Skip to content
Click to Call
Toney Insurance Services

2154 North Rd SW
Snellville, GA 30078

Get Directions

Insurance Blog

Understanding Water Damage Coverage in Your Home Insurance Policy

Homeowners insurance helps protect families against expensive losses from unexpected events like theft, vandalism, fire, and other hazards. Many people believe their homeowner’s insurance protects them from flood damage, but this is not always true. At Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA, we can help you understand the water damage coverage in your homeowners insurance policy.

Water Damage Your Homeowners Policy Will Cover

Your policy will generally cover water damage that occurs inside the house, such as when your washing machine or dishwasher overflows, a pipe bursts in extreme cold, or a roof leak that allows water inside your home. It will also cover damage from water used to put out a fire or from ice dams that occur in cold climates. Water damage from a swimming pool leak or sump pump failure is not covered under standard homeowners insurance.

Flood Insurance Is A Different Type of Coverage

Homeowners’ insurance generally does not cover damage from water outside the home, such as flash flooding or a sewer backup. For this type of water damage, you will need a flood insurance policy, which will cover damage to the building and much of its contents. If you live in an area prone to flooding, your mortgage holder may require you to have flood insurance in addition to standard homeowners insurance.

Choose Toney Insurance Services For Your Homeowners Insurance

The experienced agents at Toney Insurance Service in Snellville, GA, can provide detailed information on coverage in your standard homeowners insurance policy and advise you on whether additional insurance is advisable. Contact Toney Insurance Services today for a no-obligation quote on homeowners insurance to protect your property in case of unexpected water damage.

Make Sure Your Boat Insurance Covers These On-Water Events

Boating is a delightful sport, but it comes with inherent risks. While boat insurance can’t prevent accidents, it is a vital safeguard if unexpected incidents occur while enjoying the lakes or rivers around Snellville, GA. When seeking boat insurance, it is essential to ensure it covers the following on-water events.

On-Water Towing

One crucial feature to look for in your boat insurance policy is on-water towing. Similar to roadside assistance for your vehicle, on-water towing provides help if your boat breaks down or cannot function. Depending on the policy, it could cover scenarios like damage, mechanical failure, and even running out of fuel.

Having this protection ensures you can get towed to safety without incurring significant out-of-pocket expenses. Our team at Toney Insurance Services can assist you in reviewing policies and their coverages.

Submerged Boat Recovery

If your boat sinks or becomes submerged, the costs associated with raising, removing, or salvaging it can be astronomical. Often, it becomes imperative to salvage it regardless of whether you decide to reuse it, as leaving it submerged can damage the surrounding ecosystem.

Many boat insurance policies offer submerged boat recovery as a standard or optional protection. This could help you circumvent these exorbitant recovery costs should your boat sink.

Fuel Spill Liability

In the unfortunate event of an accident or sinking, your boat could leak fuel and oil into the water. This leakage may lead to environmental damage, cleanup costs, and potential legal action. Fuel spill liability coverage can protect you from such potential fines and consequences.

Investing in Comprehensive Boat Insurance

At Toney Insurance Services, we understand the significance of having varied coverages in your boat insurance policy. If you’re located in GA, allow us to assist you in securing comprehensive boat insurance equipped with these important protections.

What Is Auto Insurance Fraud?

Common Forms of Auto Insurance Fraud

Auto insurance fraud takes numerous forms, ranging from false claims to excessive charges by policyholders or repair service providers, all aiming for illicit financial gain. Although illegal across all states, we at Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA provide an overview of the most prevalent auto fraud types.

Inflating Repair Costs After a Collision

Certain unscrupulous repair shops and collision repair companies may deliberately inflate the cost of necessary vehicular fixes. Overcharging for parts or exaggerating repair times to increase the repair costs they submit to your insurance company constitutes fraud.

Vehicle Dumping

Vehicle owners keen to avoid repair-related issues may resort to various deceptive practices such as disposing of their car, declaring it stolen, selling it off, or even damaging it intentionally to submit a fraudulent claim to their insurer.

False Registration

Some owners may use an alternate address to secure lower premiums in regions with exorbitantly high insurance rates. However, unless they actually live at the stated location, using an alternate address constitutes fraud, inviting serious penalties.

Faulty Airbag Replacement and Windshield Repairs

Unfortunately, some mechanics opt for dishonest practices by claiming payment for replacing deployed airbags that they never actually replaced, thereby defrauding insurance companies. Similarly, some companies claiming to offer on-the-spot windshield repairs often provide temporary fixes and require subsequent servicing.

Reliable Auto Insurance Solutions

If you have any queries regarding insurance fraud or suspect you might be its victim, don’t hesitate to contact us at Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA.

Will umbrella insurance cover things that my business insurance doesn’t cover?

Many business owners understand the benefits that commercial or business insurance provides. For most, handling many day-to-day operations, as well as unexpected incidents, could cause many businesses to go under. However, as with any insurance policy, there are limits to how far and how much a business insurance policy will cover. Some businesses may be more vulnerable if they have operations that carry more risk. However, there may be other reasons why umbrella insurance is important. Our team at Toney Insurance Services is committed to helping Snellville, GA business owners understand umbrella insurance and the benefits it provides.

What is umbrella insurance?

Umbrella insurance is secondary or backup insurance. In other words, if you have a lawsuit or some other unexpected or serious event taking place that exceeds the limits of your primary business insurance, your umbrella insurance policy will cover whatever your primary policy doesn’t cover. Interestingly, in some situations, umbrella insurance can also work as a primary insurance policy if your primary insurance doesn’t cover something. 

Will umbrella insurance cover things that my business insurance doesn’t cover?

Yes. If your primary insurance doesn’t cover something, it’s likely that your umbrella insurance will cover it as long as it meets the terms of your insurance policy. However, it is possible that your umbrella insurance policy and your primary insurance policy won’t cover an event or situation. This is why it’s a good idea to become very familiar with the terms of any insurance policy to ensure that you get the coverage you need. Speaking with an insurance agent and discussing your business needs as well as your business vulnerabilities and possible vulnerabilities makes it easier to get the coverage you need to fit your unique situation.

Schedule A Consultation Today

If you have questions about umbrella insurance, call us at Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA. We’d be happy to discuss your options. 

Preparing your Georgia home for winter

Winters in Georgia can be unpredictable. It can get quite cold even if snow and ice are not common occurrences. If it rains and then gets cold, ice can be a serious issue for drivers and just walking to get into your vehicle. At Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA we take the safety of our customers seriously, and we make sure that one thing they don’t have to worry about is having the right home insurance. 

 Preparing your Georgia home for winter

Exterior water sources need to be winterized

In Georgia, many people have sprinkler systems for their lawns. These need to be winterized to make sure that none of them burst if they freeze with water in them. Disconnect and store any outdoor hoses and turn off the water to outdoor spigots. 

Tune up heating

No matter what type of heating system you have, you probably haven’t used it for months, and it needs to be cleaned and tuned up, and the filters need to be changed. You want it to perform when you need it. 

Clean the chimney

If you have a fireplace that you enjoy using in the winter, getting the chimney cleaned yearly helps to reduce your risk of a chimney fire. 

Get trees trimmed

With the advent of winter weather, the potential for storms that can include ice increases, and if you have a tree with branches large enough to cause damage to your home or vehicle, getting any dead or damaged limbs removed before winter can save you a lot of grief. 

Plug the leaks

Make sure that your windows and doors are not letting your heat escape. 

Consult With Us

Contact Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA when it is time to review your home insurance or if you are a new homeowner. We can help make sure you have the coverage you need. 

When is it a good idea to have a full boat insurance plan in Georgia?

Being a boat owner can be a lot of fun if you live in or around Snellville, GA. This part of Georgia will continue to offer many amenities, including having access to warm weather and many local lakes and waterways. If you are going to buy a boat when you are here, it is almost always a good idea to be properly insured. There are various situations in particular when having this coverage is a great option. 

When Investing in a New Boat

A situation when you will want to have this insurance is when you are investing in a new boat. A boat can cost a lot of money to purchase and care for. When you are properly insured, you are doing all that you can to protect this investment. A full boat plan will give coverage if you are involved in an accident, or the boat is stolen, and you need to repair or replace it. 

When Coverage is a Requirement

You also need to have coverage if it is a requirement. While it is not always a requirement, there are situations when boat insurance will be a necessity. If you have taken out a loan, you will need coverage to meet lender standards and document requirements. Various local lakes and marinas will also require you to carry insurance.  

Consult With Us

Having proper boat insurance is very important if you are in Snellville, GA and own a watercraft. As there are a lot of options to consider when shopping for coverage, starting your search by calling our team with Toney Insurance Services can be a great start. Our team with Toney Insurance Services will give you the help that is necessary to create a new plan and properly cover your boat. 

What does no fault insurance mean for drivers?

A no-fault insurance state is one where drivers in an accident do not need to prove who caused the accident. Georgia is not a no-fault state, so it is important to understand how that affects you as a driver. At Toney Insurance Services, we help Snellville, GA drivers understand their risks and responsibilities.

Being At Fault In An Accident Can Have Long-Term Consequences

Almost every state requires drivers to carry auto insurance. If you are found driving without auto insurance, you can face penalties ranging from fines to license suspension to incarceration. 

If you are found to be at fault in an accident that had injuries or damages of at least $500, that accident will go on your driving record. That can affect your insurance rate and even your employment opportunities.

How To Document Your Accident

The first thing you always need to do after an accident is move somewhere safe and check for injuries. However, as soon as you can, you should call for a police report.

When an accident gathers information for a report, it will include a wealth of information, such as the drivers’ data including insurance, the location and weather conditions, and the believed cause of the accident. This permanent report can preserve your claim that you did not cause the accident.

Protect Yourself

Go ahead and take your own pictures and gather the other drivers’ and witnesses’ information yourself. Document anything related to the cause of the accident, such as whether the other driver broke a traffic law or was on the phone during the accident.

Schedule A Consultation Today

Florida is across the border and is a no-fault state, so you need to have your own insurance to protect yourself if you visit from Snellville, GA. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your options, please call Toney Insurance Services today.

How does umbrella insurance work?

Anyone can benefit from umbrella insurance and you will be surprised how affordable it is, especially considering the level of protection it provides. You can buy umbrella insurance for yourself and for your business as long as you get separate policies. 

Umbrella insurance acts like an umbrella over all your assets, including your property and automobiles. Most umbrella insurance policies are sold in increments of $1 million, which is obviously a great deal of protection. At Toney Insurance Services, we help our Snellville, GA clients reach the level of protection they feel comfortable with. 

How Umbrella Insurance Works

You already have multiple policies to protect your home, your vehicle, and possibly your business. All of your policies have limits on how much they will pay out if there is an incident. After your policy reaches its maximum limit, you are responsible for paying the rest of the claim.

For instance, you could be in an auto accident where multiple people have serious injuries. If you only have the minimum required insurance, that coverage will run out quickly. Umbrella insurance will kick in once you reach those maximum limits. That means that you can only have an umbrella policy if you have an underlying insurance policy. 

Umbrella insurance will help cover the expenses for property damage, medical expenses, and any associated lawsuits.

Other Protections Your Umbrella Policy Provides

Umbrella insurance also offers protections other insurance does not. Most insurance will not help you if you are accused of false arrest, slander, or libel. Your umbrella policy may also add to your liability protection on your rental property.

 You can better protect your family and your business in Snellville, GA if you add umbrella insurance. Call Toney Insurance Services today so we can help you explore your options.

Home Insurance FAQs

Most people don’t even read their home insurance policy. This can lead to some nasty surprises. Having questions about your home insurance is a good thing, and at Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA, we have a team of very experienced insurance agents who are eminently qualified to answer your questions. 

Home Insurance FAQs

Do I need to have home insurance if I don’t have a mortgage?

No, the sad truth is that the state of Georgia doesn’t require home insurance, but that doesn’t mean that it is a good idea to be without it. For most people, their home is a major portion of their assets, and if you don’t have home insurance, you are risking the entire loss of your home from something like a fire or a tornado. Home insurance also includes liability coverage in the event you are sued by someone injured at your home or by a member of the family. 

Will home insurance cover my property if I lose it away from home?

Yes, it will. If your vehicle is broken into and your possessions are stolen or if you lose your laptop while on vacation, your home insurance will cover the items, but there is a deductible. 

Is my home covered for water damage?

Your home is covered for some water damage. If the damage is the result of an interior pipe or hose bursting, that will be covered. If a tornado ripens off your roof and you suffer water damage, that will be covered. However, if there is a flood, your home is not covered for damage. For that, you need to have a separate flood insurance policy. 

Consult With Us

Contact Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA when you want to discuss your home insurance needs. 

Key Facts You Should Know about Boat Insurance

If you love being on the water, a boat makes a great investment. It’s also wise to protect that investment with boat insurance. Boat policies offer diverse coverage options, so you can choose the level of protection you want and need. A customized boat policy from Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA can help you optimize your protection without wasting money on unnecessary coverage.

Key Facts about Boat Insurance

As a new boat owner, you may be misinformed about insurance protection for your watercraft. The following boat insurance facts can help you make knowledgeable decisions concerning the coverage you need.

  • First, you should be aware that home insurance offers very limited coverage for boats, so you can’t count on it to fully protect your new investment. Many home policies only cover boat towing, which is also included in a boat insurance policy.
  • The larger your vessel, the greater your need for a separate boat insurance policy. If your boat is motorized, we also recommend insuring it properly with a boat policy.  
  • Boat insurance will cover damage to your vessel from inclement weather or mishaps in and out of the water. It also offers liability protection against accidental injuries, coverage for boat theft and towing as well as loss of personal items if your boat sinks due to a catastrophe or accident.
  • Some factors that can affect the cost of boat insurance include the type and amount of coverage you desire, the type of watercraft you own and its value, the security and safety features of your boat and your boating knowledge and experience.  
  • By taking a boat safety course or purchasing multiple insurance policies from your insurer, you may qualify for a discount on your boat insurance coverage.

Contact Us for Boat Insurance!

For comprehensive boat insurance protection to best meet your needs, contact Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA.

Servicing States

  • Georgia

Testimonials

Partner Carriers

  • Allstate
  • Donegal
  • Encompass
  • Foremost
  • Grange
  • Kemper
  • Main St America
  • Nationwide
  • Progressive
  • Safeco
  • Travelers