Do you own a classic car?

Your car could be considered a classic if it was manufactured more than 25 years ago or more than 20 years ago and has value as a collectible.

Although they are insured the same way, cars restored to or maintained in working condition that were manufactured before 1975 are considered “antiques,” and cars still in working condition that were manufactured before 1930 are considered “vintage.”

At Commonwealth Insurance Center, with offices in Williamsburg, VA, but serving the entire Commonwealth of Virginia, we urge our customers who own any vehicle that could be considered classic, antique, or vintage to get classic car insurance.

Why do classic car owners need classic car insurance?

We can write comprehensive insurance for the “agreed” value of the car, the value of your classic, antique, or vintage car, and the amount you would get for it if you sold it on the open market, not just the Kelly Blue Book, Edmund’s, or NADA value of your vehicle.

If you don’t get “agreed” value insurance, you get liability coverage but nothing else.

There are other benefits to classic car insurance.

Classic car insurance can be written (you need to verify this coverage with your Commonwealth Insurance Center agent when you get your policy) so your car is covered during transport to car shows and while you exhibit it anywhere in the world. 

You can also get medical coverage that pays for treating injuries if your car is involved in an off-road mishap. This is coverage that does not have the steep deductibles of your health insurance policy.

Whether you drive your classic car in Williamsburg, VA, or anywhere else in the world, get the agreed-value insurance you need to protect your investment. Call the Commonwealth Insurance Center today!

Renters insurance serves more than rented homes. Individuals can also purchase it to protect items stored in an offsite storage unit or garage space. At Commonwealth Insurance Center, we want Williamsburg, VA residents to understand the many uses of renters insurance.

Uses of Renters Insurance

You can purchase a renters insurance policy for any rented space. Whether you rent a storage unit, garage, parking space, or office storage, you can insure it with a renters policy. This type of insurance covers the loss of or damage to the contents of the rented space. For example, if you store ATVs in a rented garage, the renters’ policy covers them against theft.

If you renovate or add to the rented space, the policy may cover those, too. To ensure your renovation, such as built-in bookcases or ceiling-mounted shelving, receives coverage, request a rider to your renters’ policy.

What Renters Insurance Won’t Cover

Your landlord must carry insurance to cover damage to their facility, such as a storage unit facility or parking garage. Most states require this, along with their business license. The landlord’s insurance covers damage to the facility. That’s why you can only add a rider to cover modifications you make to the rented space.

Contact Our Office Today

Contact Commonwealth Insurance Center in Williamsburg, VA today to obtain renters insurance to cover valuable items not stored in your home. Let us help you cover the repair or replacement of your valued possessions. Ask us about available riders you can add to a basic renters policy to customize your policy.

The type of motorcycle you ride, your riding habits, and various other circumstances significantly influence the kind of motorcycle coverage you need. For further information, contact an agent at Commonwealth Insurance Center in Williamsburg, VA, for a personalized quote, and continue perusing this informative guide below.

Different Motorcycle Types

Different styles like cruisers, sport bikes, and touring motorcycles have varying risk profiles. If you own a customized, fully-equipped Harley-Davidson, you’ll likely require more coverage than a budget-friendly scooter. However, size and cost aren’t the only determinants influencing some bikes’ insurability.

Motorcycles are accorded crash ratings, which insurance companies exploit to determine your premium. The safer your bike, the easier it is to find affordable insurance. On the other hand, if your bike is a high-hp bruiser with abundant torque, you may end up paying more than you would for a stock motorcycle built with an emphasis on safety over speed.

Various factors, including the cost of your bike, upgrades, and customization, impact your insurance costs. Our team of agents caters to your personal needs, keeping in mind the type of bike you ride and your individual riding habits.

Riding Habits and Motorcycle Insurance

If you ride your motorcycle to work, your cool quotient in the office is probably off the charts. However, you’re likely to incur higher insurance costs than weekend cruisers who accrue fewer miles. The terrain you ride, whether the track, the highway, or in the mountains, affects the risks you face and, consequently, your insurance costs.

Introducing a Personalized Motorcycle Insurance Review

Opt for an insurance agency with a rich history of providing custom-tailored motorcycle insurance policies. As soon as you step through our doors, a knowledgeable agent will be waiting to assist. Do you wish to discuss your motorcycle insurance needs? Seek an appointment with Commonwealth Insurance Center in Williamsburg, VA today!

The joys of boat ownership correspond with two momentous occasions: the day you secure ownership and the moment you decide to transfer that ownership. Why? Because owning a boat is a significant responsibility. Amid these responsibilities, boat insurance is one of the central considerations of a boat owner. It’s essential to understand the changing landscape of boat insurance heading into 2024:

Navigating the Currents of Boat Insurance

There are various types of coverage to consider. This decision hinges upon several factors, such as the nature of your boat, engine type, and the trailer employed for water launches.

Your location plays a vital role, too. Just as with home insurance, your physical location dictates the price you pay for your boat insurance, with some locations charging higher than others.

Including liability coverage is a wise course of action. Typically, boat insurance covers two key aspects: physical damage to your watercraft and theft. Nevertheless, adding liability coverage could further broaden your protection and won’t break the bank.

Preserving Your Valued Investment

As a boat owner, it is imperative to armor your prized possession with the best protective measures. The answer lies in having a well-crafted boat insurance policy. Suppose you’re a resident of Williamsburg, VA, or any neighboring area and are scouting for a trustworthy insurance provider. In that case, Commonwealth Insurance Center stands ready to serve you. We Specialize in various insurance types, including boat insurance, and we are prepared to address all your inquiries.

Umbrella Insurance: Your Safety Cushion Against Potential Financial Losses in Williamsburg, VA

Umbrella insurance functions as an imperative safety cushion, offering additional liability coverage surpassing the limits of standard insurance policies. Understanding the liability types covered by umbrella insurance is vital for businesses and individuals desiring extensive protection against financial losses and potential lawsuits.

Types of Liability Covered Under Umbrella Insurance

Bodily Injury Liability

One crucial liability type covered by umbrella insurance is bodily injury liability. It provides protection to policyholders if they cause physical harm to another person and are deemed liable. Whether you’re accountable for a car accident or a slip-and-fall accident on your property, umbrella insurance can cover legal fees, medical expenses, and other associated costs.

Property Damage Liability

Your umbrella policy can assist in covering repair or replacement costs if you unintentionally damage another’s property and are held liable. This coverage applies to various scenarios, including property damage, homes, or vehicles.

Personal Injury Liability

Besides property damage and bodily injury, umbrella insurance usually covers personal injury liability. This embodies claims of invasion of privacy, defamation, slander, and libel. If someone sues you for falsely violating their privacy rights or making false statements about them, the umbrella policy can cover potential damages and legal defense expenses.

Legal Defense Expenses

The coverage for legal defense expenses is among the most valuable facets of umbrella insurance. If a lawsuit covered by your policy arises, your insurer will typically cover court costs, legal fees, and other related expenses. This can significantly aid when legal expenses escalate, offering financial security and peace of mind.

Commonwealth Insurance Center: Your Umbrella Insurance Resource

At Commonwealth Insurance Center, we can answer your umbrella insurance queries. Catering to the Williamsburg, VA region, we’re just a phone call away.

When you own your own home, you have to have a home insurance policy on your home. It’s important to have this for your financial protection and your quality of life. However, there’s another kind of policy that you need to have on your home. That type is flood insurance. Every homeowner should have this type of insurance to protect themselves against the massive damage that floods can do. 

Flood and Home Insurance 

Why do you need flood insurance if you have a home insurance policy? This is because home insurance doesn’t cover flooding. It will cover several types of accidents, calamities, and certain disasters, but it won’t pay for flooding. This leaves you highly vulnerable in case of a flood occurring in your area. Most of the time, floods happen in areas explicitly designated as flood zones. However, about 20% of flood claims don’t come from these areas. This means that virtually any area can suffer from a flood, even when the area itself isn’t known for flooding. 

NFIP Backing

The National Flood Insurance Program is a governmental program that backs flood insurance for homeowners. This means that a flood policy is a solid insurance product that will be there in case there’s a flood. The price will be the same when you buy a policy, no matter where you get it from. These are policies that every homeowner should have to protect themselves financially. The cost of fixing flood damage can be so high that it’s unaffordable. To avoid this risk, you need to have a flood policy on your home as soon as you buy it. 

Get Flood Insurance

Contact us at the Commonwealth Insurance Center in Williamsburg, VA to learn more about getting flood insurance. 

If you live in a condo in Williamsburg, VA, you need to invest in condo insurance coverage. Commonwealth Insurance Center is a condo insurance provider you can rely on to protect your investments in your property.

The following are three things you might not already know about condo insurance. 

Important limitations to be aware of with condo facility master policies. 

While condo facilities offer some insurance coverage through master policies, condo owners need to know about the limitations of these policies. 

Master policies for condo facilities only cover the building structure. They do not cover the interiors of condo units or the personal property within condo units. Master policies also don’t cover liability expenses that condo owners may face if a guest is injured within their unit. 

Condo insurance can cover living expenses temporarily.

Severe damage to a condo unit can make it so that it is temporarily uninhabitable. In this situation, a condo insurance policy will typically cover the costs of staying in a hotel for the policyholder until the unit is adequately repaired. 

Condo insurance policies should be updated after renovation projects and upgrades.

A condo insurance policy should cover the full value of the condo unit that it insures. Renovation projects can increase the value of a condo. This makes it essential for policyholders to update their condo insurance coverage after they’ve completed a renovation or invested in a major upgrade to their condo unit. 

You can insure your condo today by calling us at Commonwealth Insurance Center. Call us for a quote on a condo insurance policy for your condo in Williamsburg, VA.

Owning a boat is a lot of fun and a great way to spend time with friends and family. When you have questions about boat insurance, the team at Commonwealth Insurance Center serving Williamsburg, VA is here to help. We can answer any questions you might have about boat insurance and provide the information you need to select a policy that meets your needs. Don’t hesitate to contact us when you need information about a boat or any other type of insurance. We’re here for you! 

Boat Insurance Essentials

There are several different types of boat policies, offering various levels of coverage and protection. If you’re getting ready to buy a boat, you might wonder which one is right for you. Be sure to look carefully at the collision, comprehensive, and liability protection each offers.

Your boat needs insurance protection from theft, too. And, if you transport the vessel to and from the water, you’ll want protection when it’s on the trailer. It makes sense to sit down with your local agent to get your questions answered. You’ll also be able to learn more about the details of boat policies available in the area. Don’t go out on the water without the insurance coverage you need to protect your craft, yourself, and your passengers.

Learn more about boat insurance today!

If you’re a boat owner in the greater Williamsburg, VA area, you can turn to the team at Commonwealth Insurance Center for answers to all your insurance questions. We can help you gather the information you need to make an informed decision about boat insurance and which type of policy is right for your needs. Call or stop by our office today!

If you own an old driveable car, you may wonder if your car is a classic. Typically, classic cars need more than age to be considered classic. Often, classic cars have historical interest, and their original style and specifications have been maintained. They also tend to be in good condition, although they’re rarely driven as main/primary cars. Our team at Commonwealth Insurance Center understands that the title "classic car" can be ambiguous. This is why we’re committed to helping old car owners of Williamsburg, VA residents understand classic car insurance.

What is Classic Car Insurance?

Classic car insurance is designed for cars twenty years or older. However, it should be noted that the classic car insurance company of your choice determines whether or not your vehicle is considered a classic or not. Although there are broad terms to describe a classic car, the exact meaning varies from one insurance company to another. Like conventional car insurance, classic car insurance protects your vehicle and includes liability coverage. However, it differs from traditional car insurance in that the value of your car is pre-determined by you and the insurance company and isn’t based on the actual value of the vehicle.

I have a 1980 Subaru GL. Can I get classic car insurance?

Maybe. The classic insurance company you go to will have to make that determination. Typically, classic cars are of historical interest and kept in their original style and specifications. If your Subaru meets these standards, it’s possible that you could get classic car insurance coverage. However, that determination is made by the specific car insurance company of your choice. If you have questions about classic car insurance, call us. We’d be happy to answer all of your questions. 

Renters in Williamsburg, VA count on Commonwealth Insurance Center to provide them with the necessary insurance services. Only about 60% of renters have renters insurance, which means 40% of renters are placing themselves at risk. It is an unnecessary risk since renters insurance is both easy to buy and affordable. 

Renter’s insurance provides a great many types of coverage. All of them are important for the protection of your property and your finances. 

Contents

Most of what you own may be in your rental when you are a renter. If you think your landlord or management has insurance that protects your personal effects, you could not be further from the truth. They do have insurance, but it protects their property, not yours. Imagine losing all your furniture, electronics, clothing, etc. Would you be able to replace it all? If the answer is no, then you need renters’ insurance. It also covers property theft even when you have it away from home. 

Liability

Liability coverage is what protects you from legal actions against you. Being sued can be very expensive in the settlement and any legal expenses you may incur. No one wants to think about being sued, but it is all too common. 

Loss of use

When your rental unit is damaged due to a covered peril, you may not be able to remain in your unit. If you have renters insurance provides the money you require to stay in a hotel for a short stay and a temporary rental if it is longer. 

When you are in need of renters insurance, Commonwealth Insurance Center in Williamsburg, VA can offer you the choices you deserve. As an independent insurance agency, we work for our customers. Give our office a call for a no-obligation quote.