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How do I file a claim?

You can file a claim several ways. The best way is to contact the insurance company directly. For contact information by carrier, click here. You can also complete the File a Claim form on our website or call us.

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I just moved to Florida and need to get my driver’s license and register my cars. What do I need to do?

Florida requires you to have valid insurance for each vehicle. You need to register your vehicles within 10 days of establishing residency. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has excellent FAQ facility which will let you know what forms and validation you need and where to take it for registration. The section of their website that deals with this can be found at http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/dhsmv/newflres.html

If you driver’s license hasn’t expired you can probably convert to a Florida license without a written test. To check and to see other requirements, go to this web page http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/ddl/faqkeys.html

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I’m moving to a new residence within Florida, how do I change my address?

We have address change forms on our website on this page https://www.cfluent.com/plins/forms/indexfb.php?id=34&agencyid=fid432j.
You’ll also need to change your address with the state of Florida on your driver’s license and vehicle registrations. For your convenience, you can do that online at this page http://express.hsmv.state.fl.us/

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What are the benefits of a renters policy?

Renters policies provide several benefits. A renters policy will provide compensation for many types of loss to your personal property. Renters policies also include liability protection. This can be especially important because a fire, caused by your negligence, could damage a large number of other rental units and the property contained in them. Liability coverage will normally cover your legal obligations to compensate other parties in cases like this as well as for other instances where you are legally liable for damage of loss.

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Do I need to buy insurance from the rental car company if I have my own personal automobile insurance?

That depends. Liability protection that you carry for personal injury and property damage will provide some protection while you are driving the rental car. Damage to the rental car would be covered under Collision and Comprehensive Coverage, if your policy has it. The rental car company may also try to recover damages for lost income while the rental car is out of service. Your auto policy may or may not protect you against this claim; the best way to know is to look at your policy or ask us to review it for you. Credit card companies often provide protection against these kinds of rental car claims so you should check there to see what the provisions and restrictions might be. Finally, you can purchase a Collision Damage Waiver – CDW- from the rental car company. This isn't actually insurance but a release from financial liability you might otherwise be charged with as a result of damaging the rental car. The CDW is expensive at $8 to $12 a day. This would amount to over $4,000 a year for very limited coverage. Still, if you do not have protection via your auto policy or credit card, paying the CDW over a few days may be preferable than being personally accountable for $15,000 or $20,000 or more to replace the rental car.

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How does my automobile policy protect me when I'm driving in other states that may require different limits or types of coverage? What about when I'm driving in another country?

Your policy will normally adjust for differences in other state requirements if you have the required minimum coverage for your state. Personal automobile policy protection is only applicable in the United States, US territories and possessions and the provinces of Canada.

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If I rent a car or truck am I protected against loss by my business auto policy?

That depends. A business auto policy by itself won't extend protection to rented autos unless you have amended it. You can get protection for situations where you rent autos if you add Hired Auto Liability and Physical Damage coverage.

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I’m buying a new car. How much different are the costs to insure different kinds of cars?

There is a tremendous difference in insurance costs between vehicles. The differences are primarily related to factors such as vehicle safety and crash results, performance characteristics and costs to repair. Sports cars built for speed and low production vehicles, for which repair work and replacement parts may be expensive, generally cost more to insure. When you include other rating factors like driving experience and record situations where certain drivers paired with the wrong vehicle can result in very significant insurance costs. For information on vehicle safety and crash ratings the Insurance Institute for Highway is an excellent resource at http://www.iihs.org/.

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What happens after I file a claim?

The claim process has a few variations but these are the essential steps once the claim has been submitted to the insurance company:

1. You will be contacted by an insurance company adjustor to gather detailed information about your claim.
   
2. Often, someone from the insurance company will inspect your auto or property for damage or will ask you to provide evidence of value and ownership for loss to property that is not a vehicle or real property.
   
3. An estimate is prepared.
   
4. A check is delivered.
   
5. Sometimes differences in actual and estimated damages arise, especially after repair work has been undertaken. Every attempt is made to resolve these differences and sometimes a supplemental check is prepared.
   

It is the responsibility of the insurance company to settle and pay your claim and the responsibility of our agency to make sure that is done as quickly and fairly as possible with a minimum of uncertainty and bother for you. We monitor claim progress closely and communicate with you throughout to make sure you are satisfied.

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What happens if I cause a car accident?

If you own, lease (long term) or finance your vehicle then you will file a claim with your insurance company. You will have to pay any deductible amount. Payment for your loss will include payment to the finance or leasing company, if any. If you cause damage to other vehicles or property, your insurance company will handle that with little or no involvement on your part, in most cases.

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What if another driver hits my car?

In most cases the other driver’s insurance policy would respond and reimburse you for damages to your vehicle, property or injuries. In some cases, as when you or your passengers are injured and the other driver has inadequate or no insurance, coverage from your own policy may apply (Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage).

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Will filing a claim make my premium increase or result in my policy being canceled?

Generally the answer is no. One claim is not a cause for concern on the part of of insurance companies. But a pattern of claims may result in a premium increase or cancellation. So if you have a claim that is the third in three years, for example, that will be viewed differently than having one claim only. Individual claims that are suggestive of gross negligence can also result in significant premium increase or cancellation. An example might be an auto accident accompanied by a reckless driving or driving under the influence conviction.

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Will my automobile policy protect a friend or relative if I loan my vehicle to them?

Your automobile policy protection is extended to anyone you grant permission to drive your car. You do not need to explicitly provide permission, the other person only needs to have a reasonable belief that they are driving with permission.

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Are natural disasters such as flood, earthquakes and hurricanes covered under my homeowner policy?

Many natural disasters, such as hurricanes or tornadoes, are covered in a homeowner policy. Others, like earthquake and flood are not. Let us know if you have any concerns about your protection from loss due to natural or even man made disasters; we'll be happy to review your insurance program and let you know what, if any, changes you might want to consider.

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Do I need a condominium policy if my condominium association has a master policy for the complex?

The association master policy is for coverage to the structure, which you don't need. However, to get protection for your own possessions and for legal liability related to your own unit, you need your own policy. Many condominium associations will assess unit owners for master policy deductibles. That's another reason why it is important to have your own policy and why it is important that the coverage in your policy match up well with the association master policy.

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Does my homeowner policy cover my possessions when they are not in my house?

A standard homeowner policy provides coverage equal to 10% of the limit for Coverage C of a homeowner policy or $1,000, whichever is greater. This coverage is useful for protecting you while traveling and for other temporary situations. If you have property in excess of these amounts away from home or property that is kept away from your residence premises for extended periods, you should consider additional protection.

The 10% limitation for household property, is for property at an Insureds Residence Premise......There is no limitation for property carried on vacation or stored in a storage unit. (except whatever the contents limit is on the property)

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I'm not near any body of water. Is there any particular reason why I would need flood insurance? Doesn't my homeowner policy provide flood coverage?

Homeowner policies specifically exclude reimbursement for damage caused by flood. Your home may be a significant distance from a major body of water but still be exposed to flood risk if your home was built in a flood plain. The National Flood Insurance Program has a flood risk indicator on their website. All you have to do is enter your property address and you will get an indication of the degree of flood risk you face. Our agency can get flood coverage for you. For an indication of the cost, the National Flood Insurance Site also has a 'quick quote' table of premiums to give you an idea.

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The Right Homeowners Insurance Can Be a Homesaver

Homeowner's insurance is an essential purchase. Mortgage holders require their borrowers to keep this coverage in force while the mortgage has a balance. However, the coverage is just as important for those who own their homes free and clear. Few individuals have sufficient funds to rebuild a destroyed home. For this reason, it is important for homeowners to have the right coverage, not just any coverage. Failure to consider a few factors can leave them with a too-small claim check or even no claim check at all. Probably the most important of these are the amount of insurance on the home and the perils that could possibly damage it.

Insurance industry consulting firm MSB has estimated that as many as two-thirds of American homes are underinsured, by an average 21 percent. This means that a home that would cost $100,000 to rebuild is probably insured for only $79,000. It is important for the insurance limit to reflect building costs in the area, not the prices that homes are selling for. It should also take into account the cost of rebuilding to comply with local codes, the expense of not buying materials in bulk, and any custom features the home has. For a nominal fee, MSB offers an online tool to help homeowners calculate their insurance needs at www.accucoverage.com.

Homeowner's insurance typically covers damage caused by fire, lightning, vehicles, windstorms, and several other perils, but it does not cover everything. For example, it does not cover damage caused by flooding. Too many people fail to consider this; more than 40 percent of New Orleans homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina lacked flood insurance, and the insured rate was higher there than in other affected areas. Homeowners who live near ponds, creeks, lakes or oceans should give serious consideration to buying flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program, and even those who do not live near water should think about it. Officials with the NFIP estimate that one in four flood claims occurs in low- to moderate-risk areas.

Other perils that the policy may not cover include earthquakes, mudslides, mold infestations, and gradual rotting of building components. Homeowners in areas with frequent seismic activity should consider separate coverage for earthquakes and other types of earth movement.

The amount of insurance and the scope of the coverage have a major impact on the policy's cost, but another influential factor is the deductible -- the amount the homeowner pays out of pocket before the company pays. Higher deductibles result in lower premiums because the company is spared the expense of handling small losses that fall below the deductible. Each homeowner must decide the deductible amount that she can comfortably afford. Since homeowners often pay insurance premiums for many years without suffering a loss, the savings from the higher deductible discount may well offset the higher out-of-pocket expense if a loss occurs.

There are several other considerations homeowners have when they buy insurance. Do you have expensive pieces of jewelry, collectibles, musical instruments or artwork? Do you run a business out of your home? Do you or your children own laptop computers? Are you a landlord? Do you own snowmobiles or boats? Operate a home day care center? You may need special coverage for all of these. To identify your coverage needs and determine the cost of insuring them, speak with a qualified insurance agent who insures many homes. She can present options and provide information about the financial strength of companies and their claims handling practices.

Homeowner's insurance is not just another expense. It is a vital part of a homeowner's financial plan. Take the time to make certain you have the right coverage at a reasonable cost.

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Will my roommate's renters policy cover me as well?

Typical policies provide coverage for you and relatives that live with you. So, if your roommate is not a relative you will not be protected under his or her policy. Renters polices are very affordable, starting at not much more than $150 a year and they provide liability protection as well as coverage for your personal possessions.

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Is my boat insured if I have an auto or homeowner policy?

If you have a homeowner policy your boat might be covered but there are limitations. Automobile policies do not extend coverage to boats. Boat coverage can sometimes be increased by modifying a homeowner policy but a separate boat policy may be needed.

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What kind of insurance does my business need?

That depends on the kind of business you engage in. All business need basic liability to protect them against acts of owners or employees for which the business might be considered legally liable. Professional service providers soften need special liability protection. Examples might be professional liability protection for lawyers, doctors, architects or software designers. Another example are businesses that manufacture or distribute a product; they typically need product liability protection. It's always a good idea to review the kinds of liability exposures your business might have when updating or initiating an insurance program.

Businesses that own autos or use non-owned autos in the conduct of their business will probably need a business auto policy.

All businesses have property which can be divided up into several categories: office or other equipment, inventory, real property, etc. and it is a good idea to think about your ability to replace any damaged or lost property in these categories. If the possible amount of loss exceeds your comfort level then insurance might be a good altenative.
You need to think about how long you could afford to be out of business. Insurance, known as business interruption insurance, can pay suppliers, salaries and other costs you might incur even if your business income were to be interrupted by a covered cause of loss.

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How often should I review my life insurance policy?

You should review all of your insurance needs at least once a year. If you have a major life change, you should contact your insurance agent or company representative. The change in your life may have a significant impact on your insurance needs. Life changes may include:

• Marriage or divorce
  
  
• A child or grandchild who is born or adopted
  
  
• Significant changes in your health or that of your spouse/domestic partner
  
  
• Taking on the financial responsibility of an aging parent
  
  
• Purchasing a new home
  
  
• A loved one who requires long-term care
  
  
• Refinancing your home
  
  
• Coming into an inheritance

Source: Insurance Information Institute www.iii.org

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