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Illinois Insurance Blog

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What to Do If Your Auto Insurance Is Nonrenewed

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If you’re a driver living in Illinois, one of your responsibilities is to purchase car insurance. Even the most careful driver can be involved in an auto accident. If you live in the Deerfield, IL area and have questions about car insurance, our team at STARS Insurance is ready to discuss your insurance options. We’ve been providing insurance services for clients in your area for over 15 years.

What to Do If Your Insurance Is Not Renewed

If you are notified that your car insurance policy has been canceled, and you did not initiate the cancellation, the insurance company must provide you with an explanation. According to the Illinois Department of Insurance, if your policy is discontinued before its expiration date, it is considered canceled; if it is discontinued as of the expiration date, that is a policy nonrenewal. Your policy can be rescinded (voided back to its beginning) if you didn’t disclose a driving violation when applying for the policy.

In writing, your insurance company must notify you of the reason for your policy nonrenewal. If you believe your insurance company didn’t follow the correct guidelines for canceling your insurance, you have a right to appeal the decision. To appeal the cancellation, you must send a written application to the Department of Insurance at least 20 days before your ppolicy expires

Call Us Today for Your Appointment

Consider your insurance policy an investment in your driving privileges. Our team at STARS Insurance is always ready to discuss your auto insurance needs. Residents of the Deerfield, IL, area can feel confident when they trust our team to provide their insurance needs. Call us for an appointment today, and let’s talk about insurance.

How Commercial Insurance Protects Your Business

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If you’re operating a business or planning to open one in the Deerfield, IL area and need a commercial insurance policy, STARS Insurance is here to help. We understand that running a business involves many aspects, and we want to help you achieve peace of mind. With the right coverage, you’ll know your business is protected, allowing you to focus on its growth and strength.

A commercial policy is an excellent way to safeguard your business. It provides coverage for your company’s assets and reduces claim risk from concerns like customer injuries. Having the proper support if something goes wrong is crucial, providing you with the guidance needed to overcome issues and incidents.

Our professional agents will collaborate with you to find the best commercial coverage for your needs. We can provide you with quotes from multiple insurers, answer your questions about them, and guide you toward the policy that will meet your needs. There’s no reason to settle for less when you can get more by working with one of our trusted agents. Your company deserves a quality insurance policy that keeps it safe, and we want to be a part of helping you find that.

Contact us today at STARS Insurance if you’re in the Deerfield, IL area and looking for a commercial insurance policy for your business. Whether you’ve been in business for years or you’re just getting started, we can help you get the right coverage for your needs. It’s important to keep your company moving forward and your customers happy, which is easier to do when you’re confident that you’re protected for the future.

Water Back Up Coverage in Home Insurance

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Understanding Water Backup Coverage for Homeowners Insurance

Water backup coverage is an optional addition to homeowners insurance that helps protect against damages caused by backed-up drains, sewers, or sump pumps. Generally, standard homeowners insurance policies do not cover these types of damages. This add-on to home insurance could be quite beneficial for homeowners in Deerfield, IL.

Inclusions in Water Backup Coverage

When your home suffers damages from water backing up through drains, sump pumps, or sewer lines, water backup coverage springs into action. Such damages can result in considerable harm to your property, including the destruction of floors, walls, furniture, and personal belongings. Without this coverage, you would be liable for the costs of repairs and replacements.

For instance, if your sump pump fails during a storm and your basement floods, this coverage would pay for water extraction, repairs to damaged property, and replacement of destroyed items. This coverage is also useful if tree roots or blockages cause sewer lines to back up into your home and damage the fixtures or appliances.

Exclusions in Water Backup Coverage

It is important to mention that water backup coverage does not cover flooding from external sources such as heavy rain or overflowing rivers. To safeguard against flood damage, a separate flood insurance policy is required. Additionally, damages due to poor maintenance or neglect of the plumbing system are not covered. Therefore, routine maintenance and inspection of sump pumps and drains are essential to avoid denied claims.

Water backup coverage can be crucial for homeowners, especially those with finished basements or older plumbing systems. If your property has a sump pump or experiences drainage problems, it is advisable to discuss your options with your home insurance provider.

Choose STARS Insurance for a Clearer Understanding of Insurance

STARS Insurance can be your reliable partner for all things insurance. We serve Deerfield, IL, and its surrounding areas. Contact us today, and let’s talk about insurance.

Essential Tips for Successful Boat/Watercraft Winterization

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Attentive owners polish their boats and watercraft and give them the necessary maintenance to prepare for the summer. Do you give your motorboat, Jet Ski, and other vessels the same love and attention before storing them for the winter? The pros at STARS Insurance in Deerfield, IL, have put together these tips to keep your boat safe during the colder months. 

Start by Checking the Owner’s Manual 

Manufacturers include specific instructions on winterizing your watercraft. Review the manuals for each vessel or PWC before putting together a winterization strategy.

Prepare the Motor

If you have an inboard engine, the owner’s manual probably directs you to add antifreeze and clear the cylinders. For outboard motors, you may need to drain the cooling system, store the motor in the specified position (usually vertically), and fog the engine with the appropriate anticorrosive oil. 

Add Fuel and Inspect Your Stern Drive

If you have one, inspect the stern drive for any signs of damage. Schedule any needed maintenance or repairs as part of the winterization process. Also, you’ll want to fill the fuel tank by adding a fuel stabilizer to prevent buildup. 

Drain the Bilge, Head, and Freshwater Systems

Remove any water from the bilge, fresh water system, and head. You can use a bilge pump to drain the bilge quickly. When draining your freshwater systems, remember to empty all sinks and toilets. You may need to flush the lines with antifreeze to prevent weather-related damage. Additionally, properly cleaning the toilet can prevent foul smells and bacterial accumulation. 

Don’t Forget to Winterize Your PWCs

Secure your personal watercraft with a snug cover that won’t blow away. Choose a cover that provides UV protection. Clean and dry your PWC to extend its useful life. Our team can also review your boat/watercraft insurance and ensure you’re covered for weather-related perils.

Contact STARS Insurance in Deerfield, IL, for more tips on protecting your boat and watercraft with the appropriate insurance policy!

Why You Need Flood Insurance Outside of Flood Zones

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The government designates numerous areas as flood zones where there’s a high probability of regular flooding events. However, floods can occur anywhere, not only in these zones. For this reason, every homeowner needs to have flood insurance. If you don’t have any flood insurance coverage yet, contact us at STARS Insurance in Deerfield, IL.

The Flood Zone Designation

Areas that regularly flood are designated as flood zones and assigned a frequency interval (like 10 years, 50 years, etc.) at which flooding is expected. These areas typically either have terrain that is conducive to flooding or are located near a body of water prone to flooding. While living in a designated flood zone requires you to have flood insurance, it’s important to remember that not all floods happen in flood zones. Unexpected floods cause damage to many homes. Approximately 20% of all flood claims come from areas outside designated zones.

Home Insurance and Flood Insurance

It would be best if you had distinct flood insurance because your home insurance policy does not cover flood damage. If your home gets flooded, causing severe damage to the house and personal belongings within, your homeowner’s insurance will not pay for it. Skipping out on flood insurance is not a good idea because you never know when a flood could strike. Due to climate change, many areas that don’t have a historical record of flooding are now experiencing it.

Get Your Flood Insurance Policy

To commence with acquiring flood insurance, give us a call at STARS Insurance in Deerfield, IL.

Term Life Vs. Whole Life Insurance

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When you have people who depend on you, it’s always important to have a life insurance policy in place. The type of life insurance policy you choose should depend on what you want from your policy and what you have budgeted for the premiums. This insurance has two main types: term life and whole life. They work very differently from each other, but they also have much in common. Both pay out a death benefit to the beneficiaries of the policy. Call us at STARS Insurance in Deerfield, IL, if you need either of these policy types.

Term Life Insurance

Term life is one important factor that people need to know about before getting this type of policy. These policies are in effect for a specific amount of time. After that time has elapsed, they expire. Many people don’t like taking on a policy that has an expiration date, but the trade-off is that these policies cost much less than whole life insurance. This type is highly affordable for most people and often comes with very long terms.

Whole Life Insurance

This type comes with no expiration date at all. It is good for as long as you choose to keep the policy. It’s more expensive, but many people like that it doesn’t expire and that it builds up a cash value. Over the years, it builds this value that you can later borrow against if you have the need to. This can lead to peace of mind, knowing emergency money is available if you ever need to access it.

Get Life Insurance

No matter which type you choose, it’s essential to have a policy in place. To learn more about which type of life insurance you need, call us at STARS Insurance in Deerfield, IL.

Deerfield Drivers: Key Insights for Choosing the Right Auto Insurance

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Deerfield, IL motorists looking to protect their investment often rely on the assistance of STARS Insurance. Once it comes time to choose the right auto insurance, we are here to help. All sorts of crucial insights need to be discussed before a decision is made. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common mistakes that take place so that all of the following pitfalls can be avoided.

Adhering Strictly to Minimum

Yes, it is great to remain in compliance with the required minimums, but this is not always advisable. There is no reason to rely strictly on the bare minimum amount of auto insurance. Minimum requirements are not always as high as they need to be, and this can leave motorists scrambling once an accident occurs. If you are found to be at fault, these costs are only going to be exacerbated.

Failure To Consider Your Teen Driver

Even if your teen driver will not be utilizing the vehicle regularly, they must still be considered. If you fail to list them on your insurance policy and they cause an accident, your premiums are going to skyrocket. No motorist will want to be left responsible for the expenses that take place when their teen driver is found to be at fault.

Lack of Correct Information

Incorrect or misleading information is a major no-no as far as auto insurance is concerned. Don’t misrepresent the mileage you are accruing or even something as simple as where the vehicle is being parked at nighttime. False information will lead to a retroactive increase in your premiums, which should always be avoided.

At STARS Insurance, our primary objective is simple: giving Deerfield, IL, residents the tools they need to make an informed decision about their auto insurance needs. Call us or stop by today to learn more about how we can help!

Mitigating the Many Pitfalls of Owning a Business

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Owning a business may be a dream come true for you and your family. However, if you don’t take the proper precautions, there’s a risk that your dreams could turn into a nightmare. We’ll take a look at some steps businesses can take to mitigate risks, such as taking out commercial insurance policies. If you’re looking for assistance with insurance coverage in Deerfield, IL, among other communities, contact STARS Insurance.

The Risks Business Owners Must Be Aware Of

Entering into business is often inherently risky, yet there are some things you can do to reduce threats. First, it’s wise to develop a clear and clean financial picture. You’ll want to ensure that invoicing, payroll, and other basic financial processes are all in good order. If your finances become disorganized, it could cause trouble. Fortunately, many business software programs and tools make such processes much easier to handle.

It’s also crucial that you take out the appropriate insurance policies. What’s covered can vary from plan to plan, and you may have to take out a few different policies to ensure complete coverage. Some types of commercial insurance might cover injuries should a customer be injured. If you have company vehicles, they’ll likely need to be covered by vehicle policies. If you own or rent a commercial building, you’ll want to ensure your property and equipment are covered.

Not all risks can be mitigated. You’ll likely face competition, and at times, the competition could be stiff. By getting your finances in order and limiting risks with the right commercial insurance policies, you can reduce burdens and free resources to confront other risks, like your competitors. If you need help, contact STARS Insurance, serving in Deerfield, IL, to explore various coverage options. 

Smart Tech Upgrades for Deerfield Homes: Insurance Benefits with STARS Insurance

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When you’re in Deerfield, IL, you want the ultimate home. You’ve worked to find a beautiful home in a great neighborhood. Now, some smart tech upgrades can also benefit your home insurance. At STARS Insurance, we’re here to help you get the most benefits.

Smart Tech for Security

A variety of smart tech upgrades can enhance the security of your home. Secured property can either deter criminals from ever breaking into your home or at least gather information so that you can report it to the police, which can lower your premiums.

Some smart tech that will help with securing your property includes:

  • Video cameras
  • Window sensors
  • Doorbell camera

Many of these will work together to take security to the next level. If you’re not home and any of these sensors are triggered, 911 can even be called on your behalf.

Smart Tech for Other Issues

Other smart tech options can be used to identify issues around your home so that damage is minimized.

Examples of such include:

  • Water leak sensors
  • Fire alarms
  • Smoke sensors
  • Electrical system monitors

All of these can detect an issue quickly to draw your attention. This way, you can address the problem immediately rather than finding out about it days or weeks after the problem has started – and the damage could be more considerable.

Discuss the Many Insurance Benefits with Our Agents

With so many intelligent tech upgrades that you can make, it’s a good idea to discuss your options with an insurance agent. When you’re in Deerfield, IL, call us at STARS Insurance.

We can look at your policy and home and recommend the best upgrades for you.

How Deerfield Boaters Navigate The Murky Waters of Boat Insurance

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Navigating Illinois Boat Insurance: A Guide for Deerfield, IL Boat Owners

Choosing a suitable insurance policy for your boat in Deerfield, IL, may initially seem like a complex task, considering the responsibility that comes with protecting not only your vessel but its passengers and their belongings. However, Stars Insurance professionals are here to alleviate your worries and help you pursue the best boat insurance coverage.

Understanding the Basics of Illinois Boat Insurance

Boat insurance is a strategic financial shield for local boaters against devastating events like boating accidents, theft, or damage. It provides coverage for varied risks and is available in several types in Illinois.

Common Illinois Boat Insurance Plans

The Illinois boat insurance types commonly sought by boaters include:

  • Liability Insurance for Illinois Boaters
  • Property Coverage
  • Medical Payments Coverage
  • Uninsured Boater Coverage
  • Underinsured Boater Coverage
  • Personal Injury Protection
  • Towing and Emergency Assistance for Illinois Boaters

Choosing Comprehensive Boat Insurance in Deerfield, IL

Comprehensive boat insurance in Illinois offers extended coverage for various incidents, providing more protection for your vessel. Full coverage boat insurance safeguards your finances against total loss caused by collisions, natural disasters, vandalism, and other non-collision-related events.