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5 Home Insurance Terms You Need to Know

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Understanding Your Homeowners Policy

Your basic homeowners can seem a little complex plus other riders and additional insurance can make it overwhelming. Your agent should be experienced and able to help you understand key terminology and what you really need to know. Once you have a grasp of common terms, your homeowners will be a breeze to understand and speak with your agent about.

At Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH, we take time to listen to our clients. Our agents want to get you the best coverage at the most affordable price for your home insurance. When you get coverage with us, you can be sure we will be on your side in the event of claims and emergencies.

Some Common Terms

It can get overwhelming learning all the fine print of your policy, but luckily there are some key terms that are easy to understand. Here are some important terms you are likely to hear and what they mean:

  • Premium – One of the most common terms. This is what you pay an insurer to cover your home. 
  • Rider – These are typically separate from your main policy and cover particular property. 
  • Declarations page – This discusses your annual premium and gives an outline of your coverage.
  • Exclusion – These are items, conditions, or property not covered by your policy. Be sure to discuss what is excluded from your agent.
  • Actual-Cash-Value – As it states, this is the actual value of the items before they were destroyed.

Quality Homeowners Insurance in Niles, OH

Contact Ruddy Insurance Group in the Niles, OH area today to discuss your options for homeowner’s insurance as well as any other coverage you may be interested in. Our agents have years of experience helping customers like you get the best coverage at the most affordable prices. Give us a call today.

Is classic car insurance mandatory in Niles, OH?

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Are you lucky enough to own a classic car in Niles, OH? Congratulations! To some people, an antique car is some old fragile fashioned metal, but to car enthusiasts, an antique is anything but fragile. In fact, it is one of the most valuable cars you will ever own. Wait! Did you know that classic cars appreciate in value? Well, this should be a reason enough for you to buy classic car insurance, and Ruddy Insurance Group can help you secure a policy based on your budget, needs, and style.

Is classic car insurance mandatory?

Before answering this question, it is critical to understand that a classic car is no ordinary car. In most cases, the typical auto insurance may not be adequate to protect such an investment.  We are talking about cars manufactured in the 50s and are still in their best condition–generally cars that are older than 20 years. Classic cars appreciate, unlike modern cars that lose value immediately, they hit the road. With that said, classic car insurance is not mandatory, but necessary if you want to protect them from loss, damage, or theft.

What are the coverages offered?

Most antique car coverages go beyond the basic auto insurance policy. These are cars just like the rest, only that they are durable and more expensive. So, if you regularly use your car for shopping, vacations, or commercial purposes, you may need to buy auto insurance coverages such as property damage liability, bodily injury liability, personal injury protection, uninsured and underinsured motorist a collision coverages.  As mentioned earlier, this is not enough to protect such a valuable asset., So, you will need other coverages such as spare parts coverage, towing and special repair, restoration, and inspection coverage.

Let Ruddy Insurance Group help you protect what matters to you. Feel free to speak to our agents about classic car insurance, and they will be happy to respond.

Who needs an Ohio renters insurance policy?

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Those that are living in the Niles, OH area will have a lot of different housing options to consider. One type of housing option that is ideal for many people is to rent your own home. When you rent a property, you will have more flexibility and fewer maintenance obligations. However, it is still important that you get a quality insurance policy before moving into your new home. There are several situations when someone will need a renters insurance policy. 

When Trying to Comply with Lease

One situation when you will need to get a renters insurance policy is when you want to comply with the terms of your lease. Most landlords today want to ensure that their tenants are properly covered by insurance. In most situations, they will have direct insurance requirements and will expect that you provide evidence of insurance coverage before you start the term of your lease. 

When Looking for Coverage

Even if you are not required by a landlord to get this insurance, you should still get renter’s insurance coverage when you want to receive protection for yourself. A renters insurance policy will offer many forms of insurance coverage including protection that covers your personal items and offers liability protection. This can be extremely valuable coverage that makes it well worth the investment. 

As you are looking to move into a new home in Niles, OH, and need to get a renters insurance policy, it is important that you speak with the team at the Ruddy Insurance Group. When you call the Ruddy Insurance Group you are going to learn more about the benefits of this form of insurance coverage. This will help to ensure that you receive all of the benefits that come with this form of insurance. 

Factors To Consider When Shopping For RV Insurance

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So, you have finally purchased the recreational vehicle that you have been dreaming about. The next step for you will be to insure your precious possession to protect it from the unexpected. However, before you get a certain RV insurance policy, there are certain things you need to consider: 

Type of a Vehicle

There are three types of RV: Class A, B, C. Class A are the large mobile homes that are usually the most expensive to insure. Class B is very similar to a standard automobile and is often called a camper van. Class C is a medium-sized hybrid – something between a camper and a car.  It is important to know that type of your RV because it is one of the factors affecting your insurance cost. 

The Way You Use Your RV

Do you use it as a vehicle for traveling several times a year, or do you live in it full-time? If your RV is your actual home, then you may need to get liability insurance that covers the incidents that standard home insurance does. Liability insurance includes protection if someone is injured in your RV or if your personal belongings are destroyed by fire. 

The Age and Condition of Your RV 

It is essential to know that insurance for the same RV model will be different depending on the age and condition of the recreational vehicle. For example, the older your RV is, the less you have to pay for insurance. 

Finding the right coverage for your mobile home is not the most straightforward task – there are many things and factors to consider. However, if you are from Niles, OH, or any other surrounding area, Ruddy Insurance Group is ready to assist you and help you to make the most informed decision. Give Ruddy Insurance Group a call today to figure out how we can help to protect your house on wheels. 

Does Ohio Require a Motorcycle Safety Course to Get an Endorsement?

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Motorcyclists who live in the Niles, OH area need to follow the state-mandated requirements when applying for a motorcycle license. One of these requirements is applying for your permit, and another is completing an approved Motorcycle Safety Course. In many states, motorcycle rights organizations or state licensing branches will offer these courses for a fee. The agents at Ruddy Insurance Group can help.

Choosing the Right Motorcycle Safety Course

If you are looking for a motorcycle safety course that you can use to obtain your motorcycle permit, you have to find one that is approved by the state. These types of courses are proven to provide you with the knowledge you need to ride your motorcycle safely in a variety of conditions. It will also test your understanding of the laws that you will have to abide by when you are riding.  

Getting Your Permit

When you apply for your motorcycle permit, you will get an abundance of information that you can use to become a safe and reliable rider. Once you have your permit, you will have a specific amount of time, normally six months, to complete your motorcycle safety course. As soon as you have completed the required steps, you can apply for your motorcycle license.

At Ruddy Insurance Group, agents are available to help Niles, OH residents work their way through the steps they need to take to get their motorcycle license. If you have questions about an approved motorcycle safety class, call and talk to an agent as soon as possible. They can help you get the process started and make sure you have everything you need before you hit the road on two wheels.

Why do I need boat insurance in Ohio?

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Anyone that lives in the Niles, OH area knows how long and hot the summer months of the year can be. To make this time of the year more enjoyable, owning a boat can be a great idea. If you do own a boat in this area, you must be safe and responsible. One part of this is getting a boat insurance policy. There are several reasons why you may need this coverage here. 

Ensures Local Compliance

One reason why you may need to get a boat insurance policy is that it can ensure you stay in compliance with local rules. Depending on where in the area you want to use the boat, you could be subject to rules regarding liability insurance. When you get this coverage, you will have the protection you need to use your boat anywhere. 

Required by Boat Lender

If you get a boat, there is a good chance that you will need to take out a loan to purchase it. If you do have a loan, the lender will likely require that you carry a boat insurance policy the whole time until you repay the full balance. When you have a boat insurance policy, it will help to ensure that the lender’s collateral is fully protected. 

When you own or operate a boat in the Niles, OH area, getting a boat insurance policy is often a requirement and necessity. As you are shopping for insurance, you could find that picking the right policy is challenging. To make this easier, you should contact the Ruddy Insurance Group. When you do call the Ruddy Insurance Group for your boat insurance needs, it can help to ensure that your boat is adequately covered and that you are in full compliance with all obligations. 

Do I need auto insurance in Ohio?

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When you own a vehicle that you drive, you may have questions about auto insurance, especially if you are a new driver or have just bought your first vehicle. If you are a resident of Niles, OH, you may have wondered, "Do I need auto Insurance"?  At the Ruddy Insurance Group, we have years of insurance experience, and our focus is superior customer service. We are independent agents, which means we can offer you insurance products from the top carriers in the business, and we can offer the affordability you are looking for. 

In Niles, OH, and all over the state of Ohio, you are mandated by law to carry liability insurance on your vehicle. You must carry at least $25,000 bodily damage per person and a total of $50,000 per accident. You must also have an additional $25,000 in property damage. This is the bare minimum that you must carry, and it doesn’t mean that it is the right amount for you if you have assets. If you have a loan on your vehicle, your lender will require that you carry additional insurance. Collision and comprehensive both protect the vehicle itself in the event you are fully or partially at fault. 

Once your loan is paid off, you are not required to carry collision and comprehensive insurance. Just because it is not a requirement, it doesn’t mean that you should let it lapse. If you are like most people, you depend on your vehicle, and unless you have plenty of money to pay for repairs or replacement, it can be a real hardship to have to pay these expenses on your own. 

When you are ready to sit down and discuss your auto insurance needs, Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH is ready and waiting to help you out. Give us a call or stop by our office and let us find the right coverage for you. 

Do Young Couples Need Life Insurance?

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Although many would prefer to avoid discussing life insurance, it is a vital tool to help protect those who are most important. A misconception that many have is that if you are a young couple, life insurance may not be beneficial. This is actually untrue, and having the right type of life insurance in place could lessen the impact should you pass unexpectedly. 

Protecting the Future

Life insurance is all about protecting those who are important in the event of your untimely passing. This can mean a solid layer of protection and support to those loved ones you leave behind and reduce the burden from any impacts that result directly after and in the future. To discover what types of insurance policy would work best for a situation, work with a licensed life insurance agent, and begin protecting those you care about.

Working With a Life Insurance Agent

Life insurance agents are trained to help clients identify current and future needs and cover those needs with a life insurance policy that is high quality and dependable. If you live near the Youngstown or Niles, OH area, you can count on the agents at Ruddy Insurance Group to walk you through the process and help you get the coverage you and your loved ones can depend on during a difficult time. Additionally, we can walk you through the entire process and assist beneficiaries with any future claims.  

Protect those who are most important by purchasing quality life insurance products. If you are a resident of the Youngstown or Niles, OH area and have questions about life insurance, call or stop by the office of Ruddy Insurance Group and speak with one of their skilled agents today.

3 Things to Know About Home Security Systems

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Home security systems are a great choice for homeowners and renters who want to protect their home and family from intruders and other unexpected events. Systems range from very basic to extremely complicated. At Ruddy Insurance Group, agents offer Niles, OH residents advice on how home security systems can benefit them in terms of both insurance and energy efficiency.

You Get What You Pay For

Surveillance cameras can start as low as $80 if you can find them on sale. Some of the more basic systems cost around $100 to start, while professionally monitored systems with all the bells and whistles can cost you well over $3,000 plus installation costs. Systems that are monitored professionally require contracts and monthly fees. 

DIY Systems Are Extremely Efficient

Many people opt for DIY systems because of their affordability. A do-it-yourself system means that you are in charge of the installation, monitoring, and moving of your system if you choose to sell your home. In most cases, monitoring is easy because it can be performed through an app that you download to your smartphone or other electronic devices. 

Home Automation and Energy Efficiency

Many of the more advanced systems offer home automation. When a home is fully automated, you can adjust your thermostat and control your lights through an app when you are not at home. 

Residents in the Niles, OH area can discuss the different home security options with an agent from Ruddy Insurance Group. Being fully informed about the benefits and advantages of having a home security system will help you choose which system not only fits your budget but allows you the best possible security. Call the agents at Ruddy Insurance Group today to find out how a home security system will affect your insurance.

What Basic Snowmobile Insurance Covers

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Are you planning to get snowmobile insurance in the near future? You may be surprised to know that there are some differences from getting regular auto insurance. An established agency like the Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH can assist you with such matters.

Snowmobile Insurance Considerations

In the state of Ohio, a snowmobile is considered in a different class from other types of motor vehicles. This means it’s subject to a different kind of insurance. Since it’s said to be a specialty vehicle, it’s best to discuss your particular needs with an insurance agent.

Important Notes for Motorsport Vehicle Insurance

There are some things to keep in mind to make sure you’ll get a better deal on your insurance costs. For one, you should keep your driving record as clean as possible because it will make the rates higher in most instances. Also, you can bundle insurance if you have more than one specialty vehicle on your policy. When it comes to choosing a snowmobile, it’s best to look into the models that are said to be more aggressive and cost more to insure.

Common Coverage for Snowmobile Insurance

There are a few common areas of coverage for this type of insurance. Collision coverage pays for any damages that are covered if you happen to get in a collision with another object or vehicle. Bodily injury liability coverage insures if you injure or kill another person while you’re operating your vehicle, possibly including the costs of getting legal defense. Property damage liability coverage is for the damages to another person’s property while you’re operating your snowmobile, as well as the possibility of coverage for legal defense. Comprehensive physical damage coverage is for covered losses that result from other kinds of incidents like theft and fire. 

Seek Help with Getting the Right Insurance

Talk to a representative at Ruddy Insurance Group today about getting snowmobile insurance. You owe it to yourself to go through a dependable agency in the Niles, OH area.