FAQs about Auto Insurance
Q. Is anyone who drives my car covered?
A. In most cases, yes, as long as they have the permission or reasonable belief from the insured that they can use the vehicle. The insured is the person named on the insurance policy and their spouse if applicable.
There are some exclusions, so you would need to look at your particular insurance policy to make sure. Remember, everyone in your household must be listed on your insurance policy if they have a license.
Q. What are the best liability policy limits?
A. It is generally accepted among insurance agents that the state minimum policy limits are not enough. Most insurance professionals would agree for the average driver the best liability limits to have are 100/300/100.
This means:
100,000 per person for bodily injury
300,000 per accident for bodily injury
100,000 per accident for property damage
Since in most areas medical treatment is in fairly the same range, the last limit, per accident for property damage, is the one you may want to take into account if you are not the average driver. If you live in an area where you feel that if there was an accident, that was your fault, and property damage may exceed 100,000, you may want to consider higher limits. Remember, property damage is the other person's car and any other property damaged during the accident if you are at fault.
Q. What is the difference between comprehensive and collision?
A. Collision coverage is when you have an accident with something like another car. Comprehensive coverage is when it is anything else other than a collision such as fire or theft. Most people would have both coverage when using the car on a regular basis. Sometimes when one is just storing a car they may only keep comprehensive coverage since they are not using it on the road therefore, it is unlikely to be in a collision.
Q. What are the minimum policy requirements?
A. Liability is required in every state unless you can prove financial responsibility otherwise. Limits vary widely from state to state and, if you carry the minimum limits, when you drive into another state you will automatically assume that state's minimum liability requirements.
Q. How does my driving record affect my insurance premium?
A. The premium you pay is a direct reflection of your driving record for the past three to five years depending on the insurance company. Insurance companies order driving records from the DMV of your residence state and from other states where you've been licensed. Statistics show that drivers with tickets and accidents are more likely to have accidents than drivers with clean records.
For more information about all our services call 585-586-3060 or contact us
through email. We will gladly give you a free quote on any our your insurance needs.
FAQs for Business Owners
Q. I run a business out of my home. Am I covered under my homeowner policy?
A. Many homeowner policies provided a limited amount of coverage for home-based businesses. Review your policy and take a good inventory of your business property and assets – computers, data, equipment, tools, etc. – and compare that to the coverage limits of your homeowner policy. Do you use your personal car for business? Do you own any valuable papers or books necessary for your business? Even a small business can have greater insurance needs than many realize.
Q. What types of damages will my business insurance cover?
A. Generally speaking, a basic property insurance policy will cover losses caused by fire and the cost to remove equipment, furnishings, or other inventory from a damaged building. Other events, such as windstorms, hail or vandalism are also usually covered. It’s important that you speak with your insurance agent about the needs of your business. Your agent can help you determine if you need to be covered for all risks, or if you need coverage for specific risks or special causes.
Q. How much commercial property insurance do I buy? Do I need to insure everything?
A. Every business has unique needs. The first thing to do is take a full inventory of your property, determine the value and then decide what needs to be insured.
Review the list below for some ideas of the types of property to insure.
Buildings and other structures (owned or leased)
Furniture, equipment and supplies
Records of accounts receivable
Improvements you made to the premises
Machinery, boilers, data processing equipment and media (including computers)
Valuable papers, books and documents
Cars, trucks, equipment
Outdoor property not attached to a building, for example signs or fences
Leased equipment
Tell your agent about the types of property you own and their uses. Some things may already be covered, while others can be added by an endorsement, or rider.
Q. Is all business insurance coverage the same?
A. As you know, businesses vary a great deal, and as a result, so do the insurance needs of different businesses. Some, such as restaurants, wineries, wholesales, or garages have special liability needs that can’t be met with standard policies, so they may need endorsements or supplemental insurance policies to cover all of their needs.
A Business Owners Policy (BOP), used by many small businesses, includes a variety of coverages that combine property, liability, loss of income, or business interruption coverage. Generally these policies provide a more complete coverage at a price lower than if each coverage were purchased separately. Your business is unique – talk to your agent about your specific needs and find out what coverage is best for you.
Q. Do I need additional insurance to cover products I’m shipping?
A. The value of the goods you are shipping may be higher than the coverage available to you from the shipping company or firm you hire to transport your goods. When considering options for shipping, check the coverage provided by the shipping company to be sure it’s enough, and thoroughly review the contract. Also, ask the carrier about their claims processing. You may need “property in transit” coverage, also known as an inland marine policy.
Q. What can I do to keep my insurance costs down?
A. The cost of insurance is based on risk, or the potential for a loss. By taking steps to safeguard your business, you may also be eligible for lower insurance rates. Most things you’ve probably already thought of such as adequate lighting, keeping everything in good repair, installing smoke and fire alarms and security devices.
Take a look at the list below for more ideas and ask your insurance agent for more information.
Hiring employees with good driving records.
Maintaining good inventory and accounting records and having a second set of records stored at another secure location.
Educating employees in proper safety procedures and use of safety equipment.
Being aware of and following local safety or environmental regulations.
Your agent may be able to offer you access to educational programs, safety checklists and other tools that will help you protect your business and make it a safe place. You may also want to consider hiring a risk manager who can advise you and talk to your employees about safety.
For more information about all our services call 585-586-3060 or contact us
through email. We will gladly give you a free quote on any our your insurance needs.