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Identity theft can destroy a person’s life. Adding identity theft protection as an endorsement to an existing homeowners policy can offer consumers security and peace of mind.

Each year millions of Americans learn the hard way how easy it is for someone to steal their identity. With as little information as your name, Social Security Number and date of birth, a thief can use this information to apply for any number of things, from a credit card to a driver’s license. Rightly, identity theft can cause a great amount of stress for the victim. Getting one’s life back on track after such an event is not only difficult, but also time-consuming and expensive.

Fortunately, there is an easy and cost effective way for families to prevent this theft from happening. A number of homeowners insurance companies cover identity theft as a part of their insurance policy, either as a separate policy or as an endorsement to an existing policy. In fact, many insurance companies have an existing identity theft clause in their insurance policies, and this protection comes at no additional cost to the consumer. With most policies, identity theft coverage provides the victim reimbursement for expenses lost during the process, including phone bills, lost wages, mailing costs, and even pre-approved legal fees. Sometimes, fraud specialists are provided to guide the victim through the exhaustive and difficult process of restoring his or her identity.

Anyone with a bank account, credit card, driver’s license or social security card is at risk for identity theft. Homeowners with an existing policy should speak with their agent to determine what their basic policy covers and to discuss the benefits of adding identity theft protection as an endorsement. Homeowners seeking new policies should shop around for the best identity theft insurance policy, as rates and protection levels can vary from company to company. In addition, consumers should check their credit cards to see what coverage they might offer in the event of identity theft. Knowing what coverage is already available will better enable consumers to purchase an endorsement policy that is right for them.

Adding identity theft insurance is a small investment that will go a long way toward securing a family’s peace of mind.

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

Homeowners insurance policies should be reviewed as your life situation changes. After going through a divorce, it’s important for you to amend your homeowners insurance documents.

After you and your spouse got married, it’s safe to assume that you moved in together. Maybe the two of you even bought a house together shortly after tying the knot. If you are now going through a divorce, one of you will probably be moving out of the house you share. It doesn’t matter if you are the spouse keeping the house or if you are the one moving out, you need to be prepared to make the appropriate changes to your homeowners insurance policy.

Depending on who is listed as the owner of the home and whether you or your ex-spouse are moving following a divorce, you may have to make some adjustments to your homeowners insurance policy and fill out appropriate paperwork. Your policy should only have the name of the current homeowner listed.

If you have a mortgage on your home, your insurance policy will require that you list the name and address of the financial institution that currently holds your mortgage account. Make sure that you update the information on the deed, mortgage and homeowners policy if ownership changes after the divorce proceedings. Not updating this information could cause trouble for you in the event that you have to make a claim in the future.

After a divorce, you may wish to change the locks on your house or install a new security system. If you choose to do so, make sure to alert your homeowners insurance company, as you may be eligible for a discount on your premiums for the upgrade in security measures.

Should you or your ex-spouse move to a rental property during or following divorce proceedings, you should consider purchasing renter’s insurance to protect personal items as well as to provide you with liability coverage.

If you are going through a divorce and need to amend your current homeowners policy, purchase a new policy or get renter’s insurance, you should contact a licensed Florida homeowners insurance agent who will help you fine tune your policy or choose another 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

When applying for auto insurance, consumers want to get the best deal possible. In order to get the best deal, motorists need to provide accurate information on their applications.

By providing agents with accurate information, motorists can be sure that they are getting the lowest premium based on their exact circumstances. Determining your auto insurance premium will depend on many factors, including where you live, the kind of car your drive, how much you drive, how much coverage you want, your driving record and even your age. If an error is made in reporting any of these important facts, your rates will not be quoted correctly.

Auto insurance misquotes can happen when your application information differs from your actual driving record. All auto insurance companies ask states’ motor-vehicle divisions to verify the records of drivers they insure. So, if you tell your insurance agent you have a perfect driving record, and it turns out that you don’t, your insurance company will end up charging you higher premiums than your agent quotes. To avoid these kinds of misquotes, make sure you provide accurate information about your driving record and any other facts that could affect the cost of insurance, such as the make of your car or how far you commute to work. It may be a good idea to spend some time reviewing your driving history and calculating how much you use your vehicle and for what purpose. If you collect your information carefully, you have a better chance of providing information that will lead to an accurate quote. Also, make sure you verify all of the information you’ve gathered before signing the application.

Getting the right quote on an auto insurance policy requires responsibility on the part of the consumer. The policy cannot be properly rated unless correct and complete information is provided. Without accurate information being given to the insurance companies, the quotes you receive will not be reflective of the rates you will actually end up paying. Supplying an insurance company with information that is inaccurate or incomplete will never result in lower premiums. Instead, it will simply waste your time, and you’ll end up paying higher rates than you anticipated.

When applying for auto insurance, contact a licensed Florida insurance agent who can help you review all of the information you need to secure an accurate quote. Even if you are searching for quotes online, make sure there is a licensed agent you can contact with questions.

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

If you’re heading off for summer vacation this month, you should make sure your home and its contents are protected. With residents away from their homes, burglars may be more inclined to target them.

One of the most frightening things that can happen to a person is to have his or her home broken into. A burglary is an unfortunate event that can ravish a family’s sense of security and can lead to great frustration as they fight to replace their possessions that were stolen or damaged. According to the Huffington Post, over 28,000 property crimes occur each day and more than 8,000 of them are burglaries. That means one burglary occurs every 10 seconds. In light of such staggering statistics, homeowners need to make sure that their possessions are protected.

While theft and burglary from the home is covered under most homeowners insurance policies, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be concerned about protecting yourself in the event of a burglary. The cost of home insurance premiums can depend on a number of different factors, and chief among them is the likelihood of a future home burglary. Many factors go into determining this risk, including the crime statistics in your neighborhood.

To keep your home protected, your best bet is to install a home security system that will alert an outside service. Increasing the security of your home will allow insurance companies to offer you the greatest savings. Even if you choose not to have a home security system installed that will deter burglars from targeting your home, you may still wish to have a neighbor or family member keep a close eye on your home while you’re away.

Another way to protect your home from burglary is to make sure you have enough coverage for your personal items in your home. A standard homeowner’s policy will cover most of the items in your home, but some of these items may have coverage limits. If you have valuable items such as jewelry, electronics, antiques, coins or artwork, you may want to add extra coverage to your policy in the form of endorsements.

If you’re planning to travel soon and want to secure the contents of your home, you should contact your agent to discuss what items are covered under your existing policy and even consider adding coverage.

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

Many people who rent an apartment or a home have roommates to reduce the cost of living. Having a roommate may be one way to split the bills, but many people often forget one important bill that can’t be split: renter’s insurance.

In the eyes of an insurance company, your possessions and your roommate’s possessions are two totally different things. If you have a roommate, you should have your own homeowners or renter’s insurance policy to cover your belongings, and he or she should have a policy to cover his or her items.

A roommate is considered to be someone that you live with who is not related to you. This includes individuals you are involved with romantically. If you are married, your spouse does not need separate renter’s insurance, unless the two of you do not co-own most of what is in your home.

By having your own homeowners or renter’s insurance policy, you can ensure that you only have to pay for your own items. If the value of your items changes, then it will be solely your responsibility to pay the increased insurance rate. If, however, your roommate’s possessions were listed under your policy, you may have to pay a higher premium if he or she wants to insure pricey items, such as antiques or heirlooms.

Some insurance companies may allow roommates to be on the same renter’s insurance policy, but you may want to be careful about choosing such a policy. If, for example, there are any changes to you or your roommate’s possessions, you will need to inform your insurance company of these purchases so that they are covered. This can be a time-consuming process. In addition, changes in your possessions, especially if they are expensive purchases, may cause your rates to go up. If you and your roommate have separate policies, then you will not have to monitor your roommate’s purchases.

When you speak to a licensed Florida insurance agent about renter’s insurance, be sure to mention whether or not you have a roommate. Don’t wait for your insurance agent to ask for this information; just volunteer the information up front, so that your agent can advise you of the best policy for you.

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

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.