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.

Does home insurance cover hurricane damage in Mobile?

Q: What does the homeowners policy actually cover?

Wind damage from a hurricane -- a torn roof, broken windows, siding ripped off the house -- is covered under a standard Mobile homeowners policy the same way any other windstorm damage is. On the coast, that coverage usually comes with its own separate wind or hurricane deductible, a percentage of the home's value rather than a flat dollar figure, so the out-of-pocket cost on a wind claim can run higher than an inland claim for similar damage.

All FAQs

Quick answer: Home insurance generally covers wind damage from a hurricane, but not flood or storm-surge damage, which needs separate flood insurance. Many coastal Alabama policies also apply a separate, higher wind or hurricane deductible.

Hurricane damage is not one peril, it is two. The wind side - roof, siding, broken windows - is covered by a standard Mobile homeowners policy, usually with a separate wind or hurricane deductible. The water side - storm surge and flooding - is excluded from every homeowners policy and needs separate flood insurance. A hurricane can hit a home with both, and only one is on the homeowners policy.

What does the homeowners policy actually cover?

Wind damage from a hurricane - a torn roof, broken windows, siding ripped off the house - is covered under a standard Mobile homeowners policy the same way any other windstorm damage is. On the coast, that coverage usually comes with its own separate wind or hurricane deductible, a percentage of the home's value rather than a flat dollar figure, so the out-of-pocket cost on a wind claim can run higher than an inland claim for similar damage.

Why is flood excluded, and why does it matter so much in Mobile?

The City of Mobile states it plainly: "Flood damage is virtually never covered by standard homeowner's insurance." That exclusion applies regardless of what caused the flooding - a named storm's surge and a routine heavy-rain event are both flood, and both need a separate policy. This matters more in Mobile than in most places: the city carries a 26% chance of flood damage over the life of a 30-year mortgage, more than six times the likelihood of fire, and 1 inch of water in a $150,000 home can cause more than $54,000 in damage (City of Mobile). On the coast, the excluded half of hurricane damage is often the more likely half.

Where does coastal wind coverage come from when standard carriers will not write it?

When the standard market declines to write wind coverage on a coastal Mobile property, the Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association (AIUA) is the state's residual wind market - every insurer authorized to write fire and extended-coverage insurance in Alabama must belong to AIUA as a condition of doing business in the state. AIUA writes coverage for eligible property located south of the 31st parallel in Baldwin and Mobile counties, excluding areas protected under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act; the exact eligibility for a specific address is confirmed through AIUA's own address lookup, not assumed from county lines alone.

Example: a hurricane pushes storm surge into a Mobile home and tears part of the roof off in the same storm. The homeowners policy addresses the roof; the surge water on the first floor is a flood claim, paid only if the owner separately carried flood insurance.

See how flood insurance works, Mobile flood coverage basics, or how Mobile's hurricane deductible works. See also Alabama homeowners coverage and the Mobile insurance overview. A coverage review can confirm both wind and flood coverage for a specific Mobile address.