Courtesy of iii.org How gap insurance works When you buy or lease a new car or truck, the vehicle starts to depreciate in value the moment it leaves the car lot. In fact, most cars lose 20 percent of their value within a year. Standard auto insurance policies cover the depreciated value of a car—in other words, a standard policy pays the current market value of the vehicle at the time of a claim. If, when you finance the purchase of a new car and put down only a small deposit, in the early years of the vehicle's ownership the amount of the loan may exceed the market value of the vehicle itself. In the event of an accident in which you've badly damaged or totaled your car, gap insurance covers the difference between what a vehicle is currently worth (which your standard insurance will pay) and the amount you actually owe on it. When you might need gap insurance It’s a good idea to consider buying gap insurance for your new car or truck purchase if you: Made less than a 20 …
Flood Insurance for Your Business
Courtesy of iii.org Natural disasters can be devastating to businesses. While damage caused by some types of natural events—such as lightning or wind—will usually be covered by commercial property insurance, you need a special policy if you want protection from flood damage. This Q&A will help you understand this type of coverage and determine whether your business needs it. Frequently asked questions about flood insurance Q. Does my commercial property insurance include flood coverage? A. No. Damage from flooding, including flooding generated by hurricane-generated storm surge, typically is not covered under a standard commercial policy, including a Commercial Package Policy (CPP) or a Business Owners Policy (BOP). Flood insurance is available from the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Q. What does flood insurance cover? A. Flood insurance covers damage to your building and contents caused by flood. This includes losses resulting from water …
Do You Qualify for FEMA Disaster Assistance?
Courtesy of iii.org Qualifying for FEMA assistance Q. How can I tell if my area has been declared a disaster that qualifies for FEMA assistance? A. The DiasterAssistance.gov website has a tool that will help you find out if you live in a declared disaster area. Q. If I received disaster assistance last year, could I get it again this year? A. Assistance may be available if you suffered damages from a previous, federally declared disaster. Q. My child is a U.S. citizen, but I am not. Can I apply for FEMA disaster assistance? A. If anyone in an affected household is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien (aka a Green Card holder), he or she is eligible to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. If a minor child is eligible by these criteria, even when other members of the family are not, the family can file an application on the child’s behalf. In this case, all identification documents have to be under the child’s name and Social Security number. A copy of …