​Today, it is easier than ever for individuals who want extra cash to take on a part-time or side job. The sharing economy, as they call it, means new opportunities to add to your budget. But, before you do, consider your auto insurance needs. In some situations, you will find improving your car insurance coverage is critical to protecting your investment. Here’s what you need to know.

​Some of the most popular types of jobs today are those that allow you to complete tasks for those in need. For example, you may deliver food to people at their homes which they order through an app. Or, you may use your car to provide customers with a ride to and from a location. Rideshare services like this are one of the most common options for those who want to fill in available time with extra earning opportunities.
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Yet, these types of jobs may require the use of your vehicle. And, if they do, you may need to determine if auto insurance beyond your basic policy is enough. When you begin to use your vehicle for business needs, a standard passenger policy may not be enough. You may need to upgrade to a commercial auto insurance policy. If you need to file a claim and you do not have the right form of insurance, your insurance company can deny it.

​Auto insurance needs to fit the way you use your car. When you operate a car for business purposes, you extend the use and the risk. Now, you have more liability risks.

Someone could receive an injury while you are driving your car. They could sue you for this. In other cases, you may be in an accident. Your vehicle suffers damage. If you were driving while operating your business, it could mean you lose the ability to drive until repairs occur. And, that means income loss.
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When you upgrade your policy to commercial auto insurance your auto insurance can cover more of your risks like these. It may cost a bit more. But, it enhances your liability coverage and other protection. Discuss the options for doing this with your insurer. You may find it is one of the best opportunities for you to improve your financial protections.

​Are you planning to obtain a new auto insurance policy? Perhaps you are looking for quotes on an auto insurance policy to save money. When asked about your driving record, be honest. Not doing so is going to cost you in the long term. Most drivers will find car insurance even if they have a few points on their license. But, if you lie, you may not get coverage from any agent. Before you lie, consider the following about coverage.

When you apply for auto insurance, you are asking an insurance company to take on some risk for you. While the company will profit from the plan, they do not want to take on drivers that are a high risk. This could cost them money in the long term. If they do take high risk drivers, they may increase the costs to that driver.
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But, when you are not honest about your driving record, you become a high risk driver. That is, if you are not honest about this, the insurer is not sure what else you will not be honest about. Instead, put your best side forward. Provide accurate information about your accidents and driving violations.

​You may think your insurer will not find out about an accident. After all, you did not file a claim. The problem with this type of thinking is that it is not true.

Nearly all insurance companies will check your driving record with the local DMV before issuing the policy. And, when they do, they will learn about any points on your license. They also will learn about the types of violations you have. This includes reckless driving and speeding violations. This information is essential to insurers. It allows them to determine risk.

It is better to provide accurate information up front. If you are unsure about your driving record, visit your local DMV. Request a copy of it. Remember, online quote forms for auto insurance are just that, a quote. They are an estimate. The true price to you only occurs when the auto insurance provider verifies that information against records.
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Car insurance is a financial investment. It is also a legally binding contract. Be honest about it. Or, you may find you do not have coverage when you need to file a claim for your losses.

​Are you responsible for another person’s injuries if they happen on your property? Initially, you may believe the answer is yes. But, there are some limitations. If a trespasser enters your property, you still have some responsibility for providing a safe space. However, when your home insurance pays out depends on a variety of factors. Here is what you need to know.

Trespassers or individuals warned not to enter your property who do so anyway, do not instantly have coverage for their injuries under your home insurance plan. Most often, you are not responsible for their injuries. In most situations, such instances will receive no support from a court of law.
However, an individual may try to prove they have the right to loss coverage. In short, there are some exemptions that could apply.

One key concern has to do with how often the trespasser enters the problem. If an individual regularly uses the property, for example, as a cut-through, and they are not told not to do so, they may have some expectation that they can continue to do so. For example, someone might routinely walk through your back field to get to work. If you don't tell them not to, they might have no idea that there is a problem. In this case, the property owner knows the trespassing is occurring, and he or she has not warned the party. They also have not minimized the risk to the party on the property.

​This rule is one that applies in most states. If you engage in activities that are inherently dangerous, such as shooting a rifle on the property, you may have an obligation to ensure what you are doing is safe if a trespasser enters the problem. For example, if you set up traps along your property to target trespassers, this is not going to work. Generally, if you set up a situation in which a person could suffer injuries at your hand, then you may be liable for those injuries.
It is important to protect your property. There is no situation in which you can guarantee your property is safe. If someone enters your property, knowing you do not want them there, trips over a stone, and falls, you are not likely responsible for their injuries. Yet, other situations can be difficult. It is important to work to keep your property safe for those you wish to enter and those you do not. Let your home insurance agent help you decide this.

​Storing a vehicle over the winter months tends to be a good thing. It helps protect your vehicle from damage. Many people do this. You may have a car you do not use. Or, it may be a classic vehicle you do not want to expose to the elements. In storage, you may not need all forms of auto insurance. You may want to reduce what you carry to lower your costs. But, before you do this, there are a few things to know about collision insurance.

This form of car insurance protects your vehicle if it collides with something. For example, if you strike another car, it may help cover damage to your vehicle. If you strike a non-moving object, such as a wall, it can help cover your costs to repair your vehicle. Collision insurance is important for most vehicle owners. When using your car, it helps minimize many risks on the road.

For stored vehicles, you may be able to reduce or eliminate collision insurance. If the vehicle will not move for months at a time, you may not benefit from this coverage. However, if you may move it from time-to-time, there is the risk of damage. You could back it out into the garage wall, for example. For stored vehicles you may use or move, it may not be wise to drop the coverage.

On the other hand, comprehensive auto insurance is a good thing for all vehicles. Because vandalism, a fire, theft and other risks can still occur when the vehicle is in storage, you should maintain this coverage. Keep in mind that comprehensive coverage tends to be very affordable. It is ideal for vehicles that have value to them.
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Before you store your vehicle, speak to your auto insurance agent. Alert them to the way you plan to store the car. Then, discuss collision insurance. Most drivers can remove this from their car insurance plan seasonally. Doing so can help cut down on your costs. But, as soon as you plan to take the car out of storage, call your agent again. Never operate your vehicle on the road without proper coverage on it. Most often, it takes minutes to apply a new policy to your plan, getting protection in place fast.

​When an accident occurs, do the right thing. Report it. Call the police to get an official statement over what happened on record. Be sure to file a police report. Then, call your auto insurance agent. The fact is, if you do not report it, chances are they will learn about it anyway. Don’t make the mistake of thinking your car insurance company will not know. Do you know what the consequences could be?

In most cases, even a simple accident can lead to extensive financial loss. Damage to your car or to another person’s car can be hard to pay for out of your pocket. This is why you have auto insurance. That's why you should report a claim to your insurer. The key to remember, though, is that your insurance company may learn about the damage anyway.

First, it may be illegal not to report it. Many state laws say if you are in an accident of any type, you must report it to the police. The police should visit the location, document what occurs, and then file a report. Even if your state does not require this, doing so helps figure out exactly what happened. This is helpful later.
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If another party suffers damage, it is likely they can file a claim with your insurance company – even if you do not provide that information. They can contact the police. They can provide your license plate number. And, they can then pursue a claim under your policy. Their insurance company may take steps to do so as well. In short, your insurer will often find out.

If you fail to report an accident, and the insurer learns of it, they often have the right to terminate your policy. They may not cover your losses. You may face criminal charges in a court of law if damage to another party’s possessions occurred. Because the risks are so high, it is critical to always file a claim.
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Reporting tools make it possible for insurance companies to learn about such accidents. And, the costs of not filing can be high. But, realize you pay for car insurance to gain these benefits. And, just one accident may not impact your overall auto insurance costs. Make sure you file a claim, regardless.

Take a walk around the exterior of your home. Do you have spigots present that provide a source of water outside for the home? What you may not realize is that they create a real danger to the interior of your home, too. While home insurance may cover burst pipes, minimizing the damage risk is essential. There are a few things you can do to ensure your outdoor pipes do not freeze over the winter months. Here is where to start.

You may have a number of different ways to access water outside of the home. Your garage may have a water spigot. Some garages also have faucets in sinks for workshop areas. You may also have spigots that come off the home around the exterior of the property. These can help you water the lawn, for example.
Check all areas of the house for these spigots. If you have a garden, shed, or other outbuilding, check these locations for water access points as well.

Once you know where all the water access points are, consider a few steps for minimizing exposure. Here are a few tips to help you.

• When possible, turn off the water source to those areas. Inside your home, there may be a water line running in your basement ceiling out to these areas. Locate the shut-off valve. Use it to turn off the water access to those pipes.
• If not possible, ensure there is absolutely no leak in these pipes. If so, replace the nozzle and handles. The key is to ensure no water can get out of these pipes.
• Do what you can to prevent water from freezing in the lines. In the event of freezes, many professionals recommend that you let the faucets drip. Moving water is harder to freeze. Therefore, if it moves through the pipe, it reduces the risk of expansion and bursts.
• Remove all hoses. You do not want to allow water to remain in the hose. Disconnect them, wrap them up, and store them.
• Consider wrapping exposed pipes to increase insulation.

Taking these steps minimizes the financial loss you could have if the water froze in the pipes. Because water expands, it can cause the pipe itself to burst. This can create a flow of water into your home. Home insurance may cover damage caused by frozen pipes. However, these policies have limits. And, they may not apply if there is normal wear and tear to the pipes that causes the damage.

​Do you want to find a way to reduce your home insurance costs? One way to do so is with a new home security system. Adding security means reducing risks. Home insurance companies often value this. A home that is safe is one less likely to see numerous claims for vandalism and break-ins. The holidays are an excellent time to put a system in place. Many companies offer discounts and deals right now. Before you make a choice, consider a few tips.

Home security companies offer a large number of options today. You are sure to find full home security systems alongside simple doorbell cameras. 
What you buy matters. Home insurance companies tend to provide discounts to full coverage. These are systems designed to minimize risks. Here is a look at some of the most common options.

Simple Door and Window Sensors
New technology allows for small devices to sit on door frames and window frames. They alert when those structures open. When the system is on, they let you know when the sensors trigger. This can help prevent break-ins and deter potential thieves.

Exterior Camera Systems
Having a camera outside of your home to monitor who approaches it can also help. Many companies position them on doors and windows. These are high risk access points. When they see someone, they trigger a notification sent to an app. You can then see who is present. You can call the police if necessary.

Monitored Services
Perhaps the best type of product for security is a monitored system. These provide an ongoing level of security management to a home. They tend to include exterior cameras and sensors, along with alarms. When the system is on, and a trigger occurs, it sends a message to the security management company. They observe what is happening. They alert you. They can also alert the police immediately. This type of system often provides more comprehensive protection.
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When choosing a system, take a closer look at what it can do for you. With the holiday sales available, you may find discounts available. These might include free additional cameras, lower-priced monitoring services, free installation and more. Compare systems well. Then, before you buy, contact your home insurance agent. Talk to the agent about your considerations. Find out if the system could help lower your insurance cost. If so, it may just pay for itself.