What Happens AFTER You Buy Insurance Online?

Name: Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance
Address: 170 Ocean St, South Portland, ME, 04106
Telephone: 207-799-5541

Posted on January 12, 2015March 27, 2019 by admin

There are many ways to buy insurance. Online. Over the phone. Using an app. By email. In person. In 15 minutes. In 7 minutes. Whatever.

Buying Insurance May Be Easy…

But, it’s not how you buy insurance that creates value. It’s whether it’s there when you need it. If you buy insurance from someone hundreds of miles away, whom you’ve never met, or even talked to, do you really think they’ll be there to help later? We will.

A Week’s Worth of Questions We Dare You to Ask Your Internet Insurance Company

We helped Greater Portland Maine insurance clients with these issues, just in the last week:

My claim was denied, and I don’t think it’s right.
How can I insure property I co-own with three other people?
I want more umbrella coverage, but my insurer won’t do it, because I have a couple of speeding tickets.
I haven’t gotten my claim check from the other guy’s insurance company after he hit my parked car.
I need help completing this form that the insurance company sent me.
I’m helping my son buy a car; who should insure it?
My insurance company wants me to make some improvements to my home, but I need more time.
Who can clean my basement in Saco, Maine after a sewer backup?
Who is good Portland Maine jeweler to have appraise my pieces?
I own a classic car. What’s the best way to insure it?
I’m about to buy a new car. When is the best time to shop for the insurance?
My fiancee and I are buying a house together. Can we combine our car insurance, too?
Why does the insurance company want to know about other drivers in my house? They don’t drive my car!
Should I suspend my insurance for the winter on one of my cars?
Help! The Maine DMV suspended my license in error!
My former insurance company keeps sending me bills!
I’m moving to Maine. How do I register my car? When do I need to get a Maine license?
I’m moving to New Hampshire. Can I keep my cars registered in Maine?

Does your insurance company know Pleasant Hill from Munjoy Hill? Westbrook from the West End? Sebago from Sugarloaf? Would you trust the answer they gave you to even one of the questions above? If not, that’s why you need a local agent.

It doesn’t matter how easy it is to buy insurance. It matters who’s there to help when you have a problem that’s not so easy. That’s why you need a local agent.

For answers to your Maine insurance questions, contact a Noyes Hall & Allen agent. Right here in South Portland. 207-799-5541.

Should You Have a Personal Umbrella Policy?

Posted on January 4, 2015July 26, 2023 by Bob O'Brien

Many financial advisors recommend personal umbrella coverage to protect your net worth and future earnings. The maximum liability limit offered by most home and auto insurers is $500,000. Even those with modest incomes can exceed $500,000 in net worth, as they pay off debt, accumulate retirement savings, or receive an inheritance.

Maine’s Wrongful Death Statute allows lawsuits up to ~~$500,000~~ in addition to specific medical or property damages (update: as of 2023, Maine’s Wrongful Death Statute permits up to $1 million in damages, with automatic increases for inflation – even more reason to have an umbrella!) .

If you don’t have enough liability insurance, you could be forced to pay out of your own assets and future earnings. Also, when your insurance runs out, so does your coverage for legal costs.

What Is an Umbrella Policy?

Maine Personal Umbrella Insurance provides excess liability protection above your home, auto, boat, RV and other primary insurance. Umbrella policies are purchased in increments of $1 million. They may be added to a personal package policy or purchased separately on a “stand-alone” policy.

How Much Does Personal Umbrella Insurance Cost?

Maine Personal Umbrella policies are quite inexpensive – often less than $200 per year for $1 million in protection. Insurance companies can offer these low prices because they require you to maintain a certain amount of “underlying” coverage, usually $300,000 or $500,000. Insurers know that claims larger than that are rare, so umbrella policies are priced accordingly.

Personal umbrella insurance protects your assets against major lawsuits.

Can Someone Garnish My Wages?

Absolutely. If you don’t have enough assets to pay for a legal judgement, but you expect to work in the future, the court can garnish a percentage of every paycheck you receive until the debt is paid.

Could I Lose My Home or My Retirement Savings?

Courts don’t like to force someone to sell their primary residence to pay for legal judgement, but it does happen.

How Much Personal Umbrella Insurance Should I Buy?

Umbrella policies come in increments of $1 million. Many insurance companies sell up to $3 million, which is sufficient for many Americans. Higher limits are available, however, for those who need extra protection.

For more information about personal umbrella insurance in Maine, contact Noyes Hall & Allen at 207-799-5541. We would be happy to help you decide if an umbrella policy is right for you.

Does Maine Auto Insurance Automatically Cover a New Vehicle?

Posted on November 28, 2014December 29, 2021 by Bob O'Brien

Does Maine personal auto insurance automatically cover a new vehicle? Many clients wonder about this when they purchase a new car on the weekend or after work, when their agents’ office is closed.

The answer varies, but most preferred auto insurance companies in Maine automatically cover a new vehicle if you have an existing policy.

Most companies that sell insurance through a Maine Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agent like Noyes Hall & Allen use policy forms written by Insurance Services Office (ISO). This infographic outlines the automatic coverage for new vehicles in an ISO Personal Auto Policy. Your policy may be different. Check with your agent if you’re not sure.

Does Auto Insurance Automatically Cover a New Vehicle in Maine?

Your Policy May NOT Automatically Cover a New Vehicle

This information is for personal auto policies only. Most commercial insurance policies do not automatically cover new vehicles. Be sure to check with your business insurance agent if you’re buying a new vehicle for your business or organization.

Many Maine insurers don’t use ISO forms, even for personal policies. These include Progressive, State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. If you’re insured by one of those companies, call your insurer to find out how they treat new autos.

For example, Progressive’s auto policy appears to match coverage to the old vehicle when you’re replacing a car. If you replaced an old vehicle that didn’t have collision coverage, the new vehicle won’t be covered for collision until you notify Progressive. GEICO’s auto policy appears to have the same restriction. State Farm’s policy doesn’t appear to distinguish between an additional vehicle and one that replaces a vehicle on the policy.

What Info Your Agent Needs

If you’re planning to pick up a new vehicle outside business hours, check with your insurance company or agent. For answers to these and other insurance questions, contact Noyes Hall & Allen in South Portland Maine.

If you’re already a Noyes Hall & Allen client, you can notify us about vehicle changes from our Client Center, or use the links below to text or email photos of your VIN and lender or lease information.

We’re independent and committed to you.

Link: Send email to NH+A

Link: Send text to NH+A

Does Maine Homeowners Insurance Cover Stuff Away from Home?

Posted on November 2, 2014November 9, 2017 by admin

Clients often ask if their homeowners insurance covers their belongings when they’re away from home. Here are 3 recent email inquiries with common scenarios:

I have removed some furniture and other items that were at my condo and am storing them at a warehouse. Is my stuff is covered under my condo insurance, or do I need to insure the stuff through the company that is storing the items?
I’ve rented a self-storage unit for some of items that I don’t have room for in the garage. Are these items covered while they’re in storage?
I’ll be renting a condo in Florida for the month of March. Are my belongings covered when I’m away from home?

This infographic spells out the coverage found in most Maine homeowners insurance policies. Your coverage may differ, so check with your Maine insurance agency.

In general, your belongings are covered to 100% of your Personal Property (Coverage C) limit on your Maine condominium, renters or homeowners policy. It doesn’t matter where they’re located, anywhere in the world.

The only exception is if they’re at a residence of yours other than the one listed on your policy. Then, it’s only covered to 10% of your Personal Property limit, or $10,000, whichever is LESS. Presumably, the personal property at that residence would be covered by another homeowners, renters or condo policy.

Keep in mind that certain types of property, such as jewelry and silver, have limited coverage on most policies. Talk to your agent about insuring jewelry on a homeowners policy.

If you need insurance in Greater Portland Maine, contact Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance in South Portland at 207-799-5541.We’re independent and committed to you.

How to Buy Home Insurance in Maine: 4 Easy Steps

Posted on October 13, 2014May 23, 2024 by admin

If you’ve recently begun looking for a home in Maine, or have recently put one under contract, you’ll soon be looking for Maine homeowners insurance. If you will have a mortgage, your lender will pester you for the name of your insurance agent and the cost of your insurance.

Insuring your new home is a simple 4-step process:

1. Put your home under contract

2. Get a home inspection

Your realtor can introduce your to a reputable home inspector. They almost always point out some deficiencies, possible trouble spots, or upcoming maintenance items. It’s up to you whether you negotiate who pays for these with the buyer, or include them into your early home improvement budget. Don’t ignore them, though. For example, if the inspector tells you that your roof shingles have less than 5 years remaining life, set aside the cost to replace it within that time.

3. Contact an Insurance Agent

You’ll want to get a Maine homeowners or condo insurance quote for 100% of the rebuilding cost to satisfy your lender. The agent will use real estate and property tax info and ask a few questions about your home to help determine the rebuilding cost.

The agent will also ask how recently the home systems were updated (plumbing, heating, electrical and roof). Your home inspection will be handy in providing this information.

If you live in southern Maine, a Noyes Hall & Allen agent would be happy to help you with insurance quotes. We represent many different insurance companies, so we can shop the marketplace for you. Different insurers have different appetites, strengths and rates. We can also help you choose appropriate deductibles and insurance programs to fit your needs and budget.

Bundle Up
It often makes sense to bundle your insurance with one insurance company. Most Maine insurers offer discounts when you insure your home and auto together. The savings can be substantial – up to 25% in some cases.

4. Show proof of insurance to your lender

Once you introduce your insurance agent to your closing attorney (usually a title company), you shouldn’t have to do any work. Your agent and the title company will make sure the lender is satisfied. You can focus on getting ready to move into your home!

A Note About Escrow Accounts

If you escrow your insurance, lenders require you to pay the first year’s premium up-front – either to your insurance agent, or at closing. The lender collects a couple of months’ insurance and tax at closing to “seed” your escrow account. You’ll then pay 1/12 of those amounts along with your monthly mortgage payment. The insurance and tax bills will go to your lender, not to you.

If you have questions about Maine home, auto or condo insurance, contact a Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance agent in South Portland at 207-799-5541. We’re independent and committed to you.

Uber Comes to Portland Maine: Are Uber Drivers Insured?

Posted on October 3, 2014November 9, 2017 by admin

Rideshare service Uber began operating in Portland Maine at noon on October 2. Uber and its top competitor Lyft are innovative, efficient, popular – and controversial. Everywhere Uber and Lyft pop up, local lawmakers scramble to address it. Taxi operators and other livery drivers rail against it. And insurance companies caution drivers who might think about joining the Uber fleet.

Are Uber Drivers Insured?

If they have a personal auto policy, their own insurance will not cover them while they’re driving someone for a fee. Period. Every PAP excludes coverage while a vehicle is being used as a “public livery or conveyance“, which basically means driving others for hire. An Uber driver in an accident shouldn’t count on their personal insurance helping out.

You can’t blame insurance companies for that. If you’re driving for Uber, you’re probably driving more miles and hours than you otherwise would. You might be in areas unfamiliar to you, under time constraints, and at hours with higher congestion or impaired operators on the road. All of those increase the likelihood you could have an accident.

The Good News
Uber’s web site says that the service provides a commercial insurance policy with a $1 million limit per incident, including uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. That’s more than 90% of drivers in Maine have. It also provides $50,000 of “contingent comprehensive and collision insurance”, which should pay for repairs to an Uber driver’s vehicle as a result of an accident during an Uber trip.

Not So Good News
Uber’s insurance drops to to $50,000 per person for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage “between trips” – the absolute minimum limits allowed in Maine. That’s inadequate for most people who want to protect their assets or future earnings from an expensive lawsuit.

Uber says that most auto insurance policies will provide coverage during the time that the driver is logged on available for hire but between trips. Talk is cheap. Don’t count on an insurance company seeing it the same way. When presented with a claim, expect an insurance company to say you were engaged in livery, just not actively driving someone – and deny your claim.

What Kind of Insurance Should an Uber Driver Have?
The only type guaranteed to cover you is a business auto policy, rated as livery use. If you insure your car with Maine commercial vehicle insurance and are upfront about your Uber driving, you should be covered.

Is Uber Rideshare Service Safe to Use?
If you’re thinking of taking a ride from Uber, you can expect that the driver has insurance while you’re in the vehicle. That includes if you’re hit by someone with no insurance. If you have a personal auto policy, you also have Medical Payments coverage (usually $5,000 or less) for minor medical expenses.

If you have questions about Portland Maine auto insurance or Maine business insurance, contact Noyes Hall & Allen at 207-799-5541. We’re independent and committed to you.

Data Breach! Protect Your Maine Business With Cyber Liability Insurance

Posted on September 4, 2014March 27, 2019 by Bob O'Brien

Every week we hear news of another household brand name suffering a data breach. Hannaford, Target, TJ Maxx, Shaw’s, Home Depot…the list goes on.

But local businesses are not immune from hacking. Many Maine small businesses – and their customers – were shocked recently to hear about a breach at two Portland, Maine locations of Otto Pizza, a local favorite.

Otto Pizza responded to the breach candidly, and with personal comments that struck at the heart of any local business owner:

Cyber attacks are a constant threat to your Maine office, retail store or professional practice. You no longer have to be a “big fish” to be a target. Hackers, phishers and the like are always looking for low-hanging fruit in the form of networks with poor security. After beefing up your security, you should insure your Maine business against data breach in case it does happen.

How Do Data Breaches Happen?

Some common scenarios that can lead to data breach in your business or professional practice:

Unauthorized access – hackers gain access to your POS system or computer network.
Theft of Computers – Someone steals your laptop, backup data or server that holds customer or employee personal information.
Improper Disposal of client or patient records.
Human Error – your bookkeeper mixes up 1099 forms and mails them in the wrong envelopes, exposing personal information to others.

Sobering Data Breach Statistics

What Does Data Breach Cyber Liability Insurance Pay For?

Cost of Maine Cyber Liability Insurance

Data breach protection is a surprisingly affordable addition to most Maine small business insurance portfolios. Coverage for basic limits such as $10,000 first party and $25,000 third party are available for premiums as low as $150 per year.

What to Do in Case of a Data Breach at Your Business

Notify the police immediately
Report the breach to your business insurance agent or company
Take all steps to protect any confidential data remaining in your control.
Preserve all evidence of the breach itself.

For answers to your Maine business insurance questions, including data breach and cyber liability insurance, contact a Noyes Hall & Allen agent in South Portland at 207-799-5541. We represent many insurance companies so we can help you find the best insurance fit for your business and budget. We’re independent and committed to you.

FMI:

Payment Card Security Standards

CyberRisk 2014 White Paper by Insurance Information Institute

Does Your Home Insurance Cover Short Term Rental?

Posted on July 21, 2014January 15, 2019 by Bob O'Brien

From Portland to Cape Elizabeth, Pine Point to Sebago Lake, peer-to-peer rental services are very popular in Maine. Recent articles in the Portland Phoenix and Portland Press Herald suggest that the practice is increasing. Does renting your Portland Maine area home, apartment or condo via a short term rental service like AirBNB, HomeAway or VRBO affect your insurance? You bet!

You’ll Have Almost No Coverage for Your Stuff – Ever!

If you regularly rent your home or part of it, most Maine homeowners insurance policies limit coverage for your personal property (stuff) to $2,500 per unit. If your place burns down, or is damaged by a storm, you’ll have very little insurance coverage to replace your belongings, furnishings, appliances, clothing, sporting goods or tools.

Even worse news: your home doesn’t have to be rented at the time. It only has to be “regularly rented or held for rental”. Does listing your home on a website with a calendar of availability make it “regularly held for rental”? The insurance company might say so.

You May Have No Liability Protection Either

Do you rent your entire home more than “occasionally”? If so, you have no liability coverage on your homeowners policy. What’s occasionally, you ask? The policy doesn’t define that. Nervous yet?

Do you rent part of your home or condo to someone who brings more than 2 others? Homeowners insurance policies exclude liability coverage completely. If your tenant or their guest gets hurt, who do you think they’ll expect to pay their medical bills, lost wages and pain & suffering? Even if you aren’t at fault, you might have to hire a lawyer to defend you.

Does the Peer-to-Peer Network Protect You?

We haven’t seen any insurance agreement that covers you where your homeowners, renters or condo policy does not. We have seen one that completely replaces a homeowners policy with a commercial insurance policy, at a higher cost. If you rely on protection from the peer-to-peer site, we recommend that you read their insurance contract very, very carefully.

Can Your Insurance Company Cancel Your Homeowners Policy if You Rent Your Property?

Many insurance companies believe that their ordinary homeowner’s insurance rates are insufficient to pay losses resulting from renting your home. They may ask you to stop renting or to make changes in your home. If you fail to comply, they may cancel your policy. That may tempt you to not tell your insurer about your rental income, and hope for the best. That’s taking a big risk.

We recommend that you talk to your Portland area insurance agent before you rent your home. They can discuss options for properly insuring you against catastrophic loss. It may cost a bit more, but at least you’ll know you have coverage.

For more information about Portland Maine homeowners, condo or renters insurance, contact Noyes Hall & Allen at 207-799-5541.

Party Time! Does Maine Homeowners Insurance Cover Renting a Hall?

Posted on April 15, 2014March 27, 2019 by Bob O'Brien

It’s party season in Maine. Many of our clients will host a Bar Mitzvah, wedding, baby shower, reception, anniversary party, memorial service, graduation party, or fund raiser. They’ll rent a church hall, function hall, camp, country club, college or city building. And, they’ll call us for insurance advice.

The Good News: You’re Covered!

If you bought homeowners, condo or renters insurance from Noyes Hall & Allen, your policy says:

6. “Insured location” means:
h. Any part of a premises occasionally rented to
an “insured” for other than “business” use.

Those terms in quotations are defined in your insurance policy. If your policy has your name on it, you’re an “insured”. If you’re not profiting from the function, it’s not a “business”.

Boom! Your Noyes Hall & Allen homeowners policy covers your liability from the function and the hall rental.

The Function Hall Should NOT Want to Be an Additional Insured

Every venue should have a rental contract. Most contain “hold harmless” clauses. That means you agree to be responsible for what happens while you’re renting the premises. Scary? Maybe, but unless you want to have everyone at your house, you don’t have much choice.

Some venues ask to be an “additional insured” on your homeowners insurance policy. Additional insureds are common on Maine business insurance policies. That makes sense, since businesses operate various activities in many locations. It’s not the same on a personal policy.

The Additional Insured form on a homeowners insurance policy (HO 04 41) is different. It limits “insured” status to others to your home. In other words, it’s useless in a case where you’re renting a function room. No homeowners insurer that we are aware of allows “additional insured” status for cases like this.

Also, remember the “business” exclusion on the homeowners policy? That applies to all “insureds”. So your homeowners policy excludes the owner of the function hall from coverage as an insured anyway.

A function hall shouldn’t ask you to list them as an “additional insured”. Tell them we said so.

Let’s Keep it Simple

Your Maine homeowners insurance is a broad and powerful tool. It protects and defends you against injury and damage you’re liable for. That includes liability you assume by a contract.

You signed a rental contract for the hall. You agreed to hold the owners harmless for what happens during your function. If someone sues the owners for an accident at your function, they will turn that lawsuit over to the responsible one: you. And, your homeowners insurance will protect and defend you.

This is all INCLUDED in the homeowners, renters or condominium insurance policy you already have. You should only need to prove to the hall that you have insurance. Call us, and we can do that for you.

What About Liquor Liability?

Homeowners policies cover you for what happens on the premises. They exclude liability from auto accidents. Look to an auto insurance policy first for that coverage. The driver’s auto insurance would protect you AND them. If the driver doesn’t have enough insurance, your own Maine auto insurance should also protect and defend you. The coverage and damages can vary greatly depending upon individual circumstances. Talk to your Maine insurance agent for individual advice.

Pro Tip: Hire a professional bartender. They’re trained to recognize when someone has reached their limit. Ask them for a certificate of liability insurance. Mingle with your guests and enjoy your party, instead of stressing out!

Do I Need Wedding Insurance?

Wedding insurance is a different product. It covers the additional costs created if your venue closes, your photographer or band cancels, or some other calamity happens. That’s different that the liability issue we’ve been discussing.

If you live in the Portland Maine area and have questions about renting a hall, wedding insurance, or other insurance questions, contact a Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance agent at 207-799-5541. Noyes Hall & Allen represents many of Maine’s preferred insurance companies, and offers choice and professional advice. We’re independent and committed to you.

Insuring a Maine Condo Rented to Others

Posted on April 2, 2014March 27, 2019 by admin

Do you need to insure a condominium in Maine that you rent out as income property? Insuring condos can be complicated. Your condo association has a master insurance policy. You have a unit owners insurance policy. Your tenant should have renters insurance. Which policy pays if your unit suffers water damage, fire, or other covered loss?

What’s Insured by the Condo Association Master Policy?

The master policy will cover building portions as prescribed by the bylaws that govern the association. Some associations insure the entire building complex (known as “all in” in insurance jargon). Others require a unit owner to insure the interior of their unit, everything inside the studs. Still others only require the unit owner to insure improvements and betterments made to the condo after it was built. Check your association bylaws and insurance policy to see which applies to you.

What’s Insured by Your Unit Owners Policy?

Your policy will cover items not covered by the association’s master policy. This might include improvements to the unit or the association deductible. Condo bylaws can vary greatly. It’s important to consult a Maine insurance agent who knows how to insure condominiums. They should understand your bylaws and your association’s insurance policy to help you buy proper coverage.

Many insurers issue condominium unit owners policies for rented condos. Others may use a Dwelling Fire insurance form, with customizing endorsements. As long as they are tailored to your situation, either should provide acceptable coverage.

Make sure that the owner of your condo unit is listed on your policy. If you set up a trust, LLC or other entity, if they’re not listed, they’re not covered. This is especially important in case of a liability claim involving your condo unit.

What’s Insured by Your Tenant’s Renters Insurance?

Your tenant’s renters insurance policy covers their “stuff”, such as furniture, clothing, and computers. Your policy will NOT pay for this damage. Neither will the association policy. Save yourself from conflict; require your tenants to buy renter’s insurance.

Questions About Condominium Insurance?

Insuring a Maine condominium can be complicated. Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance serves dozens of Southern Maine condominium associations from two-unit conversions to 100+ unit complexes. If you have questions about condo insurance, contact a Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance agent at 207-799-5541

Renting Your Home? Get Landord Insurance.

Attention Renters: $0.50 a Day Makes All the Difference

Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance