Why do you need my SSN? Do you pull my credit? Having your social security number helps us verify your identity and obtain and insurance score. Your insurance score is not your credit score. This also helps prevent insurance fraud so we can verify the person requesting a quote is truly who they say they are.
Back to TopWhy should I combine my home and auto Insurance?Most insurance companies offer large “multi policy discounts “. This is a discount over and above all others you may qualify for just by placing your home and auto coverage with the same carrier. We can help you weigh out this option to see if it makes sense to package your policies or keep them separate.
Back to TopThe contents of your home are your personal property. This includes furniture, appliances and clothing. Not all personal property is covered. Items more appropriately covered under different forms of insurance may have limited or no coverage for loss. These items include, but are not limited to, money, jewelry and firearms.The contents of your home are your personal property. This includes furniture, appliances and clothing. Not all personal property is covered. Items more appropriately covered under different forms of insurance may have limited or no coverage for loss. These items include, but are not limited to, money, jewelry and firearms.
Back to TopDo I need full coverage? If your vehicle is financed your bank will require you to carry comprehensive and collision coverage. Comprehensive and collision are the coverages that most refer to as “full coverage “. If you vehicle is paid for then it’s elective to carry this coverage and we can run quotes with various deductibles and coverage options to see what is the best fit for you.
Back to TopWhat's not covered under Home owners? It varies. There are different policy formats that a home can be written under. It’s important to know if you’re receiving a HO-1, HO-2, HO-3, HO-4, HO-5 or HO-6 policy b/c they’re all very different and offer different types of coverage. Generally speaking- sinkhole, earthquake, water back up & flood are not covered on your home policy unless specifically endorsed. Flood insurance is regulated by FEMA and is a separate policy from your homeowner’s insurance policy.
Back to TopWhat's not covered under Auto?Auto insurance policies are designed to cover the vehicle as it came from the manufacture. If you’ve installed after-market equipment (rims, sound equipment, handicap utilization, etc.) you’ll want to advise us so we can note it on your auto policy under “customized equipment” and you’ll be compensated for the value in case it’s damaged in an accident.
Back to TopAuto insurance policies are designed to cover the vehicle as it came from the manufacture. If you’ve installed after-market equipment (rims, sound equipment, handicap utilization, etc.) you’ll want to advise us so we can note it on your auto policy under “customized equipment” and you’ll be compensated for the value in case it’s damaged in an accident.Living in the litigious society that we are in today there’s value in every umbrella (personal liability policy) for every individual. If you have assets, IE. Paid for home, 401k, savings account, youthful operators driving in your home – then you’re at risk of being sued. The most common scenario would be a car accident. The statute of limitation for being pursued legally from a car accident is 365 days. That means you could have an entire year of exposure after you have a minor fender bender. The injured party may come forward 300 days later saying they now have excessive medical bills and require physical therapy and they’re going to sue you for their distress and medical bills. This all adds up very quickly and is generally unexpected. An umbrella policy provides additional liability coverage to provide you peace of mind over and above your normal auto policy so that you have a built in “buffer” for those “what-if” situations.
Back to TopWhat is the benefit of having higher limits? The higher the limits of liability that you carry the more protection your insurance company is going to pay to protect you in the event of an injury at your home, car accident and more. There is zero advantage to carrying low limits of liability.
Back to TopWhen should you not file a claim? For non-urgent claims we recommend getting an estimate first. If the damage does not exceed your deductible there isn’t a reason to contact your insurance company and inform them of the damage. We recommend reaching out to your agent for advice if you’re not sure what to do. For all emergency related matters like fire, flooding from burst pipe, etc – Always try to stop the damage (if possible) call 911 if necessary and then contact your insurance carrier directly.
Back to TopWhat is Actual Cash Value or Replacement cost?Actual Cash Value (ACV) is a depreciated evaluation of your property. This means you would receive the lower amount to replace an item based off its age and condition. Replacement Cost means your item is valued on a replacement value based off what it would cost today to replace it for another brand new item. Replacement cost is always our recommendation.
Back to TopAre certain types of dog breeds are excluded? Yes, most carriers have a “restricted” dog breed list. This list varies from carrier to carrier and it’s best to inquire with your agent if you’re concerned your breed may be on the list.
Back to TopHow much can you save with by applying an alarm discount in the home?This discount varies from carrier to carrier but it’s usually a %. Also, there’s two different discounts. If your alarm reports for fire & burglary that is an additional discount versus it only reporting for burglary.
Back to TopWho is my point of contact if I sign up with you? We work as a team at Montgomery & Associates. Any licensed team member is able to answer your questions. You usually have an assigned agent based off who established your policy and that agent will still be available for your needs but in the event they’re out of the office you’re able to work with any team member for assistance.
Back to TopWhy do all drivers in my household need to be listed on my policy?Most insurance carriers require all licensed operators of a household to be listed on your auto policy since they add to the exposure and would have “regular access to the vehicle” by residing in the home.
Back to TopWhy does my occupation matter? We’ll ask to know your occupation for underwriting purposes. It’s important for us to know if you use your vehicle or home for business related use since it can change the type of policy you may need or other underwriting factors.
Back to TopWhy do I need higher auto limits just because I own a home?We recommend higher limits of liability because owning a home is an asset that could be exposed in the event of a lawsuit or high medical bills
Back to TopCan I pay my bill online? With most carriers – Yes. If you’re on automatic draft there won’t be a need to pay online. You’re also able to call our office or your carrier directly and make a payment toward your policy.
Back to TopSo, since you guys are shopping around for me, are there fees I pay or is the rate higher going through you? You won’t pay any more by using us as your broker than you would by going directly to a captured company like State Farm. All insurance companies realize an agent will be paid by providing their coverage on their behalf and this notion is already built into the premium. We do not have the ability to increase/decrease the cost of your policy through a fee.
Back to TopWhy would I choose and independent agency vs a captive? By using our agency (an independent agency) you get the advantage of us shopping multiple carriers for you all at once. Instead of you sharing your information online and having 15 different insurance companies call/email you – you’re only working.
Back to TopIs it cheaper to paper bill or EFT? Most carriers offer a discount or remove billing fees if you elect Electronic Draft over receiving a monthly paper statement. We recommend EFT at a minimum to help be green for the environment and to keep your rates as competitive as possible.
Back to TopHow long do claims on auto or home stay in my history? We are able to see 5 years of claims history.
Back to TopDo you write SR-22 insurance? Yes, we work with carriers who will provide SR-22 insurance if needed.
Back to TopHow do I get flood insurance? We can directly assist you in obtaining flood insurance just like we can for an auto or home quote. Just mention your interest in flood to your agent and we’ll walk you through what might be needed based off your properties flood zone.
Back to TopCan I cancel my insurance policy anytime? If I cancel early do I get a refund?Yes, you can. Varying on the carrier you should receive a refund back for any unused premium that was paid ahead of time.
Back to TopDo I need extra coverage for jewelry, firearms, art, musical instruments or other out of the ordinary items? It’s always important to keep these items in mind – Most carriers have set limitation for specialty items … I refer to personal property being your “normal everyday living items.” If you own $25,000 in camera equipment or musical instruments that would exceed the “normal everyday” amount that is general owned by an individual. We have the ability to schedule or itemize particular items on your home/renters policy to provide extra coverage for specialty items to verify they’re covered properly in the event of a covered loss.
Back to TopWhy is my house not insured for what I paid for it? Your home should be insured for what it would cost to rebuild in the event of a total loss. This is usually a different number than what an appraisal, sell price, or market value says your home is worth. The cost of your land is not included in what it would cost to rebuild your home in the event of a loss. Even if a fire or tornado destroys your home the land will still be there. In areas like East Nashville, Franklin or Brentwood land can be very expensive – We don’t want to over insure your home by going off the purchase price so it’s our responsibility to explain to you what # is your specific to your home and why we recommend it.
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