Shopping Tips
Browse our articles about shopping tips
Admitted vs Surplus Lines Carriers, and Guaranty Funds
Not every insurer is licensed in your state, and the difference determines what happens if it fails. Here is what admitted and surplus lines mean for you.
Read MoreCaptive Agents, Independent Agents and Buying Direct
Who an agent represents and how they are paid shapes what you are shown. Here are the four distribution channels and what each is good for.
Read MoreBuilding a Home Inventory Before You Need to File a Claim
After a loss, proving what you owned is your job. A home inventory is the practical way to do it, and it takes an afternoon to create.
Read MoreCancellation, Non-Renewal and Why a Coverage Lapse Matters
Cancellation and non-renewal are different things with different rules. Here are your notice rights, and what a gap in coverage sets in motion.
Read MoreChecking an Insurer: Complaint Indexes and Ratings
Before buying a policy you can check an insurer's licensing, complaint record and financial condition for free. Here is where to look and how to read it.
Read MoreClassic Car Insurance and How Agreed Value Works
A standard auto policy pays depreciated value, which is the wrong answer for a car that appreciates. Here is how agreed value coverage differs.
Read MoreGap Insurance: When You Owe More Than the Car Is Worth
How negative equity arises, where gap coverage is sold and how those products differ, and the refund most people forget to claim when a loan ends early.
Read MoreHome Warranty vs Home Insurance: What Each One Covers
They sound similar and do opposite jobs. Insurance responds to sudden accidental loss; a warranty is a service contract for mechanical breakdown.
Read MoreHow to Read Your Declarations Page Line by Line
The declarations page is the authoritative summary of what you actually bought. Here is what each section means and which lines are worth checking.
Read MoreHow to Shop for Insurance: What to Gather First
Requesting quotes is quick once you have the right information in front of you. Here is what to collect and the one mistake that makes the exercise useless.
Read MoreLeasing a Car: What Your Lease Requires You to Carry
Lease insurance requirements are contractual, not statutory. Here is what lessors typically demand, and what happens when a leased car is totaled.
Read MoreLife Events That Should Trigger an Insurance Review
Insurance is set once and then quietly goes out of date. These are the events that change what you need, and none of them reach your insurer on their own.
Read MoreNon-Owner Car Insurance: Liability Without a Vehicle
A non-owner policy provides liability coverage that follows you as a driver rather than attaching to a car. Here is who it fits and what it leaves out.
Read MoreScheduling Valuables: Floaters for Jewelry, Art and More
Standard policies cap certain categories far below your overall limit. Scheduling raises the limit and, more usefully, broadens what counts as a loss.
Read MoreSR-22 Filings: What They Are and When a State Requires One
An SR-22 is not insurance. It is a certificate your insurer files with the state to prove you carry required liability coverage, and the rules vary widely.
Read MoreThis content is for general informational purposes only and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice. Coverage, exclusions, eligibility, and pricing vary by insurer, by policy, and by state, and only the policy documents control what is covered. Always confirm the details of any coverage with a licensed insurance agent or the issuing carrier before you buy.