Understanding Your Insurance Options in Connecticut

Whether you live in West Hartford or down on the shore, all Connecticut residents need insurance to protect their most important belongings. Fortunately, you have a lot of options when it comes to choosing policies in Connecticut.

Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners insurance protects your home and its contents. All homeowners insurance policies include dwelling coverage, which protects the structure of the home, its carpeting and all built-in appliances. In Connecticut, you can also choose from the following add-on options:

  • Contents coverage. By adding contents coverage, you can protect appliances and property that aren’t built-in to your home’s walls.
  • Replacement cost coverage. Basic insurance policies provide maximum coverage equal to the home’s cash value. With replacement cost coverage, the insurance company will provide you with the money you need to rebuild your home if it is destroyed, which is often much more than the original home’s cash value.
  • Other structures coverage. Basic policies cover only the main home. This add-on extends protection to structures separate from your home, such as garages and barns.
  • Coverage for natural disasters. Dwelling coverage doesn’t usually apply to damage from natural disasters, such as floods and earthquakes. If you want to protect against these events, you must purchase specific add-ons.

Car Insurance

Connecticut requires all registered vehicles to carry at least minimum liability insurance, which pays for damages caused by your vehicle when you are at fault in an accident. However, other coverage options are also available in addition to liability, including:

  • Uninsured motorist. Uninsured motorist coverage pays for damages caused by a driver who was illegally operating a vehicle without insurance.
  • Collision. Collision coverage pays for damage sustained in collisions, regardless of who was at fault.
  • Comprehensive. Comprehensive coverage pays for damages that aren’t caused by a collision, such as those caused by vandalism or weather.

Policy prices vary based on the type of insurance you choose, as well as your personal history. Contact an insurance agent in West Hartford to learn more about your insurance options.