• Named insured includes your spouse if he/she is a resident of your household. If you separate or divorce, their coverage ends after 90 days. It is recommended to list both spouses as insureds on the policy to avoid this gap in coverage.
• Is your automobile part of a living trust? The trust must be listed on your policy as an additional insured.
• Unrelated residents, such as roommate, boyfriend, girlfriend, or significant other, even if listed on the policy as a driver, do not have the same coverage as an insured and family member, including the authority to give permission for someone else to operate an insured vehicle, or coverage when they operate a non-owned vehicle. To properly insure themselves, they need a non-owned vehicle policy.
• If you go on vacation and rent a vehicle, you have the same coverage on the rental car as you have on your personal auto, subject to the same limit of liability and deductibles. In very few instances, you may be liable to the rental company for the loss of income due to the damaged vehicle being out of service. This is not covered under your automobile insurance policy. The rental contracts are giving the rental company more control over establishing the value of the rental car and estimating damage to it. For this reason, we recommend that you always purchase the loss damage deductible waiver.
• Coverage for CD’s falls under your homeowner or renter’s insurance, unless you purchase the Sound Reproducing Equipment endorsement, which includes coverage for CD’s.
• Custom equipment and furnishings must be described on the endorsement, to be covered. Even if you purchase a vehicle from the dealer that has been customized, it is not considered a stock vehicle. If there is any customization after the factory, inform your agent. Snowplows are considered custom equipment.
• If you qualify for both automobile and homeowner’s insurance with the same company, you may qualify for a multipolicy discount.
• If you have a young driver and they maintain a 3.0 gpa in school, you may qualify for the good student discount.
• Comprehensive coverage includes broken glass. If you receive a chip in the windshield and it can be repaired without replacing the window, most companies will waive the deductible and pay for the repair. Chips may cause cracks that cannot be repaired. For this reason, call your agent promptly to have it repaired. Full glass coverage is also available. Even with a deductible on comprehensive, replacement of the automotive glass will be done without deductible.
• Is your vehicle used in business? This includes delivery, sales, construction, repair and service industries or if you are self employed.
• Towing coverage is available and includes emergency road service such as if you run out of gas, have a flat tire or require a jump start.
• Rental reimbursement applies if your vehicle is out of service due to a claim and you must rent a vehicle to use in its place.
• Report all accidents promptly. Contact the police immediately, even if the accident occurs in a parking lot. If that is not possible, exchange names, phone numbers and insurance agent (not just insurance company) information.
• Do you drive back and forth to work? How far is it one way? How many days per week? Are you in a car pool or ride share?
• Replacement cost coverage is available on new vehicles. If the vehicle cannot be repaired, you can receive a new vehicle of the current model year, same make and model or the nearest model available.
• Loan/lease or GAP coverage reimburses you for the difference between the actual cash value (ACV) and the remaining balance on the loan or lease. There is a limit of 125% of the ACV.