5 Perks To Look For in Your Insurance Company

Written By Mary Beth Eastman
Last updated January 26, 2018

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Insurance
January 26, 2018

Simple. Thrifty. Living.

Home and auto insurance policies usually cover common expenses like robberies and accidents. If you take a closer look at your policy, though, you may find that your insurance provider gives you some perks that you don’t know about.

Many auto insurance companies now include roadside assistance services such as jump starts for dead batteries, inflating flat tires and towing vehicles to nearby mechanics. If your auto policy includes these services, then you don’t need to spend additional money on stand-alone roadside assistance from companies like AAA.

If your auto insurance policy includes collision coverage, then you don’t have to worry about spending thousands of dollars after an accident. Once you reach your deductible, your insurance provider should cover the rest of the bill.

Many people don’t realize that their policies will pay for more than car repairs. Depending on your policy, the company may also pay for new car seats for your kids. Considering that some car seats cost hundreds of dollars, you need to inspect your policy to see if you can take advantage of this benefit.

Power outages do more than cause inconveniences. The period spent without electricity can cause your refrigerated and frozen food to spoil. That might not mean much to some people, but hunters who store hundreds of pounds of meat in their freezers stand to lose a lot of money.

Instead of paying to replace your spoiled food, look at your homeowners insurance policy to see if you can get assistance. Some companies will pay to replace several things that get damaged during power outages.

When your kids go to college, they may take some expensive items with them. A dorm-room theft could include computers, televisions, refrigerators and other pricey belongings.

You probably assume that your homeowner’s policy doesn’t protect the things that your kids take to college. In some cases, though, your policy will cover the replacement of your belongings even when they’re stored away from your house.

Many insurance companies consider gravestones personal property so they will replace gravestones that get damaged or defaced. Much like the computer kept in your child’s dorm room, your family gravestones are protected even though they’re not kept on your property.

Insurance policies can include surprising coverage that you wouldn’t expect. Since all companies offer different levels of coverage, you should read your policy closely to see what perks you might already have.

About the Author

Mary Beth Eastman

Mary Beth Eastman serves as the content manager for Simple. Thrifty. Living, where she is dedicated to helping readers use money and credit wisely. Mary Beth believes that access to the right financial information paired with a growth mindset are essential tools for getting out of debt and building wealth. Mary Beth has a degree in Journalism from Bowling Green State University and has focused her 20-year journalism career on putting readers front and center, carefully considering their concerns and presenting information that will help them in their everyday lives. She has won numerous statewide journalism awards. Her writing on personal finance as been featured on numerous websites in addition to Simple. Thrifty. Living, including Huffington Post and Lexington Law blog. Mary Beth resides in Pittsburgh, Pa., with her family and two rescue dogs.

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