What is Umbrella Insurance and How Does It Work?

Posted on July 27, 2020July 27, 2020 by admin

Umbrella insurance is a specific type of coverage that protects you from being sued if the limits of your primary insurance are exceeded. In other words, umbrella insurance is an addition to your standard liability coverage. For example, if you injured someone with your vehicle and there is a substantial claim or lawsuit against you that is not covered by your primary insurance, umbrella insurance will cover it. Umbrella insurance will also cover the things that are not included in your standard policy, such as liability on rental properties, libel, and others.

Typically, umbrella insurance covers the following:

Liability coverage for the events that occur on and off your property
Additional protection above your standard auto coverage
Protection for personal injury claims, including wrongful eviction, slander, false arrest, and libel
Legal defense costs, including court costs and attorney’s fees
Protection for claims of property damage or personal injuries caused by your or your family member, as well as damage caused by hazards, for which you are found liable.

How Does It Work?

Depending on the type of claim against you, your auto, home, renters, or boat insurance will be utilized first. Once the basic liability limit is reached, umbrella insurance will cover the remaining costs. Most insurance companies require you to have a home, auto, or renters liability insurance that is equal to the amount of umbrella insurance deductible.

Having umbrella insurance is not a requirement – it is your personal choice. However, if you want to have the additional protection of your property and yourself, it is the type of insurance you should have. If you are a resident of Rio Rancho, NM or any other neighboring town and you need umbrella insurance, our Franklin Insurance Agency is here to help. Our fully trained insurance agents with decades of experience will answer all your questions and help you find an insurance policy you deserve. Visit our office in Rio Rancho, NM or call Franklin Insurance Agency to find out what we can do for you.

Is Motorcycle Insurance Required in New Mexico?

Posted on June 30, 2020June 30, 2020 by admin

Your knees to the sky and the wind in your hair are two of the feelings of freedom riding on your motorcycle can provide you with, but to truly feel that sense of freedom, you need peace of mind. To achieve that, you need to make sure your beloved motorcycle is adequately insured, and for riders in New Mexico, there are minimum requirements you must meet to ride your bike legally.

Minimum Requirements for Motorcycle Insurance for New Mexico Riders

In New Mexico, you must purchase liability insurance that will cover others if you have an accident that causes an injury to someone or damage to someone’s property. The state-mandated requirements dictate that you must have at least $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury per accident, and $10,000 property damage per accident. After you meet the minimum requirements, you can decide, with the help of a trusted motorcycle insurance agent, as to other coverage options you may want to obtain.

Other Motorcycle Insurance Coverage Options.

Uninsured/Underinsured Coverage

This type of coverage will provide financial protection for you and your passengers if you are involved in a crash with a motorist who has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover injuries to you or your passenger.

Collision and Comprehensive Coverage

Your lender may require collision insurance if you have borrowed the money to purchase your motorcycle, and even if you are not required to have it, this type of policy will provide you with more peace of mind. It covers any damage your motorcycle sustains if you are involved in a collision with another vehicle if you fall off your cycle, or your cycle is damaged by debris or another object while out to the roadway.

Comprehensive insurance will cover your cycle if it suffers damage from vandalism, a fire, or natural disaster. This type of policy will also cover your motorcycle if it is stolen.

To determine the best coverage options for you and your motorcycle, visit an insurance agent you can trust who has experience with motorcycle insurance, such as the motorcycle insurance experts at the Franklin Insurance Agency in Rio Rancho, NM.

Five Common Mistakes New Drivers Make When Purchasing Auto Insurance

Posted on May 31, 2020June 1, 2020 by admin

Auto insurance can be a bit confusing when you’re new to driving, causing you to make costly mistakes when purchasing a policy. At Franklin Insurance Agency, we can help you make wise auto insurance choices that can save you money. Here are some of the most common mistakes new drivers make when purchasing auto insurance in Albuquerque or Rio Rancho, NM.

Choosing the Cheapest Policy

Auto insurance costs vary depending on your insurer and the coverage you want. The cheapest policy is not always the best as it may provide insufficient coverage. This puts you at risk of paying for accident damages out of pocket. By shopping around, you can find adequate coverage at reasonable costs.

Not Getting Required Coverage

Auto liability coverage is required in New Mexico, to pay for damages or injuries to others in accidents you cause. If you fail to obtain this coverage, you are breaking the law. Without liability coverage, you also risk being sued for other people’s damages due to accidents you cause.

Getting Insufficient Coverage

Auto insurance should protect you, others, and your vehicle in the event of an accident. If you compromise your coverage to reduce your insurance costs, you risk having to pay for your repair costs out of pocket.

Not Taking Advantage of Discounts

Most insurers offer discounts that can lower insurance costs. Before purchasing coverage, ask your insurer what discounts they offer. If you’re a safe driver, have certain safety features on your car, bundle your auto and home insurance together, or don’t drive very often, you may qualify for reduced premium costs.

Paying Too Much for Coverage

Comparison shopping online gives you a good idea of what auto insurance costs in Rio Rancho, NM. This can save you from paying too much for your coverage.

For quality auto insurance at affordable costs, contact Franklin Insurance Agency today.

Three ways commercial insurance can protect your livelihood

Posted on April 30, 2020April 30, 2020 by admin

As a business owner, you invest a lot of effort and money into making your commercial venture a success. Taking out a commercial insurance policy is a vital thing business owners in Rio Rancho, NM need to do to protect their livelihood.

We offer a range of commercial insurance options at Franklin Insurance Agency. The following are three ways our commercial insurance coverage can protect the livelihood of local business owners.

Commercial insurance can cover repairs needed for your business facilities.

Your business facilities could become damaged in a variety of ways. A natural disaster or fire could damage them. Your business operations may not be able to continue as normal if your business facilities become damaged.

Commercial property coverage will cover the costs of damage your business facilities experience so that these facilities can be put back in operation again.

Commercial insurance can cover the costs of legal fees if your company is sued.

Companies can be sued for a variety of reasons. You could be sued for malpractice in many industries. You can also be sued if the products your company produces cause injury to customers.

Commercial insurance covers legal costs if your company experiences a lawsuit.

Commercial insurance can compensate you if theft or vandalism has destroyed company equipment.

A company’s equipment is typically one of its most valuable commodities. Equipment damage can shut down a company or severely reduce its productivity.

Commercial insurance can cover the costs of damage to the equipment caused by theft or vandalism.

It’s important to carefully research your coverage options before purchasing commercial insurance in Rio Rancho, NM. Contact us at Franklin Insurance Agency to learn more about the coverage we provide.

What does boat insurance cover?

Posted on March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 by admin

You have finally done it, purchased the boat of your dreams in Rio Rancho, NM. With over 1200 lakes and 200 miles of river, New Mexico is a great place for boat owners. You may be wondering if the insurance that you already have will cover your boat. Is it covered under your auto insurance or your home insurance? The simplest answer is yes with lots of qualifications. This is where having a knowledgeable agent like those at Franklin Insurance Agency on your side.

If you have home insurance and your boat is damaged while it is sitting on a trailer in your yard, chances are your home insurance will cover it. If your boat is on a boat trailer traveling to a lake or river, the trailer is covered by your auto insurance but it is likely that the boat isn’t. What this means is that you need to carry boat insurance for a variety of very important reasons.

Liability is the most important thing to consider. If you are involved in an accident with another boat, jetski, or dock, just to name a few possibilities, someone may be injured. If you are at fault, the cost of their medical care or property damage will fall to you, Boat insurance will give you the liability coverage you need, the recommended minimum is one million dollars.

If you have a loan on your boat, your lender will require collision and comprehensive coverage which protects your boat from a variety of potential damage. Accidents are not the only thing that can damage your boat. You will also be covered for theft with this coverage.

Owning a boat can be a dream come true. Boat insurance can help to keep that dream from becoming a nightmare. At Franklin Insurance Agency in Rio Rancho, NM, we would love to sit down and talk to you about the best coverage for you. Stop by or give us a call today.

What Does A Comprehensive Auto Policy Cover?

Posted on February 29, 2020March 1, 2020 by admin

Rio Rancho, NM is one of the fastest expanding cities in New Mexico. It is a popular place to live and it is easy to navigate. In New Mexico, the law requires vehicle owners to carry liability insurance. Drivers need $25,000 in bodily injury per person with a max of $50,000 per accident and $10,000 in property damage. At Franklin Insurance Agency, we know New Mexico law and we can provide guidance to you when it comes to making sure that you have the insurance you need.

The liability insurance required by state law protects other people from your accidents, but what about you and your vehicle? In an accident which you caused, you are responsible to repair or replace your own vehicle. But sometimes, no one is responsible, the damage is the result of things that are beyond your control. A comprehensive insurance policy would be the best option in this situation. Comprehensive auto insurance (non-collision insurance) is required by lenders when you have a car loan. This is also beneficial for other reasons such as vandalism, fallen tree limbs, and hail.

Even though comprehensive sounds like it covers everything, it has limitations when it comes to comprehensive auto insurance. The sorts of things it does cover are things like theft. If your car is stolen and either not recovered or damaged, this insurance will fix or replace it. Weather can also be very unpredictable, and if your car is damaged by hail, heavy winds, or flooding, this is when comprehensive insurance becomes a beneficial priority. If a large animal like a deer darts in front of or runs into the side of your vehicle, it can cause devastating damage, again this is covered with this policy.

As you can see, comprehensive auto insurance protects you in ways you may have never considered. At Franklin Insurance Agency in Rio Rancho, NM, we understand all the things that can happen and we will work with you to make sure you have coverage. Call or stop by our office for a quote or use our online rating tool.

Is Home Insurance Required in New Mexico?

Posted on January 31, 2020January 31, 2020 by admin

If you live in New Mexico and are about to buy your first house, you may wonder if it will be necessary to purchase homeowners’ insurance. The answer is that though it’s not required by law in New Mexico to have home insurance, it greatly would benefit you to have it in place.

New Mexico Home Insurance Matters

Even though you don’t have to get home insurance by law in New Mexico, it may be mandatory to have if you take out a mortgage. Many of the mortgage lending companies will ask that you have coverage on the property. This can seem like a burden, but it’s actually for good reason that you have insurance. The company asks this for protection of the bank if your home were to be damaged enough that you can no longer use it.

Home Insurance Benefits in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, NM

It’s definitely in your best interest to seek out a solid homeowners’ insurance policy. This will not just protect your home dwelling itself, but it also provides coverage for many of the belongings within your home. You’ll want to talk it over with your agent to determine what items won’t be covered so you can get a rider on your policy if it’s necessary. Many valuable items that are worth over a certain amount won’t be included if there were to be damage or theft, so make sure to go through and note everything you want to be covered.

A reputable agency like Franklin Insurance Agency, serving the greater Rio Rancho, NM area, will help you get the right insurance policy to suit your needs. Contact us today online or give us a call to get started.

Tips to Protect Your Boat From Being Stolen in New Mexico

Posted on December 31, 2019December 31, 2019 by admin

Many of our clients living in the Rio Rancho, NM area enjoy boating on the weekends and around their work schedule. Owning a boat is a significant financial investment. At Franklin Insurance Agency, we want to help you keep your assets. Below are some leading tips to protect your New Mexico boat from being stolen.

How’s the trailer?

The easiest way for thieves to steal a boat is to hook to the trailer and drive off. If your trailer is accessible and unlocked, this can happen in less than a minute. However, having your trailer stationary with a missing tongue or trailer tires for the extended winter storage will often deter thieves from attempting to steal your boat.

Multiple Locks

Put a lock at every corner and more on your boat while it is being stored. Having to remove multiple locks means more time and work for those trying to steal your boat. In most cases, your boat will put them at too great a risk of getting caught, forcing them to move past it.

Keep it Covered

For most thieves, out of sight is really out of mind. They are only looking for what they can see to steal. If your boat is covered under a cover and stored beneath a shelter away from the road, it will often be overlooked by those scanning the area.

Wire Up

You can add a wired alarm system to the boat that will alert you via message if it has been activated or even removed. Many of these alarm systems have an app that can be easily downloaded.

Call us for the best protection

If you live in the Rio Rancho, NM area and need boat insurance, call our agents at Franklin Insurance Agency today for more information.

Do I need more than basic auto insurance

Posted on November 27, 2019November 27, 2019 by admin

Owning a car in Rio Rancho, NM is a necessity. When you own a vehicle, you are also required to adhere to the laws of the state regarding auto insurance. In New Mexico, the state requires that you carry liability insurance. Drivers must carry $25,000 per person for injury or death up to a max of $50,000 for two or more persons and additionally $10,000 for property damage. This is basic auto insurance. You are a driver, and if you have questions, the team at the Franklin Insurance Agency has answers.

What other auto coverage options do I need?

If you have an auto loan or a lease, you will be required to carry collision and comprehensive coverage. While basic liability insurance protects other drivers from damage that you are responsible for, it does not cover your vehicle. Lenders and leasers want your vehicle to be protected since that protects their investment in you.

Collison

Collision coverage is the insurance that helps to repair damage to your vehicle. When you have an accident and are at fault, you will need to fix your vehicle yourself if you do not have coverage. If you don’t have a collision policy, that repair comes out of your pocket. If your pocket is not deep enough to handle that sort of a hit, collision coverage is something that you need. You will have to pay a deductible, and depending on the value of the vehicle, the coverage may not be enough to replace the vehicle.

Comprehensive

Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle from something other than another car. Some of these include weather events like wind and hail and from damage or loss caused by other humans such as vandalism and theft. Glass coverage is also part of comprehensive insurance.

At Franklin Insurance Agency in Rio Rancho, NM, our team of agents is here to help you to decide exactly what types of coverage is right for you. Give us a call or stop by our office for a no-obligation quote.

Tips Every Home Owner Needs to Know About Insurance

Posted on October 29, 2019October 29, 2019 by admin

All homeowners need to carry a homeowners’ insurance policy. However, not all insurance policies are created equally. It is essential to know precisely what your policy covers and take action to make sure you are not denied in the event of a claim. If you are unsure about your current coverage and live in the Albuquerque or Rio Rancho, NM area, reach out to an agent at Franklin Insurance Agency today.

Home maintenance is important

It is critical that you do not defer maintenance on your home that could cause you to be more vulnerable to a claim. For example, even if it is just a small leak, have it taken care of right away before it turns into a more significant problem. If an insurance company determines that you neglected to maintain your home, the insurer has the right to deny coverage.

Make sure you have coverage for your dog

If you have a dog, it is imperative to speak with your insurance agent to make sure you have coverage under your home insurance policy. Insurers can exclude dogs altogether or exclude certain breeds that are deemed aggressive. Dog bite claims can be extremely costly, so make sure you have adequate coverage.

Do not wait to file a claim

If an issue arises under your homeowners’ insurance policy, do not wait to file a claim. There may be a deadline to file a claim, after which you could be denied coverage. Check with your agent to determine the length of time you have to file.

Take inventory of your home

When you go to file a claim, you will need to document all of your belongings for the insurer. It can be hard to remember all the belongings in your home off the top of your head. Go through your home with a video camera to take stock of your belongings.

If you would like to learn more about homeowners insurance, reach out to an agent at Franklin Insurance Agency. We proudly serve the Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, NM area.