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 Georgia law require boat insurance?

All FAQs

Quick answer: No. Georgia does not require liability insurance on a recreational boat. The actual requirements are registration with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for any motorized vessel on state waters, and, for anyone born on or after January 1, 1998, a DNR-approved boater education course (O.C.G.A. Section 52-7). Because there is no insurance mandate, uninsured boaters are common, which is why uninsured boater coverage matters.

No. Georgia does not require liability insurance on a recreational boat the way it requires liability coverage on a car. What Georgia does require is registration with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for any motorized vessel on state waters, and, for anyone born on or after January 1, 1998, a DNR-approved boater education course before operating a boat alone (O.C.G.A. Section 52-7).

That gap between "registered" and "insured" matters more than it sounds. Because Georgia has no insurance mandate on the water, a real share of boaters carry no liability coverage at all. In 2023, Georgia recorded 16 recreational boating fatalities and 119 boating incidents statewide (Georgia Department of Natural Resources). Every one of those incidents was a chance for an uninsured operator to cause damage or injury with nothing behind it but their own pocket.

What happens if you're on the water without boat insurance and cause damage?

You're personally on the hook. If your boat hits a dock, damages another vessel, or injures a passenger or another boater, there's no insurer standing behind you unless you bought a policy. A judgment against you in a boating accident case doesn't disappear because Georgia didn't require the coverage - it just means you pay it directly instead of through a carrier.

Does homeowners insurance fill the gap?

Only barely. A standard homeowners policy caps watercraft coverage at very low limits, often under $2,000, and excludes most liability once the boat is in use. That's a separate question worth reading on its own: does my Georgia homeowners policy cover my boat?

Example: A Lake Lanier boat owner without a policy clips a dock and cracks it during a weekend outing. The dock owner's repair bill is $4,000. With no insurance and no legal requirement to have any, that $4,000 comes straight from the boat owner, plus whatever it costs to resolve a liability claim if the dock owner pursues one.

A dedicated boat policy covers the hull, onboard equipment, liability to others, and protection if an uninsured boater hits you - something Georgia's on-water uninsured-driver exposure makes more relevant than the lack of a legal mandate might suggest. A coverage review can price a policy against your specific boat and how you use it. Carriers available through Olive Cover for Georgia boat coverage are listed on our carriers page.