Insurpedia / Journeys
Insurance, organized by the life event that triggers it.
Every lesson belongs to a journey: the real event that made someone need to think about insurance in the first place. Free, always, and never tied to a specific insurer.
№ 01
Becoming a Landlord
Renting Out a Furnished Home: Who Insures the Furniture?
A landlord policy can cover furnishings and appliances you leave for tenants, but not tenants' own belongings. Who insures what.
Module 1 · ~2 min readCompletedLong-Term vs. Short-Term Rentals: What Insurance Questions Change?
Short-term rentals may need an endorsement or a business policy; long-term leases usually need a landlord policy. What to ask your insurer first.
Module 1 · ~5 min readCompletedYou're Renting Out a Room in Your House. Do You Need Landlord Insurance?
Renting a room to a paying tenant can reclassify your home's insurance risk. What changes, and when you actually need to update coverage.
Module 1 · ~2 min readCompletedShould Landlords Require Tenants to Have Renters Insurance?
Many landlords require renters insurance because their own policy doesn't cover tenants' belongings. What it protects, and what to put in the lease.
Module 2 · ~3 min readCompletedIf a Fire Makes Your Rental Unlivable, Does Insurance Replace the Lost Rent?
Fair rental value coverage pays rent you lose while a covered loss is repaired. What triggers it, its limits, and what it leaves to the tenant.
Module 2 · ~2 min readCompletedYour Rental Is Empty Between Tenants: Is It Still Fully Insured?
Many policies limit coverage when a home is vacant beyond a set number of days. What to check while a rental sits empty between tenants.
Module 2 · ~2 min readCompletedDo Landlords Need Umbrella Insurance?
Renting out property is a common reason to consider umbrella insurance. How an umbrella sits above your landlord and auto policies, and what to check.
№ 02
First-Time Homeowner
Start the full journey: 6 modules and a final assessment →
Buying a House With an Old Roof: What It Means for Your Homeowners Insurance
How an older roof can affect whether you can get homeowners insurance, what it costs, and how roof claims get paid, plus what to ask before closing.
Module 1 · ~2 min readCompletedBuying a Home in a Flood Zone: When Your Lender Requires Flood Insurance
Homes in high-risk flood zones with a government-backed mortgage generally need flood insurance. What the zone letters mean, and timing at closing.
Module 1 · ~4 min readCompletedFlorida's 4-Point Inspection: What It Is and What Happens If Your Home Doesn't Pass
What Florida's 4-point insurance inspection checks, when insurers require it, and what to do if the report flags a problem before closing.
Module 1 · ~5 min readCompletedDoes Homeowners Insurance Cover Damage That Was There Before You Bought the House?
Why homeowners insurance usually won't pay for damage that was already there when you bought the house, and what protects you instead.
Module 1 · ~2 min readCompletedWhat an Insurance Binder Does Before You Close on a House
A binder is temporary proof of coverage until the policy is issued. Why lenders ask for one before closing, and what to check on it.
Module 1 · ~4 min readCompletedBuying an Older Home: The Wiring and Plumbing That Can Make It Hard to Insure
Why knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring and aging plumbing can make an older home harder to insure, and what to check before you close.
Module 2 · ~6 min readCompletedHow Much Dwelling Coverage Do You Actually Need to Rebuild Your Home?
Why dwelling coverage should match rebuild cost, not purchase price or mortgage balance, and what a coinsurance penalty costs you if you get it wrong.
Module 2 · ~2 min readCompletedRenovating Your Home: When to Tell Your Insurer
A renovation can raise your rebuilding cost above your dwelling limit. When to call your insurer, and what to check about your contractor.
Module 2 · ~2 min readCompletedRebuilding Costs Went Up: Is Your Dwelling Limit Still Enough at Renewal?
Construction costs rise, so last year's dwelling limit may be too low. How inflation guard works, and why regulators still say to review it yearly.
Module 3 · ~5 min readCompletedWhat Does Standard Homeowners Insurance Actually Exclude?
Flood, earthquake, gradual damage, water backup, and mold are typically excluded from standard homeowners insurance. Here's what each exclusion actually means.
Module 3 · ~2 min readCompletedFlood Insurance Building vs. Contents Coverage: What Each Pays For
NFIP flood policies split building and contents coverage, each with its own limit and deductible. What each covers, from the furnace to the sofa.
Module 3 · ~2 min readCompletedBurst Pipe, Sewer Backup or Flood: Why the Source of Water Matters
Sudden water from a burst pipe, sewer backup and outside flooding are usually covered differently. A side-by-side guide to the source of the water.
Module 4 · ~3 min readCompletedIs Your Escrow Payment the Same as Your Homeowners Insurance Premium?
Escrow is your lender collecting money to pay your taxes and insurance, not the premium itself. A worked example of how a premium change moves your payment.
Module 4 · ~5 min readCompletedShould You Bundle Home and Auto Insurance After Buying Your First House?
Bundling home and auto often triggers a multi-policy discount, but comparing a bundled quote against separate quotes is the only way to know for sure.
Module 4 · ~2 min readCompletedHome Insurance Cancellation vs. Nonrenewal: What Each Notice Means
A cancellation ends a policy mid-term; a nonrenewal ends it at the term's end. Notice periods, common reasons, and the steps to take in time.
Module 4 · ~2 min readCompletedWhat Happens if Your Homeowners Insurance Lapses and You Have a Mortgage?
If your homeowners policy lapses, your servicer can buy force-placed insurance and charge you. The notices you get first, and how to get it removed.
Module 4 · ~4 min readCompletedHow Much Is a 2% Hurricane or Wind Deductible in Dollars?
A percentage deductible is a share of your insured value, not of the damage. Worked examples at 1% to 10%, and what to check in your policy.
Module 5 · ~2 min readCompletedAdditional Living Expenses: What to Track While You Can't Live at Home
ALE pays the extra cost of living elsewhere after a covered loss. What counts as "extra", common limits, and the receipts that keep payments coming.
Module 5 · ~2 min readCompletedFirst Steps After Your Home Is Damaged: What to Do Before the Adjuster Comes
After damage, make temporary repairs to prevent more loss, document everything and keep receipts. What to do first, and what to hold off on.
Module 5 · ~2 min readCompletedWhy Your Home Insurance Claim Check Is Made Out to Your Mortgage Company
If you have a mortgage, the repair check usually names you and your lender. How endorsing it works and how the lender releases the money.
Module 5 · ~2 min readCompletedHow Long Do You Have to File a Home Insurance Claim?
Most policies set a deadline to file a claim, often around a year, but it varies. Where to find yours and why reporting promptly matters.
Module 5 · ~3 min readCompletedHow Does a Home Inventory Help After a Loss, and What Should It Include?
A home inventory makes a claim easier to document and shows whether your coverage fits. What to record, room by room, and where to keep it.
№ 03
New Driver
Financing a Car: What Insurance Your Lender Requires
Your state sets minimum liability. Your lender generally requires collision and comprehensive too. How the two differ and what gap insurance adds.
Module 1 · ~3 min readCompletedBought a New Car? Is It Insured Before You Call Your Insurer?
Many auto policies cover a newly bought car automatically for a short period, often about 20 days in Texas. What that covers and why to call anyway.
Module 1 · ~6 min readCompletedWhy Does Auto Insurance Cost So Much More for a New Driver?
New driver premiums are priced on group risk, not individual skill. Here's what actually moves the price down as experience builds.
Module 2 · ~3 min readCompletedCollege Student Away at School: Do They Stay on Your Car Insurance?
Some insurers require young drivers to stay on the policy while away at school. What to tell your insurer, and when it can lower the premium.
Module 2 · ~3 min readCompletedDoes Your Personal Car Insurance Cover Food Delivery or Ride-Hailing?
Personal auto policies typically don't cover driving for a fee, like food delivery or ride-hailing. Why, and what to ask before you start.
Module 2 · ~3 min readCompletedIf You Lend Your Car to a Friend and They Crash, Whose Insurance Pays?
Most auto policies cover people driving your car with your permission, with limits. What that means after a crash, and the exclusions to check.
Module 2 · ~6 min readCompletedShould a New Driver Be Added to a Parent's Policy or Get Their Own?
Adding a new driver to a parent's policy is usually cheaper than a standalone one, but the classification and shared-risk tradeoffs matter first.
Module 2 · ~3 min readCompletedDo You Need the Rental Counter's Damage Waiver if You Have Car Insurance?
A rental damage waiver isn't insurance; your own policy may already apply to a rental. What to check, and the gaps that can still matter.
Module 3 · ~2 min readCompletedDriving Into Mexico: Does Your U.S. Car Insurance Cover You?
Mexico doesn't recognize U.S. auto policies, so drivers generally need Mexican liability insurance. What to buy before crossing and what to check.
Module 3 · ~2 min readCompletedMoving to Another State: What to Do About Your Car Insurance
Moving states changes your car insurance requirements and deadlines. What to tell your insurer, and what to check about the new state's minimums.
Module 3 · ~6 min readCompletedWhat Actually Happens If a New Driver Causes an Accident?
Beyond "the rate goes up": what liability and collision coverage actually pay for, when an SR-22 comes into play, and what to do right after an accident.
Module 3 · ~2 min readCompletedSelling Your Car: When to Cancel the Insurance
Cancel car insurance too early after a sale and some states can suspend your registration. The order to follow: plates, registration, then insurance.
Module 3 · ~3 min readCompletedWhat Do Auto Liability Limits Like 30/60/25 Mean When Several People Are Hurt?
Split limits are three separate caps: per person, per accident and property damage. A worked three-person accident shows how each one applies.
№ 04
Newly Married
Should You Combine Auto Insurance After Marriage?
The real math on combining auto insurance after marriage: multi-car discount ranges, DUI/violation risk, and state rules on spousal exclusion.
Module 1 · ~2 min readCompletedMoving In Together: Do You Have to Add Your Partner to Your Car Insurance?
Some insurers require everyone of driving age in your home to be listed or excluded. What to disclose after moving in together, and why it matters.
Module 1 · ~3 min readCompletedIs an Engagement Ring Covered by Homeowners or Renters Insurance?
Standard policies often cap jewelry theft at $1,000 to $2,000 and may not cover a lost ring. How scheduling a ring works, with a worked example.
Module 1 · ~3 min readCompletedMoving In Together: Does One Renters Policy Cover Both of You?
A spouse is usually covered under your renters policy; an unmarried partner usually isn't unless named. What to check before moving in.
Module 1 · ~2 min readCompletedAre Your Belongings in a Storage Unit Covered by Insurance?
Homeowners or renters policies may cover a storage unit off-premises, but not for all perils. What's typically left out, and what to check.
Module 2 · ~2 min readCompletedLife Insurance Through Work vs. Your Own Policy
Life insurance from your job typically ends when you leave. How it compares with an individual policy, and what to check after getting married.
Module 2 · ~2 min readCompletedPolicyholder, Insured and Beneficiary: Who's Who on a Life Insurance Policy?
The policyholder owns the policy, the insured is whose life it covers, and the beneficiary receives the payout. Primary and contingent beneficiaries explained.
Module 2 · ~5 min readCompletedDo You Need to Update Your Life Insurance Beneficiary After Marriage?
A beneficiary designation overrides your will. Which accounts to update after marriage, and why a 401(k) follows different spousal rules.
№ 05
Starting a Small Business
Is Your Business Equipment Covered When You Take It to a Client's Site?
A standard homeowners policy typically covers business equipment away from home for only about $250. What to check if you take gear to clients.
Module 1 · ~5 min readCompletedDoes Homeowners Insurance Cover Your Home-Based Business?
What your homeowners policy won't cover once you run a business from home, and the three realistic ways to close the coverage gap.
Module 2 · ~2 min readCompletedDoes Business Interruption Insurance Pay if Your Business Has to Close?
Business interruption coverage replaces lost income when a covered loss forces you to close. What usually triggers it, and what to check.
Module 2 · ~2 min readCompletedBusiness Owners Policy vs Commercial Package Policy: Which Fits?
A BOP bundles core coverage for smaller businesses; a commercial package policy is broader and customizable. How they differ and what to ask.
Module 2 · ~2 min readCompletedDoes Business Insurance Cover Flooding?
Most business property policies exclude flood. NFIP commercial flood policies cover building and contents up to $500,000 each. What to check.
Module 2 · ~3 min readCompletedDoes Business Insurance Cover Lightning Strikes?
Business property insurance generally covers lightning damage, but surges, equipment breakdown and utility outages can need extra coverage. What to check.
Module 2 · ~3 min readCompletedGeneral Liability vs Professional Liability: Which One Covers Which Claim?
General liability is for injury and property damage; professional liability is for advice or services that cost a client money. Sort six examples.
Module 3 · ~3 min readCompletedCertificate Holder vs Additional Insured: What Does a Certificate of Insurance Prove?
A certificate of insurance summarizes a policy; it doesn't give anyone coverage. Additional insured status comes from the policy or an endorsement.
Module 3 · ~2 min readCompletedEmployees Driving Their Own Cars for Work: Who's Liable?
When an employee crashes their own car on a work errand, the business can be liable. How hired and non-owned auto coverage fills that gap.
Module 3 · ~2 min readCompletedHiring an Independent Contractor: What Insurance Should You Check?
Most states may treat an uninsured contractor as your employee for workers comp. What proof of insurance to ask for before a contractor starts work.
Module 3 · ~2 min readCompletedHiring Your First Employee: Do You Need Workers' Compensation?
Workers' comp rules depend on your state. Texas lets most private employers choose, with notice duties. What to check before your first hire.
№ 06
Vacation Home Ownership
Are Your Belongings at a Second Home Covered?
Your main policy may cover belongings off-premises, but some insurers cap it at 10%. How to check coverage for contents at a vacation home.
Module 1 · ~2 min readCompletedDetached Garages, Sheds and Docks at a Vacation Home: Are They Covered?
Other structures coverage pays for detached garages, sheds and fences, often about 10% of the dwelling limit. How to check it at a second home.
Module 1 · ~5 min readCompletedDo You Need Separate Insurance for a Vacation Home You Don't Rent Out?
Why a vacation home costs more to insure than your primary residence, even if you never rent it out or earn a dollar from it.
Module 2 · ~3 min readCompletedLeaving a Vacation Home Empty for the Season: What to Check Before You Lock Up
Before a second home sits empty, check your policy's vacancy period and freeze conditions. A closing checklist, and why the record matters.
Module 2 · ~2 min readCompletedCoastal Texas Second Home: Why Wind and Hail May Need a Separate Policy
On the Texas coast, home policies may not cover wind and hail. What TWIA is, the flood-insurance condition, and why to buy before storm season.
Module 2 · ~2 min readCompletedBuying Flood Insurance for a Coastal Second Home: What to Know First
Most home policies don't cover flood. NFIP limits, the 30-day waiting period and its exceptions, and what to check for a coastal second home.
Module 2 · ~2 min readCompletedFound Damage at Your Vacation Home Months Later: What Happens to the Claim?
Damage found months later at a second home raises questions about deadlines, vacancy and when it happened. What to report and how to document it.
Module 3 · ~2 min readCompletedRenting Out Your Vacation Home Short-Term: Are You Still Covered?
Most home policies won't pay for damage or injuries during short-term rentals. Why, and what to settle with your insurer before you list.