Frequently asked questions
Straight answers.
No insurance-speak.
01 Personal insurance
Home & condo
Why did my Florida homeowners premium go up when I did not file a claim?
Florida premiums are driven by what carriers expect to pay statewide, not only by your history. Reinsurance costs, litigation trends, and the cost to rebuild after a storm all move rates for everyone in the book. Your roof age matters too — many carriers re-rate or non-renew as a roof passes fifteen years. If you got a large increase, send us the renewal and we will re-shop it before it takes effect.
What is a hurricane deductible and how is it different from my regular deductible?
Florida policies carry a separate deductible that applies only to hurricane damage, and it is a percentage of your dwelling coverage rather than a flat dollar amount — typically 2%, 5% or 10%. On a home insured for $500,000, a 2% hurricane deductible is $10,000 out of pocket before the policy pays. It applies once per calendar year, not per storm. Choosing a higher percentage lowers your premium; make sure you could actually write that check.
What is a wind mitigation inspection and is it worth doing?
It is a short inspection that documents how your home resists wind: roof shape, roof-to-wall attachments, roof covering, secondary water barrier, and whether your windows and doors are impact-rated. Carriers give credits for each feature. The inspection usually costs well under $200 and frequently returns far more than that in the first year. If you have never had one, or yours is more than five years old, get it done before your next renewal.
I received a Citizens takeout offer. Do I have to accept it?
If a private carrier makes an offer within the statutory threshold of your Citizens premium, you generally become ineligible to stay with Citizens. But the offer is not always your best option, and you have a response window. Send it to us as soon as it arrives and we will compare it against the open market before your deadline.
My condo association has a master policy. Why do I still need my own?
The master policy generally covers the building structure and common areas — typically to the unfinished walls. Your unit’s flooring, cabinetry, fixtures, appliances and personal property, your liability, and loss assessments charged by the association are yours to insure. An HO-6 unit-owners policy covers that gap. Ask your association for the master policy declarations and we will size yours to match.
Auto & vehicles
What auto coverage does Florida actually require?
Florida requires Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability. Notably, bodily injury liability is not required of every driver — which is exactly why uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage matters so much here. The state minimum is a legal floor, not a recommendation; it will not go far in a serious accident.
Should I carry uninsured motorist coverage in Florida?
In our opinion, yes. Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the country, and PIP pays only a limited amount of your own medical bills. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage steps in when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough of it. It is usually one of the least expensive meaningful coverages you can add.
I am a snowbird. Should I insure my car in Florida or up north?
Generally the vehicle is insured where it is garaged the majority of the year, and Florida has its own registration and PIP requirements. If you keep a car here year-round, it should be on a Florida policy. If you drive one down each season, tell us — there are ways to handle it that keep you compliant in both states without paying twice.
Does my golf cart need its own insurance?
Your homeowners policy may give limited coverage on your own property, but that usually ends at the curb. In Southwest Florida, where carts are driven on community roads and to the store, a dedicated golf cart policy with liability and medical payments is the right answer. Low-speed vehicles that are street-legal have their own requirements — we will tell you which one you own.
Flood & windstorm
Does my homeowners policy cover flood?
No. Rising water and storm surge are excluded from every standard homeowners policy. Flood is a separate policy, written either through the National Flood Insurance Program or through a private flood carrier. In coastal Southwest Florida we treat it as essential, not optional.
I am not in a flood zone. Do I still need it?
Everyone is in a flood zone — the question is which one. A meaningful share of flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones, and plenty of homes that had never taken water did in 2022. Preferred-risk policies in lower-risk zones are inexpensive. We quote flood alongside homeowners as a matter of course.
Is there a waiting period on flood insurance?
NFIP policies typically carry a 30-day waiting period before coverage takes effect, with limited exceptions such as a policy required at loan closing. Private flood carriers often have shorter waits. Either way, you cannot buy it once a storm is named and in the forecast cone — buy it in the quiet season.
What is the difference between flood damage and wind-driven rain?
If wind opens the building first — a torn-off shingle, a broken window — and rain enters through that opening, that is usually a windstorm claim under your homeowners policy. If water rises from the ground or surges in from outside, that is flood, and only a flood policy responds. After a hurricane both can happen to the same house, which is why we want you carrying both.
Boat & specialty
Is my boat covered by my homeowners policy?
Only in a very limited way — typically small, low-horsepower boats, with minimal liability and no coverage on the water you probably use. Anything you would call a real boat needs its own policy covering hull, liability, wreck removal, fuel spill, towing and your navigational range. Jet skis, ATVs and RVs are the same story.
What is a named storm haul-out provision?
Many Florida boat policies either require you to move the vessel to a safe location when a storm is named, or reimburse part of the cost of hauling and storing it. Some pay only if you comply. Know what yours says before June — we will point out the clause and what it obligates you to do.
Life & umbrella
Term or permanent life insurance — which do I need?
Term covers a set number of years for the lowest cost per dollar of protection, and suits a mortgage, young children or income replacement. Permanent coverage lasts for life and builds cash value, and is used for estate planning, a business buy-sell, or a legacy. Many families are best served by term now and a smaller permanent policy alongside it.
What does an umbrella policy actually do?
It adds liability limits — usually a million dollars or more — on top of the limits already on your home, auto and boat policies, and picks up when those are exhausted. If you have assets to protect, a pool, a boat, a teenage driver or a rental property, it is inexpensive relative to what it covers.
02 Commercial & business
General liability
What does general liability actually cover?
A client is asking to be named as an additional insured. What does that mean?
Do I need both general liability and builders risk on a construction project?
In most projects, yes. Builders risk covers the structure under construction and the materials on site against fire, wind and theft. General liability covers injury and damage you cause to other people and their property. They solve different problems and neither substitutes for the other.