What happens if an event occurs that requires more coverage than you currently have with your property or vehicle policies? Contact the insurance professionals at Jim Boyce Insurance of Matthews, NC. We can answer this and all your other questions regarding umbrella insurance.

Umbrella insurance provides extra protection on top of your current coverage. It can give you $1 million worth of coverage in addition to your homeowners or automobile policy limits.

Without umbrella insurance coverage, you could wind up paying out of pocket for damage to someone’s property or if you injure someone. Your existing policies may not provide enough coverage for:

• Damage or injuries caused by your renters
• The damage you cause to the property of others
• Injuries you cause to others
• Lawsuits such as defamation or slander

Without an umbrella policy, your savings or property could be at risk if you are involved in a lawsuit or major accident. Lawsuits can happen to anyone – not just the wealthy. You can be sued even if you feel you are not at fault.

Liability claims are usually expensive. Paying for them out-of-pocket could take several years. Umbrella insurance will cover the cost of your legal defense.

It goes without saying that the more you have, the more you stand to lose. Don’t let an accident or event jeopardize everything you have worked hard for. Lawsuits are becoming increasingly common. Be prepared. An umbrella insurance policy will protect you beyond your standard auto or homeowner’s policies.

The insurance professionals at Jim Boyce Insurance can help answer all your questions about why umbrella insurance would be right for you. Contact us today. You will be glad you did.

Matthews, NC area residents can turn to the Jim Boyce Insurance team for all their insurance needs. We are here to answer any questions that you may have and help you find a policy that will best meet your needs. Call our office today to learn more about your renter insurance options.

Finding the Right Renter’s Insurance

Regarding renter’s insurance, there’s no time like the present. When you move into a new place, you will ideally already have this protection in place. Here are three great reasons to make renter’s insurance a priority:

1. Your landlord’s insurance won’t cover your belongings – you are responsible for protecting your rental unit and personal belongings.
2. You could also have protection from losses away from home – some policies will compensate for losses like theft outside of the home.
3. Starting from scratch and having to replace all of your belongings can cause financial distress – if you suffer a major catastrophe, like a fire, it can cause more stress than anyone would want. Having the proper protection in place can help make it easier to recover from such an unwanted event.

These are just a few reasons why renter’s insurance should be on your "must-have" list!

Let us help you find the policy that’s right for you

Jim Boyce Insurance is proud to serve the insurance needs of the greater Matthews, NC community. You can rely on us if you have questions about renter’s insurance or any other type of insurance. Call us today to set up an appointment or visit our office to learn more about renter’s insurance.

When a flood hits, it can cause damage and disruption. But you can take steps to make sure you and your family are safe in Matthews, NC. In this blog, Jim Boyce Insurance will discuss some of the smart preparations you should take when making a flood preparedness kit.

The Basics

After a flood, you may be alone without power or water for several days. It is critical to ensure you have a properly stocked and maintained flood preparedness kit. A flood preparedness kit should include the following:

1.  Enough drinkable water to last you for at least three days. Each member of your family should have a gallon of water per day.
2. At least three days’ worth of non-perishable food. Non-perishable means it will not spoil quickly, such as canned or dried foods. If you stock canned food, keep a hand-operated can opener. Please do not rely on frozen foods, as they will not keep for long once the power is out.
3. A stand-alone battery-powered radio, at minimum. A better set-up is to have one radio to monitor local stations and an NOAA weather radio. An NOAA weather radio has a battery that will last for several years. If you worry about the batteries going dead in your other radios, invest in a hand-crank or solar radio.
4. A flashlight and extra batteries.
5. A first aid kit and a dust mask.
6. Garbage bags, twist ties, and moist towelettes for sanitation and personal hygiene.
7. You’ll need wrenches, pliers, and other tools to turn off the utilities.

Find Flood Insurance

Just a single inch of floodwater can cause more than $25,000 in damage to your home. Flood insurance does not come standard with your homeowner’s policy. Contact Jim Boyce Insurance today to protect your Matthews, NC home.

When the weather is warm and cozy, it’s the best time to hit the road with your RV. But hear this: never leave home without RV insurance. This coverage protects you, your loved ones, and the vehicle during your travels. But is RV insurance mandatory in North Carolina? Jim Boyce Insurance of Matthews, NC has the answer.

Is RV insurance required in North Carolina?

Since an RV acts as a vehicle and home, most people are confused about whether insurance is mandatory. Just like your vehicle, RVs must have insurance to be driven legally on the road. At the minimum, you must purchase $30,000/$60,000 bodily injury liability and property damage liability of $25,000. These liability policies are meant to protect other people on the road.

It’s important to note that basic insurance won’t protect you when faced with a significant liability claim. Increase your liability limit or consider umbrella insurance if you need higher and broader liability coverage.

RV Insurance options

RV insurance isn’t only limited to the state requirements — there are other options to consider for optimum protection. These include:

• Comprehensive coverage: It covers loss or damage to your RV when faced with non-collision perils like fire, theft, and vandalism.
• Collision coverage: It covers physical damage to your RV after a collision with another motorist or stationary object.
• Personal property coverage: You unquestionably have items like clothing, electronics, and other belongings in your RV. Invest in this coverage to cover losses or damage to your personal assets.
• Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage: This policy covers medical costs for you and your passengers after a road accident.
• Road assistance: It covers towing and issues like puncture repair, battery jump-starting, gas delivery, and locked-out keys.

Are you looking for an affordable RV insurance policy in Matthews, NC? Please get in touch with Jim Boyce Insurance.

You know that you aren’t optimally covered against all risks when you purchase motorcycle insurance. Thankfully, you can buy “add-ons” or “riders” to boost your motorcycle insurance policy. Since there are several add-ons to consider, Jim Boyce Insurance of Matthews, NC is here to guide you on the ones you can pick out.

Roadside assistance

You need this coverage if you regularly use your two-wheeler away from your home. This insurance policy comes to your rescue when your bike stalls when you are away from your residence. The breakdown could be a dead battery, electrical mishaps, punctures, or running out of gas. Whatever the reason, road assistance coverage has you covered.

Umbrella insurance

Are you a high-net-worth individual? You need umbrella insurance when faced with expensive lawsuits. Umbrella insurance takes over from where your conventional motorcycle insurance leaves off, protecting your assets and earnings.

Zero depreciation

If you want compensation for the full amount of what your bike is worth, you need to consider zero depreciation coverage. This policy shields you from depreciation, ensuring you get full compensation for what your bike is worth if it were to be replaced today.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UI/UIM) coverage

After a crash, it can be frustrating to find out that the other motorist at fault doesn’t have enough insurance. Or worse yet, they aren’t covered at all! The only route to recover the damage is through suing, which can be costly and time-consuming. However, you don’t need to go the long route of lawsuits if you have UI/UIM coverage.

Engine protect

Suppose your bike’s engine is damaged because of waterlogging or oil leakage. Typical motorcycle insurance won’t pay for the damage in such a case. However, engine damage is well covered if you have “engine protect” coverage.

Want to learn more about motorcycle insurance in Matthews, NC? Please get in touch with Jim Boyce Insurance for more information.

Umbrella insurance is the additional type of coverage, the purpose of which is to protect already existing coverages of other standard insurance policies that you carry. Since umbrella insurance is not mandatory and not everyone carries this type of insurance, there are many myths about it that need to be debunked.

What Are The Common Myths About Umbrella Insurance That Need To Be Debunked?

Here is a list of the common misconception about this type of insurance:

• Umbrella insurance is very expensive. The truth is that the risk determines the price of umbrella insurance and how much you will have to pay for it. Therefore, if you have valuable things to insure, your umbrella insurance is going to be more expensive. 
• Umbrella insurance replaces auto, home, and other types of insurance. In fact, this type of coverage works as an additional type of insurance, meaning that it does not replace any other type of insurance. 
• Umbrella insurance is very complex. It is important to understand that is supplemental coverage. It is not a stand-alone policy. It is not a complicated type of insurance policy, but if you have any questions, you can always talk to an insurance agent, who will be able to provide you with all the information you need about it. 

Jim Boyce Insurance – Trustworthy Insurance Company Serving Clients In Matthews, NC 

If you live in Matthews, NC or any other nearby town, and you are looking for umbrella insurance to add additional coverage to your existing coverages, Jim Boyce Insurance is ready to assist you. Our insurance company specializes in all types of insurance, including umbrella insurance as well. If you have any questions, or you want to know more about umbrella insurance, feel free to contact us. 

Renters’ insurance covers both property damage and your possessions, in case they get damaged or stolen. It also has liability insurance, which will help you if anyone gets injured while they are visiting you. It will also cover your legal fees if you get sued. 

That being said, you may be unsure about whether you need to get renters’ insurance while you are away at college. Here are some things to consider when trying to make the right decision. 

Too many college students think that they are too poor to get renters’ insurance. However, that can be a mistake. Your electronics, clothes, and sporting equipment can often cost thousands of dollars to replace. If you can’t afford to replace them, you are going to want insurance so that you are able to. 

College students are often reckless, which leads to plenty of damage. This is especially true for those who have college parties at their place. People get hurt when they are drinking. Property damage is also very common at college parties. 

Though you may think that your landlord will protect you if something gets stolen or damaged, the truth is that they aren’t responsible. You are. Though they have insurance, it isn’t going to cover your possessions. 

Your parents’ homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policy may cover you when you are at college. If you live at home or in the dorms (or another school-owned property), their policy will cover you if you are listed as a dependent. However, if you live somewhere else, you will need your own policy. 

If you are wondering if you need renters’ insurance, don’t hesitate to contact us at Jim Boyce Insurance in Matthews, NC. 

Jim Boyce Insurance serves the Matthews, NC community. We take pride in treating our clients like family. We are committed to helping our clients find policies to protect their assets. For over 30 years, we have helped our clients find custom policies. We recognize that everyone’s life situation is different. We proudly serve the community as an independent agency.

Classic Car Insurance Basics

Classic cars are valuable assets. Thousands of people across Matthews, NC and beyond attend car shows every year. If you are the owner of a classic car, having insurance is a safety net. Classic car insurance is similar to traditional policies in the sense that you are covered if your vehicle causes damage. In addition to liability coverage, you can add collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage protects you if you are involved in an accident while comprehensive coverage protects you if someone tries to steal your valuable asset.

There are some key differences in regard to classic car insurance. For example, your vehicles should be at least 15-20 years old to qualify for classic status. You should only drive your classic car on a limited basis. It’s recommended that you only use the vehicle to display at different car shows and exhibits. Look over your policy to see if a mileage limit is included, which outlines how often you can drive the car during a calendar year. Your classic car should be kept in storage primarily. Adding storage coverage is essential. You will be protected if a catastrophe happens such as an accidental fire or someone breaking in and stealing your car. Before finalizing the policy, consider having your classic car appraised so that you will be aware of its true value.

Jim Boyce Insurance Will Help You Protect Your Assets

Visit our website to learn more information about classic car insurance.  

Life insurance is important protection. Yet, for many, it’s also a mystery.

Most Americans have no clue how life insurance is calculated. In fact, many actually overestimate the cost. According to the Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (LIMRA), this is a major reason why many Americans are uninsured.

Jim Boyce Insurance can determine what coverage you need. Known as underwriting, their experienced Matthews, NC professionals will evaluate risk factors to decide your insurance rates. While there are numerous items to consider, the agency lists six common factors that influence life insurance rates the most.

Policy type

Coverage limits and payout impact pricing. Term life insurance is often the least expensive since it provides coverage for a fixed term. By comparison, permanent life insurance policies cost much more since death benefits are guaranteed.

Age

Costs increase with age too. Younger individuals have longer life expectancies. Therefore, they also have more time to pay premiums. For this reason, locking in rates early is preferred.

Gender

On average, men pay more than women. Again, this is a direct result of life expectancy.

Medical History

Any agency will review your medical history. Any pre-existing conditions will increase rates. If you suffer from a life-threatening disease, like heart conditions or cancer, your policy could be denied altogether.

Family History

Insurers will examine your family’s health history as well. If you are at risk of developing issues later, this will likely influence your options.

Occupation & Lifestyle

Dangerous jobs raise the price of premiums. Agencies may look at other behavioral factors as well, like hobbies, criminal history, financial background, and driving records.

Schedule an appointment with Jim Boyce Insurance

Serving Matthews, NC, the agency can evaluate these factors and find an ideal life insurance policy that protects you and your family. Call today.

Those that are in the Matthews, NC area are going to find the community offers a lot of support for small businesses. If you are going to start a company when you are here, it is important that you always get the right insurance for it. With a commercial insurance plan, you can properly cover your organization. There are a few reasons that someone here should get commercial coverage.

Coverage Protects Company Assets

A reason that companies should insure their business is to ensure they get support and protection for their company assets. When you want to grow a business, you will have to purchase core assets for the company including equipment, inventory, and other major assets. With the right commercial insurance plan in place, you will get the coverage needed to protect these valuable assets.

Protect Against Risk of Liability

You should also get a commercial plan to ensure that you can protect against liability risk. If you want to operate a business, you will take on liability risks on a regular basis. If you are ever named in a liability lawsuit, having commercial coverage will be beneficial as it will ensure you are protected against these claims. Ultimately, it can help to protect the solvency of your organization. 

Business owners that are in the Matthews, NC area need to ensure they get the proper insurance in place. When you are looking to protect your business, a great place to start is by calling Jim Boyce Insurance. Anyone that does work with Jim Boyce Insurance will find the team offers various services that can help ensure your organization is protected. This includes helping you assess all of your options and needs to ensure you choose an ideal plan for your situation.