Month: October 2014

How to Buy Home Insurance in Maine: 4 Easy Steps

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If you’ve recently begun looking for a home in Maine, or have recently put one under contract, you’ll soon be looking for Maine homeowners insurance. If you will have a mortgage, your lender will pester you for the name of your insurance agent and the cost of your insurance.

Insuring your new home is a simple 4-step process:

How to Buy a Home in Maine

1. Put your home under contract

2. Get a home inspection

Your realtor can introduce your to a reputable home inspector. They almost always point out some deficiencies, possible trouble spots, or upcoming maintenance items. It’s up to you whether you negotiate who pays for these with the buyer, or include them into your early home improvement budget. Don’t ignore them, though. For example, if the inspector tells you that your roof shingles have less than 5 years remaining life, set aside the cost to replace it within that time.

3. Contact an Insurance Agent 

You’ll want to get a Maine homeowners or condo insurance quote for 100% of the rebuilding cost to satisfy your lender. The agent will use real estate and property tax info and ask a few questions about your home to help determine the rebuilding cost.

The agent will also ask how recently the home systems were updated (plumbing, heating, electrical and roof). Your home inspection will be handy in providing this information.

If you live in southern Maine, a Noyes Hall & Allen agent would be happy to help you with insurance quotes. We represent many different insurance companies, so we can shop the marketplace for you. Different insurers have different appetites, strengths and rates. We can also help you choose appropriate deductibles and insurance programs to fit your needs and budget.

 

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It often makes sense to bundle your insurance with one insurance company. Most Maine insurers offer discounts when you insure your home and auto together. The savings can be substantial – up to 25% in some cases.

 

4.  Show proof of insurance to your lender

Once you introduce your insurance agent to your closing attorney (usually a title company), you shouldn’t have to do any work. Your agent and the title company will make sure the lender is satisfied. You can focus on getting ready to move into your home!

A Note About Escrow Accounts

If you escrow your insurance, lenders require you to pay the first year’s premium up-front – either to your insurance agent, or at closing. The lender collects a couple of months’ insurance and tax at closing to “seed” your escrow account. You’ll then pay 1/12 of those amounts along with your monthly mortgage payment. The insurance and tax bills will go to your lender, not to you.

If you have questions about Maine home, auto or condo insurance, contact a Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance agent in South Portland at 207-799-5541. We’re independent and committed to you.

Uber Comes to Portland Maine: Are Uber Drivers Insured?

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Rideshare service Uber began operating in Portland Maine at noon on October 2. Uber and its top competitor Lyft are innovative, efficient, popular – and controversial. uber screenshotEverywhere Uber and Lyft pop up, local lawmakers scramble to address it. Taxi operators and other livery drivers rail against it. And insurance companies caution drivers who might think about joining the Uber fleet.

Are Uber Drivers Insured?

If they have a personal auto policy, their own insurance will not cover them while they’re driving someone for a fee. Period. Every PAP excludes coverage while a vehicle is being used as a “public livery or conveyance“, which basically means driving others for hire. An Uber driver in an accident shouldn’t count on their personal insurance helping out.

You can’t blame insurance companies for that. If you’re driving for Uber, you’re probably driving more miles and hours than you otherwise would. You might be in areas unfamiliar to you, under time constraints, and at hours with higher congestion or impaired operators on the road. All of those increase the likelihood you could have an accident.

The Good News
Uber’s web site says that the service provides a commercial insurance policy with a $1 million limit per incident, including uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. That’s more than 90% of drivers in Maine have. It also provides $50,000 of “contingent comprehensive and collision insurance”, which should pay for repairs to an Uber driver’s vehicle as a result of an accident during an Uber trip.

Not So Good News
Uber’s insurance drops to to $50,000 per person for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage “between trips” – the absolute minimum limits allowed in Maine. That’s inadequate for most people who want to protect their assets or future earnings from an expensive lawsuit.

Uber says that most auto insurance policies will provide coverage during the time that the driver is logged on available for hire  but between trips. Talk is cheap. Don’t count on an insurance company seeing it the same way. When presented with a claim, expect an insurance company to say you were engaged in livery, just not actively driving someone – and deny your claim.

What Kind of Insurance Should an Uber Driver Have?
The only type guaranteed to cover you is a business auto policy, rated as livery use. If you insure your car with Maine commercial vehicle insurance  and are upfront about your Uber driving, you should be covered.

 Is Uber Rideshare Service Safe to Use?
If you’re thinking of taking a ride from Uber, you can expect that the driver has insurance while you’re in the vehicle. That includes if you’re hit by someone with no insurance. If you have a personal auto policy, you also have Medical Payments coverage (usually $5,000 or less) for minor medical expenses.

If you have questions about Portland Maine auto insurance or Maine business insurance, contact Noyes Hall & Allen at 207-799-5541. We’re independent and committed to you.