Tuesday, May 15, 2012

The Ultimate Guide to Umbrella Insurance

umbrella insuranceA typical insurance policy offers basic protection, and umbrella insurance is used to extend a person?s protection even further. It will fill in the gaps of a person?s general policy and give added coverage for a variety of potential circumstances. A policy could be spread over a person?s automobile and home insurance, or an umbrella policy can cover everything under a single policy if the person has a current policy that covers the home, car and boat.

Enter your ZIP code in our comparison tool to compare insurance quotes for FREE.

What Does It Cover?

In short, it covers whatever someone wants it to cover. Umbrella insurance gives an individual peace of mind in knowing that assets are protected to their full value, and then some. Furthermore, it can also protect against things like slander and invasion of privacy. Claims of slander and libel have become all too common nowadays, and not having this extra insurance means that someone can lose his or her property and assets and not be able to do a thing about it.

Is It Right for Me?

The only person who can answer this question is the person considering umbrella insurance. Individuals need to take all their savings and hard work into account. They probably worked and saved for years to purchase their cars, boats or homes, and losing them in an instant is a real possibility.

As umbrellas protect people from sudden downpours, umbrella policies protect them from damage that goes beyond their typical policy limits.

Comparing Online Rates

To ensure that individuals and their property are sufficiently covered, they should compare online quotes. Umbrella insurance is there to cover things that go above and beyond typical policy limits and is an important investment. Before beginning or renewing a policy, individuals will want to get quotes from several companies to best decide what fits their needs and budget.

Here are some important things to keep in mind when beginning the search:

Looking in the Right Places

Finding suitable umbrella insurance begins with knowing where to look. The obvious first choice is to use a search engine. By using targeted keywords, one can quickly pull up dozens of insurance companies all willing to provide quick quotes. The drawback is that the wealth of choices can also be confusing, with many non-relevant pages getting mixed into the results.

A better solution is to use a site that has already done some of the work for you. Insurance comparison sites list reputable companies that are regulated and licensed to do business in the state in which the consumer is looking. Enter your ZIP code in our comparison tool to compare insurance quotes from multiple insurance companies for FREE.

Deductiblesthe right umbrella insurance

A deductible is how much someone has to pay before coverage takes over, and it is a good idea to keep this as high as possible when choosing insurance. For example, if a person?s deductible is $1,500 but has suffered property damages worth $3,000, then insurance is only going to cover half of the cost.

The common misconception is that a lower deductible saves money, when, in fact, the opposite is true. The higher a deductible is, the lower the monthly payment will be.

Discounts

When researching umbrella insurance, the best way to ensure a low rate is to look for discounts. Discounts will keep monthly premiums low and they are fairly easy to find, if a person knows where to look. Most insurers will offer many vehicle discount options, including those for seniors, students, and anyone who completes a safe driving course.

Many insurers will also offer multi-driver discounts for married couples who occupy the same policy. Discounts are available on many other types of properties as well.

Credit Scores

People who know their credit scores can get a good idea of what their umbrella insurance rates may be. Most insurers will take credit scores into account as a way of assessing risk, and the higher a credit score is, the lower the insurance rate should be. A quick online search can lead to websites that offer a free credit report.

Adding Safety Features

Property owners should consider adding additional safety equipment to their home, boat or vehicle before applying for quotes. A vehicle equipped with safety features such as air bags, antilock brakes or an alarm system will represent a lower risk to an insurer, translating to lower umbrella insurance rates. A boat or home equipped with a security system will receive the same discounts.

Driving Record

what is umbrella insurance

Drivers should keep their driving records as clean as possible. Tickets, accidents, or citations of any sort will increase the premium cost. If a person?s driving record is already in poor shape, he may be at the mercy of higher rates, unless an insurer who is willing to overlook past indiscretions can be found. Drivers should bear in mind that driving records are checked for anyone listed on a policy, and it will affect the cost of umbrella insurance.

Those who don?t know how much insurance they need should talk to their current agent or visit a reputable online insurance comparison site. By entering your ZIP code in our FREE car insurance tool, you can find umbrella insurance options that will fit their needs and budgets.

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