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Automobile FAQs
You can file a claim several ways. The best way is to contact the insurance company directly. For contact information by carrier, click here. You can also complete the File a Claim form on our website or call us.
When deciding whether to purchase insurance through a rental car company, it is important to consider the policy of your own automobile insurance. Typically, when renting a car, your policy will extend protection as if you were driving your own vehicle. However, be aware that there may be some exclusions or restrictions based on your policy and that any additional coverage (diminished value & loss of use) through a rental company could offer additional peace of mind. Furthermore, depending on the credit card used to rent the car, some provide complimentary coverage for rental cars for certain periods of time. Therefore, evaluating all aspects can potentially save you money in the long run by avoiding unnecessary costs. You can also contact a BWO customer service agent to help navigate your options before you rent a car.
Your automobile policy is designed to protect you while driving in the United States, US territories, & Canada. However, coverage is not extended to other countries including Mexico. There is a policy that can be purchased for coverage while driving in Mexico. If you are driving overseas, you will need to purchase insurance in that country. Contact us at BWO to help.
That depends. A business auto policy by itself won't extend protection to rented autos unless you have amended it. You can get protection for situations where you rent autos if you add Hired Auto Liability and Physical Damage coverage.
The claim process has a few variations but these are the essential steps once the claim has been submitted to the insurance company:
You will be contacted by an insurance company adjuster to gather detailed information about your claim.
Often, someone from the insurance company will inspect your auto or property for damage or will ask you to provide evidence of value and ownership for loss to property that is not a vehicle or real property.
An estimate is prepared.
A check is delivered.
Sometimes differences in actual and estimated damages arise, especially after repair work has been undertaken. Every attempt is made to resolve these differences and sometimes a supplemental check is prepared.
It is the responsibility of the insurance company to settle and pay your claim and the responsibility of our agency to make sure that is done as quickly and fairly as possible with a minimum of uncertainty and bother for you. We monitor claim progress closely and communicate with you throughout to make sure you are satisfied.
If you own, lease (long term) or finance your vehicle then you will file a claim with your insurance company. You will have to pay any deductible amount. Payment for your loss will include payment to the finance or leasing company, if any. If you cause damage to other vehicles or property, your insurance company will handle that with little or no involvement on your part, in most cases.
In most cases the other driver's insurance policy would respond and reimburse you for damages to your vehicle, property or injuries. In some cases, as when you or your passengers are injured and the other driver has inadequate or no insurance, coverage from your own policy may apply (Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage).
One claim is not a cause for concern on the part of insurance companies. But a pattern of claims may result in a premium increase or cancellation. So if you have a claim that is the third in three years, for example, that will be viewed differently than having one claim only. Individual claims that are suggestive of gross negligence can also result in significant premium increase or cancellation. An example might be an auto accident accompanied by a reckless driving or driving under the influence conviction.
Lending a vehicle to a friend or relative can be risky in regard to insurance. Generally, auto policies provide coverage for the policyholder and any additional drivers listed on the policy. If a third party borrows your vehicle, such as a friend or relative, be advised that any claims will be submitted to your insurance company. The third party’s insurance will be secondary to the owner of the vehicle. It's important to check with your agency ahead of time to understand if there is an option available for you to add this person to policy (if the driver regularly drives that vehicle). Before loaning a vehicle to anyone, it is essential that you are aware of who will be responsible in the case of an accident.
The VIN number and description of the vehicle is needed. If there is a lien then the name of the lienholder and mailing address will be needed. It is usually most helpful to have the financing information with you when calling in the change.
If the person is a licensed driver living in the household, or if they are a regular driver of the vehicle, they need to be added to the policy. If they do not live in the household and only occasionally drive the vehicle with permission (a child in town for the holidays), they are covered under "permissible use" and do not need to be added.
This depends upon what type of coverage is requested. 14 days for liability only coverage, & 4 days for liability-comp-collision. It also depends upon what kind of form the insurance carrier follows. It is best to calls in to add the vehicle as soon as possible. If there is a loan or lease on the vehicle, the finance or lease company may need proof of when the vehicle was added to the policy.



Home Owners FAQs
No, homeowner’s policies do not cover flood, earthquakes, or hurricanes. Earthquake coverage may be able to be added by endorsement to your homeowner’s policy (depending if your insurance company offers the coverage). A separate policy will need to be purchased for flood or hurricane coverage.
As with any type of insurance, it is important to read through the fine print carefully and to be aware of any exclusions or other details. Feel free to contact BWO insurance directly to ensure that you have the most up-to-date and correct information about your specific policy's coverage for natural disasters.
An individual condominium policy is necessary in addition to the master policy provided by your condominium association. The master policy includes general liability & property coverage for the building (roofing, siding, outside walls) & common areas (land, clubhouse, exercise/pool area). An individual condo policy provides specific coverage for your inside walls, flooring, cabinets/counters, personal property, & liability. Having both a master and individual condo policy will help ensure that you are adequately covered in the event of an incident related to your condo. A BWO Agent can help you navigate your options.
Homeowner/condo/renters policies cover possessions of the policy holder while they are in the home & worldwide. Claims are subject to your policy deductible & cause of loss. If you have an item such as jewelry, fine arts, or collectibles, you may want to purchase an inland marine coverage endorsement. This will cover that item for a listed value without a deductible (usually obtained from a receipt or an appraisal). Contact us to help
You can file a claim several ways. The best way is to contact the insurance company directly. For contact information by carrier, click here. You can also complete the File a Claim form on our website or call us.
Many people mistakenly assume they need to live close to a body of water in order to need flood insurance, when this is simply not the case. Flooding can occur in any area at any time. In fact, floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. Even if you don’t live near a lake or river, there could be flooding caused by melting snow and ice, blocked drainage systems, and heavy or sustained rainstorms — all of which can wreak havoc on an unprepared property. Flood insurance is the best way to protect your home and possessions from the potential damage that could arise from these unexpected floods.
Also consider adding water backup coverage to your policy. This will cover water/sewage that enters through the sump pump or sewer drain.
Reach out to BWO Insurance to help.
A renters policy provides valuable protection to those who rent. It is an affordable way to secure your personal property in the event of a fire, theft or other loss. A renter’s policy will also cover any liability you may incur due to accidents that occur on the property. Most importantly, it can offer you financial compensation for if you are forced to evacuate your rental space in the case of a disaster or catastrophic event. Contact us to help.
The claim process has a few variations but these are the essential steps once the claim has been submitted to the insurance company:
You will be contacted by an insurance company adjuster to gather detailed information about your claim.
Often, someone from the insurance company will inspect your auto or property for damage or will ask you to provide evidence of value and ownership for loss to property that is not a vehicle or real property.
An estimate is prepared.
A check is delivered.
Sometimes differences in actual and estimated damages arise, especially after repair work has been undertaken. Every attempt is made to resolve these differences and sometimes a supplemental check is prepared.
It is the responsibility of the insurance company to settle and pay your claim and the responsibility of our agency to make sure that is done as quickly and fairly as possible with a minimum of uncertainty and bother for you. We monitor claim progress closely and communicate with you throughout to make sure you are satisfied.
Generally the answer is no. One claim is not a cause for concern on the part of insurance companies. But a pattern of claims may result in a premium increase or cancellation. So if you have a claim that is the third in three years, for example, that will be viewed differently than having one claim only. Individual claims that are suggestive of gross negligence can also result in significant premium increase or cancellation. An example might be an auto accident accompanied by a reckless driving or driving under the influence conviction.
While renting, it is important to know that your roommate's rental policy will not cover you. It is best to purchase your own renter’s policy so that you are thoroughly protected. Putting in the work up front can save you from a great deal of financial distress if something were to occur. Doing some independent research into the options available can help you make an informed decision about getting renters insurance for yourself.



Business FAQs
You can file a claim several ways. The best way is to contact the insurance company directly. For contact information by carrier, click here. You can also complete the File a Claim form on our website or call us.
The claim process has a few variations but these are the essential steps once the claim has been submitted to the insurance company:
You will be contacted by an insurance company adjuster to gather detailed information about your claim.
Often, someone from the insurance company will inspect your auto or property for damage or will ask you to provide evidence of value and ownership for loss to property that is not a vehicle or real property.
An estimate is prepared.
A check is delivered.
Sometimes differences in actual and estimated damages arise, especially after repair work has been undertaken. Every attempt is made to resolve these differences and sometimes a supplemental check is prepared.
It is the responsibility of the insurance company to settle and pay your claim and the responsibility of our agency to make sure that is done as quickly and fairly as possible with a minimum of uncertainty and bother for you. We monitor claim progress closely and communicate with you throughout to make sure you are satisfied.
It is important to speak with your insurance representative to get exact details as coverage may vary between providers and states. Additionally in certain situations such as business use of rented cars and trucks, your policy may not extend any protection at all so additional coverage should be considered. Having an understanding of your business auto policy will help you know what kind of coverage you have while renting or leasing vehicles in order to make sure that your risks are properly covered.
This will largely depend on the type of business that you own. It is recommended that you contact your agent/agency office to discuss the nature of your business. Your agent will work with you directly to review your coverage options, and he or she can provide you with solutions that will be customized for your individual business insurance needs Contact us at BWO to help you navigate your options.
Generally the answer is no. One claim is not a cause for concern on the part of insurance companies. But a pattern of claims may result in a premium increase or cancellation. So if you have a claim that is the third in three years, for example, that will be viewed differently than having one claim only. Individual claims that are suggestive of gross negligence can also result in significant premium increase or cancellation. An example might be an auto accident accompanied by a reckless driving or driving under the influence conviction.
A cyber insurance policy is a financial product that enables businesses to transfer the costs involved with recovery from a cyber-related security breach or similar events.
Typically, the most important aspect of cyber insurance will be network security coverage. This coverage will respond in the event of a network security failure – such as data breaches, malware, ransomware attacks and business account, and email compromises. However, the policy will also respond to liability claims and expenses of an attack or breach.
In fact, 60% of small businesses go under within six months of a cyberattack. Cyber insurance coverage helps your business recover from financial losses caused by cyberattacks and data breaches. Cyber attacks are becoming all too common in the business environment, with both small business and large corporations. The recovery can cause significant financial hardship.



Claims FAQs
First, contact your agent/agency as soon as possible to start the claims process. Your agent will help you determine how to proceed with the claims process. They will want you to provide detailed information about the accident so be prepared to submit documents such as a police report (reports may be available within 7-10 days).
For Contact information by insurance carrier, click here.
Once your claim is submitted to your insurance carrier, your insurance company claims adjuster will be in contact with you within 24-48 hours. The representative will review any documentation you have provided and contact you to ask further questions if necessary. They may also discuss your coverage limits, investigate the details of what happened, and determine whether or not a payment should be made for the loss. Depending on the accident or loss situation & your deductible (example: no other vehicles involved or a small home theft loss), you may want to pay for the damage to your vehicle or to replace the stolen items out-of-pocket to avoid a premium increase. If the accident is not your fault, you may want to contact the responsible party’s insurance carrier to file the claim to avoid paying your deductible.
If you own, lease (long term) or finance your vehicle then you will file a claim with your insurance company. You will have to pay any deductible amount. Payment for your loss will include payment to the finance or leasing company, if any. If you cause damage to other vehicles or property, your insurance company will handle that with little or no involvement on your part, in most cases.
Knowing the answer to this important question is key to deciding whether it is worth filing a claim with your insurance company. Depending upon the type of claim, your premium most likely will increase. It's when frequent claims are filed that you risk cancellation. It's worthwhile checking with your insurance agent or broker for clarity on your individual situation in case of multiple claims. By understanding any potential ramifications, you can more confidently proceed on whether you should file a claim or not.



Recreational Vehicle FAQs
You can file a claim several ways. The best way is to contact the insurance company directly. For contact information by carrier, click here. You can also call us.
If you have a homeowner policy your boat might be covered but there are limitations. Automobile policies do not extend coverage to boats. Boat coverage can sometimes be increased by modifying a homeowner policy but a separate boat policy may be needed.
The claim process has a few variations but these are the essential steps once the claim has been submitted to the insurance company:
You will be contacted by an insurance company adjuster to gather detailed information about your claim.
Often, someone from the insurance company will inspect your auto or property for damage or will ask you to provide evidence of value and ownership for loss to property that is not a vehicle or real property.
An estimate is prepared.
A check is delivered.
Sometimes differences in actual and estimated damages arise, especially after repair work has been undertaken. Every attempt is made to resolve these differences and sometimes a supplemental check is prepared.
It is the responsibility of the insurance company to settle and pay your claim and the responsibility of our agency to make sure that is done as quickly and fairly as possible with a minimum of uncertainty and bother for you. We monitor claim progress closely and communicate with you throughout to make sure you are satisfied.
Generally the answer is no. One claim is not a cause for concern on the part of insurance companies. But a pattern of claims may result in a premium increase or cancellation. So if you have a claim that is the third in three years, for example, that will be viewed differently than having one claim only. Individual claims that are suggestive of gross negligence can also result in significant premium increase or cancellation. An example might be an auto accident accompanied by a reckless driving or driving under the influence conviction.
Insurance coverage can protect you from financial loss, in the event of a collision, theft, or accident-related lawsuit. ATV’S, UTV’s and golf carts are typically designed for off road use.
Many people think that their homeowners insurance will provide coverage for ATVs and UTVs. However, any coverage homeowners policies offer is very limited and may depend where the ATV or UTV is used and what it is used for. Some states require insurance for ATVs operated on state-owned land and your homeowner policy may not protect you if you ride off your property. Your independent insurance agent can consider your individual circumstances and use to make sure you are properly covered. It is important to add coverage before you begin to use your ATV or UTV.



Life and Health FAQs
Generally, it's a good idea to check your policy at least once a year to make sure you're still getting the best coverage for your needs. If anything has changed in your life, such as having more children or changing jobs, revising and amending the insurance policy may be necessary. It is important to stay up-to-date on current laws that may affect your policy and familiarize yourself with recent changes in your hometown or state. By remaining informed, you can ensure that any modifications made to the policy reflect any new risks that have arisen due to lifestyle changes or other external factors. A BWO agent can help you navigate your best options.



General FAQs
Every insurance company offers different billing options. You can call the company directly by accessing the phone number or website through this website under ‘Companies’ and speak directly to them regarding you billing change. Or, you can call or email a customer service agent at BWO and we will make the changes for you. 414-768-8100 or select “contact’ us on this web-site and complete the short form to send your message.
Our agency will need a copy of the death certificate, copy of POA (if not deceased yet), copy of Executor or Personal Rep paperwork, proof of sale (closing documents), & signature on cancellation form from the authorized signer.
It depends upon what types of quotes are requested, how many lines of business to quote, & current expiration date of client’s current policies (rewrites are usually on the policy renewal date). It may take longer depending if there are underwriting issues or losses.


