Traveling with your pets in Austin, TX is a lot more fun if you have an RV. However, your RV may be damaged by your pet or your cat or dog buddy may suffer from an injury while driving. If you and your pets travel regularly in your RV, contact us at Southwest Insurance Center to get the coverage you need to protect them.

Pet Coverage Was Once An Impossibility

In the past, most RV insurance policies did not cover pets. That’s because they didn’t consider them an important part of the RV. However, a large number of people have demanded an increase in this type of coverage. As a result, many companies have been forced to start offering pet coverage.

Some Policies Now Cover Pet Injuries

The high demand for policy expansion has caused many RV insurance providers to add coverage for pets. These policies usually cover injuries caused to your pets while on the road. In most cases, pet injury coverage does not require a deductible. This makes is a great addition for people who love traveling with their best cat or dog friends.

Pet Damage May Not Be Covered

One problem you might note when buying this type of policy is a lack of pet damage coverage. That’s because pet damage is often considered a problem that you caused, rather than one that occurred independently of you. Even if you didn’t mean for damage to occur or had no malice, many policies don’t pay for damage caused by pets or even other types of animal invasions, such as rats.

Don’t Neglect Your RV Pet Needs

So if you plan on traveling around the Austin, TX in an RV with pets, please contact us at Southwest Insurance Center today. We will work hard to find a coverage type that works for you and will provide a high-quality and comprehensive insurance that fits your needs.

A regular homeowner’s policy in Austin, TX will typically cover everything except those things that are listed as exclusions. A dwelling fire policy, however, will cover specifically-named perils. Because of this, if there are certain assets that you want to make sure are covered by insurance, then a dwelling fire insurance policy may make for the best choice. For now, let’s take a closer look at what a dwelling fire insurance policy is. 

What is Dwelling Insurance?

Dwelling insurance is sometimes called "dwelling coverage." It can be part of homeowner’s insurance policy and may aid in paying for the repair and rebuilding of your home if certain damages occur that are related to weather damage, vandalism, or explosions. This policy is namely for landlords who rent out properties and have no need to put insurance on any of the contents of the home.

Know the Difference

• Homeowner’s Insurance: Offers coverage on the structure, contents, and the property of a home. It offers protection from fire and helps pay bills related to the repair, rebuilding, and replacement of the home.

• Dwelling Fire Insurance: These policies are popular for rental properties. If you rent a property to tenants, it is vital to have dwelling fire insurance.

What It Covers?

Fire is not the only type of claim that dwelling fire policies cover. This is why it is a popular option for secondary residence and rental properties. A few things covered under dwelling fire insurance may include;

• The Dwelling: Including cabinets, flooring, countertops, roof, walls, exterior porches, light fixtures, and built-in appliances.
• Other Structures: Storage sheds, detached garages, and fences.
• Fair Rental Value: Your policy will reimburse the homeowner for the loss of rental income when the property has been damaged and the rental unit is uninhabitable.

Contact Us Today

If you would like to learn more about dwelling fire insurance, please contact the Southwest Insurance Center serving the Austin, TX area. 

If you are a homeowner in the Austin, TX metro area and you don’t already have flood insurance, you might want to think again. Some of the biggest floods in recent years have been in Texas, and although Austin was not hit, it could be next. Check out these important facts and statistics about Flooding in Texas:

Flood Prone Austin

The average annual rainfall in Austin TX is 34 inches. That doesn’t sound like much, but the problem is that much of it can come at once.  May and September are the rainiest months, with contributions from dissipating tropical storms coming up from the Gulf as well as stalled-out cold fronts. Rainfall amounts exceeding 5 inches in several hours are not uncommon and can cause widespread flooding.
 
The Colorado River Flows through Austin. Over the years, Colorado has been prone to flooding. In the 1930’s, when Austin was much smaller, the swollen Colorado flooded Austin several times and cut the city in two. In addition, Central Texas is known as "Flash-flood Alley". Flash floods, emanating from smaller streams and tributaries of the Colorado River are a concern every year. Because of its dynamic growth, more and more concrete has been poured in the Austin metro area, contributing to increasingly large flood runoffs during storms.  

Southwest Insurance Center, Serving Austin, Texas

If you own a home or business in the Austin metro area, speak with the team at Southwest Insurance Center today about getting flood insurance. Southwest Insurance center is a one-stop independent insurance agency covering all aspect of home, auto, commercial and other insurance needs.

On a homeowners policy, it covers you if someone were on your property and fell down your stairs. This bucket of money or personal liability limit would cover the injured party’s trip the hospital, additional doctor bills and so on. Imagine you had a pool in your backyard and decided to host a block party. During this party, your neighbors’ wife fell into the pool, drown and had to be airlifted to the nearest hospital. Common underlying liability coverages of $100,000, $300,000 or even $500,000 would not be enough to cover the high costs of this type of medical treatment, and you would be responsible for making up the difference out of pocket, or possibly in a lawsuit.

This works in the same manner for auto insurance; if you have the required underlying limits for the umbrella policy, it will kick in once your primary limits have been used up. The umbrella will pay up to the policy limit described on the declarations page.

How Much Umbrella Insurance Do I Need?

When considering the amount of coverage you need, think about three things:

The hazards you may encounter. Review the jeopardies as a homeowner or renter, the chance of causing an accident during your daily work commute, and any other possibly dangerous activities you engage in that could put those around you at risk. Are you an avid boater? Causing a boating accident would be something that falls under the umbrella policy as well.

The value of all of your possessions. These assets include properties, belongings in your home, stocks, bonds, savings and retirement funds. Your umbrella policy limits should reflect the amount of stuff you have to protect, the more possessions, the higher the limit should be.

Are you up for to risking future income? Probably not. But did you know that liability lawsuits can result in the loss of stuff you have now and money you haven’t even earned yet?  Even if you have few assets now, may want to think long-term about the implications of a major loss.

When thinking about your future earnings, consider your earning potential.  If you are on the fast track for a high-paying career, you could be part of a lawsuit that targets money you have only dreamed of earning.

If you think you may need an umbrella policy, but have questions and are in or around the Austin, TX area give Southwest Insurance Center a call. 

RVs are now a very popular purchase in Austin, TX and across the state in general. Many people of all ages are finding that this type of vehicle offers a lot more options when it comes to traveling than traditional modes of transportation, but there remains some confusion over applicable insurance laws. So is RV Insurance required in Texas? The truth is a little complicated. RVs that are driven by themselves will need their own insurance policy, but those that are attachments to other vehicles can often be covered under that vehicle’s policy (albeit usually through an attachment or extension). If the vehicle is being leased or financed, the dealership or rental company will usually require full insurance coverage to protect what is still legally theirs, but if you are the owner, you will at the very least need to be able to cover damages inflicted to others in the event of an accident. 

Do You Own an ‘RV’? 

It can sometimes be confusing as to what is defined as an “RV”, especially if you do not own a traditional-looking one. In the legal sense, the term “recreational vehicle” actually covers a rather wide range of vehicles and vehicle components that usually have some type of living quarters. This includes (but may not be limited to) trailers, motorhomes, caravans, truck campers, pop-up campers and fifth-wheel trailers. If you’re still unclear as to whether or not your vehicle needs to be covered with RV insurance, the experts at Southwest Insurance Center can help. 

Taking the Next Step

Southwest Insurance Center serves Austin, TX and surrounding areas. To expedite the insurance process, it is wise to have your driving history on hand, as well as an idea of where you might be driving your RV. When you’re ready, please feel free to contact us to learn more about how you can protect yourself and your RV before you embark on that next great adventure. 

Riding a motorcycle can be a very fun and exciting experience and mode of transportation.  When you are looking to ride a motorcycle, you also need to make sure it is properly protected by insurance.  There are several factors that need to be considered when you are determining what type of motorcycle insurance you should get.

Legal Requirements

People that are in the Austin, TX area will need to comply with state laws when it comes to getting insurance on their motorcycle.  In the state of Texas, all people that ride a motorcycle will need to have minimum amounts of liability coverage in place to be in compliance with the law.  In Texas, this includes having $25,000 of property damage liability coverage and $30,000 of bodily injury coverage for each injured person with a $60,000 cap in bodily injury coverage per incident. 

Additional Coverage

While you are only required by law to have the liability coverage in place on your motorcycle insurance policy, most people would benefit from additional types of coverage as well.  The base liability coverage will not provide you with any coverage in the event your motorcycle is damaged in an accident or if it is stolen or vandalized.  To ensure you have coverage for these situations, you will also need to get collision and comprehensive coverage on your motorcycle insurance policy.  These types of coverage will also be required if you take out a loan to buy your motorcycle.

For those that are in the Austin, TX area and would like to ride a motorcycle, speaking with the Southwest Insurance Center first could be a great option.  This company will help you better understand the motorcycle insurance requirements and help you get into a policy that provides you with the right amount of protection and coverage. 

Regardless of the type of boat that you own, you need to protect it from any unseen circumstances or incidences that may happen while in water. Boats are assets considered as investments, and the best way to keep them safe is by purchasing a boat insurance coverage. Although standard home insurance provides a little amount of protection, it does not give you adequate protection on some factors such as liability claims. To acquire adequate protection for your watercraft in Austin, TX, Southwest Insurance Center is the place to be. We will also educate on the factors that affect your policy.

Does size and material of the boat affect your boat insurance coverage?

This is one area that tends to confuse individuals especially those that are not aware of the factors that affect premiums of the boat insurance. Boats come in different sizes.

Size – Boats are considered to be 26 inches and below. Anything bigger than that is regarded as a yacht. Yachts have broader insurance coverage than a boat. This is because they cover a longer distance and have unique exposures. From that point of view, the size of the aircraft has impacts on insurance coverage.

Material – Boats are made of different material qualities too.  The construction material and the style used to design the vessel are determinants of the premiums paid. For example, you need to determine if the vessel is a fishing boat, sailing yachts, V-hull or catamaran before purchasing your policy. These types of watercraft come in different sizes, material, and design.

What is included in boat insurance?

Your boat insurance provides you with various protections which include liability, fuel spills, medical coverage, mold, rusts and collision among others.

To understand more about factors that affect your boat insurance coverage in Austin, TX, contact Southwest Insurance Center and let our experts educate you more on the same. We can also help you decide the best coverage for you.

Texas renters and property owners especially those in Austin may not qualify for the standard homeowner coverage. Maybe you do not need a comprehensive home policy for your property. Southwest Insurance Center suggests that you get extra coverage. There are different types of coverage under homeowner coverage, and dwelling fire insurance policy is one of them.

This policy is specially designed for residential property that belongs to you, but you do not live in it. It protects both the physical structure and the surrounding structures or the detached structures such as the garage, repair workshop, storage room, and fence. However, it does not offer protection against theft and liability.

There are various requirements when getting a dwelling fire insurance policy which includes;

• The property should have a maximum of four apartments, or it should be designed to hold at most four families.
• If a single family occupies the home, the family should not exceed five members
• In case of a mobile home, it has to be lying on a permanent foundation for it to qualify for dwelling fire insurance policy

Texas dwelling policy comes in different types which include;

Dwelling policy form 1

This coverage offers protection against lightning, explosions, smoke damage or any damages caused by the heating system. These may consist of perils due to stove or water heater. There are two options under form 1 which are vandalism and mischief, and the extended coverage. The extended coverage caters for damages as a result of smoke, volcanic explosions, windstorm, hail and other explosions.

Dwelling policy form 2

This coverage protects your property against the same damages as the dwelling form 1 but with some additions. These are burglary damages, electrical damage, freezing of pipes, water overflow or steam and falling objects among others.

Dwelling policy form 3

This policy is the most comprehensive form of dwelling fire coverage. It is also referred to as open perils or all risks coverage. Other than the damages catered for under the other two policies, it also protects your property against war, neglect, law and ordinances, mold, rot rust, intentional loss and earthquake.

If you wish to learn more and purchase a dwelling fire insurance policy in Austin, TX, do not hesitate to reach Southwest Insurance Center and we will be ready to help.

The most significant and valuable asset that most people will ever own is their home. Because of this, making sure that it is properly protected by insurance is extremely important. When they are looking to build a home insurance policy, many people may also need to consider purchasing flood insurance. There are several situations in which flood insurance may actually be required in order for you to qualify for your mortgage.

Mortgage Lender Requirements

In general, the main source that will determine whether or not you need to have flood insurance is your mortgage lender. If you have a mortgage that is backed by the FHA, the mortgage lender will be required to make sure you have and carry flood insurance if you live in a determined flood zone. In many situations, the lender may also require that you escrow for this on a monthly basis and they could pay the insurance company directly.

Flood Zone Map

Whether or not you will be required to carry flood insurance by your mortgage provider will depend on whether you are located in a flood zone. FEMA manages a real-time flood insurance map that will dictate certain areas that are prone to the risk of flood. The map will then classify which type of flood insurance you will need to have. Depending on what zone you live in on the map, the cost of flood insurance can vary considerably.  

For those that are in the Austin, TX area, understanding flood insurance needs is very important.  Because of this, meeting with an Austin, TX area insurance provider, such as the Southwest Insurance Center, could be a very good option. The Southwest Insurance Center can help you to better understand your flood insurance requirements and make sure you have adequate coverage.  

Southwest Insurance Center is your go-to agency for Recreational Vehicle (RV) insurance in the greater Austin, TX area. We are here to meet all of your insurance needs, including optional coverage for your RV. While your primary auto policy may provide some protection for other vehicles, there are a lot of instances where you can be liable for injury and damage that will not be covered. Owning an RV offers a lot of opportunity for family fun and enjoyment, and having the right insurance in place will ensure that you enjoy your vehicle for years to come.

Benefits of Comprehensive RV Insurance

RV insurance covers you in the event of theft or damage while on the road, including accidents. One overlooked aspect of this insurance is coverage while parked. If you travel with your RV and use the vehicle to entertain guests while on the road, it is imperative to have liability insurance in case someone is injured while in your RV. Slips and falls can happen, and many insurance policies do not cover such mishaps.

This coverage, known as Vacation Insurance, offers you protection for when your RV is in use but you are not out on the road. All Perils coverage can provide protection for many instances where there are typically exclusions in general policies, such as acts of God. Owning an RV can be expensive, and having comprehensive insurance coverage can ensure that you are able to enjoy your investment for many years to come.

Please give us a call today at (512) 280-6100 to schedule an appointment to learn more about the benefits of comprehensive RV insurance. Southwest Insurance Center is proud to serve the greater Austin, TX area and is here to help you meet all of your insurance needs.