Page Title
Central Insurance
Agency
201 South 1st Street
Ishpeming, MI  49849
906.485.5585
1.   Is my child covered for personal property while away at college?

Answer: Coverage is dependent on whether your child lives in a dorm or an apartment
with a rental agreement. An automatic 10 percent of personal property coverage will
extend to the child at their dorm and apartment. However, it is wise to have a renter’s
insurance policy if an off campus apartment or house is leased.

2.   Do I need to get a police report if I am in a car/deer accident?

Answer:  A police report is always helpful, but not required to have the claim covered.

3.   If I am moving, do I need to purchase Movers insurance?

Answer:  Your items are for the named perils for a period of up to 30 days from the start
of the move, as long as your homeowner’s policy is still in force.   Some policies, like
Auto-Owner’s Premier Plus, offer all-risk coverage that would also include breakage.

4.   Does my transportation expense cover renting a car when my car will not start?

Answer:  This coverage only is applicable if you are in a covered accident and need a
rental while repairs are completed.

5.   When should I add my 16 year old to my auto policy?

Answer: Once your child has received their level 2 license he or she should be added
as a driver to your policy.  We do not recommend waiting until the next renewal.

6.  What will be the cost and why do my kids need to be rated on a vehicle if there are
only two vehicles in the household?

Answer:  The cost will vary by car, and the reason for the rating is that the teenage driver
has a higher exposure rate when driving one of the vehicles.

7.   If I have a glass claim, where should I take my vehicle for repairs?

Answer: Anywhere you would like. This goes for collision claims as well.  However, we
know several businesses that do a wonderful job that we would be happy to
recommend.

8.   With regard to towing services, where should I go and how am I reimbursed?

Answer: You may go anywhere you like.

9.   Why don’t my auto premiums decrease as my car gets older?

Answer: Most claims are partial losses and not total losses and the cost to fix partial
losses keep increasing.  In addition, your auto policy covers you if you are injured in an
accident or sued because of injuring someone else or damaging someone else’s
property and the cost of those claims keep increasing.

10.  If I only paid $100,000 for my house, why do I have to insure it for $160,000?

Answer: The cost to rebuild a home with new materials and current labor costs can be
much higher than the market value of a house, which takes into account how old the
house is, if the house is in a good neighborhood and other market factors not related to
the actual cost to rebuild or repair the house.

11.  What liability protection is on my homeowner’s policy when hosting a wedding or
other type of reception?

Answer: As long as you are not selling liquor or providing it to minors, your homeowner’
s liability will cover you.  However, we recommend purchasing a Personal Umbrella.  
Umbrella policies are the best form of protection money can buy.

12.  Are building materials covered under my homeowner’s policy when I am doing a
project on my home or when a contractor is doing a project on my home?

Answer:  Yes, as long as the materials are located on or next to the residence premises
and used to construct, alter or repair the dwelling or other structures on the residence
premises.  When you make renovations to your home, you need to advise your
insurance company if they increase the value of your home.  If you don’t, it can negate
the Guaranteed Home Replacement clause on your policy.  If you are building a new
house, you need to purchase a builder’s risk policy.

13.  Do I need to get auto insurance for my college student if they are going to school
out of state?

Answer: No, they can keep their Michigan insurance as long as their permanent
address is a Michigan address.  This also applies to military personnel stationed
elsewhere.

14.  If I hire someone to cut my grass, to do minor carpentry work, or even a roof job,
and the worker is injured on the job, will my homeowner’s policy cover the worker?

Answer:  Your homeowner’s policy will only pay $1,000 medical, unless as the
homeowner you are deemed negligent.  Then your policy would pay more.  However, we
recommend never using an uninsured contractor.

15.  Is my laptop covered under my Commercial Package policy when I take it to a job
site or home at night to work on a bid?

Answer:  Some companies, under their “enhancement” forms, provide a specific limit
for laptops while away from premises.  If that coverage is not automatically provided, it
needs to be scheduled under a Miscellaneous Property Floater, not to be confused with
scheduled EDP equipment.

16.  What happens if I buy a car when your office is closed?  Am I covered?

Answer:  Your auto policy automatically provides 14 days of coverage if your current auto
policy has collision coverage already on it.  If your policy does not have collision
coverage, you still have coverage but it is limited to four days.  If a loss occurs, you will
be required to pay a deductible.