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113 N 15th St
PO Box 199
Clarinda, IA 51632

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Sump Insurance Blog

How Do Auto Insurance Deductibles Work?

Have you ever talked with an insurance agent or finance company and heard the word deductible, leaving you wondering what it was and how it worked? Rest assured, the friendly and highly knowledgeable agents at Sump Insurance in Clarinda, IA, are here to explain it to you in an easy-to-understand way.

A deductible is the stated amount you are responsible for every time you file a claim. After you pay the auto insurance deductible, your insurance company will provide coverage or the remaining cost of repairs needed to replace your car altogether.

For example, if you have a $500 deductible and your covered vehicle has $2000 in damage, you are responsible for the first $500 of repairs, and your insurer pays the remaining $1500.

Typically, deductibles in auto insurance refer to comprehensive and collision coverages on an auto policy. However, there may also be deductibles for uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage in Iowa.

When it comes to auto insurance deductibles, the choice is yours. A popular deductible amount is typically $500, but don’t feel limited by that. Companies may offer deductibles as low as $250 and as high as $2500 or more. Remember, the lower the deductible, the higher your monthly premium payments will be, and vice versa.

For instance, a $500 deductible on the same vehicle will cost you more in premiums than a $1000 deductible.

Suppose your deductible is higher than the cost of the damage to your car. In that case, you’ll be responsible for paying out of pocket for the entire cost of repairs. For example, if you have $600 of collision damage but carry a $1000 deductible on your policy, you would not need to file a claim but pay for the repairs yourself because the damage is lower than the deductible amount.

For More Information

For more information about auto insurance deductibles and to determine the best coverage for you and your vehicle, call Sump Insurance in Clarinda, IA, at 712-542-5555. At Sump Insurance, service is our specialty.

Enhancing Your Coverage: The Benefits of Umbrella Insurance in Clarinda, IA

Umbrella insurance offers numerous advantages. At Sump Insurance, we are happy to provide Clarinda, IA residents with all of the tools they need to make the right choices. To learn more about the benefits of umbrella insurance and the necessity of obtaining these policies, please take a moment to check out the following guide.

Lawsuit Protection

In this day and age, it is fair to see that people have never been more litigious. You may be under the belief that you will never get nailed with a frivolous lawsuit, but once that day comes? Umbrella insurance is going to be your best friend. These policies provide the necessary protection to ensure you are not left holding the bag for costly lawsuits.

Auto Accident Protection

Auto accidents are all too common, and without umbrella insurance coverage, more of your assets could be at risk than necessary. Let’s say that a significant auto accident takes place, and you are the one who is deemed responsible for it. All the assets you hold dear could be left at risk if you do not have umbrella insurance. The damage may very well exceed the coverage you currently have on hand.

Pet Related Incidents

We all think a lawsuit won’t occur. You never feel a pet would cause injuries or damage to the home. In many instances, the victim will file a lawsuit that could prove quite costly. Since many basic insurance policies do not cover these concerns, umbrella insurance policies become more important in these instances.

Sump Insurance is here to help Clarinda, IA residents who want to learn more about umbrella insurance policies. If you have any additional questions, pick up the phone and give us a call. You are also welcome to stop by and speak with our experienced insurance brokers directly.

# Strange Things Covered by Home Insurance

You probably know your homeowner’s policy covers structural damage and protects your belongings. However, you may be surprised by some of the things your policy might cover. At Sump Insurance in Clarinda, IA, we offer homeowner’s insurance. 

Meteors

Your homeowner’s policy covers meteors from outer space and other objects falling from the sky. A meteor hit a New Jersey home in 2023. You are covered if a space rock, satellite, or other object hit your house. 

Reward Money 

If your home is burglarized, you may know that your homeowner’s policy will cover replacing the stolen items. However, you may not know that some policies will cover a reward for information leading to a conviction in the case. 

Spoiled Food 

A power outage isn’t something that you typically report to your insurance company. However, power outages can lead to your food spoiling. Your homeowner’s policy will cover the cost of the groceries you had to toss. 

First Aid 

Your homeowner’s policy will cover your liability if someone is injured on your property. This includes any reasonable first aid and medical care expenses. 

Legal Defense 

If you are sued, your homeowner’s policy doesn’t just cover any judgment against you. It also covers legal defense fees, expert witness costs, and any missed time from work due to court appearances. 

Hotel Accommodations 

If your home is temporarily unlivable, your homeowner’s policy covers your living expenses, including food and hotel or rental costs, while you wait for it to be repaired. 

Homeowner’s Insurance at Sump Insurance 

If you need a homeowners policy in Clarinda, IA, contact Sump Insurance. Our experienced agents can help you choose the best policy for your needs.  

Safety Tips for Driving in the Spring Rain

Rainy conditions can create challenging driving scenarios. Impaired visibility and slippery roads decrease your car’s grip, so it’s vital to be cautious. The insurance experts at Sump Insurance, Clarinda, IA, share crucial tips for safe driving in the rainy spring season.

Take Your Time and Maintain Control

Driving in adverse weather conditions requires some adjustments. One important tip is to reduce your speed. Slowing down improves your control over the vehicle and extends your reaction time. Avoid cruise control as this can cause hydroplaning. When this happens, gently ease off the gas and hold the steering wheel firmly without making drastic braking or acceleration changes.

Create a Safety buffer

Always keep additional space between your vehicle and the one ahead. Wet road conditions require added braking distance and more time to stop.

Improve Visibility

Visibility is especially crucial in rainy conditions, so keep your headlights on to enhance your visibility and that of others. Also, use the vehicle’s defogger or AC settings to prevent fogging of windows and windshield caused by rain and increased humidity levels.

Contact Sump Insurance for More Safety Tips

If you reside in or around Clarinda, IA, and desire additional information regarding ways to stay safe on the road, don’t hesitate to contact the insurance specialists at Sump Insurance at 712-542-5555 or online at www.sumpins.com.

Can I Buy Umbrella Insurance Separately?

Clarifying Umbrella Insurance: Insights from Sump Insurance

Umbrella insurance can prove to be exceptionally beneficial, providing your home, business, or vehicle in Clarinda, IA, with extra liability coverage. This coverage might become indispensable if you ever find yourself facing a lawsuit. Typically, it covers damages, injuries, and specific types of harm like libel. At this point, you may wonder if it can be procured separately or must be appended to another policy.

How to Secure Umbrella Coverage

Umbrella insurance is typically sold as a standalone policy but mandates at least one underlying type of insurance. This could be a home, condo, renters, commercial, or automotive policy. The foundational insurance must offer enough liability coverage to qualify for an umbrella policy, potentially necessitating an upgrade to a basic plan.

Are There Options to Shop Around?

While procuring an umbrella policy, you are not necessarily tied to your existing insurance provider for non-umbrella coverage. You have the flexibility to purchase umbrella insurance from a different carrier. However, certain insurers might require that the primary auto, renters, or home coverage be obtained from them.

When purchasing umbrella insurance, you may even consider switching insurance carriers altogether. Partnering with an independent agency like Sump Insurance can help distinguish whether leveraging the same carrier, embracing a different insurer or combining two varied carriers would be most beneficial.

Choose Sump Insurance for Your Coverage Needs

Based in Clarinda, IA, Sump Insurance has over two decades of robust experience in the insurance sector. We independently provide policies from 10+ reputable carriers. Our clients also enjoy premium local customer service and various coverage options. In addition to umbrella policies, we offer medical, commercial, home, life, crop, and car insurance. For a free quote, do not hesitate to call us at 712-542-5555.

What Extras Can I Get With My Homeowner’s Insurance?

Some homeowners in Clarinda, IA mistakenly believe that the insurance policy they buy will cover everything in their houses. Basic home insurance policies are far from comprehensive when it comes to protecting various events that can damage your structure and its contents. A better course of action is to consider add-ons to your basic policy that the brokers at Sump Insurance can recommend.

What Standard Insurance Covers

Standard homeowner’s insurance policies generally provide four basic types of coverage. These are:

  • Structural or dwelling coverage to rebuild your home after a covered risk
  • Personal property to cover your belongings like furniture and clothing
  • Alternative living expenses to pay for living elsewhere while your home is repaired
  • Liability for legal and financial protection if someone is injured on your property

Add-Ons Provide Policy Customization

Add-ons, also called riders, allow homeowners to expand their coverage based on where they live, their home’s unique characteristics, and the items they own. Riders give you a wider umbrella of protection if mishaps occur. One of the most common riders involves a listing of valuable goods such as jewelry, artwork, and similar items worth much more than a typical deductible. These are called scheduled properties.

Other add-ons you should consider are:

  • Equipment breakdown covering electronics and appliances
  • Water and foundation backup for sump pumps send sewers
  • Flooding
  • Buried utility lines
  • Swimming pool coverage for above and in-ground installations
  • Extended reconstruction

The last is particularly important, as construction companies often do not finish promised repairs within the time your main policy allows.

Schedule A Consultation Today

Let Sump Insurance, serving the greater Clarinda, IA area customers advise you on what homeowner’s insurance you may need. We will gladly discuss your unique situation and recommend the best course of action. Call for a consultation today to determine your needs.

3 Extremely Valuable Auto Insurance Extras

When you purchase auto insurance from Sump Insurance serving Clarinda, IA, you have several options to customize your policy. These are sometimes referred to as riders or add-ons. Some of the most frequently overlooked options are the ones that will prove to be extremely valuable to car owners in the future.

Here are some auto insurance extras to consider:

Car Rental Coverage

If your vehicle is damaged in a collision, you could be without it for several days while it’s in the shop being repaired. In the meantime, you still have transportation needs like getting to work, dropping the kids off at school, picking up groceries, and more. Car rental coverage may cover the use of a rental vehicle so you don’t have to worry about transportation.

Roadside Assistance

No one plans to be stranded on the road, but incidents do happen every day. This insurance add-on provides help when you need it most for vehicle breakdowns, including jump starts, fuel delivery, flat tire change service, towing, getting locked out, and more. With roadside assistance, you can be off the side of the road and back to safety quickly.

Glass Coverage 

Windshields often crack through no fault of the driver when rocks and other road debris fly up and nick the windscreen. These tiny divots can worsen and develop into cracks that hinder the driver’s clear view. Side windows sometimes get broken from smash and grabs and other vandalism. The glass coverage option specifically covers the repair or replacement of the vehicle’s glass, such as windshields and side windows. 

Call Today To Discuss Your Options

It’s well worth considering these auto insurance extras with Sump Insurance serving Clarinda, IA. They can be added when you take out your policy or any time during your coverage period. Contact us to learn more. 

How Umbrella Insurance Gives You More Liability Coverage

There are many different types of insurance coverage, and a single insurance policy often has several types of coverage in it. One of these types is liability coverage. When you have a home insurance policy and an auto insurance policy, each of these has a set amount of liability coverage. This protects you in case of accidents that you’re liable for. You need plenty of this coverage to protect yourself against lawsuits and huge medical bills.

Getting umbrella insurance is a great way to add more liability onto your home policy as well as your auto policy. To get your policy, call us at Sump Insurance in Clarinda, IA. 

More Liability Coverage

When you have an umbrella policy, it supplements the amount of liability insurance that you already have. If you were to add more of this coverage to your auto and home policies, it could cost you a lot. Many people would be unable to afford to add a lot more liability coverage to both of these policies. However, getting an umbrella policy does this and comes with a small price tag. It gives you an enormous amount of liability coverage for both of your other policies. It’s a great way to be much better protected in case of accidents. 

High Maximum

Without an umbrella policy, you may have to face overages once your home or auto policy has maxed out. When you have an umbrella insurance policy, it pays these overages. The home or auto policy pays out first, and then the umbrella policy comes in to pay anything that’s left over. This can save you many thousands of dollars in overages. 

Get an Umbrella Policy

If you want more liability protection, consider getting an umbrella policy. To get started, call us at Sump Insurance in Clarinda, IA.

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

Our agents at Sump Insurance serving the Clarinda, IA area realize how hard you have worked to own your own home. This is the reason they want you to have the proper amount of home insurance in place to protect your investment.

Keep in mind that even if your home is paid for in full, and you do not owe a mortgage, you still need to have a home insurance policy to cover in case the unthinkable happens.

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

A basic home insurance policy will cover the structure of your home as well as the contents inside. The contents can include your clothing and personal belongings, furniture, appliances, electronics, and more. Some insurance policies for your house also include other outbuildings that are located on your property, such as garages or sheds. This type of property insurance is very important if your house is hit by some sort of natural disaster, such as a hurricane or tornado. This type of insurance will also help you repair or rebuild your house if it is damaged or destroyed by a fire or even an act of vandalism. Your home insurance policy will also come in handy if a burglary occurs at your home.

Home insurance can even keep you out of court if someone is injured while visiting your house. This is because it will help pay for their medical bills if they sustain injuries and even take time off of work for them.

It is important to note that certain things may not be covered under a regular home insurance policy, and you may need to add them as an addendum to your main policy. These things include flooding and earthquake insurance. Your agent can help you out with this also.

Contact Us Today

To create the best home insurance policy for you and your beautiful home, contact our agents at Sump Insurance serving the Clarinda, IA area today!

How do I know if I have enough auto insurance coverage?

Clarinda, IA drivers need to carry a certain amount of insurance by law. If you only want to meet the minimum requirements, Sume Insurance can help you find a policy where you will only have liability coverage. Liability coverage only kicks in to protect the other drivers and passengers when you are found to be at fault in an accident. 

Minimum Legal Requirements

Under Iowa law, you only need to carry certain amounts of liability insurance. Property damage coverage will help to repair or replace the victim’s vehicle while personal injury coverage will cover everything from emergency room visits to ongoing physical therapy. Any amount not paid out under your policy becomes your responsibility. If you cannot pay, the other insurance company will likely seek a court judgment. 

Other Important Coverages

If you still owe on your vehicle, your lender may require you to carry full coverage. Full coverage will also protect you during an accident, even if you are at fault. Many people become spoiled after carrying full coverage and keep it after the car is paid off. Full coverage gives you peace of mind that liability insurance alone can’t offer.

Here are some of the advantages of full coverage insurance:

  • Comprehensive coverage offers protection in case of unexpected events like fire, vandalism, or accidentally hitting an animal with your car.
  • Collision coverage provides protection during any kind of collision no matter who caused the accident,
  • Rental car reimbursement will help you stay on the road while your vehicle is being repaired.
  • Uninsured/underinsured coverage protects you when the other driver doesn’t have adequate coverage.

Sump Insurance Is Here To Help

You may also want to talk to us about how to get gap coverage, roadside assistance, or other benefits in Clarinda, IA. If you have any questions about your coverage, please call Sump Insurance today.

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