Month: September 2012

How Combining Home and Auto Insurance Policies Can Save You Money in Connecticut

Posted on by AgentInsure

You need a homeowners insurance policy before a mortgage lender will lend you the money you need to buy a home in Connecticut. And before you can hit the roads in West Hartford or elsewhere in the state, you’ll need auto insurance. It’s illegal to drive in Connecticut without this protection.

Unfortunately, both auto and homeowners insurance can be costly. These challenging economic times have left many consumers with few dollars to spare.

The good news, though, is that you can qualify for discounts from insurers that can save you money. And one of the easiest ways to receive a solid discount from an insurer to is buy two or more insurance policies from them. If you want to save money, then, consider combining home and auto insurance from the same insurance company.

Of course, you still want to make sure that whatever insurance policies you do take out are a good fit for you and your family. You want to make sure that you receive enough coverage to protect yourself financially while still paying an affordable a rate as possible.

That’s where you local insurance agent comes in. By meeting with an independent insurance agent in West Hartford, you can best analyze the various policies offered by the country’s biggest insurance providers. That’s because an independent insurance agent will have formed relationships with insurance carriers across the country. Thanks to these relationships, independent agents can immediately call up live insurance quotes, giving you the chance to directly compare the homeowners and auto insurance coverage available to you.

You independent insurance agent will be able to tell you if combining home and auto insurance from the same company makes financial sense. This agent will also help you determine what other insurance discounts you might qualify for. These discounts could save you a significant amount of money each year.

Understanding Your Insurance Options in Connecticut

Posted on by AgentInsure

Whether you live in West Hartford or down on the shore, all Connecticut residents need insurance to protect their most important belongings. Fortunately, you have a lot of options when it comes to choosing policies in Connecticut.

Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners insurance protects your home and its contents. All homeowners insurance policies include dwelling coverage, which protects the structure of the home, its carpeting and all built-in appliances. In Connecticut, you can also choose from the following add-on options:

  • Contents coverage. By adding contents coverage, you can protect appliances and property that aren’t built-in to your home’s walls.
  • Replacement cost coverage. Basic insurance policies provide maximum coverage equal to the home’s cash value. With replacement cost coverage, the insurance company will provide you with the money you need to rebuild your home if it is destroyed, which is often much more than the original home’s cash value.
  • Other structures coverage. Basic policies cover only the main home. This add-on extends protection to structures separate from your home, such as garages and barns.
  • Coverage for natural disasters. Dwelling coverage doesn’t usually apply to damage from natural disasters, such as floods and earthquakes. If you want to protect against these events, you must purchase specific add-ons.

Car Insurance

Connecticut requires all registered vehicles to carry at least minimum liability insurance, which pays for damages caused by your vehicle when you are at fault in an accident. However, other coverage options are also available in addition to liability, including:

  • Uninsured motorist. Uninsured motorist coverage pays for damages caused by a driver who was illegally operating a vehicle without insurance.
  • Collision. Collision coverage pays for damage sustained in collisions, regardless of who was at fault.
  • Comprehensive. Comprehensive coverage pays for damages that aren’t caused by a collision, such as those caused by vandalism or weather.

Policy prices vary based on the type of insurance you choose, as well as your personal history. Contact an insurance agent in West Hartford to learn more about your insurance options.

What Happens During an Auto Claim Process?

Posted on by AgentInsure

If you have recently been in an automobile accident in West Hartford, Connecticut, you may be wondering how the auto claim process works. Making a claim on your insurance is not difficult. The first thing you will need to do is contact your agent. Usually you can find this information on the back of your insurance card. Once you have reported the accident, what happens next depends on the extent of the damage.

Once you have determined if anyone was injured, you will want to exchange insurance information with the other party involved. If there are injuries, you will want to review your policy and calculate how much medical liability insurance coverage you have. Usually there are maximum limits, but hopefully you will be fully covered. Next, depending on the damage to the vehicle, you will need to get estimates to repair the car. If you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle, this should be a fairly quick process. Your insurance company will probably require at least two estimates and then you will be able to take the vehicle in for repairs. If it will take several days, you may also qualify for a rental vehicle to use while yours is in the shop. Remember, if you have a deductible, this amount will be taken out of the final claim check.

If you need to find affordable automobile insurance in West Hartford, Connecticut, go online and find a local insurance agent to compare rates with several providers. Insurance companies offer different options and the only way to make sure you are getting a good deal is to compare quotes. The insurance agent will help you find the specific coverage you need for your situation. Knowing that you have great auto insurance will give you piece of mind if the time comes for needing the auto claim process.

Important Questions to Ask When Shopping for Homeowers Insurance in West Hartford

Posted on by AgentInsure

When shopping for homeowners insurance there are several questions you need to ask your agent. When you compare quotes online, it important to make sure you are getting the coverage you need for all types of situations. Since your home in West Hartford, Connecticut is a large investment, you want to make sure your home protection is top of the line.

One question you need to ask about homeowners insurance is how much it would cost to rebuild your home in West Hartford. Depending on the age of your home, you will want to know the cost using today’s building materials and making sure the structure is built to today’s code requirements. Next, you will want to ask about the value of your personal property. When shopping for homeowners insurance, you will want to take a home inventory so you can calculate what your possessions are worth in Connecticut. Create a list of all of your electronics, appliances, clothes, children’s toys, etc to determine how much insurance you need. Other questions to ask are how much liability coverage you should purchase and if you need additional living expenses coverage. Working with an independent agent is a great way to get the best deal on homeowners insurance protection.

Compare quotes online for homeowners insurance to find a rate you can afford. You never want to think about disasters causing damage to your home, but knowing you have great insurance will give you peace of mind. There are many companies that will offer discounts for multiple policies and added security devices installed in your home, so make sure you ask your agent to check on ways to save money. Before making any decisions about which insurance plan to purchase, compare rates and make sure you review the questions to ask your insurance agent.