All of your Renters Insurance Questions Answered!

Renters Insurance in St. Louis, MORenters insurance is a great thing to have if you’re not a homeowner. We’ll answer the top questions we get about renters insurance below.

How Much Is Renters Insurance Per Month?

The cost of renters insurance can vary depending on what your coverage limits are and what you want covered. It can also vary because of your credit score or previous loss history. In general, a policy with average limits with clean credit and no loss history will run you about $15-25 a month.

What Is The Best Renters Insurance Policy?

The best renters insurance policy is a policy that provides you the best coverage at a price that you’re comfortable with.

Should I Get Renters Insurance?

Everyone should carry renters insurance if they rent a home or apartment. Renters insurance covers more than just your things. It provides you with a liability insurance policy to protect your assets. Renters insurance will protect you with coverage from theft and fires too.

Is Renters Insurance Worth It?

If you’re a renter, getting a renters insurance policy is always worth it. At less than a dollar a day, it is an affordable insurance policy that protects you and your assets.

What Does Renters Insurance Cover?

Renters insurance covers a variety of things from your personal items like your computer and couch to your clothes. It also provides you with liability protection in the event you are found liable for injuries to others you’re found liable for as well as provides you with temporary living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable for periods of time.

Can a Landlord Require Renters Insurance?

Yes, landlords can require you to carry a renters insurance policy. Many renters assume their landlord’s insurance policy will cover their personal items in the event of a loss, but that is not true.

Can I Use My Roommate’s Renter’s Insurance Policy?

No, roommates are specifically excluded from renters insurance policies unless they are listed on the policy by name. Roommates are excluded from coverage for personal property, loss of use and liability coverage.

We always recommend a renters insurance policy. If you have questions about your renters insurance or would like to get a renters insurance quote, please contact us.

Does my Auto Insurance Cover Mechanical Repairs?

Auto Insurance Agent St. Louis, MOThe cost of repairing or replacing a transmission or engine in a car can be daunting. Many people wonder what exactly is covered by an auto insurance policy. Does an auto insurance policy cover things like transmission repairs, tires, faulty wiring or worn suspension parts?

In short, no, an auto insurance policy will not pay to repair wear and tear items on your vehicle. The only time some items may be covered are when they are damaged as a direct results of a covered loss such as a collision.

Insurance is not designed to repair damaged or worn parts due to normal wear and tear of your vehicle. There is no coverage for things like mechanical failures or maintenance.

So, what options are there to cover these items? When you purchase a vehicle, some dealers offer extended warranty coverage. These warranty policies essentially extend the manufacturer warranty of newer vehicles. This is the type of insurance program that would provide coverage for things like mechanical breakdown of your transmission or engine parts.

If you have questions about car insurance, contact our agency. There are an overwhelming number of choices for car insurance out there, don’t stress! Let the professionals at Goetz Insurance gather quotes from several insurance carriers, presenting you with the best options for your budget and needs! Our agents are here to help guide you through rate comparisons, discounts, flexible payment options and they may have some money-saving tips as well. Get your quote today!

How Do I Protect My Assets?

Protect your assets in St. Louis, MO with an umbrella insurance policyYou’ve worked hard for your assets. Whether it’s purchasing your home, an investment property or vehicle or saving for retirement, it has taken years and years of consistent hard work to build what you have. Did you also know that your future income can be considered an asset too? So, how can you protect your assets?

By purchasing an umbrella insurance policy.

But, I have insurance for my home and vehicles? Yes, we need insurance for our car and home. But, there are limits on how much you are protected. For example, you get into a car accident where you are at fault. Your insurance policy covers you for $250,000 in 3rd party damages. However, the other individuals in the car accident needed medical attention & their car was totaled. The total damages for the other party cost $350,000.

You are responsible for the remaining $100,000. If you have an umbrella insurance policy, it would then kick in to cover this excess liability. If you don’t have an umbrella policy, would you be able to foot the bill? If you cannot pay for the remaining balance, a court may issue your future wages to be garnished or they may target your other assets.

Would you prefer to rest easy knowing you have an extra layer of insurance coverage to protect your assets?

There are countless ways to exceed the limits of your home or auto insurance policy. Get peace of mind with an umbrella insurance policy. It eliminates the gaps and insufficient limits on your insurance policies. You’ll be amazed at how affordable coverage can be.

Four levels of protection:

By purchasing an umbrella policy, you increase the limits of liability on:

  • Bodily injury: Medical bills and settlement for injuries sustained to the third party.
  • Property damage: Damages sustained to the property of a third-party.
  • Other damage: Libel & slander, other claims expenses.
  • Legal fees: Hiring an attorney can be expensive. An umbrella insurance policy helps cover the cost.

If you have questions about purchasing a personal umbrella insurance policy, contact our agency! Our licensed agents can go over coverage options or simply provide a free quote.

Essentials to Pack for Your Road Trip This Summer

Roadside Assistance Insurance St. Louis, MOOh, the great American road trip. Whether you are driving across the country, making a trip to visit our beautiful National Parks or simply just exploring different areas in your state, it is important to pack the right items on your road trip.

Basic safety and materials to have:

While you should always store papers like a copy of your car insurance and license and registration in your vehicle, you should also carry a first aid kit and a roadside emergency kit.

Other items:

  • Flashlight
  • Spare tire with useful tools+ make sure someone in the car knows how to change it
  • Owner’s Manual

Personal Items to pack:

It’s really nice and sometimes imperative to have the following items packed.

  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Water bottle
  • Car Phone Charger
  • Hand sanitizer or wipes
  • Car cooler with snacks
  • Popular road trip snacks: sunflower seeds, trail mix, jerky, hard candy or suckers or granola bars. Mints and gum are great too.
  • Anti-inflammatory medication
  • UV window shade
  • Thermos
  • Blanket or pillow
  • Cash
  • Lip Balm/ChapStick
  • Notebook, pen or pencil
  • Napkins or a roll of paper towels. A roll of toilet paper doesn’t hurt either!

Consider a Roadside Assistance Policy

Roadside Assistance can be added to your car insurance policy and is available from most insurance companies. It can also act as a standalone insurance policy. Roadside assistance can help you if you become stranded from a variety of things including but not limited to:

  1. Flat Tires
  2. Dead Battery
  3. Run Out of Gas
  4. Lock Yourself Out or Lose Your Keys
  5. Disabled Vehicle
  6. Towing if Vehicle Can’t Be Repaired Quickly
  7. Winching if stuck in mud, snow or sand

We hope your summer road trip is a blast and that this article helps you prepare for your trip as well as stay safe on the road. If you have questions about your insurance, contact us before you leave!

I’m planning on doing an AirBnB at my home. What do I need to know?

Insurance for my AirBnB St. Louis, MOMore and more people are taking advantage of the extra income they can make by doing an AirBnB, VRBO or other rental out of their homes. This is a great way to save money for college, pay off your mortgage, pay for a remodel or just make extra money for your savings. But, before you commit and jump into it, consider the risks associated with being a landlord.

Short-term vacation rental properties such as AirBnB, VRBO, HomeAway and others require special insurance. Regardless of whether it is just a room in your house, a trailer or even a separate house, be sure you match your insurance policy to the risk you’re taking on. Believe it or not, you’re a landlord!

Doesn’t AirBnb or VRBO Provide Insurance?

Yes, they do provide liability and property damage protection for third-party claims when they are booked through the AirBnB website. However, you are only protected up to their liability limits. Like many types of insurance policies, there can be gaps that are created.

Example 1: You become chummy with a previous house guest that booked through AirBnB. You exchange numbers and they text you to book a stay instead of booking through the AirBnB website. During the stay, they’re injured. Because they didn’t book through the website, you’re on the hook for the liability.

Example 2: You use Craigslist to get renters into your short-term rental because there is a big local music festival and it will be easy to rent it out for more money during this time. The renter trashes your property and because of repairs, you can’t rent out the property for months. You lose out on income.

Example 3: An excessively bad bodily injury occurs on your property. The medical bills exceed what the short term vacation rental company provides in insurance coverage. You are stuck with the remaining balance of the medical bills.

It’s common to want to make some extra cash from your short-term vacation rental, but we want it to be a safe endeavor for you. By calling an agent in our office, we can help you eliminate the gaps that exist with insurance that may be provided and get you a policy that is the perfect match for you and your family.