Is RV insurance required in Georgia?

Yes for motorized RVs in Georgia (liability matches state auto minimums). Travel trailers borrow from the towing vehicle. Specialty RV coverage strongly recommended for physical damage and personal effects.

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.

How do I cancel my insurance policy?

Cancellation is a written request to the carrier with a specific date, usually 14 days notice. Most carriers refund unused premium pro rata. Never cancel before the new policy is in force.

What commercial coverage do Georgia businesses need beyond a business package policy and general liability?

Beyond a business package policy and general liability, the most common Georgia specialty commercial needs are commercial umbrella, inland marine, cyber, and management liability.

Do I have to use the carrier's preferred contractor?

Usually no. Most policies let you choose any licensed contractor, though preferred shops have their own benefits.

General FAQs

How is my deductible subtracted from a claim payment?

All FAQs

Quick answer: The carrier subtracts your deductible from the covered loss amount and pays the difference -- the arithmetic changes when a percentage deductible applies instead.

A deductible comes off the top of a covered claim: the carrier calculates the full covered loss amount, subtracts the deductible, and pays the difference. If a covered loss costs $10,000 to repair and the deductible is $2,000, the carrier pays $8,000 and the policyholder covers the remaining $2,000. If the loss is smaller than the deductible, the carrier pays nothing at all.

What does the arithmetic look like on a flat-dollar deductible?

For example, a home in Valdosta suffers $6,000 in fire damage under a policy with a $1,000 flat deductible. The carrier subtracts the $1,000 and issues a payment of $5,000. The math is a single subtraction: covered loss, minus deductible, equals payment.

What changes when a percentage deductible applies instead?

A percentage wind and hail deductible changes the math, because the deductible is calculated against the home's insured value, not the claim amount. A home in Valdosta insured for $300,000 with a 2 percent wind and hail deductible carries a $6,000 deductible regardless of how large or small the actual claim turns out to be. If a spring storm causes $25,000 in roof damage, the carrier subtracts the fixed $6,000 and pays $19,000 - a much larger subtraction than a flat $1,000 deductible would have produced on the same loss.

Does the deductible apply once per claim or once per year?

On most homeowners and auto policies, the deductible applies separately to each covered incident, not once per policy year. Two unrelated losses in the same policy period each trigger their own deductible subtraction. A single large claim only sees the deductible subtracted once, no matter how large the loss.

For example, a policyholder with a $500 deductible files a claim on a $600 plumbing loss. The carrier subtracts $500 and pays $100 - a small enough payment that the claim can end up costing more in a future premium surcharge than it paid out, which is a separate consideration from the arithmetic itself.

Does an auto deductible work the same way?

Yes, with one distinction: an auto policy's comprehensive and collision coverages each carry their own deductible, subtracted independently depending on which coverage responds to the loss. On an older vehicle, the vehicle's actual cash value can cap the payout below what the deductible math alone would suggest, since the carrier never pays more than the vehicle is worth.

A free coverage review can walk through exactly how your specific deductibles would apply to a claim before one ever happens.