Does Home Insurance Cover Car Damage?

Since every homeowner's insurance policy is unique, it's important when buying coverage that you thoroughly understand exactly what's written in your policy, including the fine print. You should also ask lots of questions of the agent writing the policy concerning any matters you may find unclear.

A Greensboro home insurance policy, like those found anywhere else, will typically share certain features that are fairly universal in homeowner's coverage such as reimbursement for damage caused to your dwelling by a long list of perils that will be spelled out in the insurance contract. Your policy will also likely include coverage against damage or loss of your possessions and other contents found in the home and also cover you for certain types of liability such as someone being injured while on your property or your dog biting the neighbor, who then requires medical attention.

What's Not Covered

Unless specifically spelled out in your Greensboro home insurance policy, chances are that loss or damage to your car isn't covered. Even if your vehicle is parked in your attached garage, which burns to the ground for a total loss, your home insurance won't pay for the loss of the car, although the garage itself will likely be fully covered. It's the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance that would pay for the loss of your car. If you don't carry comprehensive coverage on your car you may be out of luck, although in some cases your home insurance could pay some partial amount towards replacement of your vehicle. Obtaining reimbursement from your home insurance for damage or loss to your vehicle may require a legal fight.

Most home insurance policies provide a certain amount of coverage for personal items that are stolen from your car, just as you may be reimbursed for a camera stolen while you're on vacation. Your homeowner's policy will also typically pay a claim for damage done to another person's vehicle while parked at your residence. Say, for example, your child throws a rock at a visitor's car or crashes into it with their bicycle. Your homeowner's insurance should pay a claim submitted for these types of damage.

Since every insurance contract is different, it's important to know what your policy covers and what it doesn't. If you have an uninsured vehicle parked in your garage you can request a rider be added to cover it in your homeowner's policy.

Rewriting Your Greensboro Car Insurance Policy to Save Money

Life is often fraught with changes and, while this is something that keeps things interesting, these changes can require that you make certain adjustments to your insurance portfolio regarding updates to your life, homeowner's and auto insurance coverage. Rewriting your Greensboro car insurance policy to save money may be appropriate for any number of reasons totally unrelated to life changes that would cause you to consider possible changes to your life insurance or homeowner's insurance. Since each type of coverage is meant to protect you from certain, specific risks, factors that would trigger policy updates are also specific to each type of insurance individually. The purpose of this particular article is to discuss the rewriting of your Greensboro car insurance coverage in an effort to reduce your current policy costs.

Why Rewrite Your Car Insurance Coverage?

If you're like many drivers, once you've purchased an auto insurance policy you may be reluctant to, as they say, upset the apple cart by making any changes to your coverage. Even if you've been driving the same car for years, there are certain times where looking at rewriting your car coverage is prudent and could save you some money. Some of these may include:

• When you attain the age of 25-years your risk profile goes down in the eyes of most insurers. You become less risky to insure and your premium rates should reflect this. This is also true for drivers who turn 55. These older drivers generally qualify for a “maturity” discount.
• Other significant life changes that may affect your risk profile in the eyes of an insurer include getting married, retiring or relocating to an area where insurers see you as less likely of getting into an accident or having your vehicle stolen.
• Sometimes just doing some comparative policy shopping can get you better coverage or save you money. Maybe your credit rating's improved or you can bundle your car policy with your homeowner's and life insurance coverage. All these can lower car insurance premiums. Always shop for multiple quotes and ask about every available discount.

Greensboro Home Insurance: Does It Cover Bedbug Damages?

With the huge national concern regarding bedbugs, being found not only in people's homes/apartments but in college dorms, retail stores, theaters, offices, hotels and motels, you may be concerned about picking up these critters somewhere and bringing them into your own home. They can travel like hitchhikers on your clothing, in your baggage or suitcases and, once they make themselves at home in your domicile they're difficult and expensive to get rid of, not to mention a major pain in the neck! You may also be wondering if your Greensboro home insurance coverage will pay toward the cost of ridding yourself of bedbugs.

In a word, the answer, “NO,” your insurance doesn't cover bedbug damages or reimburse you for the expense of getting rid of them. The reason for this should be clearly spelled out in your Greensboro home insurance policy under exclusions. Your policy also doesn't cover rodent infestation, by the way, so if you have mice in the pantry or bats in the belfry you're out of luck there too.

According to an insurers way of thinking, and backed up by the Insurance Information Institute (III), the cost incurred in getting rid of bedbugs (or other vermin) is considered to be a part of normal home maintenance, and therefore not reimbursable under standard homeowner's insurance.

How About Water Damage?

It's interesting to note that, while your homeowner's insurance likely covers water damage that occurs as the result of a burst water pipe or water heater, if the adjuster determines that the cause can be tied to faulty maintenance procedures (or no maintenance at all), the claim may be denied.

Prevention

Bedbug infestation prevention starts with avoiding the bringing of them into your home. If you stay in hotels or motels, check your room for these pests and, if you see any, seek other lodgings. Carry large plastic bags in your suitcases so you can wrap your luggage to protect your clothes. When returning home you should wash all the clothes you had with you in hot water – even the clothing you didn't wear. If you buy clothes at a used clothing store it's recommended you put them into a plastic bag and then into your freezer for three days. After this they can be taken to the dry cleaners. To protect your bed mattresses and pillows you can buy special anti-bedbug covers (sold at Amazon and Walmart).