The Basics of Boat Insurance

If you’re thinking of purchasing a boat insurance plan, it’s important to understand the basics of this policy. For physical damage or total loss, the coverage includes the entire hull, fittings, equipment, furnishings and all permanently attached tools, as part of an agreed amount value policy or an actual cash value policy. These key policies also offer comprehensive liability protection to Memphis, TN boat owners, though you can also opt for a standard homeowner’s policy. There are some unique differences between this two main types of policies offered by insurance companies like Keltner Insurance.

Actual cash value policy – This coverage pays for replacement expenses minus depreciation value at the time of loss. In case a total loss occurs, boat pricing guidelines and other key resources are utilized to determine the boat’s estimated market value. A partial loss is normally settled by deducting depreciation percentage from the total repair cost. 

Agreed amount value policies – When you take this policy, it means that you and the carrier have agreed on your vessels value, and in case of a total loss, the insurer will pay this amount. This coverage also replaces old items with new ones after a partial loss without deducting the depreciation cost.

Physical damage exclusion can include damage from insects, animals (like sharks), mold, defective machinery, zebra mussels, machinery damage, or normal wear and tear.

Your boat insurance can also cover:

  • Property damage –This is the damage that may be caused to another individual’s property
  • Bodily injury –covers injuries caused to another person
  • Medical expenses –pays for injuries to the boat owner and passengers
  • Theft

Note that there are liability limits for each coverage, so it’s safer to ensure that your policy exceeds the set boat insurance limits in Memphis, TN.

For more information on boat insurance basics, be sure to contact Keltner Insurance today.

 

 

Do I need boat insurance for winter when I can’t use it?

Even if the weather in Memphis, TN was nice enough for boating year-round, other obligations would probably keep you from being able to go boating all the time. Between work and family, your time on the water is probably a lot less than you want it to be. 

When you look for boat insurance at Keltner Insurance, you may wonder if you can obtain a policy that only covers the months you can really take advantage of your boat. It seems like a waste of money to pay for insurance when your boat is sitting in storage. If your boat is stored at home, your homeowner’s policy may even protect your boat somewhat. 

Unfortunately, there is probably a limit to how much your homeowner’s policy will pay if, for instance, there is a fire or your boat is stolen. After certain limits, you will be on your own, because the policy will specify what kinds of items are covered. If your boat is valuable at all, the coverage probably won’t be enough. 

If you still owe money on your boat, there is probably a clause that is part of the loan that says if you don’t carry insurance, your lender can attach a more expensive, less advantageous policy and add the money to your loan. That is a normal policy because it is still their investment too until you pay off the loan.

If you are in Memphis, TN and you have a boat you need to protect, it will probably surprise you how affordable it is. Call Keltner Insurance today for a free quote. 

Must Have Insurance Coverage for Your New Condo

Purchasing a condo is the first step towards setting up a new home. The next step is getting condo insurance to protect your investment. Although your condo comes with a master insurance policy, you still need protection for your individual unit. Master policies generally cover the outside of your building and surrounding common areas. An individual condo insurance policy from Keltner Insurance, Memphis, TN, will cover the interior of your home, protect your personal goods and provide you with liability coverage – must have insurance protection for all new condo owners.

Interior Coverage

If a kitchen fire scorches your condo walls or broken water pipes flood your floors, your condo insurance will help cover the cost of repairs so you don’t have to pay out of pocket. Interior condo insurance protects the ceiling, floors, light fixtures and floors of your condo against damage from fire, smoke, adverse weather and other catastrophes. As you never know when disaster will strike, it’s important to be prepared with the insurance protection you need.

Liability Coverage

Having a condo of your own makes entertaining that much more enjoyable. With liability coverage, you can celebrate holidays with family and friends without worrying about accidents occurring on your property. If a guest has an accident while visiting your condo, liability coverage will cover any medical costs. Liability coverage also covers damages to neighboring condos due to accidents you cause.

Personal Property Coverage

Last, but not least, personal property/condo contents insurance will protect your personal goods against theft or harm. If you get replacement cost protection, your insurance will pay to have your goods replaced if they’re totally destroyed or stolen. The more goods you own, the more important it is to protect your investments with adequate personal property coverage.

To learn more about condo insurance and all it has to offer, talk to a Keltner Insurance agent in Memphis, TN today.

How to Determine if You Need Life Insurance

Life insurance is a very popular type of insurance, especially as people get older. However, even if you have thought about life insurance, you may still be on the fence about buying it. A lot of people wonder if they actually need to have this coverage or not. If you have been trying to figure out if you should get life insurance, be sure to use this guide from Keltner Insurance, serving Memphis, TN, to help you decide if you really need it. 

  • You have someone who relies on your income. Whether you have a spouse, children, or both, if they rely on your income for survival, you should consider getting life insurance to help take care of them if anything happens to you. 
  • You have debt. If you have debt that you would leave behind, you do not want to burden your family with the added financial responsibilities. It is a good idea to have enough coverage to take care of this debt. 
  • You don’t have money saved up for a burial. Burials are expensive and if you do not have the money saved up for it already you should consider having a life insurance policy to take care of it so it is one less thing for your family to worry about. 

There are some specific situations where you really should consider purchasing life insurance and there are others where it is simply the smart thing to do. If you are still not sure or if you would like help finding the right policy or amount, be sure to reach out to us here at Keltner Insurance, serving Memphis, TN, today. We are always happy to help and will even provide you with a free quote for coverage that meets your needs and your budget. 

Insuring All Of Your Employees Properly

There are many new businesses in Memphis, TN that need employee insurance. If you are one of them, contact us at Keltner Insurance. We can help to provide you with a guide towards getting the kind of policies outlined below.

Getting Health Insurance

First of all, your employees need high-quality health insurance. Try to find company plans that suit your business size and type. There are many bundles available on the market, so don’t be afraid to do a little shopping to find one that is right for you.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Just about any business is going to need a workers’ compensation insurance policy in place. These types of policies help to provide you with cash when one of your employees is hurt on the job site. This cash gives them the ability to recover without suffering from financial difficulties.

Unemployment Insurance Taxes

Paying unemployment insurance taxes ensures that your employees are safe if you have to let them go for any reason. These policies usually kick in if you pay at last $1,500 in wages during one quarter of a calendar year. The insurance rates will vary depending on the size of your business, so make sure that you talk to your state officials first.

Disability Insurance

This type of insurance is different than workers’ compensation because it kicks in if your employees are injured or sick outside of something that happened during work. It helps to make sure they get the rehabilitation that they need to manage their treatment and get back to work. Shop around a bit to find the best rates.

Let Us Help You Get Total Employee Coverage

If your Memphis, TN company needs the kind of high-quality insurance your employees deserve, contact us at Keltner Insurance. We can find a policy that works well for you.

Does Motorcycle Insurance Cover Any Motorcycle Accessories?

When you are purchasing motorcycle insurance, it is important that you understand what is and is not covered by the policy. One of the questions that we at Keltner Insurance, serving the greater Memphis, TN area, are often asked is whether motorcycle insurance covers any motorcycle accessories. 

As a general rule of thumb, motorcycle insurance does not cover any motorcycle accessories. The policy typically only covers factory issued items that come with your motorcycle. If you add any new tires or rims, saddlebags or accessories, like stem covers, these are not covered by your regular motorcycle insurance policy. However, this does not mean that there is not a way to protect or cover them. 

If you have accessories on your motorcycle that are pricey, you may want to consider an add-on policy that covers motorcycle accessories. Accessory add-on policies allow you to cover any accessories that you add on to your motorcycle, as long as you include them in the policy. When you take out the policy, you will be asked to include a list of add-on accessories you have that you wish to cover. You will then need to update the list as you make changes to your bike. This is the best way to ensure that all of your add-ons and accessories are covered in the event of theft or an accident. 

If you are looking to purchase a new motorcycle insurance policy or are looking to purchase an add-on policy to cover your motorcycle accessories in the Memphis, TN area, Keltner Insurance can help you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to sit down and discuss your insurance needs and let us find you the coverages you need to fully protect your motorcycle and accessories. 

Does RV Insurance Cover Contents?

If you are going to hit the open road in an RV, there are some things you should know before purchasing insurance. It is the law that you must maintain a minimum liability coverage in every state, but depending on the circumstances, you may need to consider what the insurance will cover and if your contents are also covered.

Covering Your Assets

If you are planning on having personal belongings with a high dollar value on board your RV, you are going to want to choose comprehensive insurance. Comprehensive insurance will cover you in the event of theft or fire, for instance, and will provide protection up to the covered dollar amount. If you have liability only, you are only going to cover any damage you cause to another vehicle. Make sure that you take into consideration the dollar amount of belongings such as stoves, refrigerators, and other belongings that will have a high cost to replace.

Living In Your RV?

If you are going to live in your RV, you are going to want to purchase full-time insurance. This is a complete insurance package that is designed to protect your RV much like homeowners’ insurance protects individuals who own a house. When you carry full-time insurance, you need to worry less in the event of an incident where you need complete protection. The cost for this coverage can vary, however, based on the class type you need. Luxury RVs would require class A for instance, and class B would be for travel trailers, campers, and vans. Class C is designed for cargo vans and other similar situations. For more information on RV insurance, or help with deciding which type is best for your needs contact Memphis, TN, Keltner Insurance.

Get helpful service from knowledgeable insurance agents from Memphis, TN, Keltner Insurance. Get out there and enjoy life in your RV without having to worry about your insurance coverage.

 

Does Motorcycle Insurance have a Deductible?

Many people who own a motorcycle get a bit confused when it comes to insurance. What they fail to realize is that motorcycle insurance is just as important as auto insurance. In fact, the two are very similar. For now, let’s take a moment to take a quick look at motorcycle insurance, including whether or not it has a deductible. 

What is motorcycle insurance?

Just the same as auto insurance provides protection for your car, truck, or SUV, motorcycle insurance provides protection for your motorcycle. There are many reasons as to why you may need to take advantage of motorcycle insurance, including if you are in a collision that is your fault. Also, if you are in a collision that is not your fault but the other driver doesn’t have insurance, your insurance policy can prove to be of the utmost value. If you have full coverage insurance on your motorcycle, you will likely have comprehensive benefits as well, meaning if you hit a deer on your bike, coverage can be paid out to pay for the damages. As you can see, motorcycle insurance will be beneficial in a number of circumstances. 

What about a deductible?

Your insurance policy will come with a deductible, but most times, you will be able to adjust this deductible to meet your needs. For example, the higher the deductible, the lower your monthly insurance payment will be. The lower your deductible, the higher your monthly insurance premium is going to be. Many people choose a deductible anywhere between $500 to $2,000.

To learn more about motorcycle insurance, please contact Keltner Insurance serving the Memphis, TN area. 

 

How do I insure a houseboat?

Whether you use it as your primary residence or a home away from home in the Summertime, a houseboat combines the comforts of home with the thrill of adventure. So, how do you go about insuring it? A standard home owner policy probably won’t cover it, but is a typical boat insurance policy adequate, or do you need more coverage than that?

The first thing you have to do before calling Keltner Insurance in Memphis, TN about a policy is get your boat surveyed. Fees can range, but tend to be a little costlier for older boats, demanding more thorough inspection. The surveyor is looking at the boat’s current value and condition, and its seaworthiness. You may have already gotten this out of the way in the process of financing your boat, as surveying makes it easier to find a lender.

Once you’ve had your boat surveyed and ascertained its value, you can either insure it for the AAV, or agreed amount value, where you document the hull and attached equipment and agree on a value with your insurer, or you can insure for the ACV. The ACV is the actual cash value, deducting depreciation at the time of claim payment.

You can buy additional insurance including liability and so on. The main AAV or ACV value only covers the boat itself. That should be enough if you don’t plan to take the boat out on open water. Otherwise, you’ll want to talk to Keltner Insurance in Memphis, TN about buying insurance to cover you in the event that you are found to be at fault in an accident. If you only plan to use the boat as your living quarters, then AAV or ACV coverage is all you need.

 

3 Things to Know Before Buying Boat Insurance

While owning a boat can be great, even when you are land locked like in Memphis, TN, there are a lot of responsibilities that come with boat ownership. One of those responsibilities is buying insurance. Here are a few things you should know before buying boat insurance.

How Boat Insurance Works

Boat insurance is pretty similar to car insurance. You pay a regular premium, the cost of which is dependent on the amount of your deductible and what is covered. Like car insurance, boat insurance typically covers the following:

  • Property Damage Liability

  • Collision Damage

  • Bodily Injury

  • Comprehensive

You may also have additional coverage options. In addition, where you live, the type of boat you have, the type of engine in the boat and where you plan to use the boat– on a lake or on the open seas– will also factor into the cost of your insurance.

Is It Necessary to Carry Boat Insurance?

Some states require you to have boat insurance in the same way they would require you to carry car insurance. You can check with the local DMV to find out what the laws are in Memphis, TN. Some marinas may not allow you to dock your boat with them if it is not insured. If you used a loan to purchase your boat, your lender may require you to keep insurance on it at least until the loan is paid.

Where to Get Boat Insurance

When you are looking for a place to purchase boat insurance, you can go online and submit a form to request a quote. You can also contact an independent agency, like Keltner Insurance, and let them find you the best deal.

When you are looking for insurance for your boat, it is important to know what your coverage options are and what the requirements are where you live. An independent insurance agent will not only help you to find the best deal, but is likely to know the local requirements and is therefore well-suited to answer your questions. If you are looking for boat insurance in the Memphis, TN area, contact Keltner Insurance today.