Should You Insure A Golf Cart?

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Golf Cart Insurance

Golf carts aren’t just used for the golf course. Many people use as an easy transportation around their neighborhood.

Depending what state you live in, insurance for your golf cart is either required or optional. Golf cart insurance is going to provide you with the best coverage versus simply relying on your home insurance policy for coverage. Home insurance can also deny coverage if you get into an accident or injure someone away from your property.

What protection does golf cart insurance provide you?

Similar to car insurance, golf cart insurance can provide you with a wide variety of protection.

Property damage liability – if you damage someone’s property with your golf cart, this can pay for the damage.

Bodily injury liability – if you injure someone who is not a passenger with your golf cart, this can pay for the medical bills.

Guest Passenger liability – if you injure your guest passenger who is riding with you, this may pay for medical expenses.

Collision insurance – this coverage can pay for any damage you cause to your golf cart if you get into a collision with another object.

Comprehensive insurance – this can provide coverage if something happens to your golf cart such as fire damage, theft or any other event that causes damage.

Uninsured motorist coverage – this coverage helps pay for damage on accidents where you are not at fault. If you get into an accident with someone else who is at fault, but that person doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the damage, uninsured motorist coverage may kick in.

Medical payments – this can provide coverage for medical bills related to you and your guest passengers regardless who is at fault for the accident.

Frequently Asked Questions about Golf Cart Insurance –

I have a home and auto insurance policy, if I choose not to buy a golf cart insurance policy, am I covered by my other insurance policies?

Auto insurance rarely provides coverage for golf carts. Your home insurance may provide some coverage for your golf cart, but only if you have a claim that occurs on your property. We don’t recommend relying on this coverage because it can be minimal. Talk to an agent in our office about what your home insurance could cover. If you get into an accident away from your property, most likely your home insurance will deny any coverage.

Is golf cart insurance affordable?

Definitely! Insurance premiums vary based off of what coverage you want to purchase. If you want to purchase all the coverage options above, your cost will be more versus just purchasing liability insurance.

Other factors that play a role in your premium – your driving history, your vehicle, if you wish to pay yearly or monthly or taking a safety course.

Call our agency for a free insurance quote! If you have other policies, we can bundle with your current insurance carrier to provide you with additional discounts.

My Home was Burglarized and Valuables were Stolen, Am I Covered By My Home Insurance?

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Home Theft Protection in Seattle, WashingtonLike car theft, many cities and communities throughout the United States have seen an increase in home burglaries. If your home is ever burglarized, it is important to understand your home or renter’s insurance coverage.

Home insurance can provide you with coverage for replacement if you have valuables stolen from your home. In insurance terms, this is known as personal property coverage. Coverage varies depending on your policy limits and your deductible.

A Claim is Processed on Actual Cash Value or Replacement Value for Stolen Valuables

It is important to note that covered claims are processed based off your policy verbiage. Often policy holders believe valuables that were stolen from their home will be reimbursed at the same price as what they paid for it. This is not always the case.

Actual Cash Value – Actual cash value is the amount you paid for the item, minus depreciation at the time of your insurance claim. The insurance carrier reimburses you simply off what this specific item costs today. In most situations, insurance adjusters will determine the price of reimbursement is less than what you originally paid. Depreciation is broken down by wear and tear or the age of the item. 

Replacement Value – Replacement value is the amount you paid for the item. It does not factor in depreciation. In a covered claim, an insurance adjuster will reimburse or replace an item similar to what was stolen at today’s price.

Choosing what coverage, you prefer for your policy is up to you. Actual cash value coverage tends to offer a more affordable insurance premium but does offer a little less coverage. Replacement value offers more coverage but increases your insurance premium.

Are all items in your home covered under personal property coverage?

Certain high price items should be covered under a policy rider.

This is separate from personal property coverage. Items such as wedding or engagement rings, other valuable jewelry, fine art, as well as equipment such as high price cameras, bicycles, musical instruments, firearms, or any other valuables you consider high price.

Contact an agent in our office to discuss if you need specific items in your home on a policy rider. It’s important to have separate coverage for these items because home insurance policies do have policy limits. If a high price valuable was stolen from your home, you may be underinsured. Therefore, your home or renters insurance policy could not provide you with proper replacement for your valuable.

Have Questions about Your Home or Renters Insurance Policy?

Our agents are here to answer your questions and ensure you understand your insurance coverage. Contact us for a home or renters insurance policy review.

Spring Is Here! Time to Assess the Condition of Your Roof

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It’s time to assess the condition of your roof! In this article, you’ll learn about how to maintain your roof this spring.

View of roof with shingles coming off

Now that you’ve made it through the long, hard winter, addressing home repair issues that may have surfaced in the last several months is essential. At this time of year, it’s especially important to assess the condition of your roof and, if needed, to seek roof repair.

Importance of Maintaining Your Roof

A damaged roof can leak, leading to structural damage, mold and mildew damage, wood rot, and more. Once a roof starts leaking, it can be challenging to find the source of the leak. Water penetrating the roofing membrane may roll down until it finds a point of entry into your attic. Sometimes the source of the leak is far from the location where the leak manifests, which makes repairing a roof tricky. You can avoid a difficult-to-fix roof leak and potential damage to your home’s structure by maintaining your roof.

How Long Do Roofs Last?

Some roofing materials last longer than others. Asphalt shingles, one of the most common roofing materials in the U.S., typically last about 15 to 30 years. Metal roofs can last 70 years, while clay roofs can last 50.
The secret to ensuring a long service life for your roof is to perform regular maintenance. By keeping your gutters clean, removing debris from your roof at least once annually, and inspecting your roof regularly, you can keep your roof in good condition.

Steps to Assess Your Roof

You don’t have to hire roofers to inspect your roof. You can perform the inspection yourself if you can adequately see your roof from the ground around your house. Hire a roofer if you must get on your roof to perform the inspection.

  1. Walk around your home and look at your roof for problems such as missing, curling, or cracked shingles, cracked caulking, and deteriorating flashing.
  2. Check your gutters for asphalt granules (if your roof is asphalt shingles). It is expected to find a few granules here and there, but if your gutters are full of granules, it is likely time to replace some shingles. Check for granules at the base of your downspouts as well.
  3. Step back from your home and look at your roof line. If the roof line is sagging in the middle or uneven on one side, this is a sign of a serious problem.
  4. Go into your attic to look for signs of a roof leak. Wet, stained wood is a clear indication of a problem. If the wood appears stained but not wet, this could be from an old roof leak.

Found a Problem? Meet with Roofers

If the inspection of your roof generates cause for concern, meet with roofers as soon as possible. The summer is a busy time for roofers, and the best contractors tend to book early. To address your problem as quickly as possible, make appointments with roofers as soon as you realize your roof needs attention.

Need a New Roof? Follow These Tips

Choosing a contractor to repair or replace your roof is a big deal. The contractor you choose will impact the quality of the work.

  • Meet with multiple roofers before selecting the one to do the work.
  • Check their credentials, including insurance, bond, licensure, and experience.
  • Check references to ensure homeowners who hired the roofer you’re considering had good experiences.

Brush Up Your Homeowners Insurance

Some roof damage – like damage from wind or a lightning strike – may be covered by homeowners insurance. Keep up your policy to protect your home. Call your agent today.