Frequently Asked Questions
The questions people actually ask, answered without the hedging. If yours isn't here, an agent will answer it directly.
Getting a quote
Does a quote cost anything or commit me to anything?
No to both. A quote is free and carries no obligation. We are paid a commission by the insurance company when a policy is issued, which means we are paid for placing coverage that sticks, not for selling you the most expensive option available.
How long does it take?
The information gathering takes a few minutes. Getting comparable quotes back from carriers usually takes a few hours, sometimes into the next business day for less common risks like a classic vehicle or an unusual business classification.
Why do you need my driving record and prior coverage?
Because those are two of the largest factors in what you will actually be charged. A quote produced without them is a guess that changes at binding, which is the single most common reason people feel misled by an insurance quote.
Will getting a quote affect my credit?
Insurance quoting typically uses a soft inquiry, which does not affect your credit score. Some states restrict or prohibit the use of credit in insurance pricing entirely.
Coverage and limits
How much coverage do I actually need?
Start from what you could not afford to lose. State minimums are a legal floor, not a recommendation, and in many states they are far below the cost of a single serious accident. If a claim exceeds your limit, the difference comes from your own assets.
What deductible makes sense?
The highest one you could comfortably pay tomorrow. A higher deductible lowers the premium, but only helps if the money is actually available on the day you need to make a repair.
What is the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value?
Replacement cost pays what it costs to buy the item new today. Actual cash value pays what your used item was worth, after depreciation. For contents coverage the premium difference is usually small and the claim difference is not.
What does an umbrella policy do?
It sits above the liability limits on your auto and home policies and takes over when those are exhausted. Umbrella coverage is unusually inexpensive relative to the limit it provides, which is why it is worth asking about even if you assumed it was not for you.
Does my policy cover flood?
No. Flood is excluded from every standard homeowners and renters policy and requires separate coverage. Flood risk is not confined to mapped high-risk zones: a meaningful share of flood claims come from areas that are not designated as high risk.
Policies and claims
Who actually decides and pays a claim?
The insurance company, always, no matter which agency you use. What an agency does is help you file, tell you what the carrier will ask for, and chase it when the process stalls. Any agency that suggests otherwise is overstating its role.
Will filing a claim raise my rate?
Often, and claim history follows both you and the property for several years. For a loss close to your deductible, the long-run cost of filing sometimes exceeds the payout, which is worth working out before you file rather than after.
Can I switch carriers mid-policy?
Yes. You are generally refunded the unused premium, though some policies apply a short-rate cancellation penalty. Never cancel the old policy until the new one is confirmed in force. Even a one-day gap in coverage raises your next premium.
What happens if I miss a payment?
Most policies have a grace period, followed by cancellation for non-payment. A cancellation for non-payment is worse than a voluntary one: it shows up in your history and makes the next policy more expensive.
Working with us
What does an independent agency do that a direct carrier doesn't?
A captive agent can only sell you their own company's product. We place business with several carriers, so when one of them is a poor fit for your situation, telling you costs us nothing.
Do you sell my information?
No. We use what you provide to prepare your quote and to contact you about it. Our Privacy Policy sets out what we collect, who it is shared with in order to produce a quote, and how long it is kept.
What if I want to stop hearing from you?
Tell us, in any channel, and we will stop. You can also reply STOP to any text message or use the unsubscribe link in any email.
Do you charge a broker fee?
Any fee that applies is disclosed in writing before you agree to anything. You will never find a charge on your policy that was not discussed with you first.
Get an answer specific to your situation
General answers only go so far. Tell us what you're insuring and we'll tell you what actually applies.