Seasonal Insurance Tips
Winter is here! After a mild December in Ontario, it seems like the cold weather has finally arrived in full force. The change in season means it’s time to think about how the new weather will affect your auto or home insurance. This might mean reducing your insurance, if you’re putting a car into storage for the winter, or adding coverage to protect a secondary property such as a cottage or cabin.
In this blog, the Ostic team will share some tips for making sure your seasonal insurance needs are covered! Keep reading to learn more about what you can do to protect your assets in the Guelph, Fergus, Elora and Shelburne areas.
1. Reduce risk to your properties
Preparing your home for winter is important. Make sure you’ve serviced your furnace before the cold months arrive and turn off any outside taps to prevent pipes from freezing. If you have a seasonal property with plumbing, either drain the pipes or make sure the thermostat is set high enough to prevent freezing. It’s usually a good idea to get a local neighbor to regularly check on the property as well!
2. Know the limits of your seasonal coverage
Cottage insurance is often offered as part of your primary insurance policy, but it may only be covered for certain “Named Perils” specified on your plan. Make sure you know what perils you are protected from! If you’re concerned about other risks, you may want to purchase additional coverage for your secondary properties. Our team can help you figure out what’s necessary!
3. Get the right insurance for your vehicles
Did you know that you can reduce your insurance coverage if your vehicle will be in storage for the winter season? It’s important to ensure you still have comprehensive insurance to protect against fire, theft or other potential damages, but you won’t need things like accident benefit or liability if you’re not driving it for several months. So talk to us about getting it taken off!
On the other hand, you need to make sure you have additional insurance for ATVs, snowmobiles and other vehicles—especially if you’re going to be driving them off your own property! Ask our auto insurance experts to learn exactly what type of coverage is required by law for these types of vehicles.
4. Get snow tires for your car or truck
If you needed another reason to get winter tires for your car, then listen up! Starting in January 2016, Ontario insurance providers will be required by law to give a winter tire discount. Some companies already offer this discount—like the Ostic Group’s partners Unica Insurance and Aviva Insurance. The amount varies depending on different factors, so contact us to learn more about your options and how we can assist you!
If you have any other questions, contact our team for more information about seasonal auto and home insurance. We’re happy to help!