Frequently Asked Questions

If I already have coverage with another company/agent, must I wait until my renewal date to change or shop my coverage to a new carrier?

No it is not necessary to wait. In Connecticut if you cancel and rewrite coverage to a new carrier, your prior policy will be cancelled on a pro-rata basis. This means if we can get you better coverage, you can cancel your old and not lose any money.

Will I get a discount if I have all my insurance in one place; home auto and umbrella?

Yes all our carriers offer multi-policy discounts.

Will my home have guaranteed replacement cost coverage?

Yes. We will prepare an insurance home estimator, or have the carrier inspect your home which will guarantee 100% insurance to value.

Can you insure my home while I am doing construction or renovation?

Yes. It is important to note that when you make changes to your home you should advise your insurance professional. Renovation is covered under your insurance policy, but only if your carrier is made aware. Significant contract changes can apply during a course of construction or renovation, so always call your agent when contemplating changes to your structure.

How do I know how much insurance is enough?

We can help you determine the appropriate coverage for your lifestyle.

What is the difference between market value and insurance replacement value?

When computing market value, the appraiser takes into consideration the square footage of your home, the community in which you live, its' amenities and the land value of your property.

When computing insurance value we use square footage, year built and type of construction along with the current construction costs in your area.

We calculate what it would cost to rebuild with like kind and quality .

Your mortgage will be based on your market value , therefore you may see values being different.

What kinds of questions should I be expected to answer when I am applying for an insurance policy? Why do insurers need so much information?

When you apply for an insurance policy, you will be asked a number of questions. For example, the agent might ask you your name, age, gender, address, etc. In addition, you will be asked a number of other questions which will be used to determine how likely you are to make a claim.

When an insurance company is deciding whether or not to offer automobile insurance to a potential customer, it will want to know about the person's previous driving record, whether they have any recent accidents or tickets, and what type of car is to be insured.

Insurance companies have different programs for different customers. Adults with good driving records will generally pay less for auto insurance than will a young driver with traffic tickets. In order to determine which program you qualify for, an insurance company needs basic information about you.

In addition to your age, gender and driving experience, information about the vehicle you drive, and how you drive it, is also needed to determine a fair price. For example, a large luxury car costs more to repair or replace than a sub-compact; and, someone who commutes 30 miles each way is more likely to be in an accident than someone who rides the bus to work and drives only on weekends.

What should I consider when purchasing automobile insurance?

There are a number of factors you should consider when purchasing any product or service, and insurance is no different. Here is a checklist of things you should consider when purchasing automobile insurance.

• Don't base your decision on price alone. Base your decision on value - what you get for what you pay. Consider the quality of the company's claims service and consumer education.
• Purchase the amount of liability coverage which makes sense for you.
• You should decide which optional coverage you want. For example, do you want optional physical damage coverages or is the market value of your car too low to warrant purchasing them.
• Once you have decided what you want in your automobile insurance policy, you can now decide from whom you would like to purchase the insurance. For example, you may decide you like the idea of purchasing insurance from a mutual company rather than a stock company.

What are some practical things I can do to lower my automobile insurance rates?

There are a number of things you can do to lower the cost of your automobile insurance. The easiest thing to do is to shop around.

It is not surprising to find quotes on automobile insurance that can vary by hundreds of dollars for the same coverage on the same car. When you shop, be careful to make sure each insurer is offering the same coverage. Many insurers use the ISO policy forms, but this is not always the case.

Another way to lower the cost of your automobile insurance is to look for any discounts that you may qualify for. For example, many insurers will offer you a discount if you insure multiple cars under the same policy, or if you have had a driver education class in the last five years. Be sure to ask your agent or your company about their discount plans.

Another easy way to lower the cost of your automobile insurance is to increase the deductible. Simply raising your deductible from $250 to $500 can lower your premium sometimes by as much as five or ten percent. However, you should be careful to make sure that you have the financial resources necessary to handle the larger deductible.

I have an older car whose current market value is very low - do I really need to purchase automobile insurance?

Most states have enacted compulsory insurance laws that require drivers to have at least some automobile liability insurance. These laws were enacted to ensure that victims of automobile accidents receive compensation when their losses are caused by the actions of another individual who was negligent.

Except for the minimum liability coverage that you may be required to purchase, many people with older cars decide not to purchase any of the physical damage coverages. It is often the case that the cost of repairing the damages to an older car is greater than its value. In these cases, your insurer will usually just "total" the car and give you a check for the car's market value less the deductible.

What is the difference between Comprehensive and Collision?

Collision is defined as losses you incur when your automobile collides with another car or object. For example, if you hit a car in a parking lot, the damages to your car will be paid under your collision coverage.

Comprehensive provides coverage for most other direct physical damage losses you could incur. For example, damage to your car from a hailstorm will be covered under your comprehensive coverage.

It is important to know the differences between the collision and comprehensive coverages for a couple of reasons.

• In order to make an informed purchasing decision about these optional coverages, you need to know the difference between them.
• The deductibles under the collision and comprehensive coverages are often different in amount.

What factors can affect the cost of my automobile insurance?

A number of factors can affect the cost of your automobile insurance - some of which you can control and some which are beyond your control.

The type of car you drive, the purpose the car serves, your driving record, and where you live can all affect how much your automobile insurance will cost you.

Even your marital status can affect your cost of insurance. Statistics show that married people tend to have fewer and less costly accidents than do single people.