What is the difference between an Insurance Broker and an Insurance Agent?
Insurance Agents.
Insurance agents are insurance professionals that serve as an intermediary between the insurance company and the insured. An independent agent is one who works as an agent for a variety of different insurance companies. An independent insurance agent can produce policies from several insurers and offer some comparisons of different insurance policies.
Insurance Brokers.
A broker represents many companies, and has the capability of finding the right mix for a client. Brokers can offer a whole host of insurance products for you to consider. Brokers are required to have a broker’s license which typically means the broker will have more education or experience than an agent.
At Brandt Insurance, we are both agents and brokers. We present solutions from a variety of insurance companies that best fit the client’s interest. We make sure every aspect of your business is covered and tailored to your budget.
Once I’m a Brandt customer, who will be servicing my account? How do I request certificates of insurance, or make billing inquiries?
A team consisting of your broker and an account manager will handle your account. Both are experts in your industry, and can handle all service functions. Both are always available by e-mail, phone, fax, or in person. We strive to build strong personal relationships with all our customers.
Do I Need a Commercial Auto Insurance Policy?
As a business owner, you need the same kinds of insurance coverages for the car you use in your business as you do for a car used for personal travel — liability, collision and comprehensive, medical payments (known as personal injury protection in some states) and coverage for uninsured motorists. In fact, many business people use the same vehicle for both business and pleasure. If the vehicle is owned by the business, make sure the name of the business appears on the policy as the “principal insured” rather than your name. This will avoid possible confusion in the event that you need to file a claim or a claim is filed against you.
Whether or not you need to buy a business auto insurance policy will depend on the kind of driving you do. A good insurance agent will ask you many details about how you use vehicles in your business, who will be driving them and whether employees, if you have them, are likely to be driving their own cars for your business.
While the major coverages are the same, a business auto policy differs from a personal auto policy in many technical respects. If you have a personal umbrella liability policy, there’s generally an exclusion for business-related liability. Make sure you have sufficient auto liability coverage. It’s important to ask your Brandt agent to explain all the differences and options.
What is Bodily Injury Liability?
Bodily injury liability covers the liability of an insured person for bodily injury to others arising out of ownership, maintenance or use of a covered vehicle. Also covered is third-party injury that is caused by the use of a trailer attached to a covered vehicle or a non-owned vehicle operated by an insured person.
What is Property Damage Liability?
Property damage liability pays damages for property damage for which an insured person is legally responsible because of an accident arising out of: ownership, maintenance, or use of a vehicle; use of a trailer attached to a covered vehicle or to a non-owned vehicle operated by an insured person.
What is Medical Payments Coverage?
Medical payments coverage pays, within the specified limits of liability, reasonable and necessary expenses incurred for medical and funeral expenses because of bodily injury sustained by an insured person, caused by an accident, and arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle or trailer.
Medical payments coverage is an important consideration for benefits greater than those included in no-fault insurance and, certainly, when no-fault protection is not available or is not in force.
What is Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage pays for damages, within covered limits, that an insured person is legally entitled to recover from the owner or operator of an uninsured motor vehicle because of bodily injury sustained by an insured person, caused by an accident, and arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of an uninsured (or underinsured) motor vehicle.
The first concept applies when the offender has no liability insurance; the second, when his or her insurance limits are insufficient. Many insurers write the protection as a single coverage; others, as two separate coverages.
What is Collision Coverage?
Collision coverage pays for loss to a covered vehicle for which the coverage has been purchased, to a non-owned vehicle, or to a trailer. It applies when the vehicle or trailer overturns or is in a collision with another object.
What is Comprehensive (Other Than Collision) Coverage?
Comprehensive (other than collision) coverage pays for comprehensive loss to a covered vehicle for which the coverage has been purchased, to a non-owned vehicle, or to a trailer. Comprehensive loss is loss other than a that covered under collision coverage, including theft.
How do I contact you? Do you have a toll-free number?
You can either contact us at [th_phone] or our toll free number (800) 434-4436, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8am – 5pm. We look forward to talking with you.