build or buy elsewhere.

Keep in mind the policy isn’t going to pay what your home would have sold for prior to the loss, it will only pay what it would cost to rebuild your home.

Do you feel confident your policy has coverage you need if your home burned down? If not, give us a call today. Our agents are committed to providing specialized coverage for each individual or family’s needs.

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Larger Rate Increases Expected in 2022: Here’s Why

Posted on by Alexa Steffes

Across the insurance industry, rates are expected to increase even more this year than they have in recent years. While annual increases are becoming the norm, the jump may be more drastic in 2022.

There are many factors that are driving insurance costs up. Claim payouts are higher than ever, and natural disasters and car accidents are becoming more frequent. Combine that with supply chain issues and labor shortages, and you have the unprecedented market we’re currently in.

Homeowners

Building material costs are at an all-time high

With global supply chain issues and labor shortages, prices for many products have soared over the past few years. Building materials are no exception.

During the first year of the pandemic, the cost of lumber jumped up by 42%. The prices have fluctuated since, but aren’t back to the pre-pandemic prices. In the first three quarters of 2021, steel mill products rose in cost by 81%.

There’s also currently a shortage of at least 200,000 skilled trade workers. 60% of surveyed builders are reporting labor shortages and the vast majority of them don’t expect that problem to go away in the next 6 months.

Price increases from December 2020 – December 2021:

Floor Coverings 3.9%
Window Coverings 8%
Major Appliances 6%
Overall Construction Supplies 18.4%

All of these factors have led to more expensive construction projects for both home repairs and new construction.

Home claims are rising in both severity and frequency

Catastrophic home claims are no longer few and far between, they seem to be happening every other week somewhere in the country.

In 2021, there were 20 natural disasters with losses exceeding $1Billion in the US alone. From 1980-2021 the annual average is 7.4 events, but the annual average in the past 5 years is 17.2 events.

Many scientists and experts attribute the increased frequency of disastrous events to climate change. As our weather and climate changes, severe weather events are becoming more common and severe.

Between the increased frequency and severity of home claims and the higher cost of building materials, home insurance prices will continue to increase. The chances that you’ll need to file a claim on your home are higher, and it will cost even more to repair or rebuild your home than it has previously.

Auto

Supply chain disruptions are causing costly shortages

Supply chain issues are impacting many different industries, including auto production. 7.7 Million fewer vehicles were produced in 2021 due to supply chain complications.

One of the most impactful shortages has been microchips that are used in vehicles. With most vehicles containing higher levels of technology than ever before, it’s been difficult for manufacturers to keep up with demand.

Because of the microchip shortage, there’s a shortfall of new vehicles on the market, which has driven up the cost of used vehicles.

Price increases from December 2020 – December 2021:

New Vehicles 11.8%
Used Vehicles 37.3%

Many rental car companies sold a large portion of their vehicles in order to survive during the pandemic. Once travel increased again over the summer of 2021, they had to restock their fleet of vehicles. With fewer new vehicles on the market due, they turned to used vehicles.

Around the same time, consumers who had extra money from stimulus checks also began shopping for new and used cars. The combination of that and the rental car companies drove the prices of used vehicles up significantly in June. Those prices remained inflated through the end of 2021 and aren’t expected to drop anytime soon.

The cost to repair vehicles keeps rising

In addition to the microchips, there are also supply chain issues impacting wiring harnesses, plastics, and glass used by auto manufacturers. As a result, the cost to repair vehicles is up around 20% and the cost of auto parts is up 6%.

Similar to the skilled labor shortage seen in the construction industry, there’s also a need for 3 times as many trained auto technicians. The delays in obtaining auto parts and the lack of skilled technicians to complete the repairs have made auto repairs take significantly longer.

With cars being stuck in the shop for longer than usual, that takes up even more of the rental car market. People are needing rental cars for longer, and they are harder to find. That drives the cost of rental cars up and exhausts the car insurance coverage limits faster.

Driving has returned to pre-pandemic levels

At the beginning of the pandemic there were fewer drivers on the roads and there were fewer accidents as a result. During that time, many insurance companies decreased premiums and offered credits or refunds.

In 2021, however, we saw a return to pre-pandemic driving levels and a rise in the number and severity of accidents. Insurance companies found themselves with underpriced policies, which is causing them to now increase rates to keep up with the high claim payouts.

If you’d like to discuss your insurance options or get a proposal, give us a call today. We’re here to help!

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Sources:

Semiconductor shortages to cost the auto industry billions. AlixPartners. (2021, September 23). Retrieved January 27, 2022, from https://www.alixpartners.com/media-center/press-releases/press-release-shortages-related-to-semiconductors-to-cost-the-auto-industry-210-billion-in-revenues-this-year-says-new-alixpartners-forecast/

Smith, A. B. (2022, January 24). 2021 U.S. billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in historical context. 2021 U.S. billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in historical context | NOAA Climate.gov. Retrieved January 27, 2022, from https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/beyond-data/2021-us-billion-dollar-weather-and-climate-disasters-historical

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, January 12). Table 2. consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U): U. S. city average, by detailed expenditure Category – 2021 M12 results. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved January 27, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.t02.htm

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2022). https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/, DOI: 10.25921/stkw-7w73

Most and Least Expensive Cars to Insure

Posted on by Alexa Steffes

When determining the cost to insure specific vehicles, insurance companies look at multiple factors. First, they review the claim payouts for similar vehicles. Not only what it costs to repair damage to that vehicle, but also the liability payouts associated with it. If that model of car has caused significant liability payouts, it’s more likely to cause damage or injuries in an accident.

Cars with advanced technology and safety features are a bit of a Catch-22. They make a car safer and less likely to get in an accident, but they cost more to repair. So in the end it could be a wash when it comes to the cost of insurance.

Each person driving the same model of car won’t be paying the same amount to insure it. That’s because there are more factors that go into the cost than just the car itself. In addition to the features of the car, each driver on the policy plays into the cost to insure a vehicle. Your driving record, garaging location, credit and claim history impact how much you’ll pay to insure your vehicle.

According to Forbes, these are some of the most and least expensive vehicles to insure among popular 2021 vehicle models.

What types of cars are the most expensive to insure?

Sports cars- Sports cars tend to be more expensive to insure. They are built for speed, which can often lead to risky driving behaviors and accidents.

Luxury Vehicles- The parts needed to repair luxury cars can be hard to find and have a higher price tag. As a result, these cars are on the more expensive side when it comes to insurance.

Electric Vehicles- Some of the components that make up an electric vehicle cost a lot to replace. For example, a battery alone can cost thousands of dollars. As a result, the repair costs after an accident can be extreme.

Large Vehicles- Cars with larger bodies can often cause more damage in an accident than smaller cars. That makes the cost of liability insurance higher.

What makes some cars more expensive to insure?

  • The value of the car
  • Cars that have specialty parts or complex engines
  • Technology, like backup cameras, automatic braking, GPS, etc.
  • Rate of theft- cars that are more likely to be stolen cost more to insure
  • More horsepower- vehicles that have higher horsepower make liability risks higher

If you’re considering switching cars, it can be helpful to consider the insurance costs before you make a final decision. The payments for your dream car might fit into your budget, but the price to insure it could break the bank. You can get a quote for the cars you’re considering ahead of time to see how they would impact your auto policy.

Request a proposal today, we’re here to help!

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Sources:

Danise, A. (2022, January 11). Most and least expensive cars to insure 2022. Forbes. Retrieved January 17, 2022, from https://www.forbes.com/advisor/car-insurance/most-least-expensive-cars-to-insure/


Research, H. A. (2021, November 29). What are the most expensive cars to insure? Car and Driver. Retrieved January 17, 2022, from https://www.caranddriver.com/car-insurance/a37169944/most-expensive-cars-to-insure/

How to Create a Home Inventory

Posted on by Alexa Steffes

We all hope we’ll never have to file an insurance claim on our home, but the recent fire in Superior and Louisville was a reminder that bad things can happen in an instant. If you’re prepared with a home inventory, it can help make things go more smoothly if disaster strikes and you have to replace everything.

One simple way to create an inventory of your belongings is to do a video walk through of your home. Press record on your cell phone or camera and walk from room to room panning over your belongings. You can narrate what you’re looking at and open any cupboards or drawers where valuables might be kept. Once you have a video of your possessions, be sure to upload it to cloud storage or email it to yourself or someone you trust to ensure you can still access it if something happens to your phone or camera.

Another option is to fill out a Home Inventory Checklist. If you want a more itemized list that you can easily add and remove items from, you can download an app to help you create an inventory. Some options include Home Contents or Everspruce. Both apps have a free version, or you can elect to pay a fee to unlock additional features.

Here are some tips from the Insurance Information Institute for creating a list of your belongings:

  • Pick an easy spot to start – A contained area—like your small kitchen appliance cabinet, your sporting equipment closet or your handbag shelf—is a great place to get started.
  • List recent purchases – Another way to start is with recent purchases—get into the inventory habit and then go back tackle your older possessions.
  • Include the basic information – In general, describe each item you record, and note where you bought it, the make and model, what you paid and any other detail that might help in the event you need to make a claim.
  • Count clothing by general category – For example, “5 pairs of jeans, 3 pairs of sneakers…” Make note of any items that are especially valuable.
  • Record serial numbers – Usually found on the back or bottom of major appliances and electronic equipment, serial numbers are a useful reference.
  • Check coverage on big ticket items – Jewelry, art and collectibles may have increased in value and may need special coverage separate from your standard homeowners insurance policy. While you’re making your home inventory list, check with your agent to make sure you have adequate insurance for these items before there is a loss.
  • Don’t forget off-site items – Your belongings kept in a self-storage facility are covered by your homeowners insurance, too. Make sure you include them in your inventory.
  • Keep proof of value – Store sales receipts, purchase contracts, and appraisals with your list.
  • Add significant new purchases to your list – Make it a habit to add the item information and receipts to your inventory while the details are fresh in your mind.
  • Store a copy of your paper inventory outside the home – Keep it—along with applicable receipts and appraisals—in a safe deposit box or at a friend’s or relative’s home. Make at least one backup copy of your inventory document and store it separately. An easy way to make digital backup copies of your paper list is to take pictures of it on your smartphone.

Sources:

How to create a home inventory. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2021, from https://www.iii.org/article/how-create-home-inventory

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Stay Safe on (and off) the Road This Winter With These Items for Your Car

Posted on by Alexa Steffes

You keep your home stocked with supplies to use in case of emergency. (Right?)

What about your car?

During winter, extreme weather and road conditions can lead to all kinds of trouble when you’re traveling — crashes, getting stuck, getting lost. And cold temperatures make those situations even more dangerous than usual.
So keep a stockpile of emergency items in your car, just like your house. In the best-case scenarios, you’ll never have to use them, or they’ll just help keep you comfortable for an hour or so while you wait for a tow truck. But if you’re ever caught in a truly sticky situation, you might need them to do something more — like keep you alive.

The folks at Wisconsin’s Emergency Management agency are quite familiar with the perils of winter travel, as you can imagine. So don’t just take our word for it — here are some of the things they recommend you keep in your car to help keep you safe should you run into trouble on the roads in the snow and ice.

  • A shovel, tire chains, tow rope and sand or cat litter: All of these can help you get your car unstuck.
  • A windshield scraper: Preferably one with a brush attached.
  • Blankets, sleeping bags and extra clothing: Staying warm is crucial while you wait for help — especially if you don’t know how long you’ll be waiting.
  • Bottled water and snack food, such as energy bars, peanut butter and raisins: If it could be hours before you get moving again, you’ll need to stay hydrated and nourished.
  • A first-aid kit: Keep one in your car no matter what time of year.
  • A battery-powered radio: So you can get weather updates, information on emergency response efforts, etc. – and conserve your car’s battery.
  • Emergency flares, reflectors and a battery-powered flashlight: All of these will help you attract attention — and help other vehicles avoid you.
  • Matches and candles: Even a small heat source can be an effective one.

Your kit doesn’t have to be limited to the list above, of course. Feel free to add items that suit your needs. But most important, keep the kit in your car at all times — and then keep these additional safety tips in mind:

  • Keep your vehicle well maintained (and gassed up).
  • Create a trip plan and share it with friends of family.
  • Stay in your car if you get stuck. Walking to find help is an easy way to get lost and separate from others in your party.
  • To reduce battery drain, only use your emergency flashers if you hear vehicles approaching. You can keep your dome light on to remain visible.

Remember, even the best drivers can end up in a bad situation when the weather gets bad. It doesn’t take much time or money to prepare an emergency kit — but the potential cost of not having one is enormous.

Reposted with permission from the original author, Safeco Insurance®.

Top image by Flickr user orion.

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Keep Your Pets Safe in a Disaster

Posted on by Alexa Steffes

A safe home, a regular routine, a soft bed – the things that bring you comfort bring your pet comfort, too. It’s so important to give some advance thought to how you’d handle your pet responsibilities during and after a disastrous storm or other event.

Your family emergency plan should include considerations for Fluffy or Fido. Not just so they’re comfortable, but so they’re safe, too.

Here are some emergency planning tips for families with pets:

Prepare Now so You and Your Pet Are Ready Later

  • Make sure your pet has ID. Always have your home address and/or phone number on a tag attached to your pet’s collar – or printed on the collar itself. You might also consider having a microchip implanted in case those tags fall off.
  • Keep a current photo of your pet handy. This is important for identification purposes in the event there’s no microchip or tags. If you really want to be prepared, create a “Lost Pet” flyer and keep a few printouts in your emergency kit.
  • Identify shelters or hotels that accept pets. Keep a list of their phone numbers and addresses, and include your local boarding facility’s number in case you need to drop off your pet. You could also create list of friends or family outside the area who can host you and your pets.
  • Think security. It’s a good idea to have a secure carrier or harness so pets can’t escape if they panic.
  • Create a separate pet emergency kit. You should have emergency supplies for you and your family – don’t forget your animal friends! Canned or moist food is best for them, as it can reduce their need for water. Other things to include: blankets, bottled water, pet first-aid supplies, vet records, extra collar and leash, food dishes and other supplies specific to pet type (such as cat litter, etc.).
  • Consider a buddy system. Talk with friends and neighbors and create a plan where you can help each other care for pets during emergencies. If one of you isn’t home when disaster strikes, the other agrees to see to the animals’ needs for care or evacuation. Be sure to discuss where to meet after an evacuation.

See to Your Pet’s Needs During a Disaster

  • Don’t leave pets outside or tied up. They may become frightened and escape. And, remaining outside can put them at greater risk of harm.
  • Separate dogs, cats and other animals. Even if they normally get along, stressful situations can lead to irrational behavior.
  • Have more unique pets, such as birds? Talk to your veterinarian about their specific needs in emergencies.
  • Keep a supply of newspapers. If your pets cannot go outside, you’ll need to create space indoors for them to … well, you know. Protect those areas with newspapers, towels or other items.
  • If at all possible, do not leave your pets behind if you need to evacuate. If you must, however, confine them to a safe area inside your home with access to plenty of food and water. Even leave the toilet seat up in case their other water runs out. And, it’s a good idea to leave an easily seen sign detailing how many pets are in the house, and how you can be reached.

Continue to Be Cautious Once It’s Over

  • Watch your pets closely. They may still be frightened, even days after a disaster. And, even familiar areas may have changed, so keep them on leash and stay close. Remember, there may be downed power lines or other hazards still present.
  • Re-evaluate how things went. Could your emergency plan have been better? Are there things you wish you had included in your pet’s disaster kit? Do you need to research more shelters and other facilities that will accept pets? Now’s the time to do it – before the next emergency.

If you’re like most people, you consider your pets part of the family. Including them in your plans, and taking steps before a disaster strikes, will make it easier to keep the whole family together.

Reposted with permission from the original author, Safeco Insurance®

Top image by Flickr user Lottie

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10 Things You Should Know About Insurance In Colorado

Posted on by Alexa Steffes

1. Extreme weather impacts insurance rates in Colorado.

Hail and heavy rains can cause damage to cars, homes, boats, motorcycles, etc. Many claims are filed when there’s a big storm, which leads to the average insurance rates to increase.

2. Car insurance is more expensive in Colorado than in many other states.

The average car insurance rates have increased by more than 50% in the past 10 years. There are plenty of reasons that car insurance is increasing across the country, and more specifically in Colorado.

Read more about the increasing rates in Colorado in our blog 5 Reasons Insurance Rates Keep Increasing in Colorado

3. Population increases lead to rate increases.

The rapidly increasing population and crowded roads in Colorado has led to more accidents and higher car insurance rates.

4. The minimum liability limits to legally drive in Colorado are $25K/$50K/$15K.

Although you can legally drive with the minimum limits, they aren’t enough to protect your family and your future. Higher limits can save you a lot of money in the long run.

3 Ways You Can Protect Yourself From Personal Injury Attorneys

5. Homeowners in Colorado are more likely to file a roof claim than those in most other states.

Between 2017-2019, Colorado had the second most hail claims in the US. The only state with more in that span was Texas. With such severe hail storms in Colorado, most residents will file a roof claim in their lifetime.

6. As of 2019, 16.3% of drivers in Colorado are driving without insurance.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, the national average in 2019 was 12.6%. Colorado is well over the national average, which is why our Uninsured Motorist coverage rates are on the rise.

Want to know more about the importance of Uninsured Motorist coverage? Check out our blog Do I Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage If I Have Health Insurance?

7. Wildfires have a big impact on insurance in Colorado.

Homes in wildfire-prone areas are difficult to insure and come with a big price tag.

Here’s more information about the impact of wildfires on insurance in Colorado: What You Should Know About Wildfires and Insurance

8. Even though Colorado is a landlocked state, there is still risk of flooding.

Flooding doesn’t only happen near large bodies of water. Rapid rainfall or runoff from areas previously damaged by wildfire can cause severe flooding. You can add a flood endorsement on some home policies in Colorado, or buy a separate policy to cover your risk.

Read about flood insurance here: Flood Insurance 101 

9. Vacation rentals, like AirBnb and VRBO are becoming more popular in Colorado.

Colorado is an ideal vacation destination for many in both the summer and the winter. That means the demand for vacation rentals is skyrocketing. Renting out a second home or even a room in your current home is a great way to bring in some extra income. Luckily, there are plenty of options available for insuring homes used as a vacation rental, but it’s important to get the right coverage.

Vacation Rental Property Insurance: What You Need to Know

10. Rental car rates often skyrocket during hail season.

After a big hail storm, many people need a rental car while their car is getting fixed. With a limited inventory, most rental car companies sell out and the rates become inflated. Check your car insurance policy to make sure you have enough rental car coverage to account for higher costs associated with hail season.

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What is “Broad Form” Auto Insurance and Why is it Risky?

Posted on by Alexa Steffes

What is Broad Form Auto Insurance?

Broad Form auto insurance is very basic liability insurance that covers only one driver. Only the driver named on the policy is covered, so if anyone else ever drives their vehicle(s), for any reason, they would have no coverage. Essentially; instead of covering most drivers that aren’t excluded by the policy like regular auto policies, Broad Form policies exclude every single driver that’s not listed on the policy.

Since it only covers the one driver, it rates for the person rather that the vehicle(s). You’d pay the same amount regardless of how many vehicles you own and it extends to any vehicle the policyholder operates.

Unlike traditional auto insurance, Broad Form policies don’t cover an entire household. You can’t get a policy with your spouse and your kids, you can only get a policy for one individual driver.

What is NOT covered by Broad Form insurance?

  • Damages to your own vehicle
    • That means you can’t get Comprehensive or Collision coverage for your car, so you’d have no coverage to repair your car from an accident, hail damage, theft, or any other cause of loss
  • Your own medical payments
    • There’s no option to add Uninsured Motorist coverage or Medical Payments coverage
    • You wouldn’t have any coverage for your injuries even if you were involved in a hit-and-run or an accident with an uninsured driver
  • Injuries to your passengers
    • Like with your own medical bills, your passengers wouldn’t have any coverage for their injuries in an accident either
  • Liability payments if someone else drives your car and causes an accident
    • A Broad Form policy only covers the driver listed, so if your spouse, child, friend, co-worker, or anyone else drives your car, they’d have zero coverage
  • Roadside Assistance, Loss of Use (Rental Car Coverage), Gap Coverage, etc.

Who does Broad Form coverage make sense for?

Some people consider Broad Form coverage a good option if they have older cars that they don’t want physical damage coverage on and only need liability insurance. Personally, I disagree. In my opinion, the most glaring coverage gap between a Broad Form policy and a normal auto policy isn’t to coverage for your vehicle, it’s the Uninsured Motorist and Medical Payments coverage.

Those are the coverages that will help pay for your bills if you get injured in an accident. Hospital bills can pile up very quickly and paying those expenses out-of-pocket can cause financial ruin.

Read more in our blogs, What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage? and Do I Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage If I Have Health Insurance?

I would only recommend Broad Form coverage to someone who has enough funds built up to handle those expenses on their own. While Broad Form coverage does provide basic liability insurance and meets the minimum limits required by the state, it’s almost like choosing to “self-insure.” It’s a way to pay the least amount of money, but have the least amount of security in the event of a loss.

Facts About Broad Form Insurance:

Broad Form coverage is so limited it doesn’t meet the insurance requirements for most states

Only 11 states accept Broad Form insurance:

  • Colorado
  • Delaware
  • Idaho
  • Iowa
  • Maryland
  • Mississippi
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • Ohio
  • Tennessee
  • Washington

Most reputable insurance companies don’t offer Broad Form auto insurance

Since Broad Form policies leave large gaps in coverage and aren’t considered good policies, most insurance carriers won’t even offer that type of policy.

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10 Things to do to Prepare Your Home for Fall

Posted on by Alexa Steffes

Fall is a wonderful time — if your home is ready for it. So enjoy the last few weeks of warmer weather, but do a little preventative maintenance while you’re at it. You’ll fix small problems before they become big, and big ones before they become catastrophes.

Here are 10 tips to help:

  1. Look up. Examine your roof closely. Moss should be removed and debris cleared from gutters and downspouts. Repairing damage is crucial before fall weather is in full swing.
  2. Look down. Check for signs of animals and insects around your home and garage, including the basement and crawlspace. If you need help getting unwanted guests out, don’t hesitate to bring in a professional.
  3. Keep things warm. Heat escapes through leaks around windows and doors, so seal up any drafty areas. Outside, put covers over faucets before temperatures drop.
  4. Keep things dry. Drain outdoor hoses, faucets and irrigation systems. Look in the basement and crawlspace for wet spots. And make sure your water heater or boiler aren’t leaking.
  5. Clear the air (or vents and filters, at least). When’s the last time you checked your dryer vent? You should take a look at attic vents and exhaust ducts as well. And change that furnace filter, too!
  6. Take a walk. Cracks in your driveway or walkways will only get bigger, so get them fixed soon. If your deck has signs of wear, make repairs while the weather is still good.
  7. Get a tune-up. You or a professional should clean and tune your furnace, boiler and/or water heater, as well as your oven and range.
  8. Don’t play with fire. Before building your first fire of the season, check for soot or creosote build-up.
  9. Don’t play with fire extinguishers, either. But check them to ensure they still have pressure. Don’t have fire extinguishers? Put them on your shopping list, ideally one for each floor.
  10. Don’t forget those smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors. Replace batteries when needed, and test regularly that alarms are working.

Reposted with permission from the original author, Safeco Insurance®.

Top image by Flickr user Lali Masriera.

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Does My Car Insurance Cover a Rental Car?

Posted on by Alexa Steffes

Whether or not an auto policy will cover a rental car is one of the most common questions I hear. The truth is, that question can mean two different things, and often leads to follow-up questions.

1. Does my insurance coverage extend to a car I’m renting (like on a vacation)?

You’ll have to check with your specific policy to be absolutely certain, but in general the answer is yes. Your liability coverage should extend to a car you a renting. If you have Comprehensive and Collision coverage on your policy, that would likely extend as well at no additional cost.

2. Does my insurance policy pay the daily fee to rent a car?

This is a more complicated answer and really depends on the situation and what coverage you pay for on your policy.

If you’re going on vacation or renting a car because your car is having mechanical issues, your policy would not pay for the rental car.

If your car was damaged in an accident, by hail, or some other covered loss, then your policy would pay for the rental car as long as you have selected rental car coverage on your policy. That coverage can go by several different names depending on your insurance provider, so it may show up on your declarations page under one of the following names:

  • Rental Car Reimbursement
  • Loss of Use
  • Additional Expense

Generally, that coverage has both a daily maximum limit and a per occurrence maximum limit. For example, your policy could cover a rental car for up to $50 per day, with a maximum limit of $1,500 for the entire claim. That adds up to $50 per day for up to 30 days. Some policies have only a maximum per occurrence limit without a daily cap, or some have no limits at all.

Most policies also have a weight or size limit for what rentals the policy will extend to. For example, many policies won’t cover a moving truck because of the gross vehicle weight limit.  The exact limitations will vary by policy, so be sure to check yours before assuming you’ll have coverage.

If you aren’t sure what coverage or limits your policy provides, call your agent and have them go over the coverage with you.

Should I buy rental car insurance from the car rental company?

That depends on the coverage you have on your policy, and in some cases your credit card.

Some credit cards provide insurance coverage for a rental car when you pay for the rental car using that credit card. You can usually call the number on the back of the card to talk about what coverage your credit card company provides.

If you have Comprehensive and Collision coverage on your auto insurance policy, you may not need to purchase insurance from the car rental company. The risk of relying on your policy is that it generally won’t cover any additional expenses you may be charged if the rental car is damaged and not able to be rented to others while it’s being repaired. Sometimes the rental car company will charge you for the daily cost they are losing out on while they can’t rent a car that was damaged in your possession. Most auto policies won’t cover that cost, but a policy through the car rental company may.

Another benefit to buying coverage through the car rental company is that if you have a claim, it’s not on your policy. Since the claim wouldn’t be on your policy, you wouldn’t see a rate increase at the next renewal because of the claim.

At the end of the day, each person has to consider the costs and benefits of relying on their policy or buying coverage through the rental car company and decide what’s best for them.

Will my policy cover me if I rent a car in another country?

Most US auto policies only extend coverage in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. If you’re renting a car in another country, you should purchase coverage specific to that country. Every country has their own insurance requirements and laws, so even if your policy did extend you may not be meeting that country’s requirements and could end up in legal trouble.

If my car is totaled in a claim, when do I have to return the rental car that was provided?

Once your car has been deemed a total loss and your adjuster has notified you, the clock starts ticking. Your policy will only continue paying for the rental car for a limited amount of time. After that has expired, you’ll have to either pay out of pocket for the rental car or return it.

The exact time frame will depend on your insurance carrier. Each company has their own guidelines, ranging anywhere from 1 day to 1 week, or possibly longer. On average, you’ll only have a couple days to return the rental car before you have to pay out of pocket.

Luckily, it shouldn’t come as a complete surprise if your car is totaled. As long as you’ve been in regular contact with your adjuster, they should give you a heads-up that a total loss is a possibility. That way you can start your search for a new car before your car is officially deemed a total loss.

If you have any questions about insurance for rental cars, give us a call today. We’re always here to help and happy to answer any questions.

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