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.

Is equipment breakdown insurance required for businesses in Georgia?

All FAQs

Quick answer: No. Georgia has no statute requiring equipment breakdown insurance for private businesses. It is optional coverage that closes a gap standard commercial property policies leave open. By contrast, Georgia does require workers' compensation once a business regularly employs three or more people (O.C.G.A. 34-9-2(a)(2)).

No. Georgia has no statute that requires equipment breakdown insurance for private businesses, and no state agency requires proof of this coverage to open or operate. It is optional coverage, usually added as an endorsement (a policy add-on that changes or expands what a base policy pays for) to a commercial property insurance or business owners policy.

The reason businesses add it anyway is the gap it closes. A standard commercial property policy typically pays for damage from named perils such as fire, wind, theft, and vandalism. It generally excludes mechanical breakdown, electrical arcing, and pressure-vessel failure, the sudden internal failures of equipment like boilers, HVAC compressors, and electrical panels. For a full breakdown of what is and is not included, see what equipment breakdown insurance covers in Georgia.

Example: a walk-in cooler compressor at a small grocery store burns out because of an internal electrical short. No fire occurred, so the base commercial property policy does not respond. An equipment breakdown endorsement is built to cover exactly this kind of loss, including the resulting spoiled inventory. See how that plays out in does equipment breakdown insurance cover spoiled food after a cooler fails.

Georgia law does mandate other coverage. Workers' compensation is required once a business regularly employs three or more people, under O.C.G.A. 34-9-2(a)(2). That statute has teeth: penalties and enforcement apply to businesses that skip it. Equipment breakdown insurance sits in a different category entirely. No statute names it, no license or permit depends on it, and a business can legally operate without it in every county in Georgia.

That does not mean the exposure is small. A single compressor, boiler, or electrical panel failure can run into thousands of dollars in repair costs plus days of lost operation. Pricing for the endorsement is covered in how much equipment breakdown insurance costs in Georgia. For a fuller look at how the coverage works statewide, see Georgia equipment breakdown insurance. A coverage review can show whether an existing commercial property policy already excludes this kind of loss.