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Hurricane season, rate changes, what to do after a fender-bender — the questions people actually ask.
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Your hurricane-season insurance checklist
Do the insurance part of hurricane prep before a storm is on the map. Here's what to check before the season, when a storm is coming, and after it passes.
Read - Auto
What "full coverage" actually means
"Full coverage" isn't a policy type. It usually means liability plus collision and comprehensive, and it can still leave real gaps.
Read - Flood
Is flood covered by my home insurance?
Usually not. Most home, condo and renters policies leave flood out, so rising water needs its own flood policy. Here's where the line falls.
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Auto
12 posts
What "full coverage" actually means
"Full coverage" isn't a policy type. It usually means liability plus collision and comprehensive, and it can still leave real gaps.
Florida & IllinoisFlorida PIP, explained
PIP is the part of every Florida auto policy that pays your own medical bills and lost income after a crash, whoever caused it. Here's how it works.
FloridaIllinois minimum car insurance: what the law requires
Illinois requires liability of at least $25,000/$50,000 for injuries and $20,000 for property damage, plus uninsured motorist coverage. What that means.
IllinoisUninsured motorist coverage: why it matters
Uninsured motorist coverage pays for your injuries when the driver who hit you has no insurance or too little. How it works in Florida and Illinois.
Florida & IllinoisWhat to do right after a car accident
A calm checklist for the first hour and the first two weeks after a crash: safety, information, police, photos, your insurer and the deadlines.
Florida & IllinoisAdding a teen driver: what to do before they drive
Call your agent when your teen gets a learner's permit, not after the license. What to ask, what to list, and the licensing rules in FL and IL.
Florida & IllinoisGap insurance on a new or leased car
If your car is totaled, insurance pays what it's worth, not what you owe. Gap coverage is built for the difference. Here's how it works.
Florida & IllinoisFR-44 and SR-22 in Florida: what they are and how to get one
FR-44 and SR-22 aren't policies. They're forms your insurer files with the state to prove you carry required coverage, usually for three years.
FloridaWhat happens if your car insurance lapses in Florida
In Florida, a lapse is reported to the state, and your license and registration can be suspended. Here's how it happens and how to fix it.
FloridaMoving to Florida: your insurance checklist
New to Florida? You have 10 days to register your car, with Florida insurance, and 30 days to get a Florida license. The full checklist.
FloridaDriving in Illinois winters: what your auto policy covers
Sliding into a pole on ice is usually collision. A falling branch or hitting a deer is usually comprehensive. Liability alone fixes neither.
IllinoisMoving between Florida and Illinois: your insurance checklist
Moving between Florida and Illinois means a new auto policy for the new state, on its deadlines. Keep the old one until the car is registered there.
Florida & Illinois
Home
12 posts
Your hurricane-season insurance checklist
Do the insurance part of hurricane prep before a storm is on the map. Here's what to check before the season, when a storm is coming, and after it passes.
FloridaCitizens Property Insurance: what it is, takeouts, and leaving it
Citizens is Florida's state-created insurer for homes that can't find private coverage. Here's how it works, what a takeout letter means, and how to leave.
FloridaWhy Florida home insurance costs so much, and what actually helps
Hurricanes, reinsurance, rebuilding costs and years of claim lawsuits drive Florida prices. You can't change those, but a few things you control help.
FloridaHurricane deductibles, explained
In Florida, hurricane damage has its own deductible, usually a percentage of your dwelling limit, applied once per calendar year. Here's how it works.
FloridaThe 4-point inspection: what it is and when you need one
A 4-point inspection checks your roof, electrical, plumbing and heating and cooling so an insurer can judge an older Florida home. Here's what to expect.
FloridaRoof age and your home insurance in Florida
Florida insurers can't refuse a home just because its roof is under 15 years old, and an older roof can still qualify with an inspection.
FloridaReplacement cost vs actual cash value
Replacement cost pays to repair or replace with new, without taking off for age. Actual cash value takes depreciation off first. Here's the difference.
Florida & IllinoisCondo insurance (HO-6): what the association covers and what you do
Your condo association insures the building, not everything in it. An HO-6 policy covers your part, and state law and your declaration draw the line.
Florida & IllinoisCondo owners after Surfside: inspections, reserves, special assessments and loss assessment coverage
Florida's post-Surfside laws brought milestone inspections, reserve studies and special assessments. Here's what your condo policy does and doesn't cover.
FloridaWhat to do if your home insurer non-renews you
In Florida your home insurer generally must give at least 120 days' written notice, with the reason. That's time to shop, not panic. Here's what to do.
FloridaFrozen pipes and water damage in Illinois homes
A burst frozen pipe is usually covered by a homeowners policy, if you took reasonable care to keep the heat on. Flood and sewer backups are different.
IllinoisWind mitigation, explained
The short Florida inspection that tells your insurer how well your home stands up to wind, and why it matters at renewal.
Florida
Flood
4 posts
Is flood covered by my home insurance?
Usually not. Most home, condo and renters policies leave flood out, so rising water needs its own flood policy. Here's where the line falls.
Florida & IllinoisFlood zones, explained (and why "low risk" isn't "no risk")
Your flood zone decides whether a lender requires flood insurance. It doesn't decide whether you can flood. Here's how to read the letters.
Florida & IllinoisNFIP vs private flood insurance
The NFIP is the federal flood program with fixed rules and caps. Private flood policies set their own terms. Here's how to compare them.
Florida & IllinoisThe 30-day waiting period: why to buy flood insurance before hurricane season
A new NFIP flood policy usually starts 30 days after you apply and pay. Buy it when a storm is on the map and it's too late. Here's how the wait works.
Florida & Illinois
Umbrella
2 posts
What an umbrella policy is, and who should think about one
An umbrella is extra liability coverage on top of your auto and home policies, for the claim that's bigger than they'll pay. Here's who it's for.
Florida & IllinoisHow an umbrella sits on top of your auto and home
Your auto and home policies pay first, up to their limits. The umbrella pays after that. Here's how the layers fit, and where the gaps hide.
Florida & Illinois
Renters
3 posts
What renters insurance covers (it's more than your stuff)
Renters insurance covers your belongings, extra living costs if you're forced out, your liability, and guests' medical bills. Here's each part.
Florida & IllinoisDoes my landlord's insurance cover my stuff?
No. Your landlord's policy covers the building, not your belongings, and not you if you're sued. That's what renters insurance is for.
Florida & IllinoisRenting in Florida: hurricanes, flood and your renters policy
Your renters policy usually covers hurricane wind damage to your things. It usually doesn't cover flood or storm surge. Here's how to close the gap.
Florida
Life’s Extras
12 posts
Your home policy has limits on jewelry, watches and collectibles. Here's what that means
Most home and renters policies cap what they pay for jewelry, watches and collectibles, and often skip a lost ring entirely. Here's how to check yours.
Florida & IllinoisIs my engagement ring covered by homeowners insurance?
Partly. Your home or renters policy likely covers a ring up to a jewelry limit, and often not at all if it's simply lost. Here's how to close the gap.
Florida & IllinoisAppraisals: why they matter for jewelry coverage
To list a piece of jewelry on a policy, insurers usually want proof of what it's worth. Here's what a useful appraisal includes and when to update it.
Florida & IllinoisIs pet insurance worth it? What it usually covers
Pet insurance helps most when a sudden vet bill would really hurt. Here's what plans usually pay for, what they don't, and how to compare them.
Florida & IllinoisPre-existing conditions, and accident-only vs accident-and-illness pet plans
Most pet plans won't cover a condition your pet had before coverage began. Here's what counts as pre-existing, and which kind of plan covers what.
Florida & IllinoisDoes homeowners insurance cover my boat?
Usually only a little. Home policies often limit or exclude boats, especially larger or more powerful ones. Here's where the line tends to fall.
Florida & IllinoisBoat insurance and hurricane plans in Florida
Many Florida boat policies expect a hurricane plan, and storm claims can depend on it. Here's what goes in one, and what your marina can and can't do.
FloridaJet skis and personal watercraft: what to know
A jet ski usually needs its own policy, because home policies tend to leave it out. Here's what it covers, who may ride, and what to know about rentals.
Florida & IllinoisDo I need insurance for a golf cart in Florida, and does my home policy cover it?
Florida law doesn't appear to require insurance on an ordinary golf cart, but your home policy may stop at your driveway. Here's where the gaps are.
FloridaGolf cart vs low-speed vehicle (LSV): why the difference matters
In Florida, a golf cart tops out at 20 mph and isn't registered. An LSV goes up to 25 mph and must be titled, registered and insured like a car.
FloridaMotorcycle insurance basics for Florida riders
Florida doesn't make you show insurance to register a motorcycle, but a crash can still cost you your license. Here's what riders need to know.
FloridaRV insurance: driving it vs living in it
An RV is a vehicle on the road and a home at the campsite, and a weekend policy may not fit full-time living. Here's how RV coverage changes with use.
Florida & Illinois
Shopping tips
6 posts
How to read your declarations page
Your declarations page sums up your policy: who and what is insured, each coverage and limit, your deductibles, discounts and forms. How to read it.
Florida & IllinoisIndependent agent vs going direct: what's the difference?
An independent agent can quote several insurance companies. A captive agent or a direct company offers one. Here's how each works and what to check.
Florida & IllinoisBundling home and auto: how it works
Bundling means buying home and auto from the same company, which often brings a multi-policy discount. Whether it's right for you depends on both policies.
Florida & IllinoisHow to switch insurance companies without a gap
Start the new policy first, then cancel the old one for the same date, in writing. Never stop paying the old policy and hope it ends on its own.
Florida & IllinoisWhy your declarations page gets you a better quote
Your dec page shows your current coverages, drivers, vehicles and discounts, so a new quote can match what you have line for line instead of guessing.
Florida & IllinoisWhy did my renewal go up?
The usual reasons behind a higher renewal, and the few you can actually do something about.
Florida & Illinois
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