Rey Insurance Agency

Yes – you can waive the insurance the rental car companies charge as long as the vehicle you are renting is similar to your own personal car. For example, you cannot rent a moving truck and expect your personal car insurance policy to cover it. However, if you drive an SUV and rent a sedan, you will be covered. That said, your insurance agents typically recommend that you purchase the collision portion of the coverage offered by the rental car company, to ensure that in the case of an accident, the company will be responsible for the car, not you. This will save a lot of headache and avoid a surcharge or rate increase when it’s time to renew your policy. If you are in an accident and have not purchased the collision coverage, the rental car will be covered under the property damage section of your personal policy. This means you will not have to pay a deductible, but it could cause your rates to increase when it’s time to renew, if the accident was your fault.

If a tree on your property falls onto a neighbor’s structure – house, detached garage or shed, a fence – you are not responsible. The neighbor’s homeowner policy will pay. And, the reverse is true if their tree falls onto a structure on your property. If a tree falls on your property falls onto a neighbor’s property and no structure is hit, you are still not responsible. This is considered an “Act of God,” i.e., a fluke of mother nature. Your neighbor would have to pay to remove the tree, just as you will have to pay if their tree falls on your property.

It depends. If a tree falls on your property and does not hit anything and is not blocking your driveway, your homeowner policy will NOT cover its removal and cleanup. If your driveway is blocked, most insurance companies will pay to remove it off the driveway only – NOT to remove it – but some policies do have specific exclusion clauses even for this. It’s something you want to ask your agent about when you are buying or renewing a policy. If the tree falls and hits a structure – your home, a detached garage or shed, a fence – you are covered, and the insurance company will pay to remove the tree from the structure and repair/replace the structure. However, the cost to clean up and remove the tree beyond getting it off the structure is not covered.