by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info, Homeowners Insurance Info |
As we drop the confetti and toast the New Year, an annual tradition is to make a resolution. What will yours be? Here are the top five resolutions Americans have made in recent years:
- Lose weight
- Get organized
- Spend less and save more
- Enjoy life
- Become more fit and healthy
Unfortunately, research shows less than 10 percent of those of us who make resolutions actually keep them.
But, there are easy actions you can take that could save you money and provide peace of mind.
Every year, many Americans fail to take stock of their biggest assets: their homes and vehicles. Here is a list of 11 simple resolutions you can make this New Year to protect the most valuable possessions you have worked so hard to attain.
7 Home Insurance Resolutions:
- Do a yearly policy review with an insurance advisor to check that you are getting all the discounts you qualify for, that you adequately insure any new additions or appliances, and verify that your liability coverage isn’t lacking
- Make sure you have replacement value if a fire or other disaster strikes
- Purchase earthquake or flood insurance if you live in areas prone to either
- Save on your premiums by investing in security and fire suppression systems
- Get renters insurance if you don’t have it yet
- Protect high-dollar items such as jewelry, fine art or musical instruments with scheduled personal property insurance
- Complete a comprehensive inventory of everything in your home in case you should ever have a claim
4 Auto Insurance Resolutions:
- Get a yearly policy review to check deductibles, coverages and to make sure you are getting all the discounts you qualify for (professional, multi-policy, good student, mature driver)
- Make certain you have adequate protection from uninsured or under-insured drivers
- Add any new drivers to your policy (teens or a new spouse)
- Bundle your auto and home insurance to receive deeper discounts
We Are Here To Help
Start the New Year off right; resolve to call today to make sure you are getting the professional discounts you deserve: $500 coverage for items destroyed or stolen from your vehicle, deductible waived or reduced if your vehicle is vandalized or hit while parked where you work, and special coverages for the equipment used for your job.
California Casualty advisors are ready to help you with any questions, do a policy comparison or review, or make any insurance changes you may need at 1.800.800.9410, or go online at www.calcas.com.
Resources for this article:
https://www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2014/08/12/337407.htm
https://www.knowyourstuff.org/iii/login.html
by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info |
It’s time to purchase a vehicle. You’ve saved money, researched the safest ones, and now you’re ready. New would be great, but many of us are choosing to save money and buy a previously owned vehicle. You know you need to be careful and have the car checked out, but did you do an inspection for flood damage?
Attorneys general in numerous states are warning consumers to be aware of the “flood” of water damaged cars after large storms and hurricanes. In fact, a used car dealer in New Jersey was recently sentenced to prison for selling vehicles damaged in Superstorm Sandy. The scheme involved a Motor Vehicles Commission employee who doctored titles for eight flood affected vehicles. To complicate the crime, consumer-watch groups warn that flood damaged cars are often sold in states far from where the damage occurred.
Buying a car that was submerged means real problems that can haunt you for years. Water is the enemy to just about everything in an automobile – destroying electronics, fouling fuel lines, rusting engines, brakes and transmissions, not to mention promoting dangerous mold and mildew.
So how can you protect yourself against buying a water logged vehicle? Some obvious ways are to use your nose to detect musty odors or the heavy lingering aroma of cleaners and disinfectants used to mask mold odors. You should also order a vehicle history report from a government data base like the National Motor Vehicle Title Information Service, or one of the reputable private company like CarFax or Autocheck, and look for signs of water damage or dirt in the dashboard, carpets or trunk.
Other signs of water damage are:
- Rusty door hinges and trunk latches
- Silt or mud under seats, in glove compartments or windows
- Brittle and bent wiring under the dashboard
- Electronics that flicker or don’t work
- Fog or moisture beads in interior lights
If you suspect you unknowingly bought a water damaged vehicle, contact your state attorney general’s office for help. The Federal Trade Commission also has a wealth of resources for used car buyers who fear they are victims of fraud.
Sources for this article:
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2014/12/08/349278.htm
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/steering-clear-storm-damaged-car-sequel
https://www.naag.org/
https://www.vehiclehistory.gov/
by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info |
It costs mere pennies a day, yet many renters don’t get insurance to cover their electronics, clothes, furniture and other valuable possessions. Many renters are under the assumption their landlord’s insurance will cover their goods if there is a fire, a flood, or a tree falls onto the structure. Sure, the damage to the building will be covered, but not the contents inside.
With another winter storm slamming the eastern third of the U.S., insurance experts warn it could be a very cold reality for renters, and even homeowners who do not have property insurance, if a winter malady should hit.
Renters insurance covers fire or lightning, windstorm or hail, freezing of plumbing systems, theft, and more. Also, keep in mind, if someone is injured at the domicile you rent, renters insurance can help protect you if there is a liability lawsuit.
Renters insurance can be purchased for as little as a couple hundred dollars a year, but statistics show as many as 70 percent of renters go without the coverage.
by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info, Homeowners Insurance Info |
Do you want to save money on your insurance payments? Did you know there’s a way to do that without raising your deductible or lowering your coverage? The answer is bundling.
What is bundling? It’s a term to describe a multi-policy discount. If you have more than one policy with an insurance company, you may bundle those policies and, in the process, you can save on all.
Here’s why you might consider bundling:
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- Bundling can save you money. Depending upon the amount of coverage for your policies, and your state, you can save from 5% to 25%.
- Bundling is convenient. It simplifies bill paying and record keeping since you interact with just one insurer.
- Bundling can help ensure you are fully covered. Having all policies with one company allows your insurance advisor to review any gaps in coverage.
There are many different ways to bundle your insurance.
Homeowner’s Insurance Bundles
Your home is one of your greatest investments; you need to make sure that it’s fully protected. There are plenty of decisions to make when buying your own policy- from coverage limits to extra protection for your belongings. One of those decisions might be to incorporate additional coverage to enhance your policy. When you bundle those with your home insurance, you can save money.
You can choose to bundle your home insurance with:
- Sump pump endorsement: A sump pump is a device that collects excess water and drains it outside your home. Sump pump coverage covers the costs of repair and replacement in the event of a sump pump failure. Just a couple inches of water backup can cause thousands of dollars in damage – ruining carpets, destroying appliances, and crumbling drywall.
- Flood insurance: Regular home insurance does not cover flood damage. That’s why many people in flood zones purchase this extra policy. There is a 30-day waiting period to buy flood insurance, so take that into consideration.
- Auto insurance: If you have a vehicle, you likely have liability, collision, and/or comprehensive insurance. Liability coverage is used to pay for damages that you cause. Collision coverage helps to pay to repair your vehicle or get one of equivalent cash value if yours is totaled. Comprehensive coverage is for damage to your vehicle other than collisions, such as natural disasters, fires, vandalism, theft, and animals that damage your vehicle.
- College students and renter’s insurance: If your college student* lives away at school, his or her belongings are covered by your homeowner’s policy at 10% of the limit of liability or $1,000, whichever is greater. You may want more coverage than 10%. Talk to your insurance advisor about expanding limits, such as an umbrella policy to cover expensive items your student is bringing to college. Alternatively, consider purchasing renter’s insurance for your college student for an off-campus apartment. Renter’s insurance not only protects your student’s possessions but offers them emergency housing if they are unable to reside in the rental unit. Renter’s insurance is surprisingly affordable, so when you bundle it with your homeowner’s, it could practically be free!
*Note that college students must meet certain requirements in order to qualify as an insured on your homeowner’s policy. This includes age limitations, family relationship, and full-time enrollment in school. In the event of theft coverage, they must have lived in the location 60 days immediately before the loss.
- Earthquake Insurance: If you live in an area that is prone to earthquakes, you may want to consider this additional coverage. Homeowner, condo, and rental insurance policies typically do not cover earthquakes.
- Umbrella policies: This type of policy provides additional personal liability insurance that starts to pay after your underlying limits of liability on your home insurance policy have been exhausted after a covered loss. While there’s no way to know for sure how much liability coverage you may need, understanding what you stand to lose is a good place to start. If you’re being sued, it’s possible that equity in your home, your personal savings, and your income may be at risk. If the value of two years of your annual income, the equity in your home, and your savings exceed the liability limits on your auto or home insurance policies, then you should consider an umbrella policy to protect your net worth.
Renter’s Insurance Bundles
Renter’s insurance is like homeowner’s insurance but for tenants. Starting at about $10 a month, it protects your personal belongings (that’s right, your landlord’s insurance policy will not cover your belongings) but that’s not all. It’s an important safeguard if you’re found at fault for property damage or injuries at your place (and even around the world). It also can help if you don’t have access to your apartment or home due to a covered loss.
You can choose to bundle your renter’s insurance with:
- Auto insurance: As described above, auto insurance helps protect you in the event of an accident or other damage to your car. When you bundle your renter’s policy with an auto policy that you already have, the savings can be substantial.
- Pet insurance: Our pets are like family and we want to keep them as healthy as possible. Pet insurance can help to offset those veterinary expenses. Depending on your policy, pet insurance may cover exams, prescriptions, lab tests and x-rays, surgeries, emergency visits, and even cancer. You make the initial payment and then are reimbursed depending upon the deductible and limits that you have selected. (Pet insurance also may be bundled with homeowner’s, too.)
Auto Insurance Bundles
Auto and homeowner’s insurance, and auto and renter’s policies, are among the most popular types of insurance bundles. However, you also may wish to bundle your car insurance with a boat policy.
- Boats and personal watercraft: If you have a boat, you will need a boat insurance policy. You also need a separate policy for personal watercraft such as jet skis. The policies protect you from vandalism, accidents, and liability for injuries to others.
*Note that motorcycle insurance is not eligible for a bundling discount. However, if you live in a cold climate state, and only ride your bike in warmer months, you can ask about seasonal coverage.
Each year, California Casualty policyholders save an average of $423* a year. That could be even more if you decide to bundle your coverages. See how much you can save and get started with a free quote today at mycalcas.com/quote.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
by California Casualty | News |
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