Auto Insurance

Automobile insurance protects people against financial loss if they have a motor vehicle accident. A policy is a contract under which the insured agrees to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay losses as defined in the policy.

Auto insurance provides:

• Property coverage, which covers damage to or theft of your motor vehicle.
• Liability coverage, which pays for the insured’s legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage.
• Medical coverage, which covers the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses.

Automobile insurance policies are comprised of six different areas of coverage, and the types of coverage that must be in a policy varies from state to state. The kinds of coverage are:

Bodily injury liability coverage, which applies to expenses incurred because of injuries caused by a vehicle when it is driven by the policyholder or a designated driver. A policyholder and his or her family members listed on the policy are also covered when driving someone else’s motor vehicle with the owner’s permission. Consider buying more than the state-required minimum to protect assets such as a home and savings.

Medical payments or personal injury protection (PIP) pays for the treatment of injuries to the driver and passengers of a policyholder's vehicle. PIP can cover medical payments, lost wages and the cost of replacing services normally performed by someone injured in an auto accident. It may also cover funeral expenses.

Property damage liability covers damages the policyholder or someone legally operating that person’s vehicle may cause to another individual’s property. That typically means damage to someone else’s vehicle, but it also includes damage to lamp posts, telephone poles, fences, buildings and other structures.

Collision coverage pays for repairs or replacement costs for vehicles damaged in a crash with another automobile or an object; or as a result of a flipping over or being driven over a pothole. Collision coverage is generally sold with a deductible of $250 to $1,000 and the higher a deductible, the lower the premium. Even when policyholders are at fault for the accident, collision coverage will reimburse them for the costs of repairing their vehicles, minus the deductible.

Comprehensive coverage reimburses motor vehicle owners for loss due to theft or damage caused by something other than a collision. Causes include fires, falling objects, explosions, earthquakes, windstorms, hail, floods, vandalism, riots or contact with animals such as birds or deer.

Comprehensive coverage usually has a deductible between $100 and $300 deductible and normally reimburses clients for the cost of replacing a windshield that is cracked or shattered. Some companies offer glass coverage with or without a deductible.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage reimburses policyholders for damage to their vehicles or personal injuries caused by a vehicle operated by driver that does not have insurance or leaves the scene of an accident.

 

Recreational Vehicles 

Homeowner and renter policies typically provide limited property damage coverage for small boats, including sail boats, canoes and power boats with less than 25 mph horse power motors. Coverage is usually about $1,000 or 10 percent of the home's property value and generally includes the boat, motor and trailer combined. If liability coverage is not included, it can be added as an endorsement. Your Shove Insurance professional will tell you if your boat is covered and what the limits are.

Larger and faster boats such as yachts and personal watercraft such as jet skis and wave runners require separate coverage that a Shove agent will secure for you after knowing the size, type and value of the craft and the water in which you use it.

Boat insurance also covers:

• Bodily injuries caused to another person.
• Damage caused to someone else’s property.
• Guest passenger liability for any legal expenses incurred by someone using the boat with the owner’s permission.
• Medical payments for injuries to the boat owner and other passengers.
• Theft.

 

Motorcycles

Due to the popularity of motorcycles, many of the top automobile insurers offer motorcycle insurance either as an endorsement to a personal automobile policy or as a separate policy. The experts at Shove Insurance can tell you the minimum amount of liability coverage you should have to protect you from bodily injury and property damage claims.

You should talk to us about first-party medical coverage for treatment of injuries suffered while on your motorcycle and guest passenger liability protection in the event that a passenger is injured while on your motorcycle.

Other types of coverage we will talk to you about are collision for damage to your motorcycle; comprehensive for damage caused by events such as fire, theft or vandalism; and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage for damages caused by another driver who does not have insurance or whose coverage is inadequate.

Before a policy is finalized, make sure you tell your agent about any motorcycle accessories, add-ons, customizations or aftermarket parts that might require additional coverage.

Mobile Homes

Shove Insurance representatives will make sure mobile home insurance fits your needs and lifestyle as well as your budget.

Coverage options are available for rental mobile homes, commercial mobile homes, mobile homes that are used seasonally and mobile homes located in a park or on private property. You might be able to get a discount on mobile home insurance from the company that provides your auto or homeowners coverage.

A mobile home policy will provide coverage for physical damage caused by fire, hail, wind, theft, vandalism or falling objects to the unit, belongings within and other structures such as attached patios or decks, garages or storage sheds.

In addition, a policy will provide liability insurance to protect you against a claim or lawsuit that is filed because your activities injured someone or their property.

To purchase a policy for a motor vehicle or recreational vehicle, call (401) 722-1185 or send an e-mail to whunt@shove.com.