Your home is more than just another structure; it’s where your heart is. Your home is packed with memories and valuable items! Home insurance is one of the most crucial aspects of being a homeowner. There are several ways it can help you during an unforeseen emergency, so let’s review them below.

Item Reimbursement

Home insurance is necessary to ensure you receive proper reimbursement for items in your home. This can range from necessities like dishes to expensive computers and televisions. According to the Insurance Information Institute, 47% of respondents said they prepared an inventory of their possessions if they needed to file insurance claims. You should do the same.

Rebuilding Property

The most significant losses during an emergency are usually structural damage. Floods can cause damage to all the wood in your home. Fires can destroy everything except the foundation. Filing an insurance claim can help you rebuild as soon as possible to get back to your life.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance can also help protect you against lawsuits. For example, if someone slips and falls on the sidewalk outside your home, they can file a lawsuit against you. Many types of insurance offer liability insurance as an add-on, meaning it’s optional. This additional protection can save you a lot of money.

Other Structures

Most insurance coverage includes various structures on the property, such as detached garages and sheds. If something happens to these, such as a tree limb falling on them and damaging them, your homeowner’s insurance will more than likely cover the cost of damages. Knowing that every structure on your property is insured provides instant peace of mind.

Tailored Protection

Homeowners insurance protects the specific disasters you’re most likely to experience. For example, you can get flood insurance if you live in an area that frequently experiences flooding. The same thing applies to homes in hurricane or tornado-prone areas. This level of protection ensures that your home is protected from the most common natural disasters.

Home insurance is essential to ensure you don’t have to pay the high price of repairs or replacing all your belongings if there’s an emergency. Our professional agents will work with you to help you find the ideal coverage for your home. Contact AOAWest when you’re ready to learn more.

Most states and insurers consider any vehicle that was built more than 25 years ago to be a classic car. A classic car can get special license plates that affirm its classic status and specialized car insurance if it’s not a vehicle that you use as a daily driver. According to PrivateAuto, industry insiders say the classic car market should grow by about 9% through 2024. If you have a classic car or are considering buying one, here are some ways that a classic car insurance agent can help.

Full Coverage for Classic Cars

Your classic car insurance agent can help you get a suitable amount of full coverage insurance for your classic auto. Whether it’s a car, truck, or another type of vehicle, you can obtain collision and comprehensive insurance coverage for your classic auto. If your classic is damaged in an accident, is stolen, or suffers damage in any way, full coverage should apply and repair your vehicle if possible or replace its value when repairs are impossible.

Liability Coverage While Driving or at Shows

Classic cars, vans, and motorcycles are just as capable of causing property damage and bodily injuries to others as currently produced vehicles. That damage might occur because of an accident that happens while on an occasional drive. It also might happen while the vehicle is at a classic car show or another special event. For example, someone might cause the open hood to shut on someone’s fingers and injure them. Liability coverage could pay up to policy limits for the bodily injury.

Agreed-Value Policy Limit

It’s important to pay attention to a vehicle’s value and have it insured for that amount. The value of classic cars changes often. A qualified appraiser of classic vehicles could assess the vehicle and apply a value based on its condition and the recent selling prices of similar vehicles. Classic car auctions help determine the value of classic cars and other vehicles.

Affordable Classic Car Insurance Rates

Most people who own classic cars store them indoors in climate-controlled environments. Indoor storage protects classic vehicles against the weather and potential theft or vandalism. It also helps prevent accidental damage from falling objects, kids playing outdoors, or any other unexpected causes of damage. Affordable classic car insurance is the final component in protecting classic car owners against financial loss.

You can get a coverage quote from an experienced classic car insurance agent by calling or visiting AOAWest today. We look forward to helping you.

When it comes to protection and quality of life, there are various types of insurance policies you can get. One such policy you may need is renting insurance. It isn’t the same as homeowners insurance, as this type of insurance covers people who rent a property. Read on for four key facts you should know about this coverage.

1. Get Coverage Easily

Unlike some other types of insurance, getting renting insurance is usually a simple process. In most cases, you can complete the application online. It’s a good idea to photograph your items and keep an inventory of expensive ones on a spreadsheet in case you need evidence to file a claim.

2. Protect Your Personal Items

Nearly half of all homeowners are unsure of what their insurance covers exactly, according to Value. What home insurance doesn’t cover is personal items. Homeowners usually need insurance to cover their actual property structure and are required to do so by a typical mortgage company. While renters insurance isn’t a requirement, it’s a good backup for renters who want to protect their items while living on someone else’s property. If you’re renting an apartment or home and your structure has been broken into, any stolen items can be covered by this insurance. If your items are damaged by fire or flood, you can also get coverage.

3. Covers Additional Living

As a renter, you don’t have much control over the structure you’re living in. Therefore, there may be issues with the underlying property you’re unaware of when you move in. If those structural issues need repair while you’re still on a lease, you may need to temporarily move. With renters insurance, the cost of a hotel or other temporary property will often be covered or at least reimbursed.

4. Covers Liability

As a renter, you may have to deal with liability issues with other people. If an injury or damage to someone else’s property occurs in your rental space, you can have coverage for that liability. The amount of coverage you get depends on your policy limit. In most cases, it starts at around 100,000 but can go up to 300,000.

These are some things to consider as a renter. Now you understand that property insurance isn’t just for someone who owns a home. You have items that you may care for, whether it’s electronics, heirlooms, or other valuables. Get started protecting these items by contacting AOAWest for renting insurance information.

If you own a classic car, you have the option of insuring the vehicle using a traditional auto insurance policy or a classic car insurance policy. Most people opt for the latter because it meets the unique needs of these vehicles. According to the Insurance Information Institute, every year, the national expenditure for car insurance increases by approximately 1%. With this statistic in mind, here are some key factors to keep in mind from an insurance provider.

Qualification

Not everyone meets the requirements to insure their vehicle under a classic car insurance policy. It’s important to note that different companies have different criteria for these types of automobiles. As a general rule of thumb, most require the vehicle to be anywhere from 15 to 25 years old and that only limited mileage has been used. Some may also require that the car not be your main source of transportation. There may even be requirements about where and how the vehicle can be stored.

True Value

If you meet the described requirements above and want to go further, the next thing you have to consider is the true value of your car. If you were to obtain a traditional auto insurance policy, you would only be entitled to the actual cash value of the car. This is generally very low for older cars. However, classic auto insurance allows you to get the true value of your car based on the modifications, restoration work, and upgrades that you have completed. You and the insurer will agree on the true value of your car when you obtain a policy.

Your Driving Record

Lastly, you need to think about your driving record. Classic car insurance is considered a premium insurance product, and as such, most insurers will only insure these types of vehicles for drivers with good driving records. If you have multiple accidents, speeding tickets, or a DUI, you may have trouble getting your classic vehicle insured.

You are legally required to insure a classic car, even if you rarely drive it. As such, many classic car owners prefer classic car insurance because the rates are lower due to the decreased usage of the automobile. If you’re in the market for a new policy, our team at AOAWest can help. Call us today to obtain a quote.

Do you actually know what your home insurance policy covers and doesn’t cover? If you can answer “yes” to that question, you’re in a pretty good spot. Value Penguin found that 47% of homeowners claim they are unsure what their insurance covers. It’s also quite likely that other people have misconceptions about what is and isn’t covered. Given how important insurance is, it’s a wise idea to regularly review, and if necessary, update your insurance policies. It’s also wise to work with professional insurance agents to better understand specific policies.

Some Things Aren’t Covered Under Standard Home Insurance Policies

Home insurance can provide protection from many events. However, not everything is covered under the standard insurance plan. For example, most standard insurance plans won’t cover damage caused by flooding. These events are considered “acts of God” and because the damage is so widespread, insurance companies can’t afford to cover all of the damage. It’s possible, however, to take out flood insurance plans, many of which are backed by government authorities.

Floods aren’t the only thing that typically isn’t covered under a standard insurance plan. Many plans also won’t pay for damage caused by earthquakes or other earth movements (like sinkholes). Acts of war and nuclear accidents might not be covered as well.

By regularly reviewing your insurance policies, you can find gaps in coverage. If you find a gap, you should assess the risks and then consider updating your insurance policy to increase coverage. You might also opt to take out separate insurance plans to cover the gaps. Besides evaluating your home insurance, it’s also smart to analyze other policies, like auto and health insurance.

Keep Deductibles and Co-Pays in Mind

Many insurance plans feature a deductible and coverage may not kick in until you pay a certain amount out of pocket. If you’re tight on money and don’t have an emergency fund to cover any deductibles, you might want to select an insurance policy with a lower deductible. On the other hand, if you’ve built up considerable savings, selecting an insurance plan with a higher deductible could save you money on premiums.

Do you need help understanding your insurance plan? Want to close gaps and increase coverage? Contact AOAWest today and we can provide assistance with home insurance. We can also help with other types of insurance policies.

Riding a motorcycle requires more than a bike and some riding gear. You also need good insurance protection. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at least 10 million vehicular accidents are unreported every year. Many of those accidents involve motorcyclists. Here are four benefits of working with a motorcycle insurance service to protect your bike and body.

1. Greater Knowledge of Your Needs

A motorcycle insurance service continually deals with many different motorcyclists every year. Those riders sometimes have unique circumstances and sometimes suffer unique incidents in which insurance coverage is needed. You might experience a problem while riding that is new to you, but the insurance service likely has experienced it or something very similar before. When you hire an experienced team, you will feel peace of mind you’ll be taken care of.

2. Familiarity With Accident Claims

A motorcycle insurance service should have lots of experience processing a variety of insurance claims. Many of those claims will include injuries – many of which are catastrophic. The best insurance providers will process legitimate claims quickly and pay fair settlement amounts to accident victims and motorcycle owners. Some bikes might suffer from damage or theft, which the right kind of insurance could also cover.

3. Ability to Protect Riders’ Finances

A motorcycle insurance service should help riders obtain the types of insurance that matter the most to the people who own and ride them. One of the most important types of insurance coverage to carry is uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage due to motorcycle riders and passengers suffering more serious injuries in accidents than those in cars or other vehicles. Protecting riders and their passengers against the costs of injuries and other harm caused by negligent drivers helps to protect their finances.

4. Roadside Assistance Rescues Stranded Riders

Riding a motorcycle over long distances might suddenly come to a halt due to a flat tire, running out of gas, or maybe losing a key while shopping or dining. Whatever the reason might be, a motorcycle insurance service should offer roadside assistance coverage that enables a rider to call for help if the bike suddenly is unrideable. If you choose it, then the coverage might rescue you from being stranded with an immobile motorcycle.

You can learn more about the benefits of a motorcycle insurance service by calling or visiting our office and speaking with one of our experienced motorcycle insurance producers. We want to ensure you have the proper coverage when you’re on the road. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have as well.

A home often is the most valuable asset that people own, and homeowners insurance is the best protection they can have for it. About 5% of all homeowners filed homeowners insurance claims in 2019, according to Policygenius, but not all of those claims were paid. The following are commonly excluded perils that require additional coverage to fully protect your family home.

External Flooding

Most homeowners insurance policies will protect your home against burst water pipes, ruptured water heaters, and other common sources of internal flooding. When the water comes from outside, though, you need external flood insurance coverage. Only dedicated flood insurance policies will protect against losses that are caused by external flooding.

Wind and Hail Damage

Tornadoes, straight-line winds, and hail can be very damaging to homes and often are excluded from standard homeowners insurance policies. You likely need to purchase additional coverage for wind and hail damage to fully protect your family home against those perils. Without it, you might find some or all of your house blown down with no way to repair the damage.

Earthquakes and Land Movement

Homes in locations like southern California or that are near volcanoes need earthquake insurance coverage to protect against damage caused by earthquakes. Otherwise, a home could become a total loss. Land movement, including mudslides and landslides, likewise requires additional coverage to avoid total losses.

Replacement vs. Market Value

Many homeowners anticipate their homes increasing in value, but that does not always happen. The same goes for their personal belongings. You can ensure full repairs or replacement by obtaining replacement coverage for your home or your items inside and avoid a potential shock if the market value is lower than you anticipated and your insurance payout is less than you need for repairs or replacement.

Falling Objects

Do you have a lot of trees on your property or one or more trees situated near your home or another structure? If the wind blows it over or maybe a heavy branch falls and causes a lot of structural damage, then you would need insurance that protects against damage caused by falling objects. Even something as rare as a meteorite might strike your home, which insurance against falling objects should cover.

You can call us to learn about the best homeowners insurance protection for your family home and to get quotes from several of the nation’s leading home insurers.