Articles & Advice
Plain-English guides to auto, home, health and life insurance: what coverages do, how deductibles and limits work, which discounts exist, and how insurers set your rate.
Ordinance or Law Coverage: Rebuilding to Current Code
Your policy rebuilds what you had. The building department requires what the code says now. Ordinance or law coverage is what pays for the difference.
Read MoreRoof Age, Roof Claims and Payment Schedules
The roof is the part of a home policy most likely to be settled differently from everything else. Here is how age changes what a storm claim pays.
Read MoreSubrogation: How Your Deductible Comes Back
When someone else caused the loss, your insurer pays first and then pursues them. Here is how that process works and where your deductible sits in it.
Read MoreMotorcycle Insurance: Where It Differs From a Car Policy
A motorcycle policy uses the same coverage names as an auto policy and behaves differently in several places, starting with passengers and custom equipment.
Read MoreChoosing a Repair Shop and the Parts They Use
Who picks the body shop, what a direct repair program is, and how original equipment, aftermarket and used parts get chosen after a collision claim.
Read MoreWho Is Covered to Drive Your Car?
Coverage generally follows the car, but household members, permissive use and excluded drivers each change the answer. Here is how the rules fit together.
Read MoreTickets, Accidents and How Long They Follow Your Rate
Your driving record and your insurance record are two different things with two different clocks. Here is what each one holds and how long it matters.
Read MoreDiminished Value: The Loss That Survives a Good Repair
A repaired car can be worth less than an identical one that was never hit. Here is what diminished value is, who you claim it from, and why the answer is state law.
Read MoreTelematics and Usage-Based Insurance: How Tracking Works
What a driving-tracking program actually measures, how the data reaches your rate, and the questions to ask before enrolling a car or a household.
Read MoreWhat Full Coverage Really Means on an Auto Policy
No insurer sells a product called full coverage. Here is what the phrase usually stands for, and the coverages people assume it includes but often do not have.
Read MoreHome Warranty vs Home Insurance: What Each One Covers
They sound similar and do opposite jobs. Insurance responds to sudden accidental loss; a warranty is a service contract for mechanical breakdown.
Read MoreClassic Car Insurance and How Agreed Value Works
A standard auto policy pays depreciated value, which is the wrong answer for a car that appreciates. Here is how agreed value coverage differs.
Read MoreChecking an Insurer: Complaint Indexes and Ratings
Before buying a policy you can check an insurer's licensing, complaint record and financial condition for free. Here is where to look and how to read it.
Read MoreAdmitted vs Surplus Lines Carriers, and Guaranty Funds
Not every insurer is licensed in your state, and the difference determines what happens if it fails. Here is what admitted and surplus lines mean for you.
Read MoreWill Filing a Claim Raise My Insurance Rate?
Sometimes, and it depends on more than whether you were at fault. Here is what actually drives the answer on both auto and home policies.
Read MoreThis content is for general informational purposes only and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice. Coverage, exclusions, eligibility, and pricing vary by insurer, by policy, and by state, and only the policy documents control what is covered. Always confirm the details of any coverage with a licensed insurance agent or the issuing carrier before you buy.