Auto Insurance
Auto insurance has many coverage options and may be complex. Many people don’t understand how they are covered or what they will do if they find themselves in an insurance claim situation. Let our Member’s Assurance professional agents teach you the basic types of car insurance and learn how to obtain the coverage you need for your unique situation.
Collision Coverage – This is the basic insurance type that covers your vehicle if you collide into something. This covers collisions with other cars as well as if you were to run into a fixed object such as a wall, barrier, bridge, house, etc.
Comprehensive Coverage – This coverage is for damage to your vehicle that is not directly related to a collision loss. This would include theft, fire, hail, rocks hitting the windshield, and miscellaneous incidents such a hitting an animal while driving. Comprehensive coverage is often used to cover glass claims as well.
Liability Coverage – This type of coverage is for damages when you are at fault in an accident and you damage someone else’s car or property. Liability also covers bodily injury to another person in an at-fault accident as well as the associated legal expenses. This is most the important coverage to have to protect your financial well-being, as the damage that can be caused in an auto accident is often severe. Liability coverage is also mandated by law, so it is important that you make certain you have an adequate amount to satisfy the law as well as an adequate amount to best protect your assets.
Medical Payments – This is also called PIP in some states. Medical payments coverage is for any injuries incurred in an accident or while in the proximity of your vehicle, regardless of fault. Medical payment insurance varies from state to state, so make certain you understand how it works in your state.
Now that you understand a bit more about the different types of auto coverage available, you are probably ready to find the right coverage for you. Let our Member’s Assurance team help you to compare insurance quotes. By doing so, you can rest assured you are getting the coverage you need at a price that works for you.
Home Insurance
Home insurance covers your property, structures and contents, as well as personal liability. Several different varieties of “Home” insurance are all typically included within the category of home insurance. This can include homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, and condo insurance. Whether you own the property that you live in or are renting a property, you should consider maintaining insurance coverage to guard against disasters and losses. Let our Members Assurance team help you with your unique needs.
Frequently Asked Questions for Home Insurance
Homeowners insurance helps protect your home, belongings, and finances if your property is damaged by a covered event or if you’re held responsible for someone else’s injuries or property damage. For homeowners in Portsmouth, VA, coverage can provide valuable peace of mind against unexpected costs from events like storms, fires, theft, or accidents. Your local insurance agent can help you understand your policy and make sure your home has the protection it needs.
Many homeowners insurance policies help cover damage caused by windstorms and hail, but coverage details, exclusions, and deductibles can vary based on your policy and location. With Virginia’s coastal weather and occasional severe storms, it’s important for homeowners in Portsmouth, VA to understand how wind and hail claims are handled. Your local insurance agent can review your policy and help you make sure your home has the right protection.
You may be able to reduce your homeowners insurance premium by bundling your home and auto policies, choosing a higher deductible, installing protective devices such as security or fire systems, or maintaining a claims-free history. Available discounts can vary based on your home, coverage, and insurance company. Your local insurance agent in Portsmouth, VA can help identify discounts that may apply and review options to make sure you’re getting the right protection for your needs.
Personal property coverage helps pay to repair or replace your belongings if they are damaged, destroyed, or stolen due to a covered loss. This can include items such as furniture, clothing, electronics, appliances, and other household possessions, up to the limits outlined in your policy. Your local insurance agent in Portsmouth, VA can help you understand your coverage and discuss whether additional protection may be needed for higher-value items.
If a guest is injured on your property, your homeowners insurance may help cover certain medical expenses or legal costs if you’re found responsible for the injury. Personal liability coverage is designed to help protect you financially from covered accidents that happen at your home. Homeowners in Portsmouth, VA should review their liability limits with their insurance agent to make sure they have the appropriate level of protection for their needs.
Not necessarily. Homeowners insurance is generally based on the estimated cost to rebuild your home after a covered loss, not its current real estate market value. Factors such as construction costs, materials, labor, and the unique features of your home can all impact the amount of dwelling coverage you need. An insurance professional in Portsmouth, VA can help you review your policy and determine the right amount of coverage to help protect your home.
Filing a homeowners insurance claim does not always mean your premium will go up. However, your claims history may be considered when your insurance company reviews your rates. Factors such as the type of claim, how often claims have been filed, and your individual insurance provider can all play a role. If you’re unsure whether filing a claim makes sense, your local insurance agent in Portsmouth, VA can help you understand your options and make an informed decision.
If your home is declared a total loss due to a covered event, your homeowners insurance may help pay to rebuild it, up to the limits outlined in your policy. Because construction costs, labor, and materials can change over time, it’s important for homeowners in Portsmouth, VA to review their coverage regularly to help ensure their dwelling limit reflects current rebuilding costs. Your local insurance agent can help you evaluate your coverage and make sure your home is properly protected.
Many insurance companies offer discounts when you combine your homeowners and auto insurance policies with the same provider. Bundling can be a convenient way to manage your coverage while potentially reducing your overall insurance costs. Since every household is different, your local insurance agent in Portsmouth, VA can review your policies and help you determine whether bundling is the right option for you.
It’s a good idea to review your homeowners insurance options every few years or whenever your situation changes, such as after completing renovations, making major purchases, or buying a new home. Coverage needs, discounts, and insurance rates can change over time, so a policy review can help ensure you’re still getting the protection that fits your needs. Your local insurance agent in Portsmouth, VA can help you evaluate your coverage and explore available options.
Homeowners insurance may help cover damage caused by certain storms, including wind, hail, lightning, or falling trees, depending on the details of your policy. Because Portsmouth, VA can experience severe weather, including heavy rain, coastal storms, and strong winds, it’s important to understand what your policy covers before a loss occurs. Your local insurance agent can review your coverage and help you make sure your home is prepared for unexpected weather events.
Homeowners, Condo, and Renters Policy Types: The Differences
A homeowner’s policy is for people who own their own home. This may be either a house or a condominium unit. Essentially, if you are making payments on the home with ownership as the end goal you will typically need some type of homeowner’s insurance.
Homeowner’s insurance will cover the outside of the home and contents inside of your home. This will cover a majority of natural disasters (certain disasters like flood and earthquakes may be excluded but you may add extra coverage when desired) and will allow you to replace or rebuild damaged property. If your home is broken into and items are stolen, your insurance will help replace stolen items and pay for any related damage. There are many other things that can happen to your home such as plumbing breaks, fire, hail damage, etc. The home policies will contain certain limitations and it is important that you have an agent review with you to ensure the understanding of the policy as well as having the right coverage for your situation.
Condominium coverage can be very complex as the condo home policies are typically subject to the condo association’s bylaws and the unit owners’ responsibilities within them. It is highly recommended that condo owners work with an agent specifically trained in setting up condominium coverage. Our Member’s Assurance team will be happy to assist you if you wish to learn more.
With a renter’s policy, the coverage includes the inner contents of the home, apartment, or room that you are renting. Renter’s insurance also provides a basic amount of liability coverage, coverage for the break-ins, fires, and other circumstances that are beyond your control. Even though your landlord may have a homeowner’s policy on the building you are living, it does not cover your own personal items or liability as a renter, which is why renters insurance is essential.
Whether you own home, condo, or rent, this insurance coverage can be essential to protect your property and liability. Also, these policies can have other options for miscellaneous coverage such as identity theft and recovery as well as equipment breakdown for very reasonable premiums.
You may be surprised to see the wide range of prices you’ll find in comparing home insurance quotes. You can sometimes save hundreds of dollars by simply by choosing one company over another. However, the premium quotes are very heavily weighted based on coverage amounts selected. It is important that you obtain coverage advice from a licensed agent and get quotes from reliable carriers. Your Member’s Assurance independent agent is a good resource for this since they can accumulate multiple quotes from top carriers and compare coverage and premiums for you.
Recreational Vehicle (RV) Insurance
This is a vital type of insurance coverage. If you own a recreational vehicle, you are likely to be out on the road, traveling through different areas — often different states. Your recreational vehicle needs to be insured for liability and collision just as much as your regular auto. Because your monetary investment in the RV is substantial, you don’t want to risk that investment if disaster strikes. RV coverage can be arranged through Member’s Assurance, and is often merged with your current auto policy. This may result in a substantial multi-policy discount as well.
Boat Insurance
Whether your boat spends half of its life in the garage or it is out on the water full time, boat insurance is essential. Boat insurance coordinates with your primary insurance policies to not only protect your investment from damage, but also protect you from liability losses.
Your boat is exposed to many of the same hazards as your home or auto including damage due to collisions, theft, or vandalism. Boat insurance also provides specific boaters liability in case of an at fault accident. Many homeowner policies will not cover a loss on your boat, even if it on your property at the time of loss. It is important to understand how boat insurance coverage works and make sure you are properly covered.
Ask your Member’s Assurance independent agent how to make certain you have the proper coverage you need to ensure that you and your boat are protected.
Flood Insurance
Regardless of where you live, it’s important to purchase flood insurance separately as your homeowner’s insurance does not cover it. With flood insurance, you can recover faster and more fully after an emergency. Flood Insurance policies usually take 30 days to kick in, so now is the best time to consider purchasing it, especially if spring flooding occurs in your area.
Having a flood insurance policy is important to have, especially if it causes significant damage to your home, business, and your most valuable assets. In the case of a flood warning, you should pay attention to the weather and move all your valuables to higher grounds and evacuate your home if necessary.
Whether you live in an area with a flood history our trusted agents will help you find affordable flood coverage that may protect your property. Contact us to discuss your options.
Other Insurance
Most people are aware of their choices in homeowner’s insurance, auto Insurance, and life insurance. Did you know you can obtain insurance for nearly any of your possessions? Just because your items are a bit out of the ordinary doesn’t mean you can’t get high quality insurance coverage for your collections, jewelry, ATV, or other toys. Contact our Member’s Assurance team to teach you some of the basics about other insurance coverages.
The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute insurance advice. Coverage cannot be bound, altered, or canceled via this website, email, voicemail, or online forms. All coverage is subject to the terms, conditions, and exclusions of the policy issued. Please speak with a licensed agent for specific coverage guidance.
Older cars are typically cheaper to insure since they generally have a lower value and may not need as much coverage. That said, premiums can still be affected by factors like your driving record, mileage, vehicle features, and local conditions. Member’s Assurance Property & Casualty can help drivers in Chesapeake and Portsmouth, VA explore coverage options that fit their vehicle and budget.
If your vehicle has custom features like aftermarket wheels, sound systems, or lift kits, you may need additional coverage. Many standard auto insurance policies only cover factory-installed equipment. Member’s Assurance Property & Casualty can help drivers in Chesapeake and Portsmouth, VA ensure their customizations are properly protected.
Towing is usually covered if you have roadside assistance or towing coverage included in your auto policy. Coverage details, like distance limits and service availability, can vary. Drivers in Chesapeake and Portsmouth, VA should check their policy to understand what’s included. Member’s Assurance Property & Casualty can help review your coverage options.
Auto insurance typically doesn’t cover engine failure caused by wear and tear or mechanical issues. However, if the damage is the result of a covered event like a collision or flooding, it may be included. Drivers in Chesapeake and Portsmouth, VA should review their policy to understand what’s protected. Member’s Assurance Property & Casualty can help clarify your coverage options.
Accident forgiveness is an optional coverage that may keep your rates from going up after your first qualifying accident. It isn’t offered by every insurer and eligibility can vary. Drivers in Virginia should check with Member’s Assurance Property & Casualty to see what options are available.
In many cases, teen drivers are more affordable to insure when added to a parent or guardian’s policy. However, some families in Chesapeake and Portsmouth, VA may opt for separate policies based on vehicle ownership or household needs. Member’s Assurance Property & Casualty can help you compare the best option for your situation.
Yes, seasonal vehicles like motorcycles, RVs, or classic cars may qualify for storage or limited-use coverage. Drivers in Chesapeake and Portsmouth, VA often adjust their insurance based on how often the vehicle is on the road. Member’s Assurance Property & Casualty can help you choose the right option.
Personal auto insurance usually doesn’t fully cover rideshare driving. Drivers in Chesapeake and Portsmouth, VA often need a rideshare endorsement or a specialized policy for proper protection while using apps like Uber or Lyft. Member’s Assurance Property & Casualty can help you review the right coverage options.
Non-owner auto insurance offers liability coverage for drivers who don’t own a vehicle but still need insurance, such as those who frequently rent cars or need to maintain proof of coverage. In Virginia, this type of policy can be a practical option depending on your situation. Member’s Assurance Property & Casualty can help you decide if it’s the right fit.
Non-owner auto insurance can be useful for drivers who frequently rent or borrow vehicles but don’t own a car. It can also help maintain continuous coverage in Chesapeake and Portsmouth, VA when transitioning between vehicles. Member’s Assurance Property & Casualty can help you see if this coverage makes sense for your situation.
In coastal areas like Chesapeake and Portsmouth, VA, hurricanes and flooding can be a real risk. Flood or storm damage to your vehicle is typically only covered if you carry comprehensive coverage on your auto policy. Liability-only insurance will not cover these types of losses. Member’s Assurance Property & Casualty can help you review your policy to make sure you’re properly protected during severe weather seasons.