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.

What is the penalty for boating under the influence in Georgia?

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Quick answer: Operating a boat or personal watercraft with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher is boating under the influence under O.C.G.A. Section 52-7-12. It is a misdemeanor carrying fines up to $1,000 and up to one year in prison. Georgia DNR runs active BUI enforcement, especially on high-traffic lakes like Lanier.

Operating a boat or personal watercraft with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher is boating under the influence (BUI) under O.C.G.A. Section 52-7-12. It is a misdemeanor carrying fines up to $1,000 and up to one year in prison. Georgia DNR runs active BUI enforcement, especially on high-traffic lakes like Lanier.

BUI is treated as seriously as its road equivalent for a reason: alcohol is a factor in a meaningful share of fatal boating incidents nationally, and Georgia's own water-based recreation, especially on large lakes like Lanier and Oconee during summer months, puts a lot of boats and a lot of alcohol in the same place at the same time.

Does a BUI conviction affect your boat insurance?

Often, yes, in the same way a DUI affects auto coverage. A BUI conviction is the kind of record insurers ask about and price around, and depending on the carrier and the specifics, it can affect your ability to get standard boat coverage or the rate you're offered. More importantly for the moment it happens: most boat insurance policies exclude coverage for damage or injury that occurs while the operator is intoxicated, meaning a BUI incident can leave you personally responsible for the resulting claim even if you otherwise carry a policy.

Example: A boat operator on Lake Hartwell is stopped by Georgia DNR, tests over the 0.08 threshold, and is charged with BUI. If that same operator causes a collision during the same outing, the intoxication exclusion many boat policies carry can mean the carrier denies the claim entirely, on top of the criminal penalties.

How does this connect to liability coverage?

A boat liability claim already assumes normal operation. Add intoxication to the mix and you're often looking at both a criminal charge and a denied insurance claim, which is a materially worse outcome than either one alone. This is one reason Georgia's lack of a legal boat insurance mandate doesn't mean the exposure is small; it means the exposure sits with the operator when things go wrong.

A coverage review can walk through what a specific policy does and doesn't exclude. See our full breakdown on Georgia boat insurance for how coverage is structured more broadly.