Why does my policy have more than one deductible?

A policy commonly carries a flat deductible for most claims and a separate percentage-based wind and hail deductible in storm-exposed states like Georgia.

Does my own insurance cover me when I stay in an Airbnb or VRBO?

The host's short-term rental policy protects the host, not you. As an Airbnb or VRBO guest, your own homeowners or renters insurance usually covers your belongings and personal liability away from home, within policy limits, while travel insurance covers trip-specific risks neither the host nor your home policy will.

Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage?

No. Standard homeowners policies exclude all flood damage regardless of cause.

What does uninsured motorist coverage do?

If you are hit by a driver with no insurance or not enough insurance, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays your medical bills.

When do we use Selective for flood coverage versus NFIP?

Selective private flood wins for Zone X and moderate AE properties where it beats NFIP on price and offers higher limits with ALE coverage.

Do I need commercial auto insurance in Alabama?

All FAQs

Quick answer: Yes. Alabama's baseline minimum liability applies to any registered vehicle, personal or commercial: 25/50/25, under Code of Alabama Section 32-7-6. For-hire and motor-carrier operations face higher federal FMCSA or Alabama Public Service Commission minimums on top of that.

A personal auto policy usually excludes vehicles used for business, so an Alabama business often needs commercial auto even when it is driving the same trucks it always has. The trigger is use, not ownership: hauling for pay, carrying tools and inventory, employees driving for work, or a vehicle titled to the business.

What actually triggers the need for commercial auto?

Several use patterns push a vehicle out of personal-auto territory: transporting goods or passengers for pay, regularly carrying tools, equipment, or inventory for a job, an employee driving the vehicle for work purposes, or the vehicle being titled to the business rather than an individual. Any one of these can be enough on its own - a business does not need to check every box before commercial auto becomes the right coverage.

Why does a personal policy fall short?

A personal auto insurer underwrites and prices a policy around personal, non-business use. When a claim arises from business use - deliveries, job-site driving, hauling for a client - the insurer can deny the claim outright, even if the vehicle and driver look identical to any other trip. The gap only shows up at claim time, which is the worst moment to discover it - a denied claim leaves the business paying for the accident, the vehicle repair, and any liability out of pocket, with no policy standing behind it.

Does this apply the same way to for-hire transport?

A business that transports passengers or property for compensation faces its own filing requirement layered on top of the ordinary commercial-auto need - see how Alabama's for-hire minimums compare to the ordinary commercial floor for the specific tier and filing rule that applies to for-hire carriers.

Example: a Huntsville contractor rear-ends a car while driving to a job site with tools in the truck bed. A personal auto insurer can deny the claim as business use; commercial auto is the policy that responds.

See how commercial auto insurance works, whether a business needs business insurance more broadly in Alabama, or Alabama insurance requirements generally. A coverage review can confirm whether a specific vehicle's use crosses into commercial-auto territory.