Nobody wants to experience a home disaster & it’s not like you can predict when one will happen. If you were to experience a fire, flood, earthquake or other home disaster, would you be able to name every single valuable in your home? If not, you need to create a home inventory list of all your valuables.

Preparing a home inventory can be a large task, but taking the time to do so can make a difference of thousands of dollars when it comes to your claims settlement as well as simple ease of processing your claim.

For many of us, where we live symbolizes us and what is in that house symbolizes our lives. Our belongings represent our memories, personal style and even investments that hold significant value such as art.  When you add up how much all of your personal items are worth, it can be a substantial figure into the many 10s of thousands of dollars or more.

Home insurance claims from disasters such as flood or fire are traumatic. A home inventory checklist can help you remember quickly what items you had. Would you recall exactly how many pairs of jeans you had and what brand they were? Would you recall how many pairs of shoes you had or what brands they were? What about art? Could you recall the name of the artist and how much you paid for it?

The Easiest Way to Create Your List

Taking the time to inventory your home can be useful in the event of theft or damage to the contents of your home.

1. Take pictures of every room in your home. Then, take pictures of each valuable in the room.
2. Take a video of every room in your home.

Note: be sure to store these pictures or video in the cloud as a backup so you don’t lose it in the fire or flood too!

If you were to experience a home disaster, having this list will significantly cut down on how much time and stress you deal with when it comes to your claim settlement.

What Valuables in Your Home Need a Separate Endorsement?

Remember, valuables like art, furs, comic books, antiques and jewelry need an endorsement on your current home, condo or renters insurance policy.

The good news is your insurance agent likely gave you sufficient coverage for your personal property. If you feel like you need more, be sure to tell your agent. Home, renters and condo insurance policies typically come standard with this coverage but you might need more.

Riding a scooter or moped isn’t only fun, but you look great riding one. The benefits of using a scooter to get around aren’t only limited to fun, fuel economy and ease of parking. Insurance is cheap too!

There are many situations where you may wonder if you even need insurance on a moped – I mean, what is the worst that can happen, right? Well, the same risks that exist with driving a vehicle exist on scooters as well, so insurance is always required when riding one.

Here are three claims scenarios where having scooter or moped insurance policy would benefit you:

1. You driving along with your scooter, it starts to rain and you lose control of your moped while going around a corner. While you fall off and manage to avoid injury, your scooter slides up onto the curb and hits a bystander. You would be liable for “failure to maintain control of your vehicle” and be liable for the injured parties medical bills. The same thing that happens in car accidents.
2. You’re driving around a friend who is visiting you from out of town. The two of you pile onto your Vespa and cruise the town. After a stop at a pub, you think you’re okay to drive. On the way home, you’re driving and rear-end a stopped vehicle. You and your friend are injured and you’re now liable for your friend’s medical bills and potentially lost wages.
3. You decide to take your moped on a cruise out to the countryside. Unbeknownst to you, you forget to fill up the tank and run out of gas in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately, you purchased a roadside assistance policy and call your insurance company for a fill-up.

Driving a scooter is fun and insuring one isn’t expensive when compared to an auto insurance policy. It is important not only for you to protect your financial future, but to protect those that are around you as well, including any passengers. Be smart, protect yourself with a scooter or moped insurance policy.

Four-wheelers, ATVs, UTVs, side-by-sides and more are so much fun! Some are used for work purposes such as around the farm or hunting, but many are used purely as a recreational vehicle for weekend fun! Regardless of how you use your ATV, you may want to consider an ATV insurance policy. We answer the most common questions that come up both in our office and around the country in the claims departments regarding ATV insurance.

Doesn’t My Home Insurance Cover This?

If your ATV is used only on your property and never off, then likely your home insurance policy will provide some coverage. It is always best to check with your insurance agent on how much coverage and what circumstances are or are not covered.

Is ATV Insurance Expensive?

ATV insurance is very inexpensive when compared to an auto insurance policy. In fact, it can be under a dollar a day. Talk to your insurance agent for a free insurance quote.

Am I required to have it?

Typically no. Just because you own an ATV doesn’t mean you need to have insurance on it. However, if you use your ATV on state lands, parks or other public areas, it would be incredibly unwise to operate your vehicle there and many state lands and parks will require riders to have the vehicle insured and licensed for use in the parks.

What discounts are available?

The most common discount available would be a multi-policy discount for insuring other products with the same company. For instance, if your home and auto insurance is already with an insurance company, that same company may offer you a discount on your new product.

My ATV Is customized, is there coverage for that?

Custom parts and equipment can be added to most policies. Some policies will even include some customer parts and equipment into your base rate. If your ATV is customized it is important to keep up to date documentation of custom parts in the event of a claim.

If you’d like a quote on your ATV/UTV or side-by-side, give us a call. Our licensed staff can quickly and easily help you decide what coverage and options are right for your situation.

Whether you are searching for car insurance, shopping for a lower car insurance rate or just need a new plan, you’ve come to the right insurance agency.

Our agents will shop to find the best insurance rate & coverage for your specific needs. Plus, we can search for many discounts, particularly if you are bundling multiple policies like an auto & home or renters insurance together.

When it comes to shopping for car insurance, there are many options for coverage. You could get the bare minimum for car insurance or you could ensure you have full coverage for your policy. Each state varies with what is required for minimum car insurance coverage but most include bodily injury liability & property damage.

What about collision & comprehensive coverage for your auto insurance policy?

Collision insurance coverage will cover your vehicle if it is damaged when it collides with something. Examples: colliding into another vehicle, a tree or a guard rail. Your insurance coverage will pay for repairs or even replacement of your vehicle in the event of a total loss.

Comprehensive insurance coverage covers most other damages besides collision that could happen to your vehicle. Example: your car catches on fire, something falls on your car like a tree, collisions with an animal, your car gets vandalized or you experience car theft. There are a few exclusions, so be sure to discuss with your agent what those might be.

When it comes to deciding if this coverage is worth it, a few things to ask yourself:

• If I didn’t have this coverage, do I have the finances to pay out of pocket for the repairs or replacement of my vehicle?
• Do I have a loan? If so, comprehensive and collision coverage will be required by your finance company.
• How valuable is my car? Would it be possible to replace your car if you didn’t have the insurance to pay for it?
• Do I live in an area where car theft is common?

It is important to understand that all coverage and policy questions are specific to the policy that you purchase.  This article has been provided to help you understand how insurance works and does not imply every policy is the same or that coverage will exist. Have more questions about your auto insurance policy? Talk to one of the licensed agents at LeDoux Insurance. We understand that insurance can be confusing, so we always want to make sure you fully understand what you are or are not covered for.

When it comes to insurance, most people think of how they can save money first. We get it, insurance can be expensive! You want good coverage, but at an affordable cost. Being a local insurance agency, we provide many choices since we represent many top insurance carriers. Here are some tips when it comes to saving money on your car insurance.

Shopping for a new car? Consider shopping insurance first.

If you have a few cars in mind when shopping for a new vehicle, consider reaching out to your insurance agent to compare possible insurance cost between the vehicles. The rough estimate of insurance cost every year could sway which car you decide on.

Save when you bundle

Insurance carriers tend to give great discounts when you bundle your auto insurance with your home/renters/other lines of insurance. Need to insure several vehicles? Multi-policy discounts could earn you some substantial savings. Ask your agent!

Don’t drive much? Seek a low mileage discount.

If you drive less than 10,000 miles a year, ask your agent if you qualify for a discount.

Choose a higher deductible

If your finances allow you to pay a higher deductible in the event you have a claim, you could save money by making this switch.

Ask your agent about other discounts. Do you qualify for any?

• Paying your insurance coverage in full
• Paperless option
• Safe driver (accident free)
• Electric or hybrid vehicle owner
• Great credit score
• Good student
• Higher education
• Advance quote

Did you experience a higher premium at renewal?

Reach out to your agent and ask to get a re-quoted on your policy. Since we can quote many top-rated insurance carriers, you can likely get same or similar coverage with a new carrier to save money. Life changes, so can your insurance company – but you don’t need to change your agent.

We do like to note that sometimes loyalty to the same company for 3+ years can be beneficial too. Over time, you could earn yourself a discount for every loyalty milestone you hit. Typically these rewards not only include a discount on the cost of your policy, they can sometimes include accident forgiveness!

If you have questions about your auto insurance, reach out to LeDoux Insurance Agency. Our goal is to ensure you have the proper coverage.