Lightning damage poses a significant threat to Florida homeowners. While most policies provide coverage for lightning damage in their standard policies, homeowners should review these policies and take measures to ensure that their risk for lightning damage is low.

While many homeowners’ insurance claims result from the damage caused by tornadoes and hurricanes, there is another type of natural disaster that can cause just as much damage: lightning. As Florida is the lightning capital of the world, it is important for homeowners to review their homeowners’ policies to ensure that lightning damage is a covered expense. While coverage for lightning damage is standard for most homeowners’ insurance policies, not all cover the damage caused by lightning.

While many homeowners are not aware of the potential damage lightning could cause, lightning can actually cause serious damage. It can damage not only the structure of your house but can also damage internal components of your house.

There are a number of different actions homeowners can take in order to protect their homes from lightning, and these actions may also work to lower your insurance premiums. If your home is protected against lightning damage it is likely that you will qualify for lower homeowners’ insurance quotes. Taking the following actions can show insurance companies that your home is at low risk for lightning damage:

Installing a lightning rod on the roof of your home will direct the lightning into the ground instead of letting it run its course through your house where it could cause serious damage.

Installing either an energy shield or surge-protection device on the electric meter outside of your home will also work to direct lightning into the ground instead of directly at your home. Check with your local electric company regarding this option, they may offer surge protection devices that will keep your home electronics and other major appliances protected from damage.

As lightning can strike anywhere with little warning, it is essential for all Florida homeowners to have adequate homeowners’ insurance coverage in place that protects against the damage lightning can cause. This assures that if the worst happens, any cost for repairs or replacement of damaged property will be covered. You should make sure that the replacement cost limit for your property under your policy is enough to cover the replacement cost of your home.

Florida homeowners should review their policies to determine if their policies cover all forms of lightning damage and how extensive this coverage is. Talking to a licensed homeowners’ insurance agent can help Florida homeowners review their coverage options.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com.

Due to the current status of the economy, drivers are looking for more ways to decrease their insurance premiums. There are a number of simple ways to reduce premiums that drivers should consider.

In today’s economy, finding cheaper car insurance is on everyone’s mind. All consumers need to save money wherever they can, and while car insurance is one of life’s basic necessities it’s also a place where people are looking to save money. While all drivers need to have adequate insurance in case of an accident, there are a number of ways that drivers can decrease their car insurance premiums, and there are many discounts given by various companies.

Many consumers can reduce their car insurance premiums by driving less. Many insurance carriers offer lower premiums to drivers who drive less than 10,000 miles per year. The rationale behind this discount is that if drivers keep their cars in the driveway more often, then they will be less likely to be involved in driving accidents. Fewer accidents mean fewer claims, and insurance companies have to spend less money.

Another way to reduce your insurance premiums is to raise the amount of your deductible. For most insurance companies, the higher your deductible is, the lower your premium is. The drawback to this is that if you do have an accident, you will pay more out-of-pocket at the time of the incident.

Another option may be to lower the amount of your coverage. This would be a good idea for those drivers who own older cars with low values. Instead of having collision coverage, you may just need basic liability coverage on an older car.

A simple way to achieve a low insurance premium is to keep your driving record clean. Drivers who have been in accidents and filed claims often see a significant increase in their rates; however, those who drive safely often see little to no increases in their premium rates. In this case, insurance companies are rewarding drivers for being responsible.

In addition, seniors may qualify for an over the age of 65 discount. They should check with their agent to see if this discount applies to them.

Finding ways to reduce your car insurance premiums can be difficult. You should contact a licensed insurance agent who will help you to review your options.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com.

Due to rising costs of medical care and vehicle repair, Florida motorists may want to consider adding more coverage to their existing auto insurance policies. More coverage will provide motorists with more protection and peace of mind.

The rising costs of medical care and vehicle repair may create trouble for some Florida motorists. Currently, many Florida drivers only have the minimum amount of coverage required by Florida law because they want to keep their auto insurance costs low. While this may seem like a great way to save money, it may not be a good idea. Traffic accidents can be much more costly than anticipated, and it is important for Florida motorists to have the appropriate amount of coverage to cover both medical and vehicle expenses if they happen to be at fault. Should the damage you cause cost more than the minimum insurance you carry, you will be required pay the additional expenses and your assets could be in jeopardy. While the minimum amounts required by the state may be sufficient to cover the expenses that result from some traffic accidents, there may be incidents where the minimum required amount will not cover the entire cost of the incident. If a tragic accident occurs, Florida drivers will not only have to pay their deductible but will also have to cover the additional costs of medical care and vehicle repair. Being forced to do so can be financially devastating to a family.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Florida drivers are only required to carry $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 for Property Damage Liability (PDL). PIP will cover personal injury that is inflicted on you, your children, members of your household, and certain passengers who lack PIP Insurance. PDL coverage pays for damages that you, or members of your family, cause to other people's property in an accident involving a motor vehicle. This required amount of coverage may seem like enough to protect you and your family from paying additional out-of-pocket expenses, but traffic accidents can cause serious damage to the vehicles involved and to those involved in the crash.

Having a policy that will cover the costs of both vehicle repair and medical care will save Florida motorists a considerable amount of money and grief. Purchasing additional cover will allow Florida drivers to drive with more confidence and an increased feeling of security. Florida drivers should discuss the possibility of increased coverage with a licensed insurance agent to determine what level of coverage is right for their family.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com.

Thousands of Florida residents may have to pay more for their homeowner’s insurance. The federal government has just made changes to its floodplain map, causing many Florida homeowners to acquire flood insurance.

A recent change in the federal government’s floodplain map is causing Florida homeowners to add flood insurance to their homeowner’s insurance policies. The area most affected by these new changes is Orange County, Florida. Homes in the Conway and Azelea Park areas that have never been affected by floods will now need to be covered by flood insurance. These newly identified homeowners will have to amend their existing policies in order to protect themselves against the tragedy that could occur during flooding.

Every ten years, FEMA redraws its floodplain map, and this year’s results indicate a great change in potential areas of flooding. This year, the process was conducted using a digital system, which is similar to a GPS. In the past, FEMA has relied on printed maps in order to determine which homes are susceptible to flooding. This system, FEMA notes, is more reliable than the ones used in the past and could work to save homeowner’s from the financial and emotional disaster than can occur after a flood affects one’s home.

While FEMA’s new floodplain map has placed many new residents in a flood zone, it has also taken around 8,000 homeowners out of previously identified flood zones. According to FEMA, being in a flood zone simply means that the homeowner’s property is in an area that has at least a 1% chance of flooding. If Florida homeowner’s do not agree with the results obtained from FEMA’s mapping system, they can conduct their own survey to determine whether or not their homes are susceptible to flooding.

Florida homeowners should not make the mistake of thinking that their existing homeowner’s policy covers the damage caused by floods. Flood insurance is not part of standard homeowner’s policy and must be added to the policy for an additional premium.

This type of homeowner’s coverage has not been necessary for many of the homes in this area in the past, and not having it now could cost Florida homeowners a significant amount of money. Residents in the effected areas should consult with a licensed homeowner’s insurance agent to find the best options for adding flood insurance to their policies.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com.

Florida homeowners should carefully review their sinkhole coverage. A new Florida law may end up costing homeowners a significant amount of money if they wish to protect themselves against sinkhole damage.

Floridainsurance.com encourages Florida homeowners to review their existing homeowners’ policy to determine whether or not their policies contain adequate sinkhole coverage. Effective January 1, a new Florida law allows private insurance companies the option not to renew current sinkhole coverage in Pasco and Hernando counties. This new law was enacted as a means of saving Florida homeowners money by reducing insurance premiums. Sinkhole coverage endorsement is still available for purchase, but homeowners must pay an additional premium to receive this comprehensive coverage.

Those residents, whose sinkhole coverage is not renewed and cannot afford to pay the extra premium, will have to rely on another form of coverage. Under Florida law, insurance companies are required to offer catastrophic ground cover collapse coverage to all policyholders, but this type of coverage will not cover all the potential damage caused by sinkholes. It only covers damage of an extreme variety, which is the result of geological activity that causes collapse of the ground cover, visible depressions, structural damage to a home, or causes the home to be condemned due to inhabitability.

Although the state’s mandatory catastrophic ground cover collapse coverage may provide homeowners with some security in the event that a sinkhole causes extreme damage to the property, this included coverage will do little to protect homeowners from the much more common effects of sinkholes, such as cracks in buildings or other issues that occur due to settling. Not having the sinkhole coverage endorsement that would cover the costs arising from these kinds of damages could result in a significant out-of-pocket expense for homeowners affected by sinkholes.

As Florida is the state with the highest number of sinkholes, it is important for Florida homeowners to review their policies carefully and determine whether sinkhole coverage would be beneficial. Having the right kind of sinkhole coverage will save Florida homeowners a lot of grief and a lot of money. Additional sinkhole coverage should be considered, especially if the residence is located in a high risk area, to avoid having to pay for and deal with the potential losses associated with sinkhole damage.

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit Floridainsurance.com.

Sinkholes pose a significant threat to Florida homeowners. A new law allows private insurance companies to cut sinkhole coverage in order to lower premium prices.

Due to Florida’s unique geology, sinkholes form here more often than in any other state in the US, and many of these sinkholes are located near the I-4 corridor in Central Florida. Because of this distinctive situation, Florida homeowners should consider electing sinkhole coverage when purchasing new policies or adding coverage to their existing policies. Failure to do so may result in a significant financial burden and overwhelming personal loss.

A new Florida law, effective January 1, 2010, allows private insurers to drop some portions of sinkhole coverage in order to cut the cost of premiums. It is Mandatory that ALL “Admitted insurance companies selling homeowners insurance in Florida offer customers catastrophic ground cover collapse coverage. Catastrophic ground cover collapse coverage will protect a homeowner in the event that there is an abrupt collapse in the ground cover that can be seen by the naked eye, there is structural damage to the building or foundation, or the structure is condemned and residents are instructed to vacate the premises by the appropriate government agency. Because of this many companies have ceased offering any homeowners’ coverage in some areas and counties.”

This new law allows some Florida insurance companies to non-renew or charge extra for a sinkhole coverage endorsement. Without this endorsement the policy will not provide homeowners with reimbursement for losses due to settling or cracking of a foundation, building, or structure. A large majority of sinkholes do not have catastrophic effects that result in structural damage or lead to a building being condemned. Many sinkholes actually result in less significant damage, but even repairing this damage can put a financial burden on your family. Insurance companies are not required to provide insurance that covers sinkhole damages not listed under the catastrophic ground cover collapse coverage.

Florida homeowners can retain sinkhole coverage for an additional premium, a premium that will likely cost homeowners hundreds of dollars per month.

Although electing additional sinkhole coverage may be costly, the expense is worth the risk for those who live in an area that is prone to sinkholes. Discuss your coverage possibilities with a licensed homeowners’ insurance agent. Doing so will ensure that your family and your belongings are protected against the significant damage that sinkholes might cause.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com.

Renter’s insurance policies help to protect your belongings. These types of policies will cover not only your personal property but will also ensure that incidents that might occur on your property are covered.

While a vast number of Floridians live in apartment complexes or rent homes, an overwhelming number do not have a renter’s insurance policy. Many do not have this coverage simply because they are unaware of it, as the landlord or property owner does not mention it. Not having a renter’s insurance policy can end up costing you a lot of money. Although your landlord is required to provide a well-maintained, clean place for you to live, your landlord is not responsible for insuring your home’s contents. Without renter’s insurance, you run the risk of losing valuable personal property due to theft or damage. An adequate renter’s insurance policy is necessary in order to protect your belongings.

Generally, insurance companies specifically delineate the types of incidents that will be covered under their renter’s insurance policies. Most policies do cover damage caused by theft, wind, water, lightning, fire, and vandalism. If, however, a specific type of incident is not listed on your policy, then chances are it will not be covered. For example, many standard renters’ insurance policies do not cover damaged incurred by incidents such as floods or earthquakes; however, this type of coverage can be added to your policy for an additional premium.

A renter’s insurance policy generally provides two different types of coverage: personal property damage and liability coverage. Personal property damage is designed solely to cover the cost of replacing your personal items. Different policies will offer varying levels of coverage for personal property that includes appliances, clothing, furniture, and electronics. Before deciding on an appropriate amount of coverage, it will be important to take stock of how valuable your personal items are. Having this information beforehand will make it easier for you to choose a policy that will protect your items. An important note, because renters and property insurance is so much more expensive in Florida than in other states, one should make sure and ask their agent to add the “Replacement Cost Coverage” endorsement. Some agents leave this coverage off to win your business. This coverage will be a bit pricier but when a loss occurs, you will be given new property for the loss of your old property. Not having this endorsement may save you a few dollars now, but the results of not having this endorsement could cost YOU several thousand dollars at time of claim.

Liability coverage helps to protect you against incidents which occur on your property. For example, liability coverage will help to protect you if a guest sustains injury while on your rental property. If you chose this kind of coverage, you will not be held liable for the incident or any ensuing legal and medical bills.

One type of coverage that is included in most policies and forgotten is “Loss of Use.” We have seen many instances on the news where an apartment fire has rendered many folks homeless. If you have Renters Insurance you will have money to help out with the cost of a hotel and food while you are out of your apartment or home.

Purchasing renter’s insurance will not only keep your belongings safe, it will also give you much-needed peace of mind. A home insurance agent will be able to help you find a policy that best fits your needs.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com.

Hitting the books can make it easier for you to hit the road. Many insurance companies offer discounts to students who make the grade.

For teenagers, getting a driver’s license and their own car is a big step toward independence. However, many teenagers do not get to take this important step, as insurance rates for new drivers are costly. According to the Insurance Information Institute, adding a teenage driver to an existing policy can increase rates from 50 to 100 percent. This increased premium is often far too much for families, and the rates are nearly impossible for students who must pay for auto insurance on their own. However, students may still be able to realize their independence with the help of academic discounts.

Insuring teenagers is so costly because of the great risk that these new drivers pose to insurance companies. As teenagers are less responsible than adults and have higher accident rates than other age groups, insurance companies are forced to consider the significant amount of money a teenager may cost in filed claims when determining the appropriate rates. However, many insurance companies offer a good student discount to students who demonstrate their responsibility by maintaining good grades. Good students can receive rates that are up to 15 percent lower than other teenage drivers. These lowered rates can be the deciding factor when families are thinking of adding teenagers to their auto insurance policy.

While each insurance company has different eligibility requirements for good student discounts, most companies limit the student’s age of participation to 16-24, require that the student retain full-time status, and require proof that the student has been academically successful. Many insurance companies require students to have a 3.0 grade point average the semester before a policy is initiated or have earned a place on the Honor Roll or Dean’s List. Other companies determine a student’s eligibility based on standardized test scores, such as the SAT or PSAT.

Good student discounts can help ease the financial burden of insuring teenage drivers. Talk to a licensed Florida auto insurance agent to discuss good student discount options that may be available to your teenage children. Doing so will bring them one step closer to independence.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com.

Florida homeowners may not be getting the best deal on their home insurance. See what some homeowners are doing to change that.

Even with the economy showing slight glimmers of recovery, household budgets are still a little strapped. It may be tempting for families to immediately look to their insurance as a way to cut costs, but it might not be necessary.

As families review the expenses each month, items like homeowners insurance and auto insurance seem to stick out as expendable. However, it is in times when a family’s finances are restricted that insurance coverage is needed the most.

When the savings account was getting regular contributions, a $3,000.00 deductible made sense for the SUV. But now, the family might not be able to afford an accident. Or if a roof is damaged, the credit may not be readily accessible to meet the deductibles of the home insurance policy.

FloridaInsurance.com is reminding their clients that now is not the time to lower cost by increasing risk. What may be the better option is finding a new home insurance or auto insurance carrier.

Many people are realizing why FloridaInsurance.com is becoming a popular destination. Their easy online quoting process makes it convenient for insurance shoppers to get accurate insurance rates that may help save them money.

With FloridaInsurance.com being an independent agency, they can shop around for the best homeowners insurance and auto insurance rates to make sure that the coverage sold is the best coverage for the client. This is a valuable benefit over going directly to a company or to a single company agent.

It’s also important to review coverage periodically. Many Florida home insurance policies are handled directly through their mortgage company. Homeowners do not have to go with the mortgage company’s recommendation; they can contact FloridaInsurance.com to find alternative home insurance options. The licensed insurance agent handling the policy can communicate the details to the mortgage company to add the insurance premiums to the mortgage bill.

This year, as families look for ways to save money, FloridaInsurance.com encourages them to shop around for a different insurance company through one of their licensed agents before deciding on a lower level of coverage.

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit Floridainsurance.com.

With television ads all claiming to save drivers money, Orlando auto insurance agency, Floridainsurance.com sees an increase in online quote requests from drivers seeking a second opinion.

The advertisements are everywhere – on the radio, television and even popping up on your computer. An insurance company can save you money; just visit their website.

The truth is, going to a major insurance company to get an auto insurance quote will not get you the best deal. Even websites that offer comparison rates are not giving actual rates. The only true way to get multiple, accurate insurance quotes is through a licensed Florida insurance agency that represents multiple companies.

Merging the auto insurance comparison power of an agency with the simplicity of the Internet is why FloridaInsurance.com is seeing more Orlando auto insurance shoppers turn to them instead of the insurance company websites advertised on television.

“We have made the process of requesting a quote at FloridaInsurance.com easier and more customer oriented than a lot of the insurance company websites,” states Lee Rogers of FloridaInsurance.com, “When drivers in Orlando and across the state of Florida visit us online, we provided accurate quotes from real companies and advice coming directly from one of our licensed insurance agents.”

While many companies try to attract direct customers, FloridaInsurance.com is competing with their powerful customer service. Many people prefer to work with an agency because they can keep their contact person if they have multiple policies through several companies, or have to switch to another carrier.

Most auto insurance companies focus on selling their own insurance lines. Companies that advertise price comparisons on their website are providing quotes from third party companies that may or may not be accurate. Such information that can affect an insurance rate, such as credit or a motor vehicle report, may not be represented in the quote displayed on the website.

When an agent presents auto insurance quotes, the rates reflect all the information provided to the insurance company relevant to the policy. Items such as credit and driving records along with household drivers and household member driving records are all taken into consideration when a company issues a firm quote.

The combination of classic insurance agency support with next generation online quoting is making FloridaInsurance.com a destination for Orlando and Florida drivers to get accurate insurance rate comparisons.

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit Floridainsurance.com.