With over 330,000 registered boats, Pennsylvania is a favorite destination for boaters. Featuring several water bodies for carrying out boating activities, PA State provides limitless fun for water lovers. But as they say, you need to pay to play. Besides putting money in your boat investment, you need boat insurance to protect you and your boat while in the water. To that end, here is a rundown about boat insurance by Berks County Insurance of Reading, PA, to help you understand this coverage in detail. 

Is boat insurance mandatory in Pennsylvania? 

Like most states, the Keystone State doesn’t require boat insurance. However, if your boat is financed through a loan, your lender might require you to buy boat insurance all year though. But compliance isn’t the only motivator for you to buy boat insurance. Boat insurance helps lessen your financial burden when the unthinkable occurs.

Do I need boat insurance if I have home insurance?

While you may have home insurance, it not only provides limited coverage to your boat, but it doesn’t cover your liabilities and boat-specific damages. Home insurance may only come in handy if you have a tiny boat that you are not using outside your home precincts. 

What are the boat insurance add-ons to consider?

It’s highly critical to choose your boat insurance wisely. Boat insurance can prevent you from slumping into a financial mess following a boating accident. Depending on how you use your boat, you should consult with your insurance agent to ensure that you are well-covered.

Ultimately, here are boat insurance add-ons that you must include in your boat insurance, regardless of your boat size and lifestyle.

• Liability coverage to safeguard you against third party claims
• Comprehensive and collision coverages to protect your boat against physical damage or loss
• Medical payments coverage to pay for medical expenses following a boating accident
• Uninsured boater coverage to protect you against uninsured boaters

Now that you have a clue about boat insurance, it’s time to go ahead and purchase coverage from Berks County Insurance. Besides, if you have more questions about boat coverage, please contact or visit our Reading, PA offices today. 

Those that are in the Reading, PA area will have various liability risks. The best way that these risks can be mitigated is by getting the right insurance plan. One form of insurance that all people should consider getting is umbrella insurance. There are a few reasons why someone here will need to have an umbrella insurance plan. 

Coverage Protects Against Major Claims

A lot of people in this state are going to have some liability insurance protection through their existing home or auto insurance plans. However, there is always a chance that claims could exceed policy limits that are set. If this happens during an accident that you are responsible for, you will still need to pay for damages that exceed your policy. If you also have an umbrella insurance plan, it will provide you with additional coverage on top of your base plans. 

Protection for More Situations

An umbrella plan is also ideal as it will provide coverage for additional situations. Home and auto insurance plans do not provide liability coverage for every personal scenario that could result in a personal liability claim. When you have an umbrella liability insurance plan in place, you are going to receive coverage for a wider range of situations that could lead to a liability claim. 

As you are looking for a new umbrella insurance plan in the Reading, PA area, it would be helpful to speak with the team at Berks County Insurance. There are a lot of important choices that need to be made when picking an umbrella plan and Berks County Insurance can make it easier for you. The team here will help you properly assess your insurance needs and build a plan that will give you proper liability protection and peace of mind. 

The Reading, PA area can be a great place to purchase a home. Those that are in this area of the state and are property owners do need to make sure that they properly cover and protect their home with insurance. For some people, this includes getting a flood insurance plan. There are a few reasons why someone may need to get flood insurance in this area of the state.

Flood Damage is a Risk and Concern

A key reason to get flood insurance when you are in Pennsylvania is that you are concerned about flood damage. Depending on where you are located in town, there could be a recurring risk that rising rivers and floodwaters could affect your property. If you do not have ample coverage for this risk through your base home insurance plan, you will need to get an additional flood insurance policy to protect your home.

Flood Insurance is Required

You may also need a flood insurance plan if it is a requirement for you. A lot of people that are in this area of the state will finance their home purchase with a mortgage. If you have taken out a mortgage it will be very important for you to follow your lender’s insurance requirements. In many cases, this will include having you obtain flood insurance. If your home is in a high-risk flood zone, the bank will undoubtedly require you to get coverage. 

When you are shopping for a new flood insurance plan in the Reading, PA area, it would be smart to call Berks County Insurance. The team with Berks County Insurance will help you to know if a flood insurance plan is a good option for you. If it is, they can help you build a plan based on your personal needs. 

There are a lot of insurance needs that the average person in Reading, PA will need to evaluate. One important form of insurance to get is life insurance, which will give coverage to a dependant if you were to pass away during the policy term. As you are looking for life insurance there are a lot of options that need to be considered. The two most common options continue to be term and whole life insurance coverage. You should carefully consider the advantages of each option when picking a plan.

Term Life Coverage

A very common form of life insurance to get is term life coverage. This coverage is an ideal option for many as the premiums are more affordable than other options and it can be curtailed to meet your needs. You will be able to build a flexible policy in terms of coverage term and the amount of life insurance protection you provide.

Whole Life Coverage

A whole life insurance plan is also a good idea for many. With a whole life plan, you can get coverage for the rest of your life if you keep making payments on time. As an added benefit, some of your monthly payments will go into an investment fund that grows with interest. At some time in the future, you can liquidate this account, which can make it a good addition to a personal investment plan. 

Picking the right life insurance plan in Reading, PA is a big decision. As you are looking for your next plan, it would be helpful to call Berks County Insurance. The team with Berks County Insurance understands how necessary this coverage is. They can then help you carefully evaluate your option and pick a plan that is right for you and your situation. 

Every business needs at least one vehicle to carry out routine operations. The logistical processes that include deliveries and employee’s general movement may be difficult to accomplish without a car. As long as such vehicles are useful in running business operations, they should be suitable for commercial insurance coverage. 

It’s easy to get confused about the application of commercial insurance. This is more so because most small enterprises use their cars that have personal auto coverage for business processes. So, do you need commercial auto insurance?   

Why Is Commercial Auto Insurance Important? 

In case of unforeseen accidents, injuries, and liabilities caused by a personal car while undertaking business processes, your auto coverage may not be useful. This is why commercial auto insurance is critical. Our commercial auto insurance plan at Berks County Insurance covers your car and employees against any physical damages and injuries caused while on the line of duty. 

Instances where you need commercial auto insurance include:

In Case Transport of Goods and Services is Part of your Business

This is where you either transport goods or people at a fee. 

In case You Conduct a Service with Your Vehicle 

Individuals or businesses that use their cars to provide specific services within Reading PA should also consider opting for commercial coverage. 

If Employees Use the Car Often 

Your auto cover extends as far as your immediate family. If any of your staff uses a specific car for movement or other business processes, you should consider commercial auto insurance. 

Safeguard Your Family, Business, and Employees Today 

The best thing to do when you have a car used for personal and commercial activities would be to consider commercial auto insurance. At Berks County Insurance, we tailor-make our commercial auto insurance for our customers in Reading, PA, to suit their specific needs. 

Are you looking for a reliable insurance company? At Berks County Insurance, we offer auto, home, commercial, life, and renters insurance to keep you safe and confident. Contact us today.

When you look into different types of life insurance, you will come across the term whole life. But, what is this type of policy, and how does it work? If you are interested in a whole life policy, call us at Berks County Insurance in Reading, PA to talk with an agent about this type of life insurance coverage. 

Insured for Life

One of the aspects that make whole life policies so unique is that they are good for the rest of your life. No matter how old you get, the policy can’t be canceled by the insurance company as long as you continue to pay your insurance premiums. This is a factor that gives many insured people peace of mind in knowing that their family will have the death benefit no matter how old the insured is. Many other types of insurance have age cutoffs and are good for only a specific amount of time. 

A Cash Value

Another unique aspect of this insurance type is that over time it will actually build a cash value that you can tap into if needed. If you have a financial situation that requires cash fast, you can borrow against your death benefit and meet your financial obligation. When you borrow against it, the death benefit is lowered by the amount you borrowed. When you get it all paid back, the full death benefit is restored. Many people find that this cash value gives them even more peace of mind, knowing that they will have that option in the event of an emergency. 

Get Your Whole Life Policy

If you need insurance to protect your family from financial hardship, contact us now at Berks County Insurance in Reading, PA to talk about the coverage you want and need. 

Berks County Insurance proudly serves the Reading, PA community, as well as the surrounding areas by offering residents different types of insurance coverage. As an independent insurance agency, we have established successful partnerships with several different insurance companies throughout Pennsylvania.  We always put our client’s interests first.

Boxing/MMA Insurance

Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts are very physical sports with a high likelihood of violence and potential injury. If you are a promoter who hosts boxing and MMA events throughout Reading, PA and the surrounding areas, you need protection.

The policy protects you in the event that one of the competitors is seriously injured or if one of the employees or volunteers working the show is seriously injured. You’ll also be covered in the event that you are held liable for potential property damage.

Boxing/ MMA insurance covers all of the participants in the event, as well as the referees and judges in the event that they are injured. The policy also covers the process if a serious injury results in an accidental death. Read through the language in your policy carefully, as the terms may be different based on whether the boxing and MMA fights at the event are amateur or professional. You can amend your policy to include spectator liability coverage. This protects you in the event that a spectator is injured while watching the event. If you plan to sell alcohol at the event, you can amend your policy to include that in your liability coverage.

Berks County Insurance Will Assist You Through The Process

Organizing a Boxing or MMA event is hard. There are a lot of steps involved in the process of making sure that everything runs smoothly. We can help alleviate some stress by helping you find the right policy. Visit our website today to learn more information about how we can assist you.

Whether you live in a rental home, condo, apartment, or townhome chances are you’ve wondered whether or not your landlord is responsible for your property if anything is damaged or stolen. First, start by reviewing your lease because this is a legally binding document outlining everything from the rental start date to damages to the property. Chances are high that your lease will absolve the property owner of any responsibility for your belongings. 

While this may not be the news that you want to read, there are a couple of reasons why it is the case. First, the property – as outlined by your lease – is rented to you for a specific duration of time which means that whether it is for 6 months or 12 months you have possession and control of the space – not the landlord. As a result, the possessions within that space are under your control and ownership. Second, generally speaking, in order to insure an item you need to have ownership of it like a car, musical instrument, or pet which would absolve the landlord of responsibility because the items belong to you not them.

Luckily, it doesn’t all have to be doom and gloom because with rental insurance your personal belongings are covered from damage, theft, and other incidents. Although policies can vary, a typical renters’ insurance policy will include coverage of personal property, liability, and additional living expenses if you have to move out of the space due to the damage. Keep in mind that renters’ insurance does not cover the actual property and accidental or purposeful damage to the place being rented is still a liability. For specific questions and assistance in purchasing a policy, give Berks County Insurance in Reading, PA a call for a no-obligation consultation where our friendly team of insurance professionals are ready to answer all your questions. 

The sizes and types of recreational vehicles (RVs) are many.  These vehicles are grouped together in classes for insurance purposes, but even within a class, there are wide variations in the size and type of RV.  Berks County Insurance in the Reading, PA area can help you with your insurance for an RV because regardless of size or class, you will want to protect your investment from accidents.  

Class A RV’s are the largest type and can range from 26 to 45 feet in length and weigh from 13,000 to 30,000 pounds.  These RV’s are basically a home away from home on wheels which can include everything from separate bedrooms with king-size beds, to space under the RV to store a sports car.  They are however limited as to where they travel due to their size and hook up needs once parked.  

Class B RVs are more commonly known as camper vans and range from 17 to 23 feet and weigh between 4,000 and 9,000 pounds.  These are basic with a bed and some storage space, but can have bathrooms, dining areas, and sleep as many as six people.  

Class C RVs usually have the sleeping quarters over the cab and range from 20-30 feet.  These RVs are usually not big enough to tow anything behind them but can have pull-outs and separate bathrooms. 

Class A-C recreational vehicles are typically motorized and driven on the road without needing to be towed.  Travel trailers are another type of RV which are towed behind a truck or SUV.  These are good for campers who want to store the RV when it’s not in use.  Pop-up trailers are also towed behind a vehicle and range from 8-16 feet and can be as light as 700 pounds.  These lightweight campers fold into themselves for easy storage.  

No matter what type of RV you own, the agents at Berks County Insurance in the Reading, PA area can help you insure it against accidents.  Please visit our website to get started.

Just like cars, motorcycles that are registered in Pennsylvania and operated on roads in that state need to be properly insured. But if you’re not sure what kind of policy you need, then it’s important to work with a knowledgeable agent who can help you. If you’re in the Reading, PA area, Berks County Insurance can give you the information you need to get a quality policy that fits your situation and protects you on the road. Then you can enjoy spending time on your motorcycle when the days are warm and sunny and experience the miles of roads that can lead to adventures all over the state. Whether you stay close to home or you’re planning a road trip, having proper motorcycle insurance is important.

Typically, insurance on a motorcycle covers the basics such as accidents whether it’s just your motorcycle or there’s another vehicle involved. Your passenger may be protected by your policy, as well. You can also get coverage for things like fire and theft protection, and collision insurance to cover damage done to your motorcycle if you’re in an at-fault accident, a single-vehicle accident, or involved in a collision with someone who’s not properly insured. Not all of those coverage types are required if you own your motorcycle, but they may be necessary if it’s financed. The basic coverage, though, is necessary even if you don’t have a lienholder on your bike.

Ready to get a motorcycle insurance policy, or see if you should make changes to the one you already have? Contact us at Berks County Insurance today. We want all our Reading, PA area customers to have quality insurance options that help them feel safe and protected. Even if you’re not sure whether your policy needs updating, we’re happy to answer your questions so you can make an informed decision. Then you’ll have a quality policy you can be happy with and feel good about.