Does Auto Insurance Cover the Cost of a Rental Car?

Following an accident, many drivers need to get a rental car to help get them to and from work. Rental cars can be expensive however and most people do not have a ton of money sitting around to get a rental car. For those in the Napa, CA area, the agents with Wine Valley Insurance Services can help you to get the policy that is right for you.

An auto policy covers a great deal and many auto policies do help cover the cost of rental cars after an accident. For those that are dealing with the aftermath of a car accident, many auto insurance policies are going to help cover the cost of renting a car until your car is repaired or until you get a new car. this is to help make sure that you are going to be able to get to and from work, your doctor visits and more. This means that your policy is going to help cover the cost of getting a rental car from an authorized dealer so that you can get to work and so that you can get back to normal life after your accident.

Rental cars after an accident are a fantastic thing that can help make the process of recovering after an accident far easier and far more care free than they might be in other cases. Recovering from an accident it never easy but having a rental car can help make the process a bit less troubling and can help you get your car back sooner and get back to normal life sooner as well. For those that live in the Napa, CA area, the agents with Wine Valley Insurance Services can help you find the policy that works for you.  

Does Umbrella Insurance Cover Vehicle’s On The Property?

If you have assets that exceed the face value amount of either auto or home insurance, you can choose to make an umbrella insurance policy purchase to eliminate the gaps in coverage and give adequate protection in each situation. Learn how umbrella insurance can give you the flexible coverage you need to ensure your asset’s protection from hazards. 

Umbrella Coverage For Automobiles

People may purchase umbrella insurance for their property or their automobile, but it provides liability coverage only. This type of insurance is ideal for people who have a situation that may put them at excessive risk for liability issues. If you are considering purchasing umbrella insurance, or aren’t sure if your situation warrants securing this type of coverage, you should consult with an agent with extensive experience with umbrella coverage. 

Discover Options

You must first determine if your situation warrants the necessity of umbrella coverage, and then you need to find the right policy to fit your specific situation. The assistance of an insurance professional will give you the answers you need and the options that provide coverage without gaps. If you live in or around Napa, CA, you should consult with Wine Valley Insurance Services to get the information you need to make wise insurance decisions.

Don’t risk having excess liability that can mean personal loss. Get the experience and know-how from the experts at Wine Valley Insurance Services serving the residents of Napa, CA. Call or stop by the office today to speak with an agent or schedule an appointment for a consultation where you can ask questions and find out more about what umbrella insurance has to offer. 

Some motorcycle safety tips

A motorcycle can be one of the most fun rides around. No experience is quite like riding on the open road with the wind on your face, and all of that power humming beneath you. However, as Wine Valley Insurance Services, serving Napa, CA explains, you should be especially conscious about your safety when riding a motorcycle.

The first thing you should do is to take a motorcycle safety course. You’ll learn about traffic laws that apply to motorcyclists and what to do in an emergency. You will also get to practice your riding skills in a controlled environment.

You should keep your motorcycle properly inspected and make sure before every ride that your lights, horns, and signals are working properly. Keep your brakes and tires well maintained.

You should also wear the right gear before going out on the open road. A helmet is necessary, to keep you from suffering a severe brain injury if you have an accident. Wear long, heavy pants and sturdy shoes or boots. Also, while leather or heavy denim jacket looks pretty cool, it will also provide some protection if you suffer a mishap. Wear gloves, as well.

Drive defensively, good advice when in any motor vehicle, and certainly so when you’re on a motorcycle. Always be aware of your situation, especially where other vehicles and road hazards are concerned. In a car accident the vehicle body, seat belts, and airbags provide considerable protection that is not available on a motorcycle. Maintain proper speed, and obey all of the traffic laws. Do not try any stupid stunts.

For any questions regarding motorcycle insurance feel free to contact Wine Valley Insurance Services, serving Napa, CA.

What does my boat insurance policy cover?

Whether you are a veteran boater or a new boat owner in Napa, CA, a boat insurance cover is essential as it covers you in case of an accident in the waters. When involved in an accident, you are likely to undergo some loss, damage or injuries on yourself and other occupants.

At Wine Valley Insurance Services, we provide you with all the necessary information you need to know before purchasing marine insurance or boat insurance. Many new boaters assume that their homeowners or car insurance will magically stretch to cover their boats, which sadly is never the case.

What does boat insurance cover?

Boat insurance typically has similar coverages like auto and home insurance. For instance, like car insurance, boat insurances protect you from a bodily injury that your boat may have inflicted on other boaters, property damage that your boat may have caused at the docks or on other vessels and any physical damage in case your boat has been damaged when you hit an object in the water.

Similarly, like home insurance, boat policy covers for liability when someone gets accidentally injured in your craft. Boat insurance compensates for the expenses incurred after the incident.

Other types of coverages include uninsured and underinsured watercraft coverage where if an insured boater collides with your watercraft and injures you or any of your passengers, your boat policy may help pay for the injuries irrespective of who was at fault. The same applies to underinsured watercraft.

Sometimes, your boat may sink and disappear or get stolen, burn or destroyed by storms. Comprehensive insurance ensures that your boat is compensated in case of these unfortunate incidences.

To learn more about boat insurance, quotes or other policies, visit us at Wine Valley Insurance Services in Napa, CA today.

 

When is renters insurance required?

Moving into a new rental apartment or another home in the Napa, CA area is a very exciting time. When you are moving into a new property, you will need to make sure that you have the right insurance in place. For many renters, it will be required in a variety of situations to carry renters insurance at all times. 

Required Under the Lease

Due to the benefits that a renters insurance policy provides, your landlord will undoubtedly require that you carry insurance at all times. When you have renters insurance in place, you will receive coverage for your liability and for your personal assets. The landlord may even require you to provide evidence that you purchased a renters insurance policy in place. If you do not have renters insurance in place, it could lead to a violation under your lease agreement. This will give your landlord the right to assess penalties or even have you evicted from your home. 

When You Have Assets that Require Insurance

Beyond having to stay in compliance with your lease, you also need to have renters insurance if you have valuable assets that need to be protected. If you purchased expensive furniture, electronics, or other items and took out a loan, you may be required to carry insurance to protect your assets. A renters insurance policy will provide you with protection for your personal assets. 

When you are moving into a new rental in the Napa, CA area, you likely will be required to carry renters insurance. When you are looking to get a new renters insurance policy, you should speak with the team at Wine Valley Insurance Services. When you speak with the professionals at Wine Valley Insurance Services, you will learn more about how renters insurance could protect you. 

Reading your home insurance mortgage statement : Term to term.

If it’s your first time getting home insurance, then you will soon come to find out that there’s a nice little legal document that’ll come in the mail every few days; there’s typically one sent out per month, and it’s called the mortgage statement. And regardless of what specific home insurance terms you have obliged yourself to, in addition to the home insurance you’ve purchased on the home and its mortgage, you’ll usually find the same set of 8 elements within the document:

1. Company contact info. (for the mortgage company and/or the insurance company) – This will usually include the main point of contact, possibly a 1-800 number, the billing address from the sender, and more.

2. The loan number – This is basically your account number. Don’t lose it.

3. The current interest rate – It shows how much interest you are paying on the mortgage, and/or on the insurance covering it.

4. The escrow balance or taxes paid – If, as the borrow, you choose to simply set aside an escrow (or have the mortgage company do it for you), then you’ll see this escrow in your monthly payments. It’ll display in the currency amount set; if you’re living in the U.S., for example, and the mortgage loan and insurance are based there, then you’ll see it in $ USD. 

5. The totaled monthly payment – On a separate line

6. The central escrow – With date included

7. The interest payment – Your current APR

8. The principal payment – Pay it off first. 

Wine Valley Insurance Services serves Napa, CA with precision and clarity of mind, offering undisputed customer excellence in its every scope. Check them out today to learn how you may be assisted with any insurance query. Call or click now. 

Renting May Be Easier Than Owning but Don’t Let A Lack of Insurance Complicate Your Life

Don’t Leave Acquiring Renters Insurance Off Of Your List 

Currently, you rent your home, so there are a lot of things you can leave off of your list. Most likely you do not have to cover the overall maintenance of your home which frees up a substantial amount of time and money. However, we urge you not to leave a great renter’s insurance policy off of your MUST HAVE list. Lessened property responsibility does not equal less vulnerability. You still need an adequate and appropriate insurance policy to protect your property and it may be required by your landlord in most situations.

Renters, like homeowners, face the possibility of getting property taken in a robbery. Criminal activity is not the only culprit. Severe weather conditions or environmental hazards can also have a renter seeing his or her property being damaged or completely lost. Come in to Wine Valley Insurance Services today to speak with an agent who has experience in protecting the things you work hard for.  

We can offer liability and property coverage through our renter’s insurance policies that will not be covered by your landlord. Make an inventory of your belongings to make this process even easier!

Napa, CA is Known For Its Vineyards – Lets Add Quality Comprehensive Insurance Agencies to the List

Before you move into your rented apartment or other property make it a priority to stop into  Wine Valley Insurance Services in Napa, CA. Contact us by phone at 707-226-8604. Our team members take pride in the fact that we cater to many facets of our clients insurance liabilities. In addition to assisting renter’s in protecting their lifestyle, we provide auto, home, commercial. life, health, condo, toy, and umbrella insurance coverage. Contact us today. 

How Long Does a Bad Driving Record Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates?

When you have a spotty driving record, you are considered high-risk for auto insurance companies. The good news is that you won’t have the high-risk label forever if you avoid future traffic violations. Any concerns with how your driving history affects your insurance rates can be discussed with the agents from Wine Valley Insurance Services.

Variable Timeframes

Each insurance carrier will handle poor driving records differently. For minor violations, the insurance carrier may only consider incidents that occurred in the last two to three years. For more serious traffic violations and accidents, the report may stay on your record for at least five years. Insurance carriers who cover drivers in the Napa, CA area may offer accident forgiveness for policyholders who typically have a good driving record.

Types of Offenses

Not all traffic incidents will have a major impact on insurance premiums. For instance, non-moving violations such as an expired inspection sticker or parking ticket will not likely change insurance rates. High-speed driving tickets, DUI violations, and careless driving tickets will have the most effect on insurance coverage.

Quick Ways to Clean Up a Driving Record

Waiting for your driving record to clear up on its own can feel cumbersome. The good news is drivers can take proactive steps to fix their driving records. For one, you can choose to fight any traffic violation tickets. The ticket may be dismissed or reduced by the judge depending on the circumstances. You could also request traffic violations, and convictions are expunged from your driving record through the State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver safety courses also assist with fixing a poor driving record in order to secure better auto insurance rates.

Contact one of the friendly and professional agents from Wine Valley Insurance Services about auto insurance coverage. The company serves drivers located in Napa, CA and surrounding areas.

 

Factors to Consider When Shopping for Umbrella Insurance

We live in a litigious society, and considering no one is perfect, you can avoid financial ruin by acquiring umbrella insurance with Wine Valley Insurance Services. Umbrella insurance is meant to offer extra liability protection beyond your standard auto, home, boat or other types of coverage. It also covers claims that may be excluded by your other liability policies.

Having excess liability insurance may not be compulsory in Napa, CA, however, without it, you may have to dig into your pocket to cover the extra liability costs from severe accidents and huge lawsuits. Here are a few factors to consider when shopping for umbrella insurance:

Current coverage

Umbrella insurance only comes in after your primary policies have been exhausted. That’s why it’s important to evaluate your policies while focusing on coverage limits. Use your current coverage amounts as a baseline to build from.

The amount of extra insurance you can afford

Having umbrella insurance might mean paying higher premiums on your standard policies. This is because most insurance providers will require policyholders to raise their coverage and deductibles. So, ensure you determine how much extra insurance you can afford before committing.

Assets

The amount of umbrella coverage dramatically depends on what you’ve got to lose. When shopping for umbrella insurance, focus on the value of your assets, which includes retirement, savings, stocks, etc. Umbrella insurance is meant to safeguard your financial future, therefore, choose a policy that compares to your assets as well as your future financial projections.

Risks

The type of risks you are taking also offers an idea of how much coverage you need. An elevated accident risk, such as homes with pools, can naturally increase your chances of getting sued. Therefore, the higher the risk, the more umbrella coverage you need.

At Wine Valley Insurance Services, we ensure residents of Napa, CA don’t have to liquidate their precious assets due to unexpected lawsuits. For more information, get in touch with us today!

Is there a difference between a fire and a wildfire?

The agents at Wine Valley Insurance Services, serving Napa, CA and the nearby areas, have plenty of experience dealing with insurance claims for wildfires in northern California. They want to caution homeowners about the differences between a regular fire and a wildfire. Most home insurance covers fires due to ordinary causes. However, there may not be coverage for wildfires. It is essential to double check home insurance policies to make sure that any damage to a home caused by wildfires is covered.

Force Majeure Considerations

“Force majeure” is a legal term used in a home insurance policy that is sometimes also referred to as an “act of God.” The use of this term in creating coverage exclusions and policy limits is something to investigate in any home insurance policies.

For example, let’s say the home insurance policy has a force majeure clause that excludes fires caused by an “act of God.” This means that if a wildfire caused by a lightning strike or due to drought is the reason why a home burns down, the insurance may not cover the damages.

Getting Home Insurance Areas with High Risk of Wildfires

California had over 9,000 wildfires during 2017 that burned up over 1.2 million acres and caused many billions of dollars in insurance claims. This was the most destructive year on record due to wildfires.

In many parts of northern California, homes that are located in areas subject to wildfires now cannot get home insurance, or if they do get home insurance, it has a specific exclusion saying that the policy does not cover wildfires.

If you are unable to get insurance coverage for a home due to the risk of wildfires, it may be available under the California FAIR plan. Contact your agent at Wine Valley Insurance Services in Napa, CA for help with home insurance coverage.