Is Your Car A Collectible? Will This Affect Your Insurance?

In West Hartford, CT, a large number of our customers own and collect classic cars. How are these vehicles defined? And how does collectible insurance help you? Let us at ALLConnecticut Insurance give you the help you need when choosing this type of insurance policy.

How A Classic Car Is Defined

Classic cars are defined in various ways. For example, the Classic Car Club of America states that any vehicle that runs and which has been completely restored that was built between 1925-1948 qualifies. However, modern classics are vehicles that are 15-25 years old that have made a cultural impact or that are rare. Muscle cars from the 60s and 70s are also considered classic cars.

Does Your Car Fall Under These Headings?

If your car falls under these headings and you are interested in capitalizing on it, you will need collectible insurance. However, if you plan on driving your car as a primary vehicle, you probably won’t need it. Collectible insurance is designed to protect cars that are owned for their value rather than their use. It also covers cars that are shown off at car expos.

How Collectible Insurance Can Help

Collectible car insurance will help protect your car from damage occurred in unusual circumstances. For example, if you decide to show your collectible car off at a show, a regular insurance policy may not cover it. A collectible car insurance policy would. It can also cover certain kinds of travel expenses, such as overseas travel to a car show, that typical car insurance policies would not. Coverage is typically offered at a higher value to protect your investment.

Talk To An Agent Today

If you live in West Hartford, CT and think you own a collectible car, call us at ALLConnecticut Insurance today. We can provide you with the kind of insurance you need to keep your car safe from total loss. We may even be able to bundle your policy to cover multiple collectible cars.

How RV Insurance Differs From Regular Auto Insurance

Owning an RV is a great way to go wherever and whenever you desire. As you drive on the road with your RV, you do need insurance to protect it and other motorists. However, there is specific RV insurance designed just for your kind of vehicle. What is the different between RV insurance and auto insurance though? At AllConnecticut Insurance, we want to make sure you understand the difference, whether you live in West Hartford, CT or in the surrounding area. 

Specialized Insurance

As you are from Connecticut, you may not take your RV out throughout the entire year. If you only take it out a few months at a time it is better to go with specialized RV insurance, which allows you to insure it for only the months you are driving. 

Added Insurance Coverage

With RV insurance, you are able to include not only campsite liability but RV emergency expense coverage. Both of these kinds of insurance instances you will likely not find with auto insurance due to the nature of an RV. 

Additional Liability 

Due to the increased size of an RV over a traditional vehicle, you’ll need added liability insurance. With RV insurance, you receive a higher liability threshold. As a larger vehicle is able to cause more damage than a smaller vehicle going the same speed, this is a must. RV insurance will protect you with this added liability coverage you need. 

You have the ability to travel just about anywhere with your RV. However, you also need to protect yourself and your vehicle with proper RV insurance. We at AllConnecticut Insurance are here to answer all of your RV insurance questions and concerns, regardless of if you live in West Hartford, CT or in a neighboring city. 

Is there a difference between boat insurance and yacht insurance?

There is no hard-fast rule that defines the difference between a boat and a yacht. Generally speaking, a boat is usually less than 30 feet long. A yacht is always a pleasure craft even if it is rented out for hire, whereas a boat can be used for recreation or for business efforts, such as commercial fishing. A ship can carry a boat, but a boat cannot carry a ship. 

If you tell a yacht owner you like his or her boat, they might be insulted. This is because yachts are very expensive and cost much more than a smaller pleasure boat.

There are significant differences between the types of insurance available from ALLConnecticut Insurance serving West Hartford, CT for different types of watercraft depending on its size, its value, and what activities it is used for.

Boat and Yacht Insurance Checklist

Here are some things to consider when insuring your watercraft:

  • Where will the boat or yacht be moored?
  • Will it be a supervised mooring or unsupervised?
  • Will it be fitted with an alarm and a GPS anti-theft device?
  • Will it stay in the water all year long, or only be used seasonally?
  • Will it be used for any commercial purpose, including charging for boat rides, commercial fishing, or renting it out?
  • What does its replacement cost?
  • What upgrades have been made? Yachts typically have designer finishes, expensive fittings, and may have things like fine artwork that needs special insurance coverage.
  • Is all the necessary safety gear on board and kept in good working condition?

Summary

It is important to insure your prize possession of a pleasure boat, commercial boat, or yacht adequately. Even if moored properly, severe weather can suddenly come up that damages it, while it is docked.

Contact ALLConnecticut Insurance in West Hartford, CT, to make sure you have the right kind of boat or yacht insurance coverage. Call (860) 232-7076 or (888) ALL-CONN.

Does Commercial Insurance Cover Your Personal Car That is Used For Business?

In order to properly insure your business vehicle, you can take out a commercial car insurance policy. This is something that needs to be discussed with an insurance agent to make certain that you are protecting you, and your business from liability.

Commercial Car Insurance:

  • goes above and beyond what a personal auto insurance policy would cover
  • covers situations that would occur related to business traveling and usage
  • covers liability for people who may be employed by your company and are conducting business using a company vehicle
  • covers work only vehicles like dump trucks and taxi cabs

It is tempting to continue to insure your work vehicle under your personal auto insurance policy. DO NOT FALL VICTIM TO THIS TEMPTATION. Though the chances are slim that you or your employer would get into an auto accident, the stress caused by driving without proper insurance is not worth it.

If the car is involved in an accident while it is being driven for work-related purposes your personal auto policy will not cover your liability. Commercial vehicle insurance is designed for the situations that will arise during business travel. Driving without insurance jeopardizes your business and personal revenue. You leave yourself open to being personally sued for damages.  

Speaking with a knowledgeable insurance agent about where the gray areas would be to your benefit. 

Call ALLConnecticut Insurance today at 860-232-7076 to figure out if you need a commercial vehicle insurance policy. If you reside in or have set up your business in West Hartford, CT or the surrounding areas we would love for you to come in to speak with one of our agents today to discuss your commercial, home, life, or auto insurance policy needs. Make your insurance a priority before a mishap arises!    

Spring Home Maintenance Tips

If you fail to properly maintain your home and property, your home insurance may have reason to deny home insurance claims you make. As such, it is extremely important that you properly maintain your home and property. Here are a few home maintenance tips that should be done in the spring to help you with your home maintenance.

Have Your Roof Inspected and Repaired

Once the snow has thawed away and the roof is no longer slick, it is important that you have your roof inspected. If there is anything wrong with the roof, repairs should be made. This helps to prevent leaks from the roof from occurring and causing damage within your home.

Have Your Trees Trimmed

Trees need to be properly trimmed after the wet and cold winters. Trimming trees helps to remove dead growth. Damaged or diseased trees and limbs can fall off suddenly and unexpectedly, causing damage to people and property. Properly maintaining your trees helps to prevent this issue.

Repair Damaged Concrete and Asphalt

Lastly, the winter can be rough on your concrete and asphalt surfaces. It can cause cracks or holes that people can trip on or that can continue to grow. Once the ground has thawed out, repair any damage to your concrete and asphalt surfaces, such as your foundation, patios, walkways and driveway.

Maintaining your home is an important aspect of your home insurance policy. If you would like to learn more about home insurance policies or are in the market for a new one, give ALLConnecticut Insurance, serving the greater West Hartford, CT area, a call today. We can answer any questions you have or help you price out a new policy.

Talk to a Professional About Your Unique Auto Insurance Needs

If you are in the market for automobile insurance, you may have a number of questions about it. This is fairly common, and it is crucial to understand what you are getting into prior to signing up for insurance.

Seek Assistance from an Automobile Insurance Professional

It does not need to be a frustrating process to talk to an auto insurance professional. You only need to know who is dependable and able to give you the best advice. Chances are, you live in an area where there are numerous agents, all vying for client with promises of offering the best quotes and tips to save money. 

Know What You Want

One of the key things is to go into any discussion with a clear idea of the coverage that you want. This way, you are far less likely to be roped into signing on for more than you really will end up needing. Keep in mind how much you have in assets, which will determine the amount of liability coverage you should get. Also, look at how much you currently at paying for insurance and the types of coverage you receive to measure up to for your new policy.

Get Comparisons
You may want to start out going through online services for quotes. You can do this with ease, right from the comfort of your home. However, if you want to have a sit-down discussion with an expert about your needs and anything you may be confused about, it is crucial that you find a reputable insurance agent who will be honest and make you feel confident about the process. A company like ALLConnecticut Insurance can assist you with such matters. 

Be sure that you ask about any discounts, and let each company/professional know that you still are shopping around for quotes. Make the professional work hard to get your business, and you will get the best service from a business that serves West Hartford, CT. 

Seniors: Here’s How to Adjust Your Auto Insurance to Reduce Costs

For those who are getting a bit older, and have the need to save a bit of money, the team at ALLConnecticut Insurance wants to help you to reduce your costs. Seniors are different drivers than those who are younger. The amount of risk you present to the insurance agency will differ from one person to the next. However, there are ways to cut down on your costs in many cases.

How to Save Money

Seniors may be able to reduce their auto insurance rates by contacting their agent at ALLConnecticut Insurance. Many seniors do not drive much. If you have reduced the amount of driving you do on a daily basis, you may qualify for a lower insurance rate. For those seniors who no longer drive at all, but still own a vehicle, it is still critical to have an auto insurance policy in place. This protects the value of your vehicle (depending on the type of insurance you have) from risks.

Those who have vehicles that are paid off may also be able to reduce some of their coverage to see a lower premium. It is only wise to do this if you can afford to do so. Talk to your agent about this type of option to be sure it is right for you.

Getting a Quote Can Help You

When it comes to saving money, you may just need a new policy. We serve seniors and other clients throughout the West Hartford, CT area. Contact one of our experienced and trusted agents today to learn more about how we can help you with the insurance coverage you need. We may be able to help you get into a more affordable plan that matches your needs.

 

Are Your Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Covered?

New England winters are like no others. They are long, bitter cold and tremendously costly. That’s why many homeowners turn to wood stoves and fireplaces to offset energy bills. But installing a wood stove or activating a fireplace must be done correctly. If not, you could be vulnerable of having a claim denied. At ALLConnecticut Insurance, our professionals are committed to helping members of the West Hartford, CT community stay properly insured. Please consider these things about open flame that might put you at risk.

Wood Stoves

Wood burning stoves are wonderful ways to heat a home and lower energy bills. You can even cook a few meals on them. Many Connecticut homes already have viable chimneys in place to tap into. However, national and state fire code regulations must be followed. To ensure that your policy will cover a loss due to fire, a wood stove may need to be inspected and approved. You’ll need to follow up with your insurance professional to make sure your carrier knows about the installation.

Fireplaces

It’s fairly common for people to purchase a home with an inactive fireplace. But considering it’s there, why not get it up and running? Few things are as appealing as warm cozy nights in front of the fire. But like wood stoves, a fireplace needs to meet strict fire and building code regulations. You’ll need to have an activated one inspected and update your homeowners policy as well. Insurance companies base premiums on potential risk of loss factors. Open flame can significantly change those calculations.

It’s important to update a policy any time you make noteworthy alterations and upgrades to your property. At ALLConnecticut Insurance, we are available to help members of the West Hartford, CT revise and renew homeowners policies that ensure continuous coverage.

A Quick Guide to West Hartford Home Insurance

The homes of West Hartford, CT are definitely worth protecting, and home insurance can be a key factor in keeping them in great condition. ALLConnecticut Insurance wants you to find out more about how it can help you be a better property owner with this quick guide. 

Protecting Your Investment 

Working to afford a piece of property can take years, and practically everything you have. Risking your investment by buying the bare amount of coverage really shouldn’t be an option. When you look at home insurance as a means to take care of your long-term future, it can make the cost of your monthly premium much easier to bear. 

Protecting Your Family 

If something happens to your house and you’re unable to live there anymore, do you know exactly where you would go? Home insurance can give you a plan to handle practically any adverse consequences of weather or unexpected events, and give you the means to take care of the many miscellaneous matters that may arise along the way. 

Protecting Your Neighborhood 

Homes that are given the attention they need are homes that sell well on the market. They’re also homes that don’t tend to attract as much attention from criminals. If a broken window only stays broken for a day, they’ll know that people are both watching and interested in what’s happening on the street, making them much less likely to take a risk on your block. 

ALLConnecticut Insurance serves West Hartford, CT, and wants to help you get a handle on the right policy for you. If you think you need more coverage or are just shopping around for different rates, call us today to get a quote or to ask us any questions you may have about your property. 

Who Can be On Your Auto Insurance Policy?

Auto insurance policies are a bit different than any other type of insurance for the simple fact that they can have multiple people on the policy that are insured. For those that live in the West Hartford, CT area, the agents with ALLConnecticut Insurance can help answer the question a bit more in depth.

You can add a few different people to your policy. For starters, spouses can be added, children can be added, and people that you live with that you have an interest in can be added. This means that you can add children, dependent or not, to your auto policy. A good example is a child that does not have a car of their own, but that does drive the car that is insured. These children can be easily added.

You can also add a spouse or someone that is living with you if you have a vested interest in the car that is being insured. It is important to remember that you cannot simply add any car to your policy or any driver. When it comes to cars, you can only add cars that you have your name on the title or that the driver is a dependent of you. This is to help prevent people from adding random cars that they have no interest in so that they can get discounts on their insurance policies.

You can find out more about who can be added to your policy by taking the time to talk with an agent. Insurance is something difficult to understand, but with the right agent, you can quickly and easily understand who you can legally add to your policy. For those in the West Hartford, CT area you can speak with the agents at ALLConnecticut Insurance to find out more.