There are so many types of insurance out there: car insurance, health insurance, and renters insurance are just a few types. How do you decide which type of insurance you need? How much should it all cost? Read the advice and suggestions in this article to learn which insurances you need and how to get the best rates.
If you are an empty-nester moving to your new home, don’t take the risk of your hard-earned household items and valuables being damaged or lost in transit. Spend the money to insure your goods while they’re being moved to your new empty nest. Many moving companies offer such policies, and they are well worth the incremental extra expense.
Your insurance company will respond more quickly when you make a claim if you thoroughly and clearly document what has happened. Be sure to take photographs of any damage. Make sure to tell the truth. Do not lie or greatly exaggerate the damages to scam the insurance company for more money. Not only can it result in no funds being paid out, it can also land you in legal trouble.
In order to get the best rates on insurance, it often pays to combine all of your polices under one company. However, don’t automatically assume this would be the cheapest route to go. Sometimes the multi-policy discount is less than it would be to have separate policies with different companies.
When applying for insurance, the insurance companies take many factors into account to determine your rates, or whether they’ll cover you at all. Keep an eye on your credit score, as this is one of the newer factors insurers are looking at when determining your risk factors. You can get a free credit report online annually.
See if paying annual premiums may work better than monthly. A lot of insurance companies charge extra fees for making monthly payments as opposed to annual. If you can afford the larger expenditure of paying all at once, it will save you some money in the long run and save you from having to make the payment every month.
Consider adding additional insurance onto the policy that is provided by your work. A group insurance coverage does not move with you if you change jobs. These days most people do not stay with the same company through till retirement so an insurance policy tied to your job is not as useful as it used to be. Make sure and have coverage of your own that is not tied down to a particular employer.
When shopping for coverage, make sure to get quotes from multiple insurers and for different plans within a particular company. The prices of insurance plans vary wildly and you could be missing out on saving hundreds of dollars a year by not shopping around. Consider working with an insurance broker, who can help you understand your various options.
Home Insurance
Look into multiple insurance policy discounts. When you bundle your insurance contracts with one company, you will often get a discount of 10% or more. If you currently have home insurance with a company that you are satisfied with, contact them and get a quote for auto or life insurance. You may find that you will get a discount on every policy.
Before purchasing life, disaster, car or home insurance of any kind, consult the laws of your current state, as well as national policy on insurance. This is becoming especially important in the realm of health insurance. Government mandates and fees are sure to impact your final choices in what insurance to buy. Make sure to familiarize yourself with these statutes before choosing a policy.
Look out for multi-insurance policy discounts. Sometimes insurance companies will offer customers a discount of 10% or more if they take out several contracts at the same time, for example home insurance, auto insurance and health insurance. So, when asking for insurance quotes from various insurance companies, be sure to ask them if they offer any discounts for taking out multiple policies.
Quit smoking to reduce your insurance rates. You might think this only applies to health insurance, but your home insurance premiums will also be reduced if you butt out. The risk of a smoker accidentally setting their house on fire is high enough that your premium will go down significantly when you break the habit.
Grouping your insurance policies together is a great way to save money in the long-term. If you combine your auto, health and home insurance, you should be able to save thousands of dollars over the life of your policy. Just make sure you’re choosing a great company to handle your policy.
Keep things that could cause injury picked up around your home. It will help to avoid accidental injuries that you may have to claim on your home insurance policy. If you have to file claims on your home insurance, your rates are going to increase. So keeping things safe is going to save you money in the long run.
Be aware of the insurance requirements of your state of residence or any other entities mandating insurance coverage. Many states require vehicle owners to carry minimum levels of liability coverage on their vehicle in case of an accident. Most mortgage companies require home insurance coverage adequate to cover the cost of the property in case of total loss. Before making any significant purchase, be sure you are aware of the insurance requirements and costs as well.
Check your current or existing policies, before purchasing additional insurance. Often, an existing policy may provide more coverage than you realize, making it unnecessary to purchase an additional policy. For example, home insurance often includes coverage for physical injuries sustained by guests in your home, making additional liability coverage unnecessary.
Insurance is the best way to financially protect yourself. But with so many insurance types and an overload of information, it can be hard to know where to start. Use the advice you’ve learned in this article and get the insurance you need to protect yourself.