Home Insurance: Types of Policies

Purchasing home insurance is just as important as the purchase of the home. Because buying a home is such a major financial investment, it is essential to make sure that your home, property, and contents are protected. There are various types of home insurance policies available so it is imperative to understand each type so you can make an informed decision.

The following outlines the main types of home insurance policies:

HO-1: This type of policy is considered a basic for of protection. It insures against fire and lightening damage. A homeowner may purchase this policy for a particularly valuable item such as expensive jewelry.

HO-2: This type of policy is referred to as 'broad coverage.' Coverage includes damage from such events as smoke, wind, rain, hail, vandalism, theft, an explosion, removal of items that are threatened by fire damage, glass breakage, and damage cause by falling objects. As well, it also covers snow causing a roof collapse, ice damage, burst pipes, water damage from broken pipes, and damage from a riot.

HO-3: Referred to as a 'special' form, or sometimes called 'all risk' or 'open peril' insurance, this policy insures your home against damage or loss. There are exclusions that will be listed in the policy so you should read what items are excluded. This is the most commonly purchased home insurance policy.

HO-4: This is a tenants insurance policy. It insures the contents and personal items against the same situations as the HO-2 policy. It also covers supplementary living expenses if required such as medical payments. It also provides liability protection. The policy cannot be extended to cover items owned by the renter. It is mainly for protecting the owner of the property.

HO-6: This type of policy provides coverage for a condominium owner who wants to insure items that are not insured by the condominium association policy. They may also want to add personal liability protection.

HO-8: This policy is referred to as the 'older home' policy. If you have an older home, some policies may not provide replacement coverage. You may have to purchase a modified replacement policy where the policy will reimburse you for standard building materials.

Some states will categorize these policies under different titles, but they contain the same information. It is important to be aware that are living in a high risk area such as hurricane or flooding area, you will have to pay for extra protection. Some people combine a couple of policies to get complete coverage. Most companies now offer online quotes, so you can easy way to make your selection. Because prices and features can vary among insurance companies, it is essential that you comparison shop so that you are getting the best coverage at the best price.

Because there are a number of insurance policy options available, it is important that you understand each so that you can acquire the right policy that meets all of your needs.

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This post was written by Amy Nutt on September 9, 2009

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Types of Car Insurance Policies

The law requires that anyone who drives a car must have car insurance. Purchasing car insurance involves buying a policy from an insurance provider. The premium you pay depends on a number of factors such as age, gender, and the make, model, and year of the car. When you look for an insurance policy that will provide you with appropriate coverage, it is important to understand the types of car insurance policies that are available.

The most common car insurance policies include:

Liability Coverage: This type of insurance is a must-have for every driver. It provides coverage for accidental physical injury and damage to property caused to another person. Physical injury damages can be pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and rehabilitation. Property damage can be damage caused to another driver's car. State laws determine how much liability coverage you must purchase. States provide a minimum set coverage that one must have, but most people protect themselves by purchasing more liability, however you can always get more coverage. The law requires liability coverage because most people do not have the money to compensate another person for an accident.

Most insurance companies will provide coverage for a maximum limit as outlined in the insurance policy. The liability coverage limit can be anywhere from $50,000 to $1,000,000. The amount of liability coverage you acquire will determine how much your premium will be. The higher the liability coverage, the higher the premium will be. Most experts recommend coverage of 1, 000,000 to ensure that you are fully protected. It is best to have at least $500,000 or $1,000,000 liability. This will make certain that you will be able to cover all damages and expenses that you may be responsible for paying.

Comprehensive Coverage: This coverage will cover any damage to your car that is not caused by another driver. Examples include fire, theft, (including car parts) weather damage such as hurricanes, floods, hail, ice storm, vandalism, hitting a object such as a deer, etc. Comprehensive Coverage is optional and is usually purchased for vehicles that are worth more than $1000. Deductibles can range from $250, $500, and $1000.

Collision Coverage: This type of coverage covers your car if it is damaged from a collision. For instance, you are covered if you crash into a fence or another car. This policy provides coverage for all damage minus the deductible up to the set maximum limit. It has to be an accident such as a collision caused by slippery roads. Deductibles range from $250, $500, and $1000. You should get this policy if you have an expensive car.

In order to ensure you are fully protected in the event of an accident or another car related mishap, you need to understand the details of each car insurance policy. As well, you must comply with state law regarding the type of insurance that they mandate for all drivers. To avoid unnecessary financial and emotional hardship, choose the policy that best meets all of your needs.

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This post was written by Amy Nutt on September 2, 2009

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Top Cheap Car Rental Tips!

by Anne Durrell

Everyone want a cheap price, but also a reliable vehicle. So finding a cheap rent a car can be a troublesome. On the other hand, finding the best deal on cheap rent a car is also very important.

Finding a Rental Car Company

Finding a cheap rent a car starts with finding the right rental car company. It is usually best to rent from a company that you know you can trust.

There are a lot of different car rental companies out there. We can find either smaller or larger companies, and even nationwide car rental companies.

Each of them has their own advantages and disadvantages. When you use a smaller company, you will get that personal touch and usually they will give you a good deal, but with a larger company you get options and car availability.

You really need to shop around and find a company that offers what you need. You want to be able to trust in the company, so you need to look at their reputation.

And since you will be handling over your personal information, such as credit card information, so you will want to be able to reply on the company to handle such information and carefully.

Find Discounts

Many car rental companies offer discounts up front, but in most cases it will be up to you to find ways to save on your car rental. You will want to shop around for coupons and other deals.

If you have a certain membership, like AAA, it usually can give you a discount from some rental car companies. Look for information at the car rental companies or inquire about any membership benefits for any club you belong to.

You can also search online for cheap rent a car coupons. You might find special travel package deals that will give you a great bargain price on a travel package that happens to include a rent a car.

Value

You may not end up with the rock bottom price, but cost is not really everything. Actually getting a cheap rent a car is all about finding the best value.

You really must find a rental car that will work for your needs and provide you a safe vehicle. That simply means that you want a cheap rent a car that is a good deal.

Always keep in mind that you do not want a cheap car, but rather a cost efficient car. You need to be careful about shopping for cheap rentals because you may end up with a car that is not worth even the cheap price.

Find good deals and discounts, so that you can get the best value for your money.

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